Falls, Laura Girvan Inspection completed on 27 April 2016
Service provided by: Falls, Laura Service provider number: SP2013984567 Care service number: CS2013315396 Inspection Type: Unannounced Care services in Scotland, including childminders, cannot operate unless they are registered with the Care Inspectorate. We inspect, award grades and set out improvements that must be made. We also investigate complaints about care services and take action when things aren't good enough. Please get in touch with us if you would like more information or have any concerns about a care service. Contact Us Care Inspectorate Compass House 11 Riverside Drive Dundee DD1 4NY enquiries@careinspectorate.com 0345 600 9527 www.careinspectorate.com @careinspect page 2 of 21
1 Introduction If we are concerned about some aspect of a service, or think it could do more to improve, we may make a recommendation or requirement. - A recommendation is a statement that sets out actions the care service provider should take to improve or develop the quality of the service but where failure to do so will not directly result in enforcement. Recommendations are based on the National Care Standards, relevant codes of practice and recognised good practice. - A requirement is a statement that sets out what is required of a care service to comply with the Public Services Reforms (Scotland) Act 2010 and Regulations or Orders made under the Act or a condition of registration. Where there are breaches of the Regulations, Orders or conditions, a requirement must be made. Requirements are legally enforceable at the discretion of the Care Inspectorate. This is a childminding service and Mrs Laura Falls may look after a maximum of 6 children aged up to 16 years of age of whom no more than 6 will be under 12 and of whom, no more than 3 may not be attending primary school and of whom no more than one may be under one year of age. Numbers are inclusive of the childminder's family. The service is located in a residential area within the town of Girvan in South Ayrshire near to local schools, shops and parks. The childminder provides her service in her home a semi-detached house. Minded children have access to the lounge, dining room, kitchen and front garden. The childminder's main aim was to provide: 'A good quality service for children aged up to 16 in a welcoming, happy and secure environment.' At the time of this inspection, nine minded children were using the service. page 3 of 21
What we did during our inspection The Care Inspectorate is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of all children receiving a care service. We check services are meeting the principles of Getting it Right for Every Child (also known as GIRFEC). Set up by Scottish Government, GIRFEC is a national approach to working in a consistent way with all children and young people. Getting it Right for Every Child is being woven into all policy, practice, strategy and legislation that affect children, young people and their families. There are eight wellbeing indicators at the heart of Getting it Right for Every Child. They are: safe; healthy; achieving; nurtured; active; respected; responsible; and included. They are often referred to as the SHANARRI indicators. We use these indicators at inspection, to assess how services are making a positive difference for children. We wrote this report following an unannounced inspection that took place on Wednesday 27 April 2016 from 1:30pm until 4:15pm. We gave feedback to the childminder on Wednesday 27 April 2016. We sent three care standards questionnaires to the childminder to distribute to families who used the service. One family who used the service submitted a completed questionnaire to us. During this inspection process, we gathered evidence from various sources, including the following: We spoke with: - 2 minded children - the childminder We also observed the childminder's practice and her care of the minded children. We looked at: - certificates of registration and insurance - annual return and self-assessment page 4 of 21
- action plan from previous inspection - records of attendance - questionnaire returned to us - documentation for the children including permissions - information booklet - policy statements and written procedures - the environment and equipment - heating maintenance - pass certificate for provider of food. Views of people using the service The childminder was caring for 9 minded children at the time of this inspection and we met 2 of them. The children were relaxed and told us they liked being with the childminder. During our inspection, the children had access to some play and craft materials and watched children's TV. The person who completed our questionnaire told us; 'Laura asks my child's likes and dislikes' 'She ensures all info is up to date' 'My child plays outside, makes cards and plays the computer and goes to the park' 'She is very approachable and keeps to my routines for my child' 'She is fair with the children'. Self assessment Every year all care services complete a 'self assessment' telling us how their service is performing. We check to make sure this is accurate. Although the childminder had submitted a self-assessment, she had not fully updated it for this inspection. This was also limited in content. What the service did well The childminder had addressed three of the four requirements and four of the seven recommendations made at the previous inspection. What the service could do better We carried forward one requirement and three recommendations. These were in relation to: page 5 of 21
- mandatory information and personal plans - allergens - fire safety - training. In addition, we made three recommendations in relation to: - healthy snacks and outdoor play - medication - infectious illness. 2 The grades we awarded We grade the quality of care and support, the quality of the environment and the quality of management and leadership. If the childminder employs an assistant, we also grade the quality of staffing. In each case, we award a grade on a scale from 1 to 6, where 1 is unsatisfactory and 6 is excellent. Quality of care and support Quality of environment Quality of staffing Quality of management and leadership 3 - Adequate 3 - Adequate not assessed 3 - Adequate 3 Quality of care and support Findings from the inspection The childminder outlined the needs of the children in her care and was familiar with their individual needs. She had identified their needs mostly through dayto-day exchanges with families and supported by text messaging when required. There was no additional evidence of consultation or of involving the children and their families in the development of this service since the previous inspection. page 6 of 21
The childminder had recorded mandatory and some additional information for the care of the minded children and we accepted that this formed the basis of personal plans. However, she did not have the paperwork for all of the children minded on the day of this inspection. In addition, there was no evidence that she had reviewed the personal plans on the required six monthly basis. At her previous inspection, we had made a requirement in respect of mandatory information and personal plans. (See requirement 1 for this quality theme.) The childminder described how her routines followed the care needs of the children and their own personal routines. Her day-to-day routines mainly involved nursery and school trips. Most children on her register attended on 'as required' arrangements and her day-to-day routines were governed by arrivals and departures. Since her previous inspection, the childminder had registered with environmental health as a provider of food. However, she advised that families now provided meals and most snacks. We saw that she offered the children she collected after school crisps, a sweet or a biscuit and a drink of juice. One accepted the offer of a sweet the other declined anything. Children would benefit from the provision of healthier snacks. At the previous inspection we advised the childminder of the new regulation to make available information about allergens to service users www.food.gov.uk. We also gave her an example of paperwork to use. She had not complied with this. (See recommendation 1 for this quality theme.) Since her previous inspection, the childminder decided that she would no longer use her garden for childminding. She told us that she used local parks and took the children on outings to other local attractions. The minded children who were present on the day of inspection had only been with the childminder for short periods and had not been to the park. Given the 'as required' nature of her placements, and the short periods often attended, visits to the park after school were clearly problematic. Children would nonetheless benefit from opportunities to participate in active energetic play ideally out of doors especially after school. (See recommendation 2 for this quality theme.) The childminder had a Child Protection policy and was familiar with her role in safeguarding children. She also told us that she had discussed with the children road safety and stranger danger to increase their awareness of being safe. page 7 of 21
We saw that the children present played well together took turns and responded to the childminder's suggestions. We saw that the childminder had forms to record the administration of medication and that these were in accordance with current best practice guidance. At the previous inspection, we advised the childminder that new guidance for 'Management of medication in daycare of children and childminding services' was available in the Care Inspectorate website www.careinspectorate.com and that this would be a useful document for reference. We have advised of best practice in relation to consents to administer medication and to review these at least every three months. The childminder advised that she did keep medication for one child but did not have the paperwork to hand. (See recommendation 3 for this quality theme.) We found that choices available to the children during this inspection were somewhat limited with the children mainly using an Amazon 'Firestick'. We could see that the children enjoyed playing electronic games via this device and one parent confirmed that he was happy as this was what his child liked doing. We suggested that the childminder should consider having available a wider selection of play materials for all ages attending. page 8 of 21
Grade The quality of care and support is graded 3 - Adequate Requirements Number of requirements - 1 1. The childminder must provide a full list of all minded children using her service. She must also record all mandatory information in respect of every minded child. These records should clearly show how the childminder plans to meet the health, welfare and safety needs of each minded child and should form the basis of a personal plan for each child. - Thereafter personal plans must be reviewed at least once in every six month period or sooner if required. - All plans in place for more than six months must be updated in consultation with children and their families as appropriate. This is in order to comply with: The requirements of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010, and The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Requirements for Care Services) Regulations 2011 and The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Applications and Registration) Regulations 2011 Record keeping & SSI 2011/210 Regulation 4(1)(a) and Regulation 5 - to make proper provision for the health, welfare and safety of children by making and reviewing personal plans in respect of all children who use the service. Timescale - before 11 May 2016. page 9 of 21
Recommendations Number of recommendations - 3 1. The childminder should follow the new regulations in relation to allergens to minimise any risk to the health, welfare and safety of minded children. The record of allergens present in any food or drinks provided should be available to families. We will review this on 11 May 2016. National Care Standards for early education and childcare up to the age of 16: Standard 3: Health and wellbeing. 2. The childminder should promote health and wellbeing for all children in her care regardless of the duration of their placements. She should offer healthy options for snacks and offer all children outdoor activities ideally on a daily basis. We will discuss these matters further on 11 May 2016. National Care Standards for early education and childcare up to the age of 16: Standard 3: Health and wellbeing. 3. The childminder must have available the required records for permission to administer medication and a record of any doses administered. We have advised of best practice in relation to consents to administer medication and to review these at least every three months. The childminder should refer to 'Management of medication in daycare of children and childminding services' available in the Care Inspectorate website www.careinspectorate.com and adhere to this guidance. We will examine required records on 11 May 2016. National Care Standards for early education and childcare up to the age of 16: Standard 3: Health and wellbeing. page 10 of 21
4 Quality of environment Findings from the inspection We found that the childminder had ensured that her environment was fit for the care of young children through day to day cleaning and on-going visual risk assessment. Since her previous inspection, she had her central heating serviced by a recognised contractor and her premises met the requirements for a provider of food. She advised that she had tested her smoke detectors periodically. Her fire safety records were not available on the day of the inspection. We therefore, could not assess her compliance with a recommendation made at a previous inspection. (See recommendation 1 for this quality theme.) The children had access to the lounge, dining room and kitchen on the ground floor and the bathroom upstairs. In the lounge, there was some space to play and comfortable furniture for rest and relaxation. In the dining room, there was a table for meals and craft activities. The children had limited access to the kitchen, mainly when going outside via the exit door. No hazards were evident in these areas. The garden was safely enclosed with a mix of grass, paving and gravel and gates to prevent contact with traffic. The minded children did not have contact with the family dog that the childminder kept kennelled in the rear area of the garden when minded children were outside. Previously the minded children had access to the side and front garden areas. The childminder advised that she no longer felt these areas suitable for children's play. Having recognised the time constraints for accessing alternative outdoor play for after school children the childminder should look at how she could make some outdoor space suitable to facilitate active outdoor play for children. We will discuss this further on 11 May 2016. We found that the childminder was familiar with good practice to minimise the spread of infection. page 11 of 21
All areas accessed by the minded children were clean and fresh. She was familiar with best practice when required to change children and of the need to wear personal protective equipment. She had a supply of disposable aprons and gloves. She promoted hand washing at key times and had provided minded children with individual hand drying. We discussed the need to adhere to exclusion periods for infectious illness for both minded and her own children. She had cared for minded children for the five days after the onset of a rash on one of her own children. (See recommendation 2 for this quality theme.) The childminder advised that since the previous inspection no minded child has had an accident. She had available a basic first aid kit to deal with minor accidents and forms to record accidents. Grade The quality of environment is graded 3 - Adequate Requirements Number of requirements - 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations - 2 1. The childminder should test her smoke detectors weekly as advised in the fire safety guidance for childminding in domestic premises and keep a record of these to minimise the possibility of harm to children. These records will be examined on 11 May 2016. National Care Standards for early education and childcare up to the age of 16: Standard 2: A safe environment. 2. The childminder should adhere to exclusion periods in respect of her own as well as minded children as recommended in Appendix 3 'Infection Prevention and Control in Childcare Settings' (September 2015). National Care Standards for early education and childcare up to the age of 16: Standard 2: A safe environment & Standard 3:Health and wellbeing. page 12 of 21
5 Quality of staffing We only assess this where the childminder employs an assistant. 6 Quality of management and leadership Findings from the inspection Overall, we found the childminder's practice for this quality statement to be adequate. There was very limited evidence that the childminder had kept up to date with best practice and legislation since her previous inspection. She had received some current information in relation to childcare from the local childminding support group. She also had available documents of best practice guidance relevant to childcare and had recently received a copy of the recently published 'Building the Ambition' national practice guidance for early learning and childcare. However, she told us that she had not really had time to look at practice guidance documents. The childminder had made good progress in addressing recommendations and requirements made at the previous inspection. However, since the previous inspection a recommendation about training had barely been addressed except for a first aid course booked for the Saturday following this inspection. Overall, we feel training would have helped to support the childminder in her work and might have helped her to avoid issues identified in this report. In addition to first aid, she would benefit from training in infection control and food hygiene and a refresher course in child protection. We have also suggested that she access training about the national programme 'Getting it Right for Every Child' (GIRFEC) to help her develop personal plans for the children. (See recommendation 1 in this quality statement.) We found that there had been little formal consultation with children and their families about the quality and development of the service since the previous inspection. Grade The quality of management and leadership is graded 3 - Adequate page 13 of 21
Requirements Number of requirements - 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations - 1 1. The childminder should access training in key topics relevant to childcare such as first aid, child protection, infection control and other topics relevant to the role of childminder such as GIRFEC. National Care Standards for early education and childcare up to the age of 16: Standard 12: confidence in staff. 7 What the service has done to meet any recommendations or requirements we made at our last inspection Previous requirements 1. The childminder must record all mandatory information in respect of every minded child. These records should clearly show how the childminder plans to meet the health, welfare and safety needs of each minded child and should form the basis of a personal plan for each child. This is in order to comply with: The requirements of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010, and The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Requirements for Care Services) Regulations 2011 and The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Applications and Registration) Regulations 2011 Record keeping & SSI 2011/210 Regulation 4(1)(a) and Regulation 5 - to make proper provision for the health, welfare and safety of children by making and reviewing personal plans in respect of all children who use the service. page 14 of 21
Timescale - within 1 week of receipt of this report. This requirement was made on 20 May 2015 Paperwork for all children on the childminder's register was not available on the day of this inspection. This requirement has been carried forward in the quality theme for Care and Support. Not Met 2. The childminder must comply with the requirements for notification reporting and must notify the Care Inspectorate accordingly. This is in order to comply with: The requirements of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010, and The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Requirements for Care Services) Regulations 2011 and The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Applications and Registration) Regulations 2011. Timescale - in accordance with Care Inspectorate published timescales for any future modifiable events. This requirement was made on 20 May 2015 Paperwork was submitted for an adult resident over the age of 16 years of age. Met - Within Timescales 3. The childminder must at all times have in place current public liability insurance in respect of her childminding and for any vehicle used to transport minded children. The requirements of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010, and The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Requirements for Care Services) Regulations 2011 and The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Applications and Registration) Regulations 2011. Timescale - in keeping with any future renewal dates to avoid any lapse in cover. This requirement was made on 20 May 2015 page 15 of 21
All required insurance was in place. Met - Within Timescales 4. The provider must ensure that the conditions of registration in relation to the numbers and ages of children that can be cared for are maintained at all times. This is in order to comply with: The Scottish Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Requirements for Care Services) Regulations 2011: 78 (3) (b) Failure to Comply and 74 (d) (i) Conditions as to Numbers in Childminding. Timescale: On receipt of this letter. This requirement was made on 20 May 2015 We looked at the records available and the numbers complied with the condition of registration: To provide a care service to a maximum of 6 children at any one time under the age of 16, of whom no more than 3 are not yet attending primary school and of whom no more than 1 is under 12 months. Numbers are inclusive of children of the childminder's family. The childminder advised that she had adhered to maximum numbers including her own children at all times since the previous inspection. Met - Within Timescales Previous recommendations 1. The childminder should follow the new regulations in relation to allergens to minimise any risk to the health, welfare and safety of minded children. National Care Standards for early education and childcare up to the age of 16: Standard 3: Health and wellbeing. This recommendation was made on 20 May 2015 page 16 of 21
None and carried forward in quality theme Care and Support. Recommendation not met. 2. The childminder should consult families and obtain written consents for a wider range of activities to support the health, welfare and safety of the children. National Care Standards for early education and childcare up to the age of 16: Standard 3: Health and wellbeing. This recommendation was made on 20 May 2015 The childminder had consents for medication, emergency treatment, photographs, transport, and advised that she consulted families about trips out with the norm. Recommendation met. 3. The childminder should ensure that an approved contractor services and maintains her heating in accordance with the regulations for gas heating to minimise the risk to children through compliance with gas heating regulations. National Care Standards for early education and childcare up to the age of 16: Standard 2: A safe environment. This recommendation was made on 20 May 2015 The childminder had set up a maintenance plan with a recognised contractor. Recommendation met. 4. The childminder should request that Environmental Health visit and complete her approval as a food provider to minimise the risk to children through compliance with food safety regulations. National Care Standards for early education and childcare up to the age of 16: Standard 2: A safe environment. This recommendation was made on 20 May 2014 The childminder now held a pass certificate as a provider of food. Recommendation met. page 17 of 21
5. The childminder should test her smoke detectors weekly as advised in the fire safety guidance for childminding in domestic premises and keep a record of these to minimise the possibility of harm to children. National Care Standards for early education and childcare up to the age of 16: Standard 2: A safe environment. This recommendation was made on 20 May 2015 Records were not available and recommendation carried forward in quality theme Environment. Recommendation not met. 6. The childminder should access training in key topics relevant to childcare such as first aid, child protection, infection control and other topics relevant to the role of childminder such as GIRFEC. National Care Standards for early education and childcare up to the age of 16: Standard 12: confidence in staff. This recommendation was made on 20 May 2015 No training completed at time of this inspection. First aid course booked for 30 April 2016. Recommendation carried forward in quality theme for Management and Leadership. Recommendation not met. 7. The childminder should involve children and their families in meaningful consultation about the quality and development of her childminding service. She should also use this information to complete the annual return and self-assessment requested by the Care Inspectorate. National Care Standards for early education and childcare up to the age of 16: Standard 12: confidence in staff & Standard 14: Well managed service. This recommendation was made on 20 May 2015 Consultation consisted of day-to-day exchanges with families and their children. The childminder advised that she involved the children in day-to-day decisions about activities and outings and had taken their views into account. The childminder had submitted her annual return and self-assessment. The childminder should now completely update her self-assessment. Recommendation met. page 18 of 21
8 Complaints There have been no complaints upheld since the last inspection. Details of any older upheld complaints are published at www.careinspectorate.com. 9 Enforcements No enforcement action has been taken against this care service since the last inspection 10 Other issues We have arranged to visit on the 11 May 2015 and follow-up on outstanding issues 11 Inspection and grading history Date Type Gradings 20 May 2015 Unannounced Care and support 3 - Adequate Environment 3 - Adequate Staffing Not Assessed Management and Leadership 1 - Unsatisfactory 2 Dec 2014 Re-grade Care and support Not Assessed Environment Not Assessed Staffing Not Assessed Management and Leadership 3 - Adequate 5 May 2014 Unannounced Care and support 4 - Good Environment 4 - Good page 19 of 21
Staffing Management and Leadership Not Assessed 4 - Good page 20 of 21
To find out more This inspection report is published by the Care Inspectorate. You can download this report and others from our website. You can also read more about our work online. Contact Us Care Inspectorate Compass House 11 Riverside Drive Dundee DD1 4NY enquiries@careinspectorate.com 0345 600 9527 www.careinspectorate.com @careinspect Other languages and formats This report is available in other languages and formats on request. Tha am foillseachadh seo ri fhaighinn ann an cruthannan is c?nain eile ma nithear iarrtas. page 21 of 21