Frew, Maryann Child Minding Type of inspection: Unannounced Inspection completed on: 10 April 2018 Service provided by: Frew, Maryann Service provider number: SP2005943653 Care service number: CS2006117081
The service Introduction The Care Inspectorate regulates care services in Scotland. Information about all care services is available on our website at www.careinspectorate.com Mrs Maryann Frew has been registered with the Care Inspectorate since 2011 to provide a childminding service. At the time of this inspection, the service complied with the following conditions: 1. To provide a care service to a maximum of six children at any one time under the age of 16, of whom a maximum of six will be under 12, of whom no more than three are not yet attending primary school and of whom no more than one is under 12 months. Numbers are inclusive of children of the childminder's family. 2. The parts of the premises not to be used are the first floor and the ground floor bedroom. 3. Mr David Frew is employed as an assistant. 4. The service will be provided at the address detailed in the notice granting registration. 5. Minded children cannot be cared for by persons other than those named on the certificate. 6. Overnight service will not be provided. The service is located in the rural village of Tarbolton in South Ayrshire near to the school and other amenities. The service is provided in the childminder's home a detached two storey house. Minded children have access to the sitting room, kitchen and downstairs bathroom. At the time of this inspection, the childminder was providing a service for six children from five families within the conditions of her registration. What we did during our inspection We compiled this report after a short notice announced inspection that took place on Tuesday 10 April 2018 between 10:00 and 12:45. A Care Inspectorate Early Years Inspector carried out the inspection. During this inspection, we spoke with the childminder and one minded child. We observed the care given by the childminder and looked at a number of documents including records for the children, health and safety records and training certificates. We also inspected those areas of the property used for childminding. We check services are meeting the principles of Getting it Right for Every Child (also known as GIRFEC), Scotland's national approach to improving outcomes and wellbeing for children by offering the right help at the right time from the right people. It supports them and their parent(s) to work with the services that can help them. There are eight wellbeing indicators at the heart of Getting it Right for Every Child: safe, healthy, achieving, nurtured, active, respected, responsible, and included. for Frew, Maryann page 2 of 11
Views of people using the service We saw that the minded child was happy and relaxed in the care of the childminder and enjoyed the company of the childminder's children. The child was able to choose from a selection of age appropriate materials. He told us the toys he preferred to play with and that he liked being at the childminder's. We issued three questionnaires for parents to complete and these were completed and returned to us. These clearly indicated a high level of satisfaction with this service. Comments included: 'It was discussed what my child's likes and dislikes are and I believe this information is used daily to accommodate my expectations of his care.' 'Maryann provides my child with healthy and balanced meals. My child also has structured play, outdoor activities and opportunity for quiet time.' 'My children are cared for part time and they are usually involved in crafts or outdoor activities.' Self assessment We did not receive a self-assessment from the childminder. Issues relating to how parents and children are involved in decisions within the service and the quality of the service's health and safety records are considered below. What the service did well We found that the childminder had made good progress in meeting five of the six recommendations made at the previous inspection. What the service could do better We are making one requirement and three recommendations in this report. These are in relation to: - children's care plans - infection control - risk assessments - Health and Social Care Standards From this inspection we graded this service as: Quality of care and support Quality of environment Quality of staffing Quality of management and leadership 3 - Adequate 3 - Adequate Quality of care and support for Frew, Maryann page 3 of 11
Findings from the inspection During discussion, it was evident that the childminder understood the needs of the children, respected the wishes of the parents and offered the children choices in day-to-day activities and food preferences. She had some written information but mostly she relied on day-to-day exchanges and some phone calls and emails. She had ensured that families knew what their children had done while in her care and had shared with them photographs of their children's experiences. We saw that the childminder had based her care plan template on the SHANARRI wellbeing indicators. However, she had only completed one for one of the children and this did not fully reflect the care needs of the child. The childminder was under the impression that these were not mandatory and parents could decline to have these for their children. (See requirement 1 for this quality theme.) The childminder provided meals and snacks and had available her weekly planner for the week of the inspection. From this and discussion we found that the children were offered a mix of healthy homemade and convenience foods in keeping with their age and preferences. Although the rear garden was not used at the time of this inspection, the childminder had ensured that the children had daily access to outdoor activities using local parks and other amenities. During these activities, the childminder had raised the children's awareness of personal safety by discussing road safety and stranger danger. The childminder had undertaken child protection training since the previous inspection and understood her role in relation to the protection of children. The childminder advised that the children were in the main kind and respectful towards each other. She told us that on occasions, when play had become too boisterous, or when children had minor squabbles, she had promoted positive behaviour management through intervention and discussion. As recommended at the previous inspection the childminder had downloaded best practice guidance for the administration of medication and had forms available to record instances of this. Overall children had access to age appropriate play materials and activities. In addition, some brought some of their own play equipment such as electronic games, bikes or scooters. Requirements Number of requirements: 1 1. In order to ensure that children's needs are well planned and in keeping with their needs each must have a personal plan by 30 April 2018 that the childminder must review at least once in every six month period in consultation with families and if appropriate the children themselves. This is to ensure care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards that state that 'My personal plan is right for me because it sets out how my needs will be met, as well as my wishes and choices.' (HSCS 1.15), and in order to comply with Regulation 5(1): 'Personal plans' of the Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Requirements for Care Services) Regulations 2011/210. Recommendations Number of recommendations: 0 Grade: 4 - good for Frew, Maryann page 4 of 11
Quality of environment Findings from the inspection We saw that safety and hygiene within the home was good. The childminder had maintained this through general vigilance and cleaning. She had a pass certificate for the provision of food and had adhered to the fire safety precautions for childminding premises. She had appropriate insurance for her childminding and her car. She advised that she had appropriate seats for the safe transport of children. Some additional general safety precautions were in place. For example, a stair gate and a high chair with harness were available to keep the youngest children safe. Some precautions were in place to minimise the risk of infection, for example, the childminder had not accepted children with infections illness in accordance with exclusion periods. As recommended in the previous inspection report the childminder had downloaded a copy of infection control guidance for childminding settings. However, we identified some issues that the childminder needed to address. (See recommendation 1 for this quality theme.' The childminder had compiled a written risk assessment for outings. During the inspection, workers undertook refurbishment work in the childminder's home. The childminder needed to have a very detailed risk assessment to evidence that she had considered and had put in place safety precautions required for the duration of the refurbishment. (See recommendation 2 for this quality theme.) The children had access to the sitting room and kitchen. In the sitting room there was comfortable seating for rest and relaxation and in the kitchen there was a table for craft activities and meals. Requirements Number of requirements: 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations: 2 1. The provider should improve infection control facilities for the protection of children by providing individual hand drying and a washable nappy changing mat and by replenishing the supply of disposable gloves. This is to ensure care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards that state that, 'My environment is secure and safe. (HSCS 5:17). 2. The provider should improve safety for the children by undertaking a detailed written risk assessment for the period while refurbishment is underway. This should detail precautions and additional measures to be in place while workmen are on the premises and periods when water or electricity supplies may be interrupted. This is to ensure care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards that state that, 'My environment is secure and safe. (HSCS 5:17). Grade: 4 - good for Frew, Maryann page 5 of 11
Quality of staffing Findings from the inspection The childminder's husband, Mr David Frew, was named as an assistant on the certificate of registration. He was familiar with the children and their families as he works regularly from home. However, he has only ever assisted his wife on a few occasions but not with any regularity as his work takes him out on variable patterns. For example if he has happened to be at home during poor weather, he might assist at school pick up times. The childminder does not have a recruitment policy or a whistle blowing policy and has not considered employing another assistant. Her husband is aware of his wife's child protection policy, but he has not undertaken training relevant to the role of childminding. After discussion with the childminder, she decided to discuss this with her husband with a view to requesting a variation to remove him as a named assistant from her certificate of registration. We have therefore inspected and graded this quality theme according to the extent of the use of the assistant. Requirements Number of requirements: 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations: 0 Grade: 3 - adequate Quality of management and leadership Findings from the inspection As recommended at the previous inspection the childminder had accessed the Care Inspectorate online resource www.hub.careinspectorate.com to find information and guidance to support her in her role as childminder. She had also undertaken training and refreshers as recommended at the previous inspection. Topics included Autism, Food Allergens, First Aid and Child Protection. She indicated that she would now like to undertake training in risk assessment and we agreed that this would be beneficial. The childminder also had copies of best practice guidance relevant to childminding. The childminder was not aware of or had a copy of the Health and Social Care Standards (Scottish Government 2017) that we now use to reference requirements or areas for improvement. (See recommendation 1 for this quality theme.) It was apparent from the questionnaires submitted to the Care Inspectorate that the childminder had consulted children and families in day-to-day exchanges about care needs and preferences. Comments included: 'Face to face daily discussions or via the phone. Maryann strives to meet my child's needs and is always happy to discuss.' for Frew, Maryann page 6 of 11
'She asks when I drop the children off or if an issue arises. She usually calls me with plans for the week.' 'When I collect my child I am informed of what he has done through the day and what he has eaten.' The childminder had made good progress with five of the six recommendations at the previous inspection. However overall, some aspects of the service were not as well managed as we would expect and we have graded this theme as adequate. Requirements Number of requirements: 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations: 1 1. The provider should download and use the Health and Social Care Standards to support continuous improvement. This is to ensure care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards that state that, 'I experience high quality care and support because people have the necessary information and resources. (HSCS 4:27). Grade: 3 - adequate What the service has done to meet any requirements we made at or since the last inspection Previous requirements There are no outstanding requirements. What the service has done to meet any recommendations we made at or since the last inspection Previous recommendations Recommendation 1 The childminder should now complete care plans for each child in consultation with the children and their families. These should include risk assessments where needed for individual children for activities such as street play and walking to the childminder's unaccompanied from school. for Frew, Maryann page 7 of 11
Standard 3: Health and wellbeing. Please refer to the section of this report headed Quality of care and support. Recommendation not met. Recommendation 2 The childminder should download a copy of the document 'The Management of Medication in Daycare and Childminding Services' (March2013) www.careinspectorate.com and use this in her management of medication for minded children. Standard 3: Health and wellbeing. Please refer to the section of this report headed Quality of care and support. Recommendation met. Recommendation 3 The childminder should follow the 'Fire Precautions in Domestic Childminding Premises' (2008) www.careinspectorate.com and ensure that smoke alarms are tested weekly and recorded. Standard 2: A safe environment & Standard 3: Health and wellbeing. Please refer to the section of this report headed Quality of environment. Recommendation met. Recommendation 4 The childminder should download a copy of 'Infection Prevention and Control in Childcare Settings (Daycare and Childminding Settings) (March 2011) www.documents.hps.scot.nhs.uk and follow the best practice guidance to use disposable aprons as well as gloves when changing nappies. Standard 2: A safe environment & Standard 3: Health and wellbeing. Please refer to the section of this report headed Quality of environment. Recommendation met. Recommendation 5 The childminder should access the new online resource www.hub.careinspectorate.com to support her in keeping up to date with best practice in childcare. for Frew, Maryann page 8 of 11
Standard 12: Confidence in staff &14: Well managed service. Please refer to the section of this report headed Quality of management and leadership. Recommendation met. Recommendation 6 The childminder should access further training and refresher courses relevant to her role as childminder. Standard 12: Confidence in staff &14: Well managed service. Please refer to the section of this report headed Quality of management and leadership. Recommendation met. Complaints There have been no complaints upheld since the last inspection. Details of any older upheld complaints are published at www.careinspectorate.com. Enforcement No enforcement action has been taken against this care service since the last inspection. Inspection and grading history Date Type Gradings 15 May 2014 Unannounced Care and support Environment Staffing Management and leadership 20 May 2010 Announced Care and support 5 - Very good Environment 5 - Very good Staffing Not assessed for Frew, Maryann page 9 of 11
Date Type Gradings Management and leadership Not assessed 4 May 2009 Announced Care and support Environment Staffing Management and leadership Not assessed 29 Apr 2008 Unannounced Care and support Environment Staffing Management and leadership for Frew, Maryann page 10 of 11
To find out more This inspection report is published by the Care Inspectorate. You can download this report and others from our website. Care services in Scotland cannot operate unless they are registered with the Care Inspectorate. We inspect, award grades and help services to improve. We also investigate complaints about care services and can 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. You can also read more about our work online at www.careinspectorate.com Contact us Care Inspectorate Compass House 11 Riverside Drive Dundee DD1 4NY enquiries@careinspectorate.com 0345 600 9527 Find us on Facebook Twitter: @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 cànain eile ma nithear iarrtas. for Frew, Maryann page 11 of 11