Gibb, Cheryl Child Minding Type of inspection: Unannounced Inspection completed on: 16 August 2016 Service provided by: Gibb, Cheryl Service provider number: SP2015986805 Care service number: CS2015336400
The service Introduction This service registered with the Care Inspectorate on 23 June 2015. The service is registered 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 service is provided from a two storey detached cottage on the outskirts of Banchory, a town in Aberdeenshire. The childminder's home is close to local schools, parks and amenities. The aims of the service include: - To provide a home from home environment where children can have fun, learn through play and experiences, in a safe, secure and caring setting. - To ensure that the individuality of each child is recognised in their care. Children will be supported in their learning and challenges. - I will always welcome feedback and interaction from parents to ensure I am able to continually provide an individual service to all families. The Care Inspectorate is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of all children receiving a care service. We want to ensure they have the best start in life, are ready to succeed and live longer, healthier lives. 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. It is underpinned by the principles of prevention and early intervention. The approach helps services focus on what makes a positive difference for children and young people - and what they can do to improve. 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. What we did during our inspection As part of the inspection, we took account of the completed annual return and self-assessment forms that we asked the childminder to complete and submit to us. We sent six Care Standards Questionnaires (CSQs) to the childminder to distribute to parents. Five parents returned completed questionnaires before inspection. During the inspection process, we gathered evidence from various sources, including the following: We spoke with: for Gibb, Cheryl page 2 of 10
- two minded children - the childminder's child - the childminder. We looked at: - parent questionnaires returned to the Care Inspectorate before the inspection - service questionnaire issued by the childminder - health and safety records - accident and incident records - medication records - service policies and procedures - parent information booklet - eight children's records - equipment and the environment - certificates of the training undertaken by the childminder and - observation and communication with two minded children - discussion with the childminder - observing interactions between the childminder and the children. Views of people using the service There were two minded children and the childminder's child present at the time of inspection. We observed the children to play companionably together and the childminder to anticipate behaviours, supporting the children to be respectful and kind to each other. We observed the children to be comfortable in the home and when interacting with the childminder and her family. The children were fully engaged in their play and were happy to interact with us and include us in their activities. We sent out six CSQs to the childminder to distribute to parents. We received five questionnaires before inspection. The childminder currently had nine children from seven families using her service. The parents indicated that they were very happy with the quality of care their children received in the service. We were unable to speak with parents during the inspection. Self assessment We received a completed self-assessment document from the childminder. We were satisfied with the way the childminder completed this and with the relevant information included for each heading that we grade services under. The childminder told us what she thought the service did well and some improvements she planned. for Gibb, Cheryl page 3 of 10
What the service did well The childminder interacted with the children in a calm and nurturing manner. We observed the children to be comfortable in the childminders home and with her family. What the service could do better The childminder communicated effectively with parents at drop off and pick up times. However, the childminder should now actively explore further methods of more fully involving the children and parents in assessing and improving her service. From this inspection we graded this service as: Quality of care and support Quality of environment Quality of staffing Quality of management and leadership 5 - Very Good 4 - Good not assessed 4 - Good Quality of care and support Findings from the inspection We observed the children to be relaxed and comfortable with the childminder and her family. The childminder showed a calm and nurturing manner towards the children and encouraged all the children to participate in the games and activities, taking into account their individual levels of developmental. We observed the childminder to include all children and to support and encourage them to participate in and complete activities which they were finding more challenging. The childminder knew the children well and recognised them as individuals. She maintained an appropriate balance when interacting with her own child and the minded child. The childminder had a relaxed manner with the children and anticipated children's individual needs. The childminder had an appropriate knowledge about how to keep children safe and the process to follow should she have a child protection concern. However, the childminder had not included the telephone numbers of relevant child protection agencies in the policy she shared with parents (Please refer to recommendation 1). When the children had a disagreement the childminder responded in a calm manner, she encouraged the children to resolve their differences and play together cooperatively. Whilst respecting the dignity of each child, we observed that the childminder consistently ensured the children received clear guidance on what was acceptable and what was not and explained the reasons why. The children appeared to be fully aware of the 'house rules' and the reasons for them. The childminder gathered comprehensive information about each child before they started with the service; this was then used to support the settling in process. The childminder had a very good knowledge of the individual needs of the children in her care. She regularly updated each child's personal plan and the care and support she for Gibb, Cheryl page 4 of 10
provided when she observed a change in a child's support needs and/or following discussion with the parent. Parents felt included and their opinions respected in relation to decisions about their child's ongoing care and support, promoting good outcomes for children and families. Parents told us that the childminder communicated regularly with them at drop off times including discussion of any concerns. This was supported by texts and phone calls where appropriate, all of which kept them fully informed about their child's day. Requirements Number of requirements: 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations: 1 1. The childminder to record appropriate, professional contact details in the child protection policy. This is in order to ensure that all relevant information is readily available should the childminder have a child protection concern and promote the health, welfare and safety of the children in her care. National Care Standards Early Education and Childcare up to the Age of 16 - Standard 3: Health and wellbeing; Standard 14: Well managed service. Grade: 5 - very good Quality of environment Findings from the inspection The childminder provided a welcoming and homely environment for children and their families. We observed the children to be comfortable in the home and be familiar with the layout. The childminder supported the children to tidy up after they had finished playing with an activity or toy in order that the floor did not become too cluttered. This promoted children's personal development and decision making skills and supported them to assess and manage hazards. The layout of the main play area (x2 adjoining sitting rooms) provided the children with easy access to their chosen activities and space to move around safely. The children could also access further resources upstairs under the supervision of the childminder. The children had regular, supervised access to the secure garden where they could play football, use the trampoline (if they had signed parental permission) and choose from a selection of outdoor activities. The resources inside the home and in the garden were clean and well maintained. We observed the childminder's home to be clean and tidy. The childminder described a regular cleaning routine with an effective use of antibacterial and detergent cleaners within her home. We observed the children to wash their hands at appropriate times. These measures contributed to the prevention and control of infection. The childminder stored most hazardous substances, securely, promoting the safety of the children. However, the for Gibb, Cheryl page 5 of 10
childminder stored a bottle of window cleaner underneath the kitchen sink which may have been accessible to the minded children. We discussed this with the childminder who removed the cleaner and stored it appropriately. The children used the large upstairs bathroom. This bathroom had an enclosed cat litter box in the corner which was used by the family cat. During discussion we determined that the childminder had given careful consideration to where the box could be most safely located. We also reached the conclusion that, within the home, the corner of the large bathroom was probably the safest position for the box. The childminder escorted the younger children to the toilet and was satisfied that the older children understood that they were not to touch the box. The childminder confirmed that during childminding hours there would be no dishes of cat food beside the box. The childminder demonstrated an appropriate knowledge of the safeguards required when travelling by car and during outings. The childminder had recorded risk assessments which identified hazards and indicated how she assessed acceptable risk/benefit. During inspection the childminder settled a fifteen month old child to sleep in a buggy, in the home. We discussed that best practice guidance indicated that the recommended place for a young child to sleep in the home was on an appropriate firm, flat cot surface. There is further information available at the websites of The Scottish Cot Death Trust and The Lullaby Trust. The childminder agreed to review children's sleeping arrangements with parents, taking into account best practice guidance. Discussion confirmed that the childminder had an appropriate knowledge and practise when treating children's minor injuries. The childminder had appropriate procedures and practice in place to exclude children if ill. These exclusion periods were shared with parents before their child started with the service. This promoted the health and safety of the children and families. Requirements Number of requirements: 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations: 0 Grade: 4 - good Quality of staffing This quality theme was not assessed. Quality of management and leadership for Gibb, Cheryl page 6 of 10
Findings from the inspection The childminder was aware of the importance of encouraging the views of the children and parents about the quality of her service and any improvements that she could make to the service she provided. Parents told us that the childminder kept them well informed about their children and what was going on in her service. Currently the childminder gained the views of the children through observation and discussion with the older children. Parents' views were encouraged through daily discussion, meetings if required and a questionnaire which was issued earlier this year. We found that children's and parents' feedback influenced changes and improvements to the service. We discussed different ways in which the childminder might obtain increased and comprehensive feedback from the children and parents (Please refer to recommendation 1). The childminder found the information from the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) helpful and informative. She told us that they kept her up to date regarding good practice and current legislation. She had completed a childminding induction which included pre-registration information and found this really useful as it covered best practice in relation to outcomes for children and the business of childminding. We discussed the importance of the childminder maintaining up to date knowledge and practise in order to promote good outcomes for the children in her care. Available sources of online information included the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC): www.sssc.uk.com/ and the Care Inspectorate Hub: www.hub.careinspectorate.com (Please refer to recommendation 2). The childminder had undertaken some training since registering which included first aid (including children and babies), child protection and food hygiene and Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC). Please refer to the introduction for further information about this Scottish government initiative. We found the childminder's practise to be appropriate in relation to these areas. We identified that one of the conditions of registration was time constrained and no longer valid. The childminder confirmed that she would submit a variation application in order to have this condition removed from her registration certificate. Requirements Number of requirements: 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations: 2 1. The childminder to develop strategies which will involve children and parents in regularly and comprehensively assessing and improving the overall quality of the service provided. National Care Standards Early Education and Childcare up to the Age of 16 - Standard 13: Improving the service; Standard 14: Well managed service. 2. The childminder to ensure that she monitors and regularly identifies her training and development needs; training to be carefully planned and evaluated taking into account the needs of the children in her care, her personal development and national and local guidelines. for Gibb, Cheryl page 7 of 10
National Care Standards Early Education and Childcare up to the Age of 16 - Standard 12: Confidence in staff; Standard 13: Improving the service; Standard 14: Well managed service. Grade: 4 - good 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 There are no outstanding recommendations. 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. for Gibb, Cheryl page 8 of 10
Inspection and grading history This service does not have any prior inspection history or grades. for Gibb, Cheryl page 9 of 10
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 Gibb, Cheryl page 10 of 10