Novak, Shona Child Minding Type of inspection: Unannounced Inspection completed on: 12 December 2017 Service provided by: Novak, Shona Service provider number: SP2007965424 Care service number: CS2007153727
The service Introduction This service registered with the Care Inspectorate on 1 April 2011. Shona Novak provides a care service from her family home in the village of Catrine, East Ayrshire. Areas of the accommodation used for childminding are the living room and dining area, upstairs toilet and enclosed back garden. The childminder is registered to care for 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. At the time of the inspection, three children were present. A full statement of aims is available from the service. What we did during our inspection We wrote this report following an unannounced inspection that took place on Monday 27 November 2017 between the hours of 11.00am - 12noon and on Tuesday 12 December 2017 between the hours of 10.50am-1.00pm. We provided the childminder with feedback on 12 December 2017. To assess how well the childminder had been providing care to the children using the service we gathered information from a range of sources. Getting it Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) quality indicators were used to ensure a holistic approach. More information about the GIRFEC approach can be found at www.hubcareinspectorate.com. During this inspection process, we looked around the areas of the childminder's home used by the minded children, and we gathered evidence from various sources, including the following: We spoke with: - The childminder - Three children present during inspection. We looked at: - Children's information records - Children's personal plans - Service policy and procedures - Risk assessments - Parental permissions - Accident recording forms - Registration certificate - Insurance certificates - Medication records - Training records. for Novak, Shona page 2 of 10
Views of people using the service We sent out three care standards questionnaires and asked the childminder to give them to families who used her service. Prior to completing this inspection no care standards questionnaires were returned. Throughout our inspection, we observed the care provided to the minded children. We saw that the children were confident in their interactions with the childminder and they were seen to be relaxed in her care. Self assessment The childminder did not submit a self-assessment to the Care Inspectorate when requested to do so. We discussed the value of completing a self-assessment with the childminder. What the service did well The childminder provided a welcoming environment for the children she minded. She was friendly and approachable and the children present were seen to be relaxed and comfortable in her care throughout our inspection. The childminder knew the children well and we saw her being responsive to the needs of the children in her care. What the service could do better During this inspection we have made five recommendations to the childminder and asked her to address these. 1. The childminder should continue to develop written personal plans for each child in her care. These should show how the children's health, welfare and safety needs are to be met and in consultation with the parents must be reviewed, signed and dated at least once every six months. 2. The childminder should ensure that she records administration of medication to minded children in line with the current health guidance on the 'Management of Medication in Daycare and Childminding Services'. 3. The childminder should obtain written parental permissions for minded children's contact with the pet guinea pigs. 4. The childminder should carry out written risk assessments for her home environment, this should include her back garden and the pet guinea pigs. 5. The childminder should access regular training. She should use the learning gained to develop her skills and keep up-to-date with current legislation and best practice guidance. 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 4 - Good not assessed 3 - Adequate for Novak, Shona page 3 of 10
Quality of care and support Findings from the inspection The childminder had daily discussions with the minded children's families to ensure that their children's needs were met. This meant that information was considered and care decisions made in partnership with families. We observed interaction between the childminder and the children present and saw that she was responsive to their care needs. During the inspection, we saw the children to be happy and relaxed in the care of the childminder, confident that their needs would be met. We saw the children choosing toys they wanted to play with. We could see this supported the children to feel included in their care, offered them choices and allowed them to feel that their views were listened to. The childminder gathered a range of information on each child. This information was used to inform how she would care for each child in her care. We found the childminder used this information to plan her daily routines around the individual needs of the children. Parents contributed to this through discussion with the childminder. We discussed how the childminder should further develop the children's personal plans to ensure that they reflect the current legislation. In particular, she should ensure that all information in relation to children's needs are recorded, dated and reviewed with parents. To provide guidance on developing personal plans we emailed the childminder a copy of SSI210 (see recommendation 1). We asked the childminder how she corded information when she had to administer medication to children in her care. We found that the childminders procedures did not reflect the current best practice. We asked to update her practice to ensure that she records administration of medication to minded children in line with the current health guidance on the 'Management of Medication in Daycare and Childminding Services' (see recommendation 2). Requirements Number of requirements: 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations: 2 1. The childminder should continue to develop written personal plans for each child in her care. These should show how the children's health, welfare and safety needs are to be met and in consultation with the parents must be reviewed at least once every six months. National Care Standards for early education and childcare up to the age of 16 - Standard 3: Health and wellbeing. for Novak, Shona page 4 of 10
2. The childminder should ensure that she records administration of medication to minded children in line with the current health guidance on the 'Management of Medication in Daycare and Childminding Services'. National Care Standards for early education and childcare up to the age of 16 - Standard 3: Health and wellbeing. Grade: 3 - adequate Quality of environment Findings from the inspection The childminder's home was warm and welcoming for the children in her care. The childminder had organised her accommodation to meet the needs of the children attending. This included space to move around freely as they played on the floor, relax on the sofa and have a quiet time if needed. A table and chairs in the dining area allowed children to have meals and snacks together supporting their social development. They were also able to draw at the table and do arts at crafts there. On the day of inspection, we saw the children choosing toys they wanted to play with, allowing them to make choices and to promote their independence. To ensure that she provided a safe environment for the children, the childminder told us she carries out daily visual checks to make sure her home is hazard free, safe and child-friendly. We saw that the childminder stored all cleaning products in a cupboard within the kitchen area; access to the kitchen is restricted by a safety gate. Any accidents or incidents children had been involved in were recorded and shared with parents. During our inspection, we saw that the childminders bathroom was clean and suitable for use by the minded children. The childminder told us she that she makes use of the local community, taking the children to local play parks. The childminder had a large garden to the rear of the house which the minded children could use. We saw the childminder had pet guinea pigs. We asked the childminder how she ensured the children's safety while in contact with the guinea pigs and we asked to see written permission for the children's contact with the pets. The childminder told us that she supervises the children's contact, but she did not have written permission from the parents. We asked the childminder to obtain this (see recommendation 1). During this inspection, we asked to see the childminder's written risk assessments for her home environment. The childminder was unable to provide us with written risk assessments. We discussed that she should complete written risk assessments for her home environment, this should include the family pet guinea pigs (see recommendation 2). Requirements Number of requirements: 0 for Novak, Shona page 5 of 10
Recommendations Number of recommendations: 2 1. The childminder should obtain written parental permissions for minded children's contact with the pet guinea pigs. National Care Standards for early education and childcare up to the age of 16 - Standard 2: A safe environment. 2. The childminder should carry out written risk assessments for her home environment, this should include her back garden and the pet guinea pigs. The risk assessments should include identifying potential hazards and the safety measures she will put in place to minimise risk. National Care Standards for early education and childcare up to the age of 16 - Standard 2: A safe environment. Grade: 4 - good Quality of staffing This quality theme was not assessed. Quality of management and leadership Findings from the inspection We asked the childminder to tell us how she ensured that she was aware of and up-to-date with best practice and legislation. The childminder told us she keeps up-to-date with best practice through a variety of ways, including her involvement with the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA). She reads the childminding magazine and will follow-up anything that interests her online. The childminder told us she has contact with East Ayrshire Childminding Development Project. The childminder told us that she evaluates her service on a regular basis through regular discussions with parents and children. We asked the childminder to register with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) in line with the Data Protection Act 1998. The childminder has a current certificate in first aid. During the inspection, the childminder told us that she had attended child protection training. To continue to support her knowledge and understanding of current guidelines and good practice, we asked that she uses the knowledge gained through training and professional learning to ensure that her practice is in line with current legislation and best practice (see recommendation 1). Requirements Number of requirements: 0 for Novak, Shona page 6 of 10
Recommendations Number of recommendations: 1 1. The childminder should access regular training. She should use the learning gained to develop her skills and keep up-to-date with current legislation and best practice guidance. National Care Standards for early education and childcare up to the age of 16 - Standard 6: Support and development. 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 review and where necessary update her childminding service's policies and procedures. She should then issue the families using her service with a copy of the updated policies and procedures. National Care Standards for early education and childcare up to the age of 16 - Standard 1.2: Being welcomed and valued. This recommendation was made on 17 May 2013. Action taken on previous recommendation During our inspection visit on 12 December 2017, we saw that the childminder had updated some of her service policies. This recommendation is: met. for Novak, Shona page 7 of 10
Recommendation 2 The childminder should develop personal plans for the children using her childminding service and ensure these plans are reviewed at least once every six months or sooner if there is a significant change in any child's needs. National Care Standards for early education and childcare up to the age of 16 - Standard 3: Health and wellbeing and Standard 6: Support and development. This recommendation was made on 17 May 2013. Action taken on previous recommendation During our inspection visit on 12 December 2017, we saw that the childminder had gathered some information on children's needs. However, this did not reflect 'The Scottish Statutory Instrument' SSI/210 personal plan. We have made a requirement within this report. Recommendation 3 The childminder should develop risk assessments for activities outwith her home. National Care Standards for early education and childcare up to the age of 16 - Standard 2: A safe environment. This recommendation was made on 17 May 2013. Action taken on previous recommendation During our inspection visit on 12 December 2017, we saw that the childminder had not developed risk assessments. We have made further recommendation within this report Recommendation 4 The childminder should update the service's medication policy and medication records to take account of the advice contained in the Care Inspectorate publication 'Management of Medication in Daycare and Childminding Services'. National Care Standards for early education and childcare up to the age of 16 - Standard 3.6: Health and wellbeing. This recommendation was made on 17 May 2013. Action taken on previous recommendation During our inspection visit on 12 December 2017, we saw that the childminder did not record administration of medication in line with 'Management of Medication in Daycare and Childminding Services'. We have made further recommendation within this report. Recommendation 5 The childminder should continue to develop her childcare practice by attending training or undertaking periods of self-directed study. National Care Standards for early education and childcare up to the age of 16 - Standard 12.2: Confidence in staff. This recommendation was made on 17 May 2013. for Novak, Shona page 8 of 10
Action taken on previous recommendation During our inspection visit on 12 December 2017, we saw that the childminder had undertaken recent child protection training. However, we discussed the benefit of continuing accessing relevant professional learning and training with the childminder. 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 17 May 2013 Announced (short notice) Care and support 4 - Good Environment 4 - Good Staffing 4 - Good Management and leadership Not assessed 30 Jul 2009 Announced Care and support 5 - Very good Environment 5 - Very good Staffing 5 - Very good Management and leadership Not assessed 26 May 2008 Announced (short notice) Care and support 4 - Good Environment 4 - Good Staffing 4 - Good Management and leadership 4 - Good for Novak, Shona 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 Novak, Shona page 10 of 10