Burton, Fiona Annan Inspection completed on 18 March 2016
Service provided by: Burton, Fiona Service provider number: SP2005944470 Care service number: CS2005089708 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 13
1 Introduction The Care Inspectorate regulates care services in Scotland. Information in relation to all care services is available on our website at www.careinspectorate.com Requirements and Recommendations If we are concerned about some aspect of a service, or think it needs to 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 recognise good practice. - A requirement is a statement, which sets out what is required of a care service to comply with the Public Services Reform (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. Fiona Burton provides a childminding service from her home in Annan. The childminder's current conditions of registration enable the service to be provided to a maximum of 6 children at any one time under the age of 16, of whom a maximum of 6 will be under 12 years of age, 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 aims and objectives state, 'To engage children in activities according to their age, stage and ability, however the children also mix as a group which I believe improves social skills communication skills and development of them as individuals'. page 3 of 13
What we did during our inspection We wrote this report following an unannounced inspection. This was carried out by one inspector. The inspection took place on Monday 7 March 2016 between 9.30 and 11.15am. As part of the inspection, we took account of the completed self-assessment form that we asked the childminder to complete and submit to us. We sent four care standards questionnaires to distribute to parents. Four parents sent us completed questionnaires. During this inspection process, we gathered evidence from various sources including the following: - discussions with the childminder - observations of the childminder interacting with the both children cared for during our visit - children's personal plans - observations of the environment - risk assessments - medication procedures - child protection procedures - complaints procedure - training information - insurance certificate - infection control procedures - record keeping. Views of people using the service Two children were present during the inspection. Both were under school age. The children were settled, comfortable and happy and enjoyed playing with a variety of toys.the childminder interacted well with the children during our visit. All four parents who completed the questionnaires told us they extremely happy with the quality of care. They stated: ' My child is very happy to go to Fiona's'. 'We are entirely satisfied with the care she provides'. 'My childminder treats my child as her own which ensures I am happy to leave my child with her at all times'. 'We are very happy with the service'. 'I have never had any concerns'. 'She is a fantastic childminder'. 'I do not need to worry about my children whilst page 4 of 13
they are in her care'. 'I cant' praise her enough she always goes above and beyond the call of duty and my child absolutely loves her'. The views of parents are also reflected throughout the report. 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. We received a completed Self Assessment from the childminder which identified what she thought she did well in all three quality themes we inspected; Quality of Care and Support, Quality of Environment and Quality of Management and Leadership. What the service did well The childminder was kind and caring. The children were comfortable, happy and well settled. Children can be involved in wide variety of activities which includes being involved in community groups. Children are encouraged to be active and healthy. They are taken on walks daily and have the use of a large garden. There is a good choice of toys in the playroom. What the service could do better The childminder could improve children's personal plans, medication and child protection procedures. She should use gloves and aprons for changing children. Children and parents could be more involved in evaluating the quality of the service. 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 page 5 of 13
3 Quality of care and support Findings from the inspection We observed kind, caring and nurturing relationships between the childminder and the children. The childminder described children's individual needs and interests and discussed how these were used to provide appropriate activities. Children had access to fresh air and exercise on a daily basis and were taken regularly on country walks. This encouraged children to be healthy and active. Very good use was made of community resources. Children were involved in singing groups and with childminding groups. This encouraged the children to socialise, to be included and helped to build confidence. Parents stated: 'attends regular activities within the community to help develop social skills and help with interaction'., The childminder provided examples of working with and supporting families. A selection of healthy food for lunch and snack was provided. Children were involved in purchasing food and in making meals. One child told us how they enjoyed making soup in the blender. This encouraged children to learn about healthy eating. The childminder told us she was aware of the guidance; Setting the Table. The childminder described how she took account of children's preferences and allergies. We looked at personal plans for some children. We found that some information was not recorded and that some plans had not been reviewed. The childminder advised she had recently started using a new format for recording information. She was unable to show us previous records. We discussed using personal plans to record children's development and individual needs along with required information. We discussed the importance of reviewing information with parents at least every six months. Some parents had provided written information advising they did not want all about me records for their children. One parent who competed the care standards questionnaire stated; 'when choosing child care I wanted a home from home experience where my child would be treated as part of the family and with no excessive paperwork'. The childminder can still take account of the views of parent whilst ensuring the required information is detailed in personal plans. See requirement 1. page 6 of 13
The childminder had attended child protection training and described procedures to help keep children safe and protected. The childminder advised she would contact the named person if she had concerns about a child. However, this information was not recorded for some children. The procedures described by the childminder differed from the written procedures we looked at. We recommended the childminder review procedures to ensure appropriate measures are in place to report concerns. See recommendation 1. Medication was administered to children. The childminder described procedures which included written consent from parents. The childminder was unable to locate this consent for medication she had administered. We referred to good practice and to the Care Inspectorate guidelines; The Management of Medication in Daycare and Childminding Services. This will assist the childminder to further develop safe practice regarding medication. See recommendation 2. Grade The quality of care and support is graded 3 - Adequate Requirements Number of requirements - 1 1. The childminder must ensure that personal plans, which include required information, are in place for each child. Each plan should be reviewed with parents every 6 months. This is in order to comply with: The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Requirements for Care Services) Regulations 2011 (SSI 2011/210), regulation 5(1)(2). Timescale: within 48 hours of the inspection. Following the inspection visit the childminder advised personal plans had been reviewed and the required information was recorded. page 7 of 13
Recommendations Number of recommendations - 2 1. The childminder should seek advice regarding the contact details for reporting child protection concerns and update the procedure. National Care Standards: early education and childcare up to the age of 16 years. Standard 3: Health and wellbeing. 2. The childminder should further develop medication procedures to ensure that safe, best practice is followed. National Care Standards: early education and childcare up to the age of 16 years. Standard 3: Health and wellbeing. 4 Quality of environment Findings from the inspection We found the environment to be homely, warm, welcoming and relaxed. Good use was made of the playroom. We observed children choosing from a range of play equipment and resources. This encouraged independence and allowed children to make choices about what they wanted to do. A large garden, with a variety of play equipment enabled children to play outdoors. This encouraged active, healthy lifestyles. The childminder had carried out a premises risk assessment. We advised that the safety of outdoor play equipment should be detailed in the risk assessment. We referred the childminder to the guidance; Fire Precautions in Domestic Childminding Premises - A Guide for Childminders, for guidance on securing doors in the event of a fire. An application had been made to the local authority to register to provide food. The childminder agreed to follow this up as she has not received any communication from them. Parents told us the home was safe, secure hygienic and stimulating and stated,'very safe and secure environment', 'very safe nurturing environment'. We found procedures were in place for recording and reporting accidents/ incidents. We were unable to look at any records as there had not been accidents/incidents since the last inspection. page 8 of 13
The childminder described procedures to help reduce the spread of infection. We found the environment to be clean and hygiene and the toys and equipment to be in a good state of repair. The childminder described nappy changing which did not include the use of gloves or aprons. The applicant advised us she had both however did not use them as she ensured her hands were washed. We referred the childminder to the good practice document 'Infection Prevention and Control in Childcare Settings (Daycare and Childminding Services). The use of gloves and aprons for nappy changing will reduce the spread of infection and will help to keep children safe and healthy. See recommendation 1. Grade The quality of environment is graded 3 - Adequate Requirements Number of requirements - 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations - 1 1. The childminder should follow good practice and use gloves and aprons for nappy changing, as detailed in the 'Infection Prevention and Control in Childcare Settings (Daycare and Childminding Services). National Care Standards: early education and childcare up to the age of 16 years. Standard 3: Health and wellbeing. 5 Quality of staffing We only assess this where the childminder employs an assistant. 6 Quality of management and leadership Findings from the inspection The childminder had attended a range of training since the last inspection some of which included; building the ambition, infection control, first aid, safe and secure, tears and tantrums, GIRFEC, autism and health training. The page 9 of 13
childminder described how she kept up to date with practice by attending the childminding group, through reading childminding magazines and through information provided by the local authority. We found the childminder was unfamiliar with the legislation particularly the requirements of care services. We agreed to send a copy of this and referred the childminder to the Care Inspectorate website and the HUB. This will provide the childminder with access to up to date information. The last inspection highlighted the timescale for responding to complaints from parents was inaccurate and advised this should be reviewed. We looked at the complaints procedure and found there was no timescale for responding to complaints. The childminder told us the timescale was 20 days, which is consistent with the requirements of care services. Detailing the timescale will provide parents with clear and accurate information. See recommendation 1. Parents told us they were confident the childminder would deal with complaints effectively. A recommendation was made at the last inspection that the childminder involved parents in the assessment of the service. The childminder told us she had not done this and advised she had stopped using questionnaires at the request of parents and that consultation was verbal. The childminder had not asked new parents about how they wanted to be consulted. Using effective ways of consultation gives both parents and children the opportunity to be fully involved in assessing and improving the quality of the service. See recommendation 2. The childminder had taken some time away from childminding since the last inspection which was more than 28 days. A notification was not made to the Care Inspectorate as required. We agreed to send the childminder guidance which will provide information of required notifications and record keeping. Grade The quality of management and leadership is graded 3 - Adequate Requirements Number of requirements - 0 page 10 of 13
Recommendations Number of recommendations - 2 1. The childminder should update the complaints procedure to detail the timescale for responding to complaints. National Care Standards: early education and childcare up to the age of 16 years. Standard 14: A well-managed service. 2. The childminder should ask parents about their preferred methods of being consulted about the service. The childminder should put systems in place to involve parents and children in evaluating the service. National Care Standards for early education and childcare up the age of 16, Standard 13 - Improving the service. 7 What the service has done to meet any recommendations or requirements we made at our last inspection Previous requirements There are no outstanding requirements. Previous recommendations 1. The childminder should continue to develop the way she completes her self assessment procedures so that they relate to the self-evaluation for the Care Inspectorate and directly involve parents in the process. This recommendation was made on 10 November 2011 No action had been taken. This is reported on under Quality of Management and Leadership in this report. page 11 of 13
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 discussed the conditions of registration with the childminder. We found that two of the conditions which enables the childminder to care for more than three children not attending primary school are no longer applicable. The childminder agreed to apply for a variation to have condition this amended. 11 Inspection and grading history Date Type Gradings 10 Nov 2011 Unannounced Care and support 5 - Very Good Environment 5 - Very Good Staffing 4 - Good Management and Leadership Not Assessed 2 Nov 2010 Announced (Short Notice) Care and support Environment Staffing Management and Leadership 3 - Adequate 4 - Good 4 - Good Not Assessed page 12 of 13
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 13 of 13