Welsh, Lorraine Child Minding Type of inspection: Unannounced Inspection completed on: 4 May 2017 Service provided by: Welsh, Lorraine Service provider number: SP2003905470 Care service number: CS2003010065
The service Introduction The childminder provides her childminding service from her semi-detached home in Blairgowrie. The minded children have access to a purpose-built playroom in her garden which enjoys direct access to a large, secure and well resourced garden. The playroom comprises of a carpeted play area, toilet and small kitchen area. The childminder is registered to provide a care service to a maximum of five children at any one time under the age of 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. We found that the childminder adheres to the conditions of her registration. 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), 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. What we did during our inspection We wrote this report following an unannounced inspection between 9.15am and 11.30am on 4 May 2017. We gave feedback to the childminder at the end of the inspection. We did not receive any completed questionnaires prior to our inspection visit however we contacted a parent following our inspection. We gathered information on the service from a range of other sources. These included: - observation of the child during activities - observation of the childminder and her interactions with the child in her care - all about me information - observation of the environment - discussion with the childminder - toys and resources - child's plans - the childminder's policies - registration certificate - evaluation folder - the childminder's continued professional development certificates. page 2 of 10
Views of people using the service During the inspection we saw the childminder working with one child. We observed the child to be very happy playing in the childminder's care. She showed us some of the toys she enjoyed playing with. We saw that she was able to select these easily from a wide range on offer. Following our inspection we spoke to a parent of the children registered with the childminder. She told us that she was very happy with the care her children received when using the service. She told us: "We are very happy with the care Lorraine gives to our children. She is very flexible and approachable which is what we need. She asks us for our opinions and most importantly consults with our children." Self assessment The childminder had not completed an annual return or self assessment when requested to do so. We spoke about the importance of completing these each year within the required timescales. It forms an important part of the inspection process and is used to evidence service evaluation and improvement. What the service did well The service provided a very warm and caring atmosphere for children. The childminder was kind and respectful of the children within her care. She provided a very good outdoor environment, with a range activities for children to explore and be creative with. What the service could do better Despite repeated attempts to contact the childminder she had refused to engage with us and keep us informed about her service, we discussed the importance of maintaining regular contact. The childminder should ensure she updates her practice through training and professional reading to ensure she is following current best practice guidance. During our inspection we discussed how the childminder should consult with the children in her care to identify their interests and to evaluate the service which she provides. 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 5 - Very Good not assessed 2 - Weak page 3 of 10
Quality of care and support Findings from the inspection From the evidence gathered during the inspection we found that the service was performing to an adequate standard in this area. The childminder spent time each day with parents as they dropped off or collected children. She promoted an open discussion where families felt confident to share their suggestions and talk through any concerns. She kept a diary for the youngest child in her care to share daily information detailing her experiences and achievements. This provided parents with a valuable communication tool where they were able to share information from home. We looked at the individual folders for each child. These contained all about me information; we discussed how this must be updated every six months (see Recommendation 1). The childminder liked to work with a theme. Children were currently involved in learning about and using a variety of weaving techniques. Much of the learning and experiences were very adult led. We suggested that the childminder could be more responsive to the children's ideas and interests. The childminder had a list of simple house rules, which were displayed in the playroom. On the day of inspection we heard the childminder refer to the rules in place to keep the child in her care safe. The childminder had a robust protocol for the administration of medications. All snacks and meals were provided by the childminder. On the day of inspection the child in her care was enjoying a crumpet and a selection of fruit for snack. She had consulted with the children to create a list of their favourite foods and used this when devising menus. We directed the childminder to a number of best practice documents available at www.hub.careinspectorate.com which would support her in the provision of healthy meals and snacks. Requirements Number of requirements: 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations: 1 1. The childminder should ensure that the personal plans of children using the service are reviewed once every six months or more often as necessary. National Care Standards, Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16, Standard 3: Health and Wellbeing, Standard 6: Support and Development, Standard 14: Well-managed Service. Grade: 3 - adequate page 4 of 10
Quality of environment Findings from the inspection From the evidence gathered during the inspection we found that the service was performing to a very good standard in this area. We concluded this after talking with the childminder and looking round the childminder's playroom and garden. From our observations we saw that the playroom was clean, tidy and smoke free. We saw a range of resources which were appropriate to the age and stage of the children she was working with. Children were able to choose toys from a selection on offer. This ensured the children were beginning to become responsible for their choices. There was plenty of space for the children to play and explore. Children attending after school were given the opportunity to suggest games and activities they could participate in. We suggested that the children should begin to note their ideas and evaluate activities on mind maps or in a planning file. The childminder used her garden on a regular basis. It appeared to be safe and secure and contained a large variety of resources to ensure that children were kept healthy and active. We attended on a very sunny day and all activities were being enjoyed outside. The childminder was aware of the need for children to have regular daily outdoor active play. This contributed to the health and wellbeing of the children. The childminder informed us that she made regular outings within the local community and further afield during the school holidays. These included Blair Drummond Safari Park and Drimmie Woods. Children had been involved in risk assessing their visit to the safari park. Children had their own individual hand towels for drying hands. These were hung from clearly labelled hooks. This helped to prevent the spread of infection. The childminder had a system in place for the recording of accidents and incidents with a copy given to parents and a copy retained by the childminder. We reminded the childminder of the type of accidents and incidents which required notification. Requirements Number of requirements: 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations: 0 Grade: 5 - very good Quality of staffing This quality theme was not assessed. page 5 of 10
Quality of management and leadership Findings from the inspection From the evidence gathered during the inspection we found that the service was performing to a weak standard in this area. We concluded this after talking with the childminder and looking at supporting paperwork and individual records. We discussed child protection the childminder was aware of and confident in her role and responsibility in keeping children safe. She recognised that she should look for a course or training to further update her knowledge. We had not received any annual returns or self assessments from the childminder (see Requirement 1). Telephone calls and correspondence had returned no response. We discussed this with the childminder and explained the importance of maintaining contact with us, improving her compliance with regulatory expectations (see Requirement 2). The childminder had not undertaken any professional training in the last few years and had a limited understanding of current best practice. We discussed the need for her to regularly review her training and development needs in accordance with the needs of the children in her care. Regular, comprehensive training and development would support the childminder in delivering a service promoting best practice and good outcomes for the children in her care (see Requirement 3). The childminder had little information and understanding of the National framework 'Getting it Right for Every Child' (GIRFEC). Further information on this may be accessed on the Scottish Government website, including information about the wellbeing indicators - safe, healthy, achieving, nurtured, active, respected, responsible, included (SHANARRI). We suggested the childminder could begin to use these headings in the development of her service. The childminder displayed relevant information, certificates and telephone numbers for parents in the playroom. We would ask that she ensures all of these are up-to-date. We found the childminder to be enthusiastic and committed to providing the best for the children and the family she worked with. We saw evidence of a happy well nurtured child who was being treated with respect and who enjoyed her time with Lorraine. Requirements Number of requirements: 3 1. We have a single corporate position on annual returns. We expect all staff to consistently and accurately reflect this position in all their dealings with service providers. This position is set out below. - Services are obliged to submit annual returns under Section 53(6) of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010. This states that we can at any time require providers to supply us with information relating to the service which we consider necessary or expedient. - Services must submit their completed annual return on time. Staff may not give permission to individual services to submit late. page 6 of 10
- We expect services to complete and submit online. Any service genuinely unable to do this must call the eforms helpdesk on 0345 600 9527. - We must consider very carefully any failure to submit which may affect the overall risk assessment of the service and/or the inspection findings, particularly where no reasonable explanation is given. - We will not automatically downgrade services for failing to submit an annual return. This is because we do not believe that non-submission is necessarily a reflection of poor quality of service. We will, however, publish details about submission or non-submission of annual returns within inspection reports. We also reserve the right to make a formal requirement relating to submission of an annual return, or in cases of serious or persistent non-compliance, to issue an improvement notice under s62 of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010, requiring its submission. 2. The service is required to engage with the Care Inspectorate to ensure that all parts of its regulatory duty can be carried out. This includes the service making prompt responses to all contact from the Care Inspectorate including, letters and telephone calls. This is in order to comply with: The Social Care and Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Requirements for Care Services) Regulations 2011 (SSI 2011/210) Regulation 4 (1) (b) (c) (Records, notifications and returns) Timescale: on receipt of this report. 3. The childminder must ensure that she regularly assesses her development needs and undertakes training to support positive outcomes for the children in her care. This is in order to comply with: The Social Care and Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Requirements for Care Services) Regulations 2011 (SSI 2011/210) - Regulation 15(b). Timescale: within three months of receipt of this report. Recommendations Number of recommendations: 0 Grade: 2 - weak page 7 of 10
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. page 8 of 10
Inspection and grading history Date Type Gradings 20 Nov 2014 1 Care and support 6 - Excellent 6 - Excellent Not assessed Management and leadership 6 - Excellent 16 Apr 2012 Re-grade Care and support Not assessed Not assessed 5 - Very good Management and leadership Not assessed 9 Mar 2012 Re-grade Care and support Not assessed Not assessed 1 - Unsatisfactory Management and leadership Not assessed 21 Jan 2011 Announced Care and support 5 - Very good Not assessed Not assessed Management and leadership Not assessed 17 Dec 2009 Announced (short notice) Care and support 5 - Very good 5 - Very good 5 - Very good Management and leadership Not assessed 25 Feb 2009 Announced (short notice) Care and support 4 - Good 2 - Weak 4 - Good Management and leadership Not assessed 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. page 10 of 10