Denham, Karen Child Minding Monifieth

Transcription

1 Denham, Karen Child Minding Monifieth Inspected by: Lorna Black Type of inspection: Announced (Short Notice) Inspection completed on: 14 May 2012

2 Contents Page No Summary 3 1 About the service we inspected 4 2 How we inspected this service 5 3 The inspection 8 4 Other information 15 5 Summary of grades 16 6 Inspection and grading history 16 Service provided by: Karen Denham Service provider number: SP Care service number: CS Contact details for the inspector who inspected this service: Lorna Black Telephone enquiries@scswis.com Denham, Karen, page 2 of 17

3 Summary This report and grades represent our assessment of the quality of the areas of performance which were examined during this inspection. Grades for this care service may change after this inspection following other regulatory activity. For example, if we have to take enforcement action to make the service improve, or if we investigate and agree with a complaint someone makes about the service. We gave the service these grades Quality of Care and Support 5 Very Good Quality of Environment 6 Excellent Quality of Staffing 5 Very Good What the service does well * The child minder provides a very caring and nurturing environment for children. * The child minder is very knowledgeable about child development and uses this knowledge to support children and their families. * The environment provides an excellent place for children to play and learn. What the service could do better * The child minder could consider how she could record children's development to make this more accessible to children and their parents. What the service has done since the last inspection * The child minder has continued to develop the service and listened to the views of parents and children. Conclusion We found the service was generally performing very well with some areas excellent practice. During our visit we saw children were happy and confident. The child minder was caring and nurturing and committed to ensuring best outcomes for children. Who did this inspection Lorna Black Lay assessor: Not applicable. Denham, Karen, page 3 of 17

4 1 About the service we inspected Karen Denham provides a childminding service from the Angus town of Monifieth. The service was registered with the Care Inspectorate on 1st April 2011 and may provide care to a maximum of 8 children up to the age of 16, of whom a maximum of six are aged 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. The service is provided from the family home in Monifieth. The aims of the service include the provision of a high quality childcare service in a safe, hygienic and stimulating environment where children have the opportunity to enjoy a range of activities and explore and learn through play and interaction with other children. Mrs Denham has a qualification in childcare and is committed to the ongoing development of her service. She is a member of a local child minding group. Based on the findings of this inspection this service has been awarded the following grades: Quality of Care and Support - Grade 5 - Very Good Quality of Environment - Grade 6 - Excellent Quality of Staffing - Grade 5 - Very Good This report and grades represent our assessment of the quality of the areas of performance which were examined during this inspection. Grades for this care service may change following other regulatory activity. You can find the most up-to-date grades for this service by visiting our website or by calling us on or visiting one of our offices. Denham, Karen, page 4 of 17

5 2 How we inspected this service The level of inspection we carried out In this service we carried out a low intensity inspection. We carry out these inspections when we are satisfied that services are working hard to provide consistently high standards of care. What we did during the inspection This report was written following a short notice announced Inspection visit by Lorna Black, Inspector, on 14 May Information was gathered in the following ways and used to assess a grade for each of the quality statements considered: * Parent/carer questionnaires returned to us * Discussion with the child minder * Observations of some records kept by the child minder about children using the service including children's "all about me" information, developmental records and medication records, * Service information including the public liability insurance certificate, policies and procedures in relation to health and safety and child protection and training records. * Information written into the self evaluation and annual returns * Two children were present during the inspection visit. We spent some time observing the children experiencing the service and their relationship with the child minder. * We spent some time checking the environment making sure it was safe for the children using the service. Grading the service against quality themes and statements We inspect and grade elements of care that we call 'quality themes'. For example, one of the quality themes we might look at is 'Quality of care and support'. Under each quality theme are 'quality statements' which describe what a service should be doing well for that theme. We grade how the service performs against the quality themes and statements. Details of what we found are in Section 3: The inspection Inspection Focus Areas (IFAs) In any year we may decide on specific aspects of care to focus on during our inspections. These are extra checks we make on top of all the normal ones we make during inspection. We do this to gather information about the quality of these aspects Denham, Karen, page 5 of 17

6 of care on a national basis. Where we have examined an inspection focus area we will clearly identify it under the relevant quality statement. Fire safety issues We do not regulate fire safety. Local fire and rescue services are responsible for checking services. However, where significant fire safety issues become apparent, we will alert the relevant fire and rescue services so they may consider what action to take. You can find out more about care services' responsibilities for fire safety at Denham, Karen, page 6 of 17

7 What the service has done to meet any recommendations we made at our last inspection No recommendations were made at the time of the last inspection. The annual return Every year all care services must complete an 'annual return' form to make sure the information we hold is up to date. We also use annual returns to decide how we will inspect the service. Annual Return Received: Yes - Electronic Comments on Self Assessment Every year all care services must complete a 'self assessment' form telling us how their service is performing. We check to make sure this assessment is accurate. The child minder provided a fully completed self assessment of her service which detailed areas where she thought the service did well and some areas where she thought the service could improve. Taking the views of people using the care service into account Two children were present during the inspection visit. Both children appeared to enjoy a very good relationship with the child minder. The children were happy and confident and sought comfort from the child minder when they needed to. Taking carers' views into account Two parents completed questionnaires before the inspection visit. All parents were very happy with the overall quality of the service. Some comments included: "Karen is a fantastic child minder who treats all the children in her care with patience, warmth, care and fun." "I could not be happier with the service that Karen provides... she is so patient with the children she cares for and they clearly adore her." Denham, Karen, page 7 of 17

8 3 The inspection We looked at how the service performs against the following quality themes and statements. Here are the details of what we found. Quality Theme 1: Quality of Care and Support Grade awarded for this theme: 5 - Very Good Statement 1 I ensure that parents and families participate in assessing and improving the quality of care and support provided by the service. Service strengths We looked at how the child minder involved children and families in improving the quality of the service. Before the inspection, the child minder sent us an evaluation of her service. In this the child minder told us she communicated effectively with parents and children in a number of ways including newsletters, questionnaires and daily notebooks. All two parents who completed questionnaires before the inspection "strongly agreed" that the child minder encouraged their child to make positive relationships with other children and that both they and their children enjoyed positive relationships with the child minder. They also "strongly agreed" that the child minder had involved them and their children in developing the service for example by asking for ideas and feedback. We talked with the child minder about how parents and children could improve the service. We found that the child minder made sure that she spoke with parents regularly even where children were brought to the service by others. This meant that all parents had opportunities to talk about their children with the child minder. We looked at some newsletters which the child minder had given to parents. These told parents of some activities she had planned and invited comments and ideas from parents. The completed questionnaires received by the child minder, supported the view that parents had very trusting relationships with the child minder. The child minder told us that she completed books for children, with photographs, so that parents could see their children enjoying the service and the different trips and activities they did. These were supported by a daily diary which parents were encouraged to look and to write any comments. The child minder's diary recorded where children had chosen the activity for the day - often decided on the day. Denham, Karen, page 8 of 17

9 We observed the child minder with the 2 young children who were there on the day of the inspection. Both the children appeared relaxed and happy with the child minder. We used the information we gathered in this area to consider how well families are involved in assessing and improving care and support, the environment and the overall service. We thought the service was excellent at this. Areas for improvement The child minder should continue to develop the excellent practice in this area. For example she could collate all her responses from her questionnaires and tell parents what action she intended to take. Grade awarded for this statement: 6 - Excellent Number of requirements: 0 Number of recommendations: 0 Statement 3 I gather information about the child and their needs. Service strengths We checked how well the child minder gathered information about the child and their needs. In the evaluation of the service, the child minder told us that she asked parents to complete personal information about children which included an "All about Me" book which asked for all the relevant information about children. The child minder stated that she kept records of children's work and photographs evidencing different stages of development. The two parents who completed a questionnaire for the Care Inspectorate told us that the child minder monitored their child's development and was flexible and responsive to children's individual needs. One parent commented: "(Karen) always provides plenty of activities that teach appropriately both indoor and outdoor." We saw examples of records kept by the child minder and how these recorded children's emerging interests and development. We talked with the child minder about how she uses the information she gathers to meet children's needs. The child minder gave examples of changing resources to meet emerging interests and encouraging learning and development. Overall we saw that the child minder was well able to meet children's needs. Denham, Karen, page 9 of 17

10 Areas for improvement The child minder should continue to build on the very good practice in this area. Grade awarded for this statement: 5 - Very Good Number of requirements: 0 Number of recommendations: 0 Denham, Karen, page 10 of 17

11 Quality Theme 2: Quality of Environment Grade awarded for this theme: 6 - Excellent Statement 1 I ensure that parents and families participate in assessing and improving the quality of the environment within the service. Service strengths The information used to award a grade for this statement has been reported in statement 1.1 Areas for improvement See Statement 1.1 Grade awarded for this statement: 6 - Excellent Number of requirements: 0 Number of recommendations: 0 Statement 2 My home is safe, hygienic, smoke free, clean and tidy for children using the service. Service strengths We checked the environment to make sure it was safe for children to use. In the evaluation of the service, the child minder told us that she was a registered food business and had completed training in food hygiene. She also told us that there was a health and safety policy in place and that the house is risk assessed daily. The two parents who completed a questionnaire for the Care Inspectorate told us that they were very happy with the quality of the environment. They thought that it was a safe, secure, hygienic, smoke free, pleasant and stimulating environment for their children. On the day, we saw that the areas used by children were safe, hygienic, clean and tidy. The child minder supervised the children appropriately and as a result, children and their parents felt the children were safe and well looked after. We looked at the health and safety policy and the risk assessments for the premises. We also looked at the records kept by the child minder in relation to maintenance of toys and the fabric of the building. Together these clearly evidenced how the child minder ensured a clean and healthy environment. Denham, Karen, page 11 of 17

12 Areas for improvement The childminder should continue to build on the excellent practice in this area. Grade awarded for this statement: 6 - Excellent Number of requirements: 0 Number of recommendations: 0 Denham, Karen, page 12 of 17

13 Quality Theme 3: Quality of Staffing Grade awarded for this theme: 5 - Very Good Statement 1 I ensure that parents and families participate in assessing and improving the quality of the service. Service strengths The information used to award a grade for this statement has been reported in statement 1.1 Areas for improvement See statement 1.1 Grade awarded for this statement: 6 - Excellent Number of recommendations: 0 Number of requirements: 0 Statement 2 I understand my role and responsibilities in relation to child protection and provide a service that promotes the health, nutrition and safety of the children in my care. Service strengths We checked how well the child minder understood her roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children and keeping them safe. We also checked out how well the child minder promoted children's health and encouraged healthy eating. In the evaluation of the service, the child minder told us that she had a child protection policy and had had training in child protection. The child minder informed us that she shares menus with parents and promotes health eating within the setting. The two parents who had completed questionnaires for the Care Inspectorate told us that they felt confident that the child minder would protect their children from harm, bullying, abuse and neglect. Both confirmed that meals and snacks were well balanced and met their child's dietary and cultural needs. We spoke with the child minder about how she would protect children in her care from abuse. The child minder discussed the need to communicate with parents, record any concerns and report any issues to the appropriate authority, taking advice as necessary. Denham, Karen, page 13 of 17

14 We spoke with the child minder about nutrition. We saw evidence that the child minder had attended training about nutrition and had developed menus which she had shared with children and their parents. We saw photographs of the children using the outdoors and taking part in active play both of which supported a healthy lifestyle. Following the government's decision that child minders should register as food businesses with their local environmental health department, the child minder decided to register as a food business. (Further information about this can be found at Areas for improvement The child minder should continue to develop the very good practice in this area. Grade awarded for this statement: 5 - Very Good Number of requirements: 0 Number of recommendations: 0 Denham, Karen, page 14 of 17

15 4 Other information Complaints No complaints have been upheld, or partially upheld, since the last inspection. Enforcements We have taken no enforcement action against this care service since the last inspection. Additional Information No additional information noted. Action Plan Failure to submit an appropriate action plan within the required timescale, including any agreed extension, where requirements and recommendations have been made, will result in SCSWIS re-grading the Quality Statement within the Management and Leadership Theme as unsatisfactory (1). This will result in the Quality Theme for Management and Leadership being re-graded as Unsatisfactory (1). Denham, Karen, page 15 of 17

16 5 Summary of grades Quality of Care and Support Very Good Statement 1 Statement Excellent 5 - Very Good Quality of Environment Excellent Statement 1 Statement Excellent 6 - Excellent Quality of Staffing Very Good Statement 1 Statement Excellent 5 - Very Good 6 Inspection and grading history Date Type Gradings 28 Sep 2010 Announced (Short Notice) Care and support Environment Staffing Management and Leadership 6 - Excellent Not Assessed 6 - Excellent Not Assessed 18 Nov 2008 Announced (short notice) Care and support Environment Staffing Management and Leadership 5 - Very Good 5 - Very Good 5 - Very Good 5 - Very Good All inspections and grades before 1 April 2011 are those reported by the former regulator of care services, the Care Commission. Denham, Karen, page 16 of 17

17 To find out more about our inspections and inspection reports Read our leaflet 'How we inspect'. You can download it from our website or ask us to send you a copy by telephoning us on This inspection report is published by SCSWIS. You can get more copies of this report and others by downloading it from our website: or by telephoning Translations and alternative formats This inspection report is available in other languages and formats on request. Telephone: enquiries@scswis.com Web: Denham, Karen, page 17 of 17