Barber, Carole Child Minding

Transcription

1 Barber, Carole Child Minding Type of inspection: Unannounced Inspection completed on: 6 September 2016 Service provided by: Barber, Carole Service provider number: SP Care service number: CS

2 The service Introduction Carole Barber has been registered with the Care Inspectorate since The service is registered to provide a care service to a maximum of 6 children under the age of 16 years, of whom no more than 6 are under 12 years, of whom no more than 3 are of an age not yet attending primary school and of whom no more than 1 is less than 1 year of age. Numbers are inclusive of the children of the childminder's family and overnight service will not be provided. The service is provided from the childminder's semi detached home in the Newton Mearns area of East Renfrewshire. The service is close to local parks, shops and amenities. The areas used to provide the service are on the ground floor and include a toilet, sitting room, playroom, kitchen and dining area which had direct access to the rear garden. The aims of the service include to "provide a safe environment in which children can play and learn." What we did during our inspection We wrote this report following an unannounced inspection which took place on Tuesday 6 September 2016 between 9.30am and 11.15am and 3.15pm and 4.30pm. The inspection was carried out by an early years inspector for the Care Inspectorate and feedback was given to the childminder on the day of the inspection. During the inspection process, we gathered evidence from various sources. We considered the service's: - aims and objectives - certificate of registration - range of policies and procedures including child protection - personal plans and individual records - health and safety risk assessments and hygiene and infection controls - public liability insurance certificate - training certificates for courses that the childminder had undertaken. We also spoke with one parent and observed and chatted to the childminder and three minded children who were present during our afternoon visit. We issued three care standards questionnaires and received two completed questionnaires from parents. We check services are meeting the principles of Getting it right for every child (also known as GIRFEC). This is 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. page 2 of 9

3 Views of people using the service During the inspection there were three minded children and the childminder's three children present. They all appeared happy and confidently interacted with the childminder and each other in the pleasant, homely environment. We received three care standards questionnaires from parents prior to the inspection. These showed that all parents strongly agreed they were overall happy with the quality of care their child received. Parents' comments included: "Carole regularly asks my son and myself our opinions and news. Daily updates are also given on pick up and any questions and queries are answered. Yearly or maybe twice yearly update of care plan given to me to check over or amend as required. Carol provides a great service of a very high standard. She offers great flexibility and is always child focused." "Very pleased. Activities are active and based mainly outdoors. Follows a healthy eating regime." We spoke to one parent on a one to one basis who praised the child centred approach and great use of outdoor play areas and parks which supported her child's current interests and physical development. Self assessment Every year all care services should complete a self assessment telling us how their service is performing. We received a fully completed self assessment from the childminder. The childminder identified what she thought her service did well and gave examples of improvements in health and wellbeing and environment. The self assessment identified some key areas that the childminder believes can be improved and showed how the service intends to do this. The childminder told us how the parents' and children's views were considered in the self assessment process. What the service did well The childminder had developed positive relationships with children and their families. She provided very good opportunities for children to undertake active play experiences within her home, garden and wider community. The childminder listened and valued children's suggestions and encouraged them to take forward their individual choices and interests. What the service could do better The childminder should continue to maintain existing practice and further develop personal plans to support and track outcomes for children. page 3 of 9

4 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 5 - Very Good not assessed 5 - Very Good Quality of care and support Findings from the inspection A settling in policy was in place which informed a flexible settling in process to support new children and parents. Settling in visits helped to develop relationships and provided opportunities for parents to discuss and share expectations about their child's development, routine, health, wellbeing and safety needs. This contributed to continuity of care provided at home and whilst in the childminder's care We viewed all about me records, personal plans and diary entries which showed when additional support was needed. We noted that the childminder worked in partnership with parents to put in place agreed strategies to support individual children, when needed. For example, the childminder used open ended questions to support language development and provided time for children to respond and share their views. In consequence, we saw minded children, happily exploring the childminder's home and confidently interacting with each other and the childminder. This approach contributed to the nurturing, inclusive interactions observed. We noted that information relating to siblings was in some instances recorded together. Following discussion, the childminder agreed to review how information was recorded and used to track outcomes for individual children. The childminder knew the needs of individual children very well and provided age appropriate activities to enable them to take forward their interests. Younger children told us how they enjoyed going on walks in the woods with their friends. Older children enjoyed baking activities and one child told us: "I enjoy baking. We made stress balls but mine burst in my sister's car. We made them because we are mature." Parents strongly agreed in the care standards questionnaires that the childminder asked for their views and that information was regularly reviewed. Parents' comments included: "Regular discussions at collection time on what my views and preferences are for my child. Text updates are also provided throughout the day. Any issues that may have arisen are discussed and possible solutions considered together." page 4 of 9

5 The childminder demonstrated a very good understanding of promoting children's health. In response to a parent's suggestion, we saw children were offered drinks when arriving at the service and fruit snacks were readily available. Children showed us where and how they washed their hands. They were developing good hand hygiene practices and were encouraged and supported to wash their hands on arrival, after toileting and prior to eating. This contributed to promoting healthy choices. We therefore found effective systems were in place to support the overall health and wellbeing needs of individual children. Requirements Number of requirements: 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations: 0 Grade: 5 - very good Quality of environment Findings from the inspection From the information and evidence sampled, we concluded the service was operating at a very good standard in relation to this theme. There was a welcoming, happy atmosphere when we arrived. Two younger children were busy building a train track in the well organised playroom. They had space and time to extend their imaginative play and were keen to take a leading role in directing their own play. The childminder informed us that to maintain a safe play environment younger children were currently being encouraged to tidy up prior to selecting other resources. Children happily responded to her requests and told us they needed to tidy up or the train set would not reach to other side of the room. We spoke to older children who told us they were happy to relax on the sofa and watch their favourite television programme. The homely environment was very evident as younger children made good use of the bright, spacious playroom and older children could make informed choices about activities and areas within the childminder's home they wished to access. This contributed to the positive ethos observed. Daily risk assessments and visual checks were carried out to ensure areas used by children were clean and free from hazards. We saw appropriate information and consent from parents was recorded in personal plans and used to inform the childminder's practice. For example, access to trampoline and use of car seats. page 5 of 9

6 The childminder used her seven seat car for business purposes. Relevant insurance and car safety checks were carried out and shared with parents. The childminder was very vigilant and explained how she worked with parents to ensure current car seat safety guidance was adhered to when transporting children. Children had developed a good understanding of road safety and were using the Stick Man adventures to keep safe in the woods. One child told us: "Stick Man likes to go home safe. I am a stick man and I can run through the trees." The childminder was very aware of current best practice available on The Hub section of the Care Inspectorate website and had used this information to maintain a safe and hygienic environment for children in her care. In consequence, we saw children had access to clean and well maintained resources. Requirements Number of requirements: 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations: 0 Grade: 5 - very good Quality of staffing This quality theme was not assessed. Quality of management and leadership Findings from the inspection The childminder was committed to her professional development. She informed us that she had previously attended local authority training to support her practice and more recently had completed on-line training courses available from the Scottish Childminding Association. Recent training included Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC), Building the Ambition and first aid. The childminder highlighted that she was currently seeking on-line child protection training to update her knowledge and understanding of safeguarding practices. The childminder attended GIRFEC training and spoke confidently about the health and wellbeing indictors. She told us she was currently seeking guidance to improve personal plan recording systems from the Scottish Childminding Association to take account of the health and wellbeing indicators. page 6 of 9

7 The childminder told us she regularly sought the views of parents and children using a variety of media including daily discussions, text messages, policy reviews and feedback questionnaires. We noted that following a recent policy review, parents signed to say they were agreed with and were willing to comply with the reviewed medication recording procedures adopted in line with current best practice guidance. This promoted an inclusive approach. The childminder respected and valued parents' comments and used them to improve children's experiences. For example, parents requested younger children attended gym ted classes in the local community to promote active play and older children influenced outings and events they wished to attend. This contributed to an inclusive and responsible ethos. Following discussion, we further directed the childminder to the Scottish Government's Building the Ambition guidance and My World Outdoors, available on the Care Inspectorate website, to inform her practice and outcomes for children. Requirements Number of requirements: 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations: 0 Grade: 5 - very 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. page 7 of 9

8 Complaints There have been no complaints upheld since the last inspection. Details of any older upheld complaints are published at Enforcement No enforcement action has been taken against this care service since the last inspection. Inspection and grading history Date Type Gradings 12 Dec 2012 Announced (short notice) Care and support 5 - Very good Environment 5 - Very good Staffing 5 - Very good Management and leadership Not assessed 14 Sep 2011 Announced (short notice) Care and support 4 - Good Environment 4 - Good Staffing 4 - Good Management and leadership Not assessed page 8 of 9

9 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 Contact us Care Inspectorate Compass House 11 Riverside Drive Dundee DD1 4NY enquiries@careinspectorate.com Find us on Facebook 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 9 of 9