Finnan, Sheena Larkhall Inspection completed on 18 August 2015
Service provided by: Finnan, Sheena Service provider number: SP2003903887 Care service number: CS2003006591 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 12
1 Introduction Childminder inspection report The Care Inspectorate regulates care services in Scotland. Information in relation to all care services is available on our website at www.careinspectorate.com This service was previously registered with the care commission and transferred to the Care Inspectorate on 1 April 2011. 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. The service operates from the childminder's home in Larkhall, in South Lanarkshire. The service is registered to provide a care service 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, 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 five minded children were registered to attend the service. There were two minded children present at the time of the inspection. The service aims to provide a warm, caring and stimulating environment. What we did during our inspection We wrote this report following an unannounced inspection carried out by an Inspector on 18 August 2015 between 9.50 and 11.15am. page 3 of 12
We sent five care standards questionnaires to the service to distribute to relatives or carers of children who use the service. Five relatives returned the questionnaires before the inspection. All relative indicated they were very happy with the service provided. During this inspection process, we gathered evidence from various sources, including the following; We spoke with the childminder and minded children. We observed the interaction between the childminder and minded children. We looked at: - child information forms and personal plans - medication records - accident records - attendance records - training undertaken - registration certificate - insurance certificate Views of people using the service Two children were present at the inspection. The children were keen to talk and show the inspector the toys. The inspector concluded the children were settled and familiar within the childminder's home. Five parents provided positive feedback about the care their children received. Parents told us the children were regularly out and about visiting toddler groups and the library. The parents were happy with how the childminder communicates with them and kept them informed of their children's experiences. 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 provider on the 5 November 2014. page 4 of 12
This provided us with details of the services strengths and some areas for further development. The childminder should include more information on how they plan to address any areas identified to improve the service. What the service did well The childminder had made good use of the space available both indoors and outdoors. Children had regular access to the secure garden and visited a range of local amenities. The childminder had a good understanding of the minded children's stages of development and provided good support for both the children and their families. The childminder had good relationships with the children and their families. As a result they worked closely with them to ensure they met the needs of the children. What the service could do better The childminder should ensure that accident records contain details of the outcome of any accidents and if they have contacted parents by telephone or text messaging. The childminder should contact the Information Commission Office to find out about registration. 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 5 - Very Good 5 - Very Good not assessed 5 - Very Good page 5 of 12
3 Quality of care and support Findings from the inspection At this inspection, we looked at how the childminder gathered information about the minded children using the service and how they used this to plan their care. We also considered how the childminder encouraged and promoted healthy living. The childminder explained the process used to gather information about the minded children. This included information gathered during settling in visits, during daily discussions and through observing children's needs and interests. Parents told us that they were provided with clear information about the service and were able to visit the service before they started using the service. They also told us that they are kept informed about any new children. We viewed the records held on the children which included child information sheets, personal plans, medication and accident records. We found that the records gave an accurate account of children's needs and interests and how the childminder supported them. The parents gave positive feedback about how the childminder knew their children and planned activities to support their needs. We concluded the childminder knew the minded children well and planned appropriate experiences to support their needs and interests. The childminder gave examples of how they supported children to live health lifestyles. The childminder provided home-made meals and encouraged children to eat fruits and to have regular drinks of milk and water. To encourage children the childminder made food fun for example linking foods to animals. One child told us they eating bananas like monkeys. The childminder supported families for example when children were starting school and planned experiences to raise children's awareness of how to keep safe. To promote physical activity children regularly accessed the garden, local soft play and parks. We concluded the service ethos promoted health living. We discussed the management of medication with the childminder. We found appropriate systems and records were in place. page 6 of 12
Grade The quality of care and support is graded 5 - Very Good Requirements Number of requirements - 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations - 0 4 Quality of environment Findings from the inspection At this inspection we considered how the designated childminding areas were maintained to ensure children were safe and protected for harm. We gathered evidence through viewing the childminding areas and equipment, examining relevant records and observing how the service used the environment and equipment. The childminder used the downstairs of their home for childminding. We found the childminding areas to be clean, tidy and well maintained. Children had access to amble space to take part in a range of activities. The children toys were stored on shelves within the sunroom. We observed children selecting and requesting a range of toys throughout the visit. The children sat at a child size table for their meals which created a relaxed and sociable meal time. The children regularly accessed the rear garden. The childminder told us the had plans to refurbish the garden to lay artificial grass and put up new fencing. As a result children would be able to access the garden all year round. We discussed the safety measures in place to minimise the spread of infection. The childminder had disposable gloves and aprons for nappy changing and appropriate hand washing facilities. We observed children being encouraged to wash and dry their hands. The childminder followed a daily routine including cleaning all surfaces, and flooring before children arrived. We conclude that if the childminder had policies and procedures to minimise spread of infection. page 7 of 12
The childminder told us they created a home from home environment where children could come and play and be happy playing alongside their friends. Grade The quality of environment is graded 5 - Very Good Requirements Number of requirements - 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations - 0 5 Quality of staffing We only assess this where the childminder employs an assistant. 6 Quality of management and leadership Findings from the inspection At this inspection we considered how the childminder evaluated the service provided and kept informed of best practice and legislation. We gathered evidence through talking to the childminder about their training and development. The childminder informed us the read the newsletters and magazines sent from the Care Inspectorate and SCMA to keep up to date with current thinking and initiatives. The childminder attended various training courses to develop their skills and improve the service they provided. More recently they had attended training on the tears and tantrums to support them understand children's behaviours and how best to support them. The childminder did inform us they planned to update their first aid training. page 8 of 12
The childminder gathered feedback from parents through daily discussions, text messaging and service evaluation questionnaires. The childminder had received positive feedback but did inform us that if any issues did arise that they would working with parents to find a solution. Parents told us they had formed positive relationships with the childminder and that the childminder communicated well with them. We concluded that the childminder had formed good relationships with the families using the service and that they worked closely with them to ensure the children received the care and support to meet their needs. Grade The quality of management and leadership is graded 5 - Very Good Requirements Number of requirements - 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations - 0 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. page 9 of 12
Previous recommendations There are no outstanding recommendations. 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 No other issues. page 10 of 12
11 Inspection and grading history Date Type Gradings 6 Oct 2011 Unannounced Care and support 5 - Very Good Environment Not Assessed Staffing 5 - Very Good Management and Leadership Not Assessed 29 Nov 2010 Announced Care and support 5 - Very Good Environment Not Assessed Staffing Not Assessed Management and Leadership Not Assessed 19 May 2009 Announced Care and support 4 - Good Environment 4 - Good Staffing 4 - Good Management and Leadership Not Assessed 16 May 2008 Announced (short notice) Care and support Environment Staffing Management and Leadership 4 - Good 4 - Good 4 - Good 4 - Good page 11 of 12
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 Childminder inspection report 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 12 of 12