Stickle, Patricia Ellon - Care Inspectorate

Childminder inspection report

Stickle, PatriciaEllon

Inspection report for Stickle, PatriciaInspection completed on 14 December 2015

Service provided by: Stickle, Patricia

Service provider number: SP2003901133

Care service number: CS2003002438

Inspection Type: Unannounced

Care services in Scotland, including childminders, cannot operate unlessthey are registered with the Care Inspectorate. We inspect, award gradesand set out improvements that must be made. We also investigatecomplaints about care services and take action when things aren't goodenough.

Please get in touch with us if you would like more information or haveany concerns about a care service.

Contact UsCare InspectorateCompass House11 Riverside DriveDundeeDD1 4NY

[email protected]

0345 600 9527

www.careinspectorate.com

@careinspect


Inspection report for Stickle, Patriciapage 2 of 16

1 IntroductionPatricia Stickle is registered as a childminder to provide a care service to amaximum of 6 children under 16 years at any one time, of whom no more than3 are not yet attending primary school and of whom no more than 1 is under 12months. Numbers are inclusive of children of the childminder's own family.

The childminder operates the service from her home situated in the rural townof Ellon, Aberdeenshire. The childminder uses the living room for the children toplay and the kitchen for messy activities. Two bedrooms are excluded for use bythe conditions of registration.

The childminder aims to:

- Provide a welcoming and safe environment for all the children in my care.- Provide a hygienic, smoke free environment.- Provide a variety of play equipment which is suitable for the age of thechildren.- Provide adequate opportunities for rest.- Provide a caring and stimulating environment for the children.- Make sure any special needs of the child are met in an appropriate manner.- Make sure any cultural and or religious differences are acknowledged anddealt with in an appropriate manner.- All information both verbal and written regarding the children will be treatedwith the strictest confidentiality.- On occasion I may wish to discuss a case with another professional but child'sname will not be divulged unless absolutely necessary.- All the children to be happy.

The Care Inspectorate is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of allchildren receiving a care service. We want to ensure they have the best start inlife, 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). Set up by Scottish Government, GIRFEC is a nationalapproach to working in a consistent way with all children and young people. It isunderpinned by the principles of prevention and early intervention. Theapproach helps services focus on what makes a positive difference for childrenand young people - and what they can do to improve. Getting it right for every



child is being woven into all policy, practice, strategy and legislation that affectchildren, young people and their families.

There are eight wellbeing indicators at the heart of Getting it right for everychild. They are, safe, healthy, achieving, nurtured, active, respected, responsibleand included. They are often referred to as the SHANARRI indicators. We usethese indicators at inspection, to assess how services are making a positivedifference for children.

The Care Inspectorate regulates care services in Scotland. Information in relationto all care services is available on our website at www.careinspectorate.com.

This service was previously registered with the Care Commission and transferredits registration to the Care Inspectorate on 1 April 2011.

What we did during our inspectionWe wrote this report following an unannounced inspection carried out by oneinspector. The inspection took place on 10 December 2015 between 9:15am and1:45pm and on 14 December 2015 between 9:30am and 10:15am. Feedback wasgiven to the childminder during and at the end of the inspection.

As part of the inspection we took account of the completed annual return andself assessment forms that we asked the childminder to complete and submit tous.

Before the inspection we sent three Care Standards Questionnaires (CSQs) tothe childminder to give to a sample of parents using the service. Three parentsreturned completed CSQs to us.

During the inspection we gathered evidence from the following sources:

We spoke with:

- the childminder- two children- one parent.

We looked at:



- children's experiences in the setting- the childminder's practice with the children- the environment for the children- aims and objectives of the service- children's records- training certificates- registration certificate- public liability insurance- risk assessment- fire risk assessment- permission for outings.

The following policies:

- administration of medication- child protection- behavior management and restraint- confidentiality- nappy changing- risk assessment.

The following procedures:

- complaints- accident and incident reporting- infection and control- nappy changing- toothbrushing.

Views of people using the serviceThree parents and carers returned completed CSQs. Responses indicated thatparents were very happy with the service; commenting positively about the careand support their child is given and the quality of outings and activitiesundertaken.

Parents wrote:

- 'My child has been made to feel most welcome and loved within Trish's home.



My child is very well cared for and they carry out a number of differentactivities/trips on a weekly basis'.- 'My child enjoys going there and it's always a happy, busy place to be'.- 'Patricia goes over and above all expectations when caring for my child andmy child has a clear attachment to her'.

Two children were present during the inspection and played happily with achoice of toys in the living room. Although they were too young to comment ontheir experiences, both children involved the inspector in their play andappeared relaxed and happy.

Parents and carers responses to our CSQs are included throughout the mainbody of the report.

Self assessmentEvery year all care services complete a 'self assessment' telling us how theirservice is performing. We check to make sure this is accurate.

The Care Inspectorate received a fully completed self assessment documentfrom the childminder before the inspection. We were satisfied with the way thechildminder completed this and with the relevant information included for eachheading we grade the childminder under.

The childminder identified what they thought they had done well and someareas for improvement. She told us about providing individual towels for thechildren to improve infection and control procedures and about developingresponses from the parental questionnaires.

What the service did wellThe childminder demonstrated a very sensitive and caring demeanour with thechildren which had the effect of a very calm and pleasant environment. Sheknew the children well and was able to talk about the children as individuals.The play was child led and the childminder reacted in a very positive manner,helping the children build a den and take orders in a café. The environmentprovided lots of space for the children to move freely during play but alsoaccommodated rest and quiet time. The childminder used the communityresources well and regularly visited the local parks, cafes and soft play with thechildren.



What the service could do betterThe childminder provided snacks for the children. Using the guidance in Settingthe Table, the childminder could provide a wider variety of healthy snacks for thechildren. The childminder should develop plans which record the children'sneeds.

2 The grades we awardedWe grade the quality of care and support, the quality of the environment andthe quality of management and leadership. If the childminder employs anassistant, we also grade the quality of staffing. In each case, we award a gradeon a scale from 1 to 6, where 1 is unsatisfactory and 6 is excellent.

Quality of care and support 4 - GoodQuality of environment 5 - Very Good

Quality of staffing not assessedQuality of management and leadership 4 - Good

3 Quality of care and supportFindings from the inspectionWe found that the childminder had a good understanding of her role andresponsibilities in meeting children's care and support needs. We concluded thishaving talked to the childminder about her approaches, observed her practiceand the experiences of the children in the setting.

The childminder had built up positive relationships with the children and theirparents and was able to talk about the children as individuals. Parents wereinvited into the house at drop off and pick up times. One parent commented:

- 'I am free to chat with her at drop off and pick up times. She is veryapproachable'.

The childminder also used a diary for the younger children, entering daily eventswhich went home with the parent every night.



One parent commented:

'Patricia uses a notebook which is taken home daily to communicate with me -I am able to write any information that I feel is important for her to care for mychild'.

Sharing information about daily routines ensured continuity of care for thechildren and also celebrates successes which helped develop confidence andself-esteem.

Questionnaires were issued monthly. Although these mainly talk about hoursrequired, there was evidence of questions pertinent to the quality of service. Thechildminder described how feedback from questionnaires led to changes, whichensured the older children had opportunities and space to complete homeworktasks during the session. This improvement enabled children to haveresponsibility for their own learning whilst respecting their right to have a quietspace to work.

The childminder talked about her settling in process. She described parentsapproaching her through recommendation and inviting parents and childreninto her home for an introductory meeting. Children were given opportunities tosettle through phased in visits to ease their transition. One parent describedhow she stayed with the child during the first few sessions. As a result theanxiety and fear for both parent and child was reduced, helping the child settle.

The childminder had gathered information including parent details, emergencycontact numbers and GP details. To ensure children's safety in the event of anemergency, this information should be reviewed and updated at six-monthlyintervals or earlier if necessary. Additional information about their likes anddislikes, routines, favourite toys and so on should be added to ensure continuityof care from home.

During inspection, the minded children were supported in their play, andopportunities were given for them to participate in a wide range of activities.With the help of the childminder, both children constructed a den using blanketsand chairs. This helped to develop problem solving skills. One child pretended tobe a waitress and paper and pencils were provided for writing, supporting earlywriting skills. Playdough was introduced into the session helping to develop fine



motor skills. Overall, the play was very child led and supported children's choice.The childminder described how she sat with the older children and looked forcraft activities on the computer. She also described how they discussed outingsand activities, however, there was no written evidence of consulting thechildren. At feedback, we discussed using mindmaps as a possible method tocapture children's thinking and the childminder suggested the children createtheir own personal plan.

During inspection two children ate lunch. The parents provided meals for thechildren and the childminder provided snacks. The childminder described givingthe children toast, crisps, apple and other items on treat days. To improve theoverall well-being and health of the children, a wider range of healthy snacksshould be made available. The document Setting the Table provides guidance onhealthy snacks (See Recommendation 1). Further information about packedlunches for young children can be found in: www.firststepsnutrition.org Eatingwell: packed lunches for 1-4 year olds.

During feedback, the childminder spoke about improvements she wouldimplement to improve her snack menu; a questionnaire for parents and askingthe children. One child already said he would like bananas for snack. Thisshowed the childminder was keen to improve her service.

The childminder has recently been on Child protection training throughAberdeen City Council. She was able to describe the warning signs of neglectand abuse and the procedures to follow if concerned. She has also recentlycompleted Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) training.

GradeThe quality of care and support is graded 4 - Good

RequirementsNumber of requirements - 0

RecommendationsNumber of recommendations - 1

1. In order to ensure children's health and well-being needs are met, thechildminder must provide healthy, nutritious snacks in line with Setting theTable Guidance.



National Care Standards Early Education and childcare up to the age of 16.Standard 3: Health and Wellbeing.

4 Quality of environmentFindings from the inspectionWe found that the childminder had a very good understanding of practices tomaintain a safe environment. We concluded this having talked to thechildminder about her approaches, observed her practice and the experiences ofthe children in the setting.

We found that the environment was clean and homely. The children had playspace in the living room, hallway and opportunity for messy play in the kitchen.This meant the children could play freely and safely. We observed the childrenmaking full use of the indoor space by making a den, playing hide and seek andplaying with playdough.

Parents commented:

- 'There is a variety of toys/books - all in good condition and clean'.- 'Every time I go round there are different toys/games for the children to playwith. There are a wide variety of books too'.- 'Always plenty of toys for the younger ones that my child will play with, withthe younger ones. My child is allowed to watch TV and enjoys playing boardgames'.

There was a large garden to the rear of the property, however, it was not fullyenclosed. The older children had permission from their parents to play on theirown in the garden which promoted responsibility and independence. Thechildminder spoke about the younger children having access to outdoor playdaily and accompanying them outside to ensure their safety. There were twooutdoor Wendy Houses and a variety of balls, bats and sledges available for play.As well as improving children's overall health and fitness, daily physical exerciseis an essential component of children's emotional development.

The childminder made good use of the local amenities and spoke about going



to Haddo House, Aden Park, Macbi Soft Play and local cafes. During inspectionthey went to nursery to hear the children's Christmas songs. Parents commentsin the CSQs included:

- 'On in-service days, they go to the local sports facilities. Often they go to thepark and in the past she has taken them to the library'.- 'My child takes part in a variety of activities daily including walks, library visits,soft play, painting/drawing, story time and free play'.- 'They attend the library once a month and go to the park almost on a dailybasis'.

This ensured the children are getting to know their local environment, helpingthem grow into responsible, confident individuals.

Household risk assessments were in place. To ensure children's safety thechildminder had:

- a fire guard- door stoppers- child locks on kitchen cupboards- fire blanket hanging on the kitchen wall- clean, well maintained toys.

The childminder ensured good infection control procedures were implementedand children were encouraged in hand washing routines; this helped to protectchildren from the risk of cross contamination and keeps them safe and well.

We did not see nappy changing, but the childminder described good practiceand we saw that gloves, apron and changing mats were appropriately stored.The childminder spoke about one child cleaning their teeth during the sessionand we saw a toothbrush and toothpaste stored in an individual basket. Thiscontributed to the child maintaining healthy teeth and learning sound routines.

The childminder had a first aid kit, however, it was difficult to find and thecontent were very limited and out of date. Children need to be comfortedquickly and easily in the event of a minor accident, and old products which mayhave become contaminated or have lost their medicinal properties can put thechild at further risk (See Recommendation 1).



GradeThe quality of environment is graded 5 - Very Good



1. The childminder must ensure she has an easily accessible first aid kit withappropriate contents.

National Care Standards Early Education and childcare up to the age of 16.Standard 2: A Safe Environment.

5 Quality of staffingWe only assess this where the childminder employs an assistant.

6 Quality of management and leadershipFindings from the inspectionWe found that the quality of management and leadership was good. Weconcluded this after we looked at how the childminder manages her service,policy approaches, record keeping and the impact of training attended.

The childminder is a Member of Morton-Michel and used their website toinform her knowledge and practice. The childminder had recently undertakentraining for GIRFEC (Getting it right for Every Child), child protection, foodhygiene and infection control. To meet the individual needs of the child, it isimportant to understand their development needs and how to keep them safe.Recent training and guidance will support this. She identified she must updateher first aid training and is looking into a course. Being safety aware canprevent accidents occurring and could be lifesaving or prevent serious injury. The



childminder was supported by other childminders in the area. The childminderhad up to date guidance, Setting the Table and Building the Ambition, however,she had not yet read them and used them to self-evaluate and update herpractice (see Recommendation 1).

The childminder has updated policies and procedures in place. Her care planscontained medical and emergency information, however, a format for collatingand recording the children's routines, likes and dislikes should be included toshow more clearly how they were progressing in her care. This will promoteworking in partnership with parents in meeting the children's needs.

The childminder involved the parents and children in developing her service. Sheused questionnaires to obtain parental views and shared information, verbally,through text and diaries which go home. In the CSQ's parents commented:

- 'Trish always asks my opinions and whether it is okay to do certain things withmy child. Lines of communication are very good between both parties'.- 'Patricia always tells us if she is doing activities and will take my thoughts andopinions into account'.

She asked the children about activities and outings and was responsive to theneeds of the younger children.

GradeThe quality of management and leadership is graded 4 - Good



1. 1. The childminder must take responsibility for improving her service byreading and using good practice guidance.

National Care Standards Early Education and childcare up to the age of 16.Standard 13: Improving the Service.



7 What the service has done to meet anyrecommendations or requirements we madeat our last inspection

Previous requirements

There are no outstanding requirements.

Previous recommendations

There are no outstanding recommendations.

8 ComplaintsThere have been no complaints upheld since the last inspection. Details of anyolder upheld complaints are published at www.careinspectorate.com.

9 EnforcementsNo enforcement action has been taken against this care service since the lastinspection.

10 Other issuesNone.



11 Inspection and grading historyDate Type Gradings

16 Nov 2011 Unannounced Care and support 5 - Very GoodEnvironment Not AssessedStaffing 5 - Very GoodManagement and Leadership Not Assessed

6 Jan 2011 Announced (Short

Notice)

Care and support 5 - Very GoodEnvironment Not AssessedStaffing Not AssessedManagement and Leadership Not Assessed

25 Mar 2010 Unannounced Care and support 4 - GoodEnvironment 4 - GoodStaffing 4 - GoodManagement and Leadership Not Assessed

19 Feb 2009 Announced (short

notice)

Care and support 3 - AdequateEnvironment 3 - AdequateStaffing 3 - AdequateManagement and Leadership Not Assessed



To find out moreThis inspection report is published by the Care Inspectorate. You can downloadthis report and others from our website.

You can also read more about our work online.

Contact UsCare InspectorateCompass House11 Riverside DriveDundeeDD1 4NY

[email protected]

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 manithear iarrtas.



Documents

Stickle, Patricia Ellon - Care Inspectorate