Brand, Sarah
Child Minding
Type of inspection: Announced (short notice)
Inspection completed on: 31 May 2017
Service provided by:
Brand, Sarah
Care service number:
CS2007144463
Service provider number:
SP2007963897
Inspection report
The service
Introduction
Sarah Brand registered with the Care Inspectorate on 1 April 2011. She provides a childminding service from her
family home in a housing estate in Rosyth which is close to local amenities, including parks and primary and
nursery schools.
The childminder is registered to provide a care service to a maximum of eight children at any one time under the
age of 16, of whom a maximum of six will be 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.
During term time only, a care service may be provided to a maximum of eight children at any one time under the
age of 16, of whom a maximum of seven will be under 12 of whom no more than three 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.
Overnight service will not be provided.
The childminder is currently minding 9 children on different part time basis.
The childminder endeavours to provide for the children's health, safety and happiness. Through providing a range
of activities and experiences appropriate to the ages and stages of development.
One minded child was in her care during the time of the inspection.
The Care Inspectorate is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of all children receiving a care service
to ensure they have the best start in life, are ready to succeed and live longer, healthier lives.
The Care Inspectorate has an important role to play in supporting this approach in inspecting care services for
children. The Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) approach is underpinned by the principles of prevention
and early intervention. It's a consistent way for people to work with all children and young people. The approach
helps practitioners focus on what makes a positive difference for children and young people - and how they can
act to deliver these improvements. Getting it right for every child is being threaded through all existing policy,
practice, strategy and legislation affecting children, young people and their families.
In Scotland, the Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) approach puts wellbeing at the very heart of its approach.
The eight 'indicators' of wellbeing that form the basis of GIRFEC are - safe, healthy, achieving, nurtured, active,
respected, responsible and included - often referred to as 'SHANARRI'.
Inspection report for Brand, Sarah
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Inspection report
What we did during our inspection
We wrote this report following an announced inspection which took place over the 30 and 31 May 2017.
As part of the inspection we took account of the annual return and self assessment forms that we asked the
childminder to complete and submit to us.
We sent three Care Standards Questionnaires to the childminder to give to families
using her service. One of these were completed and returned for inclusion on the
inspection process.
During the inspection process, we met with the childminder and one minded child. We looked over the premises
and resources and observed how she cared for and interacted with the minded child.
Views of people using the service
We received one care standards questionnaire for inclusion in the inspection process.
Parents/carers indicated that they were very happy with the service provided. They told us:
- "the children can talk easily to the childminder."
- "she asks me if there is anything my child likes or dislikes and then will provide as needed."
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.
The childminder had completed the self assessment. She had set out how she was meeting children's needs
using the SHANARRI (Safe, Healthy, Achieving, Nurtured, Active, Respected, Responsible, Inclusive) wellbeing
indicators. It was clear that the childminder had evaluated the service she provided and how she could continue
to improve.
What the service did well
The childminder had developed very good relationships with families where she worked with them to ensure
consistency in her service. The childminder was warm and friendly with the minded child and provided a variety
of different resources to capture the child's interest.
What the service could do better
Information in children's personal plans should set out how the childminder was meeting their health, welfare
and safety needs. The childminder should reconsider how she evaluates her service with parents/carers to
ensure their views are clearly recorded and taken into account during reviews of the service.
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Inspection report
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
The childminder knew the children well and was responsive to their needs and interests. She gathered
information from parents/carers before a child started her service, and used this to plan how she could meet
each child's needs. As a result of this continuity of care, children felt safe and secure in the childminder's care.
She told us that being in a small daycare service meant that she was able to observe the children well and notice
things such as the child who didn't mix as well or develop in specific areas. The childminder recorded personal
plans for all children. These had information about children's routines, care and health needs. We found that the
childminder was using her knowledge of SHANARRI well to provide responsive and individual care for children.
We noted the positive interaction between the childminder and the minded child. Conversation between them
flowed easily. The child chose between the good selection of age appropriate resources. The child was secure
and comfortable enough in the childcare setting to talk with inspectors and draw pictures for them. She told us
that she liked coming to the childminder's house and that she had fun.
The childminder had very good relationships with parents and communicated well with them to meet children's
individual needs. The childminder told us how she planned activities to allow for an inclusive environment where
children were learning to respect each other's individual choices.
Children had regular access to active play outside. Extending outings during full day care sessions were often
shared with local childminders which meant that children were able to develop friendships and enjoy age
appropriate activities in safe, supervised settings. The childminder also took the children out for walks in the
local and extended community. Planned walks to local hills and woodland allowed the children to learn healthy
lifestyle habits.
The childminder was willing to administer medication to children when required needed. This helped to promote
children's health and an inclusive environment. She had a clear policy and procedure to ensure that children's
medication was managed safely.
We spoke to the childminder about safeguarding children and confidentiality. She had a very good awareness
and understanding of child protection matters and we were satisfied that she would take forward any concerns
in a manner that protected and supported children.
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Inspection report
Requirements
Number of requirements: 0
Recommendations
Number of recommendations: 0
Grade: 5 - very good
Quality of environment
Findings from the inspection
The childminder's home was warm, smoke free and clean. The lounge was laid out in a manner that provided a
spacious play environment. Toys and activities were stored safely which meant that children could self- select
those that took their interest. The childminder monitored the condition of the resources and repaired or removed
damaged ones as required.
The childminder promoted good infection control procedures such as regular handwashing and NHS exclusion
guidance during times of illness. These helped to minimise the risks of cross infection within in the setting.
The childminder regularly updated her training relating to Food Hygiene and had also completed on-line training
in regards to Food Allergy. The chldminder ensures that she gains information from parents relating to children's
health and dietary requirements to ensure that she keeps the children safe and healthy.
The childminder had policies, procedures and was maintaining records of medication administered, accidents
and incidents although she had not required to complete and of these recently. She was aware of the
notification requirements to the Care Inspectorate. Attendance records were included in her diary and these
showed that the childminder was working within the conditions of her registration. These records and policies
helped the childminder maintain a safe service. Appropriate public liability insurance was in place and car
insurance for business purposes had been purchased. The children's safety within her car was promoted as the
childminder had a good understanding of car safety seat guidance and had a variety of age appropriate seats
available.
Requirements
Number of requirements: 0
Recommendations
Number of recommendations: 0
Grade: 5 - very good
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Inspection report
Quality of staffing
This quality theme was not assessed.
Quality of management and leadership
Findings from the inspection
We found the service to be well-managed. The childminder was very good at keeping up to date with current
best practice and legislation. She did this by making herself familiar with, and implementing, best practice
information received from the Care Inspectorate and from the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA). We
discussed the Care Inspectorate website, and in particular the Hub section of this, and found that the
childminder used this well to help her continue to develop her service. The childminder also receives information
on training from the Early Years Partnership.
The childminder attended regular training and had reflected on her learning to the development of her service.
The childminder also attended training to develop her personal health and well-being and saw the benefits of
this within her childminding service She told us that the benefits of training such as first aid increased her
knowledge, skills and confidence in her ability to promote the children's health safety. The childminder informed
us that the safety of children was paramount to her. She told us she regularly reviewed polices and procedures
and amended practice, to ensure that she promoted the safety of all of the children
The childminder confirmed that she was aware of Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) and the SHANARRI
(safe, healthy, achieving, nurtured, active, respected, responsible and included) wellbeing indicators and was
using these well within her service to promote positive outcomes for the children within her care.
The childminder had developed a range of written policies and procedures that she shared effectively with
parents. This helped to ensure that parents knew what to expect of her service and how they could raise
concerns and be involved in service developments. This helped promote respectful relationships. Parents
confirmed within the questionnaires that they were aware of polices and procedures including those relating to
the complaints process.
Requirements
Number of requirements: 0
Recommendations
Number of recommendations: 0
Grade: 5 - very good
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Inspection report
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.
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Inspection report
Inspection and grading history
Date
Type
Gradings
5 Oct 2015
Unannounced
Care and support
Environment
Staffing
Management and leadership
5 - Very good
5 - Very good
Not assessed
5 - Very good
26 Jul 2013
Announced (short notice)
Care and support
Environment
Staffing
Management and leadership
5 - Very good
5 - Very good
5 - Very good
Not assessed
13 Jan 2010
Announced
Care and support
Environment
Staffing
Management and leadership
5 - Very good
5 - Very good
5 - Very good
Not assessed
18 Jul 2008
Announced (short notice)
Care and support
Environment
Staffing
Management and leadership
5 - Very good
5 - Very good
4 - Good
5 - Very good
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Inspection report
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
[email protected]
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.
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