Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns Day Care of

advertisement
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns
Day Care of Children
Pollok Castle Estate
60A Stewarton Road
Newton Mearns
Glasgow
G77 6NP
Telephone: 0141 639 5292
Inspected by: Brenda Wilson
Type of inspection: Unannounced
Inspection completed on: 27 September 2013
Inspection report continued
Contents
1
2
3
4
5
6
Page No
3
5
7
14
39
40
40
Summary
About the service we inspected
How we inspected this service
The inspection
Other information
Summary of grades
Inspection and grading history
Service provided by:
Kelly Care Limited trading as Kirktonholme Nursery
Service provider number:
SP2003001303
Care service number:
CS2004071105
Contact details for the inspector who inspected this service:
Brenda Wilson
Telephone 0141 843 6840
Email enquiries@careinspectorate.com
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 2 of 42
Inspection report continued
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 4
Good
Quality of Environment 4
Good
Quality of Staffing 5
Quality of Management and Leadership 4
Very Good
Good
What the service does well
The manager and staff team effectively worked with people who use the service and
stakeholders to improve outcomes for children and families. Children were actively
involved in planning and evaluating their learning within the nursery, garden,
woodland area and local community.
What the service could do better
In line with current best practice guidance, the service could improve the
administration and storage of medication procedures, accident reporting, first aid
materials, risk assessment recording systems, infection control and laundry
management systems to ensure a safe environment for children is maintained.
What the service has done since the last inspection
Staff worked hard to put in place individual care plans for children and effectively
implement and monitor planned learning experiences in line with the Scottish
Governments Curriculum for Excellence and Pre birth to three guidance.
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 3 of 42
Inspection report continued
Conclusion
The Manager and staff team were committed and motivated to improving the lives of
children and families attending the service. Parents/carers were overall very happy
with the quality of provision and children benefited from having a consistent staff
team who provided stimulating challenges and responsive care. The manager was
well placed to meet recommendations and requirements identified in this report.
Who did this inspection
Brenda Wilson
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 4 of 42
Inspection report continued
1 About the service we inspected
The Care Inspectorate regulates care services in Scotland. Information about all cares
services is available on our website at www.careinspectorate.com This service was
previously registered with the Care Commission and transferred its registration 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 recognised 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 provider is Kelly Care Limited trading as Kirktonholme Nursery. The nursery
operates from a purpose built building with enclosed outdoor play area. We granted a
variation to the services conditions of registration to increase the number of children
in attendance.
The service provides daycare to a maximum of 70 children as follows:
Room 1: 12 children 0 - 2 years
Room 2: children aged 18 months - three years
16 children with no more than five under two years.
When all the children attending are aged between two years to under three years a
maximum of 18 children may be admitted to this playroom.
Room 3: 40 children aged two years six months to those not yet attending primary
school with a maximum of 10 children aged two years six months to under three
years.
The service currently operates from 8.00 to 18.00 hours, Monday to Friday.
The service's aims and vision included:
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 5 of 42
Inspection report continued
"To provide the best possible care and education for all children attending our setting.
We will achieve this by:
* Continuous improvement and innovation
* Delivering excellence based on evidence
* Working in a caring and respectful way
* Making the best use of resources
* Ensuing all children are treated equally
* Good teamwork."
A full statement of aims and objectives were available to parents/carers in the service
hand book and web page.
Based on the findings of this inspection this service has been awarded the following
grades:
Quality of Care and Support - Grade 4 - Good
Quality of Environment - Grade 4 - Good
Quality of Staffing - Grade 5 - Very Good
Quality of Management and Leadership - Grade 4 - 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
www.careinspectorate.com or by calling us on 0845 600 9527 or visiting one of our
offices.
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 6 of 42
Inspection report continued
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
We wrote this report following an unannounced inspection. This inspection was
carried out by Inspector Brenda Wilson. The inspection took place over two days on
Wednesday 25 September 2013 between 8:30 am and 4:45 pm and Friday 27
September 2013 between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm. We gave feedback to the area
manager, manager and depute on Friday 27 September 2013.
As part of the inspection, we took account of the completed annual return and selfassessment forms that we asked the provider to complete and submit to us.
We sent twenty care standards questionnaires to the manager to distribute to
parents/carers. We received sixteen completed questionnaires which were returned
before the inspection.
We also asked the manager to give out five questionnaires to staff and we received
four completed questionnaires.
We spoke with:
* twelve children
* six parents/carers
* seven staff
* area manager
* manager
* depute
We looked at:
* health and safety records, including infection control, risk assessments
* medication, accident and incident records
* questionnaires that had been requested, filled in and returned to the Care
Inspectorate from parents/carers
* aims and objectives
* observing how staff worked
* the environment and equipment
* staff training and supervision records
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 7 of 42
Inspection report continued
* children's files, care plans and profiles
* information for people who use the service
* complaints and comments
* improvement plan
* resource management
* maintenance reports
* registration procedures
* safe sleeping practices
* meal preparation and menu planning
* fridge storage and temperature controls
* policy and procedures folder
* evidence folder
* hygiene policies and procedures
* cleaning rota
* the participation strategy, this is the service's plan for how they will involve services
users
* certificate of registration
* insurance certificate
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
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
www.firelawscotland.org
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 8 of 42
Inspection report continued
What the service has done to meet any requirements we made at
our last inspection
The requirement
Requirement 1, Quality Theme 2, Quality Statement 2. The Provider must ensure
robust evacuation procedures are implemented and monitored, providing an accurate
record of children in attendance at any given time. In order to achieve this, the
provider must implement and monitor robust evacuation recording systems and
provide appropriate staff guidance. This is in order to comply with SSI 2011/210
Regulation (1) (a) - a requirement that providers shall make proper provision for the
health and welfare of service users.In making this requirement, the following National
Care Standards were considered: National Care Standards - Early Education and
Childcare up to the age of 16: Standard 3 - Health and Wellbeing Timescale - 1 month
What the service did to meet the requirement
Evacuation registers were completed effectively. Staff recorded when children arrived
and left the service and maintained an accurate record of children in attendance at
any given time.
The requirement is: Met - Within Timescales
What the service has done to meet any recommendations we made
at our last inspection
Recommendation with reference to Quality Theme 1, Quality Statement 3.
The service should review the storage and administration of medication policy and
procedures to ensure staff have clear guidance and awareness of safe practices in line
with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society guidance for Social Care and Care Inspectorate
Medication Procedures for Day Care Settings.
National Care Standards Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16: Standard 3
- Health and Wellbeing.
This recommendation remains current see recommendation with reference to Quality
Theme 1, Quality Statement 3.
Recommendation with reference to Quality Theme 1, Quality Statement 3.
The service should review children's access to fresh water throughout the day.
National Care Standards Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16: Standard 3
- Health and Wellbeing
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 9 of 42
Inspection report continued
Older children could access water independently from the water station, in the
playroom. Staff refreshed jugs of water in all rooms and offered water throughout the
day to babies and younger children. We discussed using visual aids to provide
opportunities for younger children and babies to indicate their needs.
This recommendation is met.
Recommendation with reference to Quality Theme 1, Quality Statement 3.
The service should review the storage and monitoring of First Aid supplies.
National Care Standards Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16: Standard 3
- Health and Wellbeing
This recommendation remains current see recommendation with reference to Quality
Theme 2, Quality Statement 2.
Recommendation with reference to Quality Theme 1, Quality Statement 3.
The service should develop written procedures to assist staff in recording planned
learning and developmental experiences for individual children, in line with the
Scottish Governments Curriculum for Excellence and Pre Birth to Three Guidance.
National Care Standards Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16: Standard 4
- Engaging with children
Standard 5 - Quality of experience
Children's individual care plans and learning journal showed how staff involved
children in planning and evaluating their learning. We found staff were confident in
developing children experiences and were working hard to implement the new
curriculum planning recording system.
This recommendation is met.
Recommendation with reference to Quality Theme 1, Quality Statement 3.
The service should encourage children to be independent whilst developing toileting
and hand washing skills and provide staff help when required.
National Care Standards Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16: Standard 3
- Health and Wellbeing
We observed staff responding to children's personal needs and encouraging hand
washing throughout the day, prior to lunch and after toileting.
This recommendation is met.
Recommendation with reference to Quality Theme 2, Quality Statement 2.
The service should review availability of appropriate staff seating when feeding and
comforting babies and young children.
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 10 of 42
Inspection report continued
National Care Standards Early Education and childcare up to the age of 16: Standard 3
- Health and Wellbeing
The manager informed that a sufficient number of tables and chairs were available
throughout the nursery and agreed to review the lunchtime procedures to ensure
resources are readily available and outings are planned to meet the individual feeding
needs of babies attending.
This recommendation remains current.
See Recommendation 3, Quality Theme 1, Quality Statement 3
Recommendation with reference to Quality Theme 2, Quality Statement 2.
The service should review hygiene and infection control procedures and checklists to
ensure a safe hygienic environment.
National Care Standards Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16: Standard 3
- Health and Wellbeing
Playroom recording and monitoring systems to show when soft furnishings and
laundry items where routinely cleaned were not maintained in line with current best
practice guidance - NHS Infection prevention and control in childcare setting (day care
and child minding settings). This was a recommendation identified in the last
inspection report.
This recommendation remains current.
See recommendation 2, Quality Theme 2, Quality Statement 2.
Recommendation with reference to Quality Theme 2, Quality Statement 2.
The service should review the services risk assessment policies and procedures with
all staff to ensure potential risk are systematically recorded in relation to the
environment and routes taken on outings.
National Care Standards Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16: Standard 2
- A safe environment.
Staff completed a risk assessment checklist and systematically ticked once visual
checks were undertaken.
This recommendation is met. However we identified additional risk factors during out
inspection, which caused concern. Please see Quality Theme 2 Quality Statement 2.
Recommendation with reference to Quality Theme 4, Quality Statement 4.
The service should continue to develop Quality Assurance Systems and maintain
evidence to support achievements and improvements identified in within the service
improvement plan.
National Care Standards - Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16: Standard
14 - Well Managed Service.
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 11 of 42
Inspection report continued
The manager continued to develop Quality Assurance Systems and worked with the
East Renfrewshire Council to monitor achievements and improvements identified in
the service improvement plan and quality and standards report.
This recommendation is met.
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.
We received a fully completed electronic copy of the self assessment document from
the service provider. We were satisfied with the way the service provider had
completed this and with the relevant information they had given us for each of the
headings that we grade them under.
The service provider identified what they thought they did well, areas for
improvement and any changes they planned. The service provider told us how the
people who used the care service had taken part in the self assessment process.
Taking the views of people using the care service into account
We observed and spoke with twelve children who use the service. The children were
aged nine months to four years. Children's comments included:
"That's the Gruffalo house".
"I like climbing on the ladders because they are wooden ladders."
"I am using this to listen to the leaves. They are crunchy and sound like hammers,
when you do this. (Child crunches leaves in hand).
"I always try to climb trees. I like trees."
"I am drawing Autumn pictures and like looking at Autumn books."
"I am building a house with sticks stuck in the ground and acorns."
"Look I have a very big pine cone."
"We get French from (tutor named) and the football coach does exercises and we
have to run around in circles. It is good fun."
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 12 of 42
Inspection report continued
Taking carers' views into account
We sent out twenty questionnaires and sixteen were completed and returned to us
before inspection. When asked about the overall quality of service, eleven parents/
carers strongly agreed and five agreed that they were satisfied.
Twelve parents/carers provided positive comments, which included:
"My child has developed and learned so much at the nursery. I am very pleased with
his progress and the staff are always polite and welcoming. My child looks forward to
nursery and I leave him there with peace of mind."
"Employing the new management has proved a very wise choice and led to positive
changes. A good decision."
"The team at the nursery clearly work hard to make sure the children are well cared
for and nurtured in readiness for going to school. They show that they really care
about the children as individual, which makes each child feel special in their own
way!"
Kirktonholme is a great experience for children and offers a fantastic environment for
learning and development. The activity, management and staff are far in advance of
other nurseries we have experienced."
"I couldn't praise the nursery and their staff highly enough. The range of activities
encourages our son to push his developmental boundaries and learn new skills. This
week he learned how to 'TWERK' (Expressive dance to music). They are also excellent
at introducing the children to a wide variety of different foods, tastes and textures.
Our son has a strong relationship with his key worker and other staff and is always
happy to be comforted and reassured by their care and support."
"Excellent nursery. Friendly caring environment, every single member of staff is caring
and friendly. Both my children very happy here."
We spoke with six parents/carers on a one to one basis. Parents/carers informed
they were very happy with the quality of service.
We have included further comments from people who use the service throughout this
inspection report.
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 13 of 42
Inspection report continued
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: 4 - Good
Statement 1
We ensure that service users and carers participate in assessing and improving the
quality of the care and support provided by the service.
Service strengths
We found very good systems in place to involve people who use the service in
assessing the quality of provision and involvement in nursery life. To assess this
statement we gathered evidence from discussions with parents/carers, children,
observing interactions and sampling information from the manager.
Parents/carers we spoke to told us they were regularly asked for their views and
suggestions on a variety of topics and informed they were given regular feedback on
how the manager had taken their views forward.
One parent we spoke to told us how the manager listened and acted upon her
suggestion to encourage parents to take their muddy shoes off when entering the
baby room as she was concerned about babies crawling on the carpet. The manager
respected the parents suggestion and in response displayed a notice asking parents/
carers and staff to remove their outdoor shoes when entering the playroom. Parents/
carers and staff responded positively to this suggestion.
We therefore found the services open door and partnership policy effectively provided
opportunities for parents/carers and children to influence the day to day running of
the service knowing their views were valued.
Parents/carers confirmed they received questionnaires seeking their views and
comments on organisational issues including the ethos, levels of care, welfare,
nurturing, child development, communication, literacy, resources, outdoor activities
and parents night.
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 14 of 42
Inspection report continued
In response to questionnaires returned, the manager undertook a detailed audit
showing how parents/carers graded the quality of provision and how their comments
and suggestions were taken forward. The manager provided effective feedback and
displayed detailed audits in the service newsletter and through email communication.
We therefore, found targets identified in the service improvement plan relating to
engaging parents and children in the life of the centre, consultation and
communication were effectively taken forward and monitored.
We found effective communication systems in place to seek parents/carers views.
Methods included e-mail, text, letters, web page, meetings, comments book and
phone calls. Parents/carers told us they benefited from having room news and
organisational news emailed regularly to them, which enabled them to read and
respond to requests or issues, at their leisure.
Parents told us the management and staff team were very approachable and were
confident any issues would be taken forward appropriately. One parent commented in
the care standards return:
"I love Kirktonholme Nursery. The staff are so friendly, professional and caring while
the facilities are fantastic. With the nursery being based in a wood it is perfect for the
children to explore and learn about their natural environment. We also love the weekly
emails updating us on all that's been happening, while advising menus for the
coming week. All in all a fabulous nursery."
The service had very good systems in place to consult with older children. We viewed
talking and thinking floor books showing mind maps of what children know and what
they want to learn. Inconsequence children took ownership of decisions made and
showed how they planned and evaluated a wide variety of topics.
An example viewed showed how children had taken forward the ECO committee and
received a silver award for recycling and energy saving. Children confidently informed:
"You can get a drink of water over here, but you have to put your plastic cup in the
bag for recycling."
In consequence, we found staff provided very good opportunities for children to take
forward their ideas and children were confidently sharing their knowledge with a
wider audience whilst learning to care for the environment.
We viewed minutes of the parents' council meeting, which showed how parents/
carers were involved in decision-making processes. A recent minute showed how
parent/carers requested support to recruit new members, as some parents had stood
down due to their children leaving the service to attend school.
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 15 of 42
Inspection report continued
The manager agreed to email existing and new parents to help the parents reestablish a strong committee.
The service encouraged parents/carers to express any concerns about the service
provision and maintained an accurate written record of any issues and actions taken.
Since the last inspection, we found the manager and staff team had worked hard and
were continually seeking ways to involve people who use the service in assessing and
improving outcomes for children and families.
Areas for improvement
The Provider identified the following area for improvement in the service's self
assessment:
"Employment and revision of remit and role of Depute Manager. Redeployment of
existing staff teams promoting individual professional strengths and knowledge in
providing a stimulating and motivated learning environment."
We found the service had taken effective measures to introduce the area for
improvement identified above.
The service was very aware of the need to continually involve parents/carers and
children in assessing the quality of provision and should continue to evidence and
monitor the involvement of people who use the service, as identified in the service
improvement plan.
Grade awarded for this statement: 5 - Very Good
Number of requirements: 0
Number of recommendations: 0
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 16 of 42
Inspection report continued
Statement 3
We ensure that service users' health and wellbeing needs are met.
Service strengths
We found this service was performing at a good grade for this statement.
To assess this statement we observed staff practice, sampled relevant health and
wellbeing documentation for example key worker system, admissions, personal plans,
learning profiles, hygiene and infection control, medication, access to water, staff
training and through talking to the manager, parents/carers, staff and children.
In addition, we followed up on five recommendations identified in the last inspection
report dated 1 May 2012.
The manager had put in place effective systems to ensure staff had meaningful
information about children's needs prior to and throughout their settling in period
and placement.
Parents/carers were involved in starting their child's care plan, which included
completing an enrolment form, all about me record and individual care plan. Key
workers used this information effectively and captured meaningful information about
children's lives, learning, development and achievements.
By following care plans for five children and observing key workers interactions
throughout the day, we saw staff appropriately implemented the planned care and
effectively worked with other agencies to inform additional support plans, social work,
health and education reviews, when required.
In addition, parents/carers had regular opportunities to meet with key workers to
comment on their child's learning journey folder and discuss any issues on a daily
basis or at parents meetings. One parent highlighted in the care standards
questionnaire the positive actions taken by staff to help her child settle. Comments
included:
"Recently our child became unsettled in nursery. Staff were quick to identify this and
highlighted it to us. Within a couple of days we met with his key worker and agreed
measures to be put in place. All staff worked together to try and settle him again.
Very quickly the situation was resolved. We are very impressed at how quickly staff
identified a problem and worked with us to fix it. It was lovely to see how genuinely
delighted staff were when he settled again."
Staff worked effectively with other agencies including social work, health and
education services. As a result of joint working practices, we found children benefited
from having additional resources, one to one and group time support to aid their
development, health and learning needs.
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 17 of 42
Inspection report continued
Staff made good use of published best practice guidance including, Getting it Right
for every child (GIRFEC), which was displayed in the foyer. Staff attended GIRFEC
training and are currently looking at ways to show how the indicators can be captured
in children's learning and care plans.
In addition, the manager and senior staff provided effective guidance for staff to take
forward the new planning system in line with the Scottish Governments Curriculum
for Excellence and Pre Birth to Three Guidance. In consequence, children benefited
from having individually planned learning experiences evaluated and monitored. Staff
were consistently evaluating the planning process to inform children's next steps
which, were effectively taken forward. This was a recommendation identified in the
last inspection report. This recommendation is met.
Staff provided a wide variety of ways for children to learn about healthy living, diet,
exercise, environmental issues, personal hygiene and tooth brushing. We observed
children confidently playing outdoors and photographs displayed throughout the
service showed parents/carers and children the benefits of health topics undertaken.
In addition, children received sports coaching and benefited from having access to the
outdoor play-area and woodland area throughout the day.
Older children benefited from independently accessing fresh water throughout the
day at water stations set up in each room. Staff routinely offered younger children
and babies fluids and maintained a written record of their fluid and food intake. This
was a recommendation identified in the last inspection report. This recommendation
is met.
Staff effectively promoted opportunities for children to learn about hand hygiene. We
observed children confidently wash and dry their hands prior to snack and after
toileting. One child told us:
"You wash your hands when you have finished playing in the dirt outside."
In consequence, children independently washed their hands throughout the day to
alleviate cross contamination of resources and gained awareness of the benefits of
effective hand hygiene.
This was a recommendation identified in the last inspection report. This
recommendation is met.
Older children benefited from having a positive lunchtime experience, which
developed independence skills and provided opportunities to share stories with their
friends and staff, which therefore contributed to a pleasant social lunchtime
experience.
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 18 of 42
Inspection report continued
Babies and young children benefited from staff awareness of individual feeding
requirements including weaning, self - weaning and encouraging the use of cutlery.
Babies therefore had opportunities to try a variety of food textures whilst learning to
independently control their food intake.
Staff caringly responded to the individual sleep routines of babies and younger
children. We saw babies sleeping in cots and toddlers sleeping on appropriate sleep
mats throughout the day. Parents benefited from having verbal or written feedback as
to their child's individual sleep pattern, diet, toileting and activities undertaken daily.
The services administration and storage of medication policy and procedures were
reviewed in line with Royal Pharmaceutical Society guidance for Social Care. This was
a recommendation identified in the last inspection report. This recommendation is
met.
Staff training opportunities supported the health and wellbeing needs of people who
use the service, including child protection, first aid and food handling.
The manager and Individual staff confidently worked with social work services and
used their training to effectively put in place chronologies of events, attended case
conferences and provided written reports, when required. Staff therefore,
demonstrated a sound knowledge of child protection procedures and understood their
responsibilities to protect children from harm in line with local area child protection
committee guidance.
In conclusion, we found the manager and staff continued to make progress to meet
the individual health and wellbeing needs of children and families.
Areas for improvement
The Provider identified the following areas for improvement in the services selfassessment:
"To sustain and promote the ethos of outdoor learning and the feeling of well being in
a natural outdoor environment."
We found young children with limited vocabulary or English as an additional language
would benefit from having visual aids to independently indicate their personal needs,
e.g. toileting, drinks. The manager informed that visual aids were available and would
be re-introduced in all playrooms.
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 19 of 42
Inspection report continued
The provider employed a chef to plan and prepare lunches. Parents/carers and
children had the opportunity to influence the choice of menu plans and options were
available to meet cultural or medical needs of children. However, the menu plan did
not provide alternative lunch choices on a daily basis and therefore limited
opportunities for children to choose their preferred lunch option. The manager agreed
to review menu plan in line with the new Nutritional Guidelines for early years.
We acknowledge staff were working hard to take forward the new curriculum
planning recording systems, transition reports and personal plan reviews for individual
children. However, specific information provided verbally by parents/carers on a dayto-day basis was not routinely recorded, potentially missing opportunities for staff to
respond and track specific changes to children's needs, or to establish a short term
plan, when required.
See Recommendation 1, Quality Theme 1, Quality Statement 3.
Administration of medication recording systems had improved. However, we found
permission from parents and staff recording systems failed to provide clear guidance
on checks undertaken prior to staff administering medication, recording refusal of
medication and shelf life of opened medication, in line with best practice guidance
from the NHS Management of Medication in day care and children's services.
See Recommendation 2, Quality Theme 1, Quality Statement 3.
We found babies returning from their walk had to wait for a second sitting due to
only one table being readily available for lunch. The manager informed that a
sufficient number of tables and chairs were available throughout the nursery and
agreed to review the lunchtime procedures to ensure resources are readily available
and outings are planned to meet the individual feeding needs of babies attending.
This was a recommendation identified in the last inspection report. This
recommendation remains current.
See Recommendation 3, Quality Theme 1, Quality Statement 3.
Grade awarded for this statement: 4 - Good
Number of requirements: 0
Number of recommendations: 3
Recommendations
1. Recommendation with reference to Quality Theme 1, Quality Statement 3.
The manager should formalise recording systems and provide staff guidance on
care planning to ensure verbal information provided by parents/carers on a dayto-day basis, informs personal plan reviews. Written records should be used to
monitor changes to children's routines and show actions taken to meet their
current needs.
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 20 of 42
Inspection report continued
National Care Standards Early Education and childcare up to the age of 16:
Standard 3 - Health and Wellbeing.
2. Recommendation with reference to Quality Theme 1, Quality Statement 3.
The services should review the storage and administration of medication policy and
procedures to ensure staff have clear guidance and effective recording systems in
line with the NHS Management of Medication in day care and child minding
services.
National Care Standards Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16:
Standard 3 - Health and Wellbeing.
3. Recommendation with reference to Quality Theme 1, Quality Statement 3.
The service should review the availability of appropriate seating and tables
available during lunch to ensure babies and young children have their individual
feeding requirements met.
National Care Standards Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16:
Standard 3 - Health and Wellbeing.
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 21 of 42
Inspection report continued
Quality Theme 2: Quality of Environment
Grade awarded for this theme: 4 - Good
Statement 1
We ensure that service users and carers participate in assessing and improving the
quality of the environment within the service.
Service strengths
Methods to involve people who use the service are outlined under Quality Theme 1,
Statement 1.
We found very good systems in place to involve people who use the service in
assessing the quality of provision and involvement in nursery life. To assess this
statement we gathered evidence from discussions with parents/carers, children,
observing interactions and sampling information from the manager.
We observed staff and children experimenting with new resources in the woodland
area and discussing how they planned to display their collection of sounds, leaves,
acorns and branches collected during an autumn activity. We found children were
therefore actively involved in problem solving situations and taking ownership of
decisions made.
Moreover, we found staff valued children's suggestions and photographs, mind maps
and records displayed throughout the service provided evidence that children's
suggestions and ideas had led to positive changes in the playrooms and outdoor
areas.
Staff effectively shared recent training in numeracy, literacy and outdoor learning with
children and parents/carers. Parents spoken with commented on how their children
are benefiting from having access to the woodland area and learning to care for the
environment through the Eco committee.
In consequence, children benefited from having opportunities to learn and express
their views on a wide variety of environmental topics through first hand experiences
provided within the nursery, woodland area and wider community.
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 22 of 42
Inspection report continued
Parents/carers confirmed they received questionnaires seeking their views and
comments on organisational issues including the ethos, resources and outdoor
activities.
In response to questionnaires returned, the manager undertook a detailed audit
showing how parents/carers graded the quality of provision and how their comments
and suggestions were taken forward. We viewed parent's comments and service
responses including:
Parent comment:
"I feel some investment in NEW toys, puzzles, resources for learning could be
improved upon."
Response:
"We have spent a great deal of money this term in enhancing ICT, mathematics,
literacy and construction."
In consequence, we found parents/carers and children benefited from having
opportunities to share their views and suggestions with very good systems in place to
provide effective feedback on actions taken to improve the environment and
outcomes for children and families.
Areas for improvement
The Provider identified the following area for improvement in the service's self
assessment:
"We will introduce and build on our involvement of stakeholders in assessing the life
of the centre through robust self evaluation and reflection."
The service was very aware of the need to continually involve parents/carers and
children in assessing the quality of provision and should continue to evidence and
monitor the involvement of people who use the service, as identified in the service
improvement plan.
Grade awarded for this statement: 5 - Very Good
Number of requirements: 0
Number of recommendations: 0
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 23 of 42
Inspection report continued
Statement 2
We make sure that the environment is safe and service users are protected.
Service strengths
We found this service was performing at an adequate grade for this statement. To
assess this statement we observed staff practice and sampled relevant health and
safety documentation for example security, hygiene and infection control,
maintenance reporting, accident and incident reports, risk assessments and
environmental checks.
We found children benefited from participating in activities to raise awareness of
health and safety issues including discussing potential risks in the woodland area,
garden and playroom. Children confidently told us:
"We made the Gruffallo house. It is not really a house, it is like a tent and it keeps the
rain off us."
"You have to be careful on the tree swing you don't bump your head on the ground. I
bumped my head on the tree but I don't do it now."
"It can be muddy up here, that's why you wear your willies."
"I love climbing trees. I can climb right up there on the monkey tree."
In consequence, children were learning to work with their peers to problem solve
hazards they may encounter and had opportunities to make informed decisions about
risks they wished to take with adult supervision and direction.
Staff attended in-house child protection training and regularly reviewed the policy
and procedures at staff meetings and in-service days. Staff demonstrated a clear
understanding of their responsibilities to protect children from harm and parents
confirmed that they were aware of child protection information displayed in the
corridor.
The entrance provided relevant national and local information for parents/carers
including contacts for breast-feeding nursery, social work, child protection guidance,
health and education support agencies and complaints procedure. Parents/carers
could therefore access additional information independently and seek further
guidance, when required.
Staff consistently recorded when children arrive and leave the service on an
evacuation register and provided an accurate record of children in attendance at any
given time to ensure children's safety in the event of an emergency evacuation. This
was a requirement identified in the last inspection report. This requirement is met.
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 24 of 42
Inspection report continued
Areas for improvement
The Provider identified the following area for improvement in the services selfassessment:
"To re deploy fire co-ordinator due to staff turnover."
We found staff undertook daily visual checks of the playroom and outdoor area and
used generic risk assessment checklists. However, on arriving we entered the nursery
unchallenged through the main door, which was open due to the latch not closing
effectively.
Following discussion, the depute manager immediately contacted maintenance and a
repair was carried out during the inspection. We were informed that a new door and
entry system was to be installed the following day.
In conclusion, the service failed to provide effective health and safety risk assessment
guidance and reporting systems were not routinely completed to show actual or
potential risks identified on a day-to-day basis or identified actions taken to alleviate
hazards. We therefore identified a serious concern for the safety of children and
people who use the service and have made a requirement to ensure health and safety
training and effective risk assessment reporting systems are implemented and
monitored for all areas of the nursery and outings.
See Requirement 1, Quality Theme 2, Quality Statement 2
We found hygiene and infection control systems in the laundry and kitchen were not
effectively carried out and relevant safe cook records were not available for inspection.
The area manager immediately requested a deep clean of the kitchen and laundry
facilities on 27 September 2013. Following discussions the provider confirmed hygiene
and infection control issues relating to the kitchen and laundry hygiene were
effectively actioned.
We contacted East Renfrewshire Council who carried out an unannounced visit to the
service on 8 October 2013, planned subsequent visits on 11 October 2013 and arranged
to provide additional guidance on appointment of the new chef. Following the initial
visit we were informed the East Renfrewshire Food Hygiene Information Scheme PASS certificate remained valid.
We have made a requirement to ensure children and people who use the service
benefit from safe working which are consistently monitored in line with NHS Infection
prevention and control in childcare setting (day care and childminding settings) and
East Renfrewshire Council Environmental Services.
See Requirement 2, Quality Theme 2, Quality Statement 2.
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 25 of 42
Inspection report continued
Parents/carers confirmed they signed accident report sheets and staff informed of
first aid administered. In addition, the manager undertook an audit of accidents
reported. However, we saw staff failed to immediately complete an accident report or
identify if further action was required, e.g. follow-up first aider checks or risk
assessment. We therefore found in this instance, staff failed to take appropriate
actions following an accident.
See Recommendation 1, Quality Theme 2, Quality Statement 2.
We observed staff use disposable gauze squares from an opened packed stored at the
sink to provide a cold compress following an accident. We therefore identified concern
for the health and safety of children as we found staff failed to use and replenish first
aid boxes with sufficient first aid materials and protective clothing to be used in the
event of an accident or emergency. This was a recommendation identified in the last
inspection report. This recommendation remains current.
See Recommendation 1, Quality Theme 2, Quality Statement 2.
We found the playrooms to be visually clean and a staff rota identified cleaning tasks
to be undertaken. However, playroom recording and monitoring systems to show
when soft furnishings and laundry items where routinely cleaned were not
maintained in line with current best practice guidance - NHS infection prevention and
control in childcare setting (day care and child minding settings). This was a
recommendation identified in the last inspection report. This recommendation
remains current.
See Recommendation 2, Quality Theme 2, Quality Statement 2.
We found staff monitored room temperatures when children/babies were sleeping.
However, we viewed on going records showing the room thermometer indicated a
high room temperature. We found no actions recorded to reduce the room
temperature or measures in place to improve ventilation within the room. Staff
informed the windows were rain sensitive and would not open.
We therefore, found that safe sleeping practices including removal of children's shoes
and monitoring of room temperatures were not effectively monitored in line with the
Scottish Cot Death Trust best practice guidance and identified a potential risk to
sleeping children.
See Recommendation 3, Quality Theme 3, Quality Statement 2.
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 26 of 42
Inspection report continued
Grade awarded for this statement: 3 - Adequate
Number of requirements: 2
Number of recommendations: 4
Requirements
1. Requirement with reference to Quality Theme 2, Quality Statement 2
The provider must make proper provision for the safety of people who use the
service.
In order to achieve this, the provider must review health and safety risk assessment
policies and procedures and access health and safety risk assessment training for
all staff to ensure potential and actual risks identified on a day to day basis are
effectively recorded and potential hazards are effectively addressed in line with
current best practice health and safety guidance and legislation.
This is in order to comply with SSI 2011/210 Regulation (1) (a) - a requirement that
providers shall make proper provision for the health and welfare of service users,
In making this requirement, the following National Care Standards were considered:
National Care Standards - Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16:
Standard 3 - Health and Wellbeing.
Timescale - 3 months
2. Requirement with reference to Quality Theme 2, Quality Statement 2
The provider must ensure appropriate procedures for the prevention and control of
infection.
In order to achieve this the provider must ensure children and people who use the
service access a safe hygienic environment and benefit from safe working and
hygiene practices which are consistently monitored in line with NHS Infection
prevention and control in childcare setting (day care and child-minding settings)
and East Renfrewshire Council Environmental Services.
This is in order to comply with SSI 2011/210 Regulation (1) (a) - a requirement that
providers shall make proper provision for the health and welfare of service users,
In making this requirement, the following National Care Standards were considered:
National Care Standards - Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16:
Standard 3 - Health and Wellbeing.
Timescale - 3 months
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 27 of 42
Inspection report continued
Recommendations
1. Recommendation with reference to Quality Theme 2, Quality Statement 2
The provider must ensure accident reporting procedures are completed effectively
to show an accurate record of first aid administered and actions taken following an
accident.
National Care Standards - Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16:
Standard 3 - Health and Wellbeing.
2. Recommendation with reference to Quality Theme 2, Quality Statement 2
The provider should ensure first aid materials are readily available in the event of
an emergency and monitored in line with current best practice guidance.
National Care Standards - Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16:
Standard 3 - Health and wellbeing.
3. Recommendation with reference to Quality Theme 2, Quality Statement 2
The provider should review hygiene and infection control procedures to show when
specific soft furnishings and laundry items e.g. cushions, dressing up clothes, are
routinely cleaned in line with current best practice guidance - NHS Infection
prevention and control in childcare setting (day care and child-minding settings).
National Care Standards - Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16:
Standard 3 - Health and wellbeing.
4. Recommendation with reference to Quality Theme 2, Quality Statement 2
The provider should review safe sleeping practices to ensure effective staff practice,
adequate ventilation and room temperatures are implemented monitored in line
with Scottish Cot Death Trust best practice guidance.
National Care Standards - Early Education and Childcare up to the age of
16: Standard 3 - Health and wellbeing.
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 28 of 42
Inspection report continued
Quality Theme 3: Quality of Staffing
Grade awarded for this theme: 5 - Very Good
Statement 1
We ensure that service users and carers participate in assessing and improving the
quality of staffing in the service.
Service strengths
We found very good systems in place to involve people who use the service in
assessing the quality of provision and involvement in nursery life. To assess this
statement we gathered evidence from discussions with parents/carers, children,
observing interactions and sampling information from the manager.
Methods to involve people who use the service are outlined under Quality Theme 1,
Statement 1.
We found very good communication systems in place to inform parents/carers of
organisational news and to seek their views on improving the quality of service.
Parents were asked for their preferred means of communication and following an
audit of responses the service's newsletter was displayed on the nursery web site
with email correspondence being preferred by the majority. In addition, the manager
respected parents' wishes to receive hard copies of any correspondence issued. One
parent commented in the care standards questionnaire:
"I am very happy and confident that all staff ensure that my child feels happy and
secure in his nursery environment. I am always updated and kept informed of my
child's progress and asked for ideas and feedback."
We tracked a number of emails sent to parents/carers and responses showed an ongoing record of suggestions and requests, which the manager responded to
effectively. Parents/carers informed that they valued the opportunity to respond to
emails at their leisure.
Children benefited from having a key worker (named member of staff) who provided
continuity of care for children and parents attending the nursery. Nine parents
strongly agreed and one agreed that staff treat their child fairly and with respect. One
parent commented:
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 29 of 42
Inspection report continued
"The staff are all very respectful and my son's key worker always keeps me informed
of all daily activities. I am very happy with the service and the environment at
Kirktonholme."
Parents confirmed that following a number of children leaving the service to go to
school, the focus group required new membership. The group agreed to continue to
promote its membership and continue to seek parental support for fund raising
events and nursery activities.
Following a recent parental survey the manager completed an audit which showed 25
% of parents responding indicated that introductions to key workers could be
improved. In response, the manager provided leadership opportunities to Team
Leaders to ensure the process is much more rigid with an expectation that key
workers are introduced and allocated before children begin their placement.
Parents told us they felt the induction and transition to nursery was very well
organised and key workers are identified prior to children starting. One parent told us:
"My child has recently started here and I have found the experience to be very
positive. I was provided with relevant information and the staff were very keen to hear
all about my son's needs. I found this very reassuring as I was having to return to
work following my maternity leave and I feel I have made the right choice."
In consequence, we found the manager and staff team had worked in partnership
with parents/carers and children and were continually seeking ways to involve people
who use the service in assessing the quality of staff and improving outcomes for
children and families.
Areas for improvement
The Provider identified the following area for improvement in the service's self
assessment:
"To further develop staff through access to appropriate training identified through
consultation."
The service was very aware of the need to involve parents/carers and children in
assessing the quality of staffing and should continue to evidence and monitor the
involvement of people who use the service, as identified in the service improvement
plan.
Grade awarded for this statement: 5 - Very Good
Number of requirements: 0
Number of recommendations: 0
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 30 of 42
Inspection report continued
Statement 3
We have a professional, trained and motivated workforce which operates to National
Care Standards, legislation and best practice.
Service strengths
We found this service had performed to a very good standard in the areas covered by
this statement. To assess this statement we observed staff practice and sampled
relevant documentation for example, continuing professional development (CPD)
(staff training records), minutes of meetings, staff remits and monitoring systems.
We found staff to be knowledgeable and motivated to promote positive outcomes for
children and families. The staff we spoke to value the work they did and felt able to
provide a high standard of care to people who use the service. Staff told us they felt
the manager respected their views and opinions and took forward their suggestions
whilst assessing the quality statements for this inspection and through selfassessment procedures.
There had been a very good range of training that was relevant to the needs of
people who use the service and staff's professional development. Staff explained the
benefits of recent training and how training improved their practice and outcomes for
children and families.
We found very good examples of how staff effectively used their training to influence
positive outcomes for children. An example of this showed how staff were involving
children in planning activities to improve their experiences outdoors.
We observed children discussing how they planned to use acorns, twigs and leaves
they had collected to create a variety of art work which reflected their ideas, some
children made trees, others dinosaurs and roads. Children therefore benefited from
staff valuing their input and having opportunities to discuss and take forward their
plans.
We viewed a variety of minutes showing regular room meetings, staff meetings,
management meetings and parents' meetings which the manager effectively
delivered to show a record of communication methods used to formally and
informally monitor organisational improvements.
The manager confidently monitored staff training needs and provided leadership
opportunities for staff to take on additional responsibilities and training identified
through Professional Development reviews. Staff interests and skills were therefore
supported by training opportunities available.
Staff told us how local initiatives had helped them to deliver joint working practices
including Smile Too tooth-brushing programme and Breast Feeding Awareness.
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 31 of 42
Inspection report continued
Parents spoken with praised staff for effectively encouraging children to brush their
teeth and we saw children confidently undertaking tooth brushing using
recommended procedures.
Staff were committed to their own personal development needs and attended a wide
variety of training opportunities including further education.
As a partnership nursery staff had the opportunity to attend East Renfrewshire
Council training events and in house training, which they evaluated to inform current
practice, policy and procedural reviews. Recent training included:
* Child protection
* Breast feeding awareness
* Oral health
* Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) local authority, and in-house
* Curriculum for Excellence
* Pre birth to three - Jo jingles and book start
Staff confirmed they attended supervision and appraisal sessions, which informed
their training needs analysis. We therefore found the manager effectively planned and
monitored staff training opportunities and effectively took forward a team approach
to support staffs development.
In consequence staff morale was high and staff appeared motivated to take on board
leadership roles to support their own personal development needs and the needs of
the service.
Systems were in place to record Enhanced Disclosure Scotland checks and Protection
of Vulnerable Groups (PVG). The service was very aware of making appropriate checks
and following guidance in relation to PVG, Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and
systems were in place to verify staff qualifications.
Parents spoken with told us they found the staff to be very friendly, approachable and
professional and had confidence in their ability to care for their children's needs.
Areas for improvement
The Provider identified the following area for improvement in the service's self
assessment:
"To continue staff development through formal education and qualifications. To
continue best practice sharing by all staff attending workshop training.We will be
working on developing the team to ensure all staff are delivering the same high
quality care throughout the nursery."
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 32 of 42
Inspection report continued
We found the above area for improvement had already started to impact on the
quality of provision as staff were currently visiting other services as a means of
reviewing staff practice and the quality of experiences provided for children.
The manager informed of training requirements identified for the coming year and
highlighted the need for staff training on health and safety. Through discussion with
the manager, we highlighted that health and safety risk assessment training and
involvement in policy and procedural reviews would be beneficial to meet
recommendations and requirements identified in this inspection report.
Grade awarded for this statement: 5 - Very Good
Number of requirements: 0
Number of recommendations: 0
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 33 of 42
Inspection report continued
Quality Theme 4: Quality of Management and Leadership
Grade awarded for this theme: 4 - Good
Statement 1
We ensure that service users and carers participate in assessing and improving the
quality of the management and leadership of the service.
Service strengths
Methods to involve people who use the service are outlined under Quality Theme 1,
Statement 1.
The manager sought the views of parents/carers on the quality of service delivery
and effectively used feedback to influence changes within the service.
The service improvement plan displayed in the entrance showed people who use the
service how priorities for action were being taken forward and evaluated. Parents/
carers told us they were regularly updated about service improvements and were
confident the manager was addressing any concerns.
The returned care standards questionnaire showed that eight parents strongly agreed
and eight agreed that the service involved them in developing the service.
The Parent Council played an active role in discussions relating to assessing the
quality of provision and continued to be a strength in identifying and taking forward
nursery improvements and local initiatives. Children and families therefore benefited
from having a strong forum to share their views and making decisions which
positively impact on the quality of provision and improving outcomes for children and
families.
Areas for improvement
The Provider identified the following area for improvement in the services self
assessment:
"To continue Quality Assurance strategies in collating evidence for Quality Standards
Reports."
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 34 of 42
Inspection report continued
The service was very aware of the need to continually involve parents/carers and
children in assessing the quality of provision and should continue to evidence and
monitor the involvement of people who use the service, as identified in the service
improvement plan.
Grade awarded for this statement: 5 - Very Good
Number of requirements: 0
Number of recommendations: 0
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 35 of 42
Inspection report continued
Statement 4
We use quality assurance systems and processes which involve service users, carers,
staff and stakeholders to assess the quality of service we provide
Service strengths
We found this service had performed to a good standard in the areas covered by this
statement. To assess this statement we observed staff practice and sampled relevant
documentation for example, staff rota, Improvement plan, monitoring systems,
communication with local authority, audits and evaluations of practice and talking to
staff, manager and people who use the service.
Through discussion, reviewing documentation and observing practice we found the
manager had taken forward a whole team approach to monitoring and evaluating the
quality of provision. Parents/carers confirmed the manager and staff team provided
opportunities for them to be involved in assessing the quality of provision.
The manager showed how the service improvement plan influenced changes to the
service. We sampled relevant documentation, detailing a review of priorities identified
in the service improvement plan. We found the manager effectively identified and
monitored achievements made, actions required, timescales for action and outcomes
for people using the service.
The service's improvement plan identified priorities for 2013 and showed how staff
were involved in taking forward specific sub-groups and remits within the nursery and
wider community. Current priorities included:
* Delivery of education - To improve the quality of teaching in order to achieve better
learning. To improve the children's experiences in all aspects of their development.
* Leadership - To focus on leadership in relationship to planning and communication.
* Partnerships and resources - To create and maintain successful partnerships with
parents.
We therefore, found effective systems were in place to monitor the improvement plan.
We concluded this, following discussions with the manager, staff and area manager,
reviewing action plans and evidence provided. This was a recommendation identified
in the last inspection report. This recommendation is met.
People using the service told us they were aware of the improvement plan displayed
in the entrance and informed that the manager regularly provided surveys and audits
which showed how their views informed changes within the service.
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 36 of 42
Inspection report continued
The nursery was in partnership with East Renfrewshire Council and benefited from
working with the Early Years Quality Improvement Officer to review the services
standards and quality report which influenced priority targets identified in the service
improvement plan.
In addition, the manager informed that the provider had employed a Quality Insurance
Officer who will provide additional support and undertake reviews of service provision.
The manager welcomed the opportunity to have internal support structures in place
to recognise achievements and identify areas for improvement.
We found staffing ratios met Annexe A of the national care standards. In addition, an
additional staff member was employed to cover during staff absence, holidays and
training days. Children therefore benefited from having a consistent staff team and
key worker system, which resulted in positive relationships being formed. Parents
commented positively on the friendly, professional staff team and praised their
knowledge of their child's individual needs.
Parents/carers and staff confirmed they found the management team to be very
approachable and supportive when undertaking new challenges and improvement
initiatives.
We found through discussions with the manager, the service was well placed to meet
recommendations and requirements identified in this inspection report.
Areas for improvement
The provider identified the following areas for improvement in the services self
assessment:
"To continue Quality Assurance Questionnaires, self-evaluation, monitoring and
evidence gathering ensuring a comprehensive and relevant improvement plan."
The manager had put in place effective quality assurance systems. However we found
monitoring systems maintained evidence to support priorities identified in the
services improvement plan and missed opportunities to monitor the quality of day to
day practices and procedures.
We have identified a requirement to ensure recommendations and requirements
identified in this inspection report are effectively implemented and monitored to
improve outcomes for children and families.
See Requirement 1, Quality Theme 4, Quality Statement 4.
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 37 of 42
Inspection report continued
Grade awarded for this statement: 4 - Good
Number of requirements: 1
Number of recommendations: 0
Requirements
1. Requirement with reference to Quality Theme 2, Quality Statement 2
The provider must make proper provision for the health, welfare and safety of
service users.
In order to achieve this, the provider must ensure an effective action plan is
implemented in line with current best practice guidance and legislation. The
manager should monitor day to day workplace practices and procedures to ensure
areas of concern and improvements are consistently identified and effectively
actioned.
This is in order to comply with SSI 2011/210 Regulation (1) (a) - a requirement that
providers shall make proper provision for the health and welfare of service users,
In making this requirement, the following National Care Standards were considered:
National Care Standards - Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16:
Standard 3 - Health and Wellbeing
Standard 14 - Management and leadership
Timescale - 3 months
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 38 of 42
Inspection report continued
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
The service is registered with the Care Inspectorate as Kirktonholme @ Newton
Mearns, however, signage and service documents refers to the service as
Kirktonholme @ Mearnswood. The Area Manager agreed to change the signage and
service documents to show the registered name.
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 the Care Inspectorate re-grading a Quality Statement within the Quality
of Management and Leadership Theme (or for childminders, Quality of Staffing
Theme) as unsatisfactory (1). This will result in the Quality Theme being re-graded as
unsatisfactory (1).
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 39 of 42
Inspection report continued
5 Summary of grades
Quality of Care and Support - 4 - Good
Statement 1
5 - Very Good
Statement 3
4 - Good
Quality of Environment - 4 - Good
Statement 1
5 - Very Good
Statement 2
3 - Adequate
Quality of Staffing - 5 - Very Good
Statement 1
5 - Very Good
Statement 3
5 - Very Good
Quality of Management and Leadership - 4 - Good
Statement 1
5 - Very Good
Statement 4
4 - Good
6 Inspection and grading history
Date
Type
Gradings
1 May 2012
Unannounced
Care and support
Environment
Staffing
Management and Leadership
4 - Good
4 - Good
4 - Good
4 - Good
30 Nov 2009
Unannounced
Care and support
Environment
Staffing
Management and Leadership
5 - Very Good
Not Assessed
5 - Very Good
Not Assessed
22 Oct 2008
Unannounced
Care and support
Environment
Staffing
Management and Leadership
5 - Very Good
5 - Very Good
5 - Very Good
5 - Very Good
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 40 of 42
Inspection report continued
All inspections and grades before 1 April 2011 are those reported by the former
regulator of care services, the Care Commission.
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 41 of 42
Inspection report continued
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 0845 600 9527.
This inspection report is published by the Care Inspectorate. You can get more copies
of this report and others by downloading it from our website:
www.careinspectorate.com or by telephoning 0845 600 9527.
Translations and alternative formats
This inspection report is available in other languages and formats on request.
Telephone: 0845 600 9527
Email: enquiries@careinspectorate.com
Web: www.careinspectorate.com
Kirktonholme @ Newton Mearns, page 42 of 42
Download