Spectrum Out of School Club Day Care of Children

Transcription

1 Spectrum Out of School Club Day Care of Children Mains Parish Church Hall Claverhouse Road Dundee DD4 9DL Telephone: Type of inspection: Unannounced Inspection completed on: 28 March 2018 Service provided by: Spectrum OOSC Management Committee Service provider number: SP Care service number: CS

2 About the service Spectrum Out of School Club was previously registered with the Care Commission and transferred its registration to the Care Inspectorate on 1 April The service is currently registered with the following conditions: 1. To provide a care service to a maximum of: 20 children 3-16 years. 2. The service shall operate between 3-6 p.m during school term time and between 10am - 6 p.m during school holidays. Spectrum Out of School Club offers a Monday to Friday after school club and school holiday play schemes where children can benefit from activities ran by staff who are familiar with their need for structure and routine with play. The group is open to all primary and secondary school pupils with an ASD diagnosis, and each child is offered a place specific to what they will achieve within the group through a combination of group and individual play. The club is a voluntary organisation and is run by a parental management committee. As a result of concerns identified at this inspection a regulatory plan has been put in place. This allows the Care Inspectorate to monitor closely the issues and progress within the service. We check services are meeting the principles of Getting it Right for Every Child (also known as GIRFEC), Scotland's national approach to improving outcomes and wellbeing for children by offering the right help at the right time from the right people. It supports them and their parent(s) to work with the services that can help them. There are eight wellbeing indicators at the heart of Getting it Right for Every Child: safe, healthy, achieving, nurtured, active, respected, responsible and included. They are often referred to as the SHANARRI wellbeing indicators. What people told us We observed children to be content at the club, being familiar with the routines and having positive relationships with staff. We received seven completed questionnaires from parents prior to inspection. Parent questionnaires reported they were very satisfied with the club, commenting highly on the benefits to their child and family. Comments included: 'Spectrum is a wonderful service for children with ASD. It has been the only service to support us as a family. The staff group is stable and they know the children well. We don't know what we would do without Spectrum.' 'All the staff are so caring, friendly and approachable, and my child is very happy at this club. Lots of activities to keep the kids entertained and stimulated. I have a very happy child which makes us very happy parents. Well done to everyone involved in Spectrum.' 'My child is very happy in Spectrum and enjoys going there after school. In fact it was she who increased the number of days she would attend every week from two to four!' 'Spectrum is the only club my child attends. There are no other services that offers what he needs, and helps his development.' page 2 of 13

3 'This service is the only service that my child attends. He studies the calendar to know when he is going and is excited to attend. The service assists in my child's development as well as giving my wife and I much-needed us time.' Self assessment The service had not been asked to complete a self assessment in advance of the inspection. We looked at their own quality assurance systems and discussed how these needed to be implemented to address improvements within the club. Further details can be found in the management and leadership section of the 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 3 - Adequate 3 - Adequate 3 - Adequate 2 - Weak Quality of care and support Findings from the inspection Children were welcomed by staff on arrival at the club. Children were familiar with the routine, and were supported in their understanding with the use of visual schedules. Staff communicated clearly with children, and knew them well in relation to how they presented, providing responsive care. Children had the opportunity and space to relax or engage in activities as they chose. Staff respected children's choice, with encouragement given where appropriate to engage them in activities, or support transition to another area. Picture Exchange Communication System(PECS) was used by staff to support children's understanding and communication. We saw a very good example of a specific child's communication system being used during inspection which we discussed with the manager, and suggested ways in which this could be further developed as part of all children's information. Staff recognised when certain children needed supporting in a smaller group, or in another area and responded to this appropriately. We discussed the transition process into the service, and provided the manager with feedback about ways in which this could be more effectively planned for with more detailed use of children's information in order to provide the best possible outcomes for children. Children's registration information was in place, with details about individual likes, dislikes and routines. Not all forms were consistently completed, dated or signed and we highlighted the importance of attention to detail when completing forms to ensure these were completed accurately. Children's information was not being routinely reviewed and updated every six months in line with legislation, and we discussed this with the manager and chairperson (see requirement 1). page 3 of 13

4 We reviewed medication procedures and found these not to follow best practice guidance. Not all relevant medication paperwork was in place, changes in dosage permissions were not clear and correct administration practices were not being followed. We discussed at length the use of permission and administration recording paperwork, including accurate auditing to ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of children attending the club (see requirement 2). We reviewed child protection procedures and found staff to be familiar and confident with the process. The manager and depute manager had attended training to support them in their roles as child protection officer. Whilst we were satisfied with staff knowledge of the procedure, not all staff had updated their child protection training for many years, and new staff were not provided with this in their induction period (a requirement has been made in relation to this under Quality of Management and Leadership). Requirements Number of requirements: 2 1. In order to meet children's safety, health and wellbeing, the provider must ensure that all children's information is clearly detailed, including permissions, emergency contact numbers and individualised allergy information. This is in order to comply with: The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Requirements for Care Services) Regulations 2011 (Scottish Statutory Instrument 2011/210) Regulation 4(1)(a) A provider must make proper provision for the health, welfare and safety of service users. Timescale: 17 May In order to meet children's safety, health and wellbeing, the provider must ensure that medication systems and procedures are in line with best practice guidance, and that these are understood and adhered to by staff. This is in order to comply with: The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Requirements for Care Services) Regulations 2011 (Scottish Statutory Instrument 2011/210) Regulation 4(1)(a) A provider must make proper provision for the health, welfare and safety of service users. Timescale: 17 April Recommendations Number of recommendations: 0 Grade: 3 - adequate page 4 of 13

5 Quality of environment Findings from the inspection The club now owned the service premises. The manager shared with us their plans for building renovations, which they had not been able to action previously. We supported these plans in order to improve the standard of the environment. A secure entrance contributed toward the safety of children, with staff closely supervising fire exits throughout the building. Staff signed children into the building when they arrived on school transport, and signed out when parents collected them at the end of the sessions. There was a very good amount of space for the children to use across a number of rooms offering different types of activities. These rooms were colour coded and used as part of the children's visual schedules, to support their awareness of activities available throughout the session. Rooms included a sensory area, arts and crafts, active games, as well as a large secure outdoor area. The manager shared plans for each room now they owned the building, which would impact positively on the environment and experience for children. The large outdoor area was in need of development, and again the manager discussed the plans for this. We observed children to value the outdoor space, providing them with the opportunity to seek solitary space surrounded by nature, or work together with friends in building dens. We agreed that the development of the outdoor space would provide children with a more positive outdoor experience, and encouraged the progression of this. We found infection control practices in the service to be generally good, however highlighted the importance of hand washing and impact of outdoor snacks with children. The manager shared with us at our second visit ways in which they planned to consider this to ensure the risk of infection was minimised. As a result we have not made a recommendation in relation to this. Toilets were accessible to all children, with hand wash available at all sinks. We discussed with staff the changing facilities which were available, and were satisfied that staff were following guidance and using appropriate gloves and aprons as required. We discussed the dignity of children and asked the manager to introduce a 'screen' to promote the dignity for children requiring personal assistance in the main toilet area. The manager and chairperson discussed at feedback ways they could look at this, and agreed to implement, therefore a recommendation has not been made at this stage. The kitchen area was in need of upgrading and re-decoration, as had been discussed at last inspection. We discussed the need for the service to be registered with Environmental Health. The manager showed us the new kitchen ready for installation. We discussed the kitchen area and emphasised the importance of action being taken to upgrade this area, with advice and guidance from Environmental Health (see requirement 1). The chairperson confirmed at feedback that contact had been made with Environmental Health and they were awaiting further guidance. Risk assessments were in place, however had not been updated or reviewed recently. We also highlighted the importance of staff being aware of these and understanding the implications for practice. We discussed accident and incident forms in place. We found these not to always be completed fully or signed. We also discussed the importance of corresponding incident forms being completed and highlighted the managers role in auditing these (see recommendation 1). page 5 of 13

6 Requirements Number of requirements: 1 1. To ensure children's health, safety and wellbeing, the committee must ensure that the environment is suitably maintained, and the service is registered with Environmental Health. This is in order to comply with: The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Requirements for Care Services) Regulations 2011 (Scottish Statutory Instrument 2011/210) Regulation 4 (1)(a) A provider must make proper provision for the health, welfare and safety of service users. Timescale: 17 April Recommendations Number of recommendations: 1 1. To maintain clear, accurate records, the service should review their accident and incident recording, providing parents with a copy. National Care Standards, Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16: Standard 3, Health and Wellbeing, Standard 14, Well-managed Service. Grade: 3 - adequate Quality of staffing Findings from the inspection We reviewed the service recruitment procedures and found these were not in line with safer recruitment best practice guidance. Some staff had started working at the service without appropriate recruitment checks being carried out to ensure they were safe to work with children, such as references and Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) checks. The manager was informed that these staff could not work with the children until the appropriate checks were in place. We emphasised the seriousness of this and the need for all staff to be recruited following current safer recruitment guidance. A requirement has been made in relation to this under Management and Leadership. We spoke to staff who had most recently started with the service. They told us they received very good support from their colleagues and that they felt they worked effectively as a team. Regular meetings were held as well as informal daily discussion. We discussed induction to the service and found that this could have been better supported with a more thorough process, including completing relevant training such as child protection within their induction period (see requirement 1). We reviewed staff registration with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and found all staff to be appropriately registered. Some staff were qualified, and others were working towards appropriate qualifications. We discussed the importance of staff achieving appropriate qualifications within the required timescale, and the positive impact for children of being cared for by staff with relevant skills and knowledge. page 6 of 13

7 We observed staff to be nurturing and caring, providing clear guidance and support to children. Children's choice was respected, whilst staff encouraged them to participate or engage in an activity at their own pace. Staff recognised when certain children needed a quieter group or area, and responded to this appropriately. We discussed opportunities for staff to use visual aids more effectively when communicating with children, which would help ease anxiety and increase understanding. There was a system in place for staff to receive annual appraisals, providing them with the opportunity to review their practice and identify areas for further development. We discussed the importance of staff regularly having time to reflect on their practice and consider areas for development. This will help the staff team, develop as reflective practitioners, impacting positively on outcomes for children. We also emphasised the importance of the manager receiving regular formal support and supervision from the chairperson to support her in her role (see recommendation 1). The staff team were passionate about their roles, and committed to delivering the best service to the children in their care. They were aware of their areas for development and shared with us their willingness to undergo training to further develop their skills and knowledge. We reviewed the training schedule for staff and found that minimal training had taken place since last inspection. Although staff were pro-active in identifying training, this was not always supported by the service. We discussed this with the manager and chairperson who advised that a training plan was being identified for staff. We emphasised the importance of staff receiving regular training to ensure they have the appropriate skills and knowledge to carry out their role. We also discussed the importance of evaluating the training and staff reflecting on the impact of this on their practice, ultimately impacting positively on outcomes for children in their care (see requirement 1). Requirements Number of requirements: 1 1. In order to ensure staff are appropriately skilled to carry out their roles, the committee must ensure staff receive regular training and a robust induction into the service. The staff training should be audited to measure its effectiveness in developing practice and improving outcomes for children. This is to comply with: The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Requirements for Care Services) Regulations 2011 (Scottish Statutory Instrument 2011/210) Regulation 15 (b) (i) - Staffing. Timescale: 9 July page 7 of 13

8 Recommendations Number of recommendations: 1 1. To improve outcomes for children, the committee should ensure that all staff, including the manager, receive regular formal supervision to support staff, allowing them time to reflect and develop their practice. National Care Standards, Early Education and Childcare up to the age 16: Standard 12, Confidence in Staff, Standard 13, Improving the Service, Standard 14, A Well-managed Service. Grade: 3 - adequate Quality of management and leadership Findings from the inspection Service policies were in the process of being reviewed by the manager, as some of these had not been updated for some years. We discussed additional information to be included in some of these, as well as the importance of referring to best practice guidance. The manager discussed her plans to specialise some policies to reflect the specific service. We recognised the benefit of this, however highlighted the priority of ensuring all policies reflected current best practice. We also discussed the importance of all staff being familiar with and following service policies and procedures (see recommendation 1). We discussed formal consultation with parents and carers, and the manager and chairperson shared with us the challenges around this, as well as their thoughts for developing this further. As a result a recommendation has not been made at this time. There were no quality assurance procedures in place to monitor the standards within the club. We highlighted the importance of this being in place to audit the effectiveness of systems and processes, and the manager's role in this. We discussed the development of an improvement plan, and emphasised the importance of this to address the areas of concern identified at this inspection (see requirement 1). The service had not submitted information to the Care Inspectorate as required. We discussed the relevant notifications the club was required to submit, and the importance of submitting these in line with the club's registration (see requirement 2). We identified issues regarding safer recruitment of staff and emphasised the importance of safer recruitment procedures being in place (see requirement 3). We discussed the issues identified at this inspection, and the responsibility of the committee and manager to ensure these were addressed appropriately. We referred to staff competencies and skills, and discussed identifying individual strengths and leadership to drive forward the improvements needed within the service. We discussed the need for clarity of roles within the committee, the manager and the staff team. The chairperson and the manager agreed this would be beneficial in identifying the improvement plan for the service going forward, and were both committed to improving standards within the club. page 8 of 13

9 Requirements Number of requirements: 3 1. In order to improve outcomes for children, the committee and manager must develop and implement a robust quality assurance system and improvement plan. This is in order to comply with: The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Requirements for Care Services) Regulations 2011 (Scottish Statutory Instrument 2011/210) Regulation 4 (1)(a) A provider must make proper provision for the health, welfare and safety of service users. Timescale: 15 June The committee must submit information to the Care Inspectorate in line with their registration requirements. This is in order to comply with: Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010, Section 53 (6) provides that SCSWIS may require a person who provides a social service registered under the Act to supply it with any information to enable SCSWIS to discharge its functions. This may include such aspects as self-evaluation returns or other information. Timescale: 17 April In order to ensure children are supported by suitable staff, the committee must ensure that all of the staff working in the service are recruited in line with safer recruitment practices, including obtaining satisfactory PVG and references. This is in order to comply with: The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Requirements for Care Services) Regulations 2011 (Scottish Statutory Instrument 2011/210) Regulation 9(1)&(2)(b) & 15(a) - Fitness of Employees and Staffing. Timescale: 17 April Recommendations Number of recommendations: 1 1. In order to ensure the service is operating to current best practice guidance, the service should review and update service policies. National Care Standards, Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16: Standard 13, Improving the Service, Standard 14, Well-managed Service. Grade: 2 - weak page 9 of 13

10 What the service has done to meet any requirements we made at or since the last inspection Previous requirements Requirement 1 To ensure the health, wellbeing and dignity of children using the service the provider must ensure all areas of the environment are maintained in such a way as to meet the specific needs of the children using the service. The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Requirements for Care Services) Regulations 2011 (Scottish Statutory Instrument 2011/210) Regulation 4 (1)(a), (c) and (d) Welfare of Users. This requirement was made on 3 December Action taken on previous requirement The building still required upgrading and redecoration, particularly the kitchen. The manager told us of their plans to upgrade this now they have ownership of the building. A further requirement has been made in relation to this as part of this report. Not met What the service has done to meet any recommendations we made at or since the last inspection Previous recommendations Recommendation 1 To ensure children experience care and support that facilitates and enables them to reach their potential the manager should implement plans to adjust the way the activities are planned and delivered. Children's individual strengths, needs, risks and interests as well as staff knowledge and training should be central to the plans to ensure positive outcomes. National Care Standards, Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16: Standard 6, Support and Development, Standard 13, Improving the Service. This recommendation was made on 3 December Action taken on previous recommendation Children were well supported in relation to activities of their choice. Staff knew children very well and supported them appropriately during their sessions. We discussed staff training and children's individual information as part of this inspection, and further recommendations and requirements have been made. page 10 of 13

11 Recommendation 2 For children to receive care that reflects current best practice the manager and staff should receive regular training from qualified trainers specific to the needs of the children using the service and relevant to their role. National Care Standards, Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16: Standard 12, Confidence in Staff. This recommendation was made on 3 December Action taken on previous recommendation Although staff had attended some training this was not extensive given length of time since last inspection. Newer staff had received minimal training. A requirement has been made as part of this report. Recommendation 3 To aid the continued quality assurance of the service the manager and committee should continue to develop links with local and national organisations providing similar care and support to children and their families. National Care Standards, Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16: Standard 10, Involving Other Services, Standard 13, Improving the Service. This recommendation was made on 3 December Action taken on previous recommendation No external links had been made with other organisations. The manager advised hopeful future links with another charitable organisation which may be able to support with staff training. We discussed options for support for the manager to improve the service. Complaints There have been no complaints upheld since the last inspection. Details of any older upheld complaints are published at Enforcement No enforcement action has been taken against this care service since the last inspection. page 11 of 13

12 Inspection and grading history Date Type Gradings 30 Oct 2014 Unannounced Care and support Environment Staffing Management and leadership 31 Oct 2011 Unannounced Care and support 5 - Very good Environment Not assessed Staffing Not assessed Management and leadership 8 Jul 2010 Unannounced Care and support Environment Not assessed Staffing Management and leadership 3 - Adequate 22 Mar 2010 Unannounced Care and support Environment Not assessed Staffing 2 - Weak Management and leadership 3 - Adequate 24 Mar 2009 Unannounced Care and support Environment Staffing Management and leadership 3 - Adequate page 12 of 13

13 To find out more This inspection report is published by the Care Inspectorate. You can download this report and others from our website. Care services in Scotland cannot operate unless they are registered with the Care Inspectorate. We inspect, award grades and help services to improve. We also investigate complaints about care services and can take action when things aren't good enough. Please get in touch with us if you would like more information or have any concerns about a care service. You can also read more about our work online at Contact us Care Inspectorate Compass House 11 Riverside Drive Dundee DD1 4NY enquiries@careinspectorate.com Find us on Facebook Other languages and formats This report is available in other languages and formats on request. Tha am foillseachadh seo ri fhaighinn ann an cruthannan is cànain eile ma nithear iarrtas. page 13 of 13