Childminders must also record all complaints made to them. Try not to look on this as a negative procedure but a positive way of improving the service you offer.
For example. A parent complains that there child is always hungry when they get home and questions what you have fed them and how much? The outcome could be that you sit down with the parent (and maybe the child ) and design a fortnightly menu plan, discuss portion sizes etc and then you record daily how much the child is eating in their contact book.
This has improved your service and involved the parent in the process.
Download Complaints procedure
Download Complaints Form
This standard focuses on the Childminder having the knowledge and understanding of how to recognise possible abuse and deal with it correctly.
Childminders must have a knowledge of the different types of abuse and the signs and symptoms:
Physical Abuse
Sexual Abuse
Emotional Abuse
Neglect
Childminders must have a copy of their ACPC or Safeguarding Children’s Board leaflet detailing abuse, how to record and report it.
Emergency Duty team for London Borough of Bromley Tel: 020 8464 4848
Childminders should be making written observations and noting anything of concern
Download
It is advisable to ask Parents to sign a permission form when signing contracts.
This then gives you the opportunity to discuss Child Protection with the parents
and will allow you in the future, if required, to report any concerns with their
permission
Download
Child Protection Permission Form
It is also important that childminders
take measures to protect themselves and their families against any allegations of
abuse. It is good practice to keep a record of all visitors to the home:
Downloads:
Childminding
Guest Book
Other members of the household Policy
Visitors to the setting policy
Regular visitors to the home should be declared to Ofsted and CRB cleared.
Training is available free of charge from Bromley Early Years and Childcare Services and it is recommended that all childcare workers attend refresher training every three years.
The NSPCC provide a 4 module distance learning course for a fee of approximately £25. www.nspcc.org.uk
This document provides a summary of best practice guidance for those who work with children in order to safeguard their welfare. It also contains an appendix to help practitioners with the legal issues affecting the sharing of information. The document outlines the following:
What you should do if you have concerns about a child’s welfare
What will happen once you have informed someone about those concerns
What further contribution you may be asked or expected to make to the processes of
assessment, planning, working with children, and reviewing that work
Basic information and background about the legislative framework.
Download Referral Flowchart
This standard focuses on the documentation that Childminders must keep, how it is stored and for how long.
There are no set guidelines on how long most documentation must be kept (except registers, accident and medication records which must be kept for a minimum of two years). It is therefore recommended that records are kept for 10 years if possible.
All records should be kept securely to protect confidentiality but easily accessible in the event of an emergency.
Childminders must inform Ofsted immediately if there are any changes or events, such as major changes to the home, birth of a baby, serious accident or illness to the minder or a child etc.
A full list of documentation that is required is available in the guidance book.
Sample policies, procedures and permission forms are available to download from the relevant National Standards Page or the Policies and Procedures Page.
It is recommended that all Childminders:
Keep a daily diary
Download Daily Diary Sheet
produce an introductory leaflet
(see Marketing Ideas)
Record observations on the children showing their progress and achievements
Download Observation Sheet
Record Compliments, comments or any references received
Download Compliments Record
Parents are entitled to see any completed complaints forms. In order to protect confidentiality of children and their families, remove the personal details at the top of the form before showing to a third party.
Ofsted have produced a pdf version of the complaints process which can be downloaded from:
http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/
assets/Internet_Content/Shared_Content/
Files/compchild_revfinal.pdf
National Standard 14 Documentation
NATIONAL STANDARDS 13 and 14
National Standard 13 Child protection
A free publication was produced by the Government and is available to download