Little Steps Childcare

1. The provider should ensure that all children are cared for and kept safe by safely recruited staff. Recruitment procedures should be developed to support employers to fully assess the skills, knowledge and experience of those applying for employment. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS) which states that: ‘I am confident that people who support and care for me have been appropriately and safely recruited’ (HSCS 4.24).

2. To promote a culture of continuous improvement so that outcomes for children and families improve, the provider should enhance the current approaches to quality assurance and self-evaluation. This should include but not be limited to: a) providing consistent support and monitoring of staff practice b) developing self-evaluation processes c) developing and implementing an improvement plan that supports continuous improvement. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS) which state that: 'I benefit from a culture of continuous improvement, with the organisation having robust and transparent quality assurance processes’ (HSCS 4.19).

3. The provider should ensure that contingency plans are in place to account for staffing challenges, including recruitment issues and staff absence. They should consider staffing levels and skill-set in the deployment of staff to support and minimise disruptions to children’s care. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS) which state that: ‘My needs are met by the right number of people’ (HSCS 3.15); and ‘My care and support is provided in a planned and safe way, including if there is an emergency or unexpected event’ (HCSC 4.14).

1. The provider should continue to support staff to develop their skills, knowledge and understanding of how children develop and learn. A range of training and professional development should be provided to support inform practice and ensure that children receive high quality care and are supported to thrive. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS) which state that: 'I have confidence in people because they are trained, competent and skilled, are able to reflect on their practice and follow their professional and organisational codes' (HSCS 3.15).

1. The provider should ensure that all staff consistently demonstrate warm, sensitive and nurturing interactions with children. Staff should be supported to develop their understanding of how interactions impact on children’s emotional wellbeing, including recognising and responding to children’s emotional needs. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS) which state that: ‘My care and support meets my needs and is right for me’ (HSCS 1.19); and ‘I am supported to communicate in a way that is right for me, at my own pace, by people who are sensitive to me and my needs’ (HSCS 2.8).