Monday, September 21, 2015

Licensing Visit Report



All licensed day home agencies in Alberta must follow the regulations set out in the Family Day Home Standards Manual of Alberta (http://humanservices.alberta.ca/documents/family-day-home-standards-manual.pdf). Each agency then implements their own standards to go above and beyond these minimum regulations. Hemel House plans regulations based on Accreditation Standards (http://humanservices.alberta.ca/documents/accreditation-standards.pdf), input from our early childhood educations and families, and the Family Day Home Standards Manual of Alberta to ensure we implement best practices.

On August 12, 2015 Child and Family Services completed a review of one of the Hemel House contracted family day home providers as required in Standard 1 of the Manual. As a result of the review, it was identified that this provider was compliant with the provincial standards for the family day home program.

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On November 7, 2014 Child and Family Services completed a review of one of the Hemel House contracted family day home providers as required in Standard 1 of the Manual. As a result of the review, it was identified that the provider was compliant with the provincial standards for the family day home program.

Licensing Visit Reports



All licensed day home agencies in Alberta must follow the regulations set out in the Family Day Home Standards Manual of Alberta (http://humanservices.alberta.ca/documents/family-day-home-standards-manual.pdf). Each agency then implements their own standards to go above and beyond these minimum regulations. Hemel House plans regulations based on Accreditation Standards (http://humanservices.alberta.ca/documents/accreditation-standards.pdf), input from our early childhood educations and families, and the Family Day Home Standards Manual of Alberta to ensure we implement best practices.


On October 23, 2014 Child and Family Services completed a review of one of the Hemel House contracted family day home providers as required in Standard 1 of the Manual. As a result of the review, it was identified that the provider was non-compliant with:

Standard 7: Child Care Program
The family day home provider plans and implements a daily program that:
- includes both indoor and outdoor activities;
- is made available to parents and is readily available;
- is adapted to meet the needs and abilities of children with special needs; and
- ensures children’s developmental needs are met, including emotional, physical, intellectual and creative/social.
** The daily program is posted at the entranceway. There were no indoor activities planned for 2 previous days and the outdoor activity planned was not reflective of what was going to occur that day.

Standard 10B: Home and Safety Checklist
The provider:
- has written emergency plan of evacuation procedures;
- practices fire drills monthly;
- has a working telephone and knows the procedures for calling for help;
- keeps medications and vitamins under lock and key;
- all chemicals, alcohol, personal care products and cleaning products are inaccessible to children; and
- has telephone numbers for emergency services readily accessible.
** There are personal care products accessible to the children in the washroom. The infant gate was not closed at the time of visit giving access to unapproved area of the home.

Standard 10F: Animals
Where there are pets in the provider’s home or other animals on the provider’s property:
- children must not have access to animal/pet foods or wastes;
- children should not have unsupervised access to pets;
- pets must be vaccinated according to local veterinarian recommendations; and
- reptiles and amphibians must be kept in safe, locked aquariums or cages.
** In the kitchen, a bowl of water and cat food was observed on the floor and is easily accessible to the children. This was removed immediately by the provider. The cats were not observed during the visit as they were in the locked master bedroom.

Standard 12: Meals and Snacks
Providers serve meals and snacks at appropriate times, in sufficient quantities and in accordance with each child’s needs including allergies and special diets.
- Meals and snacks are in accordance with food guide recognized by Health Canada;
- Menus are made available daily to parents or home visitors/consultants;
- Manner in which children are fed is appropriate to age and level of development;
- Children are seated while eating and drinking;
- No beverages given to napping children;
- Parent of infants must supply infant food (including special dietary requirements).
** Menu was posted easily viewed by parents and home visitors. The menu was complete for that day however snack observed being served to the children did not match what was planned on the menu.

Standard 13: Visual Identity
Providers must display the visual identity for family day home in a prominent place in the provider’s residence while they are approved.
** The visual identity that is normally posted on the bulletin board could not be located by the visitor or the provider.

Hemel House Child Care Consultants conducted an unannounced inspection to check on the plan of action on November 3. At this visit the Consultants observed:
- Activity Menu report was posted, requirements and planning were reviewed with provider.
- A lock was placed on bathroom cabinets to make personal care products inaccessible and child safety gate was in place and locked.
- Cat food was in a locked cupboard.
- Day home visual identity was posted (this was brought to the day home on October 24th).

November 5, Accreditation Standard 2 Checklist completed by an ARCQE (the Alberta Resource Center for Quality Enhancement) representative. This checklist is to monitor Accreditation Standard 2:
Program planning and practices support every child’s optimal development in an inclusive early learning and care environment that incorporates the value and importance of play.

At this visit the ARCQE Representative observed:
- Child safety gate was installed and locked.
- Planning (activity and menu) was complete and posted.
- No cat food bowls were observed in the kitchen.
- Bathroom cupboard was locked.
- Day home visual identity was posted.
November 13 an unannounced follow-up was conducted:
- Child safety gate was observed and locked.
- Bathroom cupboard was locked.
- Planning(activity and menu) was posted and complete.
- No cat food bowls were observed in the kitchen.
- Day home visual identity was posted.

December 10 a Hemel House Child Care consultant conducted a follow-up on the licensing checklist and requirements. Ongoing monitoring and support continue as per the Hemel House standards and regulations.
 

Licensing Visit Report



All licensed day home agencies in Alberta must follow the regulations set out in the Family Day Home Standards Manual of Alberta (http://humanservices.alberta.ca/documents/family-day-home-standards-manual.pdf). Each agency then implements their own standards to go above and beyond these minimum regulations. Hemel House plans regulations based on Accreditation Standards (http://humanservices.alberta.ca/documents/accreditation-standards.pdf), input from our early childhood educations and families, and the Family Day Home Standards Manual of Alberta to ensure we implement best practices.


On August 28, 2014 Child and Family Services completed a review of one of the Hemel House contracted family day home providers as required in Standard 1 of the Manual. As a result of the review, it was identified that the provider was non-compliant with the provincial standards for the family day home program.

Standard 10E: Medications
- Medication is to be kept under lock and key unless deemed as emergency medication. All emergency medication must be easily accessible to the provider yet still inaccessible to children at all times.
Emergency medication is kept in the front pouch of a backpack located on the top shelf of the front hall closet. At the time of the visit, the backpack was left on the floor in front of the closet.
September 3, 2014 is confirmed remedy date by CFS as the provider keeps the outdoor backpack, containing emergency medication, higher than 5 feet up in the front hall closet.

                                                                                             

On August 28, 2014 Child and Family Services completed a review of one of the Hemel House contracted family day home providers as required in Standard 1 of the Manual. As a result of the review, it was identified that the provider was compliant with the provincial standards for the family day home program.