An Aberdeen daycare for autistic children has been told to improve after a child was able to leave the premises unnoticed.
Two inspectors from the Care Inspectorate made an unannounced visit to Aberdeen Playscheme, on Carnie Drive, from August 15 to 16.
It came after a child was able to leave the facility without anyone realising, with a door also found left open during the inspection.
The Care Inspectorate issued some of the lowest grades possible and made eight requirements that must be fixed.
The daycare can hold up to 16 children on the autistic spectrum between the ages of four and 18 years.
It is operated by charity Autism and Neurodiversity North Scotland (A-ND), formerly known as the Grampian Autistic Society.
The group says it has addressed almost all of the requirements made by the Care Inspectorate since the visit.
Child left without anyone realising
Inspectors said the investigation into the child leaving the premises was found to not be “robust” and “lacked effective learning”.
Management had begun to reflect on it by changing the lock on the front door, but it was not done with “urgency”.
They found there was “potential for this incident to reoccur”.
Inspectors noticed the front door was left open at times, and they ruled there was a potential children “were not kept safe or protected”.
Security on park trip ‘ineffective’
On the first day of inspection, during a trip to the park, it was found no staff were first aid trained.
A lack of planning and structure meant that transitions for getting ready to go to the park took a long time, causing one child to become agitated and distressed.
Inspectors said there was also insufficient staff deployed on outings to ensure the safety of children.
Staff did also not carry out a check of the area to identify any potential hazards. Security was also found to be “ineffective” as there was potential for children to exit the premises unnoticed.
What rating did the daycare get?
The Care Inspectorate gives out ratings on a one-to-six scale. There is no zero rating available. Aberdeen Playscheme got the following rating:
- Care, play and learning: Weak – 2/6
- Setting: Weak – 2/6
- Leadership: Unsatisfactory – 1/6
- Staff team: Unsatisfactory – 1/6
No documents on staff background checks
When the inspectors looked at the staff records, they will unable to see the documentation proving the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) checks had been carried out.
The checks are mandated for all employees working with autistic children.
In their reports, the inspectors wrote A-ND must provide the documents that these checks have been completed.
They also found the manager had only completed basic child protection training and lacked confidence in the procedures.
Nappy storage increased risk of infection
The inspectors also found problems with the environment the children were experiencing.
The windowsills in the toilets were cluttered, which meant they could not be easily cleaned.
Nappies and paper towels were also poorly stored which increased “the risk of the spread of infection”.
What does the daycare operator say?
Daycare operator, A-ND, formerly known as the Grampian Autistic Society, was founded in 1987.
They now have a staff team of around 50 people and provide direct, ongoing support and services to well over 100 individuals and their families in Aberdeen and Moray.
A spokeswoman for the charity said: “As of September 30, seven of the eight requirements have been met with the final requirement actioned to be complete for November.
“The Care Inspectorate was invited on serval occasions to provide guidance and collaborate with us over the last year to ensure the best possible care and support was being provided, with no formal response.
“We are now working in collaboration with them to ensure the highest standard of care and support for our children, young people and their families.
“A-ND has experienced significant changes and challenges over the last 18 months, with recruitment and staff shortages having a significant impact.
“We are delighted to announce that we have recruited a new children’s service manager with the skills and experience required who will lead our team and service to deliver the highest standard of care and support.”
Conversation