Joint Survey of Care Inspectorate Inspection Experiences
In November 2023 NDNA, along with Early Years Scotland (EYS), Care and Learning Alliance (CALA) and Scottish Childminders Association (SCMA) conducted a joint survey which asked providers to share their experiences of Care Inspectorate Inspections. This was in response to a wide range of concerns raised with all organisations about difficult experiences.
NDNA took on the role of collating the data and the full survey findings were shared with the Care Inspectorate and Scottish Government. Having reviewed the findings the group made the collective decision to work constructively with the Care Inspectorate to look at solutions to the concerning issues that arose in the findings.
The four organisations have now met twice with the Care Inspectorate and Scottish Government and after the findings were discussed and acknowledged these are some of the next steps that were agreed to address issues:
- Regular meetings with Care Inspectorate CEO and CEO’s from NDNA, EYS, SCMA and CALA, as representative bodies, along with Scottish Government are being convened to ensure that there is real progress being made in relation to the areas identified in the survey findings.
- The Care Inspectorate (CI) will work with the organisations (which will also include Scottish Out of School Care Network) on establishing a Childcare Forum where issues can be discussed face to face (First meeting was held in June 2024)
- The Care Inspectorate will return to using the Inspection Satisfaction Questionnaires (ISQ’s) which should be issued alongside draft inspection reports to ensure you have a better opportunity to describe the experience of the inspection and raise any pertinent issues.
- High level findings from the ISQ’s will be shared with representative bodies in advance of the Childcare Forum to allow for discuss around arising themes and to gain a view of what is happening on the ground in relation to them.
- Provider guidance and information had been developed on supporting people during inspections and this should have already been shared.
- Guidance around what is expected of Inspectors will also be shared with providers in due course (this is currently being reviewed)
Findings from the survey made it very clear that things had to change, and the engagement we have had so far has been very positive, with Care Inspectorate acknowledging that more work must go into relationship building and understanding the stresses of inspection.
The Childcare Forum will give us the opportunity to address practical issues that are affecting the sector at a ground level and the more strategic level meetings will allow us to ensure that progress continues to be made. The first meeting of the Childcare Forum was constructive, and we are looking forward to future meetings where we can work closely together with the Care Inspectorate to find solutions to issues raised by the sector.
We have worked together with the other organisations to bring you a summarised version of the findings which can be found here.
We are realistic though that change will not be immediate, however we will, as a collective group ensure that we are monitoring the progress being made.
- Scotland
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