A Scots childcare provider is at risk of having its registration withdrawn if “urgent improvements” aren’t made to its day care service, inspectors have said.
The Care Inspectorate has issued an improvement notice to Uddingston-based Happy Days Out of School Care following an inspection which identified “significant concerns”.
The care watchdog told Gillian Geddes, who runs the after-school club, that unless there is a “significant improvement” in provision of the service, a proposal will be made to cancel her registration.
Happy Days has now been given various deadlines over the month of February to improve.
The Care Inspectorate described this as a “difficult and distressing” time for children who attend the service, their families and staff.
Lanarkshire Live told in 2018 how Ms Geddes was refused a licence to continue operating a minibus service by Scotland’s Traffic Commissioner after transporting children without a valid MOT.
At the time, then Traffic Commissioner Joan Aitken said she had doubts about the repute of Gillian Geddes – who runs Happy Days Out of School Care and Holiday Club in East Kilbride and Uddingston – and whether she could be trusted to operate vehicles.
In one instance, a vehicle’s MOT had expired in April but it was still being used to transport children from day care facilities at Westwood Parish Church in East Kilbride and Uddingston Baptist Church in June.
The improvement notice outlines the areas which must improve.
The new report states that the provider must demonstrate that the manager of the service has the skills, knowledge and expertise to manage the service effectively.
They must also ensure that the manager has undertaken identified training and that the impact of their training results in children being safe whilst being cared for in the service.
The welfare and safety of all children when escorted to the service must also be ensured.
There must be suitably recruited and competent individuals working within the care service to meet the safety, health and wellbeing needs of all children at all times.
Finally, the provider must ensure all children’s medication and health needs are considered and planned for.
A spokesperson for the Care Inspectorate said: “We understand this is a difficult and distressing time for children who attend the service, their families and staff at the service.
“However, our first priority is always the health and wellbeing of children.
“We are in contact with and monitoring the service to follow up on the required improvements.
“If we are not satisfied that sustained improvement has been made we will not hesitate to take further action.
“Anyone with a concern about a service can contact us on 0345 600 9527.”
The latest inspection report will be published on the Care Inspectorate website.
Happy Days and South Lanarkshire Council were contacted for comment.
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