Risk Assessment

It is important that children are provided with safe and secure environments. Child-minders need to ensure that, a risk assessment is put in place, and therefore they make necessary changes to secure their safety at all times.

Child-minders must ensure that the home, indoors and outdoors, are safe and secure. This should include appropriate measures such as including indoor and outdoor security. For example, ponds, drains, pools should be made safe or inaccessible to children. Child-minders should be aware which doors are locked or unlocked, how to use door alarms and security systems, formal identifications. There should be fireguards in place and fitted securely on all fires or heaters so children don’t burn themselves and cause damage. Also radiators or thermostats should be set at an appropriate/safe temperature around 18 degrees. There should be window locks on all windows in all rooms so children don’t trap their fingers. If you don’t put window locks on the upstairs windows children are not allowed up there due to the registration and there will be some areas which are unsafe to go in to.
Also in the garden if you have a shed that has glass windows there should be glass film to cover them so they don’t break this can lead to cuts. There should be socket covers in all plugs in every room, this could cause harm if there isn’t any covers because children should get electrocutions. The hazards of plug in air fresheners carry the risk of a choking hazard/poisoning or can lead to an allergic reaction. These should be removed during child-minding. The floor covering should be fitted securely so it doesn’t result to accidents such as slipping or tripping over. When child-minding you should be aware of electrical cables trailing this should lead to falling over, electrocutions or the children could have the possibility of being strangled.

In the kitchen you should use anti-bacteria cleaner to kill germs and so children don’t get seriously ill. All electrical cables including leads should be out of reach of small children. Food preparation equipment should be kept in clean so no-one’s at risk of germs or illness. Fridge (4°C) and freezer (-18°C) should be stored correctly so the children don’t become ill. All food should be covered in the fridge and raw meat should be kept on the bottom shelf so there is no contamination of food, if the food is not covered this could cause a child to have a serious illness. A fire blanket should be in place appropriately in case of fire. There should be safety catches on cupboards and drawers where necessary and all dangerous/sharp cooking equipment should be stored safely. Washing machines/dryer should be secured if there not they could lead to death. There should be a gate/barrier should be fitted securely where appropriate so they cannot access areas in the kitchen. As well as this in the kitchen if there is unhygienic dishcloths, mops and tea towels that could cause illness.
In the hall and on stairs there should be stair gates placed and secured effectively. If these are not positioned safely children could fall or have access to inappropriate areas. Also smoke detectors should be tested often, this can cause death due to the chance of a fire or breathing in smoke. The floor covering on the stairs should be securely fitted so the children don’t fall and hurt themselves. The banisters should be secure; if the banisters are not safe the child could fall and have a serious accident.

In the bathroom all toilets seats, potties or sinks should be kept in a hygienic condition. There should be a step for the smaller children to use the toilet, if this is not available the child may fall while trying to get on the toilet. If the water is to hot there could be a risk of burning or scalding. All cleaning products should be out of reach of children in a cupboard with locks on, if a child gets hold of bleach they could be poisoned or choke. The children should have their own towel/flannel due to this being hygienic so the children don’t become ill of germs.

For the younger children there should be travels coats for the daytime in a spare room downstairs that’s not too noisy.
Your garden drains should be covered so children don’t fall and also patios, paving stones or steps should be securely laid so it don’t cause any accidents. All walls/fences should be secure so children don’t escape to inappropriate areas or get wooden splinters. Barriers should be in place to stop children’s access to greenhouses or ponds etc. Children could get cuts from glass, drowning or getting trapped. Child-minders should locate the evacuation plans clearly and where the fire exits are found and the meeting area. They should also supply a first aid kit for anyone who injures themselves.