do you keep child info locked up?

[angela234]

Hi I was wondering how and where other childminders keep child information details.

At present i keep each child forms in a seperate plastic sleeve in a large clip file,(morton michel) i also keep with them any consent forms.

Also do you leave completed accident/incident forms with unused forms? I put mine with the child info details. for confidentuality.

But none of mine is in a locked file box etc i don't know if this is secure enough for ofsted.

What do you do?
Angela

[carolinel]

hi,
I don't keep mine locked up. Each child has their own plastic envelope style folder which contains contract etc, signed policies, and any accident/medical forms. When I had my ofsted inspection a couple of weeks ago i told her that attendance register was kept in kitchen and everything else in the spare bedroom upstairs. she was absolutely fine with this.
When she looked in the accident/medical book she commented that no child had had any medicine since I started, I told her that they had but I keep the form in the childs file so if there was an emergency I could just grab the file and take it to hospital where they would be able to see exactly what medicine the child had taken recently. She said this was a good idea.

[janet]

HI MINES THE SAME AS CAROLINE KEPT HIGH UP ON THE SHELF BUT NOT LOCKED AWAY, I ALSO HAVE A LIST OF ALL THE CHILDRENS DETAILS WRITTEN ON 1 PAPER SO IN AN EMERGANCY MY EMERGANCY CONTACT CAN SORT THINGS OUT IF NEED TO XX

[Pauline]

I keep mine in a filing cabinet but it is not locked.

As far as I know it just has to be kept where it could not be accessed by anyone who should not see it. Before we had the filing cabinet I kept things in a box file in the bottom of the wardrobe and the inspector was happy with that.

I also have an Emergency File containing all the contact details of parents (this is more detailed than the contact details I carry around with me. i.e. full work addresses, rather than just phone numbers). I keep this downstairs so that it could be grabbed in the event of a fire, but out of access from any visitors. My family know where it is.

My plan is that in an extreme emergency such as an accident/serious illness to me, then it could be given to a member of the emergency services who could then take care of the children and get hold of parents without delay rather than a member of my family, who might be very stressed, having to deal with it all.

The inspector thought this was a great idea and praised my forward planning.

[angela234]

Hi; Thanks for your replys, my folder is kept on a high shelf above the computer i'll probably put it up into my wardrobe.
I will print out a sheet with full contact infro details on incase of an emergency to keep downstairs, great idea!
I already carry a small one with childs name and contact tel number in my bag. I also carry small childs photo ID with tel number on incase anything happens to me.

Thanks again for your replys
Angela

[Pauline]

I carry a photo of the children too, especially babies and toddlers as they would not be able to tell anyone who they were and that I wasn't their mum if anything happened to me.

Perhaps we worry too much but at least you know you have done your best!