environmental health visit!

[catlyn]

just had mine!!! and after reading some of the horror srories on here I was bricking it....spent all week cleaning and disinfecting, moved loads of stuff upstairs out of sight, cleared the benches...bought an apron a fridge thermometer, a probe....all things they told me to buy on the food hygeine course I did on saturday. I even spent an afternoon making sure everything was labelled and dated if it had been opened.....guess what!!!
She came in, asked if i had the food standards pack, filled a questionairre in based on the pack, signed a form and went!!! Didnt even look in my kitchen...in fact I didnt even havce to open the kitchen door...what a week of worry for nothing ( I live in Co Durham)

[Kezzle]

Riddle me this, do you have to register with EH even if you don't plan on providing meals, say i just wanted to offer drinks and possibly snacks although i'm wondering whether parents could provide snacks? hmmm.

[Kezzle]

Riddle me this, do you have to register with EH even if you don't plan on providing meals, say i just wanted to offer drinks and possibly snacks although i'm wondering whether parents could provide snacks? hmmm.

Its ok i found my answer, not the one i would have liked though

[singingcactus]

I was registered with EH in my last home, and I really wish everyones visit could be the same as mine was. She was excellent, she understood that this was a home and the kitchen was multi purpose. She would have offered any help in working out procedures for maintaining the health of the food and the children if she felt there was a need, but she was happy with my procedures.
Having heard so many other horror stories on here I have decided not to register here, I really don't need the hassle of visits, menu planning, food wastage etc, so parents provide everything here. It is working really well - although I really miss being able to cook for the kids, having done it for the last 16 years or so.
Thinking about it though, the removal of plants from the kitchen is a sound consideration - I might well think about moving mine if I can find somewhere else for them. I don't see though, how it can be possible in a small busy kitchen to keep even one side clear, although I can easily see the reason for it.
As for the comments about the 'shop front', maybe he was trying to be helpful and supportive - but I think I'd be wanting to poke him in the eye too.

[onceinabluemoon]

I don't see though, how it can be possible in a small busy kitchen to keep even one side clear, although I can easily see the reason for it.

I have a tiny kitchen and have the small piece of worktop next to the cooker as my food prep area. It measures 600mm by 600mm. EH were fine with this.

The rest of my worktops have bits and pieces on them and do tend to get cluttered up sometimes (by my teens who think 'put it away' is an alien language and to be avoided at all costs!), which does in all honestly make them difficult to keep spotlessly clean so I can see why they dont want things on the work surfaces.
However as long as you can show a clean and clear food prep area (you could even put a blue tacked label above for EH purposes) that should be sufficient (according to our EH team anyway...)

[Rubybubbles]

I have reg in Bucks, I phoned and the man said okay, will send you the form. Not likey to come see you, unless you provide all meals as in hot lunchs/evening meals, and that they are going to start inspections on childminders early 2012

TBH the form they sent was rubbish, so I had to put my own sheet in with what I did!

You do HAVE to reg though when bucks CC send out forms they ask if you are reg with EH

[madcaz]

Hi
Had my inspection friday. After reading the posts, had a good tidy up, was due a spring clean anyway Also filled in the file. Had a lady inspector, she was very nice, she stayed about 45mins, she asked to see my fridge thermometer, food probe and anti-bac. Talked more about day to day things. Had a letter today saying everything was good and no recommendations were made. Happy dayz . Im sooo glad I didnt have the same person as you, although reading your post made me make sure everything was in its place, thanx

[rickysmiths]

I have reg in Bucks, I phoned and the man said okay, will send you the form. Not likey to come see you, unless you provide all meals as in hot lunchs/evening meals, and that they are going to start inspections on childminders early 2012

TBH the form they sent was rubbish, so I had to put my own sheet in with what I did!

You do HAVE to reg though when bucks CC send out forms they ask if you are reg with EH

I have a friend in Bucks, has been a cm for years. The cms have had to be registered with EH for years now and they have always visited cms and already inspect regularly so be ready!

[Rubybubbles]

I have a friend in Bucks, has been a cm for years. The cms have had to be registered with EH for years now and they have always visited cms and already inspect regularly so be ready!

nice, thanks for that haha!