Abbeyfield

Abbeyfield Inspection report for residential family centre

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SC050043 Unique reference number 13 November 2008 Inspection date Debbie Foster Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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38 Christchurch Road Address Sheffield South Yorkshire S3 9HN 0114 252 5230 Telephone number

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Email

Progressive Care Limited Registered person Jane Holmes Registered manager

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Responsible individual

19 February 2007 Date of last inspection .

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Responsible individual

This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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Responsible individual

You can obtain copies of The Children Act 2004, Every Child Matters and The National Minimum Standards for Children's Services from: The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Cripins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcome for children set out in the Children Act 2004 and relevant National Minimum Standards for the establishment.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is strong Good: this aspect of the provision is sound Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is not good enough Inadequate: 3 of 9 Inspection Report: Abbeyfield, 13 November 2008

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Brief description of the service

There are two brick built buildings. Both contain a number bedsits and one bedroom flats. Each bedsit and flat has a kitchenette and a bathroom to accommodate for the families. In addition, one of the buildings also contains, offices, kitchen, play area, laundry and meeting room facilities. There is a designated garden and play area outside for the children. The centre is situated in a residential area just outside the city centre and is on a bus route. There are local shops, a park and schools near by.

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Summary

This was an unannounced key inspection focusing upon 17 key National Minimum Standards (NMS) The fourteen actions and two recommendations made on the last inspection in February 2007 have also been checked to see if they have been implemented. A parent took part in the inspection process. This is a satisfactory service with a number of good outcome areas for families. The overall quality rating is satisfactory. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The actions and recommendations made at the last inspection include the following areas: full and accurate information held on families, access to medical treatments identified, knocking to gain entry to flats, reference requests asking if a person is suitable to work with children, recording of Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) information, all staff receiving fire instruction, families receiving accurate feedback on their assessments, staff training, identified damp areas being addressed and a full staffing structure being deployed. The setting has taken positive steps to address the majority of these issues. Detailed and accurate information is held on parents and children in the centre to ensure their needs are being met. Parents and children have access to and received suitable medical check ups and treatment which promotes improving their health. Staff and parents confirmed privacy and rights are promoted by staff knocking

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Improvements since the last inspection

on doors and waiting for the occupant to respond, before entering flats. The Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) information undertaken when staff are recruited, records that a staff member has been checked specifically to work with children to ensure they are suitable and safe to do so. Staff have received fire instruction training in the last six months to ensure they are aware of the procedures in the event of a fire to assist in evacuating families safely. Parents have been kept up to date on the progress of their assessments which has assisted them in making decisions and choices in how they continue in the placement. The majority of staff have received training in the mandatory areas, including child development and those interviewed have a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities. The staffing structure in place reflected the statement of purpose, which consisted of the manager, a team leader, two senior residential

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Improvements since the last inspection

care workers and five residential care workers to provide suitable support to families. Repairs to fridges and an area with damp have been addressed to provide a suitable environment and facilities to families. The following areas are still outstanding and require implementation; Staff recruitment reference do not always ask directly if the person is suitable to work with children to ensure all safety checks have been carried out to protect and keep children safe. The minimum ratios of 80% of all care staff have not yet completed their NVQ Level 3 in the Caring for 4 of 9 Inspection Report: Abbeyfield, 13 November 2008 Children and Young People to assist in having suitably qualified staff with all the relevant training to fully meet families needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Families have good access to health care services and activities which promotes their good health and well-being. Their health needs are individually identified and recorded in full with in their placement plan and case file. Staff are aware of the families individual needs. Both parent and child have regular appointments with health care professionals including; GP, health visitor and optician. The service has good links with the health visitor. Staff have received training in first aid and the safe administration, storage and recording of medication. Good records are kept which clearly indicate where staff or the parent have administered medication. Appropriate permission is obtained from parents to enable staff to administer first aid and medication where needed. Parents are well supported to pursue education and leisure activities to develop their confidence and skills where appropriate. One parent said she attends a local

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Helping children to be healthy

parents group in the community and visited her family weekly. This assisted in making friends and improving family links.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Staff and parents have a understanding of acceptable behaviour and conduct whilst living in the residential family centre. This promotes a level of comfort and security within the centre for families. Staff discuss the expectations and boundaries with parents. There are clear policies and procedures on the standard of behaviour expected, respecting difference of individuals and the circumstances when physical intervention will be used. A parent confirmed she is aware of this. The majority of staff have received training in de-escalation and physical intervention. Although, staff said they have not had to restrain a parent or a child, they have used de escalation techniques to manage difficult and more challenging behaviour. Parents and staff are clear on the rules for visitors which ensures the welfare and safety of these using the centre. Families privacy is respected and information confidentially handled. Parents and children have

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

access to a pay phone where calls can be made in private and they have keys to their own flats. A parent said staff knock and wait before entering her flat. Records are securely stored. Families and staff are confident that any complaints raised are investigated appropriately. Both are fully aware of the procedure for how to complain. There have been no complaints made to the centre. The recording system shows the action is taken and the outcome will be recorded. However, the complaints procedure does not include Ofsted contact details. The systems, procedures in place, along with staff and parent awareness for complaints indicate concerns are taken seriously. Good policies and procedures are in place to protect parents and children from abuse. Measures are put in place to keep families safe. Staff have comprehensive safeguarding training and can verbalise the procedures well. The home has a good link with the local safeguarding board. The

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

safeguarding procedures for children and adults are available for staff to refer to and use. Families welfare in the centre is promoted. The provider has satisfactory vetting and recruitment procedures in place to support families from being cared for by unsuitable staff. There is a detailed recruitment procedure and system but this is not always being followed in full. Staff recruitment files contain most the required information and relevant checks on the person are undertaken, including the Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks and references. However, gaps have been found in employment history and the references do not always ask if the person is 5 of 9 Inspection Report: Abbeyfield, 13 November 2008 suitable to work with children. The manager and monthly provider monitoring have also found omissions in the recruitment files in recent months. It is not clear from the records if these omissions have been rectified. Families safety is a high priority in the centre. For example,

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

detailed risk assessments are in place, which cover the relevant areas and supporting safety measures which are implemented with families to keep them safe. These are reviewed on a regular basis and updated where necessary. Staff have received training in food hygiene, first aid, health and safety. Fire records indicate that appropriate fire instruction and drills have taken place with staff, parents and children. Health and safety areas are monitored by the manager on a monthly basis. However, weekly fire checks on the system have not been taking place in line with the fire officers advice. Therefore, this has affected the overall safety of families and the National Minimum Standards (NMS) are not being fully met.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Parents and children are admitted to the centre in a planned and sensitive manner by the staff. Information is explained to the parent at the earliest opportunity about the expectations and the purpose of their placement which includes such areas as methods of supervision, observation, assessment, behaviour towards staff and visitors, smoking, privacy and confidentiality. A parent said clear and detailed explanations have been given to her about the purpose of the placement and a welcome pack with relevant information about the centre, which has really helped. Parents and children have their needs assessed in detail and reviews take place on a frequent basis which includes their progress. Parents are actively involved in this process, have read their placements plans and sign them. The placement plans clearly set out the objectives and how on a day to day basis they will be implemented and include the support staff will provide along

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Helping children make a positive contribution

with other relevant professionals. Plans are overseen and monitored by the manager and a qualified social worker. Although the key work sessions undertaken reflect the placement plan areas, the daily recordings do not always demonstrate this. Parents feel well informed and have good relationships with the staff. A parent said she got on with all the staff. She found the positive feedback she got helpful as well as feedback on the areas she needed to build on and develop further.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is satisfactory. In the main parents and children enjoyed accommodation, decorated and furnished to a good standard to ensure they are provided with suitable facilities, catering for the daily living of a family. All families are accommodated with a one bedroom flat or bed-sit. All have a kitchenette and their own bathroom. Ground floor flats have a garden area, which benefits young children. However, there are some flats with missing furnishings and fittings, such as a dining table and chairs, settee & TV's. Two flats have sofas that are soiled and stained, another had a set of broken draws and other flats have some fixtures and fittings in need of repair. A parent said the flat was comfortable and has good facilities. She said everything was working, although the draws in the bedroom are broken. Staff have been made aware of this but no action has been taken. The centres shared facilities enhance the private accommodation of the families

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Achieving economic wellbeing

to give variety and choice to the parents and children in their daily life. This includes; a playroom, 6 of 9 Inspection Report: Abbeyfield, 13 November 2008 kitchen, meeting room and outside play area, which are well equipped. A small number of flats have surveillance cameras fitted (CCTV). The manager said this is only used when directed by the court and placing local authority. The service has a clear policy and procedure for the use of surveillance. This is supported by a detailed plan of when and why it will be used with a family. However, on checking documentation where CCTV has been used with a family, it was not clear on the file that the court or the placing local authority had requested its use in writing. Although, it was clear it was being used where child protection issues have been identified.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. There is a clear statement of how the centre operates and the manner in which care and support is to be provided. The Statement of Purpose contains the majority of the required information set out in Schedule 1 of the Regulations. However, there are omissions relating to the fees and charges and only brief details of the arrangements for protecting children and parents under the age of 18 accommodated in the centre. A parent said on admission to the centre, she received written information about the service and how the centre operates. Staff have also discussed this with her, which she found helpful. Staff are well supported, competent and the majority trained in the relevant areas to meet the needs of families. There is a staffing structure in place with clear lines of accountability. The team leader deputies in the absence of the manager. The staff team of eight have a number of years experience in working with parents

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Organisation

and their children. Staff have sufficient opportunities to undertake mandatory and other training in a number of areas, such as: safeguarding, attachment and loss, Children's act 1989 & 2004, child development and working with dangerous parents. However, one staff member has not received physical intervention training which impacts on the safety of families. The target of 80% of the work force being trained in the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People or equivalent has not been achieved by the staff group. Currently 65% of staff have achieved the NVQ qualification. Families receive an individual service which is tailored to meet their personal needs. The staff have a good knowledge of the family they are currently working with ensuring the right support and assessments are being undertaken. The promotion of equality and diversity is good. This is evidenced through practice,

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Organisation

supporting policies, procedures and the individual placement plans. There are Monitoring systems in place to assist the service adapt and develop the quality of care at the centre. The manager is carrying out monthly monitoring of the service. This frequency exceeds that set out in the National Minimum Standards (NMS). However, a monthly visit to the home by the registered provider has not taken place and two monthly written reports are not available for inspection. Further to this the monitoring system did not identify omissions in fire safety checks and action to omissions identified in the recruitment process have not been addressed in a timely fashion to protect and safeguard families.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions, which must be taken so that the registered person meets the Care Standards Act 2000, The Residential Family Centres Regulations 2002 and the National Minimum Standards. The Registered Provider must comply with the given timescales.

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Due date Action Standard

7 of 9 Inspection Report: Abbeyfield, 13 November 2008 28 January 2008 ensure Ofsted name, address and telephone number are included in the complaints procedure (Regulation20) 14 November 2008 ensure full recruitment details are obtained in line with the regulations including a full employment history, together with a satisfactory written explanation of any gaps in employment are obtained for each staff member (Regulation 16 schedule 2) 14 November 2008 ensure fire system tests and checks are carried out in line with the fire authorities guidance and this is recorded (Regulation 22) 28 January 2008 ensure all rooms occupied by families are adequately furnished and kept clean. All parts of the premises must kept in a good state of repair (Regulation 14 & 21) 14 January 2008 ensure the Statement of purpose includes all the necessary information as set out in the Regulation and Schedule 1 (Regulation 4) 14 November 2008 ensure all staff receive training in behaviour management and

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Due date Action Standard

physical intervention ( Regulation 17) 28 January 2008 ensure monthly written reports are available for inspection, which have reviewed the quality of care and support improvement in the service. The system for reviewing the service must be robust, identify deficiencies and take appropriate action to address them (Regulation 23)

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • ensure all references ask specifically if the person is suitable to work with children and vulnerable adults (NMS15) • ensure the daily recordings reflect fully, interactions with families and events in full and reflect the placement plan ( NMS 3) • ensure that the decision to use of surveilance is accurately recorded, involving the appropriate professionals and the parents (Regulation 10) • ensure that the minimum ratios of 80% of all care staff complete their NVQ level 3 in caring for children and young people. (NMS 29) 8 of 9 Inspection Report: Abbeyfield, 13 November 2008

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