Children's Home run by Liverpool City Council in Liverpool

SC035969 Unique reference number 1 July 2009 Inspection date Michelle Moss Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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4 February 2009 Date of last inspection .

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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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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 7 Inspection Report: SC035969

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Brief description of the service

The children's home provides short-term breaks and respite for boys and girls between the ages of eight and 19 years. The home cares for up to seven children with learning disabilities and physical disabilities at any one time. Many of the children use non-verbal methods of communication. The home is a purpose built detached property, within easy distance to local parks, cinemas, shops and schools.

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Brief description of the service

At the time of the visit there were six young people accessing the service and all were met by the inspector.

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Summary

This was a full, unannounced inspection. All key standards were assessed.

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Summary

Outcomes for children are overall good. This extends to children receiving beneficial short break care that is tailored to meet their individualised needs. Nearly all key standards are met. A highly effective internal monitoring system measures the quality of care and strives for self-improvement. However, despite this good quality assurance, some minor shortfalls have arisen from the inspection. These include not having all required educational reports, limited children's participation in their care plans and physical intervention logs, which are not always providing sufficient details. In addition, not every staff member’s file holds a photograph to provide formal identification. The overall quality rating is good. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Aspects of children welfare and safety have improved through more effective fire safety checks being completed. This includes means of escape.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The placement plan provides informative health related information that aids staff to meet and monitor children's individualised health needs. The staff demonstrate good awareness of the need to promote healthy eating. This extends to children being offered a varied diet that takes account of their personal preferences. The meals served offer an excellent range of freshly made dinners inclusive of fresh vegetables, which are enjoyed by children. The meals served provide children with wholesome and nutritious food that helps to keep them healthy.

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Helping children to be healthy

The staff provide sensitive and flexible personal support to maximise children's privacy, dignity, independence and control over their lives.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision for administrating medication and first aid are sufficiently developed to secure the welfare of children. This extends to staff being appropriately trained and having good quality assurance systems in place that can identify any shortfall and remedy it before it has any potential impact on the health of a child. 4 of 7 Inspection Report: SC035969

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The safety of children is well promoted through a wide range of practices and recordings made by the home. This is centralised around the initial assessment and then drawn into the placement plan. This includes assessing known risks and formulating strategies that provide beneficial support to help keep children safe. This extends to countering bullying, protecting children from abuse and having safeguards in place if a child was to go missing to help secure their safe return.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are assisted to develop socially acceptable behaviour through encouragement and consistency in the approach developed by staff. The rapport between children and staff is strong and formed on a professional friendship. The staff are skilled in using diversion and distraction techniques to help children stay safe and minimise self harming. When physical restraint is found necessary, it is only used to prevent the likelihood of injury. The staff carrying out the restraint are well trained in the form of physical intervention that best reflects the physical and emotional needs of children the home is supporting at any given time. This collective approach helps children to receive the support they need and to keep them and others safe. Any incident that involves physical restraint is recorded. This record provide details to validate the action taken by staff. However, clarification of the time of the physical restraint is not

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

clearly recorded. Also, although the management sign off each log and a debriefing session takes place with staff, there is limited detail made in the log to confirm the management has made a full assessment on the appropriateness of the measure used. Also, the record is not detailing any action necessary as a result of this assessment. This limits the internal monitoring of care and control to be rigorous and transparent in safeguarding the welfare of children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is a highly effective system operated for securing the health and safety of children inclusive of fire, water and environmental safety. Also, children have their privacy respected and all aspects of personal care managed sensitively and in a dignified manner. Furthermore, children are able to raise concerns with the knowledge their complaints are listened to and addressed. There is overall a rigorous procedure in operation for the recruitment of staff that ensures their suitability to work with children is validated. However, on the last two new starters, a recent photograph has not be added to their personnel files to validate their identification.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Activities are well planned to match the individual needs of children using the service at any given time. Activities undertaken cater well for the diverse range of children's abilities, learning difficulties and personalities. The staff have a secure understanding of their roles and responsibilities in supporting children and making their short breaks interesting and fun. The staff have formed strong links with schools and have established effective liaison with other agencies and professionals to promote learning and develop community citizenship. However, the home is not always obtaining children's Statements of Educational Needs assessments. This limits staff being familiar with the educational histories and learning needs of children and to use this knowledge to promote ongoing learning and development during children's stays.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Support of children is outstanding and respectful of rights. Staff engagement with children is caring and nurturing which children respond to positively. 5 of 7 Inspection Report: SC035969

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Each child has a placement plan that collectively covers areas of need. However, the plan is not in an easily accessible format to secure children's participation. This absence in participation restricts positive contribution being an integral part of the care planning process. More positively, the plan is effective in capturing children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. The commitment to social inclusion and family links are strong. This enables children to sustain contact with people important in their lives and to remain inclusive of their community during the stays at the home.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are introduced to the service in a planned and sensitive manner. This includes having introductory visits that enable children to become familiar with their new environment and the staff team. Young people leaving the service due to their transition to adult services are given special parties or meals out on their last stay at the home.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. The home is located in an established residential area, offers children good access to the local community facilities and is within easy access to schools. The accommodation is decorated and furnished to a good standard to create a warm and homely setting. However, the dining room is slightly restricted in space when the home is supporting six or more children. This restricts the manoeuvrability of wheelchairs and furniture. The home works in corporation with other services to help young people prepare for adulthood.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Good systems are in place for training and supporting staff to enhance their skills and competence to meet children's diverse needs. There is well-developed monitoring system that assesses the effectiveness of the home to meet the needs of children. This drives forward self-improvement and takes a critical reflection of where improvement is needed. The management create a climate of trust and mutual support of staff, which is reflected in the level of enthusiasm shown by staff in their support of children.

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Organisation

The staff form a diverse team. Shifts are maintained at sufficient numbers to reflect the needs of children.

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Organisation

The Statement of Purpose and children's guide provide the intended readers with a good overview of the service. The children's guide is written in a format that is easy to understand to inform a wide range of abilities. This beneficial guide helps children to be well informed about what they can expect from the home.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good, with positive development being made to meet the diverse needs of children. The main strengths come from the promotion given to children's social belonging, health and citizenship. For example, children have access to a wide range of activities, which includes accessing the community. This promotes their physical wellbeing along with enhancing their social skills. 6 of 7 Inspection Report: SC035969

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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 Childrens Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The Registered Provider must comply with the given timescales.

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Due date Action Standard

31 July 2009 ensure the information held on the worker's suitability to work with children includes a recent photograph (Regulation 26. Schedule 2.1) 31 July 2009 ensure all records made on the use of physical restraint include the duration of the restraint (Regulation 17.4d) 30 September 2009 ensure copies of any Statement of Special Education Needs are obtained (Regulation 28.2, Schedule 3.12).

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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): • obtain through children's chosen methods of communication, their opinions and views about their care plans and to enable them to get to know the contents of their plans (NMS 2.4,5,6) • make sure the registered person when signing off physical restraint records, also adds comments on the appropriateness of the restraint together with any subsequent action taken (NMS 22.11) • investigate how more sufficient space can be provided in the dining room to offer easier manoeuvrability (NMS 24.9). 7 of 7 Inspection Report: SC035969

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