Children's Home run by St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council in St Helens

SC063550 Unique reference number 30 September 2009 Inspection date Sonya Robinson Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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14 January 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 8 Inspection Report: SC063550

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Brief description of the service

The home is situated within a residential development close to a town centre.

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Brief description of the service

The home is a large detached property. They provide accommodation for up to six young people from the ages of 11 years to 17 years, with emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Brief description of the service

Accommodation is provided over two floors. The ground floor includes a kitchen, two lounges, a dining room, a laundry room, toilet shower room and an office. Young people have their own rooms which are located on the upper floor.

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Brief description of the service

The home is close to local shops, transport links and community resources.

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Summary

At this unannounced full inspection, all key standards were inspected. This is a satisfactory service overall.

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Summary

Young people benefit from positive relationships with staff, they are afforded a range of facilities and opportunities to encourage and support a healthy lifestyle, to develop their life skills and to reach good outcomes from education. However, documentation covering measures of control, placement plans, risk assessments, staff files, the recording of the times of fire drills being conducted and monitoring of the service are not sufficiently robust. Ofsted is awaiting an application for a registered manager for this service.

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Summary

Staff benefit from a good level of training and support, they work well with other professionals to meet the complex and holistic needs of young people in areas such as emotional and physical wellbeing. 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

At the last inspection the manager was asked to ensure that the home's fire safety risk assessment complies with the Fire Safety Order 2005 and to collate feedback from young people, their families and social workers in relation to the quality of care within the home. Both of these have been actioned and are now completed.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The manager was also asked to consider the following; that reports from young people's looked after child medicals are recorded within the home, arrange for the home's records of room searches to be highlighted and reviewed separately, maintain copies of young people's personal education plans within the home's records, develop a competence based induction programme for new staff, ensure that cultural and identity needs are fully considered and recorded within the young people's independence action plans. The home have looked at all of these issues and acted upon them.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC063550 Young people enjoy healthy, nutritious meals that they help to plan at their weekly meetings, taking into account their likes and dislikes. Young people are encouraged to assist with preparing meals and shopping in preparation for adulthood.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people have a health care plan, these allow for the health needs of young people to be assessed, monitored and appropriate action taken. Staff actively encourage young people to enjoy and participate in healthy activities and experiences. Young people have accurate records that reflect their health care needs both inside the home and when out and about. Staff invite relevant professionals to speak to young people at the home regarding issues, such as smoking and healthy eating. This demonstrates a commitment to providing young people with positive, healthy and stimulating experiences, whilst adopting an organised and safe approach.

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Helping children to be healthy

A medication procedure is in place to ensure the safe administration of medications at the home. Information sheets are held about the medications young people need, informing staff of any possible side effects that they may cause. This ensures that the health care needs of young people are promoted and met. However, the policy and procedure for the safe disposal of medication is in need of attention.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Staff create a warm and open environment where young people are treated with respect and are supported in everyday decisions about their lives. Young people are encouraged to talk through any disagreements they may have between each other and to resolve them amicably. Staff encourage young people to talk about any problems they have and work together to sort them out, whilst being aware of potential safeguarding issues and the need to involve relevant professionals. This helps to promote an open atmosphere where young people develop skills for adult life.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff respect young people's privacy and confidentiality in a way that is consistent with good parenting and the need to protect young people. Young people make and receive telephone calls in private and are given space and time to be alone when they wish.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff fully understand their roles and responsibilities in the safeguarding of young people’s welfare; they receive training in how to safeguard young people, including recognising the signs and symptoms of abuse. They provide a good level of supervision for young people based on their age to make sure they are safe in the home and in the community. They give young people good advice about personal safety. Staff respond appropriately to any serious concerns about young people’s safety and let parents, the police and social workers know about serious events involving young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Bullying is not tolerated at the home. Where staff are concerned that it is happening, risk assessments are completed and updated regularly to ensure that young people are kept safe. Staff make use of opportunities such as weekly meetings with young people and key working sessions in a proactive manner; this reduces the risks associated with these behaviours and creates an open atmosphere for young people to discuss issues concerning them.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are provided with information about their rights and how to deal with their concerns through the complaints procedure. They know how to make a complaint if they are 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC063550 unhappy, including making a complaint to the placing authority. The home keeps a written record of any complaints and the action taken to deal with them.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff act as positive role models and use effective communication skills to encourage young people to develop socially acceptable behaviour. They place an emphasis on building positive relationships with young people and understanding their behaviour. Young people have clear and consistent boundaries and know what is expected of them and what is unacceptable. However, measures of control are not fully documented in accordance with the legislation.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff praise young people when they do well and reward them. They also reassure young people when they are upset and help them deal with their anxieties and frustrations in a positive way. Staff do not condone unacceptable behaviour and assist young people to learn to manage their behaviour and solve problems. This means that young people are clear about what is expected of them and how to achieve positive outcomes.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people live in a safe and secure environment. Staff carry out regular health and safety checks of the environment and fire safety systems are checked at the required intervals. However, some environmental risk assessments are in need of being further developed, for example, the times of fire drills are not currently recorded so there is no evidence if these sometimes occur at night. There are systems in place for the vetting of visitors and people wishing to work at the home. However, not all the required information is within the staff files.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Staff support and encourage young people to take part in leisure activities. Young people pursue particular interests, such as sports. They get opportunities to develop confidence in their skills, enjoy their leisure time and try new things. Staff are good at encouraging young people to take part in outdoor activities and enjoy new experiences.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Education is actively promoted and plays an important part in the lives of young people. Their educational needs are identified in written plans and there are arrangements for meeting their needs. Staff see education as important and create a stimulating environment that supports and encourages young people to learn and study. Young people know that they are expected to attend education and conform to this expectation; they each have access to educational materials to aid their learning. Staff demonstrate a commitment to the educational needs of young people and where necessary act as advocates ensuring that young people's opinions are listened to.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people enjoy learning and are making good progress. Their preferences are taken into account and they have opportunities to study and get experience in areas that interest them. The home is good at working with schools to support young people's learning and address problems affecting their education.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Staff maintain detailed records about young people’s progress and experiences. Young people’s care is reviewed to make sure that they are up to date and continue to meet their needs. Young people are listened to and their views about their lives are taken into account. They are involved 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC063550 in their care planning and play an active role in making decisions about their future. However, some parts of young peoples placement plan documentation is in need of updating.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff encourage young people’s families and friends to maintain contact; this helps young people see their families regularly to help them maintain relationships. They make sure that the arrangements for contact promote and safeguard young people’s welfare. They work closely with young people’s families to ensure that contact is a positive experience for young people.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people enjoy warm relationships with staff based on honesty and respect. Staff are motivated and interested in young people. They have clear professional and personal boundaries with young people, consistent with good childcare.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. Staff prepare young people for adult life. Young people are encouraged to take more responsibility for themselves, suitable to their age and understanding. They routinely learn skills through taking part in the running of the home, such as shopping, planning meals, cooking, using money and household tasks. In addition, they are encouraged to develop their personal care, organisational and social skills.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people live in homely and comfortable accommodation. The home is decorated, furnished and maintained to a good standard. Young people have personalised their bedrooms and have enough personal space to meet their needs.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The promotion of equality and diversity is satisfactory. The cultural and individual care needs of young people are identified and met. Young people say they are listened to and their views are taken into account regarding their care, for example, education and leisure activities.

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Organisation

Young people know what support they can expect from the home and how they will be looked after. The children's guide provides important information about the home in a way that is easily understood by young people. Also, the home has a clear written statement for parents and social workers of how the home operates and plans to meet young people’s needs.

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Organisation

Young people are looked after by competent and enthusiastic people, who have suitable skills and experience to meet their needs. Staffing levels meet the needs of young people living in the home and provide young people with consistency and continuity of care.

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Organisation

Staff are well supported and guided in promoting and safeguarding young people's welfare on a daily basis and through regular professional supervision. Also, team meetings take place every month to discuss the care of young people and the running of the home.

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Organisation

The provider and manager regularly monitor the running of the home and the quality of care. They take action to improve the service provided and make sure that the home meets young people’s needs and promotes their welfare. However, the monthly monitoring of records is to be improved, to ensure this process is fully robust. Ofsted is also awaiting an application for a registered manager for this service, this would enable further safeguards for young people within this setting. 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC063550

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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

30 November 2009 ensure that within 24 hours of the use of any measure of control, restraint or discipline in a children's home, a written record is made in a volume kept for the purpose (Regulation (17) (4)) 30 November 2009 ensure all staff records contain all of the information required under the Regulations (Reg 26, Schedule 2) 30 November 2009 ensure that any person who manages an establishment shall be registered. (Care Standards Act 2000, S11 (1))

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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 that there is an up to date medication policy with written guidance, implemented in practice, for the disposal of medication (NMS 13) • ensure all unnecessary risks to the healthy or safety of the environment and to individuals are identified and where possible eliminated (NMS 26) • ensure that fire drills, including the evacuation of staff and children from the building take place of a night within a twelve month period (NMS 26) • ensure that there is an up to date placement plan for each young person accommodated at the home, that details sufficiently their assessed needs and describes how the home aims to meet them (NMS 2) • ensure that the home's records are observed at least once a month, to identify any patterns or issues requiring attention and take action to improve or adjust provisions where necessary.

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Recommendations

(NMS 33). 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC063550

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