Children's Home run by Essandore Limited in St Helens

SC066218 Unique reference number 27 January 2010 Inspection date Sonya Robinson Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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10 August 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: SC066218

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Brief description of the service

The home offers accommodation for up to five young people, of either sex from 10 years old up to 17 years old in the registration category of children with learning disabilities and physical disabilities. The home has good access to local facilities, such as shops, schools and transport links.

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Brief description of the service

Accommodation is provided over two floors. Bedrooms are sited on each level and young people are provided with a choice upon admission. All bedrooms are single occupancy and provide en-suite bathroom facilities. The house has a range of facilities to meet the physical and learning needs of young people, including a light and sensory room, soft play room, two lounges and a spacious kitchen. All areas of the home are accessible to young people.

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Summary

This visit was an interim inspection and was unannounced. One outcome area for young people was fully looked at during this inspection, which was staying safe. Further issues were also looked at under being healthy, enjoying and achieving, economic well-being and organisation as a follow up from the previous inspection. This inspection looked at the progress that the home has made with the actions and recommendations made at the last inspection. These related to documentation for young people and organisational issues.

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Summary

The home continues to be a satisfactory service that meets most of the national minimum standards. Young people enjoy living there and feel cared for. Young people are looked after by a group of competent staff. The staff place emphasis on young people's needs and supporting young people with their daily lives. 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 medical consent was obtained for each child as appropriate; that measures of control, such as sanctions and physical intervention be documented in a volume for that purpose; and that staff files contain relevant information to keep the home safe. All of these have been completed.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The manager and organisation were also asked, in order to raise standards and improve practice, to ensure that young people's immunisations, health care plans and systems for the storage of medication be reviewed and documented. These have been completed. They were also asked to ensure that each young person has a personal education plan which explicitly addresses their educational needs and to ensure that children's clothing and personal requisite needs are fully met and that these different allowances are monitored. Both of these recommendations are repeated in this report as a matter of good practice as they remain unresolved.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection the home's Statement of Purpose has been reviewed. This written statement informs parents and social workers of how the home operates and plans to meet young people’s needs. 4 of 7 Inspection Report: SC066218 Additionally, the home was asked to ensure staff obtain regular one-to-one supervision from a senior staff member. This has improved, but is raised again through this inspection as systems are not yet robust enough to ensure that these regularly occur regardless of circumstances. A minimum of 80% of all care staff should have completed National Vocational Qualifications at level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People or an equivalent qualification. This has improved and the all relevant staff have now been registered on this course. The recommendation is raised again in order that staff should complete the course.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Finally, monitoring of the service by the owner and the Registered Manager has improved. Monthly monitoring visits are undertaken and reports contribute to the manager's evaluation of the service. However, the opinions of parents, relatives and staff are not consistently reflected within these to assist in forming an opinion of the standard of care provided in the home.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Individual health records are clear and easy to use; they demonstrate how the service meets individual health and medical needs. Young people are involved in the development of their plans by staff, to gather their feelings and opinions.

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Helping children to be healthy

There are systems in place for the safe handling and storage of medicines. Staff are trained in meeting the specific needs of individual young people. This ensures that young people achieve assistance with any issues and staff achieve a consistent approach towards young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Staff demonstrate a caring approach to ensure that young people feel valued and their privacy and dignity are maintained. This is achieved by records, such as placement plans and risk assessments which reflect the personal care afforded to each young person.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is an accessible complaints procedure. Young people can access this and complaints are given the highest regard and acted upon. Young people and their parents are involved in the development of care records, such as health plans, placement plans and risk assessments. Staff have a clear understanding of young people's communication methods. This is used to ascertain individual feelings with regard to how they wish to be supported, in ways which promote their welfare and keep them safe. Records explain how the home keeps young people safe in line with their assessed needs in areas such as safe moving and handling, bathing and medication.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home's procedures for promoting positive behaviours show a commitment to developing individual, specific and supportive strategies for dealing with behaviours; for example, it is noted that some young people use certain behaviours as methods of communication or where behaviours may be shown as a result of increased anxiety or frustration. Records demonstrate that staff have an understanding of young people's individual needs and are consistent in their approach. Staff support young people to address behaviours and enjoy positive relationships with others.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All staff working at the home are appropriately vetted and have attended a training programme which encompasses aspects of safeguarding young people with learning disabilities, including delivering and maintaining safe practices around social and medical support needs. It is good 5 of 7 Inspection Report: SC066218 practice that a home have a copy of the placing authorities' child protection procedures and so it is recommended that the home obtain up to date copies of this, where appropriate.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Records are in place to show that the home is safe and effectively monitored and managed. This is to ensure that young people are afforded consistent care and support, in an environment that is assessed as safe and meets their needs. The home also has environmental and fire risk assessments and all necessary checks, such as gas and electric certificates, are in place.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Young people's education is promoted and supported by staff. However, not all young people have a personal education plan. Staff encourage young people to learn and develop their skills and knowledge through activities, which builds confidence. The structure of the home supports young people's attendance at school.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. Young people receive regular pocket money and clothing allowance money; however documentation is in need of review to act as a further safeguard for young people.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The home has a Statement of Purpose which sets out what care the home provides and how this will be accomplished.

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Organisation

Staff are supported and guided in promoting and safeguarding young people's welfare on a daily basis and through professional supervision. However, professional supervision has not always taken place fortnightly for new staff and there after at monthly intervals. Team meetings take place to discuss the care of young people and the running of the home.

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Organisation

Staff have access to a range of training courses that are aimed at meeting the diverse needs of young people and this includes specific training around disabilities, safeguarding and moving and handling. However, not all of the staff employed currently hold a National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in the Caring for Children and Young People or an equivalent qualification.

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Organisation

Monthly monitoring visits are undertaken and reports contribute to the manager's evaluation of the service; however, they do not always include the views of staff, young people, their families or any visitors to the home.

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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. 6 of 7 Inspection Report: SC066218

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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 each young person has an personal education plan which explicitly addresses their educational needs (NMS 14.2) • ensure that children's clothing and personal requisite needs are fully met and that these different allowances are monitored (NMS 11.1) • ensure new staff receive at least one and a half hours of one-to-one supervision from a senior member of staff, fortnightly, during the first six months of their employment and thereafter at least once a month (NMS 28.2) • ensure that a minimum of 80% of all care staff have completed the National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People or an equivalent qualification (NMS 29.5) • ensure records of visits to the home for the purpose of monitoring, reflect the opinions of staff and young people in order to form an opinion of the standard of care provided in the

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Recommendations

home (NMS 32.2) • obtain up to date Local Safeguarding Children Board policies and procedures from the relevant placing authorities. (NMS 17.2) 7 of 7 Inspection Report: SC066218

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