Children's Home run by East Riding of Yorkshire Council in East Riding of Yorkshire

SC035543 Unique reference number 2 November 2009 Inspection date Nicola McEvinney Inspector Key Type of 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: SC035543

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Brief description of the service

This children's home is a large three storey, detached house set in a residential area. The town centre, with all associated amenities and shops, is a short walking distance from the home. The home is owned by a local authority, and can provide residential care for up to six young people of either gender, aged between 14 years and 17 years on admission.

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Brief description of the service

The home has recently changed its remit to become a long-term unit seeing young people through to independence.

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Brief description of the service

All young people have their own bedrooms, situated on the first and second floors. There are sufficient bathrooms to meet the needs of the young people.

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Brief description of the service

There is a large lounge, a separate dining room and a newly refurbished kitchen. The home also has a computer area, a laundry room and good sized gardens.

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Summary

The purpose of this unannounced key inspection was to check that the national minimum standards, and the requirement and the recommendations made at the last inspection have been met.

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Summary

There are some outstanding features to this home. Particularly the home is proactive in ensuring young people are provided with an appropriate education, and the care planning and reviewing process clearly sets out how young people are to be looked after. This ensures a consistent approach. Young people are provided with some excellent activities, which they thoroughly enjoy, ranging from rock climbing and abseiling to fishing.

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Summary

Young people are looked after by a competent and committed staff team who clearly enjoy working with the young people they look after. Relationships were seen to be warm and nurturing. This is a stable group of young people who show their commitment to the home. The recent refurbishment programme has had a positive impact on the young people who consider that this is their home.

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Summary

A minor shortfall was identified, fire drills are not held at night to ensure that staff and young people know what action to take in the event of a fire occurring at this time. 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

Staff have worked hard to address the requirement and recommendation made at the last inspection. Medication records are in good order ensuring young people are given their medication as per their prescription. Young people are invited to make comments following a sanction.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC035543 Young people are provided with healthy and nutritious meals. Fresh fruit is readily available, this encourages young people to have their five-a-day. Vegetarian meals are available on request. The kitchen has recently been refurbished, but is yet to have the young people's cooker installed. This will enable the older young people to prepare their own meals. Mealtimes are a social occasion taken in the spacious dining room.

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Helping children to be healthy

Care plans are set out under the Every Child Matters outcomes. The health section clearly identifies the health needs of the individual and sets out how these needs are to be met. The staff work with young people, and engage the services of the health co-ordinator to address substance misuse, including smoking and alcohol consumption. The looked after children's nurse holds drop in sessions at the home to address issues, for example, sexual health, smoking and general health advice. All young people are registered with doctors, dentists and opticians and all appointments are recorded. Staff are very sensitive to young people's dread of injections and work well with individuals to ensure they have recommended vaccinations.

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Helping children to be healthy

Medication records are in good order ensuring that young people receive their medication as prescribed. There are sufficient numbers of staff who hold a first aid qualification ensuring that a first aider is on duty at all times.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people's files are kept securely to ensure confidentiality. Young people are able to make complaints to the complaints department by completing a form or text. Young people confirmed that they know how to make a complaint.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's care plan highlight areas of vulnerability, whether this is putting themselves at risk via the internet, or having a propensity to make allegations. There are detailed risk assessments in place giving staff clear guidance to ensure the safety of all. All staff have attended safeguarding training ensuring they are aware of issues.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people confirmed that they felt safe in the home and staff are vigilant in addressing bullying behaviours. The home is starting a mutual respect programme to ensure young people are aware of the different facets to bullying. Any incidents of bullying is recorded in a designated book which enables staff to monitor such behaviour.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Risk assessments are in place informing staff of the risk of young people not returning to the home. The incidents of this has greatly reduced. However, there are protocols in place ensuring appropriate action is taken.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are individual crisis management plans for each of the young people. Some young people have identified their own triggers to behaviours, with effective strategies in how they should be dealt with. Staff have developed others, these are in good detail ensuring a consistent approach in managing the individual. Staff have recently had a update on therapeutic crisis intervention, with the emphasis on de-escalation strategies. There is a marked reduction in the type of restraints recorded, following this training with staff leading young people away from conflict. Relationships between staff and young people are based on mutual respect. Sanctions used are appropriate with an emphasis on a restorative approach instilling in young people a sense of right and wrong. 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC035543 The home has developed good risk assessments for each individual the premises and activities, these clearly identify the risk with strategies in place. Required health and safety checks are

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

undertaken as appropriate, for example, gas and electrical appliances and water testing. A fire risk assessments has been undertaken and fire records are in good order with fire drills held regularly. Although drills are not held at night which would ensure staff and young people know what action to take in the event of a fire occurring at this time.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Recruitment files were seen at the personnel office, there are robust systems in place ensuring only suitable people employed. Files were in good order and easy to follow.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. The home access a number of services to help meet the needs of the young people. For example, the children and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) works closely with the home. An individual from this team attends consultation meetings with the staff for support and guidance. The looked after children nurse gives support and guidance on a range of issues, for example, sexual health and substance misuse. The youth offending team works with some individuals to address offending behaviour. Staff have good key work sessions with individuals and it is evident that young people find the staff approachable.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The home has a good working relationship with the education liaison officer who is proactive on behalf of the young people ensuring young people have an appropriate education. The staff advocate on behalf of young people and some individuals have returned to mainstream education after having an extensive period in alternative provision which was not meeting their educational needs. Head teachers and the head of child care within social services have written congratulating some individuals on their educational progress. This is good practice. The majority of young people are good attendees.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people are provided with some excellent activities. Over the summer they were given the opportunity to partake in a wide range of outdoor pursuits activities, for example, kayaking, rock climbing, abseiling, fishing in ponds, lakes and sea to name but a few. Care plans give good detail of the activities young people enjoy. Young people were taken camping during the half term, which was a great success. Staff are active participants with the young people which builds up good relationships.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Care plans are produced under the Every Child Matters outcomes, clearly set out the needs of the young people with clear guidance to staff how these needs are to be met. This ensures a consistent approach to the care of the young people.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff participate fully in young people's child care review meetings. A detailed report is produced clearly outlining the young person's progress and any issues that need addressing. Parents are provided with transport costs to ensure their attendance and young people are encouraged to attend to ensure their views are heard. Staff ensure that the child care review meeting is reconvened if significant people are unable to attend, this ensures that there is full discussion with all significant parties. Key workers attend the meetings and share photos of young people's 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC035543 activities. This is particularly sensitive when difficult issues need discussing and helps put young people at ease.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Contact arrangements are set out in detail in individuals files, including the type of contact, ensuring all staff know if there are any restrictions in place.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The home has a pro-forma for when young people are referred to the home. This clearly identifies the needs of the young person and the impact the admission may have on that individual as well as the young people in placement. This is particularly important as the current group of young people are very settled and an inappropriate placement could jeopardise their stability.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are fully involved in the decisions that affect them. The report for the child care review has a section that young people complete to ensure that their wishes and feelings are taken into account. Residents meetings are regularly held and young people were consulted over the colour schemes for the recent decorating programme.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. The home has changed its remit to become a long-term facility and staff are starting to have discussions with pathway planning team to formulate independence training for the young people. This is an initiative yet to be developed.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home has undergone an extensive refurbishment programme creating a pleasant, comfortable and homely environment for the young people. Staff and young people have taken pride in the home and there are many finishing touches, for example, ornaments and pictures that enhance this home.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The Statement of Purpose has been amended to reflect the changed remit of the home. This is a comprehensive document clearly outlining what the home has to offer. The young people have been involved in drawing up the young people's guide, which lets new young people know what it is like living at the home.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good, young people's individual needs are clearly identified with guidance to staff setting out how these are to be met.

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Organisation

The staff team have a range of skills which young people benefit from. It is a well trained team who clearly enjoy working with the young people. All staff have National Vocational Qualification at level 3 or equivalent. There are good training opportunities that staff take advantage of.

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Organisation

There are adequate numbers of staff employed to meet the needs of the young people. The local authority employs casual staff who supplement the rotas, if required. These individuals have a good induction and work a couple of shifts as supernumerary staff to familiarise themselves with the young people and polices and procedures. This is good practice.

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Organisation

The Registered Manager undertakes a Schedule 6 monitoring and the home is visited monthly in line with Regulation 33. A report is produced following this visit which the Registered Manager responds to. The local authority has senior managers' meetings involving the residential 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC035543 managers. This ensures that the residential provision is seen as a vital part of the services to young people in the area.

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Organisation

Child care files contain all the required information they are well maintained and easy to follow.

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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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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • ensure a fire drill is held at night. (NMS 26.8) 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC035543

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