Children's Home run by Newcastle City Council in Newcastle upon Tyne

SC033642 Unique reference number 30 September 2009 Inspection date Shaun Common 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 9 Inspection Report: SC033642

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Brief description of the service

The children's home can accommodate up to six young people of either gender, aged from 11 years to 17 years. It is close to main bus routes into the city centre where there is access to a variety of amenities. There are also local shops and amenities nearby. The premises include a kitchen, bathrooms, a dining room, two sitting rooms, a games room and an integral flat that young people can use to prepare for independent living or that can also be used as a bedroom. Young people have their own bedrooms and there are two staff sleep-in rooms. There are two offices, both on the ground floor. There is car parking to the front of the home and a garden to the rear.

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Brief description of the service

Six young people live at this home and five were present during the inspection.

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Summary

This unannounced inspection looked at all key standards and examined all outcome areas.

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Summary

This children's home is a satisfactory service. It has a number of strengths in provision of healthy, balanced, nutritious food for young people, advice and education on health promotion matters and in the positive relationships that staff have formed with young people. It also has strengths in its robust recruitment processes, individual support provided to young people and in involving young people in decisions about their lives and the operation of the home.

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Summary

It needs to improve external monitoring reports on the quality of the matters examined at each visit. In particular, recording the specific action taken after any incident of unauthorised absence of a young person and in ensuring redecoration of external window frames is carried out. It also needs to improve in the clarity of recording in care plans about specific needs and staff's role in ensuring pathway plans and leaving care plans set out and evaluate the assistance a young person needs for the transition to adulthood. 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 Registered Persons were asked at the last inspection to make a number of improvements in the home. They were asked to ensure the children's home is conducted at all times in line with its Statement of Purpose, that it respects the privacy of young people in the way searches are recorded and that robust monitoring is carried out. They were also asked to carry out appropriate risk assessments, accurately record sanctions and ensure staff competence was satisfactory to meet young people's needs. They were asked to ensure staff received required training, the complaints policy is complied with and to record the likely effects of any new admission to the home. All these matters have been addressed and help to show young people are looked after in a home that can meet their needs, keep them safe, promote their rights and identifies shortfalls and improves the quality of care.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. 4 of 9 Inspection Report: SC033642 Food provided for young people is good. The home have liaised with a dietician from the local Primary Care Trust, who has provided advice enabling the home to devise and implement a diet that is varied, balanced, wholesome and nutritious for young people. The home has achieved the Heart of Newcastle Award for its healthy food provision. Young people are encouraged to be involved in buying food and learning to cook in the home. All staff have undertaken training in safe food handling and hygiene and eating well for young people. This ensures food is prepared safely and staff have a better understanding of the dietary needs of young people in order to promote their health. Young people spoke positively about the food provided at the home.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people's health needs are planned for and met. Consent for medical treatment has been obtained. Planning determines young people's holistic assessed health needs, how these will be met and reference to recorded outcomes. Young people have access to a range of education and information provided by staff and external professionals on matters such as substance misuse, sexual health, drug and alcohol misuse and the effects of smoking.

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Helping children to be healthy

The home has secure and appropriate storage for medication and staff are trained in the safe handling of medication, which helps to keep young people safe. Medication is administered as prescribed and recorded fully and accurately. This ensures young people get the medication they need to stay healthy. There is consent for young people for the administration of first aid and over the counter medication. This ensures young people's health is fully promoted and the risk of adverse reaction to any treatments used is minimised.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Young people are afforded privacy and they have free access to a telephone to keep in touch with people important to them. Information is stored securely which protect young people's rights. The home has a policy about searching young people's possessions in the interests of their welfare and safety. Records kept are fully completed and detailed as per the policy, promoting and protecting young people's rights.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has in place a complaints procedure and appropriate information is provided to young people. Young people confirmed they have received this information, know how to complain but have never needed to. Records are in place for the purpose of recording any complaints. One complaint has been received, responded to as required and recorded fully. Staff are trained in dealing with complaints and how to support young people. Young people therefore have access to a system that promotes and protects their rights.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a copy of the Local Safeguarding Children's Board procedures and its own child protection procedure. These are accessible to staff, known and understood by them. Staff have undertaken training in child protection. This means they know how to help protect young people if there was ever an allegation or suspicion of abuse at the home. All young people stated they felt safe at the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A policy on countering bullying is available in the home and information is provided to young people. Incidents do occur, which are recorded, however these are managed fully and appropriately by staff to help protect young people. Staff have undertaken training in countering bullying, which also helps them to protect young people. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: SC033642 A protocol with the local police force and procedure for dealing with any absence of a young person without authority is in place and accessible to staff. Staff understand and follow the procedure to help safeguard young people. Young people are offered the opportunity after each incident, to be seen by an independent professional from a team who specialise in this area. There is a record kept by the home of any incidents. The records contain most required information, however action taken on assessment by managers after the event to further

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

safeguard young people is not always clear. For example, whether a risk management meeting, review or planning meeting should be considered and whether a review of any risk assessment is required.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff have good relationships with young people. The home is conducted in a way that encourages and shapes positive behaviour. For example, at each staff meeting, effectiveness of sanctions imposed is reviewed to ensure measures of control are having a positive effect for young people. There has been no physical interventions since the last inspection. The sanction record is set out as required, fully completed on each occasion and monitored by managers. Staff are trained in physical intervention, so if needed, safe care and control is provided to young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Risk assessment of young people's known and likely activities are carried out and recorded so staff know what to do to keep young people safe. Generic risk assessments of the home and its grounds are also undertaken and kept up-to-date. Health and safety matters are managed well, such as maintenance and checks of electrical wiring, gas boiler, portable electrical appliances and fire equipment. These matters help to keep young people safe. Fire drills are carried out regularly and all staff and young people have been involved so they know what to do to stay safe. However, times of drills are not recorded to evidence a night time drill has been undertaken, to ensure everyone knows what to do if an incident occurred outside of normal day-to-day routines.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Three new staff have been recruited in the last year. Files demonstrate a robust recruitment process has been followed in order to ensure new employees are the right people to work with children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Young people are provided with good individual support. Assessed needs are identified in care planning, as is how these needs will be met and evidence of outcomes. Young people receive information and education on matters relating to substance misuse and sexual health as well as other health and social matters. This is provided by both staff and external professionals. Young people are able to approach any staff member for advice, guidance and support.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The home has an accessible policy that assists staff in supporting young people to achieve in education. Young people have personal education plans or arrangements in place for this to occur where there are new admissions. These set out young people's needs, objectives and aspirations. However, care plans lack some detail about how staff will support young people. Progress and achievements of young people are clearly recorded.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. 6 of 9 Inspection Report: SC033642 Each young person has a satisfactory care plan that sets out their assessed needs and how these needs will be met. Young people have seen their plans and sign to show they agree with them. However, some plans lack some details for example they state a need is bullying and complaints, but do not make it clear what the specific need is. Plans do not always make clear how staff will contribute and support a young person with educational needs, for example with their routine, homework and liaison with schools. There is good referencing of plans to recorded evidence, showing positive outcomes for young people and their achievements.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Statutory reviews of care plans take place as required and care plans are updated by key workers regularly. Young people attend their reviews and either personally give their views of their care and plans, or their key worker ensures their views are known. Contact arrangements are clearly set out in young people's files and contact events are recorded. This shows young people are supported to keep in touch with people important to them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The home has good information for young people and others about introductions to the home, and the home has policies and procedures for staff to follow to assist young people in this transition. Young people confirmed they received good information on admission and were happy with the support they received.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are empowered to give their views of their care to staff and through regular formal key work sessions. Consultation with parents and placing social workers about the care provided and the operation of the home is carried out through questionnaires, reviews and telephone discussions where appropriate. This helps to improve the home's services to young people. Young people's meetings are held regularly and views, wishes and ideas are recorded, considered and where appropriate acted upon by staff. The home has received an Investing in Children Service Certificate from the Investing in Children Development Agency. This is in recognition of the way they ensure that young people have a voice and are able to influence the services they use.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is satisfactory. Young people preparing for adult life have pathway plans that contain an assessment of their needs. These plans provided by the placing authority do not contain a plan of the support and assistance young people will need to ensure a successful transition to adulthood. The home includes in care planning link to a preparation pack that is used to assess young people's needs and teach them skills for adult life and independent living. However, there is no evaluation of the skills young people have learned or still need to attain, so progress is unclear.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home provides a satisfactory environment conducive to the care of young people. Some areas of the home have been refurbished and are of a very good standard; however other areas of the home such as external window sills and bathrooms are worn.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The Statement of Purpose has been recently updated as has the Children's Guide. They both provide good information about the home and its services for young people, parents and professionals. The home is providing services to young people as set out in its Statement of Purpose. Young people stated they received a welcome pack when they were admitted to the 7 of 9 Inspection Report: SC033642 home. These packs contain a range of information for example about the home, local area, local transport and fire safety.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is satisfactory. The home has not fully assessed and recorded via care planning, the holistic individual needs of young people in areas such as culture, religion and equality. There is information in the Statement of Purpose and Children's Guide about equality and diversity for young people, parents and others. The home provides young people with information on local places of worship for different religions and also holds themed nights where foods from different cultures and countries are sampled. Matters that promote fairness, such as access to the complaints system and imposition of sanctions for young people, are good.

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Organisation

Staff are qualified, experienced and knowledgeable and have undertaken required essential training in order to provide a good level of safe care to young people. They understand the needs of young people and how to meet them. They are sufficient in number and have good relationships with young people, who spoke very highly of them. Two young people stated 'staff are mint.'

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Organisation

External monitoring of the home from visits that take place under Regulation 33 are carried out each month and reports provided. These visits examine significantly more than required matters, however do not always comment on the quality of care or recording in order that the home can identify any shortfalls and improve provision to young people.

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Organisation

Internal monitoring of the home has improved and is good. Monitoring takes place each month, a report is provided and examines all required matters identifying and taking action in areas that require improvement. The reports comment on the quality of matters and also takes into account the views of young people, parents and placing social workers.

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Organisation

Young people's files contain all required information so they have a full history of their care.

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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 all parts of the children's home are kept reasonably decorated and maintained; specifically the external window frames. (Regulation 31)

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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 written records of the circumstances of all incidents of absconding specifically include the action taken (NMS 19) 8 of 9 Inspection Report: SC033642 • revise care plans to clearly show young people's assessed needs in detail and the contribution to be made by staff in supporting young people (NMS 2) • ensure pathway plans are a plan of the specific support and assistance young people will need for the transition to adulthood; ensure leaving care plans evaluate the skills a young person has and what assistance and skills are still needed for the transition to adulthood, from the matters set out NMS 6 and the Children (Leaving Care) Act (NMS 6) • ensure Regulation 33 reports comment on the quality of all matters examined. (NMS 33) 9 of 9 Inspection Report: SC033642

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