Children's Home run by Time-Out Children’s Homes Limited in Calderdale

SC069293 Unique reference number 4 September 2009 Inspection date Dennis Bradley 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: SC069293

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Brief description of the service

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two young people, of either gender from 11 years old up to 17 years old.

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Brief description of the service

The house is a modern, detached property and it has four bedrooms. There are two bedrooms designated for young people and one of these bedrooms has en-suite shower and toilet facilities. Of the two remaining bedrooms, staff that sleep-in use one and one has been turned into the staff office. There is a bathroom on the first floor, with a lounge, separate dining room and kitchen on the ground floor. The house has an enclosed garden at the rear and a small garden plot at the front. It is in a residential area of a small town. There is easy access to public transport, leisure and other facilities.

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Summary

At this full inspection all the key standards were inspected. The inspection also looked at the progress the service has made with the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection. These related to: the home’s records and procedures and staff training. The inspection was unannounced.

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Summary

There was evidence of positive relationships between the staff and young people who use the service. There are good arrangements for protecting and promoting the health of young people but the home does not have appropriate procedures for giving non-prescription medicines to young people. The home provides a safe setting for the young people but staff do not always keep appropriate records of room searches and incidents when young people are missing. Staff are good at consulting young people and involving them in decisions about their stay at the home. The home supports the education and achievement of young people. Staffing levels provide very good opportunities for staff to carry out one to one work with the young people to help meet their assessed needs. The individual needs of young people are recognised and there are plans in place to address them. The promotion of equality and diversity is good

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Summary

throughout the standards inspected. There are good arrangements in place for monitoring the service and the care and welfare of the young people. 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

Following the last inspection the registered person was asked to ensure that: staff receive appropriate training and evidence is available to confirm this; the home’s complaints procedures are revised and staff keep appropriate records of complaints received by the home; the required looked after documentation is obtained for each young person. Staff have received training in child protection, countering bullying and safe food hygiene. However, they have not had training in complaints and for two staff appropriate evidence was not available that they have completed training in food hygiene. This requirement will be repeated. The home has not received any complaints since the last inspection and it has obtained the necessary looked after documentation for young people living at the home. 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC069293 The registered person was also asked to ensure: an appropriate risk assessment is completed

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Improvements since the last inspection

for staff working by themselves; staff keep appropriate records of all sanctions; the manager completes an appropriate qualification and copies of the reports of monthly manager’s visits are available in the home. There have been no sanctions since the last inspection and all the other recommendations have been met.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people benefit from being cared for by staff who actively promote their health and wellbeing. They are registered with a local doctor, dentist and optician. Health planning to meet young people's assessed health needs is good. Staff also support young people to access sources of advice and support on health and personal care issues appropriate to their needs and wishes. Staff are good at monitoring the health of young people and they take appropriate action where necessary.

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Helping children to be healthy

Staff encourage young people to eat healthy meals and give them appropriate choices regarding the food they eat. Staff are aware of the different dietary preferences and needs of the young people. Young people can help with food shopping and the planning and preparing meals. The Registered Manager confirmed that all of the staff have received appropriate training in food hygiene but certificates confirming this were not available for two staff.

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Helping children to be healthy

The arrangements for storing, administering and monitoring the young people’s prescribed medication are generally satisfactory. These help protect the health of young people and meet their health care needs. There are records and procedures covering the administration of medicines for this purpose. However, the procedures do not cover the provision of non-prescription medicines to young people. Although the Registered Manager confirmed that young people who administer their own medication are assessed as being responsible to do so, a record of this assessment is not available. Staff have undertaken training in the safe administration of medication and the administration of first aid so young people are better protected if they have an accident or are unwell. However, the home has not obtained appropriate written consent for staff to administer first aid and non-prescription medication to young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people’s privacy is promoted. They have their own bedroom and this has an en-suite shower and toilet. Staff make sure information about young people is handled confidentially and stored securely. There are policies and procedures in place to help ensure this happens. The home has a record book to record searches of young people’s possessions in the interests of safeguarding their welfare. However, staff do not always keep an appropriate record of these searches. For example, the record that staff made of one room search does not give a clear reason for the search, to demonstrate that the grounds for this action are justified.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are clear procedures for managing complaints appropriately and ensuring young people are listened to. Staff make sure young people are aware of who they can go to if they have any complaints or concerns. The home has received no complaints from young people since the last inspection. 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC069293 The home has satisfactory procedures for safeguarding young people from abuse. There are suitable arrangements for making sure that staff receive child protection training. This helps staff protect young people from abuse and ensure they respond appropriately to any allegation or suspicion of abuse.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people benefit from being looked after by a team of staff who create an atmosphere where bullying is known to be unacceptable. The home has a clear anti-bullying policy and staff have had training in countering bullying behaviour. They try to help young people to develop an understanding and tolerance of people’s diverse needs.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff take appropriate action when young people go missing or are absent from the home without permission. Although there are suitable policies and procedures staff do not always keep appropriate records of such incidents.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff encourage and support young people to develop and maintain socially acceptable behaviour. They give positive messages to young people to reinforce acceptable behaviour. Staff use sanctions very sparingly and there have been no sanctions since the last inspection. There are clear procedures and guidance for staff regarding how they should manage the behaviour of young people. Staff have received training in the safe restraint and holding of young people and there have been no restraints at the home since the last inspection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are good systems in place to keep young people and adults safe from the risk of fire and other potential hazards. This includes carrying out a range of risk assessments including individual risk assessments for young people. Staff take part in regular fire training and fire drills. There are appropriate arrangements for carrying out regular checks of equipment such as fire alarms and electrical appliances.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has appropriate procedures in place to help make sure it only employs suitable people. This includes carrying out a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) disclosure check on new staff before they commence work at the home. No new staff have commenced work at the home since the last inspection. There are suitable arrangements for monitoring and managing visitors to the home. These help ensure they do not have inappropriate access to young people.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Young people benefit from having appropriate care plans and risk assessments based on their individually assessed needs. Staffing levels provide excellent opportunities for staff to give young people support and assistance to meet their individual needs and wishes. Staff are knowledgeable about the individual needs of young people and the implications this has for their care. There is evidence of positive interactions between staff and young people.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff are good at supporting and encouraging young people’s education and achievement. Young people have a care plan that covers their educational needs. Young people are encouraged and supported to take part in a range of appropriate leisure activities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC069293 Young people benefit from having clear placement plans that set out how the home will meet their assessed needs. Staff consult young people about these plans and they update them regularly. There are good arrangements for reviewing the care and progress made by young people. These include holding regular statutory reviews and completing monthly reports for young people. Staff support young people to contribute to their statutory reviews.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff are good at supporting young people to maintain appropriate and constructive contact with their families and friends. They make sure young people’s placement plans include a clear record of the current agreed arrangements and try hard to make sure these are kept to.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There are clear procedures covering how staff should support young people when they move into, and out of the home. Staff make sure young people feel welcome and know what to expect. Young people are also encouraged to bring appropriate personal possessions with them so that they can personalise their rooms.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff are good at talking to young people about how the home is run and helping them to make decisions on matters that affect them. Staff take the views and opinions of young people seriously and where possible and appropriate act upon them.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. Staff are good at assisting young people to prepare for adulthood. For example, they encourage and support young people to develop the knowledge and skills they will need for independent living.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people benefit from living in comfortable and homely accommodation. The general standard of repair, décor and furnishing is good. They have their own bedroom with en-suite facilities and they can personalise their room if they wish.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The home has an appropriate statement of purpose that provides information about how it operates. There is a young people’s guide that provides a useful introduction to the home. The home operates in line with its statement of purpose.

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Organisation

There are satisfactory arrangements for providing staff with training in caring for children and young people. This includes training for a relevant professional qualification that will confirm staff have the competencies needed to care for young people. However, none of the staff have had training in complaints and representations procedures. Staffing levels are appropriate and provide staff with good opportunities to spend time meeting the individual needs of young people.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Young people receive an individual service, designed to meet their personal needs and preferences. Staff have a good knowledge of young people and they try to make sure their needs are being met at all times.

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Organisation

The arrangements for the internal and external monitoring of the home and the care and welfare of the young people are good. The external manager visits on a regular basis and has provided a direct contact number for the young people to use. The Registered Manager also monitors, 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC069293 compiles and forwards to external managers the home’s records and statistics, to identify any patterns or issues requiring action.

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Organisation

Young people's case files are of a good quality and properly kept, recording their needs, development and progress.

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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

25 November 2009 ensure that all staff receive appropriate training in complaints and representations procedures; provide evidence of all training undertaken by all staff. (Regulation 27)

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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 and retain on file, appropriate written permission for the administration of first aid and appropriate non-prescription medication. Obtain qualified medical or nursing advice and devise and implement a written protocol on the provision of non-prescription medicines to young people (NMS 13) • ensure that all young people who keep and administer their own medication are assessed as being sufficiently responsible to do so and that this assessment is recorded in writing (NMS 13) • ensure all searches of young people's possessions are documented showing the information specified in NMS 9.8 (NMS 9) • ensure that written records are made of the circumstances of all incidents of absconding to include all the details specified in NMS 19.5. (NMS 19) 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC069293

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