Children's Home run by Lifetime Opportunities Limited in Oldham

SC356817 Unique reference number 27 January 2010 Inspection date Sarah Oldham Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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19 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: SC356817

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Brief description of the service

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people with learning disabilities, of either gender, between the ages of eight years old up to 17 years old. It is a detached house on a residential estate. There are three bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor and a lounge, dining room and kitchen on the ground floor. The staff office is also on the ground floor. There are enclosed gardens to the front and the rear of the home.

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Summary

This interim inspection looked at the progress the setting has made with the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection. These related to improvements in medication administration and ensuring that clear records were maintained following any physical intervention, ensuring that records were signed and that staff received appropriate supervision. The outcomes for being healthy and staying safe were inspected. Enjoying and achieving, positive contribution and economic wellbeing were not looked at during this inspection. The home has taken appropriate action to address the previous actions and recommendations. This has ensured that the home promotes the health, safety and well being of the children and young people living at the home. 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

At the previous inspection two actions and five recommendations were made. The actions related to ensuring medication was administered as prescribed and ensuring that records of physical intervention were recorded accurately. The home has addressed the first action by ensuring that staff have undertaken medication training, are aware of the medication policy and procedure and have been observed on three occasions administering medication by a senior member of staff, to ensure that they have the necessary skills and are competent to undertake this task. This ensures that medication is administered appropriately to young people in accordance with prescribed guidance. The second action has been addressed by a review of positive handling plans for the young people and by staff being provided with up to date information and training. Records of any physical intervention are appropriately recorded by staff and monitored by the manager of the home.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The recommendations made were with regards to ensuring that documents relating to young people missing from home were clearly recorded, physical intervention records were recorded and young people signed that pocket money had been received. Staff did not always receive supervision in accordance with the national minimum standards and this was also a recommendation. The home has addressed the recommendations by ensuring that staff have received updated training and guidance regarding maintaining records. These are also monitored by the manager and a senior manager of the company who undertakes external monitoring of the home. Young people sign that they have received their pocket money and this is also signed by staff. All staff at the home receive supervision and this is recorded and signed by staff and the manager. In addition, staff have an annual appraisal system and they say that they feel that they are effectively supervised and supported within their role.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people at the home are involved in the planning of menus. The home ensures nutritionally balanced diets are made available taking into account choice, specific likes and dislikes. Following appropriate risk assessments, young people are supported to prepare drinks and snacks. The kitchen is maintained in good order and staff have completed food hygiene training. Regular monitoring of temperatures and equipment checks are undertaken. This ensures that food is stored and served at the appropriate temperature, this contributes to the overall health promotion of the young people.

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Helping children to be healthy

The young people benefit from being cared for by staff who promote health and well-being. Staff effectively monitor the health needs of the young people. Care plans clearly set out individual health needs and the support to be provided to meet these. There are good arrangements in place to ensure that all primary health care needs are met and specialist provisions, such as the child and adolescent mental health services, are arranged as required.

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Helping children to be healthy

The home has a medication policy and procedure that identifies how staff at the home will support young people with their medication and how medication will be stored appropriately. Following the previous inspection, all staff have received updated medication training and are observed over a period of three occasions by senior staff to ensure that they adhere to the training and policy, prior to being responsible for administering medication independently. This ensures that medication administered is undertaken by staff who have received appropriate guidance and support to safeguard and promote the children's well being.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. All young people have their own room. Staff are aware of the importance in promoting confidentiality, balanced with individual risk assessments. Policies and procedures in place regarding assisting with personal care are detailed and promote the dignity of the young people. All confidential information is stored appropriately within lockable cabinets in an office. Staff are aware of the importance of ensuring that confidentiality is adhered to.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The complaints procedure is detailed within the Statement of Purpose and the children's guide. It is available in pictorial format to allow access for all young people. Independent advocates are also made available. Staff have undertaken training on the complaints procedure and have the knowledge and skill to ensure that complaints are responded to in accordance with the procedure. There have been no complaints made since the last inspection. Individual risk assessments are in place to minimise the risk of a young person going missing from the home and all staff are aware of these and the procedure to follow.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home encourages young people's good behaviour. Plans are in place for individual young people regarding managing positive behaviour. These are known to staff and kept under review to ensure that they are appropriate for the individual. Staff have received training regarding physical intervention. This is only used when a young person is at risk of harm. The occasions when this has been used are minimal and clear records are in place to demonstrate that the agreed intervention has been undertaken. Sanctions for inappropriate behaviour are in place. Both sanctions and physical interventions are monitored by the manager to ensure that they are appropriate and recorded in detail. Wherever possible, the views of the young people are 5 of 7 Inspection Report: SC356817 obtained to ensure that young people are aware of any sanctions made and the reason for them. They have the opportunity within key worker sessions to discuss these in further detail.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Records are maintained of key worker sessions, however, young people are not always given the opportunity to sign their key worker sessions to demonstrate that they have a good understanding of issues discussed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are looked after within a safe environment. The home has a comprehensive fire risk assessment in place and the fire drill is known to the young people living there. Staff have all had information and training on the procedures to follow in the event of a fire.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Visitors to the home are required to sign the visitors book and identification is sought to ensure that the safety and well being of the young people is promoted.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The home has a Statement of Purpose that contains information about the aim and objectives of the home. This is reviewed on an annual basis or when there has been any changes to staffing or facilities. The Statement of Purpose is made available to parents, carers and placing authorities to enable them to have information about the home. The home also has a children's guide that is available in written and pictorial format. This provides young people with information about the home. Young people are supported to have a planned introduction to enable them to have an understanding of the home and the facilities that it provides.

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Organisation

A comprehensive induction programme is in place for all new staff and covers basic training, including child protection and safeguarding, team teach, first aid and roles and responsibilities. Staff supervision is planned on a monthly basis. Supervision and appraisal is up to date with staff feeling that they are effectively supported within their role. Staffing levels at the home are good. This ensures that young people have effective support with all aspects of daily living and in accordance with their assessed needs. Staffing changes at the home are minimal and this ensures that young people receive continuity of care from a member of staff that they know.

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Organisation

There are quality assurance systems in place to monitor the performance of the home against its Statement of Purpose so that good standards of care are maintained. This includes the manager monitoring the necessary records and visits to the home by a senior member of the company. Reports from these visits are maintained at the home and provide information about how well the home is delivering care and support to young people living there. These reports give the manager an overview of how the home is running and bring to light any issues that require action to be taken. The external monitoring reports are also provided to Ofsted in accordance with the regulations. 6 of 7 Inspection Report: SC356817 Care files are detailed and maintained to a good standard. All staff at the home are required to read care files to ensure that they have the appropriate knowledge to provide individual support to the young people.

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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

There are no recommendations. 7 of 7 Inspection Report: SC356817

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