Children's Home run by Care Haven (UK) Limited in Stockport

SC065374 Unique reference number 7 January 2010 Inspection date Sue Winson Inspector Random 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 7 Inspection Report: SC065374

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Brief description of the service

This children's home is a detached house on a housing estate near to the centre of a large town. It is close to all local public amenities including shops, leisure facilities and schools. The home cares for up to five young people. Each young person has their own bedroom and two members of staff sleep on the premises each night.

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Summary

This unannounced interim inspection took place over one day. Three outcome areas were considered, being healthy, staying safe and organisation. Additional standards related to recommendations made at the last inspection were also included.

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Summary

This is a good home where young people's safety and welfare is a priority and where staff work cooperatively to meet their needs and improve outcomes. Young people's health needs are met and staff ensure they have access to agencies and professionals outside of the home where necessary. Staff are well supported and positively managed. They provide consistency of care for the young people. Young people made positive comments about the staff and like the behaviour management system which allows them to earn weekly rewards. Record keeping continues to improve.

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Summary

Five recommendations have been made as a result of this inspection. No actions have been raised. 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

All of the five actions raised at the last inspection have been acted upon. Young people have health care plans and records demonstrate that their health needs are met. All relevant people have been notified of significant events in respect of the young people. The young people's guide has been revised to include all the required information. A more robust system for the monitoring of the home has recently been introduced.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The majority of recommendations have been actioned. Risk assessments are now more comprehensive and include action planning to reduce risk. The manager has taken over responsibility for signing off personnel files prior to staff starting work in the home. A satisfactory repair and refurbishment programme is in place which allows the manager to forward plan. Young people's files contain full information.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people are encouraged and supported to have a balanced and varied diet and are involved in shopping and preparing meals. Individual diets are monitored and young people informed about healthy food choices. There is sufficient dining room space and meals are social occasions.

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Helping children to be healthy

Individual health plans outline young people's physical and emotional needs and how they will be met. They are all registered with doctors, dentists and opticians and have access to external 4 of 7 Inspection Report: SC065374 agencies and professionals where necessary. On occasions the staff have advocated on their behalf to ensure services are provided. Healthy living is promoted and young people are informed about behaviour which compromises their health and safety. Individual work addresses any issues with them.

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Helping children to be healthy

The arrangements for the administration of medication largely safeguards the young people. Staff receive training and full records are maintained. Medication is safely stored. Not all the young people have permission from a person with parental responsibility for the administration of specific homely remedies.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people's privacy is respected and information is confidentially stored and handled. They are satisfied with the arrangements for making telephone calls in private. The young people's guide tells them when bedroom searches may happen, but there have been no occasions where this has been necessary.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home's practices and procedures in respect of complaints, protection, bullying and absence without authority serve to safeguard the young people. There have been no complaints since the last inspection and the young people are aware of the procedures and a range of people to whom they can complain. They are reminded of their rights in young people's meetings. Staff are alert to the potential for bullying and the young people are confident that any incidents will be addressed. All the relevant people are kept informed of significant events. Staff work actively with the young people on safety issues and full records are kept when they are absent without authority. These demonstrate that they are welcomed back appropriately and seen by the police on their return. Staff talk with them about safety issues and reinforce this message routinely when young people are going out in the community.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Positive behaviour management is practised and is effective in helping young people take responsibility for their actions. Staff remind and encourage them about achieving the small number of goals involved in the reward system. All the young people are earning rewards, which they choose for themselves and they like this system. Staff expectations are clear and rules are fair. There are few sanctions which are reasonable and short lived and there have been no incidents of physical intervention. Positive relationships between the staff and the young people contribute to the behaviour management strategies used. Staff receive regular training.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The quality and range of risk assessments has improved. They now include action planning to reduce risk and are updated regularly and in response to any changes. The building provides physical safety and security and all safety checks have been carried out. All the young people have been involved in fire drills. However, the home does not record that evacuation procedures have been discussed with young people on the day of admission.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Appropriate procedures are in place for the recruitment of staff who go through interview and have an induction period on starting work. Criminal records bureau checks are carried out prior to starting work and references are taken up and reasons for leaving employment verified.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is not judged. 5 of 7 Inspection Report: SC065374

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Young people are encouraged to voice their views and opinions. They are listened to and treated with respect. The staff group reflects the local community and they encourage young people to value difference. Young people's needs are considered in a holistic manner and they are consulted about their future and the running of the home. Community involvement is promoted and staff work to ensure that young people reach their potential educationally. There is also evidence of staff advocating on behalf of young people to ensure that appropriate services are available to them.

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Organisation

The home's Statement of Purpose reflects the services provided. The young people's guide has been updated in consultation with the young people and contains all the required information in both written and pictorial formats. There is facility for translation to other languages should this be needed in the future.

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Organisation

The majority of staff have worked in the home for some time and they work as a team to ensure that young people's needs are met. Their commitment to improving outcomes for the young people is evident, as is their enthusiasm and flexibility. The home is fully staffed and now has a full time deputy. No agency staff are used to ensure consistency of care. Staff are positive about the support and supervision they receive and are able to contact a manager at all times for advice. Team meetings have not always been held each month. Records demonstrate that they provide an opportunity for staff to share ideas and discuss strategies to help individual young people.

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Organisation

Staff training has improved in range and more courses are planned for later in the year. Staff who supervise others have now been trained. The programme does not yet meet Appendix 2 of the national minimum standards. Sufficient staff have gained National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ's) Level 3 in the Care of Children and Young People.

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Organisation

Visits under Regulation 33 are taking place each month and comprehensive reports inform the manager about the functioning of the home. Very recently the management team has been strengthened by the appointment of a full time deputy manager. Although plans are in place, improved monitoring is not yet evident due to the short time span. The home is effectively managed and well organised. A development plan is in place.

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Organisation

Young people's files are well ordered and information is easily accessed. Records demonstrate the progress that young people are making. 6 of 7 Inspection Report: SC065374

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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 that permission is obtained from a person with parental responsibility for administration of first aid and appropriate non-prescription medication (NMS 13) • demonstrate that all young people are aware of the procedures for evacuation of the building in the event of a fire (NMS 26) • ensure that staff are trained in accordance with Appendix 2 of NMS 31 (NMS 31) • ensure that staff meetings take place monthly (NMS 28) • ensure that the proposed systems are effective in monitoring the operation of the home. (NMS 33) 7 of 7 Inspection Report: SC065374

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