Children's Home run by ROC Northwest Limited in Lancashire

SC066428 Unique reference number 18 May 2009 Inspection date Graham Robinson Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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18 November 2008 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 8 Inspection Report: SC066428

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Brief description of the service

The home provides full time residential care for four young people with challenging behaviour and physical and learning disabilities.

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Brief description of the service

The home is domestic in appearance and provides a standard of accommodation that is judged as outstanding. It is set in its own grounds and has been adapted to allow for wheelchair access.

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Summary

At this unannounced, full inspection all the key standards were inspected. The five recommendations made at the previous inspection were also followed up.

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Summary

Since the previous inspection there has been an increase of numbers from three to four and a change of manager, the second in 12 months. However, the home has retained its identity, working practices and function. The overall outcomes for young people are good and two areas, positive contribution and economic wellbeing, are judged as outstanding.

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Summary

The majority of staff have worked together for some time, a contributing factor to the stability and consistency of practice provided. The complex, individual needs of young people are identified and detailed plans and strategies are in place to address them. The promotion of equality and diversity is good throughout the standards inspected.

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Summary

No major issues or concerns were raised by either staff or young people. The report contains no actions and two good practice recommendations; one is linked to the need to register a manager with Ofsted and is repeated from the previous inspection. 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

Four of the five recommendations made at the previous inspection have been met in full. As a result, the recording of sanctions has improved. New, more appropriate locks have been fitted to external doors. Both the statement of purpose and young people's guides have been revised and updated and a written development plan for the home has been devised.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people take an active role in choosing, shopping and helping with food preparation. Any special dietary needs a young person has are catered for effectively. The young people's weekly meeting is used as a forum to plan menus and discuss choice. Food hygiene training is included in the core training programme in place for staff.

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Helping children to be healthy

The health needs of young people are being promoted positively. They are registered either with a local doctors practice or have retained their own. Other general health matters are provided locally by dentists and opticians, with the home having good access to more specialist health services when required. 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC066428 Up-to-date health plans, underpinned by the medical needs and histories of young people, are in place. All medication is stored securely and records of both prescribed and non prescribed medication are up-to-date and properly kept. First aid and the safe handling of medication form part of the core staff training programme.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Privacy is not an issue of concern for young people. Each has a single occupancy bedroom, with some being adapted and equipped to meet the individual needs of the occupier. The home and grounds provide space for young people to find some privacy if they wish. Any sensitive information is held securely in the office.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Information about the complaints system is given to young people in a variety of formats. This includes a format for those with additional communication needs. The complaints system has been tested by young people since the previous inspection, with all complaints fully recorded along with the outcome.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The safety and rights of both staff and young people are protected. One incident linked to safeguarding has occurred since the previous inspection. This matter was dealt with quickly and efficiently by following the safeguarding procedures and guidance effectively. Staff are aware of their own responsibilities to keep young people safe and all have undertaken basic child protection training, which forms part of the core staff training programme.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staffing levels are high and the supervision levels adopted as part of the working practices of the home go a long way to reducing opportunities for bullying to take place. Both the potential to bully and the vulnerability of young people is recognised by staff and reflected in documentation such as the individual risk assessment.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Incidents of unauthorised absence are rare and the current group of young people are settled. Any sanctions imposed are for relatively minor incidents. Any incidents requiring physical intervention are recorded in detail and have been well documented. None of the young people shared any concerns around these matters, with the general feeling expressed that staff are fair. All staff have received training in positive handling techniques.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

General health and safety issues are addressed by a series of risk assessments that identify potential risks both within and away from the home. Up-to-date individual risk assessments have been completed for each young person. Appropriate service contracts are in place for fire, gas and electrical equipment.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Suitable recruitment practices are taking place and all staff working at the home are subjected to a relevant Criminal Records Bureau check.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The individual support given to young people is good. This is reflected in the variety of planning documentation and more specifically in the records of key worker sessions. The high staffing ratio also provides good levels of individual support. For example, there is the flexibility for staff to work individually with young people, allowing their specific needs to be addressed. 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC066428 All young people of school age are in full time education, with appropriate arrangements in place for those older. The individual needs of young people are reflected in the type of school attended. Educational arrangements are reflected in young people's placement plans, underpinned by individual education plans.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

A young person's interests and leisure needs are reflected both in the placement plan and the activity planner completed by young people with staff. The home has a selection of vehicles that can cater effectively for the needs of the young people. This includes one that can accommodate a wheelchair. A high proportion of activities are community based. Young people speak positively about the range of activities they experience.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. The planning documentation produced by the home is comprehensive. It is underpinned by other documents such as individual risk assessments and positive handling plans. The documents are detailed, fully completed and updated regularly. The individual needs of young people are identified with plans and strategies in place to address them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are familiar with their plans and sign them. Plans are available to young people in a format that is appropriate to them, for example, in a picture format. The current presentation of planning documentation, along with ongoing developments to refine and develop them further, is viewed as an area of strength and has led to a judgement of outstanding.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Statutory reviews are taking place within the required timescale. Staff work supportively with young people so their views and opinions can be presented effectively at their review.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Contact details and records of contact are in place, with both staff and young people demonstrating an understanding of those arrangements.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Appropriate procedures and working practices for the admission and discharge of young people are being followed. For example, a comprehensive admissions procedure checklist is in use.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people's meetings take place weekly, with a set agenda and records kept from each meeting. These records are displayed around the home for young people to view. A recent development has been to have a slot on the agenda where any issues linked to equality and diversity can be discussed. This is viewed as good practice.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The relationships between staff and young people were observed as outstanding. For example, young people are subjected to a warm welcome from all staff upon their return from school, with staff showing genuine interest in how the day has been. A warm, happy and supportive atmosphere prevailed throughout the inspection.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is outstanding. The home builds systems into its working practices to enhance independence, for example, three young people are involved in budget shopping with staff. For those older and past school age, a specific independence programme, built into planning documentation, is put into place. Examples of this occurring were observed. The home has just introduced its own pathway 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC066428 planning to underpin practice and supplement any pathway plan supplied by a placing authority. This is viewed as good practice.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

No young people raised any issues around the arrangements for clothing, personal requisites, pocket money or savings. Each receives a set, weekly allowance for clothing. Young people are encouraged to save and some have their own bank accounts.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The design and size of the home, along with the standard of repair, décor, fixtures, fittings, furnishings and equipment, is deemed to be outstanding. Young people live in a homely environment that is adapted sympathetically to meet their needs. Bedrooms are personalised to reflect the taste and interest of the occupier. Two of the four bedrooms are en-suite. Young people are observed as being relaxed and at ease within their surroundings.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The statement of purpose, recently revised and updated, meets with regulatory requirement and provides an accurate insight into the functioning of the home. Two versions of the young people's guide, designed to take account of young people's individual needs, are in place. Both were recently updated. They also meet with regulatory requirement.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Young people are receiving an individual service that is designed to meet personal need, for example, if young people are unable to sign their plans and other documentation due to disability, an alternative way of allowing them to do so has been introduced. Another recent example has been the introduction of cultural themed nights where food from other cultures is sampled.

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Organisation

A formal programme to supervise staff is in place, but the frequency of supervision for some staff lapsed recently. The supervision programme links effectively with the annual appraisal system and the introduction of personal development plans for staff.

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Organisation

The number of staff, along with their collective experience, allows for the specific and sometimes complex needs of young people to be addressed positively. There is an active, ongoing programme of core staff training and the number of staff with relevant qualifications or gaining relevant qualifications meets the current guidelines.

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Organisation

The new manager who took up the post in March 2009 has settled in well and staff are supportive of him. An application to register with Ofsted has yet to be submitted.

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Organisation

The general organisation and management of the home is good, despite the changes to management personnel over the past year. Both the external and internal monitoring of the home are taking place within the required timescale. Young people's case files are neat, well ordered, up-to-date and properly kept.

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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. 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC066428

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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 all staff receive formal supervision consistently, within the recommended timescale (NMS 28.2) • ensure the manager submits an application to be registered with Ofsted (NMS 34). 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC066428

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