Children's Home run by Blackpool Borough Council in Blackpool

SC033611 Unique reference number 6 October 2009 Inspection date Elaine Clare Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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14 January 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 8 Inspection Report: SC033611

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Brief description of the service

This children’s home is operated by a local authority. It provides a short break care service for 10 children and young people aged between five and 17 years. The home is a two-storey building with communal rooms, including lounges, a dining room and sensory room on the ground floor and single bedrooms and an office on the upper floor. A vertical passenger lift allows access to the first floor. Externally there is a garden with play area and lawn.

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Brief description of the service

The home is situated in a residential area, within walking distance of the town centre and is near to local shops. It is close to local bus routes, which provide easy access to a range of shops and leisure facilities. The home has a car to help children access the community.

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Summary

At this full, unannounced inspection, all the key national minimum standards were inspected. The actions and recommendations made at the previous inspection were followed up and details of these are outlined in improvements section of this report.

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Summary

Young people are looked after by a caring and knowledgeable staff team. Assessments and ongoing support from health, education and social professionals ensures a comprehensive and holistic approach to young people's individual health needs. Education is seen as a significant part of young people's lives and is especially well-promoted by motivated staff.

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Summary

An action and two recommendations have been made to promote the welfare of the young people. These are for staffing files to be held within the home and the improvement of consultation with young people about the decisions they make at the home. More details also need to be included about the cultural needs of all the children that use the service. 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 one requirement was made to improve the home. The registered person had to ensure that monthly monitoring visits were undertaken and a report issued to their effect. This has now been completed to a satisfactory level.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people using this service have complex health needs and as such their dietary requirements are diverse. Staff are trained and extremely confident in knowing that individual young people's dietary needs are being well met. Additionally, staff give discrete support to young people who manage their own feeding. This allows young people to retain a significant level of independence. Mealtimes are very social occasions and young people said, 'staff are at the table as well and we chat'.

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Helping children to be healthy

Healthy eating is encouraged, young people with regular diets have varied and nutritious meals provided. Snacks are readily available and include fresh fruit and yoghurts. Opportunities allow young people to go shopping and make choices about the foods they want to eat. There is 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC033611 significant contact and liaison with dieticians which means this comprehensive and specialist advice benefits the wellbeing of the young people.

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Helping children to be healthy

An excellent level of care is provided to ensure the health needs of the young people are met. Thorough health assessments and ongoing support from health professionals ensures a holistic approach to young people's needs. Staff receive training to support them in their work and this includes training in moving and handling.

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Helping children to be healthy

The home has effective arrangements in place for the safe storage, administration and disposal of medicines. The manager routinely monitors the medication stock, to ensure this is in order. Staff are qualified to provide first aid treatment as needed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Good systems are in place, to ensure young people's privacy, dignity and confidentiality is respected in the home, for example, young people have their own bedroom and their personal files are kept securely in the home. Additionally, young people said staff make sure bathroom doors are closed at times when young people use these rooms.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A complaints procedure is in place and no complaints have been made by the young people. There are various opportunities in and outside of the home, for young people to make their views know. Young people have contact with staff including their key-workers and with other professionals, in health and education. A number of young people have non-verbal communication. Staff have a good awareness about how the young people express their feelings, such as, through facial expressions, which assists them in establishing the needs of the young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff confirm there is no bullying taking place. There have not been any occurrences of young people going missing from the home. Staff are aware of the home's procedure and action to take should this happen.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff take all reasonable steps to keep young people safe from harm. Staff have safeguarding training which helps them to protect and promote the welfare of young people. Information from the Local Safeguarding Children Board in respect of safeguarding young people is readily available to staff in the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's good behaviour is actively encouraged. Staff know and follow young people's care management plans and individual risk assessments to respond to and manage behaviour positively. The home does not restrain children but may guide them away from a situation, staff are trained in the use of de-escalation techniques.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are looked after in an environment that promotes their safety and wellbeing. Equipment and installations are serviced as required to ensure they are safe to use in the home. Management contact with the local authority fire department confirms that fire risk assessments are appropriate and that fire evacuation procedures are relevant to the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Since the last inspection staffing files have been removed and are now centrally located at the local authority head office. The manager confirms that the home's recruitment policy is followed 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC033611 for the employment of staff, to ensure they are suitable to work with young people but this was unable to be clarified as there were no staffing files available in the home to inspect.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Young people have excellent levels of support from staff, including a designated key worker. More specialist support from health and education professionals is readily available. This comprehensive approach means young people's individual needs, are very well met with the appropriate support systems in place.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff, especially key workers, are very familiar with young people's care plans and follow these to ensure they provide effective personal, social and emotional support. For example, staff give young people the opportunity to discuss issues, such as health and safety, keeping safe and personal hygiene. Staff have an extremely good understanding about recognising the needs of young people who have limited or no verbal communication, such as observing young people's body language and eye contact.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Education is seen as a significant part of young people's lives and is especially well-promoted by motivated staff. The routine and ethos of the home is for young people to receive formal education and wherever possible, to attend educational establishments of their choice. Young people talk very enthusiastically about leaving school and moving on to further education.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The home has facilities to support young people's education and this includes specialist equipment, for example, sensory materials, games and a computer adapted to suit the needs of young people who are able to use this. Young people thoroughly enjoy the support and interaction of staff to use this equipment. Few young people receive homework. However, those with homework tasks are well supported and encouraged by staff to complete them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Young people have care management plans that identify most of their assessed needs at the home. Staff are knowledgeable and aware of the plans, which help them to provide appropriate care. The cultural needs are not assessed comprehensively within the care plan.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There are systems in place for the statutory review of young people's placements and care at the home. Key workers take an active role and encourage young people to attend their review meetings. Young people can attend the meetings and give their views about their placement and future care. Written outcomes of recent review meetings are available and details of staff responsibilities and actions to take as a result of the review are also evident.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people's contact with family and friends is actively promoted; this is done in line with the young person's wishes and their placement plan. This is a respite unit and young people go home in between visits. The promotion of contact with parents is encouraged throughout their stay and at other times too.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Admissions to the home are usually planned and take account of the assessed needs of the young people. Some of the young people who live in this home have very complex health needs. Before admission to the home the manager ensures resources and care in the home meet the 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC033611 young person's needs. Transition planning for young people to leave the home is very well thought out. Staff are proactive in seeking and enabling young people to have appropriate future care and accommodation.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people have a few opportunities in the home to give their opinions about issues that affect their daily life and future. These include one-to-one time with staff and contact with professionals outside of the home, for example, nurses and teachers. However, there are no children's meetings in the home which would allow young people to make decisions about matters that affect them, such as the type of holidays they want, activities and decoration of their bedroom.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is outstanding. Staff encourage and support young people to learn skills to help them, as they move towards adulthood and prepare to leave care. One young people is nearing the age of 18 which means they are now becoming young adults. The expedience at which placing authorities deal with transition planning is out of the control of the home. However, staff continue to work with young people's social workers, to enable a planned and seamless transition into adult services.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Aims and objectives are part of young people's independence plan and work hand in hand with their transition plan. Staff promote young people to learn skills that will help them as they leave care. Staff place a strong emphasis on multi-agency working so that young people have the necessary support on leaving care.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home provides excellent quality accommodation which enables young people to live in an environment that is very comfortably furnished, well-maintained and adapted to meet their physical and care needs. This includes specialist medical equipment and spacious rooms and corridors for wheelchair users. Young people have choices in the decorations of the home and personalise their bedrooms with objects that are important to them when they come to stay.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The statement of purpose reflects what the home offers and was reviewed in March 2009, to amend staffing details. The children's guide is in written and pictorial format, and describes the routines and care given at the home.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. The home has a commitment to improve equality and diversity through care practices and staff training. Young people are treated as individuals and their assessed disability needs are well considered. Staff take the opportunity to improve the life chances of young people with disabilities, particularly through the promotion of education and health.

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Organisation

Young people wrote that staff, 'are all just as nice', look after them properly that they feel able to talk to staff. Young people wrote about the opportunities they have to participate in activities outside of the home and that this is with the support of staff.

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Organisation

The management team provides regular supervision to staff, so that they are properly supported in their work with the young people. Staff speak positively about the level of support they 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC033611 receive. Young people are looked after by a caring and knowledgeable staff team. Staff have opportunities to undertake training, to increase their skills and competencies in their work with the young people. This includes training in respect of communicating with disabled children, autism, fire training, and equality and diversity. Certificates to evidence staff completion of relevant training, such as, the use of hoists, are not available within the home as staff files are kept at the head office.

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Organisation

There are appropriate staffing levels in the home, to supervise and take account of the young people's known needs. All staff are training for, or hold a relevant childcare qualification, to help them in their understanding of caring for young people.

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Organisation

There are comprehensive systems in place to make sure that the work of the home is monitored and that a very good standard of care is maintained. This is an improvement from the last inspection.

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Organisation

Records are kept of the young people's individual history and progress. These are in good order and are kept securely.

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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 the registered person maintains in the children's home the records specified in Schedule 4 and ensure that they are kept up to date (Regulation 29).

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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): • improve the opportunity for young people in the home to give their opinions about issues that affect their daily life and future (NMS 21) • include within the home's care plan how the effectiveness of the placement is to be assessed in relation to cultural, religious, language and racial needs and how these will be met (NMS 2). 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC033611

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