Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

SC039248 Unique reference number 23 May 2009 Inspection date Elaine Clare 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 9 Inspection Report: SC039248

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Brief description of the service

The home is registered to provide a service for six young people of either sex aged from 13 to 17 years. The home has single occupancy bedrooms on the first floor and communal rooms and offices on the ground floor.

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Summary

This inspection was unannounced. All of the standards considered by Ofsted to be key standards, were inspected. The visit provided the opportunity to meet with the home's assistant manager, and two senior members of staff within the organisation. All of the young people were attending the Children's Rights conference and were not available during the inspection.

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Summary

The home provides satisfactory care for the five young people currently accommodated. An experienced staff team supports the young people but it is difficult to assess if staff are meeting their individual needs as internal placement plans are weak. The home is in an area that makes looking after young people difficult, there are problems with anti-social behaviour and this has led the home putting anti-climb devises onto their roof.

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Summary

The home has good relationships with health professionals and they have had a direct impact on the individuals living at the home. Opportunities for young people to voice their concerns and to be listen too is positive. The overall quality rating is satisfactory. 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 manager has introduced a bound and numbered book in which records of restraints can be made. This is an improvement following the last inspection and the regulation is now been met by the organisation.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. The young people enjoy a choice of meals that are varied and generally healthy. They assist in planning a weekly menu and are involved in meal preparation when they wish to be. The design of the home has provided a good sized, pleasant space where the staff and young people can eat together and meals can be well-set up.

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Helping children to be healthy

The young people's health needs are not identified through specific health plans. Each young person has, under the Being healthy section of the units placement plan, information giving minimum detail. There is no plan on how care staff are identifying and meeting the health needs of the young people. Health professionals are appropriately accessed and the young people choose whether they wish staff to accompany them to appointments. Health promotion is not clearly identified and it was unclear how care staff are discouraging young people from smoking, alcohol, or substance misuse; health education is discussed in residents' meetings.

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Helping children to be healthy

The young people are safeguarded by the policies and procedures in place for the storage and administration of medication. All medications are recorded in the young people's medication 4 of 9 Inspection Report: SC039248 administration record and signed for when administered, or a record made that it is not required. Minimal 'over the counter' medications are held and medications are disposed of appropriately. The staff are trained in the administration of first aid and well-stocked first aid boxes are in the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. The staff respect the young people's privacy and information about them is confidentially handled. Comprehensive procedural guidance clearly identifies the circumstances under which such information is accessed and also ensures an individual's room or possessions are searched appropriately. Each young person has their own room which they can lock. It is practice for the staff and other young people to knock before entering. The young people can use a private telephone if they do not have their own mobile. Wherever possible, a mixed staff group is on duty enabling sensitivity to gender issues.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Complaints are addressed within the required timescales and the complainant is kept informed whilst their concern is being investigated. The young people know how to raise concerns. They believe they are listened to and that in general their concerns are taken seriously. A summary log details informal concerns that the young people raise and any action taken. Similarly external complaints and the action taken are appropriately recorded.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The welfare of the young people is promoted and the staff aim to protect them from abuse. Comprehensive policies and procedures are in place although the organisation's policy still refers to the Commission for Social Care Inspection. The staff respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns and all the staff are trained in child protection. The safeguarding procedures are readily available in the home for the staff to reference.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Bullying is regarded as unacceptable and effective measures are taken to reduce the risk of as well as to manage any instances. The staff are alert to those young people who are likely to bully as well as those who are vulnerable and discussion about any incidence with the individuals concerned, ensures appropriate support is accessed when needed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Details of the action to be taken if a young person becomes absent without authority are included in their plan of care. Appropriate action is taken to avoid such occurrences and recent strategies introduced by the organisation are resulting in a reduced number of incidents. In the event the police are usually involved and records are maintained as events unfold. The relevant organisations are not always notified immediately.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The staff encourage acceptable behaviour and respond constructively to inappropriate behaviour. A monetary reward system focussing on each young person's areas of need works well but, in the event of an incident, appropriate sanctions are used. Physical restraint is only used where there is a risk to another person and de-escalation is not possible. Records of sanctions and restraints are maintained although the manager had not signed off the records since February. The records reviewed during the monthly Regulation 33 visits. Training is arranged to update all staff in 'Team Teach' techniques and opportunities for the young people to discuss incidents and to express their views are available.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Satisfactory measures are in place to maintain the safety and security of the young people. There are risk assessments for the premises as well as for activities undertaken and the home 5 of 9 Inspection Report: SC039248 is appropriately insured. Positive steps are taken to protect against the risk of fire and other hazards. The required checks of equipment are undertaken and the necessary contracts are in place. In addition, the fire drills held at different times of the day and the monitoring in place ensures that all personnel are appropriately trained.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Visitors and contractors are well monitored by being required to show evidence of identification, to sign the visitor's book and being supervised whilst on site. Recruitment procedures were not able to be verified as the manager of the home was not available during the inspection to access the information.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. The young people receive individual support and the staff enable them to access the professional services they need. Each young person has a key worker but are encouraged to approach any member of staff to share personal concerns.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

In general the staff at the home support the young people with their education. Each young person is either able to spend time studying or is enrolled in a local school or college. However, attendance remains variable and although sought by the home's manager, personal education plans are not yet in place for all young people. There are facilities conducive to study within the home although if homework is given, the young people tend to do it in the bedroom.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Some activities are arranged for the young people, enabling them to pursue their particular interests and develop confidence in their skills. Appropriate risk assessments are undertaken and the necessary staff supervision is arranged. Newspapers, magazines and books are available and house meetings are being undertaken regularly, enabling the young people to discuss the general running of the home, plan activities and to make their views known.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. The young people's needs are assessed by the social worker and they all benefit from an external placement plan. However, a plan developed by the care staff on how all those needs will be met under the 'Every Child Matters' is limited and in some cases missing. Internal placement plans lack detail and do not clearly state how the plan will be implemented. For example, under positive contribution one placement plan states 'help .. learn different coping techniques'. Another plan under staying safe states ' staff will offer ongoing support and guidance.' In most cases placement plans have not been signed by the young people, key worker or registered manager.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The young people's needs and development are reviewed, mostly at the timescales required by the 'Looked After Child' framework. Key staff, health professionals and family members (as appropriate) are involved in the young people's reviews; seeking the young people's views as well as encouraging them to be involved in the meetings helps them to feel included in the process. The appropriate paperwork is held in the young person's file which they can access and read if they wish, with staff support.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The staff encourage the young people to maintain constructive contact with their families, friends and significant others. Contact arrangements are agreed and included in the young 6 of 9 Inspection Report: SC039248 person's placement plan. Staff accompany visits when necessary and support the young people to make telephone calls or write letters. Comprehensive records are maintained whereby the progress of each contact and the frequency can be monitored.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The young people believe that the staff support them by encouraging them to share any concerns and involving them in key decisions about their lives. One-to-one time with their key worker provides an opportunity to discuss any specific concerns or ideas and the weekly house meetings also provide a forum for ascertaining their views. Meetings are generally well recorded.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is satisfactory. The young people are supported in learning the skills that prepare them for leaving care and their move into independent or supported living. Pathway plans are introduced and the young people are encouraged to be involved with the daily life of the home. Once eligible the staff ensure that they are allocated appropriate personnel such as a 'leaving care' social worker, to facilitate a smooth transition.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home is a large two storey detached building, situated in a residential area. The home is in an area of severe deprivation. There are large incidents of crime and the homes location does not provide an environment that is supportive to a young person's development. Around the exterior of part of the building are anti-climb devises. These stainless steel rotating barbs have been placed around to stop young people climbing onto the roof. They have been subject to complaints from neighbours both in favour of there use and against them. They are unsightly and not common place on a children's home. There need appears to have diminished with a removal of a wall and therefore access to the roof cannot now be gained.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home has sufficient communal space to enable the young people to meet together, relax or have some quiet time. Each young person's bedroom is personalised as they wish and the large kitchen provides sufficient space for the young people to be involved in meal preparation. A concrete area to the front of the house provides parking space for several cars and a secure garden area to the rear provides a safe area for relaxing and recreation.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The general décor, furniture and furnishings in the lounge and activity rooms needs to be improved. There is damage to décor and both areas look untidy.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The home's statement of purpose reflects how the setting operates, how the young people will be cared for and what services they can expect. A young people's guide is also available but information about how young people can contact Ofsted is missing.

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Organisation

A knowledgeable, experienced and qualified manager leads the staff team, supported by an experienced assistant managers who deputises for the manager when she is off-site. All the staff are either trained in the National Vocational Qualification for the care of children and young people at level 3 or above, or undertaking the course or are due to start it shortly.

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Organisation

There are sufficient staff rostered to care for the young people, with a minimal use of casual staff. The staff teams provide continuity and the young people have a clearer understanding 7 of 9 Inspection Report: SC039248 of who is responsible for them during the day. Easier access to training is enabling the staff to be updated in key areas and timetabled supervision enables support for the staff as well as providing the forum for their training and development needs to be identified.

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Organisation

Satisfactory quality assurance processes are in place to monitor the care of the young people and the home's performance against its statement of purpose. Appropriate records are reviewed and signed; the frequency of events or any trends are identified and discussed with the staff in order for appropriate action to be taken. The monthly monitoring visits are undertaken by a senior member of staff from within the organisation.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is satisfactory. The ethos of the unit is to recognise and support the different views, needs, cultures, language and faiths of all those accommodated. A mixed staff team ensures that the individual personal, social, health and emotional needs of each young person are explored and care given to meet them.

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Organisation

Each young person has a file that is a permanent private and secure record of their history and progress. It can be accessed and read by the young people as appropriate and with staff support.

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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

31 July 2009 ensure that each child is provided with guidance, support and advice on health and personal care issues appropriate to their needs and wishes (Regulation 20.2) 31 July 2009 notify without delay the relevant persons or agencies of the matters set out in Schedule 5 in particular a serious incident necessitating calling the police to the home (Regulation 30.1) 31 July 2009 ensure that there is an up to date placement plan for each child or young person accommodated at the home in particular how, on a day to day basis, he will be cared for, and their welfare safeguarded and promoted (Regulation 12) 30 July 2009 consult with police, health and the local authority to improve the location of the children's home so it is in an area which are suitable for the purpose of achieving the aims and objectives set out in the homes statement of purpose (Regulation 31.1) 30 July 2009 improve all parts of the children's home used by children to

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Due date Action Standard

ensure it is kept clean, reasonably decorated and maintained, particular with reference to the activity room and main lounge (Regulation 31.2). 8 of 9 Inspection Report: SC039248

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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 each child's file contains a copy of their Personal Education Plan (PEP) (National Minimum Standard 14.2) • revise the use of anti-climb devises fixed to parts of the exterior of the children's home (National Minimum Standard 23.1) • create an area within the Children's Guide to enable children to access the details of Ofsted should they wish to complain about the service they are receiving at the home (National Minimum Standard 1). 9 of 9 Inspection Report: SC039248

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