Children's Home run by Dove Adolescent Services Limited in Wakefield

SC060811 Unique reference number 27 August 2009 Inspection date Debbie Foster Inspector Key Type of Inspection

p.1

22 August 2008 Date of last inspection .

p.1

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.

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.3

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: SC060811

p.3

Brief description of the service

The home provides care for two children who are aged between eight and 17 years old. The primary reason why a child is admitted to the home is because of emotional or behavioural difficulties.

p.4

Brief description of the service

The home is a terraced house situated within a small town. On the ground floor there is a staff office, lounge, kitchen with dining area, and a porch. On the first floor are two children's bedrooms, a staff bedroom, bathroom with toilet and a shower room with toilet. At the rear of the house is a yard, which is reached by an unmade road and provides an additional car parking space for the home.

p.4

Brief description of the service

The home is centrally placed for public transport, the library, shops and other leisure facilities. A primary school and secondary school are within walking distance.

p.4

Summary

This was an unannounced full inspection focusing upon 25 key national minimum standards (NMS) under the Every Child Matters outcomes for children and young people.

p.4

Summary

The health of young people is being promoted through healthy eating and exercise. The safety of young people is given due importance. A number of safety measures are in place to keep young people safe, such as risk assessments and the positive management of the behaviour. Staff receive training in health and safety areas such as first aid and physical intervention. Discussions take place with young people on how to keep themselves safe. Education arrangements are being pursued for the current young people and there are plenty of activities for young people to take part in to build on their confidence and add to their life experiences.

p.4

Summary

Although, young people's needs are assessed by the home and they each have prepared a care plan, there is essential looked after children's documentation and information which, has not been provided by the placing authority. This is required to ensure the staff have a sufficient information to meet all the care to needs the individual young people.

p.4

Summary

The accommodation is decorated and furnished to a satisfactory standard, providing a domestic environment for young people to live in. There are plans to refurbish areas of the home.

p.4

Summary

There are good staffing levels and training provided to staff. However, the target of 80% to train staff in NVQ level 3 in caring for children and young people have not yet been met. Although, there are good support systems for staff, some have not always received formal supervision at the required frequency.

p.4

Summary

A young person contributed to the inspection. The overall quality rating is satisfactory. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

Reasons are now recorded to explain why staff have left their previous employment which involved working with children to ensure their are not concerns in them working with children 4 of 9 Inspection Report: SC060811 again. Young people did have a placement plans in place which has been provided on their admission to the home to provide some of the essential information to support them being cared for in the setting.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

The manager has counter signed the sanctions records to monitor their use and ensure they are appropriately used with young people. The Statement of Purpose sets out the staffing policy and levels the home is to provide to care for the young people living there.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

The following recommendations is still to be implemented;

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

The details and contact arrangements for each young person is not recorded in each young persons placement plan to ensure they can have appropriate visits with family and carers.

p.5

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Young people are encouraged to eat healthily and they may make daily suggestions about the meals they wish to eat. Varied food options are available for meals and snacks. Staff said usually young people are involved in planning and shopping on a weekly basis, but as young people have been admitted into the home in the last week this has not yet occurred. Young people did assist in preparing meals and bake with staff during the inspection and they appeared to enjoy this.

p.5

Helping children to be healthy

The health needs of young people are not fully documented or the contact details of their doctor or dentist recorded on their files. There are omissions from the admission information received on the health care of young people which is essential to ensure appropriate health care services can be provided to young people.

p.5

Helping children to be healthy

The administration of medicines and treatments are provided safely to the young people through the home's policies, procedures and practices of staff. The medication policy has been reviewed since the last inspection. Medication is securely stored. Staff are trained on how to administer medication and in first aid. At the time of the inspection no young people have prescribed medication.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The young peoples' privacy is respected and information confidentially handled. Staff know to knock and wait before entering young people's bedrooms to promote their privacy. Records are securely stored and staff are clear on how to keep information confidential.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Overall, complainants and concerns are taken seriously. There is a clear complaints policy and procedure. Young people have promptly been made aware of the complaints procedure. Four complaints have been made since the last inspection, from people in the community and a parent. The records show that immediate initial action is taken to address the complaints. However, although in some instances the outcome is recorded, it is not full always clear and it is not indicated if the complainant is satisfied or not with the outcome.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's safety at the home is given proper importance. A number of measures are in place to keep young people safe and the outcomes for individual young people are good. The 5 of 9 Inspection Report: SC060811 safe guarding procedures are available for staff to refer to and use. Staff have also received safe guarding training and they are aware of the procedures to follow.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are protected from bullying, through the home's policies, procedures and the practice of the staff. There is clear policy and procedures on managing bullying in place. Staff and young people are aware that bullying is not tolerated. Staff said there is no bullying occurring and young people are monitored closely through one to one staffing levels.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff respond appropriately when young people go missing without authority, notifying all the appropriate persons including the police in line with policies and procedures. Young people have been made aware of the dangers and possible risks to their safety when they go missing by staff. The number of incidents of young people going missing has been minimal in the last eight months.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Encouraging positive behaviour is a priority within the home. Staff's approach to caring for young people is to have clear boundaries in place and they spoke about giving praise to young people. Boundaries are discussed and agreed with the young people individually. Rewards and incentives are in place to encourage positive and acceptable behaviour. Young people are involved in the decision making in the rewards they will receive and this empowers them and reinforces positive behaviour.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Very few sanctions have been made since the last inspection and no physical intervention has taken place. Those made have been reasonable for the behaviour presented. The manager has monitored this area. These records are centrally held and contain the required information.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's safety is well promoted through the practices and support from staff. Fire records show that regular checks on the system are undertaken. Staff have received fire instruction and training. Fire drills take place frequently, including one taking place at night and young people are involved.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Health and safety areas are monitored by the manager to assist in keeping young people safe. There are risk assessments in place, which cover the relevant areas, and are in sufficient detail for staff to follow to reduce risks identified for individual young people.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are detailed vetting and recruitment procedures for staff to ensure young people are prevented from being cared for by unsuitable people. The organisation undertakes the required and relevant checks on the staff recruited. This includes the Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) check, references from the previous employer and having a full employment history of the worker. The CRB check information held does not always indicate that the check undertaken was at an enhanced level to work with children.

p.6

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. There is individual support for young people from the staff and some from professionals when they need it to assist them in making progress in their lives. There are links with professionals such as the youth offending service and the community police.

p.6

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people are supported to attend school to help them attain an education. This assists them to achieve their potential and gain skills which will support them into adulthood. This is 6 of 9 Inspection Report: SC060811 evidenced by staff organising and liaising with appropriate persons to arrange transport to school. Personal Education Plans and other relating information are not in place although these young people have only recently been admitted to the home.

p.6

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The home has a selection of books and games, and some study materials are available. A computer for the young people to access for education and leisure is in place.

p.7

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people have been encouraged and supported well by staff to pursue activities which develops their confidence and builds on their self esteem. They have undertaken a selection of leisure activities, such as visiting York dungeons, a safari park, playing tennis and fishing.

p.7

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Young people's needs are assessed and documented within individual care plans. These records contain some detail on how the young person will be cared for. Staff spoke about how they provide care to individual young people which reflects their care plan. Although there is a looked after children's placement plan in place the majority of the looked after children's information has not been provided by the placing authority. Therefore, the care needs of each young person are not set out clearly to explain their individual needs in full, the purpose and aim of the placement.

p.7

Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people currently living at the home have been admitted as emergencies, planning meetings have taken place. Although, no minutes of the meeting and outcomes have been recorded on the case file checked. Staff said it is the usual practice for care reviews to take place and the young people are positively involved.

p.7

Helping children make a positive contribution

Links with their family and local communities are in place for young people. They have contact with family and friends which the staff actively encourage and facilitate. Young people confirmed this. Although, the agreed contact arrangements for one young person are not recorded on the case file or Looked after children's documentation.

p.7

Helping children make a positive contribution

Support and encouragement is given to young people to make decisions about their lives and the running of the home. Young people are actively involved in making decisions about the weekly activities and the food they have to eat. Staff said young people also contribute to decision made about incentives, rewards and their views sought when attending their statutory reviews.

p.7

Helping children make a positive contribution

There are positive relationships and good communication between young people and the staff. This should be noted as a strength in the team, who have been able to build some trusts with young people in a short space of time. This is evident in the discussions between the young people and staff during the inspection. They discussed the success of the recent activities, planning of meals and their plans for the evening. Young people spoke with enthusiasm about the activities they have undertaken.

p.7

Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is satisfactory. The accommodation is decorated and furnished to a satisfactory standard, providing a domestic environment for the young people to live in. It is clean, tidy,well maintained and in good repair 7 of 9 Inspection Report: SC060811 internally. Young people's bedrooms are adequately equipped and furnished. The manager and staff spoke about the plans to decorate the lounge and hallways and purchase new furniture, which is on hold whilst building work on the next door site takes place due to potential plaster damage. The rear garden area is basic and not currently a child friendly area and is mainly used to dry laundry. Staff did comment that the local area has declined in recent times which could have safety implications for young people.

p.7

Organisation

The organisation is good. The statement of purpose included the required information and inform others of what to expect from the home and how young people are cared for. The staffing levels provided to care for young people are included. This is to enable and assist in the appropriate admissions to the home and ensure individual needs can be met. Young people have received a children's guide which staff have discussed and explained to them on admission.

p.8

Organisation

Staff are well supported and guided in promoting young people's welfare. Formal supervision is provided at regular intervals. However, some staff are not receiving formal supervision at the required frequency. There are regular staff meetings and daily handovers. Staff commented that they are well supported by the manager, work well as a team and have good communication systems which assists them in providing consistent care to the young people. They spoke about their work with young people with enthusiasm and a positive caring attitude.

p.8

Organisation

Staffing levels are good and young people receive care from competent and experienced staff to help meet their needs. The morning shift was worked by two residential care workers who are caring for two young people. The people in these positions have experience to undertake their duties.

p.8

Organisation

The staff have access to a wide selection of training in current childcare practices to ensure they are competent to meet the needs of the young people. They have opportunities to undertake mandatory and other training in a number of areas, such as equal opportunities, race awareness, life story work, and every child matters.

p.8

Organisation

The target of 80% has not yet been achieved by the workforce being trained in the National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in caring for children and young people, although good progress is being made.

p.8

Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. This is evidenced through practice, supporting policies, procedures and the individual placement plans. Young people receive an individual service which is being tailored to meet their personal needs. The staff have knowledge of the young people's needs and are working with them to ensure the right support and care is being provided.

p.8

Organisation

The home has a good monitoring system in place. This includes monthly monitoring visits which check on how care is provided in the home. These are carried out in some detail. Further monitoring is undertaken by the manager. Young people leaving the service have completed questionnaires to indicate their views on the quality of care provided to them. They said they were treated fairly, consulted well about their daily life and future, felt safe and happy living there. This ensures the young people living at the home are well cared for and that National Minimum Standards and regulations are being met. 8 of 9 Inspection Report: SC060811

p.8

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.

p.9

Due date Action Standard

28 September 2009 ensure all Looked After Children's documentation and other essential information is provided on admission to equip the home with all relevevant information to meet the full care needs of the young people including health information (Regulation 12 & schedule 3)

p.9

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • ensure the complaints records indicate if the complainant is satisfied with the outcome and the action taken or not. The recording format must be clear and record the full action taken and outcome separately (NMS16) • ensure the CRB information recorded, clearly states that it has been undertaken at an enhanced level to work with children (NMS27) • record the details of contact arrangements for each young person in their placement plans (NMS4) • ensure improvement plans for the environment internally and externally are implemented within a reasonable timescale (NMS24) • ensure formal supervision is provided to staff at the required frequency (NMS28) • ensure that the minimum ratios of 80% of all care staff complete their NVQ level 3 in the Caring for Children and Young People. (NMS 29)

p.9