Children's Home run by South Tyneside Council in South Tyneside

SC032701 Unique reference number 20 January 2010 Inspection date Stephen Graham Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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19 August 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: SC032701

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Brief description of the service

The service provides long term residential care for up to nine looked after young people of either sex, from 16 years old up to 18 years old. Care is provided in a staged way, which moves young people from a group living environment in Stage One to semi independent living in Stage Two.

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Brief description of the service

The building is detached and purpose built. There are five bedrooms in Stage One and two flats and two bedsits in Stage Two. There are a number of other communal rooms available in Stage One, including a lounge, dining room and sitting room. There is a training skills and education room which is used to help promote independent living skills.

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Brief description of the service

The home is located within a short walking distance of a variety of local amenities. It is also well served by public transport.

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Summary

The purpose of this visit was to conduct a full un-announced inspection which examined all key National Minimum Standards (NMS).

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Summary

Young people living at the home benefit from good levels of care. They are encouraged to eat healthily and to be involved in menu choice. The staff team receive good guidance and regular training to help them keep young people safe. Some records could be completed in better detail to help demonstrate how they do this. Young people are supported in their employment and education and are encouraged to give their views about how the home is run. The building is well maintained and provides a good homely environment for young people to live in. The home is well organised and has a staff team that is experienced and committed to achieving good outcomes for the young people in their care. 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

At the previous inspection, one action and two recommendations were made to improve practice in the outcome areas of staying safe and organisation. All of these have been satisfactorily addressed.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people living at the home are helped by staff to develop the self care skills that they will need to live independently when they are older. When young people come to live at the home, their personal food preferences and any special dietary needs they may have are discussed with them. A record of these preferences is made by staff. Young people can also contribute their ideas to menu planning through the regular young people’s meetings and also by talking about them directly with the dedicated catering staff. A record is kept of the meals prepared and provided to young people. Menu’s are varied and include healthy choices. Young people spoken with described how they can contribute their ideas and are involved in food shopping 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC032701 with staff. One staff member described how young people are encouraged and supported to participate in planning healthy menus.

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Helping children to be healthy

The staff team receive training and have access to detailed health and medication procedures to ensure that any medication or first aid treatment needed by young people is administered safely. Young people are helped by staff to register with local health services. Detailed records are maintained of their attendance at routine appointments and their access to additional specialist advice where this is necessary. Individual health plans are maintained for each young person, along with records of any accidents occurring or treatment received by them. The home has good links with local health services for looked after children. Specialist health staff visit the home each week to talk generally with young people and to offer advice and guidance on any health issues they may have. Young people described how staff would support them with any health appointments as necessary.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. There are good arrangements at the home to help make sure that children are cared for safely. Staff are given clear guidance and training about how case records should be written and kept safely stored. Young people also receive guidance about how to access their care files if they would like to read them. Room checks take place, if this is necessary, to help keep children safe. Records are kept of these checks, but these are not always completed in sufficient detail.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff check to make sure that any visitors to the home are suitable and that young people are safe when visitors are present. Visitors are asked to sign the visitors book and are closely supervised by staff. Staff undergo thorough checks to ensure that they are suitable to work with children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Arrangements for safeguarding children and young people from abuse are good. Regular training is provided to staff and they have access to detailed guidance to help them keep children safe. They complete detailed risk assessments in discussion with young people and in partnership with their social workers. There are clear procedures in place at the home which are used if young people are ever missing. These help to ensure that they are found and kept safe, as quickly as possible. Records are kept by staff regarding the circumstances of any absences. However, these are not always completed in sufficient detail or indicate whether children have been spoken to by an independent person or their own social worker following their return.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are provided with complaints information and can raise any concerns they may have. Any complaints received are recorded. Young people told us that they felt safe living at the home and can talk to staff if they were ever unhappy. Staff are provided with guidance and training to help them protect young people from bullying. Training is provided to staff in how to use physical restraint to keep children safe and in how to record any incidents that occur. There is also agreed guidance for staff to follow if sanctions are imposed. However, some of the sanctions recorded as having been imposed are not included in the guidance. A range of incentives are also used by staff to help promote positive behaviour by young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Risk assessments and health and safety checklists are used by staff to help ensure that the home is a safe place for young people to live in. Any repairs needed are notified promptly and routine checks are undertaken on the safety equipment. The staff team are trained to know what to do if there is an emergency and they practice this regularly with young people. 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC032701

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Young people receive good levels of close individual support. There are clear policies and guidance in place which are followed by staff to help ensure this. Young people meet very regularly with their key workers to share their views and ideas about their care plans. The home also has access to a broad range of more specialised advice and support where this is of benefit to young people. The staff team work hard to promote the participation of young people in a range of hobbies and interests in the local community. Any risks in the activities undertaken by young people are considered by staff. The arrangements made to minimise these are agreed and recorded.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people also receive good support to help them meet their employment and educational needs. Incentives are used to promote their positive attendance. Care staff also work closely with local colleges and employers to promote and support this. Employment and education advisors visit the home very regularly to provide direct advice to young people. The home has very good space, resources and equipment to help young people with their learning. Placing social workers are given regular updates by staff regarding the progress of each young person in their employment and education.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The staff team work in close partnership with placing social workers to help ensure that when young people come to live at the home their move is properly planned and they feel welcome. If young people are admitted in an emergency, any risks involved in this are assessed and recorded. The staff team work to minimise the impact of this on other young people living at the home. Care plans for young people are agreed and regular discussions take place with young people about them. Detailed records are maintained at the home and these help demonstrate that the care plans put in place are being followed. Regular updates are provided to placing social workers about the progress of each young person. Detailed reports are provided to the review meetings held regularly for each young person to discuss progress with each care plan. Young people are also encouraged and supported to give their own views to their meetings.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There are comprehensive policies and procedures in place at the home which are used by staff to support young people in maintaining contact with family and friends where this is appropriate. The staff team agree contact arrangements with placing social workers and young people and keep a detailed record of this within care files. Any contact is closely monitored to ensure that young people remain safe.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are encouraged to give their views about how the home is run through regular house meetings. They also talk often with their own key worker and at anytime with the staff team. Clear records of the group consultation undertaken with the young people are maintained at the home. The individual views of each young person are also recorded clearly in detail in their care files. Each young person spoken with confirmed that they felt able to make their views known and also felt that the staff team listen to them.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC032701 The main focus of this service is to plan for and support young people in developing the skills they will need to live successfully and independently when they are older. Young people receive good support from staff at the home to help them practice these skills. The progress young people make in developing these skills is recorded and regularly reviewed by staff in partnership with young people and their social workers.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The building is designed to maximise opportunities for young people to develop their independent living skills. The staff team have worked to create and maintain a homely environment within the building. A local artist has been recently commissioned to work with young people and staff to further improve the garden, with its lawn, patio and decking areas. The staff team routinely monitor the furniture, fittings and equipment at the home. Any damage occurring is logged and dealt with to ensure that the home remains a safe place for young people to live in.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The home has a Statement of Purpose which is regularly reviewed and updated. There is also a young people's guide which helps them to understand how the service is provided and who to speak to if they need any further advice.

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Organisation

The staff team at the home are very well qualified and very experienced in working with children and young people. They are encouraged to add to their qualifications and regularly attend additional training courses and briefings. Staffing levels are regularly reviewed and adjusted to help ensure that the needs of young people living at the home can met on a daily basis. There are clear arrangements in place to deputise for the manager if they themselves are ever absent.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Guidance and training for staff working at the home helps to ensure this.

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Organisation

The manager has systems in place to monitor the home's records and to create monthly reports and recommendations. Young people's files are very well maintained and presented. They contain the information needed by staff to care successfully for young people.

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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 the room search log is completed in sufficient detail (NMS 9.8) 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC032701 • ensure that the missing persons records are completed in full detail (NMS 19.6) • improve the recording of sanctions imposed to better demonstrate that they are compliant with the regulations and that staff are following their own agreed procedures. (NMS 22.2) 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC032701

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