Children's Home run by Castle Homes Care Limited in Barnsley

SC363630 Unique reference number 13 May 2009 Inspection date Debbie Foster Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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21 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 7 Inspection Report: SC363630

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Brief description of the service

This is a detached property, positioned in a residential area. This home's function is to care for young people, implementing consistent boundaries with them. This is to allow them to address their challenging behaviour and to resume age appropriate control and responsibility for their own lives.

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Brief description of the service

The home has a lounge, kitchen, dining room, two bathrooms with toilets and all bedrooms are single. The house is set in its own grounds with car parking and a separate building, where education can be provided.

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Brief description of the service

There is access to some local shops, public transport and the home has access to a vehicle.

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Summary

This was an unannounced random inspection focusing upon National Minimum Standards (NMS) relating to keeping children and young people safe. The two actions and four recommendations made on the last inspection in November 2008 were checked to see if they had been implemented.

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Summary

Good safeguarding measures were identified and implemented with young people to keep them safe. This has been achieved through involving young people in decision making around boundaries and incentives to be put in place. This encourages and supports individual young people's positive behaviour.

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Summary

A young person has taken part in the inspection process. 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

The setting has taken steps to address the actions and recommendations made on the last inspection. The complaints procedure includes the name, address and telephone number of Ofsted as required by the regulation. The routine locking of doors in the home to control behaviour has ceased and young people have access to all communal rooms. The young people have a key to their own bedroom to provide and promote privacy when they want it. Recruitment references for staff ask if the person is suitable to work with children and staff complete a disclaimer to state whether they have not been disqualified from caring for children.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The following recommendation is still to be implemented in full. Over 70% of staff have completed NVQ training at level 3 in care and the rest are undertaking this qualification. Although good progress is being made, the target set in the National Minimum Standard (NMS) of 80% of the workforce achieving this qualification, has not yet been achieved.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. 4 of 7 Inspection Report: SC363630 The privacy of the young people is respected and information confidentially handled. Records are securely stored. Young people have a key to their bedrooms to support and promote their privacy.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Complaints made to the home are addressed without delay which indicates their concerns are taken seriously. The staff and young people are fully aware of the procedure on how to complain. No complaints have been made since the last inspection. The complaints procedure does refer to Ofsted and the young people have Ofsted details in some of their complaints information. The full address and telephone contact number for Ofsted have been added to the procedures during the inspection to meet the regulations in full.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's welfare in the home is promoted well. Measures are put in place to keep young people safe. Staff have safeguarding training and can verbalise the procedures. The procedures are also available for staff to refer to and use. The home has a good link with the Local Safeguarding Children Board and other relevant professionals.

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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. Staff said they act promptly to deal with bullying situations and they monitor young people closely. A young person said there has been no bullying in the home and they are clear bullying is not tolerated.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff talk to young people about keeping themselves safe and respond appropriately to protect them when they go missing without authority. There are individual protocols in place for individual young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are aware of the circumstances when they will be reported missing. There has been one incident of absconding since the last inspection. The home have good links with other professionals to assist and support young people who go missing.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is good management of behaviour in the home with good outcomes for young people. Staff's approach to caring for young people is to have clear boundaries in place. Young people are involved in the decision making process to determine the incentives put in place. This empowers them and assists in their commitment to succeed. This encourages and supports individual young people's positive behaviour. A young person said staff are fair.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Since the last inspection the routine locking of doors in the home to control behaviour has ceased. Although, the kitchen door may be locked once all young people have gone to bed for identified safety issues. This is not excessive control and the manager said it is kept under review.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The sanctions and restraints made are minimal. The records hold the required information, including the views and comments of young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The young people live in a home that provides physical safety and security. For example, risk assessments are in place which cover the relevant areas satisfactorily, and supporting safety measures are implemented to keep the young people safe. However, it is not always clear when risk assessments have been reviewed. 5 of 7 Inspection Report: SC363630 Fire records indicate that all checks on the system and appropriate fire instruction and training takes place for young people and staff. Fire drills have taken place frequently, this being monthly as set out in the home's policies and procedures.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Recruitment of staff ensures young people are cared for by suitable and safe individuals. The home has a recruitment process to follow. The recruitment file contains references including one from the person’s last employer, Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks, including other relevant information. The references ask if the person is suitable to work with children and there is a disclaimer from staff to confirm they have not been disqualified from caring for children.

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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 risk assessments are reviewed at regular intervals (NMS26). 6 of 7 Inspection Report: SC363630

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