Children's Home run by Care Afloat Ltd in Lancashire

SC006013 Unique reference number 29 January 2010 Inspection date Sarah Oldham Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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5 November 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 7 Inspection Report: SC006013

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Brief description of the service

The home is a three bedded domestic style children's home owned by a private provider. The home provides care and accommodation for one young person between the ages of eight to 17 years.

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Brief description of the service

Accommodation is provided over two floors, to the lower floor there is a lounge and a kitchen with a dinning area. Bedrooms and bathrooms are situated to the upper floor.

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Summary

This interim inspection looked at the progress the setting has made with the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection. These related to improvements in maintaining healthy diets, ensuring that policies and procedures were in place to promote the safety and wellbeing of the young people. Enjoying and Achieving and Positive Contribution were not looked at during this inspection. The key standards for Staying Safe were inspected and the follow up to actions and recommendations made with regards Being Healthy, Organisation and Economic Wellbeing were inspected, although not all key standards in these areas were. The home has taken appropriate action to address the requirements and most of the recommendations made previously. 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

At the previous inspection one requirement and seven recommendations were made. The requirement was to ensure that staff receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal. The home has addressed this by ensuring that all staff receive supervision on a monthly basis as identified in the national minimum standards. The training schedule has also been updated and staff have a planned programme of training in place. This ensures that staff have the necessary skills to provide support to the young people living at the home and that the staff are supported in their role by the management of the home.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Recommendations made regarding maintaining a healthy and nutritionally balanced diet for the young people have been addressed. Staff discuss with young people their preferences and encourage them to eat a healthy diet. Planned menus are maintained along with the menus detailing food as actually eaten by the young people. This demonstrates that most of the time individual diets are well balanced. On some occasions, compromises are made with young people and these are clearly detailed.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The home has acted on the recommendations made to assist young people develop appropriate behaviours and allow them to be involved in their behaviour management plans. Individual risk assessments and behaviour management plans have been developed for young people. These detail how the home will support and promote positive behaviour with young people. Individual recording of sanctions are place. However, it is not always clear whether these have been discussed with the young person as their views are not always recorded.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The home has further developed policies and procedures. However, these have not been ratified by the organisation. It is important that staff are consistently adhering to these procedures 4 of 7 Inspection Report: SC006013 whilst supporting young people. Young people know how to make a complaint. However, training for staff regarding this remains outstanding from the previous inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Internal and external decoration to the property has continued and this makes the home feel comfortable and homely. Repairs to the external door have been undertaken.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. At the previous inspection, it was identified that the home did not always promote a healthy and nutritionally balanced diet for the young people. The home has addressed this by ensuring that there is a good choice of menus that have been planned with the young people. Copies of menus planned and copies of menus actually eaten are maintained. Young people say that they feel that they are involved in the planning and preparation of menus.

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Helping children to be healthy

Not all the key standards have been inspected at this interim inspection and therefore the judgement made at the previous inspection remains the same.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. The home is aware of the importance of ensuring that confidential information is maintained securely. The policies in place are adequate but have not been ratified by the company to confirm these are the standard procedures for staff to follow. Information is stored within a lockable office. The young people have access to a telephone and any restrictions are clearly identified and agreed with the placing authority.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a new complaint policy and procedure in place but not all staff have had training on the complaints procedure. This does not ensure that staff can address complaints appropriately. However, young people say that they are aware of how to complain and feel that the manager will follow up any complaints appropriately.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All staff have received training regarding safeguarding. This training forms part of the core training programme for all staff and is updated on a regular basis. The home has a copy of the Local Safeguarding Children's Board (LSCB) policy and has developed good links to promote safety and well-being of young people. Notifications received have identified that referrals to the LSCB are made in accordance with the policy.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Bullying is not currently an issue at the home. Staff are aware of the importance of being vigilant to ensure that any bullying is addressed to protect both the young person being bullied and the instigator.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Risk assessments are in place for young people who leave the home without informing staff of their whereabouts. Additional support to young people has been undertaken and the home is working in conjunction with multi agencies to respond appropriately to provide ongoing support and guidance.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The behaviour management policy and procedure has been updated to ensure that it meets the Children's Homes Regulations 2001. The home details how it will support young people to effectively manage their behaviour and this is included with the placement plan. Young people are consulted regarding the plan and agreement is sought from the young person and the 5 of 7 Inspection Report: SC006013 placing authority. All staff have received training regarding physical intervention and documentation is maintained when this has been used. Sanctions imposed are recorded and wherever possible the views of the young person regarding the sanction is gained. Where a young person has declined to comment this is not always recorded. This does not demonstrate that the home always establishes the views of the young person.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Risk assessments for the home are in place. These include a detailed fire risk assessment. Regular fire drills and tests are undertaken to ensure that young people and staff are aware of the procedure to follow in the event of a fire.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is satisfactory. At the last inspection, the external door of the house had been broken and was in need of repair. This has been undertaken, ensuring that the external doors are secure to promote the safety and welfare of the young people.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The house has been redecorated in some areas with ongoing plans to continue with this. Young people say that they are consulted about the décor and furnishings of the home. Upstairs, a new window restrictor has been installed on one of the windows. However, other windows open wide with no restrictors in place, which poses a risk to the safety of the young people if they attempted to climb out of the windows. The manager states that this is being addressed.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. At the previous inspection it was identified that staff supervision was not being consistently undertaken with staff. This matter has been addressed. All staff are receiving supervision in accordance with the requirements of the national minimum standards. As there were no other issues raised at the previous inspection, not all of the key standards have been inspected at this interim inspection and therefore the judgement remains the same.

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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 all staff receive training in the complaints procedure covering all areas as identified in 16.6 of the national minimum standards (NMS 16.6) • ensure that the complaints procedure is ratified and contains all information as identified in national minimum standard 16. (NMS16.3) • ensure effective precautions are in place to ensure the security of the building (NMS 23.9). 7 of 7 Inspection Report: SC006013

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