Children's Home run by PIC Children’s Services in St Helens

SC022438 Unique reference number 4 November 2009 Inspection date Michelle Moss Inspector Key Type of Inspection

p.1

18 November 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 8 Inspection Report: SC022438

p.3

Brief description of the service

The home provides accommodation for one young person in a two bedroom mid terraced property with a downstairs bathroom, lounge and kitchen. The staff office is located upstairs and is also used as a staff bedroom. There is a good sized back garden. The home is situated within reasonable distance from shops and leisure facilities. The home is staffed on a one to one basis, with one member of the staff team sleeping at the home each night. The home's staff team is managed and supported by the Registered Manager.

p.4

Summary

This was full inspection that has looked at all key standards. Outcomes for young people overall are satisfactory with some inadequate features. There are previously identified shortfalls that are still to be met and are a number of new weaknesses in meeting the national minimum standards, that impact on the health and welfare of young people. This includes care planning, training and safeguarding. However, the strengths of the service are in the professional relationship between staff and young people. This extends to the staff's positive approach towards the care of young people and the rapport between staff and young people that is mutually respectful. 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

Some attempts have been made to address previous shortfalls to improve outcomes for young people. These include gaining parental consent for first aid treatment. Also, ensuring staff receive regular supervision and meetings that enable them to discuss the welfare and care of young people. However, there remains no improvement in securing full and satisfactory information on the recruitment of staff. Furthermore, there is still no record being held at the home showing details of each person working at the setting. These ongoing shortfalls reduce the safeguarding arrangements necessary to protect the welfare of young people.

p.4

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. The staff team are reasonably well informed on meeting the health needs of young people through a medical information form. This includes maintaining records of appointments and the details of health professionals and medication. However, this is not comprehensive enough to capture all health related details to meet the national minimum standards. For example, medical history and any health monitoring required of staff is missing. This absence in detail restricts all aspects of young people's health being safeguarded.

p.4

Helping children to be healthy

A record of meals served is maintained, although it is limited in the detail to show a nutritional balanced diet is being secured. More positively, through monthly meetings with young people, meal choices are discussed and provide young people with the opportunity to comment on the quality of food.

p.4

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC022438 Effective systems are in place for securing the health and safety of young people, inclusive of fire and environmental safety. Risks assessments are formulated to help provide guidance to staff on how to help keep young people safe, including contact arrangements. However, the assessment is not always clear in relation to the vulnerability of individual young people. This extends to young people being missing from care. Also, there are shortfalls in identifying the times and places where a higher risk of bullying is known. This includes recording details on countering bullying to help protect young people. Furthermore, staff supporting young people have not received training in countering bullying awareness and are unfamiliar with anti-bullying practice. This limits staff in their care of young people to be able to effectively tackle bullying

p.4

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are familiar with the complaints procedure and use it effectively to raise concerns, which are then taken seriously by staff. However, the recording log of these complaints fails to provide details of what the nature of the complaint is and what action is taken. This lack of detail reduces the transparency on how complaints are managed and addressed in the interests of young people's welfare.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The support of young people is based on establishing a positive relationship with staff seeing young people in a positive light. This involves assisting young people where necessary to develop socially acceptable behaviour through encouragement and praise. The staff team emphasis the right positive messages that reflect young people's age and understanding. Physical intervention is considered as a last resort and has not been used with current young people in placement. However, the use of sanctions is more frequently used. The recording of these sanctions are not meeting national minimum standards. For example, the recording book is not page numbered. Also, there are no details recorded about the effectiveness of any consequence. Furthermore, the registered person that monitors disciplinary records fails to identify any patterns or implications on the care of individual young people. There is no area in the recording book that

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

enables the expressed views of young people to be captured. This restricts young people's feelings on a sanction being formally known.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people have their privacy respected and information held about them is managed appropriately to secure confidentiality.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A reasonable attempt is made in the careful selection and vetting of staff. However, this is not fully protecting young people. There are weaknesses in assessing fitness of workers suitability to work with young people. For example, gaps in employment are not always picked up and investigated.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's safety and welfare is reasonably protected through the provision of safeguarding training given to all staff. However, procedures are not compatible with the current local authority's and the different safeguarding roles and functions, such as local authority's designated officers (LADO's) are not known by staff. This restricts safeguarding practices in the care of young people being rigorously applied.

p.5

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. The staff team supporting young people appreciate the value of education and encourage school attendance. However, young people's educational needs, attainments and achievement are not covered in a placement plan, including having up-to-date personal educational plans. 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC022438 This particularly, hinders relief staff that do not have a full history of a young person's learning needs.

p.5

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people are encouraged by staff to take part in leisure activities both inside the home and in their community. Young people's comments and conversation shows that they enjoy these activities and interests.

p.6

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

There is limited detail recorded to the possible range of needs individual young people may have, in relation to their race, culture, religion and learning needs. In addition, although staff and visiting management are very approachable in their support of young people, not all staff are aware about outside agencies and services young people can access, without needing to go through the staff team. For example, children's rights or advocacy services. This absence of knowledge limits staff ensuring they are providing young people with opportunities in which they can exercise their rights beyond the home.

p.6

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is inadequate. There is warmth in the relationship between the staff and young people that is mutually respectful. Attempts are made to consult with young people and to value their views and opinions. However, not all young people have a care plan. This absence significantly limits information being gathered on how a young person's needs are to be met on a day-to-day basis. Furthermore, staff members that are not routinely on rota do not have access to information that helps them to be informed on a young person needs, development and progress at the home. Also, this failure to have a care plan means a young person's active involvement in planning their care is not secured. More positively, the home does have assessments and reports from placing authorities and have undertaken risk assessments which include details on contact arrangements

p.6

Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. The home provides a welcoming setting that is decorated and furnished to reflect the diverse needs of the young people that are resident.

p.6

Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Reasonable attempts to self evaluate the quality of care and performance of the service takes place. However, this does not always drive forward improvement. For example, previous identified shortfalls in meeting national minimum standards have not been followed up. Furthermore, the regulation 34 element is not reviewing the quality of care, whereby trends or patterns are picked up and action taken to promote the welfare of young people. This extends to evaluating all sanctions and picking up on recording shortfalls in the placement plan and complaints log.

p.6

Organisation

The young people are supported by staff that are sufficiently experienced and appropriately qualified to meet the national minimum standards in caring for children and young people. There is a structured training programme that helps to enhance the staff team’s skills further, which in turn, helps them in their support of young people. However, the training programme does have gaps, including complaints and countering bullying. 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC022438 Young people are looked after by staff that are regularly supported and guided through supervision to reflect their length of experience.

p.6

Organisation

The staff rotas are scheduled to provide a consistent staff team that support young people, although does not provide scheduled time for handovers. Also, there are occasions due to holidays and sickness when staff members less familiar with young people's needs are required to provide support. The case records that they need to access to gain knowledge of a young person's history and progress are not easily accessible and fail to provide up-to-date comprehensive information. This weaknesses hinders unfamiliar staff to safely maintain consistent care and to promote the welfare of young people.

p.7

Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is satisfactory. This includes reasonable development being made to meet the diverse needs of young people. The main strengths are the strong local community engagement and the respect staff give young people in sustaining their identity. However, the absence of a care plan means aspects of diversity are not formally recorded, including religious and cultural needs.

p.7

Organisation

The home provides any referring professional with informative information about the home. Young people are equally well informed through a children's guide that helps in preparing them with what they can expect from the service.

p.7

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.7

Due date Action Standard

31 December 2009 ensure that full and satisfactory information is obtained in relation to workers at the home. This must include obtaining an explanation for any gaps in a person's employment history (Regulation 26 schedule 2.6) 31 December 2009 maintain in the home an up-to-date record showing details of each person working at the home as specified in schedule 4.2 (Regulation 29.1) 31 December 2009 ensure that the written record of any complaint, includes the details of the complaint, action taken and the outcome of the investigation (Regulation 24.5) 31 December 2009 ensure that matters set out in schedule 6 are effectively monitored and any identified action which is required to improve the service for young people, is taken and recorded accordingly (Regulation 34.1) 4 December 2009 ensure every young person has a placement plan that sets out how on a day-to-day basis they will be cared for and their

p.7

Due date Action Standard

welfare safeguarded and promoted by the home. This must 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC022438 include the arrangements for their health care and education. (Regulation 12.1)

p.7

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • make sure that a clear written health plan is in place that covers matters referred to in standard 12.2 (NMS 12.2) • ensure the sanction log is maintained in accordance with the guidance of the national minimum standards. This should include providing a section for young people's views to be recorded and to use a page numbered book (NMS 22.9 and 22.14) • ensure that in recording meals served, details show young people are receiving a healthy and varied diet (NMS 10.1) • make sure staff receive training in awareness of countering bullying and complaints (NMS 18.5 and 16.6) • make sure that staff have access to safeguarding procedural guidance that is compatible with the local authority's (NMS 17.4) • include time for handover sessions into the staff duty rota (NMS 29.6) • make sure all relevant documents relating to young people's educational needs, achievements

p.8

Recommendations

and aspirations, are obtained and drawn into the placement plan (NMS 14.2 and 2.1) • make sure that young people and staff are aware of who young people can approach independent of the home to raise concerns or worries. This includes children's rights and advocate services (NMS 7.8) • make sure risk assessments are individual to young people and assess the level of risk. (NMS 26.2) 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC022438

p.8