Children's Home run by Darlington Borough Council in Darlington

SC068000 Unique reference number 6 January 2010 Inspection date Deborah White Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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4 September 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: SC068000

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Brief description of the service

This children's home provides care and accommodation for up to three children, of either sex, aged 12 years to 17 years.

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Brief description of the service

The home is located on a housing estate within walking distance of the town centre. The ground floor is made up of a lounge with a television and computer, a dining area with a computer game console, a kitchen, and toilet facilities. Upstairs there are bedrooms, a bathroom and the staff office. There is an enclosed garden with outdoor furniture.

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Brief description of the service

There were three children present during this visit.

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Summary

The purpose of this unannounced interim inspection was to look at the actions and recommendations from the last inspection and outcomes in staying safe.

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Summary

Outcomes in being healthy; enjoying and achieving; positive contribution; economic well-being and organisation were not looked at. These will be reviewed at the next full inspection.

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Summary

The home is good at promoting each child's right to complain and measures are in place to prevent bullying. Staff have good relationships with children and behaviour is managed positively. Children feel safe living at the home and feel they can talk to staff if they are worried about anything.

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Summary

Staff training has improved to meet the needs of children and the visitors policy protects children from potential abusers.

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Summary

The home have not met an action and some recommendations from the last inspection to improve outcomes for children. Child protection matters are not always promptly referred to the Safeguarding Children's Board and not all health and safety risk assessments are current.

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Summary

Children's privacy is not always respected and the missing children procedure does not fully meet the national minimum standards. Parents are not fully consulted about the operation of the home and the internal décor is showing signs and wear and tear.

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Summary

Planned responses to foreseeable crisis are not detailed and the insurance certificate is unavailable for inspection.

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Summary

There are two actions and eight recommendations arising from this visit. 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 last inspection the registered person was required to ensure children have access to a telephone. A telephone has now been installed solely for the use of children so they can make and receive private calls. 4 of 7 Inspection Report: SC068000 An action to ensure child protection concerns are reported to the appropriate agencies without delay is not fully met. Records show that suspicions of abuse are not always promptly referred to the local authority to ensure allegations are investigated by a person independent of the home.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Actions to improve how sanctions are used and to improve staffing levels are met. Staff are aware of permissible sanctions and staffing levels are sufficient to meet the needs of the children.

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Improvements since the last inspection

There were six recommendations made at the last inspection and two are met. Staff are aware of the correct procedures for recording restraints and staff training now meets the needs of children accommodated at the home.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Recommendations that are not met are to improve the internal décor of the home; to ensure all entries in the home's log does not include private and confidential information; to include in the missing children procedure how staff can safely search for children when on single cover and to regularly ascertain parent's views on the running of the home. These recommendations will be raised again in this report.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children have their own bedroom that they can secure but it is not clear under what circumstances children are happy for staff to go into their bedrooms when they are not present. For example, children sign a consent to say staff can enter their rooms to remove dirty crockery or attend to routine maintenance work but the complaints log shows at least one child is not happy with this arrangement.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children know how to complain and feel they can talk to staff. Written information fully explains the complaints procedure and details of advocacy services are easily accessible. Records are kept of complaints made and these are monitored by the registered person.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is no bulling in the home and children feel they can talk to staff if they feel threatened. The countering bullying risk assessment is regularly reviewed to help staff and children recognise where children are most vulnerable.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children know what actions the home will take to keep them safe if they go missing. The registered person has agreed protocols with local police to protect children who are vulnerable. And, any child who has been missing is offered the opportunity to talk to a person independent of the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Behaviour is managed positively and staff have very good relationships with the children. Children know the home's expectations and there have been no sanctions used since the last inspection. Reward systems are in place to reward good behaviour.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Not all aspects of health and safety are promoted to ensure children live in a safe environment. Health and safety audits are undertaken but not all risk assessments include the seriousness 5 of 7 Inspection Report: SC068000 and likelihood of known risks. Some risk assessments are clearly out of date, dated as far back as 2002, and some have not been reviewed since 2007. Planned responses to foreseeable crisis do not include all the incidents listed in the national minimum standards and there is no insurance certificate available for inspection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Installations are regularly checked for safety and maintenance certificates are current.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are safeguarded by the home's visitors policy. All visitors to the home are checked and if necessary have their identification verified. A visitors book is signed to enable the registered person to monitor who has access to the 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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Due date Action Standard

31 January 2010 prepare and implement a written policy which shall in particular provide for the prompt referral to the local authority any allegation affecting any child accommodated in the home (Regulation 16(2)(b)) 1 March 2010 ensure unnecessary risks to the health or safety of children are identified and so far as possible eliminated. (Regulation 23(c))

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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 children enjoy homely accommodation that is decorated to a high standard (NMS 24) • ensure children's information is confidentially handled (NMS 9) • ensure written procedures identify actions to be taken when a child is absent, including searching for any child missing or believed to have run away (NMS 19.2) 6 of 7 Inspection Report: SC068000 • ascertain, on a regular basis, the views and opinions of parents on the matters listed in this standard (NMS 8.6) • provide guidelines on privacy and confidentiality that include practical details about the way children's rooms are entered (NMS 9.2) • ensure all risk assessments in the home estimate the seriousness and likelihood of known risks (NMS 26) • provide planned responses to foreseeable crises that could affect the children's home (NMS

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Recommendations

26.4) • ensure the home has current Public and Employer Liability insurance. (NMS 26.9) 7 of 7 Inspection Report: SC068000

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