Children's Home run by Keys Child Care Limited in Calderdale

SC001016 Unique reference number 14 October 2009 Inspection date Russell Shackford Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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22 January 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 10 Inspection Report: SC001016

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Brief description of the service

This service is a children's home. It provides accommodation for up to four boys, aged from 10 to 17 years. Placements at the home are medium to long term and are planned. Education can be provided by the organisation on a separate site.

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Brief description of the service

The home is a large detached dormer bungalow in a residential area. It is two miles from the town centre and there are regular transport links into the town. Each young person has his own bedroom and there is a shared open-plan general living and dining area. Two bedrooms have en-suite shower facilities and there is a further shared bathroom. Part of the house is a self-contained flat that is used by older boys as part of preparation for independence. The staff office is on the first floor. There is an enclosed garden to the rear of the house and an enclosed paved area to the front.

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Summary

This was an unannounced key inspection to check on key standards and related regulations under the Every Child Matters outcome groups for young people. This is a satisfactory service with some good and outstanding features. Young people are encouraged to eat healthily and their good health is well promoted. There are good privacy, complaints and risk management practices. Education needs are very well met. A notable area of strength is the way that the home works closely with other services to meet the range of young people's individual needs including those that may arise out of diversity. Placement planning is good although placement plans are not well recorded. Children receive care which helps to prepare them for adulthood. All parts of the home are kept clean and reasonably decorated and maintained. Staff are sufficient in number and they are well trained, cohesive and adaptable. However, children's

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Summary

safety and welfare are not fully safeguarded because responses to allegations of abuse are unsatisfactory and fire safety doors, designed to contain fire are frequently and routinely wedged open. There is only satisfactory monitoring of the quality of care at the home. The promotion of equality and diversity is good. 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 registered person was asked to make improvements to risk assessments and record keeping. These matters have been satisfactorily addressed and they are covered in the main body of the report.

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Improvements since the last inspection

It was recommended that the provider ensure that a minimum ratio of 80 per cent of all care staff complete National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People. The provider continues to allocate time and opportunities for staff to do this, but the target currently remains unmet.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. All staff have received food hygiene training to ensure that they can prepare, cook and store food safely. Children are given choices about their food. The staff are aware of individual 4 of 10 Inspection Report: SC001016 children's likes and dislikes to ensure that they enjoy the food served. Cooking is often tailored to suit the different tastes of the children. For example mild or spicy. Themed food evenings are often used to expand the young people's tastes and knowledge of different foods and cultures. The staff try to introduce the children to new foods to expand their tastes and options. This helps to ensure that the food served is both healthy and nutritious. There is always fruit available to eat as a healthy snack option. Children are encouraged to help shop for food and they are supported to bake or prepare and cook meals. Therefore, children enjoy healthy, nutritious meals that meet their dietary needs. They also have opportunities to plan, shop for

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Helping children to be healthy

and prepare meals. This is a notable area of strength.

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Helping children to be healthy

The home has established links with a number of specialist health services and there is evidence of these being used to meet individual children's health needs. Daily routines include encouragement of good personal hygiene and a healthy lifestyle. Reward based incentive schemes support this. Personal healthcare plans are on file for all children. Healthy activities take place, such as football, rugby, badminton, golf and swimming. The home's smoking policy does not allow the staff to smoke in front of children so that they present as good role models. Smoking cessation services are used regularly to support the children and promote their good health. Therefore, children's health needs are identified and services are provided to meet them, and their good health is promoted.

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Helping children to be healthy

All staff who administer medication are trained in medication matters to ensure that they know how to safely store, administer and record the medication that they are responsible for, and safeguard children's welfare. Medication is securely stored and the records are accurate. All staff have received training to enable them to provide first aid if necessary. Therefore children's health and welfare is promoted and safeguarded.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Details about children's care are recorded and stored appropriately to maintain good levels of confidentiality.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children have access to a private telephone which is free to use for reasonable periods. This ensures that children’s privacy is respected and the payment method is convenient. All children have a key for their bedroom to help them feel that they control that private space.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All staff have received training on complaints to ensure that they know what to do if a person complains about the service. The children know how to make a complaint because the staff have explained what to do and there is information in the children’s guide about how to complain. Independent advocacy services are commissioned by the provider and, where appropriate, children are supported in making complaints about the service. The complaints records contain the required details. Therefore, complaints are satisfactorily handled.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The manager has established strong links with the local safeguarding children team and staff have received child protection training. The provider has a good safeguarding procedure for staff to follow in the event of any allegation or suspicion of abuse. However, staff do not always demonstrate in practice a good knowledge and understanding of the safeguarding procedures because they have not always followed the procedures when an allegation is made. Therefore, the welfare of children is not fully promoted protected. 5 of 10 Inspection Report: SC001016 All significant events at the home have been notified to the relevant authorities including Ofsted. However, the outcome of those events has not always been notified as required.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The sanctions policy is good, promoting the use of praise, encouragement and de-escalation of behaviours. There are individualised approaches to each child's behaviour supported by behaviour management plans. Therefore, children are assisted to develop socially acceptable behaviour through encouragement of acceptable behaviour and constructive staff response to inappropriate behaviour.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Physical restraint is occasionally used to manage behaviour where no other alternative exists. All staff have received training covering the use of restraint and they follow the home’s practice policy. Staff demonstrate good knowledge of the subject and the associated law. Physical restraint records contain the required details but they could be improved by noting the comments of the child concerned in the central log of physical restraints used. This would aid the people monitoring and evaluating those records.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are knowledgeable about the risks to individual children. Good written risk assessments are recorded to enable staff to know what action to take to minimise the risk to each child during their known and likely activities. Therefore, children's safety and welfare is protected by the homes risk management practices.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All staff working at the home have received up to date fire safety training to assist them in minimising the risks to children in the event of a fire at the home. All staff and children have been involved in a fire drill to ensure that they are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire in the home. However, fire safety doors, designed to protect children by containing fire are frequently and routinely wedged open. An action was raised to cease this practice immediately. Therefore, children's physical safety from fire in the home is not adequately protected.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All visitors to the home are recorded and the purpose for the visit is noted. There are good recruitment procedures and staff files are regularly audited to ensure that they contain the required information. All of the required information is present. Therefore, there is careful selection and vetting of all staff working with children in the home and there is monitoring of visitors to prevent children being exposed to potential abusers.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. The children benefit greatly from receiving very good individualised support appropriate to their needs. Staffing levels are to adapted facilitate activities, visits and appointments in a safe and supportive manner. The records contain details of individual support services involved in the health, care, leisure opportunities and education of the children. The home has very good links with a wide range of helping agencies, and the provider commissions services to fit the children’s needs. The staff appreciate that the individual children may have needs arising from diversity. Information for children is re worded if necessary and carefully explained to ensure that children understand it. The staff understand and value people's differences and they encourage children to do the same. Children learn about difference through meetings, events and activities. Each child has a cultural experiences book with text and photographs to remind

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

them of their experiences. Themed food evenings are often used to expand the young people's tastes and knowledge of different foods and cultures. A recent trip to a Chinese restaurant was 6 of 10 Inspection Report: SC001016 highlighted as a particularly enjoyable and educational event. All staff have received training around equality and diversity. This is a notable area of outstanding strength.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Education is a very high priority and it is vigorously promoted. Each child attends full time education. Staff make a lot of effort to encourage good attendance and children are well prepared for the school day. There is space, resources and facilities at the home to enable the completion of home study or homework. A computer is available at the local internet cafe for the children to use for educational purposes. Staff and children celebrate educational achievements regularly. Therefore, the education of children is actively promoted as valuable in itself and as part of their preparation for adulthood.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The staff facilitate and deliver a range of affordable, accessible events that encourage participation, individual interests, play and activities. Children's involvement is supported by staff who explore their individual choices, likes and dislikes. Staff are imaginative in their approach and they review the success of their efforts. Staffing levels are adapted, and in some cases specific personnel are chosen to facilitate and support activities. Examples of activities highlighted include model making, scouts group, record decks, football, golf and rugby. There is also a good range of books, puzzles, DVDs and electronic games available in the home for learning and entertainment. The staff have established very good links and relationships with community based activity providers. Therefore, children are able to pursue their particular interests, develop confidence in their skills and are supported and encouraged by staff to

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

engage in leisure activities. This is a notable area of outstanding strength.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Admissions to the home are planned and where possible the child and their family are involved in that planning. Children can visit the home before they move in. The home's referral system enables the manager to fully assess the needs of the children concerned. Therefore, children are able to move into the home in a planned and sensitive manner.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The placement plans are not recorded with sufficient detail or clarity to inform the staff what they need to do to meet the identified needs of individual children. Some one to one work is undertaken to provide children with guidance, advice and support. However, the records of these and the daily observation records do not reflect the content of the care plan or show the efforts of the staff to meet the identified needs of the child. Therefore, children do not have their needs assessed well, and poorly written placement plans do not outline fully how these needs will be met.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The children's needs and development are reviewed regularly in the light of their care and progress at the home. This includes participation in the statutory reviews and internal reviews of the placement plan. Key workers produce monthly summary reports for placing officers. Following reviews, placement plans are updated, but the content remains poor.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children’s contact is well promoted and facilitated to ensure that they can keep in touch with people that are important to them. Children can have friends and family come to visit them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are encouraged to make decisions about their lives and influence the way that the home is run. This includes daily group discussion, key worker sessions and visits from children's rights advocate services. Therefore, children’s views are genuinely sought and acted upon. 7 of 10 Inspection Report: SC001016

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. Part of the house is a self-contained flat that is used by older boys as part of preparation for independence. The organisation has an outstanding independence training package which each child is encouraged to complete. Children are taught day to day life skills according to their level of maturity and understanding. The children learn skills through taking part in the tasks of running the home, such as shopping, cooking, following budgets and doing simple DIY tasks. They are also given help and support with social skills, laundry, clothing care and cleaning. Thinking About the Future documents are used to explore children's wishes and aspirations for the future. Leaving Care teams are accessed at an appropriate time and Pathway Plans are prepared and implemented. Therefore, children receive care which helps to fully prepare them for adulthood.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

All parts of the home are maintained in a good state of structural and decorative repair. The garden is safe and well maintained. The manager has control over maintenance and repairs with sufficient funds to ensure that children enjoy homely accommodation, that is decorated and maintained to a high standard.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. A statement of purpose is available to inform professionals and members of the public about how care is provided at the home. There is a good children’s guide to the statement which is appropriate to the age and understanding of the children accommodated. Children receive a copy of it before they come to live at the home so that they know what to expect if they choose to live there. The service should consider alternative

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Organisation

methods of communicating the children’s guide.

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Organisation

There is a consistent staff team with a range of skills and experience among its members. The team present as open, cohesive and adaptable. They are challenging of themselves and each other as they seek to provide best outcomes for children in their care. Staff refer to written guidance frequently during discussion and give examples of how it is implemented in practice. Management support and supervision are described as, 'fantastic' by staff.

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Organisation

The staff are trained in a wide variety of safety and childcare subjects and an ongoing programme of refresher training is provided in a range of subjects to enhance the staff's competency to meet the needs of the children. However, the target of 80% of staff having achieved National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) at level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People is not yet met.

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Organisation

A quality assurance system is maintained to monitor the welfare of the children in the home. Monthly audits are undertaken by the manager and unannounced monthly monitoring visits are carried out by the provider. A report of the findings is produced. This ensures that the care of children can be adapted in the light of information about how the home is operating. However, not all of the safety matters raised in this report have been identified and addressed. Therefore, there are only satisfactory measures in place to improve the quality of care provided and safeguard the welfare of the children. 8 of 10 Inspection Report: SC001016 Young people's individual case files are well recorded and organised in a manner that makes information easily retrievable. They are confidentially stored. Children are aware that they can access their files.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good.

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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

14 October 2009 implement a written policy which is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse (Regulation 16) 14 October 2009 notify without delay the relevant persons or agencies of the matters set out in Schedule 5 in particular the outcome of any child protection enquiry (Regulation 30) 14 October 2009 cease the practice of wedging open fire safety doors and make adequate arrangements for containing fires (Regulation 32) 9 November 2009 prepare in consultation with the child’s placing authority a written plan for each child setting out, in particular how, on a day to day basis, he will be cared for, and her welfare safeguarded and promoted by the home. Keep under review and revise the placement plan as necessary (Regulation 12) 1 November 2009 ensure that monitoring is effective enough to improve the safeguarding of the welfare of children and the quality of care in the home (Regulation 33)

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Due date Action Standard

1 November 2009 maintain a system for monitoring the matters set out in Schedule 6 at appropriate intervals which is effective enough to improve the safeguarding and promotion of the welfare of children (Regulation 34)

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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 a minimum ratio of 80% of all care staff complete a level 3 NVQ in Caring for Children and Young People (NMS 29) • consider alternative methods of communicating the children’s guide (NMS 5) • encourage children to write or have their views recorded and sign their names against them if possible in the central physical restraint records kept by the home (NMS 22) 9 of 10 Inspection Report: SC001016 • remind staff how to respond to any safeguarding concerns of which they become aware (NMS 17) 10 of 10 Inspection Report: SC001016

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