Children's Home, Residential special school run by The Hesley Group Limited in Doncaster

SC008015 Unique reference number 14 December 2009 Inspection date Russell Shackford Inspector Random Type of 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 6 Inspection Report: SC008015

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Brief description of the service

This service is a home and school for young people with learning disabilities. The home can accommodate up to 33 boys or girls, aged from 11 years old up to 17 years old. The school is separate to the living accommodation but it is only a short walk across the campus to the classrooms.

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Brief description of the service

Young people are accommodated in a number of houses and flats. Each house has its own name and identity. All houses and flats have a bathroom, kitchen, dining room and lounge. Young people have individual bedrooms. The most recently built property has en-suite bathrooms to the bedrooms. Each accommodation unit has an enclosed garden. The home is set in 14 acres of open countryside, approximately one mile from a village and five miles from the local town centre.

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Summary

This was an unannounced interim inspection to check on key standards and related regulations under the Every Child Matters outcome group of staying safe. This is a good service. Young people's privacy is respected and complaints are well handled. Good policies and practice promote and protect young people's welfare. This is a notable area of strength. Behaviour management is good. Staff demonstrate a good awareness of the risks to the young people during their known and likely activities. Written risk assessments provide clear detail of the action required to minimise the identified risks and comprehensively promote young people’s safety. Staff recruitment checks are satisfactory. All staff are trained in appropriate safety subjects including complaints, child protection and physical restraint. Good policies and procedures help to protect young people's physical safety in the event of a fire at the home.

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Summary

However, the home’s records do not accurately identify which staff have received the appropriate fire safety training which could affect staff responses in these circumstances. Similarly, fire safety records do not accurately identify when and what maintenance checks have been done which could compromise children's safety in the home. The overall quality rating is good. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

There were no actions raised at the previous inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

It was recommended that the registered person ensures that a minimum ratio of 80% of all care staff complete a National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People. There is much evidence of staff being provided with time and support to complete this qualification. However, the target remains unmet.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. 4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC008015 Staff demonstrate a good understanding of facilitating privacy for the young people. This is done safely and sensitively. Young people have access to a private telephone. Details about young people's care is recorded and stored appropriately to maintain appropriate levels of confidentiality.

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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 there is a complaint about the service. Staff have explained the procedure to young people and there is also information in the young people’s guide about how to complain. Details of external agencies are displayed clearly. The young people also have the support of an independent advocacy 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 care managers have established strong links with the local safeguarding team and they liaise closely to promote and protect young people's welfare. The managers and staff have received child protection training, and the provider has very good safeguarding systems and procedures for staff to follow in the event of any allegation or suspicion of abuse. Staff demonstrate good knowledge and understanding of the safeguarding procedures to promote and protect the young people’s safety. An independent safeguarding forum is maintained and independent safeguarding visitors are employed to report on the young people's safety and welfare. Safeguarding is discussed as a standing agenda item at monthly multidisciplinary team meetings. Therefore, the welfare of young people is promoted, they are protected from abuse, bullying and unauthorised absence, and an appropriate response is made to any allegation or

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

suspicion of abuse. This is a notable area of strength. All significant events at the home have been notified to the relevant authorities including Ofsted.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Behaviour management policies and practices are good and staff are trained in the content of these. The implementation of different behaviour management training is monitored and regular reviews of the impact upon outcomes for young people take place. This includes opportunities for staff to be reflective. The records include details of the differing incremental techniques employed before the last resort of physical restraint is used. Staff are supported by the provision of clearly recorded behaviour management plans. These plans are intensively reviewed by a multidisciplinary team who offer well-designed, progressive strategies for staff to implement.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Reducing unnecessary risks to young people is a high priority at the home. Written risk assessments are recorded to enable staff to know what action to take to minimise the risk to each young person during their known and likely activities. These are reviewed regularly.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Good policies and procedures help to protect young people's physical safety in the event of a fire at the home. However, the home’s records do not accurately identify which staff have received the appropriate fire safety training which could affect staff responses in these circumstances. Similarly, fire safety records do not accurately identify when and what maintenance checks have been done, which could compromise children's safety in the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All staff have been appropriately recruited and undergone suitable criminal records bureau checks to ensure that they are suitable to work with young people. Young people are invited to take part in the recruitment process and their views are genuinely considered in the outcome.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is not judged. 5 of 6 Inspection Report: SC008015

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The organisation continues to provide staff with time and support to help ensure a minimum of 80% of care staff have the required National Vocational Qualification at level 3 care award or equivalent qualification. However, the target remains unmet.

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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 a minimum of 80% of care staff have the appropriate National Vocational Qualification at level 3 care award or equivalent qualification (NMS 29.5) • improve the fire safety records to ensure that it is possible to accurately identify when and what maintenance checks have been done and which staff have, and have not received the appropriate fire safety training. (NMS 26) 6 of 6 Inspection Report: SC008015

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