Children's Home run by Wakefield Metropolitan District Council in Wakefield

SC066796 Unique reference number 9 February 2010 Inspection date David Martin Inspector Key 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 7 Inspection Report: SC066796

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Brief description of the service

This children's home provides care and accommodation for up to six young people between the ages of 12 to 17 on a medium to long term basis. The home is purpose-built, with the ground floor of the home compromising of two offices, games and study room, lounge and kitchen. On the first floor there are young people's en-suite bedrooms. An enclosed garden surrounds the home and there is a secure car park to the front of the home.

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Summary

This unannounced inspection was carried out to assess the home's performance against all key national minimum standards in each outcome area.

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Summary

The home is successful in making sure that young people are healthy and encourages them to lead active, healthy lifestyles. The young people are protected from harm and the home is effective in dealing with incidents of bullying. The young people have full lives and are engaged in a range of activities that promote social inclusion and provide opportunities to use leisure time constructively. Leadership is strong and the staff feel well supported. Overall, outcomes for young people are positive and they are actively involved in the decision making process about their future. 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

No actions or recommendations were made as a result of the last inspection.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people are provided with well balanced, nutritious food. The young people are encouraged to eat healthily and the gardening project has provided good opportunities to discuss the benefits of eating well. Young people can contribute their ideas for the weekly menu and there are opportunities to participate in shopping and meal preparation. Any individual dietary requirements based on health, religious or cultural needs are provided for.

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Helping children to be healthy

All young people are registered with primary health care providers and can access treatment or consultation as the need arises. Health care plans are in place and each young person has an annual medical. Additional health care advice is provided through the sexual health team, the looked after children's nurse and the local drugs and alcohol project. The child and adolescent mental health service provides specialist advice and its representatives regularly attend the staff meeting. The home actively promotes the health and wellbeing of young people.

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Helping children to be healthy

There are systems in place to ensure that medicines are administered safely and stored securely. The records clearly identify any medication that is prescribed and safely account for the use of any household remedies. Parental consent for treatment has been obtained. The arrangements in place contribute to the overall safety of young people. 4 of 7 Inspection Report: SC066796

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. There are good arrangements in place to ensure that the privacy of young people is respected. The building is designed to enhance the privacy of young people. Bedrooms provide en suite bathrooms and young people have their own keys. All records are held securely and staff have a good understanding of issues of confidentiality. This ensures that information about young people is kept safely.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Complaints are investigated and resolved appropriately. The young people are provided with a good range of information about agencies with whom they can raise their concerns. This ensures that they can share their worries and complaints. Young people confirmed that they were aware of the complaints process.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has strong arrangements in place to ensure that any safeguarding issues are reported promptly. Staff have a good understanding of child protection and are aware that information may have to be shared with other appropriate agencies. They have all completed safeguarding training. The arrangements protect young people from harm.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home is aware that young people may bully others and has taken steps to ensure that its anti-bullying message is actively promoted with the young people. The anti-bullying procedures have been used very effectively to deal with serious concerns about one young person's behaviour and to ensure the protection from harm of the other young people in the home at the time.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The records show a low level of sanctions and no incidents that have required the use of physical intervention. Staff have completed training that provides them with a range of skills to manage anti-social behaviour in non-confrontational ways. Positive behaviour is promoted through high levels of engagement with the young people and the provision of a wide range of activities and learning opportunities. Socially acceptable behaviour is promoted through this approach.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The premises are safely maintained. There is a range of comprehensive risk assessments for both the safety of the premises and activities undertaken with the young people. Staff are vetted to ensure they are suitable to work with young people.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Case records are maintained for all young people. They contain key documents such as the care plan, the individual crisis management plan and daily observations. They are readily available through the electronic recording system and staff are diligent in ensuring that they are up to date. The approach ensures that care and support is provided on an individual basis and is both well planned and consistent.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The home actively promotes good school attendance. It also encourages young people to develop their talents and abilities. The home has direct links with the education support service for looked after children. The service helps identify the most appropriate education programmes and to work with schools where young people are in danger of being excluded. Young people can pursue education activities in the home and have been provided with individual computers. The arrangements in place ensure that education is regarded as a valuable and enjoyable activity. 5 of 7 Inspection Report: SC066796 The home has an excellent range of activities and projects in place. This includes a gardening project which has involved the young people in growing their own food and achievement through sport which has been successful in linking up young people with some of their sporting heroes. A number of young people are involved in the Duke of Edinburgh award which

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

encourages individual achievements and social responsibility. The young people are also involved in outdoor pursuits and have completed camping trips. The home's approach ensures that young people have opportunities to use their leisure time in active and constructive ways.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Case records are well maintained. The main file is electronic but there are hard copies of important documents. The needs of individual young people are comprehensively assessed and there is careful planning about the way in which staff will provide care and support. The home has access to social work records held centrally which allows them to acquire information about young people prior to admission. This assists in the process of ensuring that young people are appropriately placed.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision of care and support is formally reviewed at the required statutory intervals. Young people attend their review meetings and said that they feel that they can have their say and that their views are taken seriously. This ensures that young people are directly involved in the decision making process concerning their future.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Contact arrangements are set out in young people's case records. They take into account the wishes of young people and any restrictions imposed through the courts. The home has been able to encourage contact with young people's extended families and, in some cases, this has proved to be a very positive experience.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The care planning and review systems in place contribute to the process of ensuring that young people move on from the home in a positive and constructive way. Young people can also have a direct influence on the way in which the home is run through weekly house meetings. On an individual basis they can share their views through keyworker sessions and individual time with staff. Young people's views are taken seriously.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. The young people are encouraged to acquire independent living skills. They are supported to undertake laundry and to be involved in the preparation of food, for example. Young people of school leaving age are assigned a worker from the leaving care team to help them make the transition to adulthood. Pathway plans are in place to assist in the process. These measures ensure that young people's experience of moving on from the home is positive.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The premises are well maintained. Communal parts of the home are attractive, comfortably furnished and, generally, in good decorative order. The home is very spacious but has a homely feel. There is a range of communal rooms allowing young people the space to pursue their interests and activities on their own or with staff and other young people. Young people benefit from living in a pleasant environment. 6 of 7 Inspection Report: SC066796

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The promotion of equality and diversity is good. The staff recognise the individuality of each young person. There is a strong commitment to the promotion of the rights of young people.

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Organisation

There is a well written statement of purpose which clearly sets out the way in which the home will care for and support young people. It is a comprehensive document and covers all key areas. Similarly there is a useful children's guide to the home, setting out the essential rules and responsibilities. Both documents ensure that young people and professionals working with them know what to expect from the service.

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Organisation

The staff team have ongoing access to training and there is a programme in place to ensure that they have or are working towards childcare qualifications. There are sufficient numbers of staff on duty and any shortfalls in the rota are covered through the use of bank staff. The staff feel well supported by the management team. They have regular supervision and six monthly appraisals. This ensures that the staff are able to reflect on their practice and set themselves goals and target to assist in their professional development.

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Organisation

The case records are well maintained and the electronic version makes a range of individual records very accessible. The home is subject to regular monitoring visits which are used to review activity within the home and to identify areas for improvement as necessary. Quality assurance measures are robust and contribute to the overall safety and wellbeing of young people.

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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

There are no recommendations. 7 of 7 Inspection Report: SC066796

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