Children's Home run by Broadlands Hall Limited in Suffolk

SC060936 Unique reference number 5 August 2009 Inspection date Joanne Vyas Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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13 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 9 Inspection Report: SC060936

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Brief description of the service

This is a children's home providing care and accommodation for 10 young people aged 11 to under 18 years old. The home is also a registered school for the young people who are accommodated. The home accommodates young people with learning disabilities who may also have complex behavioural, emotional and social needs. The home is situated in a small village near to a town. It is a large detached house. The accommodation comprises of a lounge, a kitchen, games room, computer room, dining room and a number of classrooms as well as administration areas. The young people each have their own bedrooms and either a bathroom each or one shared between two. The home is set within six acres of grounds; which has both grass and hard surfaces suitable for playing games. Currently, there are nine young people living in the home. Eight young people were present throughout the inspection and five actively participated.

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Summary

At this full unannounced inspection all key standards were inspected.

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Summary

This is a satisfactory service with some good and outstanding features. Young people’s welfare is enhanced by the positive relationships that exist between staff and young people, and between young people and their peers. A young person said about what the home is good at doing is, 'looking after me and making me happy'. There is a strong focus on meeting the needs of each individual young person including supporting and encouraging them to value their cultural and religious backgrounds. The promotion of equality and diversity is good throughout the standards inspected. Care and education work closely together to provide a holistic approach. The Registered Manager has a strong commitment and focus on improvement. However, improvements can be made to the storage of food in the fridge and the amount of over-time worked by staff. Improvements can also be made to medication procedures, staff training and

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Summary

support, the safe storage of cleaning chemicals, the completion of various records and the development plan. 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 action made at the last inspection has not been complied with. However, there is no evidence that the long shifts that staff work have a detrimental effect on the welfare of young people. Therefore, the hours staff work should be kept under review and a recommendation has been made to operate a structured system to ensure staff over-time is monitored and that this clearly shows that staff are able to maintain and promote standards of care if they offer to do over-time. A recommendation was also made at the last inspection with regard to ensuring that a written record of staff supervision is kept in the home and that the record is available for inspection. This has now been complied with.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Staff know what the young people like and do not like to eat. Young people are encouraged to shop for and prepare meals. They said they like the food that is provided and said they are 4 of 9 Inspection Report: SC060936 offered healthy options. However, some meals are not recorded on each young person's records. Young people decide on the menu each week and there is plenty of food available. Cultural themed nights occur weekly, where the young people are involved in preparing and cooking such meals as Chinese and Indian meals. Meals are taken together to encourage social interaction. Most staff have not undertaken a food hygiene course. This has resulted in poor storage and labelling of food in the fridge.

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Helping children to be healthy

Staff are focussed and committed to ensuring a good quality provision for health care for young people living at this home. Staff are proactive and responsive to the emotional and health care needs of the young people. All young people are registered with doctors, dentists and opticians. A counsellor visits the home on a weekly basis ensuring young people receive a holistic healthcare package. Each young person has a comprehensive health plan which is up-to-date and states separate health needs including those arising from cultural needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

The safe handling of medication is mostly well managed in this home. The home mostly use prescribed medication. Staff receive training in the safe handling of medication. Medication is accurately recorded, received and disposed of appropriately. However, one of the medication cupboards is not secure. It is used to store emergency medication and is kept in a locked office but has not been risk assessed to be stored in an unsecured cupboard. Staff dispense medication out of its original packaging for young people to take with them when they stay away from the home, such as, a holiday or staying with family. This is called secondary dispensing, which care staff are not qualified to carry out. All accidents are recorded but any treatment is not always recorded. Staff are trained in first aid and renew their training as appropriate.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. The safety and rights of both staff and young people are protected. Young people said that staff make them feel safe in the home. Staff are concerned about keeping young people safe and have a basic knowledge of safeguarding procedures. Some staff have received training on safeguarding young people but most staff either have no training or are in need of a refresher. Staff have a good knowledge of the bullying policy. Young people said that bullying does occur but is dealt with well by staff. There are very few incidents of young people going missing from the home. Staff have a good knowledge of the procedures if young people do go missing.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

No concerns have been raised by parents or young people since the last inspection but procedures are in place to ensure they would be appropriately and swiftly resolved. Young people are aware of the complaints procedure and said that staff listen to them and take them seriously. There are opportunities within the weekly house meeting, regular key work sessions and day-to-day contact with staff for young people to make any concerns they may have known.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The privacy of young people is respected by staff. The living arrangements provide space where they can relax and easily find privacy away from others if they wish. Staff ensure the privacy and dignity of the young people, such as, by knocking on bedroom doors before entering. All records are kept confidentially. Young people's issues are not discussed openly.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff view young people positively and young people are relaxed around staff. Staff are given training, which includes de-escalation as well as physical intervention. However, as many staff are new, they do not have this training as yet. However, staff are clear what they can and can 5 of 9 Inspection Report: SC060936 not do until they are trained. Physical intervention is used as a last resort. There is a minimal amount of physical intervention carried out in this home. The behaviour management plans are detailed. Sanctions are applied fairly and appropriately. Young people said that the rules are fair. The central log for physical intervention is not fully completed in accordance with the National Minimum Standards. However, staff effectively manage challenging behaviour in a calm and professional manner. High staffing levels and comprehensive risk assessments ensure the safety of the young people who live in the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are protected by robust recruitment procedures and monitoring of visitors. Safety checks are completed and staff only commence employment when they have a satisfactory Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) disclosure and two satisfactory references. All visitors sign into the building and must show identification.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has comprehensive risk assessments for most aspects of safety of the premises and grounds including fire and young people’s behaviour and activities. These assessments have taken into account the daily activities in and outside the home. All staff are given fire safety training and fire drills are carried out regularly. Fire safety equipment is checked as appropriate and a detailed record kept. Although portable appliances are tested annually, the electrical installations have not been checked since the home opened, five years ago, which is not in accordance with the National Minimum Standards. A cupboard where cleaning chemicals are kept was found unlocked. Although it is accepted that the cupboard is in a locked kitchen, to which young people only have supervised access, risk assessments state that these chemicals should be kept in a locked cupboard to protect young people. As already stated, the storage

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

and labelling of food in the fridge is poor. This could have a detrimental effect on the health of young people and staff. Young people are not protected by all the health and safety procedures in the home.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Staff are positive in their approach to education and its value for young people. Young people are educated on site in small groups or on their own dependent on their needs. Some young people have college placements which are supported by staff. Others are provided with work experience, which the young people enjoy.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Individual support is comprehensively detailed in each young person's placement plan. Observations and discussions with staff demonstrate that staff ensure each young person's individual needs are fully met. Young people are encouraged to value their own culture, language and religion. The practical individual support is reflected in the variety of planning documentation that is in place. This includes identifying any religious and cultural needs a young person may have. The staff know the young people well and are knowledgeable of their individual needs and the implications this has for their care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff provide a variety of activities for young people including trips out to local places of interest, the coast and theme parks. They also have various activities within the home such as computers, games, books and DVDs. Outdoor play areas provide a large safe area for young people to run around or ride their bikes as well as good quality play equipment. All activities are well planned, risk assessed and carried out to ensure the young people are able to enjoy the activity safely. Young people are able to pursue their particular interests, develop confidence 6 of 9 Inspection Report: SC060936 in their skills and are supported by competent staff to engage in leisure and educational activities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The Statement of Purpose clearly sets out the home’s admission policy. Young people are supported during the admission process and when leaving the home. Staff carefully consider group dynamics when admitting a new young person.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff provide a high standard of care to young people and meet their individual needs with the knowledge and understanding they have of them. A comprehensive assessment of need, placement plan and risk assessments are in place for each young person. Parents (where appropriate) and social workers are consulted about the care plans and subsequent reviews. Any changes to the care plans are effectively communicated to the team. A record is made for each young person documenting their mood, activities, behaviour and other relevant information. Key workers then write a weekly and monthly report which is sent to the young person's social worker. Key work sessions occur regularly and a variety of topics are discussed including health, social skills, relationships and leisure activities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Statutory reviews take place within the required timescale. Young people are supported to attend their reviews. A report is written by staff for each review which is held alongside the review minutes in the young person's file.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff encourage and support young people in maintaining contact with parents and everyone else who is significant to them. Staff facilitate contact with parents. Plans detail the role of contact in promoting cultural identity and experiences.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are given the opportunity to make choices and decisions through the weekly house meeting, regular key work sessions and day-to-day life in the home. As a result of consultation with young people a number of improvements have been made to the home including bedroom locations and furniture, a spa hot tub in the garden, a sports area, an art and craft section in the games room and horse-riding lessons. Young people recognise that staff are supportive in helping and guiding them towards making positive decisions for themselves. Young people are relaxed in the company of staff and are quick to approach them with any issues they may have.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. Staff encourage young people to carry out a variety of tasks independently or with support. These include cooking, shopping and cleaning. Each young person's placement plan clearly identifies independence work young people are encouraged to carry out. The home has two semi-independent living flats which have been furnished and equipped to a high standard. Staff provide a consistent and committed approach to enabling young people's successful transition into adulthood.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people live in a homely environment with high quality furnishings. There is a large amount of communal space. The young people have good facilities. Their bedrooms are personalised to ensure they meet their individual needs and communal areas are personalised 7 of 9 Inspection Report: SC060936 with photographs of young people and their work that has been completed in school. The home is clean, tidy and relatively well maintained.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. There is a comprehensive and clear statement of purpose that reflects the practice and functions of the home. Staff provide each young person with a child-friendly guide to the home when they first arrive. This ensures that young people understand the ethos of the home, the rules and the type of activities they can expect to be involved in. The commitment to promoting equality and diversity is explicit in this information.

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Organisation

The home has recently took on a large number of new staff who are currently working through their induction package. Consequently, staff have not been fully trained although mandatory courses have been booked for September. Training for long-term staff has also lapsed but, again, courses have been booked for staff in the Autumn term. Currently less than half the staff team have completed a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 3 in the Care of Children and Young People. However, shifts are well planned to take into account the experience of staff in order to effectively meet the needs of the young people.

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Organisation

Staff said they feel well supported and have staff meetings every two weeks during term time. However, one-to-one supervision of staff has not occurred in accordance with the National Minimum Standards. However, staff said that the manager operates an open door policy and is approachable.

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Organisation

There are good staffing levels to meet the needs of young people. A record of staff shifts is maintained on the home's rota and this shows there is a balance of gender of staff wherever this is possible. Staff hand over meetings ensure that each shift is appropriately planned and issues arising from earlier are competently communicated.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Evidence supports a commitment to improving equality and diversity in practice. The quality and detail of young people’s plans also supports this commitment. Young people receive an individual service in the home which is designed to meet their personal needs. All staff have a good knowledge of the young people they are working with to ensure their needs are consistently met.

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Organisation

It is clear that the Registered Manager ensures effective monitoring of the home. Additionally, an experienced and qualified person is contracted to visit the home on a monthly basis and reports on the conduct of the home. This report details action to be taken for any shortfalls that are highlighted. The home does not have a development plan which either identifies any planned changes in the operation or resources of the home, or confirming the continuation of the home's current operation and resources.

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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. 8 of 9 Inspection Report: SC060936

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Due date Action Standard

7 August 2009 ensure that all parts to the home to which children have access are so far as reasonably practicable free from hazards to their safety. This specifically refers to the poor food storage and labelling (Regulation 23).

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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 that there is a record of meals as served (NMS 10.4) • ensure that staff involved in preparing food for others have received appropriate training (NMS 10.9) • ensure medication is kept securely and there is a policy with written guidance, implemented in practice, for administering medication. This specifically refers to an unlocked cupboard where emergency medication is stored and the practice of sub-dispensing medication for home leave (NMS 13.10) • ensure there is a written record kept of all first aid given to children, which specifies any treatment (NMS 13.2) • provide training for all staff in the prevention of abuse, recognition of abuse, dealing with disclosures or suspicions of abuse. This training should be included in induction programmes for new staff and is ongoing for the staff group (NMS 17.8)

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Recommendations

• ensure the record of restraint book includes all the areas set out in the National Minimum Standard 22.9 (NMS 22.9) • ensure electrical installations are checked at least every three years (NMS 26.4) • ensure positive steps are taken to keep children safe from risk of hazards. This specifically refers to ensuring the cupboard where cleaning chemicals are stored in the kitchen is kept locked (NMS 26.1) • ensure all staff receive at least one and a half hours of one to one supervision from a senior member of staff each month. New staff should receive one to one supervision at least fortnightly during the first six months of their employment (NMS 28.2) • ensure that there is a minimum ratio of 80% of all care staff that have completed their Level 3 in the Caring for Children and Young People NVQ (NMS 29.5) • produce a written development plan that is reviewed annually, for the future of the home, either identifying any planned changes in the operation or resources of the home, or

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Recommendations

confirming the continuation of the home's current operation and resources (NMS 33.5) • ensure that the staffing policy ensures that the staffing is adequate to meet the home's statement of purpose. In particular, to operate a structured system to monitor staff over-time which will enable staff to promote and make proper provision for the welfare of children who are accommodated (NMS 30.2). 9 of 9 Inspection Report: SC060936

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