Children's Home run by City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council in Bradford

SC063978 Unique reference number 24 February 2010 Inspection date Nicola McEvinney Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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24 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 6 Inspection Report: SC063978

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Brief description of the service

This home provides care and accommodation for eight young people of either sex between the ages of 14 and 17 years who may be experiencing a range of social, emotional and behavioural problems. The home offers a supportive living environment to young people on a medium to long-term basis.

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Brief description of the service

This is a purpose-built home situated in a residential area, in a village on the outskirts of a city. The home is convenient for public transport and other local amenities. It is surrounded by large gardens on all sides with a safe parking area at the front. On the first floor it has eight bedrooms, two bathrooms and two separate lavatories. Downstairs there is a communal living space, dining area, lounge and 'chill out' room, a young person's payphone room and kitchen. On the ground floor there is also a lavatory suitable for people with mobility difficulties, two offices, a staff meeting room and laundry facilities for young people. There is a lift installed.

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Summary

The purpose of this unannounced interim inspection is to check on the progress made on the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection and to ensure young people are kept safe.

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Summary

This is a good home with an experienced and committed staff team who provide a good level of care for the young people placed. There are good risk assessments that are developed with the young people in order for them to have an understanding of the risk they put themselves in. The Registered Manager offers effective leadership and is proactive in developing the service to ensure the individual needs of each young person placed are addressed.

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Summary

The home is working with a number of young people with complex needs and the staff team are proactive in gaining knowledge about these needs in order to provide appropriate support. However, there are concerns that the home is unable to fully meet the needs of some individuals placed when the young people refuse to engage and continue to put themselves at risk. A requirement relating to this has been made. 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

The home has worked hard to address the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection. Appropriate support and training has been organised to help staff meet the needs of young people with learning disabilities. The home now receives the results of assessments of health needs which means that staff are able to draw up appropriate health care plans.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Staff liaise with other agencies to secure services for young people with disabilities and they have extended their knowledge in order to have a better understanding of the needs of these individuals. The home receives the results of any assessments of health needs that are 4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC063978 undertaken which ensures that the staff are aware of the health needs of the young people they care for and can draw up appropriate plans to address these needs.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people's privacy and confidentiality is safeguarded, files are kept securely and young people have access to a phone.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The majority of minor grievances are resolved within the home, although some young people have made a formal complaint. This has been dealt with sensitively and appropriately.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff have a very good awareness of the issues involved in order to ensure that young people are cared for safely. However, there are major concerns about the activities of some young people who put themselves at risk. The home has been proactive in addressing these concerns with other professionals, and strategies are in place to reduce, although not eliminate, this risk. There are concerns about whether the home is able to meet the needs of all young people placed when these individuals refuse to engage.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are involved in completing a questionnaire about their perception of staying safe and their understanding of risk. From these questionnaires, key-work sessions are planned to address issues and raise their awareness and help young people to keep themselves safe. The home accesses a number of organisations, for example, organisations to support young people involved in sexual exploitation, to help them address these issues.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The staff have undertaken joint training with the young people on bullying; this has been well received. Young people were proud to show the artwork that they have produced on bullying. Staff recognise how young people have been empowered to recognise bullying and will address this with each other in a non-combatative approach. The home is also planning to explore peer mentoring, recognising the need for clear guidance to be put in place; this would encourage young people to develop maturity.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are major concerns over the persistent unauthorised absences of some young people. The home is vigilant in responding to this and acts appropriately. There are goods links with the missing persons' police co-ordinator and strategies are in place to work together to help protect these young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Behaviour management plans are in place for each young person; these are reviewed weekly at team meetings. These plans identify triggers to behaviours, with strategies to manage these behaviours. This format is new to the staff team who have embraced it, resulting in a more consistent approach to managing the behaviour of young people. Very few restraints are recorded; these are in the main to lead young people away from explosive situations and are well managed and appropriate. A number of sanctions are recorded; this log is closely monitored by the Registered Manager who will challenge the appropriateness of some sanctions.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Individual risk assessments are in place for each young person which are done as a joint exercise with the young person to raise their awareness of the risks that they are taking. This assessment identifies the level of risk on a range of issues, for example, sexual behaviours, alcohol and drug use, going missing and relationships. Fire records are in good order, with drills held regularly 5 of 6 Inspection Report: SC063978 including at night to ensure staff and young people know what action to take in the event of a fire.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The identification of visitors is checked to ensure only authorised people have access to the home.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Staff access a number of services for support and advice to help meet the needs of some young people. Appropriate activities are organised for some young people who would otherwise not have the opportunity to have an active social life. Staff also work on the self-care skills for some young people so that these are developed within a supportive environment.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. A number of staff have accessed specific training to enable them to meet the needs of the young people placed. This gives them a better understanding of the behaviours of some individuals.

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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 March 2010 promote and make proper provision for the welfare of children accommodated. (Regulation 11(1)(a)

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Recommendations

There are no recommendations. 6 of 6 Inspection Report: SC063978

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