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

SC033628 Unique reference number 25 February 2010 Inspection date Joseph Hobson Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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16 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 7 Inspection Report: SC033628

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Brief description of the service

This children's home is based in a purpose built unit accessed by an unmade road, close to a town centre, within easy reach of community facilities. The unit provides four overnight places for short stay respite care and also day and teatime sessions. All the children have learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities and/or complex health needs.

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Brief description of the service

The building is single storey. Accommodation is provided in four single bedrooms, which have overhead hoists and other specialist equipment. There is also a lounge area with TV and audio equipment and a dining area near to a small domestic style kitchen. There is a well-equipped 'snoezelen' room located near to the dining area. Bathrooms and toilets are located near to children's bedrooms and are suitably equipped.

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Brief description of the service

There is an extensive outside area surrounded by a perimeter fence. This area is divided into a playground area with play equipment, a safe play surface, a fenced area that has some play equipment, seating and a grassed area. The new play area has grassed shaded areas and a track where young people can use wheeled vehicles or wheelchairs.

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Summary

Children are protected from abuse and their welfare is safeguarded by staff who are trained and knowledgeable in child protection procedures. Good procedures and systems are in place to deal with complaints made by children. However, complaints information is not in a format accessible to children with learning disabilities.

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Summary

Children's confidentiality and privacy is maintained. Support for children to develop socially acceptable behaviour is good, and the quality of records in respect of physical interventions are comprehensive. Robust systems and procedures ensure that only suitable people are employed to work at the home. The premises are well maintained and free from identifiable hazards to health. Good arrangements for identifying and managing risk are in place and contribute to the home's overall effectiveness in safeguarding children's welfare. 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 improved its care planning arrangements and has put in place a plan setting out how children's needs are met. These plans are now reviewed and revised regularly meeting the actions made at the last inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The home has also met the two recommendations made. It has put in place protocols for all children who have epileptic seizures. The home has also covered the vision panels on children's bedrooms doors, improving privacy.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The recommendation that an epilepsy protocol should be in place for children who have seizures has been met, as these are now in place. 4 of 7 Inspection Report: SC033628 The judgement for this outcome area has not been changed as not all key standards have been inspected.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Staff working at the home ensure children's confidentiality and privacy is respected and promoted. They are sensitive to children's preferences when giving personal care and staff allocations are made taking this into account. The home has taken action to screen the viewing panels in children's bedrooms, improving privacy. Children's records are stored securely and are only accessed by people with authority to view them. Staff have been trained in information governance and demonstrated a good understanding of the need to keep information relating to children confidential and secure. Policies and procedures in respect of privacy and confidentiality are in place and accessible to staff.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a comprehensive policy and procedure for dealing with complaints from children. However, information is not available in a format accessible to children with learning disabilities. The home has forged good links with a provider of the local advocacy service. This service has recently been successfully engaged to resolve concerns raised by children. There have been no formal complaints received by the home since the last inspection, although a number of minor concerns have been recorded in the 'groans and moans' book. These have been resolved satisfactorily.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are protected from abuse by staff who are trained and knowledgeable in safeguarding procedures. Some staff have received training specific to safeguarding children with disabilities. The home's safeguarding policies and guidance are comprehensive and accessible to all staff. Systems are in place to monitor and record any accidents, minor injuries, marks or bruising sustained by children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Although the incidence of bullying is very low due to the needs and disabilities of the children, staff remain vigilant. There are good systems in place to record all incidence of bullying in accordance with the home's procedures. The countering bullying policy is comprehensive.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The policy and procedure for reporting when children go missing from the home is comprehensive and known to staff. The home also has a procedure for following up when children do not arrive for their planned respite stay.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a satisfactory system and procedure for making notifications under regulation in respect of events, which significantly affect children's welfare. No notifications have been made to the regulator since the last inspection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are helped to develop socially acceptable behaviour. Staff know children's routines and behavioural patterns well. They are skilled in using strategies and techniques such as distraction as a means of diffusing incidents. Strategies and triggers of behaviour are clearly recorded in children's individual behaviour guidelines. The home does not impose sanctions on children due to their level of understanding. However, there is no written policy in this respect. This is confusing as a sanctions policy is in place, which permits the use of sanctions. Staff are trained in dealing with challenging behaviour and the home's prescribed method of physical intervention. Records of physical interventions are detailed and meet with the requirements 5 of 7 Inspection Report: SC033628 of regulation. Policies and procedures are in place for managing children's behaviour and physical intervention, the quality of which is good.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home is well maintained throughout and no identifiable hazards were seen. The home has good systems to assess and manage risks to children's welfare. Regular checks and maintenance are conducted of fire safety alarms, lighting and equipment. Staff are trained in fire safety and evacuations are held regularly. Maintenance of gas and electric equipment and installations is undertaken at prescribed intervals.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Robust procedures for the recruitment, selection and vetting of staff are in place. Staff undergo a rigorous selection process, which ensures that only suitable people are employed to work with vulnerable children. The home has a satisfactory system to vet and record all visitors to the home.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. The home has produced a placement plan setting out how the needs of each child who resides at the home are met. These plans are reviewed and revised as required, meeting the actions identified at the last inspection.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The judgement for this outcome area has not been changed as not all key standards have been inspected.

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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 that children's complaints information is in a format accessible to children with learning disabilities (NMS 16.3) 6 of 7 Inspection Report: SC033628 • ensure that the home's sanctions policy reflects the current practice, particularly that the home does not impose sanctions on children. (NMS 22.2) 7 of 7 Inspection Report: SC033628

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