Children's Home run by Hertfordshire County Council in Hertfordshire

SC379199 Unique reference number 23 September 2009 Inspection date Kay Mehrtens 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 9 Inspection Report: SC379199

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Brief description of the service

This is a long stay children's home registered to accommodate six young people from the age of 13 to under 18 years. The décor and fittings are of a very high standard. The home is well equipped to meet the needs of the young people and also those with a physical disability. The young people are provided with en suite single bedrooms and have access to ample communal space and educational facilities. The home is situated in a residential area close to local facilities. The home and grounds are secure and ample parking is provided.

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Summary

This was a key unannounced inspection to assess key standards of the national minimum standards for children's homes. Judgements have been made under being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, positive contribution, economic wellbeing and organisation and the overall quality rating confirms that this service provides satisfactory outcomes for young people. 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 recommendations from the previous inspection had all been addressed. This included monitoring of link worker sessions, achieving high level of staff with National Vocational Level 3 qualification and clear records of agency staff checks.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. The home does not currently have a cook though the manager says that one is being recruited to enable staff more time to spend with the young people. All staff are trained in food hygiene. They encourage the young people to help prepare and shop for meals as well as include them in preparing the weekly menus. Different dietary and cultural needs and choices of young people are met. Staff encourage the young people to sit and eat together so that mealtimes are a sociable and relaxed affair. Young people say that the food is good and they like the small kitchenette provide for them to make snacks and drinks. Young people are provided with good quantities of suitably prepared food and drinks.

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Helping children to be healthy

The health needs of all young people are promoted positively. They are all registered with a local doctor, dentist and optician. Staff liaise appropriately with health services and specialists, such as the local children and adolescent mental health services. Health care plans for young people are detailed and reflect young people's identified needs and the support needed to meet them. The looked after children's nurse is a regular visitor to the home providing advice and guidance to staff and young people. Staff demonstrate a good understanding and awareness of individual health needs and difficulties of the young people in their care. They are good at working with and talking to the young people about particular issues in a caring and supportive manner. Young people say that they can talk to staff about personal issues including health problems. Young people live in a healthy environment and their health needs are identified

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Helping children to be healthy

and services are provided to meet them, and their good health is promoted. 4 of 9 Inspection Report: SC379199 The home has policies and procedures for the safe handling and administration of medication in place including the safe storage and administration of medication. Staff receive training in the safe handling and administration of medication and first aid. The are clear systems for administering, storage and audit of medication. However, staff are not following risk assessments with regard to the administration of medication by young people with identified high risk behaviours. Risk assessments, with regard to medication administration by staff and self-administration by young people, are not being updated following recent incidents and changes to the level of identified risk. The home's medication policy clearly states that staff should check if young people can accept responsibility of administering medication offsite and

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Helping children to be healthy

check on their return. Staff are not following this policy and so safe practice is not assured.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. The privacy of the young people is respected by staff. Young people have single bedrooms with en suite facilities and are given a key to their room. They are able to make private telephone calls from the home and are given an allowance for their individual mobile phones. Young people are made aware of the procedures with regard to room searches and any incident is well recorded and discussed with the young people concerned. Staff are discreet and respectful when talking about young people's personal issues. There are clear procedures for staff to access and follow with regard to ensuring privacy and confidentiality of information and young people in the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has clear complaints procedures and information about how to complain is made available to the young people. Complaints are dealt with effectively and are well recorded. Young people say that they can talk to staff if they are unhappy and know who else to contact to make a complaint. The staff have a good understanding of safeguarding issues. There are clear and robust policies and procedures in place with regard to safeguarding. The provider, manager and staff link with safeguarding agencies as appropriate. All staff receive training in safeguarding procedures and in managing challenging behaviours, including the use of restraint. Young people are protected by staff who are aware of how to respond to any allegations or disclosures.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff meetings are used effectively to look at difficult behaviours and interactions between young people and discuss management strategies that are then reflected in individual behaviour management plans. Young people say that community meetings are held and used to talk about any incidents such as bullying and disagreements between young people in the home and they find these helpful. The Manager and staff create an atmosphere where bullying is known to be unacceptable and young people are protected.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has good policies and procedures in place in respect of unauthorised absences that are known to the staff team. However, the procedures for recording incidents and actions taken once young people return are not correctly followed. Young people are aware of the home's policy about being absent without authority. The home has developed good working relationships with the local police service, producing a working protocol for responding to unauthorised absences and regular visits to the home by the community police officer.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The staff undertake training on 'restorative justice' as a positive approach to dealing with challenging behaviour, including bullying. All incidents are logged and discussed with the young 5 of 9 Inspection Report: SC379199 people, as part of a restorative justice approach, to encourage them to look at their behaviour and the effect on themselves and others. Young people are aware of this way of working and their comments about it include, 'it has changed me from an angry to a good person'. Care plans contain detailed individual management strategies, completed with young people, to ensure consistent, safe practice and intervention. The manager and staff team work well with the young people trying to get them to look at and manage their behaviours in a reflective and positive manner. There are few incidents of restraints and young people say that the sanctions used are fair. Sanctions and restraints are well recorded and include young people's comments.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

They are monitored by the manager as part of their regular monitoring of records to ensure young people's input and the appropriateness of any intervention. Young people are extremely well supported by staff that encourage them to reflect on their feelings and behaviours and look at more constructive ways of managing them.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has good systems in place to ensure that aspects of health and safety, with regard to the premises and grounds, are regularly reviewed and checked. Required checks and maintenance with regard to electrics, gas and water regulations are completed. The home is well maintained and any damage is quickly repaired. Checks of the fire systems are completed. However, records of fire drills are not sufficiently detailed to evidence staff attendance, times of drills or the frequency, as stated in the home's policy and within the national minimum standards. The home has sufficient parking and security systems in place that ensure the safety of the young people and visitors to the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The organisation has procedures in place to ensure that young people are only cared for by staff who have had appropriate checks undertaken on their backgrounds. The personnel records are held centrally and systems in place ensure that all necessary checks are completed before staff commence work with the young people and induction training is put in place as soon as employment begins. Records of checks are kept at the home for any agency staff used, though this is limited, and they too undertake an induction before working with the young people. Good practices and procedures ensure the safety of the young people who live in the home.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Young people say that they receive good support from staff, especially from their allocated link workers. Their comments include 'staff help me look at stuff and support me. I like my link worker.' 'They are good at changing me to a better person'. 'Staff help us and try to explain what is wrong'. These comments and the interaction observed between the young people and the staff team are good evidence of the excellent work done in the home at supporting the young people to achieve their goals and meet their needs. Staff demonstrate a good awareness of the individual struggles and emotional difficulties of the young people. They are good at supporting young people to access appropriate agencies to help them meet their needs. Staff are good at using their skills and knowledge of the young people to work effectively with them as a group and individually. Care plans are detailed and so staff are well informed and able to

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

work with the young people in a constructive and professional manner. Young people have access to an independent advocate and staff encourage them to use the advocate to help them achieve better outcomes in different aspects of their care and education. Young people benefit from a supportive and professional staff team. 6 of 9 Inspection Report: SC379199 Staff continue to support young people to achieve educationally. The home has good links with local schools, education support units and colleges. Young people are supported and encouraged by staff to get a good education and achieve their potential. Educational or social achievement is genuinely acknowledged, by the staff and young people, as a great success and responded to in a manner that is positive, encouraging and confidence building for the young people. Young people say that the home helps them with their religion and school and they are learning to enjoy education. The home works well with young people to provide them with

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

good experiences and opportunities to achieve their potential.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Young people’s placement plans are based on the comprehensive assessment of their individual needs and wishes and are regularly reviewed and updated. Placement plans are of a good quality providing detailed information about young people's needs, actions required to meet those needs and expected outcomes. This includes identifying any religious and cultural needs a young person may have. Young people say that they are aware of their care plans and are involved in them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Records show that plans are reviewed regularly and updated when required. Looked after child review records show that these meetings take place as expected and that young people are involved and consulted. Young people have an allocated link worker who meets with them regularly and produces written monthly reports, seen by the young people and monitored by the manager. Link worker sessions are led by the young people with support from their link worker and recording reflects good discussion on issues that are important for the young person concerned.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Details of significant people are documented on placement plans together with contact arrangements and any restrictions. Staff are good at supporting young people with family contact. They are very aware of the emotional issues surrounding these visits, for the young people, and support them accordingly. The home has an external building that is used for activities as well as providing a quiet, private space for visitors and meetings. The individual needs and wishes of the young people are clearly central to any planning, discussion and review of their care.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There are clear procedures in place with regard to admission and leaving the home. The manager is very aware of the need to look at, discuss and reflect upon the impact of any new admission on the home and young people. Young people are given information about the home and helped to make their room feel homely. Staff work with the young people, to help them produce a 'memory box' to reflect their stay at the home, in preparation for leaving. Young people are involved in any leaving plans through their reviews.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There are systems in place to ensure that young people are consulted about the running of the home and decisions that impact on their daily lives. Regular meetings are held and attended by the manager and head of care and any issues are fed back to staff meetings for discussion and then feedback to the young people. The manager has co-opted a young person representative on the home's budget committee which is much appreciated and enjoyed by the young people. They feel their voice is heard and they are given a real opportunity to know what goes on in the home and be part of it. Young people say that they can talk to staff and 7 of 9 Inspection Report: SC379199 they listen. Young people are encouraged to attend children's rights events and to service reviews organised by the local authority. They are encouraged and supported to make decisions about their lives and influence the way in which the home is run.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is outstanding. The manager and staff recognise the difficulties for young people during their transition from home to leaving care. Staff are supportive and work well with the young people. The home has good links with the local social work transition team that supports young people when moving from care into independent living. Young people are involved in all discussions and preparation work for moving on. Young people receive care and support to help them into adulthood.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

This home has been built specifically to meet the needs of the young people that live there. Young people enjoy homely accommodation, decorated, furnished and maintained to a very high standard, providing adequate facilities for their use. Young people's bedrooms are well furnished and equipped with desks and chairs for study and relaxation and all benefit from en suite facilities. Young people can personalise their bedrooms, if they wish, and art work, pictures and fun photographs of the young people are displayed in other areas of the home. The home is located in a residential area with access to a range of community facilities and resources for health, education, recreation and leisure. The space, facilities and grounds more than meet the requirements for accommodation and provide a safe secure environment for young people.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The home has a written statement of purpose and function which sets out all required areas of information about this service as set by regulation. The commitment to promoting equality and diversity is explicit in information. They are given information about the home that is produced in an interesting and more appropriate format for young people. Young people are admitted to the home in accordance with the statement of purpose.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is outstanding. The commitment by the manager and staff team is very evident in the proactive approach to meeting the diverse needs of the young people in their care. They work with the young people, listening and responding to their requests for support and understanding in aspects of their lives such as their faith and culture. Interpreting services are sought and made available to young people whenever they require them. Dietary requirements are well met. The approach and practice by the staff team is child centred work that includes raising the awareness and potential of the young people in all aspects of their lives. There is a clear commitment to improving equality and diversity in practice.

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Organisation

Staff are supported to attain qualifications and training to enable them to maintain competency in the care of young people. The majority of staff members have attained National Vocational Qualification Level 3 so exceeding the standard recommendation of 80% of the staff team. Staff receive training on different topics related to working with children in care including safeguarding; restorative justice; keeping safe ; first aid; food hygiene and fire safety. Additional training courses are provided on topics such as life story work, sexual health and communicating effectively with young people. Staff say that they are supported by the manager to attend training and find the courses offered interesting and informative. Clear records are maintained 8 of 9 Inspection Report: SC379199 with regard to staff training that are linked to supervision sessions to identify staff development and refresher training needs. Young people are looked after by trained staff.

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Organisation

The home is sufficiently staffed to meet the assessed needs of the young people. Rotas allow time for staff to attend training, meetings, receive supervision and undertake tasks as link workers and complete records. Staff on duty are aware of their tasks for each shift. There is limited use of agency staff and staff vacancies are being recruited to. Only regular agency staff are used when required and they are not left in charge of a shift or the building. Staff say that it is a good supportive team and that they work well together with the young people. Comments from different staff members indicate that the home has a well trained, professional and caring staff team focussed on achieving the best outcomes for the young people in their care.

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Organisation

There are good systems in place to monitor the performance of the home. Monthly audits are conducted by the manager and head of care to review and improve standards of care and welfare with key documentation being regularly reviewed. There is a daily log kept in the home. Young people’s needs, development and progress are recorded to reflect their individuality. Each young person has a permanent, private and secure record of their history and progress. The required regulation reports are available for inspection. All records required by regulation are in place. The staff are aware of the need to ensure that confidentiality of information is maintained.

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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

30 October 2009 shall ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that the persons working at the home, and so far as practicable, children accommodated there, are aware of the procedures to be followed in case of fire (Regualtion 32(1)(e)) 30 October 2009 shall make suitable arrangements for the recording, handling, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of any medicines received into the children's home (Regulation 21(1))

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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 written records are made of the circumstances of all incidents of absconding, all actions taken by staff, the circumstances of the child's return, any reasons given by the child for absconding, and any action taken in the light of those reasons (NMS 19.6) • ensure that children keeping and administering their own medication are assessed by staff as sufficiently responsible to do so (NMS 13.9) 9 of 9 Inspection Report: SC379199

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