Children's Home run by Hertfordshire County Council in Hertfordshire

SC379199 Unique reference number 27 January 2010 Inspection date Kay Mehrtens Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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23 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: 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 17 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 visit was an unannounced interim inspection of the service. Some standards identified by Ofsted as key areas of care in respect to staying safe were inspected and the progress of the home in addressing the two previous recommendations from the last inspection were monitored. 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 two recommendations from the previous inspection have both been addressed. There are now clear risk assessments in place for young people holding their own medication. Records of young people leaving the home without permission are now well recorded, include contacts with parents and placing social workers and actions taken by the home to support young people.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. One recommendation made at the previous inspection related to ensuring there are risk assessments for young people who self-medicate. As this was the only issue assessed under this outcome area, the judgement remains the same as previously given. There are now clear risk assessments in place for young people holding their own medication, to promote their safety and well-being.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Staff show respect for the privacy of the young people and for maintaining appropriate levels of confidentiality. Young people have a key to their own room and are made aware of any occasions when staff need to access their room without their permission.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a clear complaints procedure and information about this is available to young people. Young people say that they know how to make a complaint and although they have not needed to complain, they believe that staff would listen and deal with any concerns. An independent advocate visits the home regularly and is available to young people to discuss any issues that they may have.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a clear procedure for reporting and responding to safeguarding concerns and has links with the local safeguarding team. Staff are well trained in, and very aware of, how to respond to safeguarding issues. The manager monitors all safeguarding concerns and keeps an 4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC379199 accurate log of events as they happen. This ensures that everyone who needs to know about the concerns raised is kept informed of actions taken and outcomes.

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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. There is a bullying policy in the home that staff and young people are aware of. Any incidents of bullying are discussed in young people's meetings and in their individual link worker sessions. Records show that any incidents are challenged and effectively dealt with. The manager has completed training on cyber-bullying work with young people and shares this information and practice with the staff team and young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a written procedure for action when young people are absent without authority. Records of young people leaving the home without permission are now well recorded, include contacts with parents and placing social workers and actions taken by the home to support young people. There have been few incidents of young people going missing without authority but should they occur, staff go out to look for young people when this is appropriate. They will arrange to collect young people whose whereabouts are known and welcome home any young person when they return.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are trained in techniques for managing challenging behaviour, including restraints and the use of restorative justice. Interventions used by the staff aim to achieve positive outcomes for the young people by helping them to look at and manage their behaviours in a more productive and positive manner. Staff meetings and training are used to discuss and reflect upon interventions and strategies used to manage challenging behaviours to ensure that positive and appropriate outcomes are achieved. Young people have regular link worker sessions that help them look at their behaviours, outcomes and feelings about any issues, including sanctions and restraints. Records of sanctions and restraints are well kept and include young people's comments and feelings about the intervention and outcomes surrounding the incident. There are very few incidents of restraints in the home and all records are monitored effectively by

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

the manager and head of care. There are clear risk assessments with regard to young people's behaviours and these too are monitored and reviewed by the manager and senior staff. Appropriate links and referrals are made to supporting specialist health professionals in response to any concerns raised or behaviours exhibited by young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Positive steps are taken to ensure that young people and staff are safe from the risk of fire and other hazards. All staff and young people are given fire safety instructions and there is a good awareness of fire safety in the home. Fire drills are carried out regularly and records are kept. Health and safety certificates are valid. The home's recent health and safety audit is still current and actions identified have been addressed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are protected by good recruitment systems.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. There have been no new staff recruited since the last inspection. Full recruitment documents are held by the organisation's human resources department.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is not judged. 5 of 6 Inspection Report: SC379199

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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. 6 of 6 Inspection Report: SC379199

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