Children's Home run by Castle Homes Care Limited in Birmingham

SC377825 Unique reference number 14 October 2009 Inspection date Carole Moore Inspector Random 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 7 Inspection Report: SC377825

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Brief description of the service

This is a small home offering care for three young people between the ages of 10 and under 18 with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The house is in a residential area, with easy access to leisure and community facilities.

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Brief description of the service

The house has three children's bedrooms, a bathroom and a small staff sleeping-in room on the first floor, and a small room used as an electronic games room. There is a large living room, a large kitchen- dining room, an accessible bathroom and a staff office plus a staff cloakroom with en-suite toilet on the ground floor. There is a large paved yard and outbuilding, now registered as a school with the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF).

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Summary

This interim inspection was part of an announced inspection planned alongside an Ofsted education inspection reviewing the quality of both care and education provided by this service. The visit concentrated on the key National Minimum Standards (NMS) in the outcome areas of staying safe, enjoying and achieving and making a positive contribution. The outcome area of being healthy, economic wellbeing and organisation is not monitored on this occasion, however, all three outcomes have been inspected and rated as good during the past year. Three young people were present during this inspection.

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Summary

The provider has addressed the two recommendations identified at the previous key inspection. The action in relation to enjoy and achieve is not yet fully met. The overall judgement in this report is based on the standards inspected within the relevant Every Child Matters outcome groups.

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Summary

The overall quality rating for this setting is good. The inspection found that the home has performed well and young people are clearly benefiting from living in a home that has a strong emphasis on promoting their welfare and safety. There is one action and one recommendation set as a result of this visit. This judgement will be reviewed at the home's next full inspection when all key National Minimum Standards will be reassessed. 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 organisation demonstrates a commitment to meeting the National Minimum Standards and to developing good quality care for young people. The home was required to ensure young people receive continuous education as specified in their statement of purpose and this is not yet fully met as there are inconsistencies in meeting the young person's educational needs as assessed by Her Majesty's Inspector. The home encourages consultation with young people and this is now being recorded. Placement plans for each young person now clearly sets out the cultural, religious, language and racial needs and how they will be met.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is not judged. 4 of 7 Inspection Report: SC377825

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people's files and records are kept secure and confidential. Staff demonstrate respect for the privacy of young people and encourage young people to show due regard to their peers. Young people know what is expected of them and how staff support their privacy and confidentiality.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are able to raise any issues or concerns through effective formal and informal communication systems, including contact with external independent people or agencies. An independent advocate will meet with young people regarding any concerns or issues. There are policies and procedures available providing guidance for staff. Young people and their parents/carers are given readable accessible complaints booklets which include timescales and contact details. The home have had no complaints since the last inspection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has safeguarding policies and procedures to ensure they are clear and accessible to staff. These include the whistle-blowing policy. In addition the home keeps the current policies and procedures of the Local Safeguarding Children Board. The staff complete training in child protection and subsequently develop a range of detailed individual risk assessments to safeguard the welfare of young people. The staff work closely and effectively with young people, families and other relevant persons to safeguard young people's wellbeing.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are clear and helpful policies and procedures for the prevention of bullying. Good levels of staffing and supervision of young people reduces the risk of bullying. Young people are provided with information relating to anti-bullying and useful contact details of support agencies. Placing social workers are informed of any persistent incidents of bullying and risk assessments are reviewed to identify appropriate strategies.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has good behaviour management strategies in place and reviews these with the young people to ensure they remain purposeful and meaningful. The organisation has a positive proactive approach to behaviour management. This requires a willingness and commitment from the young person to be involved and participate in making choices and being responsible for their behaviour. The staff complete training with a focus on de-escalation skills and strategies. This is evident in the incident reports where attempts to de-escalate situations are clearly described. The organisation provides suitable records for each young person with clear comprehensive formats for staff to record the incident. Progress has been made with evidence of young people being consulted regarding their view of the physical restraint or sanction. Debriefing is a part of the home's good reflective practice.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is an established system for the vetting of staff and visitors to the home. Visitors are asked to sign the visitors book and record the purpose of their visit. The home has relevant information relating to recruitment records for staff held securely and confidentially and available at their head office. Management ensure that priority is given to the suitability of staff to meet the needs of the young people and the service when recruiting to vacancies.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home provides a safe well-maintained homely environment. Young people are well informed of the importance of keeping themselves safe through daily discussion and by examples given by staff. Frequent checks are undertaken on fire equipment, emergency lighting and fire drills are regularly undertaken. Currently the time of the drill is not recorded in the fire log. The 5 of 7 Inspection Report: SC377825 Registered Manager ensures that utilities, domestic equipment and vehicles are checked to ensure they are safe to use and this provides physical safety and security for the young people who live in the home.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. The young people are given a good level of individual support in all aspects of their identified needs with due regard to disability, race, gender, belief, religion, sexual orientation, language and culture. The staff access specialist services, such as child and adolescent mental health services and where appropriate specialists will visit young people in the home. Overall the home demonstrates a considerable commitment to supporting and developing the young people with all aspects of their lives.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The home supports young people to make educational progress. Two members of staff have been trained to support education and there are clear guidelines for staff to follow in relation to the education day. The school is registered with the Department for Children, Schools and Families and this joint inspection with Her Majesty's Inspector for Education has highlighted some shortfalls in the education curriculum, teaching time and the need to measure young people's individual outcomes for education. There are no clear individual education plans in place and no set targets so progress cannot be measured. Therefore the action from the last inspection has not been fully met in that the home does not provide continuous education as specified in their statement of purpose.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The premises provide a separate single storey classroom with appropriate educational facilities and currently there is a part time supply teacher in place, whilst a permanent teacher is being recruited. The garden is large enough for some physical exercise activities and there is equipment the young people can use in the garden such as baseball nets and football.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. All young people have up to date placement plans that state clearly how their contact arrangements, education, leisure, health, emotional, cultural and religious needs will be met. There is now much clearer evidence on file to demonstrate the work carried out with young people on their specific needs. Young people are able to contribute to their care planning and are enabled to express their wishes and feelings. Key workers play a crucial role in monitoring the placement plan and ensuring that all identified tasks are carried out within agreed timescales. The registered manager also has a tool to measure outcomes and to monitor the progress made in relation to the aims and objectives set out in the placement plan.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Reviews continue to occur within the required timescales and detailed reports are provided of young people's progress and changes are made to the placement plans to reflect the changing needs of young people. Reviews are also attended by young people who are supported and encouraged to express their views concerning decisions made about them. Records concerning reviews are maintained on the young people's files and copies are made available to them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are actively encouraged to participate in discussions with the staff team about the running of their home. Consultation with young people is usually carried out on an individual basis although young people's meetings also sometimes occur. The staff team are skilled at 6 of 7 Inspection Report: SC377825 making discussions a normal part of the home's day. As well as the formal routes, informal chats take place at all times, for example during mealtimes, during trips out or while out in the car. A recommendation made at the previous inspection in respect of consultation and evidencing the work staff do to encourage consultation is now being recorded.

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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

1 January 2010 provide continuous education as specified in statement of purpose (Regulation 4(13)).

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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 and staff know the emergency evacuation procedures for the home, including those for use at night in case of fire, and that new residents and staff go through the evacuation procedure and the event is recorded with the time of the drill as well as the date (NMS 26.7). 7 of 7 Inspection Report: SC377825

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