Children's Home run by Future In Mind Limited in Staffordshire

SC063653 Unique reference number 30 July 2009 Inspection date Carole Moore Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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24 November 2008 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 8 Inspection Report: SC063653

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Brief description of the service

This home provides care and accommodation for two children aged between six and under 16 with emotional or behavioural difficulties. It is a small, three bedroomed terraced house, situated close to local amenities. The service provides a specialist therapeutic programme and staff practice therapeutic techniques under supervision of a qualified therapist who is also a director of the organisation.

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Summary

This unannounced full inspection focused on the Key National Minimum Standards in relation to all outcome areas. This related to health needs, keeping young people safe, education and how individual support is provided. The inspection also concentrated on how the home consults with young people, plan for their care and how staffing and management arrangements support the operation of the service. One young person was present during the inspection.

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Summary

The home is judged as good overall with clear plans in place to further promote equality and diversity. Young people are receiving a good level of care and support because staff are enthusiastic, dedicated and well-informed about their needs and circumstances. Young people are clearly benefiting from living in a home that has a strong emphasis on promoting their health, welfare and safety. The manager and senior staff provide effective, practical leadership that supports the staff to deliver consistent care and support.

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Summary

Two recommendations in relation to records have been raised as a result of this inspection. 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

There were no actions or recommendations raised at the last inspection in November 2008.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people's welfare is well promoted because they are provided with a well-balanced diet that caters for their dietary needs. Staff are keen to promote healthy eating and encourage young people to understand the benefits of a healthy diet and this is delivered through the introduction of 'Healthy Heroes' packs. These packs enable staff to engage the young people in understanding about healthy diets, exercise and making the right choices. Young people are given choice regarding the food they eat and they take an active role in planning, shopping and helping to prepare the meals.

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Helping children to be healthy

The promotion of young people's health and the arrangements for meeting medical needs are well organised. Staff are well informed about young people's needs because they are reflected in detailed health plans which are regularly updated. Medical and health records are comprehensive and clearly show that medical appointments are arranged according to needs and circumstances. Young people's needs are being closely monitored because staff are focused on achieving and promoting good health outcomes. The home actively maintains links with external agencies and professionals to ensure young people can access and receive appropriate 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC063653 services they are entitled to. The home have access to an in house therapist to meet the emotional needs of the young people in placement. Each young person has a personalised therapeutic programme and one-to-one therapy sessions form part of this programme.

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Helping children to be healthy

Minimal medication is currently administered but it is stored safely and is clearly recorded to ensure young people's health is protected. The storage arrangements for the current stock of medication is in a designated lockable cabinet sited in the staff office that can also be locked. There are clear procedures for staff to follow and all staff receive medication training. Most staff are trained in the use of first aid and first aid boxes are provided within the home. Quality assurance systems are in place to confirm that policy is put into practice.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people confirmed that staff respected their privacy. Staff are sensitive to the needs of young people and knock on young people's doors unless they believe the young person is at risk of immediate harm. Young people have access to a telephone, which allows private conversation, when this is an agreed part of their placement plan. Information held in respect of young people is stored in lockable facilities which are only accessible to staff.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has clear procedures for responding to child protection concerns and a copy of the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures is kept in the home. However, the central log for safeguarding is not being completed in line with procedures although placing authorities are being informed of any incident with the young person. All staff have been trained in child protection and this will be regularly updated. Staff monitor all visitors to the home, who are required to provide evidence of their identity and sign a visitors' book and this ensures young people are not being exposed to potential risks. Young people are protected from bullying behaviour because staff are aware of what they must do to prevent these circumstances from occurring. Staff and young people know that unacceptable behaviour of any kind is not tolerated and will be challenged. This makes a safe and comfortable place to live because expectations

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

about behaviour and conduct are clearly communicated in a way that has a positive effect on young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff listen to what young people have to say and this creates an atmosphere where any complaints or concerns are acted upon quickly. Young people have confidence in the home's ability to resolve any complaints or grumbles they may have. Listening to young people is a key feature of how the home keeps everyone safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people can present challenging and uncooperative behaviour that can be difficult to manage. Staff use their training and knowledge to try and minimise the effects this behaviour can have on the progress and development of each young person. Young people's individual behaviour management plans provide guidance to staff regarding how to deal with challenging behaviour. Staff demonstrate patience, they promote boundaries that are safe and in the best interests of young people. Where more formal interventions are used, such as sanctions or physical interventions, the home's records demonstrate that staff responses are proportionate and fair. However, although there is opportunity for the young person to comment on any formal management of behaviour, this is not reflected in the records.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is a written policy and staff guidance on the action that should be taken if a young person is absent from the home without consent. Where young people are missing from the home, 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC063653 staff make strenuous efforts to ensure the young person's safety, following the plan agreed with the placing social worker and police as to what action should be taken.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are kept safe as staff have an awareness of any potential dangers to young people. This is achieved by the compilation of a range of risk assessments that cover all aspects of safety in the living environment, for example, the risk from fire, environmental hazards and those risks that emerge from challenging behaviour and recreational activities. Risk assessments are regularly reviewed in light of any change in circumstances. Frequent checks are undertaken on fire equipment and fire drills are regularly undertaken. The 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 good. Young people receive good levels of care and support when they need it. The Registered Manager provides leadership and guidance that helps shape staff practice and routines on a day-to-day basis. As a result, young people clearly benefit from a service that is flexible and responsive to their needs. The home's routines and approach fully support young people in developing both their social skills and educational attainment. Young people are successfully supported by a well-informed team of staff because they know the young people well.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people are treated as individuals and each case record reflects information about their needs that is unique and representative of their backgrounds, identity, culture and religion. Individual staff act as key worker for each young person and the home's records evidence one-to-one working arrangements that relate to important areas of a young person's life. Young people are able to talk to staff about what is important to them and this gives staff opportunities to help young people focus on choices and opportunities that relate to their assessed needs.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people have access to full time facilities that reflect their educational needs and abilities. Their educational progress is actively promoted, supported and encouraged by the staff. Educational reviews are completed on a regular basis. This ensures all young people receive an education in line with their age, educational needs, interests and potential. All files contain Personal Education Plans, Individual Education Plans and Statements of Special Education Needs as appropriate. Records show staff value, promote and encourage young people to make the best of their educational opportunities. Regular communication takes place between school and the home regarding the young person's progress and attendance and staff attend all school meetings.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Young people are actively encouraged and supported to have their say about the care and support they receive as well as day-to-day arrangements and routines of the home. Conversations about these areas are frequent and demonstrate the home's commitment to involve young people through a range of different consultation methods.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Each young person has an up-to-date internal placement plan that identifies their current needs. The plans provide key information to staff about important areas of need as well as guidance on how to meet the requirements identified. The plan addresses any areas that arise 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC063653 out of a young person's ethnicity, race, disability, sexuality, faith or belief. The necessary up-to-date Looked After Children documentation is on file and a structured reviewing process is in place to continually assess young people's changing needs and to ensure positive outcomes are achievable. Young people are able to contribute to their plan of care as they are included and involved in formal review meetings with their social workers and other professionals. Key workers are responsible for ensuring everyday requirements are being met and complete a weekly developmental progress summary for each young person alongside a therapeutic report

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Helping children make a positive contribution

and highlights the progress made or otherwise and this is then forwarded to the placing authorities and if appropriate the parents or carers.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are provided with support to maintain contact with family, friends and significant people in their lives. Staff are knowledgeable about these details and there is clear recorded information on file about the agreed contact arrangements or the circumstances in which it can take place. There is always a considered plan of support following contact.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are actively encouraged to be involved with the decision-making processes within the home. Staff use a variety of ways to try and consult with young people in the home. Young people are encouraged and supported to make decisions about their lives and to influence the way the home is run. There are now new systems in place to evidence the consultation that takes place with young people and staff do encourage young people to read through their daily records. All young people are also encouraged during the monthly quality assurance visit to complete 'things I would like to change about the home' and these are looked at by the staff team and responsible individual. Seeking young people's opinions and helping them make decisions about matters that effect them is fully integrated into the home's care practices and there is clear evidence that this is taking place.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is satisfactory. Young people live in a reasonably comfortable home that is decorated and furnished to an appropriate standard. However some rooms now need some redecoration and areas of the home are beginning to look 'tired'. Plans are in hand to refurbish and redecorate and this work will be carried out shortly.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

All young people have single bedrooms where they keep their personal belongings. They are able to exercise choice in personalising their own room and have a say in how the home is decorated and furnished which helps them feel included and involved in how the service is managed.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Young people, parents, staff and placing authorities have access to a Statement of Purpose and Young People's guide, which outlines the principles, practice and the services that they can expect from the home.

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Organisation

There is a clear staffing structure with clear lines of accountability in the home. The Registered Manager is appropriately qualified, skilled, experienced and provides effective leadership to the staff team and young people. She is actively involved in the day-to-day operation of the 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC063653 home and has clear expectations that the staff team will achieve the best possible outcomes for all young people in their care. The home has clear deputising arrangements in her absence.

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Organisation

Children are cared for by a caring staff team. Following a probationary period staff are enrolled on the National Vocational Qualification Level 3 in Working with Children and Young People and undertake a wide range of training to meet the complex needs of the children they care for. Staff duty rotas and the manner in which staff are deployed ensures that the home keeps sufficient staff on the duty rota at all times. There is always a senior member of staff on call should the need arise. Staff support and supervision is good.

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Organisation

There are robust systems in place to monitor the daily lives of the young people currently living in the home. Regulation 33 visits are undertaken monthly to monitor the overall care and welfare of the young people. The reports assess the records and physical environment to ensure the home is a successful and purposeful environment for young people. The manager also undertakes quality monitoring of all the files and records as required.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Information about the young people is very comprehensive, their needs, development and progress are recorded to clearly reflect their individuality. There is also a clear commitment to improve equality and diversity in practice and training is being organised for the organisation by the manager. The current staff team have a good knowledge of the young people they are working with ensuring their needs are consistently met.

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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 a written record is kept which includes details of the action taken, and the outcome of any action or investigation following notifiable events (NMS20.3) • ensure that when disciplinary measures or restraint are used, children are encouraged to write or have their views recorded and sign their names against them if possible in the records kept by the home (NMS22.14). 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC063653

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