Children's Home run by Keys Educational Services Limited in Lincolnshire

SC363422 Unique reference number 29 June 2009 Inspection date Rosemary Chapman Inspector Key Type of Inspection

p.1

3 February 2009 Date of last inspection .

p.1

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.

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.3

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: SC363422

p.3

Brief description of the service

This home is registered for three young people aged 14 years to 17 years of either gender and is owned by a private provider. The home is a modern detached bungalow which is currently being redecorated. It is situated on the edge of a small rural village and there are no immediate community facilities within a short walking distance. The home provides transport for access to services and activities as appropriate in neighbouring larger towns.

p.4

Summary

This inspection was a full unannounced inspection which looked at all the key standards under the five Every Child Matters outcome areas and organisation.

p.4

Summary

The home is good at supporting young people to be healthy. They have nutritious and varied meals and can make suggestions about what to eat and grow their own vegetables. Staff have been trained in food hygiene, first aid and administering medication which ensures that young people's welfare is promoted.

p.4

Summary

Young people are safe; they are protected by policies and procedures which guide the running of the home and staff who are trained and supported in how to use them. Some records are not completed consistently however, in relation to recording young people's views. All aspects of health and safety are generally well monitored but there has not been a fire drill at night in recent months.

p.4

Summary

The home treats young people as individuals and assesses and meets all their needs. It is proactive in encouraging education and liaising with schools and colleges. There are plenty of activities which young people engage in and staff support this by taking them and encouraging them. It has a good programme in place which encourages young people to develop independent living skills. Young people are encouraged to have a say in how the home is run and are given plenty of opportunities to do this.

p.4

Summary

The home is generally comfortable and homely but in need of some redecoration, which is currently taking place. Redecorated areas are very pleasant and attractive.

p.4

Summary

The home has been without a Registered Manager for a year, although someone has been in post for that time. The staff team are all quite new in post but have completed a full induction and training. Currently there are not enough staff with National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) level three, but this is being addressed. They receive good support, supervision and guidance from the manager. The overall quality rating is satisfactory. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

One action was made at the previous inspection which related to the security of the home. This has been addressed by the provision of a doorbell so that the front door of the home can be kept locked at all times, thus preventing unauthorised access. 4 of 9 Inspection Report: SC363422

p.4

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people are encouraged and supported to be healthy. They are involved in the weekly menu planning and given information about healthy choices. They are also growing their own vegetables in a patch in the garden. Fresh fruit is readily available for snacks and less healthy snacks are limited. Staff have undertaken recent training in food hygiene to ensure they know how to prepare food safely. Food from a variety of cultures is offered on occasion to broaden the young people's experience. The written record of food shows that young people have a varied, nutritious diet which meets their needs.

p.5

Helping children to be healthy

Young people's health needs are identified and services provided to promote their good health. Young people are registered with local health services such as the dentist, doctor and optician and have regular checkups. Other, more specific needs are identified and met as appropriate; for example, psychotherapy services can be provided. The home is proactive in raising issues of sexual health, drug awareness and smoking; leaflets are readily available and issues are discussed in key working sessions. Young people are encouraged to attend a local gym to increase the amount of exercise they have and improve their fitness. Any illnesses and accidents are recorded to ensure these are monitored and action taken if necessary.

p.5

Helping children to be healthy

The home has policies and procedures for the safe administration of medicines to safeguard the welfare of the young people and meet their health needs. Records are maintained, staff have had recent training in first aid and the safe administration of medication and appropriate means of storage and disposal are available.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Young people's privacy is respected and information about them is handled confidentially. Staff are guided by comprehensive policies and procedures which address these areas, and this is further supported by induction, training and supervision.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Complaints are addressed without delay; young people know how to complain as this information is on display and in their young people's guide. Complaints are recorded and dealt with as quickly as possible. Advocacy services are available should a young person require assistance to make a complaint.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are protected from abuse and their welfare promoted through appropriate policies and procedures which underpin the running of the home. Local safeguarding procedures are available, there is clear written guidance on display about the appropriate people to contact in the event of an allegation and staff have had recent training. The manager is making local contacts with agencies such as the police to give staff a better understanding of how other agencies work and how they fit in with this.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are protected from bullying; there are clear anti-bullying statements and staff are given guidance and training which make it clear that this is not tolerated. There are written procedures to follow if a young person goes missing and the manager is working with the local police to try and establish some protocols. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: SC363422 Young people are assisted to develop socially acceptable behaviour through the encouragement of acceptable behaviour and the constructive response by staff to inappropriate behaviour. Incentive schemes reward positive behaviour and any sanctions are appropriate to the negative behaviour. Restraint has not been used recently. Staff are trained in appropriate methods for dealing with challenging behaviour. Any incidents are recorded in an appropriate bound and numbered book but the comments of young people in relation to any incident are not consistently recorded, which may leave them vulnerable. Likewise, the manager clearly monitors

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

the book and her signature is evident, but there are no comments about the appropriateness of sanctions given.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people live in a home which provides physical safety and security. Health and safety is monitored carefully, risk assessments are undertaken and risk minimised where identified. Appropriate fire precautions are in place and all checks are carried out as required. There are regular fire drills which are recorded, but none of these have taken place at night, which may compromise the safety of young people in the event of a fire taking place at night.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are carefully vetted to prevent young people being exposed to potential abusers. However, the staff files do not contain photographs as required.

p.6

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Young people receive individual support when they need it. Their particular needs are identified along with suggested ways of meeting those needs. Young people are also encouraged to get along with each other by having meals together and doing some activities as a group. Young people have access to a variety of advocacy services if they choose to and contact details are readily available and on display. Risk is assessed and documented and young people are enabled to take controlled risks to develop their skills and confidence.

p.6

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Education is promoted; young people have a Personal Education Plan and the home monitors this through regular contact with the school or college. All communications, including progress reports, are maintained in the file so a young person has a record of what is happening to meet their educational needs. The home is proactive in working with services such as Connexions to secure information and guidance about careers, as well as arranging a suitable local work experience placement.

p.6

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people engage in a variety of leisure pursuits, with the support of staff if necessary. Particular interests are pursued and staff are aware of what young people like to do; activities are always discussed at young people's meetings. The home has a car to facilitate transport and this is appropriately monitored to ensure it is safe and roadworthy.

p.6

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Young people have their needs fully assessed in comprehensive written placement plans which detail how those needs are going to be met by the home. Each young person has a key worker who meets with them on a regular basis. These sessions are documented and clearly address issues which relate to the implementation of the plan. The manager monitors the placement plans on a monthly basis as a minimum and talks to young people, their carers and social workers on a regular basis to ensure the home is meeting the needs of the young person. 6 of 9 Inspection Report: SC363422 Young people have their needs reviewed regularly; this is through the monthly monitoring systems and the formal reviews undertaken by their Local Authority. Young people are encouraged and supported to take part in these reviews through contributing to the written report and attending the review in person. Their key worker helps them decide what they wish

p.6

Helping children make a positive contribution

to say and facilitates how that is done, to ensure their voice is heard.

p.7

Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are able to maintain constructive contact with their family and friends; the home facilitates this through supervising contact arrangements if necessary, facilitating transport, providing an appropriate room and telephone facilities. All contact arrangements are documented and agreed with the placing authority.

p.7

Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people have planned admissions to the home. The young people who live at the home are prepared in advance through discussion and the new young person has visits and is given information, both written and verbal, about the home so they know what to expect.

p.7

Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are encouraged and supported to make decisions about their life and influence how the home is run. There are regular young people's meetings which are recorded and show that young people's views are canvassed and taken account of. They also express their views through their key working sessions and informally to the manager at any time. The manager was able to give a number of examples when young people have influenced what is happening in the home; this includes the redecoration of the home and the provision of a vegetable patch.

p.7

Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is satisfactory. Young people are supported in their preparation for adulthood. The organisation has developed a portfolio which addresses all the skills required for independent living; young people have a baseline assessment then progress through the stages until they become competent and confident with the tasks and skills required. No young person has a formalised pathway plan at present although contact is made to discuss this at appropriate times.

p.7

Achieving economic wellbeing

The home is in the process of being redecorated and is currently not decorated to a high standard throughout. Areas which have been completed are very attractive and homely and the furnishings are of a good standard, providing a comfortable home in which to live.

p.7

Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The home has a clear written Statement of Purpose which gives information about how the home is run and what to expect to young people and others needing this information. The young people's guide supplements this information in a more user-friendly and accessible manner.

p.7

Organisation

Young people receive the care they need from competent staff. Clear arrangements are in place in the absence of the manager and all staff have completed a full induction. The staff team is quite new, however, and only the deputy manager has an National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level three, although there are arrangements in place for other staff to obtain this qualification. Staff rotas ensure there is a handover period when the shift changes. Currently, staff work on their own at times, due to particular circumstances in the home, but this has been 7 of 9 Inspection Report: SC363422 thoroughly risk assessed. There is a staff training programme and all staff have had a full induction and recent training in safeguarding, fire safety and medication.

p.7

Organisation

The monthly monitoring visits have not been carried out as required, the last one being in April 2009, and the written report is not available within two weeks of the visit as this was dated a month after the visit. This means the external monitoring is not as robust as it could be which may impact on the quality of the care given to young people.

p.8

Organisation

The manager of the home regularly monitors the records and practice of the home. There is a written development plan and clear plans to improve the home are detailed. The manager of the home has been in post for a year but no application has been received for her registration. This contravenes the Care Standards Act 2000. Young people's files are stored safely and securely and contain all the required information.

p.8

Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Young people's needs are fully addressed and appropriate attention is given to issues of race, religion, culture and other aspects of diversity. The manager is proactive in seeking out information so this is available should staff need it. The home also encourages young people to find out more about other cultures by eating different food and having a variety of cultural images in the home.

p.8

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.

p.8

Due date Action Standard

28 August 2009 obtain for all staff, before they start work at the home, all the information set out in Regulation 26 (Children's Homes Regulations 2001, Regulation 26) 28 August 2009 undertake monthly visits as set out in Regulation 33 (Children's Homes Regulations 2001, Regulation 33) 28 August 2009 ensure that an application for registration is submitted to Ofsted for the position of Registered Manager as required by the Care Standards Act 2000 Part II, 11(1).

p.8

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • record any comment on the appropriateness of individual uses of sanctions or restraint with any subsequent action taken (National Minimum Standard 22.11) • ensure young people are encouraged to record their views when disciplinary methods or restraint are used (National Minimum Standards 22.14) • hold at least one fire drill at night (National Minimum Standard 26.8) 8 of 9 Inspection Report: SC363422 • ensure that a minimum ratio of 80% of care staff have completed their NVQ Level 3 (National Minimum Standard 29.5). 9 of 9 Inspection Report: SC363422

p.8