Children's Home run by Cumbria County Council in Westmorland and Furness

SC034158 Unique reference number 16 February 2010 Inspection date Anne Bannister Inspector Random Type of 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 7 Inspection Report: SC034158

p.3

Brief description of the service

This is a local authority, four bedded children's home situated in an established residential area. It provides respite accommodation and care for young people of both sexes aged between 11 years and 17 years. The aim of the home is to provide short breaks and outreach services to young people with significant emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home aims to achieve this by working in open partnership with families and carers to offer purposeful and pre-planned care in response to locally identified needs. This can take the form of short breaks, an assessment period or the offer of support and guidance to young people and their families or carers. Young people are all accommodated in single en-suite bedrooms and share communal recreation areas. There are local shops within access of the home and the town centre can be accessed via a regular bus service.

p.4

Brief description of the service

One young person was resident at the time of inspection and participated in the inspection

p.4

Summary

This was an unannounced interim inspection. As this was an interim inspection, it did not assess all of the key national minimum standards (NMS). However, the inspection did assess how well the Registered Manager and care staff protect and promote the safety of the young people in their care.

p.4

Summary

The inspection also assessed whether the two actions and three recommendations from the previous key inspection had been addressed. The overall quality rating is good. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

Two actions and three recommendations were made at the last inspection. All have been addressed. The home has developed an induction check list for staff to complete with young people who are admitted to the home. This ensures that young people sign to confirm they have received a copy of the young person's guide. Staff then discuss areas detailed in the guide with them to ensure young people have an understanding of issues covered. The check list confirms they have an understanding of the various ways they are able to raise concerns.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

Documentation relating to the effectiveness of sanctions is much improved. However, a further recommendation has been raised relating to this issue. All relief staff currently working in the home hold basic food hygiene certificates. There are written reports to confirm that a representative of the authority now undertakes monthly visits as set out in regulations.

p.4

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Overall, the arrangements to safeguard and promote the safety and welfare of young people continue to be judged as good. The staff team show a high respect for young people's privacy 4 of 7 Inspection Report: SC034158 and maintain appropriate levels of confidentiality. Any required searches of young people's possessions or rooms are recorded. There have been four since the last key inspection. The most recent of these entries has not been signed by all staff involved in the search.

p.4

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff take seriously, concerns and complaints raised by the young people. Young people are aware of what to do if they are unhappy about something. There have been no recorded instances of young people making a complaint since the last key inspection. Discussion with young people during the course of the inspection, confirmed that they know how to make a complaint but continued to feel staff would resolve issues before they needed to raise an issue more formally.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Both staff and young people confirm that bullying is not currently an issue within the home. Records show, that when incidents have occurred previously, staff are consistent in their response to dealing with them and carefully monitor the situation to ensure all young people feel safe.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has an experienced staff team who are able to draw upon their skills and knowledge to protect young people from harm. There have been no safeguarding referrals relating to the home since the last key inspection. Staff regularly update their training. This ensures that they have, and maintain, the skills to protect young people from abuse.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Detailed procedures are in place to protect young people if they go absent without authority. Local protocols with the police are in place. Procedures ensure all relevant agencies and personnel are contacted. There have been 18 incidents where young people have been absent without authority since the last inspection. Although well detailed, documentation relating to these incidents does not always confirm that young people have been offered the opportunity to speak with someone outside of the home on their return.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Good behaviour management systems are employed and staff training is updated every six months. However, one member of staff appointed in August is not booked to undertake training until March 2010. This is contrary to the authority's good practice of updating existing staff's behaviour management training every six months. This issue had previously been raised in the December 2008 inspection and was believed to have been suitably addressed at the last inspection. However, opportunities for newly appointed staff to complete their training are now only presented annually. This can result in significant time elapsing from the time their employment commences to the time they receive this training.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Individual behaviour management plans are in place and include advice on diverting young people's behaviours. They concentrate on assisting them to regain self control and engage more positively with staff and young people. Sanctions are appropriately recorded and there has been a significant improvement in the manner in which staff have begun to document their views as to whether or not the sanction has had any positive effect on young people's behaviour and understanding. However this manner of recording is not consistently implemented by the whole staff team. The Registered Manager is continuing to monitor staff practice.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Since the last inspection no significant incidents have occurred which require notification under Schedule 5 of the Children's Home Regulations 2001. The home has procedures in place to notify all relevant agencies and carers of significant incidents which affect the well-being of young people. 5 of 7 Inspection Report: SC034158 Evidence and observation show that the home has a responsible attitude towards health and safety matters. The home has risk assessments in place for all aspects of the safety of the premises and grounds. There are also risk assessments relating to young people's behaviours and planned activities they undertake. Professional technicians regularly service the electrical equipment, gas appliances and equipment for preventing, detecting and extinguishing fires. Fire drills occur within the required frequency but do not note the time of day they were undertaken. Evidence shows the home is committed to ensuring young people live in a safe

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is a thorough selection and vetting of all staff working at the home prior to employment, that meets the requirements. All required pre-employment checks are carried out and staff recruitment records are well maintained. These actions show the home takes suitable measures to ensure that staff employed are suitable to be working with young people.

p.6

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.6

Due date Action Standard

22 March 2010 ensure that all staff involved in searching a young person's room, sign the home's documentation ( Regulation 15) 22 March 2010 ensure that all documentation indicates that young people are offered the opportunity to speak to someone outside of the home when they return. (Regulation 16)

p.6

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • review the frequency that behaviour management training is made available for newly appointed staff (NMS 22) 6 of 7 Inspection Report: SC034158 • consider routinely including sanctions as an agenda item at team meetings to assist staff to develop their views about the effectiveness of sanctions (NMS 22) • ensure that the fire drill records include the time that the drill was undertaken. (NMS 26) 7 of 7 Inspection Report: SC034158

p.6