Children's Home run by Blue Mountain Homes Ltd in Nottinghamshire

SC047978 Unique reference number 18 June 2009 Inspection date Rosemary Chapman Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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20 January 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 9 Inspection Report: SC047978

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Brief description of the service

The home is set within a 14 acre site which contains a small working farm. The home is able to provide accommodation for up to five young people with learning difficulties. Each young person has their own bedroom. There is a lounge, dining room, kitchen, main office and a telephone room for young people on the ground floor. All bedrooms and bathrooms are on the first floor. Staff sleeping rooms are on the first floor and waking night staff are available throughout the night to support young people. There are public transport links to the home from the roadside at the end of a long drive.

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Summary

This was a full unannounced inspection and all key standards under the five Every Child Matters outcome areas and organisation were assessed. The home meets the health care needs of young people well; they are provided with nutritious meals, have regular health care check ups and are given medication appropriately. Young people have their welfare safeguarded through staff training, policies and procedures and an openness in dealing with complaints. Young people are encouraged to express their views and key working sessions are held regularly. There are also plenty of leisure activities in which they partake. The environment is pleasant and spacious and young people have a large garden as well as plenty of communal space indoors, all of which is well-maintained. There is an established group of competent staff who care for the young people and monitoring systems are in place, from the manager and area manager, which in the

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Summary

main are effective, but did not highlight the shortfalls identified in this inspection.

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Summary

There are shortfalls in the admissions procedures which have not ensured that all the needs of a young person are comprehensively assessed prior to admission; this is particularly the case in relation to meeting the educational needs of young people. Staff training has not been recorded systematically, making it difficult to monitor when updates are due. The overall quality rating is satisfactory. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The home had four recommendations made at the previous inspection; these related to young people recording their views in behaviour management records, developing placement plans, protecting young people who are absent without authority and giving young people the opportunity to be examined by a medical practitioner following restraint. The sanctions and restraints book clearly record that young people are given the opportunity to record their views and on a number of occasions have done so. Likewise, this record now states that medical assessment has been offered and either refused or accepted. The placement plans have been improved, although still have some deficiencies, and children who are absent without authority are suitably protected through improved recording of these incidents and the actions taken on the return of the young person. Thus these recommendations have been addressed although the placement plans have some inadequacies in relation to educational needs, about which

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Improvements since the last inspection

actions have been made at this inspection.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. 4 of 9 Inspection Report: SC047978 Young people have their health care needs met in a variety of ways. The menus are varied, balanced and nutritious; a dietician advises the home on suggested menus to ensure they are appropriate and healthy. Young people also contribute to menu planning and offer suggestions; for example, one young person wanted to try squid and sword fish and this was implemented. Young people are aware of healthy eating and encouraged to eat fruit and vegetables. Less healthy snacks are monitored but fresh fruit is readily available for young people to help themselves. Young people are also encouraged to assist staff prepare meals to promote their independent living skills. Some staff have undertaken food hygiene training but this is not universal.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people's health care needs are identified and services provided to meet them and promote their good health. Health care plans are detailed and identify any specific needs, including allergies. The looked after children's nurse visits the home on a monthly basis but will also come on request. She provides advice on a variety of health care issues or talks to young people individually about any concerns. Young people are registered with local services and appointments documented and monitored to ensure they have check ups at appropriate intervals.

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Helping children to be healthy

The home's policies, procedures, storage, administration, recording and disposal of medication ensure that children's welfare is safeguarded. Staff are undertaking updated training in the safe care of medicines, there is always a staff member on duty with an up-to-date first aid certificate and any accidents and injuries are properly recorded.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Young people's privacy is respected; all have a single bedroom which locks, staff knock and wait to be invited in, young people can use a telephone in private, subject to any documented restrictions, and staff are aware of issues of privacy and confidentiality through written policies and procedures which are reinforced through their training.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people have any complaints addressed promptly; these are recorded and dealt with by the manager. Young people are aware that they can complain and feel confident that staff will listen to them. There is information readily available on advocacy services to give young people other avenues to access if they are unhappy.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are protected from abuse and have their welfare promoted. The home has appropriate policies and procedures which address safeguarding issues, staff receive training and any allegations are dealt with appropriately. Bullying is unacceptable and dealt with promptly by staff. Young people feel confident that staff will protect them and say they feel safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people who go missing from the home are protected; staff take their responsibilities seriously, monitor young people who leave the premises and have good liaison with the local police which include established protocols to follow.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are assisted to develop socially acceptable behaviour. The home has an incentive scheme which rewards young people for positive behaviour in line with the agreed plan. Sanctions in response to negative behaviour are appropriate, recorded, monitored and their effectiveness reviewed. Staff are trained in recognised techniques for managing challenging behaviour and any incidents of restraint are appropriately recorded and monitored. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: SC047978 The home environment is safe and secure; fire checks are carried out at the necessary intervals and drills are held regularly, and within a week of a young person moving in. Servicing of the gas and portable appliances is up-to-date but the electrical installation was last checked in 2003.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are protected from exposure to potential abusers by thorough vetting of staff and monitoring of visitors. All visitors to the premises have their identity checked and sign the visitors' book. The home has appropriate policies and procedures in relation to staff recruitment which include verification of references and receipt of Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks prior to staff commencing employment.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is inadequate. Young people receive individualised support when they need it. Each young person has a key working team and regular key working sessions, which are focussed on specific issues and recorded. There is information on display in the young people's lounge about independent advocacy and other services, so that they can contact someone independent of the home should they wish to do so.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Education has not been actively promoted for all the young people in the home; not all young people have personal education plans and relevant documents such as statements of educational needs in their placement plans and the home has admitted young people without knowing how it will meet their educational needs. The home has not taken a proactive approach in working with the placing local authority to rectify these deficits which has impacted negatively on the provision of appropriate education for some of the young people. Communication between the school which is on site and the staff in the home has been ineffective in ensuring the educational needs of the young people are fully met.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people are able to pursue their particular leisure interests and staff support them in this. Interests are identified in their care plans and facilitated by the home. Young people said they did a number of different activities, both individually and as a group and were happy with the amount of social events. They also said there was plenty to do in the home, including outdoor activities in the garden.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is inadequate. Children's needs are assessed and addressed in their written placement plans. These include their cultural and religious needs. However, as highlighted in the outcome area of enjoying and achieving, the assessment of educational needs is not comprehensive. Placement plans are regularly updated in line with changing needs. The key worker system works well and young people meet regularly with their key worker to discuss their progress and any issues. Young people are encouraged to take part in their reviews and both contribute to the report written by the home and attend in person.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The home's Statement of Purpose does not allow for emergency admissions to the home and the admission criteria is young people who need medium or long-term care. This has not been adhered to, resulting in an unplanned admission and lack of proper planning and introductions which could impact negatively on a young person's integration and needs being appropriately 6 of 9 Inspection Report: SC047978 met. The home has also shown that it can undertake an admission of a young person in a planned way, with introductory visits, proper assessment of need and full involvement of all the young people already in the home. The home has a young person's handbook which gives useful information to assist a young person settle in and know the rules and expectations.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are encouraged to made decisions about their lives and how the home is run and they said they felt involved in decision making. They do this informally by talking to staff at meal times and during social interaction, through key working sessions and through young people's meetings. The latter have not been held as regularly as the home expects however. The home also seeks feedback from parents and local authorities following the ending of a placement of a young person.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is satisfactory. The home is aware of its responsibilities in relation to preparing young people for adulthood and moving on and has been involved in transition planning in the past. However, there are no young people in placement for whom this is appropriate at present. Young people are encouraged to cook, do their laundry, tidy up and shop so that they develop appropriate independent living skills for the future.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home is well-maintained and provides a pleasant environment for young people to live in and promotes their self-esteem. Furnishings are homely, the accommodation is spacious and there are systems in place which ensure any maintenance work is carried out promptly. The large garden area is well-maintained and equipped with a trampoline and paddling pool, which young people said they enjoyed using. Young people have their own bedroom and choose how this is decorated. Bedrooms are personalised and well-furnished and are equipped with desks to facilitate study and home work. There are a number of communal rooms downstairs to enable young people to engage in different activities without impacting on other people.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The home has a clear written Statement of Purpose which outlines how it operates and what can be expected by anyone using its service. The young people's handbook gives this information to children in an appropriate format so they can understand what to expect from staff at the home.

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Organisation

Young people are looked after by staff who are trained and competent to meet their needs. Shifts are well planned with sufficient staff on duty to meet the needs of the young people and hand over relevant information to other staff. There are clear arrangements for managerial cover via an on-call system, thus ensuring any queries are dealt with appropriately and thus safeguard young people. All new staff have an induction to the home which gives them enough information to keep children safe and they are supervised by more experienced staff on shift until they become more confident, competent and experienced. The majority of the staff have completed National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) at level three and also undertake mandatory and other relevant training. The manager has identified that a more systematic approach to the recording of this would be of benefit in relation to monitoring and is in the process of

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Organisation

establishing systems to improve this. 7 of 9 Inspection Report: SC047978 The area manager and Registered Manager undertake regular monitoring of the records of the home and complete monthly reports. However, the deficits in relation to the educational provision and the poor admission procedures in relation to a young person had not been identified as part of this monitoring and this was thus not fully effective.

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Organisation

Children's needs are recorded to reflect their individuality. Their case records are maintained securely with appropriate access.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is satisfactory. Young people's needs in relation to culture, religion and language are identified and addressed and any discriminatory language or behaviour discussed and challenged. Young people are encouraged to try food from other cultures and there are images in the home which give a more diverse view of people. Every young person is offered the same opportunities and are included in activities, with measures put in place to combat any difficulties due to differences.

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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

22 September 2009 maintain close liaison with each child's placing authority with a view to obtaining appropriate educational arrangements for the child (National Minimum Standard 14, Regulation 18 Children's Homes Regulations 2001) 22 September 2009 obtain a copy of the Personal Education Plan for each child (National Minimum Standard 14.2, Regulation 18 Children's Homes Regulations 2001) 22 September 2009 ensure that children are not admitted in an emergency unless this is explicitly included as a function of the home in its Statement of Purpose (National Minimum Standard 5.6, Regulation 11 Children's Homes Regulations 2001).

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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 staff involved in preparing food for others have received appropriate training (National Minimum Standard 10.9) • ensure that electrical installations are checked every three years (National Minimum Standard 26.4) • ensure that all childcare staff have a personal development plan and maintain a written record of all staff training in the home (National Minimum Standards 31.4) 8 of 9 Inspection Report: SC047978 • ensure that the home only admits children whose assessed needs can be met within the purpose of the home (National Minimum Standards 33.4). 9 of 9 Inspection Report: SC047978

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