Children's Home run by Lincolnshire County Council in Lincolnshire

SC042967 Unique reference number 5 January 2010 Inspection date Fiona Parker Inspector Key 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 9 Inspection Report: SC042967

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Brief description of the service

This home is managed by a local authority and provides longer term care for up to 6 young people between 10 and 18 years. Admission to the home is on a planned basis. The home aims to provide young people with care and support for their emotional and behavioural needs. The home has good links with local services to ensure varied individual support is available for young people. Structured independence support is available for young people at this stage in their lives.

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Brief description of the service

This home is purpose built and offers spacious functional accommodation suitably for the maximum number of young people who may live there. Large hall areas on both floors offer recreation space and good sized gardens allow ample space for outdoor activities. The office is situated in a separate building behind the home.

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Brief description of the service

Six young people, all males, currently live in the home. Two young people were present for the full inspection and four young people arrived at different times. All contributed in some way to the findings.

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Summary

This inspection took place over eight hours with one inspector. This was a key inspection to assess the key standards under the outcome areas of being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, positive contribution and economic wellbeing. The arrangements for management were assessed under the outcome area of organisation. Five recommendations are made as a result of this inspection. These relate to monitoring snacks and meals and some recording shortfalls in files, plans and records. The shortfalls identified do not significantly impact upon outcomes for young people and good levels of care supports an overall judgement of good.

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Summary

Young people are very positive about their care and the staff who look after them. They feel safe and well cared for. This shows good relationships are in place despite the short time some young people have lived in the home. 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 last inspection made one recommendation relating to ensuring information identified in risk assessments is transferred to individual crisis management plans where appropriate. There is now a system to ensure this happens and evidence was seen to support that this is in place. Therefore this recommendation is met.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people benefit from nutritious meals and understand the importance of healthy foods. Staff ensure frequent opportunities to shop, plan and prepare meals are available and records show young people regularly do this. Snacks are readily available although some evidence supports this can affect young people eating planned meals. Planned cultural food experiences help to broaden young people's understanding of world foods and culture. Young people's 4 of 9 Inspection Report: SC042967 independence plans show their skills for shopping and budgeting for food are assessed to ensure they build life skills in this respect now and for later life.

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Helping children to be healthy

Sound medication procedures are in place and young people are protected by safe, robust arrangements for the administration and storage of medicines. Arrangements for non prescribed medication, self administration and disposing of medicines are fully understood. Clear records, management overview and gaining parental consent for treatments as appropriate ensures safe practice and protection for young people.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people enjoy robust support with their health needs in the form of regular routine checks such as GP, dentist and optician appointments. Full health assessments and medicals take place and good well established links with specialist services ensure young people's needs are met with minimal delays. Records clearly outline how health needs are promoted and monitored. Physical activities to promote fitness such as basketball, swimming and football take place frequently. Staff receive training in relevant health areas to support young people such as sexual health, substance use and first aid. Staff can be supported to attain formal qualifications such as counselling which supports their work with young people.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people say they are healthy, supported and have good access to health services and advice when they need this. One young person's comments represent views expressed by all the young people, 'they do a lot for us'.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people feel safe and protected by robust procedures for ensuring their safety which are followed through in practice. Privacy is respected and areas where the interests of safety may require action, such as room searches, these are sensitively managed. However, records do not always support young people's consent has been obtained for searches, reasons if it has not and whether they are present during room searches.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people fully understand why sanctions are given and feel they are fair and consistent. Restraints are infrequent and again young people understand restraints are for their safety or that of others. This demonstrates good consultation takes place and frequent discussions happen between staff and young people. Young people say bullying is not currently an issue and are confident they can discuss their concerns with staff. Young people are confident in staff's ability to keep them safe and resolve issues quickly and effectively. Complaints are treated seriously and records show a strong commitment to meeting this standard. Consequently, young people feel they will be listened to by staff and visiting advocacy services.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Absences from the home are infrequent however there is strong evidence staff are pro active in searching for young people and minimising risks to return them home. Good liaison with local police is in place and social visits are encouraged as part of building positive relationships with local police. This helps to avoid potential negative perceptions of police support.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Risks assessments are in place to minimise potential individual risks arising from specific needs or behaviours. Staff promote the strategies in risk assessments and seek to diffuse and divert challenging behaviours with minimal intervention. Records are detailed and support appropriate actions are taken in the context of the situations. Young people are encouraged to reflect and comment on difficulties to promote their emotional development. Environmental and activity 5 of 9 Inspection Report: SC042967 risk assessments protect young people in the home and community ensuring trips and sport can be enjoyed wherever possible. Regular reviews ensure all risk assessments remain relevant to needs.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Fire drills involving all young people take place regularly and above the minimum requirement. Health and safety checks are undertaken including robust fire risk assessment. Measures to keep young people safe in all circumstances are in place, regularly reviewed and fully promoted by the staff team.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Young people report good support and relationships with the manager, staff and their key workers. Young people feel they are listened to and able to discuss their views and any concerns they have. Relationships between staff and young people are relaxed with humour and some 'banter' which young people respond positively to. Staff are knowledgeable on individual needs and clearly young people are able to recognise that staff's actions are for their benefit even if they might want a different outcome at the time. Individual support also extends to visiting social workers, advocacy services, child and adolescent mental health services and education support services. As a result, young people benefit from extensive individualised services tailored to their needs and speak positively about their future aims.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

All young people are receiving education from appropriate local provisions such as local schools and colleges. Where required, assessments are undertaken to determine individual support to ensure young people receive education which suits their needs. Home tuition arrangements ensure there is minimal disruption to young people's education during assessment periods. Safe transport arrangements or staff support ensure young people attend to maximise their opportunities. Each young person is provided with a laptop to support homework and educational activities, these are used frequently by young people subject to monitoring and support. This is positive and promotes interest and ensures commitment to completing work and achieving in education.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Good liaison is in place with schools and education services and a proactive approach is taken to ensure young people can enjoy opportunities, for example, work placements in line with their favourite sport. Young people are also supported to experience work in the local community to improve their confidence and experience of work.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Young people's needs are effectively assessed and care plans outline their requirements. Some care plans are not fully complete resulting in some gaps. As these are used as the placement plans these do not support the detail required. However, young people's needs are robustly understood and the information is available in other places on files.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There are good review systems in place including formal statutory reviews and monthly summaries completed by key workers. However, review minutes are not always available resulting in a lack of clarity about recommendations and whether these have been incorporated in current support. Although a system is in place to record recommendations before minutes are available 6 of 9 Inspection Report: SC042967 this had not happened on this occasion. This, and some gaps in recording in care plans has the potential to impact upon young people's progress.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are consulted and contribute to their plans, they clearly say staff support them in every way they can, although records do not reflect the level of consultation which happens in practice. However, through discussion with young people it is evident they understand their plans and what they are working towards demonstrating this does happen in practice. Regular children's meetings also offer opportunity for discussion and expressing views for example discussing what it is like to live in a group. Minutes show workers facilitate open discussion and ensure everyone's views are heard. Young people report they get on with each other the majority of the time.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Workers are clear on the aims and objectives of each young person's plans and all contribute to meeting these and supporting young people. Respectful relationships exist between young people and staff which clearly is the foundation for positive support and progress. Following a previously unsettled period the dynamics in the home are more positive and the manager reports carefully managing admissions is the key to this.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. Young people are supported on a daily basis to work towards independence through structured support programmes. Plans show young people have opportunities to complete a wide range of tasks and experiences to help them prepare for later life. Workers are committed to providing young people with realistic goals and value how important it is to equip young people for later life. Close liaison is in place with agencies including the independence team where each child is referred at 15 years 6 months. Good independence support is in place for young people and they confirm this.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

This home is purpose built and offers young people functional spacious accommodation. Each young person has their own bedroom which they personalise with their own interests and hobbies. The home offers several rooms for young people to use as a group or on their own if they want privacy. Young people say they are happy with the home and like living there, there are no areas they feel needs improvement.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Young people are supported by a staff team who are competent and suitably experienced to meet their needs. Sufficient numbers of staff are available at all times and well established on-call arrangements ensure young people and staff are supported at all times. Staff feel well managed and report a positive working environment which in turn benefits young people's daily experiences and the quality of care they receive.

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Organisation

Staff and managers are suitably qualified and hold the relevant qualifications specified in standards. Additional training is regularly available to ensure staff are equipped to meet the individual and varied needs of young people. Statutory training such as safeguarding, restraint training and first aid is regularly undertaken and more additional training such as sexual health, self harm behaviours and substance use is available on a rolling programme. This ensures young people are cared for by staff with a range of skills. 7 of 9 Inspection Report: SC042967 The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Robust measures take place to ensure young people are treated fairly and have equal access to opportunities, experiences and positive relationships with workers. Extensive services ensure young people receive individualised support and can pursue specific interests. Cultural themed nights give a 'taste of the world' and interest

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Organisation

Secure arrangements are in place for files and records and young people's individual progress and achievements are recorded in line with regulations. A range of information is available to inform young people and parents about the home and local authority services, this includes a Statement of Purpose and suitable children's guide.

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Organisation

Independent monitoring takes place through monthly regulation 33 visits and reports which identify areas for action. A system is in place for the manager to respond and evidence the actions taken.

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Organisation

The management structure in the home consists of a Registered Manager and two assistant managers. Roles and responsibilities are shared and records show management monitoring routinely takes place to identify potential shortfalls. The home has experienced a very busy period and as a result some recording has lapsed as identified at this inspection. However, there is no evidence that good practice has not been maintained to ensure young people continue to receive good quality care. This is clearly evidenced by young people's view that their home is, 'outstanding.'

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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 snacks do not interfere with or replace planned meals and meals prepared offer varied nutritional value (National Minimum Standard 10.3) • ensure recordings in respect of room searches include whether young people have been informed and whether they are present for the search. Records are clear why young people have not been informed if this is the case (National Minimum Standard 9.8) • ensure the outcome of reviews is reflected in the day-to-day care, available on files and any delays in obtaining minutes are followed up (National Minimum Standard 3.4) • ensure any plan used as the placement plan comprehensively details young people's needs and how those will be met without the need to refer to a wide range of different sources to obtain this information (National Minimum Standard 2.1)

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Recommendations

8 of 9 Inspection Report: SC042967 • ensure the consultation that takes place with young people is reflected in plans and records. (National Minimum Standard 8.1) 9 of 9 Inspection Report: SC042967

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