Children's Home run by Progress Children’s Services Ltd in Coventry

SC064117 Unique reference number 23 September 2009 Inspection date Jackie Callaghan 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 8 Inspection Report: SC064117

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Brief description of the service

The home is a large bungalow style building with office and staff sleeping in rooms arranged on the upper floor. There are seven bedrooms all with en-suite facilities. There are two lounges, a dining room and a domestic kitchen. There is one large bathroom with an assisted bath and one smaller bathroom.

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Brief description of the service

The service offers 24-hour personal care to children and young people with learning and physical disabilities. Five young people are currently living at the home and all were present at different times throughout this inspection.

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Summary

This was an unannounced full inspection that concentrated on the key national minimum standards. This is a satisfactory service with good aspects. The medical health needs of young people are well managed. Education and individual support for young people is good. The home works closely with a variety of agencies in order to meet the full range of young people's needs.

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Summary

There are a few minor shortfalls that need to be addressed in order to improve the quality of its service. For example, the behaviour management policy and recording keeping are not fully detailed to overtly ensure safeguards for all young people. 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

At the last inspection the manager was asked to; update the child protection policy and to maintain an accurate, up to date measures of control record. To ensure there is a clear written policy, procedures and guidance on control, disciplinary and restraint measures permitted and to ensure a minimum ratio of 80% of care staff complete Level 3 National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in Caring for Children and Young People.

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Improvements since the last inspection

All staff except the very recent new starters either has their NVQ Level 3 or are completing it. This demonstrates that the company remain committed to ensuring staff undertake appropriate qualifications. The child protection policy has now been updated to clearly state the procedures to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect. As a result, young people's welfare is being appropriately safeguarded.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The measures of control record, however, are still not being accurately maintained. The behaviour management policy still does not detail the permitted measures of restraint that can be used. As a result, two actions have been raised at this inspection. The findings of both of these shortfalls are explicitly explained in the outcome judgement Staying Safe.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people are consistently provided with a well-balanced diet. The available choices mean they receive the range of nutrients required for healthy growth and nutrition. Staff are keen 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC064117 to promote healthy eating and encourage young people to try new foods at mealtimes. Mealtimes are very social occasions where they sit together happily and enjoy each others company.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people are receiving a good range of advice and guidance from staff and external professionals about what matters in regard to their health. The promotion of young people's health is taken seriously by the home. Staff know about young people's medical needs and have the skills to safely manage the administration of medication and first aid.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Young people's privacy is largely respected by staff. The home has a number of policies and procedures in place to guide staff on how young people are to be supported in order to maintain their privacy and dignity. Although some of the documentation held in the complaints and compliments file is sensitive information which does not fully protect young people’s privacy. However, there is a sound system in place to record any concerns made known directly by young people or by independent professionals advocating on their behalf.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children’s protection is good with young people’s rights being promoted by staff. Talking to the staff group established that they are aware of their responsibilities within the home’s child protection procedures. Young people are protected from bullying as staff present a clear commitment to promoting behaviour that is respectful.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are appropriate systems in place for young people when they are absent without authority. Risk assessments are recorded in relation to each young person’s vulnerability and there is a protocol that staff follow when notifying relevant authorities after agreed times and according to assessed levels of risk.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff receive regular training to enable them to respond appropriately to children who present behavioural challenges. The home has policies and procedures in place regarding the use of sanctions and physical intervention. However, the behaviour management policy does not overtly give guidance to staff on the restraint measures they are permitted to use.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The recording of sanctions is not consistent. The home uses an antecedent, behaviour and consequence sheet to help staff try and identify triggers for young people's inappropriate behaviours. However, not all of the consequences recorded on this sheet are documented within the bound sanctions log. There are also instances where recorded sanctions are not accompanied by an incident sheet. The incident sheet contains all the information that details the circumstances surrounding why staff sanctioned a particular behaviour. Not having a full account of the incident could potentially compromise young people's welfare.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's safety is enhanced as staff follow the home's fire procedures at all times. Tests on the fire systems and other electrical equipment are taking place at the appropriate intervals. Each young person has a comprehensive risk assessment that covers all areas within the home and community activities.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The company operates an effective staff vetting procedure. All the necessary checks including an enhance Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) disclosure are undertaken before staff are employed. The human resources department conducts a visit usually within the first two weeks of staff 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC064117 starting. They complete a follow up interview to ensure that the new staff members have a good understanding of safeguarding policies.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Individual support to young people is given a high priority by the home’s staff. Young people are benefiting from a service where staff deliver a focused level of individual support that is based on a continuous assessment of their needs.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people develop their confidence and practical abilities. They are successfully helped and supported to access a variety of in-house and community based activities that enhance self-awareness, develop identity and improve their self-esteem in an age-appropriate manner. For example, recent fundraising event where all the young people completed a sponsored walk and raised £430 for charity. As a result, the manager and staff team actively promote young people's positive awareness of diversity both within the home and the wider community.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people's education is fully supported. Written plans and monitoring systems are used to guide young people's progress and to reflect on their learning. These plans are regularly reviewed and evaluated in order to ensure the environment is tailored to further every young person's steps in learning.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Young people have their needs assessed and their care detailed in written plans, which are reviewed regularly. Observing staff interact with the young people confirmed that staff are aware of the contents within these plans. This provides young people with consistent and measured care.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are encouraged, enabled and supported to contribute to their care and to influence the running of the home. Staff recognise the difficulties surrounding consultation and they receive training in augmentative communication systems in order to enable them to communicate effectively with young people in their care.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff are proactive in ensuring young people maintain contact with parents and significant others. A young person who has left the service visits regularly so as to maintain a good friendship with a remaining young person. This demonstrates that staff actively value contact. One external professional stated in a pre-inspection questionnaire that: ‘I am impressed by the efforts the staff take to communicate with us and the parents’.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are given good support when they arrive and leave the home and these routines are based around individual needs and circumstances. Staff understand that moving home can be very difficult for some young people and this awareness is used to provide support and reassurance in these circumstances. Young people are encouraged to bring their own possessions into the home so they can personalise their own bedrooms.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC064117 Young people living at the home are appropriately supported and prepared for leaving whether this is to return home, to alternative carers or to move into independent living. Staff ensure that young people are provided with properly constituted pathway plans, agreed by the placing authorities which give focus to preparing young people to appropriately leave the home.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Each young person has his or her own bedroom and these are very well decorated and personalised. All the bedrooms are en-suite fitted with a shower. The home also provides two separate bathrooms which are fitted with ceiling hoists so the young people can have a relaxing bath if they so choose.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Staff know and understand the stated aims and objectives of the service that are consistent with the Statement of Purpose. Young people are well-informed about what the home provides through a young person friendly guide.

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Organisation

Good team work is being promoted by the manager as a way of ensuring the home provides consistent care and support to young people. One staff member stated that: 'I like the values of the company'. All staff receive a varied range of new and refresher training to ensure they are equipped with skills to support and meet the needs of young people in their care. Consequently, young people are receiving appropriate support because staff are qualified and suitably experienced.

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Organisation

The home has clear deputising arrangements in the absence of the manager and there is a formal on-call system to ensure additional support is available from experienced staff if needed. The staff rota is planned in advance and ensures that there is an appropriate number of staff on duty to meet the needs of young people with clear arrangements to cover staff absences.

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Organisation

Appropriate systems are in place to monitor the service and daily lives of young people currently living in the home. Records seen demonstrate that the content of these reports reflect an accurate picture of life for young people residing at the home.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. All of the home's recording systems take account of potential needs in relation to a young person's diversity such as identity, race, culture and religion. The home provides an environment where the value of equality and diversity is understood, promoted and celebrated.

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Organisation

Young people’s care files are well organised to include all of the information detailed in Schedule 3 of the Children's Homes Regulations 2001. Enabling the home to respond in a timely manner to any request made by a young person to read their care file.

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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

7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC064117 22 October 2009 maintain an accurate and up to date record of measures of control used, as set out in Regulation 17. (Regulation 17(4)) 23 October 2009 prepare and implement a written behaviour management policy which sets out the measures of control and restraint which may be used in the children's home (Regulation 17 (2) (a))

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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 information documented in the compliments file is recorded in a way that does not infringe on young people's privacy and confidentiality (NMS 9). 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC064117

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