Children's Home run by Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council in Dudley

SC038500 Unique reference number 8 March 2010 Inspection date Vivien Slyfield Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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24 December 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 6 Inspection Report: SC038500

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Brief description of the service

The home is a detached house located close to the centre of the city. It is near to a range of local facilities and has good transport links to other parts of the borough. The home was refurbished in January 2007 and can now accommodate up to four children of both genders, who are aged between 10 years and 14 years.

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Brief description of the service

On the ground floor there is an office, kitchen, dining room, lounge, study room and toilet. The first floor has four children’s bedrooms, a bedroom for staff, an office, two bathrooms and a separate toilet. The basement provides storage space, the laundry and a playroom which leads onto the patio area. Three children are currently living at the home.

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Summary

This was an unannounced interim inspection. The care was reviewed against the key national minimum standards under the staying safe outcome and the standards concerned with the previous recommendations. The judgements made are based on the areas reviewed on this visit and supported by the findings from the last key inspection.

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Summary

One recommendation was made under the organisation outcome. 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 three recommendations and no actions. All the recommendations related to the door between the bedrooms and the ground floor being locked. The practice is now for this door to be kept open during the day and locked at night for safety reasons. The Statement of Purpose has been reviewed to include clear information about the use of this door.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The organisation of the home makes the safety and welfare of the young people living there the main priority and young people are well supported by staff.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff work effectively with young people and it is clear that the relationship between staff and young people is based on respect with humour and warmth very evident. There are systems in place that support and reward positive behaviour both in school attendance and behaviour at home. While these work well staff are open to reviewing and evaluating the methods they use. There remain occasions when a young person is given time in their bedroom to help them calm down. However, the practice now is that a member of staff will remain on the first floor and the door to the bedrooms is kept open. There is therefore no longer an issue about restriction of liberty for young people. There have been few incidents where physical restraint has been required. All of these have been recorded and young people are always given the opportunity 4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC038500 to comment in writing as well as to talk with a member of staff and reflect on the situation

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

that occurred. Similarly appropriate records are kept of young people who are missing without permission. Staff have a good knowledge and understanding of privacy and confidentially and are able to balance this well with the need to protect and supervise children. Confidential information is shared and stored appropriately.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are aware of the complaints system and have been able to use it. Complaints made are responded to appropriately and issues raised by young people taken seriously. Young people have monthly contact with an independent advocate from the national youth advocacy service (NYAS). This contact is being used effectively by young people to raise any concerns they have.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has systems to ensure that all mandatory training is completed and that refresher courses are undertaken appropriately by staff. All staff have undertaken first aid training and therefore there is always a suitably qualified member of staff on duty.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Appropriate records are kept of health and safety checks and indicate that tests of equipments and drills are regularly undertaken. Risk assessments are in place in relation to specific issues and individual young people. These are used as effective working documents and are reviewed appropriately. Young people's safety is therefore well maintained.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are well cared for and supported in a stable and homely environment with staff who use their positive relationships with the young people to work well with them. Not all key national minimum standards have been considered in this outcome area and therefore the judgement remains the same as at the last inspection.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. The previous inspection made recommendations relating to the use of a fob lock on the door between the downstairs and the bedrooms. This practice has been reviewed. The door is no longer locked, apart from during the night. Staff are always with the young people if they are upstairs and there is no longer any restriction of movement between the two floors.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Only one standard was considered during this inspection and therefore the judgement remains unchanged.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The use of a locked door between the bedrooms and the downstairs was not included in the Statement of Purpose at the previous inspection. The Statement of Purpose has been reviewed and includes a statement about the use of the lockable dividing door. This door is now kept open. 5 of 6 Inspection Report: SC038500 There are monthly visits to the home by senior managers and reports complied about the findings of these visits. As part of these monitoring visits the records kept by the home are monitored but there is no evidence of this taking place through the signature of the person undertaking the visit.

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Organisation

The shortfall within this outcome area has a minimal effect on the care of the young people who live in the home. Not all key national minimum standards have been considered in this outcome and therefore the judgement remains the same as at the last inspection.

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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 the person undertaking the monitoring visits to the home includes checks on the home's daily log, records of complaints, disciplinary measures and use of restraint, assessment of the physical condition of the building, furniture and equipment of the home, with particular reference to monitoring the record of restraints (NMS 32.2). 6 of 6 Inspection Report: SC038500

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