Children's Home run by Aspris Children’s Services Limited in Herefordshire

SC062223 Unique reference number 21 September 2009 Inspection date Dawn Taylor 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: SC062223

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Brief description of the service

The school is registered as a residential school, which provides residential accommodation in four small homes that are geographically spread apart but registered as one children's home. The home provides 20 places for young people of either gender aged from 11 up to the age of 18. Young people admitted to the home have significant care needs and behaviour problems in both the care and education setting. Most young people have a statement of special educational needs as a result of social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. The school and the four children's homes are owned by a private company.

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Summary

This was a full unannounced inspection that concentrated on key national minimum standards in the one home based on the site of the school. Young people living in the home were present during part of the inspection and participated in some of the inspection process. The inspection focused on areas related to being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution, achieving economic wellbeing and how staffing and management arrangements supported the operation of the home.

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Summary

The home is judged overall as satisfactory with two outcome areas being judged as satisfactory and the other outcome areas judged as good. Young people benefit from living in a home where staff are focused on meeting their individual needs. Systems for monitoring practice against policies and procedures are not identifying patterns and trends and internal quality assurance systems do not identify how the service is improving the quality of care in the home.

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Summary

Two actions and three recommendation were raised as a result of this inspection visit. 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

Since the last inspection the home has met the two actions made. The child protection policy has been up dated to contain all required information and a record of matters relating to staff as listed in schedule 4 is being maintained.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Three recommendations made at the last inspection have also been met. Written permission is being obtained prior to all placements from a person with parental responsibility for each young person for the administration of first aid and appropriate non-prescribed medication. At least four fire drills, including evacuation of staff and children from the building and fire drills at night, are taking place in a 12 month period and a clear record is being maintained. The home's fire risk assessment has been reviewed.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people continue to receive good healthcare and support that meets their needs and promotes healthy living. Health education is promoted in school, key worker sessions and through notice board displays in the home. Regular exercise is encouraged through activities and memberships to local leisure centres. Healthy meals are prepared by the home's chef and 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC062223 staff who have been trained in food handling and hygiene. Young people are consulted in the planning of menus and are involved in food preparation. There is a clear commitment to developing young peoples' awareness of being healthy and living a lifestyle, which will improve their chances of good health in adulthood.

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Helping children to be healthy

Health plans are used well to monitor young peoples' physical and emotional well being. Daily reports focus on health issues and the outcomes of health appointments are linked back to the health plans. There are good quality records and procedures for the administration of medication, which ensures young people's health and welfare is monitored and safeguarded. Medication is stored safely, preventing unauthorised access. All staff receive training in first aid and the safe handling and storage of medication, which helps them learn about safe administration practices.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. The welfare and safety of young people is satisfactory. Safeguarding is well promoted by a professional and knowledgeable staff team who are effective at communicating and working in partnership with parents and local authorities. However, patterns and trends of incidents are not being adequately addressed and monitored, and records do not demonstrate how practice is reviewed and what strategies are implemented to reduce or eliminates future risks.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young peoples' rights to privacy are promoted. There are policies and procedures in place to guide staff on how young people are to be treated to maintain their privacy and dignity. Staff are careful about sharing confidential information and records. Information held on behalf of young people is correctly stored in lockable facilities, which are only accessible to staff.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are given good opportunities to discuss concerns or make a complaint. The staff team are proactive in ensuring young people's concerns are listened to and acted upon. Staff receive training with the Local Safeguarding Children Board on an ongoing basis. This continues to be supplemented by the company's own computer based course 'Foundation for Growth', which all members of staff have to complete. This increases staff's competence in dealing with allegations of abuse and helps ensure young people's welfare is protected. All organisational policies and procedures including child protection, anti bullying, absence without authority, complaints and behaviour management are in place. This further helps promote young people's safety and protection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff encourage and reward good behaviour by operating a financial reward system for positive behaviour. Staff receive regular and ongoing training in approved behaviour management techniques. Levels of restraint within the homes are generally low, which demonstrates positive management strategies are being used. However, there have been some patterns of inappropriate behaviour that demonstrate that other management strategies have not been as successful. Team meetings, attended by the home's staff team and members of the therapy team, are used to discuss concerning behaviour. It is not possible, however, to track developing strategies and monitor their effectiveness.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Fire safety precautions, such as fire extinguishers and smoke alarms are in place and the manager ensures regular checks are made of this equipment to ensure young people are protected in an emergency. Young people are regularly involved in fire escape practices so that they know how to leave the premises quickly and safely. 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC062223 The organisation's recruitment systems are held centrally and were assessed as part of this inspection visit. All staff employed at the home are fully vetted and sound recruitment and selection procedures are adopted. Staff files are well organised and clearly demonstrate all the necessary checks being completed prior to employment.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. All young people are given good individualised support with their needs and wishes. Young people identified as having particular needs receive help, guidance and support when needed or requested. Staff contribute positively towards helping young people to develop their maturity and raising their self-esteem. Staff recognise the inter-dependence between health needs, educational achievement and social experiences. Staff focus and emphasis is on better outcomes for young people.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Educational support for young people is good. Young people at the home will generally access education at the company's school, based on site. Individuals may also access local mainstream schools or other education provision. Daily reports strengthen links between school and home and monitor young peoples' educational progress. Young people have access to appropriate educational resources, as well as a desk in their bedroom for private study and a shared computer in the pool room.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Young people are supported to make a positive contribution through their review meetings, review reports and house meetings. Planning the care received by each young person living at the home is strong because it is policy that each young person has a placement plan that identifies the purpose of the placement and how the placing authority's care plan for the young person will be progressed. Case files confirm that the young people's progress is reviewed within the statutory time periods.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are given good support when they move in and leave the home. Staff are aware of their role and responsibilities and are sensitive to each young person's needs and circumstances. Each young person entering the home is given a welcome booklet which tells them what services they can expect from the home and how they will be cared for.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are encouraged to participate and share their views and opinions about any aspect of the support and care they receive. The home promotes consultation with young people and they regularly participate in key worker meetings. However, staff are not maintaining clear records of these events and it is therefore not possible to monitor how supportive and successful this practice is.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Positive contact with family and friends is strongly promoted by the staff team who are proactive in making practical arrangements such as transport. These arrangements are well understood by the young people and all outcomes of contact are fully recorded in their files.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is satisfactory. 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC062223 The promotion of economic well being is satisfactory. Staff have in place a suitable programme to help prepare young people for leaving care. Young peoples' placement plans give a focus on developing life skills and staff are able to adequately assess immediate needs and also help young people to understand the longer-term future beyond care.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The four homes vary in size and locations. This inspection focused on the home situated on the site of the organisation's school. The standard of this accommodation is satisfactory, providing a pleasant, clean living environment. Ongoing refurbishment, redecoration and general maintenance ensures that young people are provided with a comfortable place to live and demonstrates the organisation's commitment to improving quality. It is a large detached house set in spacious grounds and provides ample space for communal and individual activity for young people to be creative and for relaxation. Staff work hard to make it feel homely but décor and furnishing is tired.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

All young people have their own bedrooms with lockable doors. Young people have personalised their own space with pictures, posters and photographs. However, some rooms need decorating and have ill fitting curtains, broken equipment and furniture. Staff sleep-in arrangements are appropriate and adequate.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The organisation of the home is good. The home's Statement of Purpose, children's guides and policies and procedures have been reviewed and updated to reflect specific practice within the four individual homes. These have historically been registered and inspected as one children's home but are currently being reregistered as four separate children's homes. Proposed registered managers have been identified and are going through their registration process in three of the homes. The fourth home, on the same site as the school, is going through a variation. A proposed registered manager has been identified and is currently completing his application form; this is the home inspected on this occasion.

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Organisation

The home inspected has a newly appointed acting principal, who will be in post until Christmas and a manager who was appointed this month. Since their appointment they have identified areas of practice they plan to develop. They are using systems in place to monitor the performance of the home. Regulation 33 visits take place monthly with a written report of findings. However, there is currently no way of tracking the action taken by the home's managers of any recommendations or issues of concern. Regulation 34 reports are undertaken monthly and monitor a baseline of performance in the home. However, the home does not have a written development plan, that is reviewed annually and identifies ways of improving the quality of care provided in the home.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Staff receive training that helps them to understand legislation relating to equality and diversity and this helps staff to develop professionally.

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Organisation

Young people continue to be cared for by staff who understand their role and responsibilities. The organisation demonstrates a commitment to staff training. There is a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) programme in place to ensure staff are competent to meet the needs of young people's. There is also a comprehensive training programme in place to ensure staff receive induction, core training and further professional training. 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC062223

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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

31 October 2009 ensure the registered person regularly monitors the record books to monitor compliance with the home's policy, procedure and guidance and to identify any patterns in incidents. The monitoring will also address the implications of the care of individual children and current practice (Regulation 17, NMS 20.3 and 22.11) 31 October 2009 ensure the registered person has a written development plan, reviewed annually, for improving the quality of care provided in the home (Regulation 34 (1) (b)).

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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 information gathered by TASS (therapy and support services) feeds into strategies used to manage behaviour and that objectives are measurable and monitored (NMS 22.1) • ensure each young person's key worker sessions are taking place and being recorded in line with the home's policies and procedures (NMS 2.2) • ensure action is taken by the registered person on recommendations or issues of concern raised in regulation 33 reports (NMS 32.3). 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC062223

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