Children's Home run by Broadlands Hall Limited in Suffolk

SC060936 Unique reference number 11 February 2010 Inspection date Joanne Vyas Inspector Random 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: SC060936

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Brief description of the service

This is a children's home providing care and accommodation for 11 young people aged 11 to under 18 years old. The home is also a registered school for the young people who are accommodated. The home accommodates young people with learning disabilities who may also have complex behavioural, emotional and social needs.

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Brief description of the service

The home is situated in a small village near to a town. It is a large detached house. The accommodation comprises a lounge, a kitchen, games room, computer room, dining room and a number of classrooms as well as administration areas. The young people each have their own bedrooms and either a bathroom each or one shared between two. The home is set within six acres of grounds; which has both grass and hard surfaces suitable for playing games. Currently, there are 11 young people living in the home. None of the young people wanted to participate in the inspection.

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Summary

This unannounced interim inspection focused on the progress the service has made with the actions and recommendations made at the last inspection as well as reviewing all the key standards under the outcome area of staying safe. Actions and recommendations related to improvements to medication, food storage and labelling, records of meals and physical intervention, staff training and support, staffing levels, health and safety and the completion of a development plan. The outcome areas of enjoying and achieving, economic well-being and positive contribution were not looked at during this inspection.

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Summary

Staff are concerned about keeping young people safe. They are caring, committed and well supported to enable them to safeguard and promote the welfare of young people in their care.

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Summary

Improvements have been made following the last inspection. However, weaknesses were found in behaviour management strategies, which do not comply with the home's Statement of Purpose. Records of measures of control need to be improved and staff must be trained in the techniques they are expected to carry out. Some health and safety systems continue to be an issue as does the home's development plan. 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 Registered Manager has made significant progress towards meeting the actions and recommendations made at the previous inspection. A recent recruitment drive has ensured that appropriate staffing levels can now be maintained and over-time is kept to a minimum. All staff have been booked on a safeguarding children course in April this year and nine staff have been enrolled onto a National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in the Care of Children and Young People ensuring a qualified staff team in the future. All staff are receiving the appropriate level of supervision as stated in the national minimum standards. Food is now appropriately stored and labelled and meals that young people eat are recorded as served. Medication is now well managed and all treatment given as first aid is recorded to evidence appropriate treatment. All 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC060936 chemicals are appropriately stored in a secure cupboard and the electrical installations have

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Improvements since the last inspection

Although the central log for physical intervention now shows the time of the restraint, it now does not state the reason for the restraint and if any injuries occurred during the restraint. A development plan for the home has not yet been completed.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Staff know what the young people like and do not like to eat. Young people and staff all sit and eat together in the dining room. Young people are provided with choices of food that includes healthy options. They have themed cultural evenings each week to develop their knowledge and understanding of other cultures. They are encouraged to shop for and prepare meals. They enjoy healthy, nutritious meals that meet their dietary needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

The safe handling of medication is well managed in this home. The home mostly use prescribed medication. Staff receive training in the safe handling of medication. Medication is accurately recorded, received and disposed of appropriately. The medication cupboard is secure. All accidents are recorded and first aid is given as appropriate. All staff are trained in first aid and renew their training as appropriate.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. The safety of both staff and young people is protected. Staff are concerned about keeping young people safe and are competent in their knowledge of protecting them. Staff receive training on safeguarding young people as part of their induction and then at regular intervals. Staff have a good knowledge of the bullying policy, although they feel that bullying does not occur in the home due to the nature of the young people and the high levels of supervision. There are no incidents of young people going missing from the home. The high staffing levels, staff competence and the security in and outside the building ensure young people are kept safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

No concerns have been raised by parents or young people, but procedures are in place to ensure they would be appropriately and swiftly resolved. Young people can also air their views within the regular key worker sessions and resident's meetings.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The privacy of young people is respected by staff. The living arrangements provide space where they can relax and easily find privacy away from others if they wish. Staff ensure the privacy and dignity of the young people, such as by giving each young person space when they need it and knocking on bedroom doors before entering. All records are kept confidentially. Young people's issues are not discussed openly.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff view young people positively and young people are relaxed around staff. Staff are given training, which includes de-escalation techniques as well as physical intervention. Physical intervention is used as a last resort. There is a minimal amount of physical intervention carried out in this home. Physical intervention is not fully recorded as stated in the national minimum standards, for example, staff do not consistently record the reason a restraint was necessary and whether a young person was injured. 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC060936 Staff currently use strategies that involve the restriction of liberty for young people. When a young person becomes so agitated that staff feel the only way to keep themselves and young people safe is to leave the agitated young person behind a locked door. Staff continually monitor the young person to ensure their safety. However, staff do not have clear policies and

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

guidance with regard to this strategy. The behaviour management plans do not reflect this as a measure of control and consequently have not been agreed by the placing authority or within a multi-disciplinary forum. Neither are they recorded within the central log as a measure of control. Although it is clear that staff only use this strategy in a limited way and it is only carried out to ensure the safety of young people and staff, the home is not complying with its Statement of Purpose.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Sanctions are applied fairly and appropriately when young people break the home's rules. However, staff have been asked to carry out restorative justice with the young people instead of giving out sanctions. Staff have not been properly trained in using this technique and consequently feel that it doesn't work well.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are protected by robust recruitment procedures and monitoring of visitors. Safety checks are completed and staff only commence employment when they have a satisfactory Criminal Records Bureau disclosure and two satisfactory references. All visitors sign into the building and must show identification.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has comprehensive risk assessments for all aspects of safety of the premises and grounds, including fire and young people’s behaviour and activities. These assessments have taken into account the daily activities in and outside the home. All cleaning chemicals are appropriately stored in secure cupboards. Fire drills are carried out regularly. Fire safety equipment is checked as appropriate and a detailed record kept. However, a fire door to the lounge is routinely propped open as the door retainer is ineffective. This fire door also closes too quickly, which could cause a hazard to both young people and staff. The home has had an environmental health inspection where a number of requirements and recommendations were made. Although some of these have been addressed by the provider and others will be addressed next week, they have not been complied with within the stated timescales.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. There is a clear, up-to-date Statement of Purpose that reflects the practice and functions of the home. However, the home are currently not complying with their Statement of Purpose as a specific behaviour management technique that is used by staff involves the restriction of liberty for young people. 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC060936 Staff training is satisfactory. An annual programme covers mandatory training which all staff are expected to undertake. Staff complete National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in the care of children and young people after they have completed their probation period. Nine staff will be starting this course in April 2010, which will ensure the home meets the national minimum standards. However, staff are asked to carry out complex programmes, such as restorative justice, without the proper training.

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Organisation

There are good staffing levels to meet the needs of young people. A record of staff shifts is maintained on the home's rota and this shows there is a balance of gender wherever this is possible. Staff handover meetings ensure that each shift is appropriately planned and issues arising from earlier are competently communicated. Staff feel very well supported by their peers and the senior management team.

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Organisation

It is clear that the Registered Manager ensures effective monitoring of the home. This is evidenced by regular signing of records. A senior member of the organisation also visits the home on a monthly basis and reports on the conduct of the home. However, these reports are not consistently sent to Ofsted as required by Regulation 33. Additionally, the home still does not have a development plan, which would demonstrate the home's commitment to improvement and further development.

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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 March 2010 ensure that the children's home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its Statement of Purpose. This specifically relates to the practice of restricting the liberty of children living in the home (Regulation 4) 28 February 2010 ensure that within 24 hours of the use of any measure of control in a children's home, a written record is made in a volume hept for the purpose (Regulation 17) 28 February 2010 supply a copy of the report required by Regulation 33 to Ofsted. (Regulation 33)

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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 record of restraint book includes all the areas set out in the National Minimum Standard 22.9 (NMS 22.9) • ensure there is a clear written policy, procedures and guidance for staff based on a code of conduct setting out the control, disciplinary and restraint measures permitted (NMS 22.2) 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC060936 • ensure measures of control that include restricting the liberty of children, are agreed within the behaviour management plan for each child within a multi-disciplinary forum (NMS 22.12) • ensure all outstanding requirements or recommendations relating to the home from the environmental health authority are complied with (NMS 23.6) • ensure all fire doors work effectively and are not propped open (NMS 26.8) • ensure staff have been provided with access to programmes of training, which address

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Recommendations

specific child care approaches and skills appropriate to the home's purpose and function. This specifically relates to the use of restorative justice (NMS 31.5) • produce a written development plan that is reviewed annually, for the future of the home, either identifying any planned changes in the operation or resources of the home, or confirming the continuation of the home's current operation and resources. (NMS 33.5) 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC060936

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