Children's Home run by St Hill Establishments Ltd in Kingston upon Hull

SC385633 Unique reference number 18 May 2009 Inspection date Sarah Urding Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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20 November 2008 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 9 Inspection Report: SC385633

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Brief description of the service

This children's home is run by a private company. The home is registered to provide a service for up to five children or young people, male or female, aged between 10 and 17 years.

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Brief description of the service

The home is a three-storey building. There are two bedrooms for young people downstairs both with en-suite facilities and three further bedrooms upstairs. In addition there are two staff sleep-in rooms in close proximity to all bedrooms.

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Brief description of the service

Downstairs there is an office, kitchen, dining room and spacious lounge with a quiet room also on the second floor.

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Brief description of the service

The home is close to the city centre. There are local shops, churches and health centres nearby. The home has a small car park and is close to major bus routes.

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Summary

This was an unannounced full inspection. All key standards were inspected.

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Summary

This is an inadequate service with some satisfactory and good features. Young people are safeguarded because staff are well trained in this regard, follow clear procedures and communicate well with external agencies. Young people's good health is promoted by staff who work in partnership with health professionals. Staff encourage young people to maintain positive relationships with families and welcome young people's friends in to the home. Young people and staff share positive, relaxed relationships. The staff team demonstrate that they work together consistently and communicate effectively. However, the recruitment of staff is not robust and places young people at risk. Young people are not being prepared well enough for independent living and are not fully engaged in learning opportunities. This reduces their life chances. There is no development plan for the home, the statement of purpose does not

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Summary

clearly reflect the conditions of registration and placement plans do not define needs well or how these needs are to be met. There are no pathway plans in place for young people moving towards independent living and there has been a significant delay from placing authorities with regards the provision of current care plans. This lack of clarity compromises focus and does not ensure that all needs are identified and met. There are in addition, shortfalls relating to record keeping and notification that reduce accountability. The overall quality rating is inadequate. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

This is not applicable as this is the first inspection since registration.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Staff have developed good links with health professionals working with children living in the home particularly in the field of mental health. Staff support young people's regular attendance at health care appointments and young people are registered with a dentist, optician and doctor. Health conditions are known about and monitored by staff but there are no formal monitoring 4 of 9 Inspection Report: SC385633 systems in place by health care professionals or a formal health care plan detailing how staff are to meet health care needs of young people. For example, in monitoring diet and nutritional intake. This increases the likelihood of issues being overlooked.

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Helping children to be healthy

Menus are not being kept of meals served in the home rather individual food intake is recorded on a daily basis. This does not demonstrate the meals on offer in the home when young people decline to eat. Although meals recorded do show that a balanced diet is being provided.

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Helping children to be healthy

Staff have received training in first aid but not in specific medical conditions like eating disorders. This limits the support they can provide to young people. Medication is safely stored and recorded on individual files. However, a central record of medication is not kept which reduces accountability.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is inadequate. There are clear policies in place for the safe management of complaints and child protection and staff are trained in this regard. Risky behaviours are identified on admission and clear strategies are in place outlining how staff are to manage such incidents. A good balance is achieved between promoting privacy and ensuring young people are safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Positive relationships exist between staff and young people. Staff have a relaxed, inclusive approach and care about the young people they look after. Unauthorised absences and self harming behaviour are particularly well managed and consistently approached which safeguards young people. The appropriate professionals are notified when incidents of concern occur which ensures a multi-disciplinary approach to care. However, Ofsted are not being notified of these issues. This is another tier in the safeguarding process.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Health and safety is well organised and the environment is well maintained. All health and safety checks are carried out at the appropriate intervals and fire drills occur regularly. However, the fire system and emergency lighting checks are not taking place on a weekly basis. This compromises safety for young people and staff.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The recruitment of staff is not robust and does not safeguard young people. Recruiting staff are not trained in safer recruitment and do not display a sound understanding of safe recruitment practice. There is no procedure for outlining best practice and as a result some staff are working with young people prior to receipt of Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks or two written references. Telephone references are not routinely verified. This increases the risk to young people of being exposed to potential abusers. However, young people are safeguarded by the management of visitors to the home.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. There is an inconsistent approach to promoting positive opportunities and support services for young people.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff know the young people well and focus their support on safety and community engagement providing some constructive learning opportunities. Staff spend one to one time with young people and endeavour to develop outside interests and support networks to help young people 5 of 9 Inspection Report: SC385633 enjoy life and achieve well. Staff are good at seeking out suitable learning opportunities for young people tailored to individual needs. Staff communicate effectively with young people using their preferred method of communication, which helps them understand their wishes and feelings.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

However, young people are not fully engaged in learning programmes despite these efforts. A lack of clear planning means that some identified needs are not well met. There are no clear programmes in place for staff to follow should young people not attend college or further training or in preparing young people for independent living. This lack of individual focus reduces life chances and increases the likelihood of learning opportunities being missed.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. The home's referral process contributes to an effective understanding of young people's needs and sound decisions are made as to young people's admission to the home.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff are consistent in their understanding of young people's needs and risks. However, there is no clear placement plan in place defining how needs are to be met and this compromises care practice. Reviews of care are inclusive and take place in a timely fashion. However, the home has still not received an up to date care plan from a placing authority following a review meeting in December. This has impacted upon staff's ability to provide more focused care and young people are not clear about their care plans as a result.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Friendships and contact are well promoted by staff. Young people say they can see their friends and family when they wish and clear records are kept by the home demonstrating that this is consistently encouraged. Staff are welcoming and the atmosphere is relaxed. Staff work well with families and friends of young people to develop support networks and encourage positive outcomes.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff work in a positive, inclusive manner and encourage young people to make choices in all that they do. Staff are sensitive to the issues facing young people and encourage them to voice their opinions. Where young people find this difficult, staff advocate well on their behalf.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is satisfactory. Pathway plans are not in place for young people in the home. This has hindered the staff's ability to produce independent programmes that are tailored to individual needs. However, a generic programme is in place and the home is working through this with young people in order to provide positive learning experiences like cooking, shopping and household management. However, the lack of individual focus is limiting and does not ensure that young people will be well prepared for life beyond the home.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home is well decorated, furnished and maintained. Young people look after the home and are empowered to make decisions about how the home is run.

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Organisation

The organisation is inadequate. 6 of 9 Inspection Report: SC385633 A statement of purpose is in place that reflects the services the home provides. However, it is misleading in some places and does not accurately reflect conditions of registration. The young person's guide to the home is appropriate in format and outlines support available to young people well.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is satisfactory. The home is good at promoting identity by maintaining positive links with young people's families and welcoming friends in to the home. Staff advocate well for young people and empower them to make choices about their lives. Staff offer young people opportunities in line with their needs, however, the lack of clear planning does not ensure that all needs are identified or fully met.

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Organisation

The home is appropriately staffed in numbers and good levels of seniority are available for staff consultation and support at all times. Staff communicate effectively and work consistently with young people. However, there is not always a balance of male and female workers on shift and this limits choice for young people.

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Organisation

Staff undertake a satisfactory induction and there are good levels of training opportunities for development. All staff are currently engaged on National Vocational Qualification courses which equip them to undertake their roles. Clear policies and procedures are in place to guide staff in all areas appropriately with the exception of a recruitment procedure. Staff offer a range of experience and there is a training plan in place identifying future needs. However, this programme is not focused to meet the needs of young people resident. Training to help staff understand and work with eating disorders and to ensure safer recruitment is not available.

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Organisation

A system for monitoring and reviewing the quality of care provided in the home is in place. However, this lacks rigour and is not linked to a development plan for the home.

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Organisation

Records held in the home are accountable. However, the absence of pathway plans, clear placement plans and health care plans do not ensure that all needs are identified and that there is a focused approach to meeting needs.

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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

3 June 2009 promote and protect the health of the children accommodated, in particular ensure that nutritional intake is monitored by health professionals (Regulation 20(1)) 3 June 2009 notify without delay the relevant persons or agencies of the matters set out in Schedule 5 in particular serious accidents (Regulation 30(1)) 3 June 2009 take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, in particular conduct fire systems checks at appropriate intervals (Regulation 32(1)) 7 of 9 Inspection Report: SC385633 3 June 2009 obtain for all staff, before they start work at the home, all the information set out in schedule 2, to include 2 written references and a criminal records bureau check (Regulation 26) 3 June 2009 keep the statement of purpose under review, in particular make clear the conditions by which the home is registered (Regulation 5(a)) 3 June 2009 ensure that all persons employed receive appropriate training,

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Due date Action Standard

in particular on safer recruitment and working with children with eating disorders (Regulation 27(4)(a)) 3 June 2009 maintain in the children's home records relating to Schedules 3 and 4, in particular care plans, central medication records and menus (Regulation 28(1)(a) and 29(1)).

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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 each child has a clear written health care plan, within their placement plan, covering all aspects of the standard (NMS 12.2) • ensure there is a written record of the recruitment process which is followed in respect of all staff (NMS 27.1) • ensure that the placement plan for the child sets out clearly the assessed needs of the child, the objectives of the placement and how these are to be met by staff in the home, including all aspects outlined in the standard (NMS 2.1) • ensure there is a comprehensive plan for young people preparing to leave care and to move into independent or semi-independent living, which specifies the support and assistance they will need to receive to enable a successful transition into adulthood (NMS 6.1) • ensure the overall compliment of staff is satisfactory in relation to meeting the individual

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Recommendations

needs of children accommodated in the home, in particular provide a gender balance on shift (NMS 29.1) • produce and implement a written development plan for the home (NMS 33.5). 8 of 9 Inspection Report: SC385633

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