Children's Home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Wolverhampton

SC390576 Unique reference number 19 August 2009 Inspection date David Morgan Inspector Key Type of Inspection

p.1

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.

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.3

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 7 Inspection Report: SC390576

p.3

Brief description of the service

The home was registered in April 2009 and is a four-bedded home for children and/or young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is a detached property in a suburban area and is indistinguishable from its neighbours. There are good transport links with all parts of the West Midlands. Each young person has their own bedroom and there is ample communal space, including a secure garden at the rear. Two of the three young people currently living at the home contributed to this inspection.

p.4

Summary

This key inspection was announced at short notice in order for the manager to be present as it was the first since registration; all areas of care were considered. The overall quality rating and the attention to issues of equality and diversity are good. This is a positive result for the service given the short time it has been open. Although there are no major areas of concern, attention is needed to ensure all staff undertake the full behaviour management training and pay closer attention to written risk assessments, and, the recording of the process undertaken with individual admissions. The overall quality rating is good. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

This is the first report since the home opened.

p.4

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people benefit from a good range of nutritious meals that are taken with staff. They have opportunities to plan, shop for and prepare meals, and, from time to time, menus are varied to include meals enjoyed by other cultures or countries, such as The Caribbean and Portugal. This is good practice and encourages educational discussions and greater understanding of other people. Other issues that affect health, such as routine medical appointments and the administration of medicines, are addressed appropriately. Referrals are made to other professionals in order to maximize the health benefits to young people.

p.4

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people enjoy a high level of individual privacy because of the small size of the home and because they have individual bedrooms, which they can lock. Information about them is confidentially handled so that, for example, young people are not embarrassed in front of other people. Where appropriate, sensitive issues are discussed are undertaken by staff of the same gender. Where concerns or complaints arise, either by young people, or other people, appropriate steps are followed. Young people understand clearly how to make formal complaints and have the necessary written information, but most issues are resolved at an informal level. Staff are proactive in preventing young people from coming to harm, if they abscond, for instance, and have links with the necessary agencies and social workers are kept up-to-date about any 4 of 7 Inspection Report: SC390576 concerns. Young people feel they are well-protected and consider that bullying, for example,

p.4

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are assisted to develop socially acceptable behaviour through high levels of praise and encouragement of acceptable behaviour. Staff help young people to learn about appropriate behaviour, for example, encouraging them to wear appropriate clothing around the house. In this and other areas, positive role-modelling by staff is particularly effective. Young people understand and accept the system for dealing with any inappropriate behaviour, which includes sanctions such as early bedtime or less pocket money. Physical interventions are rare and suitable records are in place.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Risks to young people around the house are kept to a minimum by appropriate checks, maintenance and servicing of items such as fire safety equipment. However, certain risk assessments are in place without the stated control measures, such as staff training, being implemented. This creates avoidable risks to both staff and young people. In practice, however, the level of risk is low because of the presence of senior staff. Safety around vehicles accessing the site, for example, is well considered and pedestrian access is kept separate to help avoid accidents. Suitable recruitment procedures, overseen by the manager, mean that young people are assisted by carers who are appropriately checked.

p.5

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Close attention is given to the individual needs of young people when they need it and is of a high standard. Any issues that are raised by them, for example, in meetings, are clearly recorded and followed-up; this is good practice. Each young person has adequate, independent sources of support outside the home to whom they can refer. Some of the young people's personal education needs arising from their circumstances are addressed through formal education services, which are in place for each person, although young people are currently on their summer holidays. Particular issues, however, are also pursued by key workers during individual discussions, for example, issues arising from their cultural backgrounds. During the holidays, young people are enjoying a range of activities befitting their ages and interests. There is easy access to local parks and city facilities and young people are aware of the budgets that are

p.5

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

available for activities, such as trips. One young person said the trips were the best feature of the home.

p.5

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Young people have their needs assessed effectively and comprehensively, and these are reflected particularly well in their individual written placement plans. Consultations with young people begin prior to their admission, wherever possible, although this is not recorded. However, it is to the credit of staff that, post-admission, there is substantial evidence of young people’s involvement in decision-making and discussions, for example, in young people’s meetings. Their views are also monitored formally and their statutory reviews, which routinely involve young people, are up-to-date. Effective relationships between young people and staff are also reflected in positive working relationships with families. Liaison and contact with families is appropriate and in-line with individual young people’s placement plans. 5 of 7 Inspection Report: SC390576

p.5

Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. Young people enjoy homely accommodation, decorated, furnished and maintained to a particularly high standard. The standard of furnishings is high in communal areas and young people’s bedrooms, with contemporary leather and wooden sofas and chairs. Bedrooms are not adequately ventilated, however, and this is an inappropriate restriction on young people. Hallways have attractive, coloured-glass windows. The domestic size and presentation of the accommodation contributes to the significant efforts by staff to prepare young people for independence. They are able to contribute to all domestic activities and develop their knowledge and skills. This is supported by satisfactory arrangements for obtaining personal requisites; pocket money and other allowances are managed by staff according to individual circumstances.

p.6

Organisation

The organisation is good. The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Improvements have been made by the manager to ensure that not only are individual needs met, but that issues of diversity are routinely considered. This is reflected in menu planning, for example, and the arrangement of certain meals to reflect ethnic or regional preferences. Advantage is being taken of the locality to access events organised by the wide range of cultural and social groups in the area. Staff have access to information about religions so they are better placed to meet individual young people’s needs and this is also covered in basic training.

p.6

Organisation

Prior to and immediately after their admissions, young people receive written information and are effectively guided through the services they can expect from the home and how they will be cared for. They know about their files, which are clear and well presented. There is also an up-to-date statement of purpose that, amongst other matters, reflects the staffing arrangements. Such arrangements support young people well, for example, in terms of the numbers of staff available. There is good leadership and a team of competent staff, which receives a good level of support from management. The management structure and organisation of rotas is effective and allows a high degree of continuity of care, which is better for young people. Staffing, and other elements of care in the home, are routinely monitored by the organisation and the manager to ensure standards are maintained. Levels of staff qualification

p.6

Organisation

are satisfactory, given that approximately half of the team are currently undertaking their induction training. There is also a staff training programme.

p.6

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.

p.6

Due date Action Standard

30 September 2009 ensure all persons employed receive appropriate training, regarding behaviour management (Regulation 27(4)(a)) 6 of 7 Inspection Report: SC390576 30 September 2009 ensure that all parts of the children's home are adequately ventilated, with regard to children's bedrooms (Regulation 31(2)(a)).

p.6

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • ensure the implementation and effectiveness of action identified as a result of risk assessments is regularly reviewed (NMS 26.4) • ensure that both the needs of the child concerned, and the likely effects of his/her admission upon the existing group of residents, are taken into account, and recorded, in decisions on admission to the home (NMS 5.7). 7 of 7 Inspection Report: SC390576

p.7