Children's Home run by Platinum Services for Children (Residential Care) Ltd in Staffordshire

SC378181 Unique reference number 15 September 2009 Inspection date David Morgan 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: SC378181

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Brief description of the service

The home is one of two children's homes located in a small cul-de-sac a short drive from the centre of town. It provides care for up to two children or young people aged from eight to 18 years who have emotional or behavioural difficulties. The property is a four bedroomed detached house that was built in 2008. It is in a suburban area with shops close-by and ready access to the countryside. Each child has their own good sized bedroom, one with en suite shower and toilet, and there are gardens at the front and rear. The young person who lives at the home contributed to this report.

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Summary

This full inspection was undertaken with the minimum of notice necessary to ensure staff were present. This report covers all aspects of care and concludes that the overall level of care is satisfactory as is the attention to issues of equality and diversity. Since last time, when the service was found to be inadequate overall, the manager has effectively addressed the wide range of issues raised, ranging from medication administration systems and room searches to ensuring polices reflect the adjacent children's home. Fire safety measures and recruitment practices are amongst other important areas that have also been improved. Overall, the service has made marked progress but there remain matters to address that require clear leadership. These shortfalls include: insufficient application of risk assessments; insufficiently close links with other households with which young people have substantial contact; and importantly

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Summary

inadequate professional supervision of the manager, which is necessary for the effective operation and development of the service. This report reflects the fact that the current young people are away from the property for extended periods. Therefore, the nature of the work that staff undertake has an unusual focus, often being off-site, with less emphasis on the normal outcome areas. 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, improvements have been made to the medicine storage and administration procedure to make it safer for young people. This includes contracting with Boots to supply medicines in a monitored dose system. There is now closer attention to vehicle checks. Safety has also been improved by installing thumb locks on external doors so staff and young people can exit more easily in an emergency, such as a fire. Fire safety has also been improved further by closer attention to staff training during drills. Amendments to the recruitment policy mean that there are satisfactory levels of safety for young people in this area too. The privacy of young people has been improved by undertaking bedroom searches only when they are supported by an individual risk assessments. Their individual needs are also more thoroughly addressed because the format of placement plans has been altered. Any new

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Improvements since the last inspection

young people and their social workers now benefit from an amended children's guide, statement of purpose and procedures that take into account the other children's home next door.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Progress has been made on the quality assurance systems, but there remain gaps in the quality assurance consultations with young people and other stakeholders. On the other hand, the manager has reviewed all the policies and procedures, which staff are now reading. This plays 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC378181 an important part in ensuring that a satisfactory quality of service is provided to young people. Staff training and an audit of the training that staff have completed are ongoing, but training does not yet cover all the required areas. This means that outcomes for young people are reduced. Of key importance is the training and professional support of the manager. They have now completed a professional qualification in social work and is undertaking a management qualification. However, their professional supervision remains unsatisfactory.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Young people spend a substantial amount of time away from home, but staff ensure there is fresh food available. Staff occasionally provide support with meals elsewhere as part of transitions to independence. Young people have ample opportunities to plan, shop for and prepare their meals. Appropriate records about this are kept. Other health needs are clearly recorded and monitored. Staff support young people well in their dealings with health professionals, such as doctors. Risks to good health, such as smoking, are identified and addressed, and there are suitable arrangements in place for medicine administration and storage. Pharmaceutical advice and support is now available from Boots, which will help to provide a safer service to young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Young people’s privacy is respected and information about them is confidentially handled. However, insufficient attention is paid to providing guidance about electronic monitoring within the house, which is in the form of an alarm. Such monitoring is more restrictive than is currently necessary, for example, regarding access to the kitchen, and poses an unnecessary breach of young people’s privacy.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are aware of the processes to follow if they wish to make a complaint and suitable policies are in place. The welfare of young people is otherwise protected adequately and is promoted as much as possible. Staff liaise with other professionals, such as the police, in order to protect young people. Social workers are kept up-to-date with significant issues, such as when young people are missing. Bullying does not occur because of the small size of the unit and appropriate policies are in place.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are helped to develop socially acceptable behaviour through encouragement, such as by providing rewards. Appropriate responses to inappropriate behaviour include the loss of privileges. Physical interventions are used as a last resort and have not occurred since the last inspection, which is positive for all concerned.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home provides young people with appropriate levels of physical safety. Security measures are generally satisfactory and any lessons are integrated into policies by the manager. For example, safety is addressed by keeping the policy for the selection and vetting of all new staff under review and amending it when needed. Risk assessments are in place, but do not adequately address the risks from young people smoking in the en suite bathrooms.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is inadequate. 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC378181 Individual support is provided when young people need it, but is not of an acceptable standard. In cases where young people are off-site for substantial periods, for example, as part of their pathway to independence planning, there is insufficient risk assessment of, and liaison, with new carers. This means there is insufficient support and protection of young people in these circumstances.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Also, whilst significant on-site risks are identified in placement plans, they are not always acted upon effectively. This applies to smoking in en suite bathrooms and sharp objects in bedrooms that could be used to self-harm.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

On the other hand, there is good direct work with young people based on effective relationships between them and staff. Appropriate support is also provided to young people with their education and the staffing ratios mean they are able to pursue personal interests with individual input from staff. Staff are now systematically addressing issues of cultural and religious diversity so that young people learn positive messages about matters that affect them directly or indirectly.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Staff maintain constructive and professional relationships with young people in occasionally challenging circumstances. This is an important feature in achieving as good results as possible, for example, regarding decision making by young people.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Appropriate procedures are in place for admissions and discharges, and also internal and statutory reviews of young people’s welfare. Statutory reviews are up-to-date and young people are encouraged to be involved. However, if they do not attend the home does not tell them the outcome, which means they are less well informed than necessary; this is not satisfactory.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people have appropriate individual placement plans outlining how their needs and any new needs identified at reviews will be met and implemented. Religious and cultural issues are considered, as are family contact arrangements. Staff ensure that contact meetings are attended and that young people are supported. Particular efforts are made to ensure young people, who may be distracted by other interests, are prepared and arrive on time. However, whilst there is constructive contact between staff and parents, there is no system of consultation with them or placing authorities about the operation of the home. This means there is insufficient input to quality reviews by these important stakeholders.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is satisfactory. Young people benefit from individual attention from staff who are able to adapt training for independence according to young people’s needs. This is kept under review in order to engage young people in the best ways. In addition, there are routine opportunities for young people to learn skills that will help them in the future, for example, regarding domestic matters and budgeting.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The style and location of the property facilitate independence training. However, although the property is of a high standard of presentation in most areas, bedrooms are not subject to routine monitoring. As a result, hygiene (such as old meals and en suite cleanliness) safety (such as 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC378181 broken furniture) and maintenance issues (such as loose door handles) are below an acceptable standard.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The promotion of equality and diversity is satisfactory. Staff now follow a plan to regularly discuss religious and cultural issues, such as festivals, with young people; this is good practice. Literature is also available for reference purposes. This is an important part of the education, in particular, of young people who consider themselves to have no needs of this sort. The individual needs of young people arising from their need for equality, their social circumstances or behavioural difficulties are recorded and planned clearly in their files.

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Organisation

Young people benefit from a fully qualified staff team that receive regular supervision and has access to up-to-date policies. There is a high level of staff consistency and young people have the opportunity to establish strong relationships with familiar adults. Staff display a high level of competence and the manager is professionally qualified. There is also a good level of staffing available at all times, as reflected in the statement of purpose. However, there is no professional supervision of the manager, staff training is incomplete regarding working with families off site, which is particularly relevant at present. Procedural guidance is necessary regarding prolonged visits to other households, maintenance of standards in bedrooms and electronic monitoring.

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Organisation

Responsibility is taken by the manager to ensure that improvements are undertaken. Informed leadership, with its own sources of professional support and guidance, remains critical to the effective operation of the home. The welfare of young people is monitored on a regular basis through a system involving both the manager and the responsible individual. However, it is not clear how the provision is adjusted as a result. A development plan is in place now and there has been consultation with placing authorities, but there is not a system for improving the quality of the service in the way required. Most of these issues do not have an immediate or direct impact on young people, but they do mean that future improvements will be less well informed.

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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

16 October 2009 ensure that monitoring devices are not used in a children's home, except for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting welfare, and ensure the measure is no more restrictive than necessary, having regard to the child's need for privacy (Regulation 22(d)) 16 October 2009 ensure unnecessary risks to the health or safety of children are identified and so far as possible eliminated, with regard to 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC378181 smoking in en suite bathrooms and other safety issues in bedrooms (Regulation 23(c)) 16 October 2009 ensure there is proper provision for the welfare of children, with regard to other households they stay at (Regulation 11(1)(a)) 16 October 2009 ensure that all parts of the home are kept clean and maintained, with regard to children's bedrooms (Regulation 31(2)(e)) 16 October 2009 ensure that all persons employed receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal, including the manager (Regulation

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Due date Action Standard

27(4)(a)) 16 October 2009 ensure there is a system for improving the quality of care, and, ensure that it provides for consultation with children, their parents and placing authorities (Regulations 34(1)(b) and 34(3)).

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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 that written copies of reviews are made available to children and they are assisted to understand them (NMS 3.6) • ensure the opinions and views of parents (unless inappropriate) and placing authorities are ascertained on a regular and frequent basis about care, the home and its operation (NMS 8.6 and 8.10) • ensure staff are provided with written guidance on the home's procedures and practice, regarding visits to other households, maintenance of standards in bedrooms and electronic monitoring (NMS 28.8) • ensure action is taken to improve or adjust provisions where necessary, with regard to the recommendations of Regulation 34 monitoring reports (NMS 33.1). 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC378181

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