Children's Home run by Sandcastle Care Limited in Blackpool

SC363398 Unique reference number 25 September 2009 Inspection date Stephen Trainor 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: SC363398

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Brief description of the service

This privately run children’s home was registered in February 2008 to care for up to six children and young people of both sexes, from the ages of 10 to 17 years old. The home cares for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Education is provided outside the home. The organisation responsible for this home has recently opened its own school which is registered with the Department for Children, Schools and Families. Three young people were accommodated at the time of this inspection and it was possible to speak to two of them about their experiences.

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Brief description of the service

The property is a large terraced property with sufficient rooms for young people to pursue their leisure interests and hobbies. Each young person has an individual bedroom. The home does not have a garden. There is on street parking to the front of the home.

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Brief description of the service

Public transport routes connect the home with the local community and the national rail link. Shops and supermarkets are easily accessible within the surrounding community. The young people can gain access to many community resources including parks, beaches, cinema and sports and athletics facilities.

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Summary

This inspection was unannounced and comments on the two outcome areas Staying Safe and Organisation. Progress against recommendations made during the last inspection was evaluated.

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Summary

The homes operation is steadily improving and the quality of staff practice continues to develop. A reduction in the number of residents living at the home has helped residents to experience stable placements. Residents achieve well especially in school and college placements.

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Summary

Staff are properly recruited and they receive good training. Management support is well coordinated and this means staff continue to develop skills and knowledge suitable to care for and manage the young people. The accommodation is safe and there is satisfactory resources. Staff practice embraces equality and diversity principles throughout the range of services being provided. There is consultation with professionals, including police, in supporting placements. Partnership working arrangements are evident with parents.

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Summary

Staff are properly recruited and they receive good training. Management support is well coordinated and this means staff continue to develop skills and knowledge suitable to care for and support the young people. The accommodation is safe and there are satisfactory resources. Staff practice embraces equality and diversity principles throughout the range of services being provided. There is consultation with professionals, including police, in supporting placements. Partnership working arrangements are evident with parents.

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Summary

Quality assurance systems demonstrate that the management team are reflecting on practice to continually develop the service in line with new initiatives and past recommendations made during Ofsted inspections. There is a development plan for the home outlining further areas that can be improved.

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Summary

This report highlights recommendations to support practice developments. Written information is not comprehensive in some areas. Recording, filing and archiving of important information is not well managed. This means a clear overview cannot be gained on a few incidents that 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC363398 have occurred. No direct safeguarding concerns were evident as a result of these administrative oversights. All staff have not yet attended training covering equality and diversity and the correct percentage of staff holding level 3 National Vocational Qualifications is not met. The Registered Manager is still to complete a management qualification. 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

Limited progress has been made against some of the recommendations of the last inspection. Many were still in the process of being addressed and are repeated within this report.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Checking systems operated, for the times when agency staff, are used are now clear. The medicines policy is improved and includes details on how to manage medicines when the young people are on leave. The maintenance response is better coordinated and this means a good first impression is gained when visiting the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. The management team continues to invest time in establishing the home's operational systems. Steady progress has been made since the home opened. Ongoing improvements continue to be made with staff practice and the home's management and operation. The management team has restricted accommodation to three residents at present and this has had a tremendous stabilising influence. Planning has become more proactive and this has resulted in greater enthusiasm to attend college and school placements. Incidents of misbehaviour have reduced and there has been less police involvement. The young people are stable in their placements and the amount of cooperation being extended to staff is vastly improved. Placements continue to be managed using multi-disciplinary responses. The selective vetting of future referrals and admissions to the home should mean that the peer group dynamic remains manageable.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Reporting systems and actions taken in the past in response to significant incidents have been appropriate. There is some internal scrutiny of records and practice enabling issues to be identified. Efforts continue to be made to ensure reporting on incidents is transparent. There is still no final outcome statement on a complaint investigated through safeguarding procedures. This was discussed at the last inspection. Missing records, including accident and room search information was noted. It is not possible to cross reference important information outlined within official notifications due to administrative oversight. Staff receive ongoing safeguarding training to respond to allegations or suspicions of abuse. Policy and procedural guidance has been established and it is consistent with local safeguarding team protocols. Suitable safeguarding and complaints information is provided for the young people. The young people

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

No concerns relating to bullying were evident. Behaviour management plans and risk assessments are agreed as part of placement planning arrangements. These plans contain good detail and are regularly reviewed and updated. Risk assessments highlight concerns and vulnerability if 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC363398 the young people were to go missing. A police protocol is established. Strategies to reduce the number of incidents reported to the police have not always been successful.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are many opportunities presented for discussion and consultation on the placement arrangements. The young people's privacy is respected. This is clearly evident in how the daily routine is managed and within how information is shared and recorded between staff.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All staff are trained in methods and techniques if physical intervention is required. Records on incidents are maintained. Staff show that they possess skills to support young people's needs. The key worker role has been influential in keeping residents committed and focussed on their futures. Staff uphold children's rights and present opportunities that allow young people to achieve and develop to their potential. Sanctions when used are appropriate and importantly, the reasons why they may need to be applied, were understood by the young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A coordinated response is taken to health and safety. Records are maintained within a central file. Certification is held to show servicing and maintenance of the fire system and extinguishers, personal appliance testing and electrical and gas installations. There is a valid certificate of public and employee liability insurance. No hazards were observed to the young people's safety. This home was registered by Ofsted in February 2008. The accommodation was scrutinised as part of this process.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A random selection of personnel files was viewed which confirmed that a robust checking system is in operation throughout the staff vetting, recruitment and selection process. All staff have Enhanced Criminal Record Bureau checks completed prior to working their first shift. A proportionate decision making process is followed when staff clearance checks reveal cautions and convictions. This organisation is an equal opportunity employer. No agency staff members have been used between inspections. A sensible gender mix and age range of staff work at the home providing suitable role models. Vetting of visitors to the home is routinely undertaken, with identity checks being carried out before access is permitted.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The team of staff working at the home provide a reasonably consistent response to meeting the needs of the residents. The home's management took the decision to restrict the number of young people living at the home to three. The group dynamic is more manageable and this means the young people are experiencing more stable lifestyles. This is particularly evident in school and college attendance.

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Organisation

Staff afford good support to the young people living at the home. The key worker system is particularly effective. Staff teams have suitable skills to lead and manage their shifts. Staff 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC363398 morale is good. External management support remains available out of normal office hours. Staff are clear about their roles, balancing their work so that the needs of the young people resident can be met whilst ensuring the necessary administrative tasks and general duties are being undertaken. There were some difficulties in accessing information in the office in the absence of the Registered Manager. The system for archiving information was unclear. An administrative oversight meant some important accident records had not been completed. Young peoples health and welfare needs had been addressed despite this oversight.

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Organisation

Staff were well supported and receive good access to training. The investment in staff training means greater continuity with staff practice. Staff have personal development plans and an annual appraisal process is followed. New objectives are being set for staff development. Not all staff members have completed their equality and diversity training. Equality and fairness is reflected within staff's practice to ensure positive experiences continue to be gained. Staff turnover since the last inspections has meant the previously high percentage of staff holding level 3 NVQ has been reduced. New staff to the home have been enrolled on this training. The night staff working also have access to this training and this will strengthen the workforce throughout the 24 hour period.

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Organisation

Staffing details are outlined within the home's statement of purpose. Rotas provide a suitable gender and age mix. The Registered Manager does not yet have a formal management qualification. Services and the home's operation have improved, albeit, slowly in some areas since the home was registered in February 2008. Staff have written guidance, policies and procedures to support their practice. A homes development plan is established to support continuous development.

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Organisation

Monitoring processes are in place to monitor the home’s operation so that standards are maintained and improved. Reports are maintained in-house and are made available to those permitted to read them. The opinions of people connected with the young people are sought, however, there is still limited written evidence of effective consultation. This is required to form a clear view of the standards of care being provided and this is a vital component of any quality assurance process. The home's management forward these reports to Ofsted in line with a new protocol.

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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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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • ensure the home's recording logs can be cross referenced accurately to capture all events and incidents when they occur (NMS 20.3) • establish accurate records when room searches occur (NMS 9.8) 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC363398 • review strategies aimed at reducing the number of times that the young people go missing without permission from the home (NMS 19.8) • establish full records on safeguarding matters investigated (NMS 17) • formalise pathway plans for young people approaching transition (NMS 6) • ensure all accidents, especially those resulting in visits to the hospital, are recorded in the correct log book (NMS 33) • improve records on consultation between the home's management, social workers and family members (NMS 32) • ensure all staff complete equality and diversity training (NMS 31)

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Recommendations

• ensure 80% of the staff team working at the home hold a relevant National Vocational Qualification (NMS 29.5) • complete all relevant training for the post of Registered Manager (NMS 34.3) • organise archived files to allow easy access to pertinent information and ensure all archived information is retained in a safe place. (NMS 35 Regulations 28 & 29) 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC363398

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