Children's Home run by Blackpool Borough Council in Blackpool

SC033611 Unique reference number 26 February 2010 Inspection date Elaine Clare Inspector Random Type of Inspection

p.1

6 October 2009 Date of last 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 6 Inspection Report: SC033611

p.3

Brief description of the service

This children’s home is operated by a local authority. It provides a short break care service for 10 children and young people aged between five and 17 years. The home is a two-storey building with communal rooms, including lounges, a dining room and sensory room on the ground floor and single bedrooms and an office on the upper floor. A vertical passenger lift allows access to the first floor. Externally there is a garden with play area and lawn.

p.4

Brief description of the service

The home is situated in a residential area, within walking distance of the town centre and is near to local shops. It is close to local bus routes, which provide easy access to a range of shops and leisure facilities. The home has a car to help children access the community.

p.4

Summary

This unannounced inspection was the second visit to the home for the year April 2009 to March 2010. The service was judged as good at the key inspection, undertaken in October 2009. The aim of this inspection was to inspect those standards that ensure the young people are safe and to inspect the progress made in implementing the actions and recommendations previously made. The visit provided the opportunity to meet with the manager, some of the young people and the care staff.

p.4

Summary

There continue to be many good arrangements to keep the young people safe and their well-being is at the heart of how the home is run. There were no actions or recommendations made at this inspection. 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

At the last inspection there was one action raised to improve the Regulation 33 visits to the home. This has been completed to a satisfactory standard.

p.4

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The young people's privacy continues to be respected and information about them is handled with discretion. Any room searching, entering of rooms or sharing of personal information is underpinned by comprehensive policies. Although the young people need supervision and care, the staff recognise the importance of maintaining their privacy. Good sized bedrooms and bathrooms provide space for personal care; the staff are sensitive in their approach to this care and this enables the young people to learn about personal issues and how to manage their personal hygiene. Wherever possible, a mixed staff group is on duty enabling a sensitive approach to be taken to gender issues.

p.4

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The staff recognise that all the young people have the right to complain; they believe that their concerns must be taken seriously, investigated and action taken. Similarly parent's views are 4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC033611 considered to be important; any concerns are acted upon and they are kept informed. Appropriate telephone numbers are publicised to enable staff, parents or the young people to contact independent organisations if they prefer. Good records are maintained and are reviewed as part of the home's quality assurance.

p.4

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The staff recognise safeguarding concerns and past practice demonstrates that they respond appropriately. The Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures are readily available for staff to refer to and the organisation also has its own child protection policies. Sound recruitment procedures require that all staff have an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) disclosure before employment.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The staff are very alert to what constitutes bullying and adopt good strategies which keep its incidence

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

minimal. Risk assessments determine likely triggers and the staff employ strategies which allow the young people to have the time and space they need. In addition, good staffing levels enable the young people to be well supervised whereby the risk of any intimidation is greatly reduced.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Similarly, the staff have clear strategies to reduce the risk of the young people becoming absent. Those young people at risk are identified, supervision is very good and the staff are responsive; there has been no incidence of a young person going missing.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The good measures employed to manage the young people's behaviour result in appropriate sanctions being given. These are reviewed and changed depending on their effectiveness. Physical intervention is also used but only if an individual is at risk of harm. These are well recorded. The logs are included in the home's quality assurance monitoring; the management of behaviour is included in the report to fulfil Regulation 33. The staff are well trained in behaviour management techniques.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Good measures are in place to maintain the safety and security of the young people. Appropriate safety checks and risk assessments are undertaken and the home has public liability insurance. There are good arrangements for the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health and positive steps are taken to protect against the risk of fire and other hazards. There are regular well-organised fire drills and good arrangements for monitoring the fire procedures have been introduced.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Visitors and contractors are well managed; they are required to show evidence of identification, to sign the visitor's book and are supervised while on site. The manager continues to lead the recruitment of new staff; her organised and thorough approach ensures a robust process, to protect the young people. Formal interviews are held, enhanced CRBs are sought for all new staff and references are applied for prior to employment. Evidence of identity is held on file and all staff have a job description for their role.

p.5

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is not judged. 5 of 6 Inspection Report: SC033611

p.5

Organisation

The organisation is good. Regulation 33 monitoring visits take place on a monthly basis.

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

Recommendations

There are no recommendations. 6 of 6 Inspection Report: SC033611

p.6