Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

SC039248 Unique reference number 7 December 2009 Inspection date Elaine Clare 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 6 Inspection Report: SC039248

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Brief description of the service

The home is registered to provide a service for six young people of either sex aged from 13 to 17 years. The home has single occupancy bedrooms on the first floor and communal rooms and offices on the ground floor. It is owed and run by a local authority.

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Summary

This interim announced inspection took place on 7th December 2009. The inspection looked at all of the key standards in staying safe. Some of the key standards in achieving economic wellbeing and organisation were also inspected to assess whether requirements and recommendations made following the key inspection of the home in May 2009 have been met. Young people participated in the inspection. This inspection found that leadership and management of the home is satisfactory with action having been taken to meet all previous requirements and recommendations. Young people are helped to develop a responsible and mature approach to problems and satisfactory progress has been made in helping them to reduce offending behaviour. 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

At the last key inspection in May 2009 there were five requirements and three recommendations made. The home has address all the issues to a satisfactory standard.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Young peoples files contain a separate health plan which clearly states what support and guidance is being offered to the young people with their health issues. The plans had not been dated or signed and there was no area for review but overall an improvement had been made. The files also contained personal education plans for those young people attending school. A home placement plan for three young people looked at found information held about each young person and a plan on what the home was doing on a day-to-day basis, again these were not signed by the young people so it was unclear if they agreed to the plan or had any involvement in the drawing up of the plan.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The home is notifying Ofsted when it is calling the police to the home: Although the frequency with which the police are called has not reduced, Ofsted are now fully aware of the situation within twenty-four hours of the incident occurring.

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Improvements since the last inspection

There is a concern about the location of the home and this has been raised to management by the area homes manager, the registered manager of the home attends the local police meetings at the community centre and encourages the young people to enjoy activities the home and staff can provide rather than venture into the community. The anti-climb devises have been removed from the exterior of the property.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The lounge and activity room have been decorated to a good standard and the young people were looking forward to trimming up for Christmas.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is not judged. 4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC039248

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Physical arrangements in the home promote the privacy of young people. Confidential information is stored securely and young people can lock their bedroom doors if they want to. Young people say that staff treat them with respect and do not enter their rooms without knocking.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home informs young people of their rights to make a complaint and supports them to do so if they request help. Young people are well informed about the various avenues available to them to make a complaint and have access to advocates. Records show that complaints made directly to the home and the organisation are taken seriously and a response provided.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has appropriate systems and procedures in place to protect young people from abuse. Guidelines and policies are in place for staff to follow to promote the safety of young people and to protect them from possible abuse. Staff also have access to the local safeguarding child protection procedures. All staff have received child protection training within the last two years and the manager indicated the intention to arrange refresher training for all staff. Ofsted is not aware of any safeguarding concerns regarding the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people and staff report bullying not to be an issue. Young people are managed well and like living together. The home encourages them to pursue their individual interests alongside those that they do together. This strategy recognises their individuality and reduces the time they spend together, thereby limiting the potential for conflict. Staff do however recognise the potential for bullying to occur and have identified strategies for helping young people to deal with it should it ever become an issue.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Since the previous inspection of the home in May 2009, there have been a large number of incidents of young people being absent without permission. Young people are aware of the expectations about going out and coming in times and conform to these. There is a clear system for the recording and reporting of any event where a young person is absent without consent.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Relationships between staff and young people are good. Staff assist young people to develop socially acceptable behaviour through encouragement, reinforcement and positive behaviour incentives. The use of physical intervention and sanctions are moderate. Records are kept of incidents of sanctions and physical intervention with most of the information recorded conforming to standards and regulations.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The health and safety policy and practice guidelines within the home are robust to ensure that the staff and the young people are appropriately safeguarded. Young people and staff periodically practise fire evacuation procedures and all fire and health and safety records are clear and up to date.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff recruitment procedures were inspected as part of this inspection. Recent recruits underwent a thorough recruitment procedure and all evidence was available on file, this includes references and evidence of criminal record checks. There are no outstanding requirements or recommendations concerning this issue. 5 of 6 Inspection Report: SC039248

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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

There are no recommendations. 6 of 6 Inspection Report: SC039248

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