Children's Home run by Suffolk County Council in Suffolk

SC037256 Unique reference number 3 March 2010 Inspection date Shaun Common 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: SC037256

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Brief description of the service

The home provides care and accommodation for seven young people between the ages of 11 to under 18 years. The home accommodates young people who have emotional, behavioural or mild learning difficulties. The home is situated in a residential area close to the seashore. The accommodation comprises of a dining room, lounge, kitchen, laundry and games room. Young people have their own bedrooms with en-suite. In addition, there are two semi-independent flats which each have their own entrance, dining/living area, kitchen and bathroom. There is a grassed garden to the front and rear of the building and an area for off-road parking. At the time of inspection, the home was providing accommodation for a maximum of three young people due to undergoing a refurbishment.

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Brief description of the service

The home accommodates up to seven young people and three were present at the time of inspection.

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Summary

This unannounced interim inspection assessed the progress of the home.

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Summary

The inspection assessed all key standards in the outcome area of staying safe. The inspection did not assess outcomes in the areas of being healthy, enjoying and achieving, positive contribution, economic wellbeing and organisation.

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Summary

The home has strengths in the positive relationships that staff develop with young people and in positive behaviour management. The home has robust recruitment processes. The overall quality rating is good. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

There were no areas for improvement identified at the last inspection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people's privacy is respected and they have locks on bedroom and toilet doors. The home has had new en-suite facilities installed in young people's rooms which affords them a high level of privacy. Young people have access to a telephone and have personal mobile phones with credit provided regularly. They can therefore keep in touch with people important to them. The home does not have a central record for when searches are carried out of young people's belongings in the interests of their welfare and safety. However, these matters are recorded in young people's daily records.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are freely accessible complaints forms and a record for any complaints made. Young people know how to complain. A children's rights officer visits the home each month and spends 4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC037256 time with young people. They therefore have access to a system that promotes and protects their rights. However, information for young people about complaints is very limited.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a copy of the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures which is accessible to staff. However, they do not have their own child protection procedures for staff to access and follow to help them safeguard young people. There have been no child protection referrals since the last inspection. Staff know and understand the procedures to be followed should there ever be an allegation or suspicion of abuse at the home. Young people said they felt safe at the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has in place a countering bullying policy to assist staff in safeguarding young people. Incidents of bullying are minimal and addressed by staff when they do arise. The home also has a comprehensive unauthorised absence policy and protocol developed with the local police force. Staff know and follow the procedure. Each incident is recorded fully. There are sound systems and processes in place that consider each absence carefully.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff and young people have positive relationships. The home has behaviour management policies that underpin staff's work with young people. Sanction and restraint records are fully completed on each occasion and show measures imposed help to positively shape young people's behaviour. Young people are encouraged to write or have their views recorded and to sign the record. This helps them develop understanding and responsibility.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Risk assessments that consider young people's known and likely activities are in place, up-to-date and help staff to keep young people safe. Most health and safety matters are managed effectively, such as very regular fire drills and the maintenance and checking of fire equipment, gas boiler and portable electrical appliances. However, neither the fire risk assessment nor the generic premises risk assessment have been updated in the last 12 months. The building is undergoing a refurbishment and these matters are central to keeping young people safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has policies and procedures for the recruitment of new staff. Staff files examined contain all required information to show procedures are being robustly followed. This ensures staff employed are the right people to work children.

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Organisation

The organisation is not judged. 5 of 6 Inspection Report: SC037256

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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

31 March 2010 prepare and implement a written procedure for the children's home which is intended to safeguard children accommodated from abuse or neglect; include the matters set out in NMS 17 and Regulation 16 (Regulation 16) 12 March 2010 ensure unnecessary risks to the health and safety of young people accommodated are identified and so far as possible eliminated; specifically by reviewing the fire risk assessment and generic premises risk assessment at least annually or when changes to the property occur. (Regulation 23)

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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): • provide each young person, in a suitable summary or format, with a copy of the complaints procedure; ensure the matters set out in NMS 16 and Regulation 24 are summarised in the procedure provided to young people (NMS 16) • submit the child protection procedure, when devised, to the Local Safeguarding Children Board for consideration and comment. (NMS 17) 6 of 6 Inspection Report: SC037256

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