Children's Home run by Friends Therapeutic Community Trust in Cambridgeshire

SC025733 Unique reference number 19 March 2010 Inspection date Kay Mehrtens Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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6 October 2009 Date of last 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: SC025733

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Brief description of the service

The home is a therapeutic community specialising in work with young men aged between 16 and 19 years on admission, who have been identified as perpetrators of sexual abuse, which can include serious criminal offences. Some young people may also have been victims of abuse.

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Brief description of the service

The home provides a therapeutic programme, designed to assess and offer treatment for the abusive behaviour. Young people have an individual therapeutic programme (ITP) which is constantly adjusted and updated to prepare them for eventual reintegration into the community.

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Summary

This visit was an unannounced inspection of the service. Some standards identified by Ofsted as key areas of care in respect to staying safe were inspected. There were no actions or recommendations made at the last inspection. The home continues to provide an outstanding standard of care for young people. The overall quality rating is outstanding. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

No actions or recommendations were made at the last inspection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Staff show respect for the privacy of the young people and for maintaining appropriate levels of confidentiality. Young people have single bedrooms and have times for personal space. The culture of the home is very much focused on respecting everyone's rights, including the right to privacy, recognising the limitations placed on the young people linked to the need for different levels of supervision.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a clear complaints procedure and information about this is available to young people. From observation and comments, it is evident that staff encourage and support the young people to be open and free to voice any concerns or issues. This is achieved both informally and in the community meetings held three times during the day. These meetings form a focal point for staff and young people to look at and discuss events and issues in an open, respectful manner. They provide a safe and supportive place for young people to share their feelings and opinions. Issues are talked about openly and outcomes are resolved through discussion and negotiation.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a clear procedure for reporting and responding to child protection concerns and has links with the local safeguarding team and other statutory agencies. Staff are all trained in child protection and safeguarding issues are discussed regularly at their team meetings. Their comments demonstrate a good understanding of child protection issues, the risks associated with the young people they care for and the importance of listening to and supporting them. 4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC025733 Young people have a comprehensive risk assessment in place which highlights specific issues in relation to their behaviour which may present risks to themselves or others. Risk assessments are regularly reviewed and amended in response to the individual progress of the young people during their time at the home. These are linked to the risk of young people leaving the home without permission and identify the individual levels of supervision for young people. There

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

have been no incidents of young people leaving the home without permission. Clear polices and procedures are in place should it ever occur. There are robust systems in place for staff to know the whereabouts of the young people and to monitor their attendance at education or activities.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

As with other aspects of care in this home, the culture of the home and the programme provides young people with ample opportunities to safely share and discuss their feelings about different aspects of life in the home, including bullying. This can include the community meetings, key worker or individual therapy sessions, all of which are effectively used by the young people. Records show that any incidents of bullying are reflected back to the young people and taken to the community meeting for discussion.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All young people have individual treatment plans that include their emotional and behavioural needs. Staff are all trained in safe intervention techniques and the rare use of any physical restraints is testament to their positive approaches to working with the young people in their care. Young people are continually expected to look at their behaviours and the effect and impact on themselves and others. They are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions and any sanctions imposed are put in place following discussion and negotiation. Incidents and events are recorded on the home's significant events records which also includes records of restraints and sanctions. Incidents of restraints are rare and sanctions are few. The records are detailed and effectively analysed and monitored by the manager. However, they are kept in the same document and not separately, the rationale being that there are so few. Young people

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

say that they have found their time at the home and the experience of the programme beneficial. They say that they feel safe and have learnt to look at their behaviours and responsibilities. It is evident from records, comment and observation that young people's personal growth and awareness is effectively nurtured and developed through the positive as well as challenging approaches used at the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has risk assessments for all aspects of safety within the home and surrounding grounds. The assessments include health and safety, fire and young peoples behaviour and activities. Risk assessments are taken into account when planning daily activities in the home and for trips, outings and holidays. All staff and young people are given fire safety instructions and there is a good awareness of fire safety in the home. Fire drills are carried out regularly and detailed records are kept. Health and safety issues are well monitored and allow for any trends to be easily identified and addressed. Records pertaining to health and safety are extremely well maintained.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Recruitment and vetting of staff is appropriately robust ensuring that young people are cared for by staff who have been subject to checks including; enhanced Criminal Records Bureau checks, two written references, confirmation of identification and a full work history including explanations of any gaps in employment.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is not judged. 5 of 6 Inspection Report: SC025733

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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 that records of restraints and sanctions are kept in separate dedicated bound and numbered books. (NMS 22.9) 6 of 6 Inspection Report: SC025733

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