Children's Home run by Castle Homes Care Limited in Birmingham

SC377825 Unique reference number 8 June 2009 Inspection date Carole Moore Inspector Key Type of Inspection

p.1

25 February 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 9 Inspection Report: SC377825

p.3

Brief description of the service

This is a small home offering care for three young people between the ages of 10 and under 18 with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The house is in a residential area, with easy access to leisure and community facilities.

p.4

Brief description of the service

The house has three children's bedrooms, a bathroom and a small staff sleeping-in room on the first floor, and a small room used as an electronic games room. There is a large living room, a large kitchen- dining room, an accessible bathroom and a staff office plus a staff cloakroom with en-suite toilet on the ground floor. There is a large paved yard and outbuilding, now registered as a school with the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF).

p.4

Summary

This was an unannounced inspection which focused on the Key National Minimum Standards in relation to all outcome areas. This related to health needs, keeping young people safe, education and how individual support is provided. The inspection also concentrated on how the home consults with young people, plan for their care and how staffing and management arrangements support the operation of the service. Two young people living in the home were present during the inspection.

p.4

Summary

The home provides an environment where individual needs are important and where staff are actively promoting their social inclusion in the home and wider community. Staff are well-organised and demonstrate a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities. Staff are supported well by the manager who has a strong commitment and focus on improvement. The home also has a clear focus on ensuring young people are protected and that known and potential risks are managed in a way that supports their safety and wellbeing.

p.4

Summary

Overall, this was a positive inspection with clear evidence of the promotion of equality and diversity and good practice resulting in positive outcomes for the young people placed.

p.4

Summary

One outstanding action and two recommendations have been raised as a result of 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

During the last inspection that took place in November 2008, six actions and four recommendations were made.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

The home was required to ensure an appropriate response is made to any allegation or suspicion of abuse, for example when a child complains following a restraint. The manager has made staff aware of the procedures, staff have received refresher training and there is now specific guidance in place following the restraint of a child.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

Young people now have a private space to make personal phone calls if appropriate. 4 of 9 Inspection Report: SC377825 The manager has a clear record of all staff as required by schedule 2, and there is now an accurate record of all staff detailing their full name, sex, date of birth, home address and qualifications.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

There is now more opportunities for leisure activities in the garden and there is always enough staff on duty who are able to drive young people to separate activities.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

Damage to the property is now dealt with much more promptly and the manager signs the home's records on a very regular basis.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

The action in relation to education has not as yet been fully met.

p.5

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people's welfare is well promoted because they are provided with a well-balanced diet that caters for their dietary needs. Staff are keen to promote healthy eating and encourage young people to understand the benefits of a healthy diet. Young people are given a choice regarding the food they eat and they are encouraged to take an active role in planning, shopping and helping to prepare the meals.

p.5

Helping children to be healthy

The health needs of all young people are promoted positively. They are all registered with a local doctor, dentist and optician. Up-to-date health plans along with separate health needs including those arising from cultural needs are in place. Medical and health records are comprehensive and clearly show that medical appointments are arranged according to needs and circumstances. Young people's needs are being closely monitored because staff are focused on achieving and promoting good health outcomes. The home actively maintains links with external agencies and professionals to ensure young people can access and receive appropriate services they are entitled to. Young people are discouraged from smoking, using alcohol and drug misuse.

p.5

Helping children to be healthy

Minimal medication is currently administered but it is stored safely and is clearly recorded to ensure young people's health is protected. The storage arrangements for the current stock of medication is in a designated lockable cabinet in the staff office that can also be locked. There are clear procedures for staff to follow and all staff are trained in the use of first aid and first aid boxes are provided within the home. Quality assurance systems are in place to confirm that policy is put into practice.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people are kept safe by a committed staff team who are supported in their work by clear policies and procedures. Young people's privacy is respected, as the home has clear guidelines on privacy and confidentiality, which are known and followed by staff and is clearly part of staff induction. Staff do not enter young people's rooms without permission, except when young people are considered at risk.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Information held in respect of young people is stored in lockable facilities which are only accessible to staff. There is guidance regarding the circumstances under which room searches can be carried out and a log of room searches is maintained. Young people now have access to 5 of 9 Inspection Report: SC377825 a telephone, which allows private conversation, when this is an agreed part of their placement plan.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has established clear procedures for dealing with any complaints or concerns and young people are confident about raising any concerns or issues with staff. Policies and procedures include information about how parents and young people can contact Ofsted. Young people also have access to an independent advocate if necessary. A bound book has been established for the recording of any complaints or concerns but there has been none since the last inspection.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's well-being is safeguarded because the home has clear child protection policies and procedures. All staff receive training in child protection and demonstrate a sound knowledge of policies and procedures and are now much clearer about the action they would take if they became aware of any safeguarding issues. They are aware of their responsibilities to report any child protection concerns. Staff monitor all visitors to the home, who are required to provide evidence of their identity and sign a visitors' book and this ensures young people are not being exposed to potential risks.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are protected from bullying behaviour because staff are aware of what they must do to prevent these circumstances from occurring. Staff and young people know that unacceptable behaviour of any kind is not tolerated and will be challenged. Staff work with the young people to develop their understanding of the diversity of the group and community and how important it is to be tolerant of others. This makes the home a safe and comfortable place to live because expectations about behaviour and conduct are clearly communicated in a way that has a positive effect on young people.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

If young people's behaviour presents increased risks to themselves such as, leaving the home without permission staff would respond effectively to try and reduce these risks. There are clear procedures for staff to follow but so far no young person has left the home without consent.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are encouraged to behave well, to establish, achieve and maintain levels of behaviour that are socially acceptable and that will sustain them in their communities. Staff are acutely aware of the need to balance their interventions with positive feedback about young people's achievements. All staff receive training in managing behaviour and physical restraints and record all incidents within a range of recording systems. Added precautions have been put in place to support staff with young people that have challenging behaviour and physical restraint is the last course of action.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Positive steps are taken to keep young people, staff and visitors safe from fire and other hazards in the home. For example, risk assessments are completed in relation to fire, potential environmental hazards and activities. Frequent checks are undertaken on fire equipment, emergency lighting and fire drills are regularly undertaken. The Registered Manager ensures that utilities, domestic equipment and vehicles are checked to ensure they are safe to use and this provides physical safety and security for the young people who live in the home.

p.6

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. 6 of 9 Inspection Report: SC377825 Young people are receiving good levels of individual support that is consistently meeting their needs. The home's staff are clearly focused on providing support for young people so they can enjoy and achieve in their education, personal and social development.

p.6

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people are receiving a considerable amount of individual support from staff and other professionals. The home works in partnership with other agencies and services to ensure young people's needs are met in a coordinated and effective way. Young people are receiving a service that can respond to their changing needs and circumstances because care and support is delivered by a committed and experienced staff team that know the young people well. Records of key worker sessions along with weekly reports demonstrates the practical support offered and this includes any religious and cultural needs a young person may have. Overall, the home demonstrates a considerable commitment to supporting and developing the young people with all aspects of their lives.

p.7

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people are benefiting from living in a home where education is given a high priority and the education facility for those young people not in mainstream school, is on site. Staff continually promote the value of education with young people and they are sometimes successful at supporting improved patterns of attendance and engagement. However the formal education provision is not full time so young people can choose not to engage in any educational activities half of the week when a teacher is not on site. Although staff may have some prepared work to deliver or to try and encourage young people to engage in educational visits, young people still can decide not to be involved as was the case on the day of the inspection. Therefore this could compromise young people's learning and preparation for adulthood.

p.7

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

There are opportunities for young people to participate in a range of appropriate leisure activities and to pursue their particular interests if they so wish which take account of their race, culture, language, religion and abilities. These include visiting the gym, swimming, fishing and other local activities. The home have now purchased with the advice from the young people a range of garden equipment to encourage them to get away from the computer games and experience fresh air and exercise. There are now adequate members of staff who can drive to enable young people to socialise in the community.

p.7

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Young people have placement plans that set out how the home will meet the assessed needs and the key responsibilities of those involved. The plan addresses any areas that arise out of a young person's ethnicity, race, disability, sexuality, faith or belief. The necessary up-to-date Looked After Children documentation is on file and a structured reviewing process is in place to continually assess young people's changing needs and to ensure positive outcomes are achievable. There is clear detailed information about involvement and the purpose and outcome of work carried out with the young person. Staff show a sensitivity and awareness of the needs of the young people and this helps the young people develop a sense of belonging and a feeling that they are valued and included. However, the home does not always record detailed information as to how young people's identity needs are to be met and some records seen were

p.7

Helping children make a positive contribution

not signed and dated. This could potentially result in young people's needs not being fully identified or met. 7 of 9 Inspection Report: SC377825 Staff within the home contribute very effectively to formal looked after review meetings. Young people are supported to attend their reviews and are encouraged to express their views and opinions about their care and future plans.

p.7

Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are provided with support to maintain contact with family, friends and significant people in their lives. Staff are knowledgeable about these details and there is clear recorded information on file about the agreed contact arrangements or the circumstances in which it can take place.

p.8

Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff demonstrate that they value the views and opinions of young people and that young people are involved in all aspects of their day-to-day care. They are given every opportunity to contribute to their own development, activities and events that take place in and outside the home. They have also contributed to the recruitment process of staff and made a positive contribution to the interview process. Staff actively and formally seek the views of young people at an individual and group level and respond in a way that values their opinions. However, there is limited recordings of this consultation with young people.

p.8

Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. The location of the home is convenient for schools, colleges, leisure facilities, transport, shops and other community facilities that are important to the young people. Its size and the arrangements of rooms suits the needs of the young people placed. The accommodation is domestic in style, homely, well decorated, maintained and furnished to a reasonable standard.

p.8

Achieving economic wellbeing

The organisation have their own maintenance team and repairs are usually dealt with promptly. The garden is large and mostly paved but there are pots of flowers which the young people have chosen and they are also involved in planting two areas of the garden with vegetables.

p.8

Achieving economic wellbeing

Each young person has a single bedroom which they can personalise.

p.8

Organisation

The organisation is good. The home is effectively managed and young people are cared for by a committed and enthusiastic team of staff who understand their role and responsibilities well. The Registered Manager provides good day-to-day support to some individual shifts and as a result is well informed about daily routines, events and the progress of each young person.

p.8

Organisation

The home provides a wide range of information about its stated aims and purpose. Young people are given a handbook that is in an appropriate format to help them learn about what the home provides. The number of staff on duty is always enough to meet the needs of young people which supports their welfare and protection.

p.8

Organisation

Staff are themselves well supported and receive regular supervision. Staff shift handovers are well planned to ensure all information is exchanged and shared. Staff meetings are held on a regular basis and form a valuable communication tool for staff to maintain their consistent approach, sort out any concerns and discrepancies and be reflective on their practice.

p.8

Organisation

The numbers of staff on duty are appropriate for the number of young people placed and rotas show there is a good balance of gender and cultural backgrounds of staff wherever this is 8 of 9 Inspection Report: SC377825 possible. There are clear arrangements in place to cover any management absence. Staff training is effective and well coordinated to ensure that staff acquire necessary skills and maintain statutory competences and the induction for new staff is well planned. The organisation is keen to ensure all staff achieve the National Vocational Qualification Level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People.

p.8

Organisation

The Manager has a robust organisational process in place to monitor and audit the quality of care being provided. Monthly monitoring reports are produced to summarise areas of the home's operation and there is a clear system in place to demonstrate that the manager signs the home's records on a very regular basis. There is further quality assurance carried out by the manager in the form of a new review of the quality of care provided and this ensures that the home can demonstrate it is operating in accordance with its statement of purpose.

p.9

Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. The young people living at the home receive an individual service, based upon their identified need and are encouraged to tolerate and celebrate diversity. All staff display a good knowledge of the young people they are working with, including their cultural background, which helps ensure that holistic needs are being addressed as far as is possible. The home has reorganised the young people's guide to promote equality and diversity and training is on the agenda for the senior team.

p.9

Organisation

Young people's case files are confidentially stored and arranged in a manner that makes them readily usable by staff and yet accessible to young people.

p.9

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.9

Due date Action Standard

1 September 2009 provide continuous education as specified in Statement of Purpose (Regulation 4(13))

p.9

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • ensure that young people's significant views, discussions and expressed opinions are recorded promptly (NMS 8.3) • ensure that placement plans for each child clearly sets out the cultural, religious. language and racial needs and how they will be met (NMS 2.1). 9 of 9 Inspection Report: SC377825

p.9