Children's Home run by Surrey County Council in Surrey

SC040638 Unique reference number 22 June 2009 Inspection date Kerry Fell Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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26 November 2008 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 8 Inspection Report: SC040638

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Brief description of the service

The home is one of eight local authority children's homes and caters for eight young people of either gender. The home supports children and young people whose main need is their emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Brief description of the service

The house is set in a residential area and is in easy walking distance of the local town centre and its amenities, which include a shopping centre, park and library. There are bus links near the home and there is a train station nearby.

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Summary

This was an unannounced key inspection. All of the key National Minimum Standards were inspected, and the home's response to an action made at the last inspection was reviewed.

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Summary

This is a good service, with elements that are excellent. The home has an experienced and stable staff team, all of whom hold a National Vocational Qualification at Level 3 or Level 4. The staff have a positive and commendable approach to the promotion of education and supporting young people to move on to independence. 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

Action has been taken by the home to ensure that fire doors are not propped open. Where necessary specialist retainers have been fitted to doors.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The home has regard for the promotion of healthy eating and balanced diets.

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Helping children to be healthy

A designated member of staff oversees menu planning and food shopping. Staff encourage young people to be part of menu planning and the weekly shopping. Menus are displayed in the home and offer a variety of meals. Young people confirm that the meals are of a good standard and that they can choose when they eat. Young people are able to prepare snacks and drinks throughout the day. Young people stated that staff always remind them of healthy eating.

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Helping children to be healthy

Placement plans identify any medical or health needs, and staff actively provide support or seek additional support from specialist community teams.

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Helping children to be healthy

Trained staff are available in the home to offer counselling and promote cessation for young people who may use illegal substances, cigarettes and alcohol. Trained staff are also available to promote sexual health.

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Helping children to be healthy

The home is about to introduce a new medication administration and management procedure that has been produced in conjunction with an external consultancy. The new procedure has excellent detail and is supported by service specific training. 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC040638 The current procedures are sound, and staff practice reflects these procedures. Only a small amount of medication is stored and administered. Good records are maintained of all medication received and administered. Staff audit medication well, and staff sign and counter sign the administration of controlled medication in the general medication administration record, but not in a bound and numbered log.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Staff practice promotes confidentiality and respects young people's privacy.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The young people have access to a telephone, as well as being provided with a phone card or credit for their mobile telephones.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are given guidance on when their rooms may be searched. Staff complete forms with the young people prior to a search being completed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Information is displayed around the home about what young people should do if they are not happy about something, this provides better information about how to raise concerns than the formal complaints procedure produced by the local authority.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The manager records all compliments and complaints received. Records of complaints demonstrate a sound approach to the resolution of concerns. Where necessary young people can access advocacy services, and are supported by the National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS). The home has received a number of compliments, which include letters from adults who used to live at the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff know how to respond to safeguarding concerns and allegations. Staff have easy access to policies and procedures and are supported by documents on display in the home and by access to training.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff have access to good procedures with regard to countering bullying, the absence of a young person and behaviour management.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The behaviour management policy is being updated by the local authority. Although the current document contains out of date information it is supplemented by a clear acceptable sanctions chart. Staff review this chart as the needs of the group of young people change. Separate guidelines and training documents are available on the use of positive options, the home's programme of physical intervention and behaviour management, as well as behaviour management risk assessments.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are given clear guidance on acceptable behaviour and physical intervention in the young person's guide.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Records of physical intervention are held. These records demonstrate that staff use physical intervention rarely, demonstrating excellent use of other redirection techniques and positive reinforcement.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has agreed a missing person protocol with the police, and staff follow this robustly. Staff endeavour to maintain contact with young people when they are absent from the home 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC040638 without permission. Staff take proactive action to find and support young people to return to the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has good regard for health and safety. Staff have received training in fire safety procedures, and know the home's evacuation procedures. Fire evacuations are undertaken as required and are monitored by a fire safety officer. Records of fire alarm checks are well maintained. Fire equipment is maintained by an external agency.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Certificates are available to demonstrate that the gas and electrical testing is completed annually.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has an excellent approach to ensuring that young people are safeguarded by the staffing of the home. The home has a stable staff team. Personnel files contain relevant recruitment checks, including evidence of Criminal Records Bureau disclosures being obtained and updated, and written references. Agency staff used and approved by the home have a profile card that includes information about their experience, qualifications, training provided to them by the home, and that their recruitment checks and Criminal Records Bureau disclosure has been seen by a senior member of staff.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

When staff are recruited they are invited to attend joint recruitment events, where staff are interviewed by panels of young people, undertake role play events as well as completing formal interviews and essays.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Staff provide young people with individualised support. Placement planning identifies the young person's individual support needs, and how the staff will meet these. Support is sought from external agencies as required.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people think that staff are approachable and confirm that they are allocated link workers as well as case workers who ensure that their needs are identified and met.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The home actively promotes education. All of the young people either attend school or other educational provision for example additional learning programmes or colleges. The home also has a classroom area for use if young people are out of school.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The school liaises with a 'virtual head' that is provided by the local authority. The virtual head works closely with the personal education plan coordinator.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff have an outstanding approach to supporting young people back into education, for example, where young people may have been out of school for some time, or where there is some resistance from the school over the young person's return.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Staff complete placement plans that supplement the looking after children documentation provided by the local authority. These placement plans contain aims and targets in areas such as personal health, home and family. Staff also complete risk assessments that identify areas of vulnerability and risk to themselves and others. 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC040638 The home offers emergency and crisis placements, however where possible staff support the young people to move into the home in a planned way. Young people confirm that staff visited them prior to their move to the home. Staff also gave examples of how they work with the family and the young person to assess their needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff stated that the young people's files grow with them during their time at the home, and this is demonstrated by the development of the files as staff work closely with social workers, and the young person in their first weeks at the home.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Placement plans demonstrate how contact is supported, and where there may be restrictions on contact. Staff have a positive attitude towards building relationships with the young person's family in order to promote contact and support the young person.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff are actively involved in reviews and placement planning meetings. Young people are supported to put their views across in their review meetings, even if they do not wish to attend the meeting themselves.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The young people are encouraged to raise their views in house meetings, however attendance is generally low.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are supported by link workers and case holders who are able to promote the young person's views on an individual basis. Staff seek the young person's views about their day-to-day life, and young people are able to approach any member of staff.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is outstanding. Staff have a highly dedicated focus on the pathway planning process therefore providing excellent support to young people who are moving or have moved onto independence.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Staff support the young people through the assessment and planning process, and detailed records of this are maintained on the young person's file. Outreach services can be provided to young people who have left the home.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home is maintained to a high standard and is kept clean and orderly. Staff are quick to report maintenance issues and damage to the maintenance team. This demonstrates a clear respect for the young people and the environment in which they live.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home provides good facilities including a range of communal areas for leisure, education and relaxation, and a large garden.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people have their own bedrooms, and they are encouraged to personalise them. Where possible staff involve the young people in decisions about redecoration.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The home has produced a highly detailed statement of purpose, and a shortened version is available to be sent out to parents and other parties. The home produces an outstanding young person's guide that has been written in a clear and supportive manner, with a friendly tone. 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC040638 The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Staff demonstrate a sound awareness of promoting anti-discriminatory behaviour between the young people, and towards staff. Individual cultural, religious and ethnic needs are identified during the assessment process, and are identified within the placement plan.

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Organisation

The home has a stable staff team, that includes a large number of highly experienced staff who have worked at the home for a long time. All staff hold an National Vocational Qualification at Level 3 or Level 4. Some staff are also qualified social workers.

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Organisation

All staff have completed core training, and the home has an excellent system in place to track and book staff on to training courses.

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Organisation

Staff rosters ensure that sufficient staffing levels are available to meet the needs of the young people, and the same approved agency members of staff are used by the home to ensure consistency and that staff are sufficiently knowledgeable and skilled to work with the young people.

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Organisation

The monthly auditing visits are completed as required under Regulation 33 of the children's homes Regulations 2001, and detailed reports of these are available.

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Organisation

Staff keep well maintained records for the young people, that contain the information as required by the children's homes Regulations 2001. Staff will actively seek up to date information from social workers when this is not forthcoming.

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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): • introduce the use of a bound log to record the administration of controlled medication (NMS 13) 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC040638

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