Children's Home run by Break Charity in Norfolk

SC025718 Unique reference number 22 July 2009 Inspection date Jan Davies Inspector Key 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 8 Inspection Report: SC025718

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Brief description of the service

This children's home is owned by a registered charity that also owns a number of other children's homes and a residential family centre in the county. The charity also offers a residential respite care service for children and adults with physical and/or learning disabilities.

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Brief description of the service

The home provides long-term accommodation for up to five young people, aged eight to 18 years of age. A condition attached to the registration of the home is that there must not be more than a five-year age gap between young people. The end-terrace house is on three levels and situated in a residential area near to the town and community facilities. Accommodation comprises of a lounge, sitting room, kitchen diner and utility room. On the first and second floor there are seven bedrooms, bathing and toilet facilities and an office. There is an enclosed garden to the rear of the property. Parking for staff and visitors is on the road outside the home. Two young people were accommodated at the time of the inspection but only one young person was present during the inspection.

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Summary

This was an unannounced full inspection where all key National Minimum Standards were reviewed. Judgements have been made under each outcome area and the overall judgement of the service is good.

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Summary

Children are cared for by experienced and well-trained staff, children's health is supported and they are provided with a balanced diet. However not all essential information was available for all young people placed despite the home's efforts to obtain this. Children are consulted about their individual care and about day-to-day living within the home. They receive a good level of support and are encouraged and supported to achieve within education. Children's individual needs are identified through the reviewing process and reflected into their care plans. 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 three recommendations raised at the last inspection. Evidence from this inspection has assessed that all of these have been fully addressed.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Pathway plans are available for young people which specify the support and assistance they will need to receive to enable a successful transition into adulthood. Placement plans include clear descriptions of the measures the home has put into place to prevent any incidents of bullying. The records of sanctions and disciplinary measures include the views of the young person concerned and the effectiveness of the measure.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people are assisted to make healthy food choices and nutritious meals are provided in consultation with them. The home has put on themed food evenings to engage young people in thinking about meals of other cultures and staff encourage useful discussion about this at the meal table. Young people are provided with the opportunity to eat healthily. 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC025718 All young people are registered with a local health surgery, and routine appointments are arranged for them with medical and dental practitioners, including preventative health measures and advice. Children can choose whether or not to be accompanied by a staff member for medical appointments. The home has good links with external professionals to access consultation and individual counselling services for children. Children are actively discouraged from smoking, drinking alcohol and taking illegal substances and are given opportunities to

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Helping children to be healthy

discuss these issues openly with their key workers and with their peers.

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Helping children to be healthy

Medicine is safely stored and administered and staff are up to date in their training. Clear medical information is available on young people's files about immunisation, allergies and previous illnesses. Most young people have comprehensive health plans within their individual files in line with the Looked After Children documentation. However in relation to a recent admission not all the essential information was supplied prior to the young persons stay and the home had compiled a health care plan based on verbal information. Children's health needs are not fully met without a robust health plan in place on admission.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Staff are sensitive to the need to protect young people's privacy and information is shared only on a 'need to know' basis. There is a policy on confidentiality that both staff and young people are aware of and say that it works. Young people are aware of how to make a complaint, should they have need to do this and say that any complaint they might make would be treated seriously and they would be told about its progress. Risk assessments address any potential risks to young people both inside and in the community for example where the staffing ratio is provided specific to the identified problem.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are policies and procedures in the home to keep young people safe and these are understood by all staff including new staff who receive child protection training initially as part of their induction. Staff are aware of the situations that require them to report an incident to the authorities but there have been no situations warranting this. There have been no instances since the last inspection of young people going missing without obtaining permission and young people say they feel safe and well cared for by staff.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are also kept safe by good staffing ratios and vigilance. Staff training is up to date and recent for de-escalation of challenging behaviour and restraint situations. Restraint incidents are fairly rare. However records show that there have been a couple of situations where staff have had to intervene to restrain a young person in order to keep everyone safe, timescales including the duration of restraint was missing on one of these leaving children potentially less well protected.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is careful selection and vetting of all staff and visitors to children and young people and the monitoring prevents children being exposed to potential abusers. All staff, including the most recently appointed, are appropriately recruited and a good training programme promotes staff retention and provides continuity of care for children. There are risk assessments for the building and these also ensure that health and safety checks occur for any difficult or potentially dangerous activity. Fire records demonstrate that drills and routine checks on equipment are timely and maintenance occurs as planned. Children and young people live in a home that provides safety and security. 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC025718

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Young people receive individual support when they need it for example being helped with driving lessons as a way of accessing a part time job and greater independence. Staff support young people with their arrangements for attending the school that is most suitable for them or assisting them to continue at the school they were attending prior to admission to the home where this is considered in their best interests.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children whose placement plans specify access to external services such as counselling or disability or learning aids are assisted by staff to obtain what they need. Each child's file contains a copy of their personal education plan setting out a record of their educational achievements and history. Educational success of young people is celebrated by staff and each child is given access to a range of educational facilities to promote their individual learning needs. Staff attend school functions as appropriate in the absence of a child's parents. Children's education is promoted as valuable in itself and as part of preparation for adulthood.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Tea time meetings are opportunities for children to meet with staff and other young people to discuss the general running of the home. The home has only videos and games certified as suitable for children of the intended age range. Young people over 15 years would only watch certified 15 videos when not in the company of the younger children in the home. Children are able to pursue their particular interests and are supported and encouraged by staff to do this.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children and young people have most of their needs assessed and are placed in the home appropriately. However, and despite requesting this from the placing authority, the home has not received essential information for all children placed as required under the Looked After Children legislation. All children's needs are not fully assessed prior to placement.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Reviews take place on time and young people are encouraged by staff to contribute as fully as possible to their own reviews and communicate their views. Young people's needs and development are regularly reviewed by the statutory review process and as a result their care is appropriately progressed in the home.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people have their family contact appropriately encouraged and planned for and they are guided by staff who they trust to support them with the practicalities of visiting arrangements. There is mutual respect between staff and young people. Children are able to maintain constructive contact with their families as appropriate.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. Young people enjoy homely accommodation and the home is equipped with age appropriate facilities that young people can enjoy in their spare time including football/pool table and games room.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Key workers help young people to prepare for adulthood and independence in line with their individual pathway plans and care plans as appropriate. These identify how young people receive 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC025718 support both financial and practical to enable them to make a successful transition into independent or semi independent living or a return to their family. Financial assistance is available to young people for example for driving lessons as an aid to independence. Also the daily life of the home provides opportunities for all young people to develop knowledge and skills needed for future independent living for example assistance to cope with the routines of work.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home is clean and tidy and a new bathroom was being installed at the time of the inspection. Generally repairs are promptly dealt with and maintenance good.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. There is good information for young people and their families guiding them through the services they can expect from the home. This also gives information about the staffing structure and includes a statement about how the home operates. The children's guide contains information about how they can get access to an independent advocate and make a complaint, including the role of Ofsted if involved in the complaint.

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Organisation

Staff are well trained for the job they do and the variety of the care task. New staff receive induction training to prepare them for their role. They receive one week of training covering key areas, followed by three shadow shifts with experienced staff. A good training programme is available to further develop knowledge and skills. There is a percentage of over 80% of staff who have achieved the appropriate level of National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) as a minimum and staff are also well supported in their role by regular supervision. Young people receive the care and services they need from competent staff.

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Organisation

Staffing levels are sufficient to meet the needs of young people and any staffing shortfalls are being covered by the use of established bank staff and full time contracted staff working additional hours. There is good staff morale, staff work well as a team and there is good communication throughout the home. Staff meetings are regular and all staff are properly managed, supported and understand to whom they are accountable.

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Organisation

The registered person of the home, or an appropriate person on their behalf, monitors and compiles a report on the operation of the home at least once a month. There are no specific trends indicated since the last inspection. The manager monitors and adapts the arrangements for the care of children accommodated in the home according to information about how it is operating.

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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

30 September 2009 ensure, before providing accommodation, there is a placement plan for each young person setting out the arrangements made 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC025718 for health care; this refers to not all young people having the essential information relating to health needs for the care plan at the time of admission [Regulation 12 (1) (b)]

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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 the records of the use of restraint on a child by an adult includes the duration of the restraint and any consequences of the restraint; this refers to the duration of holding to keep young people safe (NMS 22.9). 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC025718

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