Children's Home run by Norfolk County Council in Norfolk

SC068076 Unique reference number 4 December 2009 Inspection date Clive Lucas 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 7 Inspection Report: SC068076

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Brief description of the service

This children’s home is run is by a local authority; it provides short-term placements. It is a semi-detached property in a small village and is registered for two young people aged 11 to 17 years. It has a living room, dining room, conservatory and kitchen on the ground floor. On the first floor there are two bedrooms for young people, a bathroom and two bedrooms for staff. A shower room for staff is situated on the ground floor together with domestic style laundry facilities.

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Summary

This inspection was unannounced and covered all of the key national minimum standards.

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Summary

Overall the home provides a good level of care for young people who live there. Outcome groups for being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, positive contribution, economic wellbeing and organisation are all judged as good. The promotion of equality and diversity is also good. The home provides a stable and safe place for young people to live in, and helps them to prepare for a move to a more permanent placement. 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 actions or recommendations outstanding from the previous report.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people are encouraged to eat a healthy diet. Staff are aware of health issues that affect young people's diets and work to address these. However, the written plans for young people are not fully up to date and so staff practice is not always in line with these. Young people's individual health needs are thoroughly addressed. There are clear records that show the involvement of health services to meet identified needs and regular discussions at team meetings that cover young people's health in detail. Senior staff at the home have identified some inconsistencies in records of young people's medication. They have taken steps to address this and current records are comprehensive and clear. There are very occasional times when there is not a member of staff on duty who has a suitable first aid qualification and so young people may not always receive appropriate first aid should they need it.

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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 staff have guidance on privacy and confidentiality. There is a very accessible complaints procedure for young people and others, which is displayed on the home's notice board. It includes contact details for Ofsted and is available in different languages and formats. Young people also get information on making complaints in the children's guide. There is a pay telephone for young people to use, with helpline numbers clearly displayed. Complaints are responded to appropriately and records are kept of complaints and their outcomes. The welfare of young people is promoted and they are protected from abuse and 4 of 7 Inspection Report: SC068076 bullying. An appropriate response is made to any allegation or suspicion of abuse. All staff receive safeguarding training; some staff have also had specific residential safeguarding training. The potential for bullying is covered in risk assessments which are undertaken for all young

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

people who are considered as likely to move into the home. While no bullying has been reported in the home for some considerable time, staff support young people who may be experiencing bullying outside of the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is good guidance for staff on how to respond to young people who are absent from the home without authority. There have been very few such absences in the last 12 months. Records show that there is an appropriate response to all such cases. However, one recent instance of a young person being absent without authority was recorded in their detailed records, but not the missing from care file, as the young person had not been reported missing to the police. The Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and national minimum standards require that all absences are recorded and that they are monitored by the Registered Manager. If they are not all recorded in the same place this will limit the effectiveness of any monitoring. Furthermore, if the designated form is not used there is the potential for records to fail to cover all of the areas set out in the national minimum standards.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is a sound system for behaviour management. Very few sanctions are used and those that are used are appropriate and are monitored by the manager. Young people are encouraged to sign the sanctions records and sometimes do so. Good behaviour is recognised and celebrated. Some staff have undertaken training in restorative justice and most staff have had training in managing challenging behaviour and restraint. Some relief staff, who regularly work at the home have not yet had restraint training, although it has been requested and is booked for January 2010. As there are often only two staff on duty, if one has not had training in restraint, this has the potential to limit the effectiveness and safety of any restraints that may be necessary. There have not been any restraints used at the home since July 2009, reflecting a very settled period. The restraints prior to this are properly recorded and include comments

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The young people live in a home which provides a good level of physical safety and security. Risk assessments are effectively used to identify and reduce risk. There is a comprehensive system of fire safety checks and drills so that staff and young people know what to do in the event of a fire and equipment is maintained in good working order. There is careful and appropriate vetting of staff who work in the home and monitoring of visitors to the home. In this way the potential for young people being looked after, or having contact with unsuitable adults is minimised.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Young people receive a good level of individual support. An independent reviewing officer commented in a pre-inspection survey that the home offers stability, a nurturing environment, a place to feel safe and an opportunity for young people to express themselves. Young people's individual needs are discussed at regular team meetings and all young people have a statement on equality and diversity, which comprehensively covers their needs and any issues relating to equality and diversity. They are given support in relation to personal, health, social and sex and relationship education. Young people are encouraged and supported to take part in education and educational achievements are celebrated. There is a good selection of books in 5 of 7 Inspection Report: SC068076 the home, suitable for a range of ages and interests; there is also a computer with internet access.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Young people have their needs assessed and identified in written plans, which cover the areas set out in the Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and national minimum standards. These plans are regularly reviewed and are mostly accurate. However, some areas relating to health are not up to date. The plans have an identified space for young people to sign them, but not all plans are signed and there is no recorded reason why this has not been done. Young people are supported to be involved in their statutory looked after children reviews. Staff are effectively made aware of the discussions and decisions at these reviews, so that any changes in plan can be implemented without delay. Young people are able to maintain contact with their families. They have easy access to a telephone and are provided with money to make regular phone calls as well as mobile telephone credit. Staff also support young people to have a good level of

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff help young people to move into the home. They will visit young people before the move and they have a book of photographs of the home that they take to show young people. They also use this opportunity to begin to find out about young people, including their likes and dislikes. There is a comprehensive written assessment undertaken before any new young person moves into the home. This is done to assess whether that young person's needs and the needs of any existing young people in the home can all be met and that the placement is suitable. Young people at the home are consulted about the day-to-day running of the home as well as their future plans. This is done through key worker sessions and residents' meetings, as well as through informal discussions when the opportunity arises.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. Young people receive care which helps to prepare them for adulthood. They are encouraged to develop skills such as self-care, cooking, shopping and budgeting. In addition to this they are given opportunities to develop responsibility. While none of the young people currently at the home are of an age when they have formal leaving care plans, these skills will help them cope with adulthood and independence. The accommodation is of a very good standard. It is homely, well decorated, clean and tidy. Young people have individual rooms and there is plenty of communal space.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. There is a Statement of Purpose and children's guide, which provide the information set out in the Children's Homes Regulations 2001. The children's guide is available in other formats such as large print, Braille, audio or different languages, and so is widely accessible. Young people are cared for by a staff group that is competent and experienced. Consequently they are able to provide a good level of care. Overall there are sufficient staff working at the home. Relief staff are used to cover any sickness or absences. The use of a small number of relief staff is beneficial to young people as it allows them to form relationships with staff and not have their attachments overly disrupted. In the absence of the Registered Manager, the senior 6 of 7 Inspection Report: SC068076 residential worker would take on the day-to-day running of the home, with a more senior manager overseeing it. There is a good programme of training to help staff meet the needs of

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Organisation

the young people in the home. However, a few staff are not up to date with core training such as first aid and restraint, although this has been requested by the home. Relief staff have the same access to training as full time staff.

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Organisation

The care of young people is monitored by the Registered Manager and an external person who provides reports to senior managers. In this way any shortfalls can be identified and addressed and the level of care can be improved. The manager signs records to show that he has read them and prepares a monthly report covering the issues set out in Schedule 6 of the Children's Homes Regulations 2001. Copies of inspection reports are easily available to staff and young people in the home. Young people's files are well kept and reflect their needs, development and progress. They will be a source of information for young people if they wish to look at them in the future.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Young people's individual needs are identified and clearly recorded. Staff work to meet these needs. They also provide appropriate role models, avoiding stereotypical roles within the staff group.

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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

29 January 2010 ensure that there is at all times at least one person on duty at the children's home who has a suitable first aid qualification. (Regulation 20.2)

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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 written records are made of the circumstances of all incidents of absconding, all action taken by staff, the circumstances of the child's return, any reasons given by the child for absconding and any action taken in light of those reasons (NMS 19.6) • ensure that all staff are trained in the use of physical restraint (NMS 22.8) • ensure that the placement plan for each child sets out clearly the assessed needs of the child, particularly in relation to their health needs (NMS 2.1) • ensure that children know the content of their overall care plans and placement plans, according to their level of understanding. (NMS 2.6) 7 of 7 Inspection Report: SC068076

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