SC 040491

SC040132 Unique reference number 10 August 2009 Inspection date Chris Passmore Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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2 December 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 7 Inspection Report: SC040132

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Brief description of the service

This registered children's home provides respite care for children with autism. At any one time it provides regular, short-break care facilities for a maximum of four children, aged between five and 17 years. The service supports approximately 25 to 30 children in total. Children stay for varying lengths of time and frequency depending on their assessed needs. Most visit weekly, arriving after school and staying the night, before returning to their family after school the next day. Some stays are longer and can be at weekends or during the school holidays. Visits are regular so that children are familiar with the service and feel safe and secure.

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Summary

This was a short-notice full inspection of the home against the key National Minimum Standards for Children's Homes. It took place during the school holidays on a day when children and staff had planned activities in and away from the home. Parents' questionnaire responses showed them to be very satisfied with the service and confident that their children were kept safe whilst enjoying time with their peers. The overall judgement of the inspection is that the service continues to provide appropriate care to children and that they enjoy positive outcomes from their respite care experiences. The service is very good at meeting the diversity of needs demonstrated by the group of children receiving respite care. Staff know the children well and are able to adapt their approach to suit the individual. There is clear leadership and management and ongoing commitment to the development of services to children with individual needs.

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Summary

There are three recommendations and one action requirement made as a result of this inspection. None impact greatly on the outcomes for children but are more to do with procedure. 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

Since the last inspection facilities within the home have been improved by increased recreational space together with a sensory room and new office accommodation. No action has been taken in relation to the requirement from the last inspection to amend the layout of the sanctions log. This requirement has been carried over into this report.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Staff continue to promote the welfare of children and young people using the service by encouraging them to eat healthy food and enjoy activities that give them exercise and fresh air. There is appropriate guidance and training available to enable the safe handling of medication by staff during children's respite stays. Parents expressed their satisfaction with these arrangements and the range of healthy food on offer at the service. Children attending the service at the time of inspection were happily engaged in constructive play whilst they waited for lunch. They enjoyed a selection of food of their choosing for lunch together with a good exchange of banter with staff before packing and leaving on their planned outing to a local theme and adventure park.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. 4 of 7 Inspection Report: SC040132 The service promotes the welfare of children and protects them well. Policy and procedure is underpinned by good practice and training. Children's individual needs are well noted and known to staff who provide individually tailored approaches to respite care. Staff work together with parents and other professionals to protect children from harm and promote their wellbeing. The main issues for the home revolve around the diversity of needs of the children using the service, their appropriate grouping and the management of behaviour whilst retaining an atmosphere of fun and learning throughout respite stays. The service meets these challenges well through adaptive and reflective practice. Staff are experienced in caring for children with individual needs, they know the children and respond to their needs by using praise, reward schemes and encouragement. Inappropriate behaviour is dealt with on an individual basis usually

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

with verbal reminders. Sanctions are used infrequently and with the agreement of parents. The format of the sanctions book has not been amended to meet the requirement made at the last inspection and so is carried over. Safeguarding issues have been channelled appropriately as have complaints or concerns raised by parents. The physical environment in which the service operates is well maintained and there are good arrangements in place for the safe recruitment of staff through the central recruitment team and by the Registered Manager.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. As a respite service the main responsibility for education remains with parents and the local authority. This service supports children with their education by having them ready for school following a respite stay and by attending individual education reviews. These reviews are usually followed by in-house reviews all of which contribute to building and continuing an up to date assessment of needs for an individual child. During the school holidays there is an emphasis on respite stays being fun times using the full facilities of the service and the local leisure amenities. As such the outcomes for children at this inspection were that they enjoyed a variety of trips and outings arranged by staff, whilst children were very much part of the decision making process about where to go.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children's needs are based on those identified through Core Assessment and then written up as a placement plan for individual children. There are in house reviews and education reviews but no children are considered to be Children in Care and subject to full statutory reviews. In house reviews are held with parents and recorded with any agreed actions being fed into updated care plans for the individual. Records of in-house reviews are not always cross referenced to the detailed records for the day and therefore not obvious when case tracking.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Child in Need reviews are also held by the placing authority but the service is not always invited to attend these and there was evidence of such reviews having taken place without the Registered Manager being aware of them, or having the opportunity to contribute. Neither was there any feedback from the review to the service. This was discovered by chance when sampling information on the organisation's electronic database. Children have plenty of opportunities to contribute their views on the running of the home and activities that take place. They have been involved in staff selection and have voiced their wishes to have certain inappropriate references to the nature of the service removed from the home's paperwork. 5 of 7 Inspection Report: SC040132

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. Children using the service adapt well to their time in the home. They are familiarised with the home through tea visits first before coming for an overnight stay. Parents state their children are pleased to have respite in the service and happy whilst at the home. Stays are for minimal periods, there are only four children at any time and a lot of time is spent out of the house. When in the house there are plenty of age-appropriate games and toys to play with as well as outside activities such as the swings and soft-play areas in the garden. The new quiet area and sensory room have added to the facilities available to children and young people. Children and young people are encouraged to share staff time and the facilities of the home throughout their stays. There is continuous reinforcement of positive behaviour and the principles of communal living.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The organisation and leadership of the service is good with clear arrangements for deputisation in the absence of the registered manager. Staff receive induction training as well as annual core training and refreshers. There are opportunities for developmental training and these issues would be part of staff supervision and personal development. Staff supervision records in relation to formal and informal sessions were not up to date or showed the recommended frequency.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Staff treat every child as an individual and respond to a wide variety of needs with the same commitment and enthusiasm. There is an emphasis on enabling every child to achieve their maximum potential and to experience a range of opportunities.

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Organisation

There was good intuitive awareness and knowledge of the operating standards within the home but insufficient hard evidence to support the regular internal monitoring of standards of care being delivered. There are a number of staff vacancies being covered by regular relief staff and this situation is likely to continue until the organisational review is completed. All staff are subject to safe recruitment and selection procedures and visitors to the home are also checked in by staff. Parents expressed very positive views about the organisation and leadership of the service. They felt confident that their children were safe whilst in respite care, had good communications with staff and were kept informed of significant events.

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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 October 2009 ensure that the sanctions record book is in the required format (Reg 17(4)) 6 of 7 Inspection Report: SC040132

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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 in-house review records are clearly dated and cross reference to daily records and use 'Frameworki' to track and chase Child in Need Reviews (NMS 3) • ensure there is evidence to support the regular internal monitoring of standards of care being delivered within the service (NMS 33) • increase the frequency of staff supervision and recording of informal supervision to regain the recommended targets (NMS 28.3) 7 of 7 Inspection Report: SC040132

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