Children's Home run by Stoke-on-Trent City Council in Stoke-on-Trent

SC369840 Unique reference number 24 November 2009 Inspection date Trevor Hall 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 10 Inspection Report: SC369840

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Brief description of the service

This home forms part of portfolio of services for children and families, operated by the local authority. The home provides care for up to two young people aged between 10 to under 18 years on admission, who have significant social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is a three bedroom semi-detached house, situated in a housing estate and the young people are able to access local leisure activities in the immediate neighbourhood . Staff provide transport to take the young people to those facilities that are available at a greater distance. The home provides each of the young people with an individual bedroom. To the rear of the building is an enclosed garden, which provides space for a range of activities. To the front of the building is a small garden, the home has no off-road parking facilities.

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Summary

The inspection was an unannounced full inspection, the home's last key inspection, it's first since registration was undertaken on 21 May 2008, when no actions or no recommendations were raised. The home was judged at that point to be good. This inspection looked at all key standards and several non-key standards. This inspection raised no new actions or recommendations. Young people living within this home receive good support to remain healthy and live in a home where their safety is well maintained. This home is outstanding in encouraging young people to take an active part in the way it runs and encouraging them to make the most of their potential and to make a positive contribution to the life of the home. This home is well managed because young people benefit from living in an environment that is centred on meeting their individual needs. Young people living here receive good individual support and their

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Summary

education and health is encouraged and appropriately promoted. Whilst the home on this inspection has been judged as good, it does display several areas of outstanding performance. 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 home's last inspection the home has updated and clarified the staff guidance, policy and procedures in respect of searching young people's possessions and bedrooms. This has helped young people to understand that staff have an obligation to protect their rights to privacy, but also are under an obligation to keep everyone safe.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Young people are now better protected and are kept safe as all staff have now undertaken training in implementing the local safeguarding procedures. This means that staff are more confident in their responsibilities in this area and are better informed of the local authorities' expectations.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people at this home receive an excellent service that is clearly focused on their emotional wellbeing and health needs. Staff are actively involved in engaging with young people about a range of health related issues. Young people's good health and wellbeing is being successfully promoted because staff are knowledgeable and aware of each individual young person's needs 4 of 10 Inspection Report: SC369840 and have agreed plans designed to encourage healthy habits and to improve young people's self-image.

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Helping children to be healthy

Staff provide healthy, nutritious meals that meet young people's daily dietary needs, fruit is always available and they are, within reason, able to make themselves hot drinks and snacks between meals. Young people regularly contribute to both the planning and preparation of meals within the home. Mealtimes are social occasions and are seen as an important part of daily life.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people's health and well-being are well promoted by the staff within the home. The local authority that owns this home has developed clear guidance regarding promoting and safeguarding young people's health, these are known and followed by staff working in the home.

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Helping children to be healthy

Staff take a pro-active approach to meeting young people's physical and emotional health needs. The health and care needs of young people are identified and updated regularly. The home seeks all available information regarding young people's health needs at the time of placement and registers young people with appropriate health professionals at the earliest opportunity. Young people are able to access appropriate services because the home is quick to respond to changing needs and circumstances. Young people's health needs are being well promoted because the home's records highlight the range of medical services that have been accessed. The home's manager acts as a strong advocate for the needs of young people in relation to accessing external advice and services.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people's health and safety is also promoted through the home's policies and procedures for the safe storage and administration of medication. Administration records demonstrate that staff are following pharmacy instructions in relation to the health needs of individual young people. Staff are able to respond to accidents and unforeseen medical needs because they have access to first aid boxes and have been trained in basic first aid skills. Young people's health and safety is further promoted by managers who monitor all accidents and injuries that occur in the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people are clearly benefiting from a service that generally has a good focus on safeguarding and protection matters. The home has a good range of operational policies and procedures that are used effectively to promote the safety and welfare of young people. The home has strong leadership that consistently promotes an environment where safety is acknowledged as important.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are frequently and consistently engaged by staff in how to keep themselves and others safe. Young people benefit from living in a home where there are good arrangements in place to ensure staff are trained and well informed about how to keep young people safe. Young people are protected because staff recognise and understand their role in child protection and that they know what action to take if there are concerns.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's privacy and confidentially is respected by all staff. Staff are sensitive and aware of the need to only disclose or share information that is needed to meet young people's needs. 5 of 10 Inspection Report: SC369840 The home has good policies in respect of staff entering young people's bedrooms and for conducting searches of these rooms when it is felt necessary to do so.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home's manager has an active focus on community relationships to try to ensure that the home maintains a harmonious presence in the local area. Staff and young people know that unwanted behaviour of any kind is not tolerated and will be challenged. This makes the home a comparatively safe and comfortable place to live because expectations about behaviour and conduct are clearly communicated in a way that has a positive affect on young people. Young people are able to raise concerns and complaints with staff through a well-advertised complaints procedure. Young people know how to use this procedure and feel confident in the ability of the home to listen and act on what they have to say.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home manages complaints and concerns quickly and tries to resolve complaints in a manner young people both understand and can agree with. Records of complaints, both internal and external, are comprehensive and identify clear outcomes.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home follows its own policy and procedures regarding young people who leave the home without permission; these practices are also consistent with a wider police protocol on absconding behaviour. Young people are actively discouraged from having unauthorised absences and records demonstrated that procedures are being consistently followed. Young people's protection is underpinned by individual risk assessments and clear guidance to staff about what actions to take once a young person has left the home. The home's responses to this behaviour are comprehensively focused on the needs and risks of individual young people in terms of promoting their safety. Staff in the home are focused on developing supportive and consistent relationships that encourage alternative and safer ways of behaving. Promoting young people's safety and protection is central to the operation of the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are encourage to behave well, to establish, achieve and maintain levels of behaviour that are socially acceptable and that will sustain them in the wider community. The home's records not only detail sanctions used for poor behaviour but also positive consequences and rewards for behaviour that deserves congratulation and praise. Staff are acutely aware of the need to balance their interventions with positive feedback about young people's achievements, rather than on just punishing misdemeanours. Staff are successful at helping young people change their behaviour for the better.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has good policies, procedures and staff guidance in respect of recording incidents both those that happen in the home and those that happen outside in the community. These policies enable staff to recognise incidents that are significant, particularly if they include aspects of potential risk or harm to young people.

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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, records indicate that risk assessments are completed in relation to fire and potential environmental hazards. Frequent checks are undertaken on fire equipment, emergency lighting and fire drills are regularly completed. The home's manager ensures that utilities, domestic equipment and vehicles are checked to ensure they are safe to use. Young people live in a home which provides a good level of physical safety and security.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has robust procedures in place for the monitoring of visitors to the home. Staff personnel files were not available on the inspection date, as they are held centrally at the 6 of 10 Inspection Report: SC369840 authority's human resources office. In discussion with the registered manager, however, she was able to confirm that no staff had been deployed into the home without first completing the authority's employment procedures, these procedures cover all the requirements of the relevant national minimum standards.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Young people are receiving an excellent range of individual support and guidance that is consistent with their identified needs. Staff have a positive attitude towards education and take a keen and active interest in young people's development and learning. Young people are living in a home where they can consistently enjoy and achieve.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff have access to a comprehensive range of information that identifies specific needs and support for each young person. A key worker system is in operation where a member of staff takes some responsibility for the delivery and monitoring of a young person’s care and support. Records also take account of potential needs in relation to a young person's diversity such as identity, race, culture and religion. Although some individual support is delivered through key worker arrangements, this process is not promoted to the exclusion of other staff offering support. It is clear that staff in the home work as a team and young people are able to approach all staff for help and support.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff actively promote the social inclusion of young people in the home's daily routines and events. Young people are supported to access and attend various community-based activities and venues according to their own choices and preferences. Staff are keenly supporting young people to develop their own interests and hobbies because significant attention is being paid to this area of personal development and growth. The registered manager reviews and updates assessments so staff are informed about what they can do to reduce potential risks to young people.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people's care and support is also clearly focused on their overall plan of care, matching the placing authoritiy's aims and objectives in relation to future plans and placements. The registered manager and staff have a strong focus on organising themselves around young people and their needs which supports improving outcomes for each individual.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The home has a clear education policy which includes the active promotion of education through partnership working with other agencies and professionals. Staff are comprehensively informed about the progress young people are making because regular contact takes place between schools and the home. As a result of this, young people's attendance at school is excellent and as a consequence their academic achievements are significant. Young people are making a success of school because staff promote education in a way that is effective and relevant to them. Young people are living in a home where they are motivated by a staff team that understands and values the importance of education.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Planning the care received by each young person living at this home is particularly effective because each individual has a placement plan that identifies the purpose of the placement and how the placing authority's care plan for the young person will be progressed. Case files confirm 7 of 10 Inspection Report: SC369840 that the young people's progress is reviewed within the statutory time periods. Staff attend regular in house meetings to record and update each young person's general progress during the interim period. Monthly reports are completed by key workers and the home prepares chronological reports to keep placing social workers and when appropriate, parents informed. Placement plans include summarised health and education plan details.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are appropriately supported to maintain contact with their families in line with arrangements detailed within their care plans. Young people are supported by staff wherever necessary during family visits. Placement plans and supportive case file records make explicit the authorised arrangements for contact between each young person, their family, friends and professional workers such as social workers.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The home's records confirm that young people are actively involved with the decision-making processes within the home. Regular informative dialogue between staff and young people takes place when considering any issues that affect the running of the home. Key work sessions consider child-related issues such as confidentiality and how feedback from young people should be acted upon in a safe and meaningful manner. The interactions between staff and young people reveal that the home continues to provide a relaxed setting where the involvement of children is used to positively shape the nature of the care provided.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff meeting minutes demonstrate that issues with young people are dealt with using a consistent, safety conscious approach within clearly agreed parameters. The young people’s meeting records, key worker sessions and the home’s general records continue to support the view that staff are enabled to offer realistic boundaries, be consistent in practice and promote the welfare of each young person in a positive manner.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is outstanding. Young people receive adequate allowances to cover personal requisites and clothing and are well informed about their entitlements due to good arrangements and systems in place to manage allowances, personal needs and pocket money. Key workers are responsible for ensuring young people maintain an appropriate stock of essential clothing. Once these are established and maintained, the young people are at liberty to save their money for special items of choice. Pocket money is clearly recorded and paid to young people on a weekly basis.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people living at this home are appropriately supported to prepare for leaving the home whether this is to return home, to alternative carers or to move into independent living. Young people, when appropriate, are provided with properly constituted pathway plans, agreed by the placing authorities which give focus to preparing young people to appropriately leave the home. Preparation for leaving care and acquiring the skills for successful semi-independent living are an integral part of the care packages currently being provided by the home.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people live in a well-furnished property with good domestic style facilities. The home is located in a semi-rural location and despite its location has good access to all local amenities.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Overall, this is a homely and comfortable care setting which is decorated and furnished to a good standard which creates a pleasant living environment. The home provides the right environment to ensure the social and personal needs of each young person are being met. 8 of 10 Inspection Report: SC369840 A programme of maintenance and repair is ongoing, however, this does not impact on the care young people receive. There are good systems in place that recognise maintenance issues and those with health and safety implications are rectified as a priority with evidence that demonstrates the owners invest generously in the home.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. This is a well managed home which contributes to the positive impact of the care and support young people receive. The home's manager provides good day-to-day support to individual shifts and as a result they are well informed about daily routines, events and the progress of each young person. Staff know and understand the stated aims and objectives of the service which is consistent with the statement of purpose. The commitment from staff is a strength of the home and most absences are covered from the existing team, or cover staff, who are already known by the young people, to ensure their continuity of care. Young people are well informed about what the home does because staff take time to explain and describe its services and how they can be influenced to suit individual needs.

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Organisation

The home provides a good 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. The owning organisation has an induction, core training programme and support system in place that helps to provide staff with the necessary skills and knowledge to support and care for young people.

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Organisation

The local authority that runs this home has an appropriate induction, core training and support system in place that helps to provide staff with the necessary skills and knowledge to support and care for young people. Young people are receiving good support because most of the staff team are qualified and suitably experienced. The majority of staff are qualified to National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People.

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Organisation

There is good leadership and management support because the registered manager is qualified, skilled and experienced and provides strong and effective leadership to the staff team and young people. The registered manager is actively involved in the day-to-day operation of the home and has clear expectations that the staff team will achieve the best possible outcomes for all young people in their care.

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Organisation

Good emphasis is given to staff training and development which is focused on areas relating to young people's needs. Staff receive regular one-o-one supervision from the home's manager. Good management systems are in place to share information between different shift teams. Young people are being nurtured and comprehensively supported because their needs are being met and risks are managed in a preventative way. Young people are provided with appropriate levels of supervision and support because staff manage their time effectively and are deployed in a way that meets their needs.

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Organisation

The staff rotas are flexible to meet the changing needs and circumstances of young people. There are clear and accountable systems in place for staff to deputise in the absence of the manager. Good management systems are in place to share information between different shift teams. 9 of 10 Inspection Report: SC369840 The promotion of equality and diversity is good. All of the home's recording systems take account of potential needs in relation to a young person's diversity such as identity, race, culture and religion. The home provides an environment where the value of equality and diversity is understood, promoted and celebrated.

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Organisation

Good systems are in place to monitor the service and daily lives of young people currently living in the home. The local authority who run the home has established a pattern of management monitoring and reporting procedures, which is effectively implemented by the home's manager. The organisation conducts monthly review visits to look at welfare issues within their homes. Records seen demonstrate that the content of these reports reflect an accurate picture of life for young people resident here. These reports are available to staff.

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Organisation

The home's manager is actively monitoring and evaluating the practice standards of staff and the quality of services being provided. Managers take an active role in the evaluation of the service and the impact the home is having on the care of young people. The manager has access to feedback from placing authorities, parents and young people. Areas for improvement are quickly identified or anticipated and positive steps are agreed and implemented to overcome any difficulties and to carefully plan the development of the service.

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Organisation

Young people’s care files are very well organised to include all of the information detailed in Schedule 3 of the Children's Homes Regulations 2001. Confidential or third party information is kept in a separate section of the care file to enable the home to respond, in a timely manner, to any request made by a young person to read their care file.

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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

There are no recommendations. 10 of 10 Inspection Report: SC369840

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