Children's Home, Residential special school run by Rowden House School Limited in Herefordshire

SC035625 Unique reference number 10 February 2010 Inspection date Julian Mason Inspector Random 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 6 Inspection Report: SC035625

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Brief description of the service

The service is an independent 52 week residential school approved under the Education Act 1981. The school is registered to accommodate up to 44 boys and girls aged between 11 to 17 years. The school provides education and care for young people whose special educational needs are recognised as benefiting from this integrated provision.

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Summary

This was an unannounced interim inspection. The visit concentrated on the two statutory requirements and one good practice recommendation made at the last key inspection in June 2009. In addition, key national minimum standards within the Every Child Matters outcome area for staying safe were inspected.

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Summary

At the last key inspection the school was assessed as good. Following this inspection this overall judgement remains the same. This judgement will be reviewed again at the service's next full inspection when all key national minimum standards will be re-assessed. 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

Following the last inspection, the school was required to make improvements to young people's placement plans, the recording of sanctions and to hold staff team meetings more frequently.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Care staff now have access to an improved placement plan format which provides them with the necessary information about each young person's needs. Improvements to the recording of sanctions and the frequency of staff team meetings have not been fully achieved. Consequently, one statutory requirement and one good practice recommendation have been repeated.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people are provided with a residential service that promotes their safety and welfare. This is because managers and care staff are clearly aware of their responsibilities to safeguard and protect each young person. The school has well known child protection procedures and all staff attend practice training that is consistent with their job roles. Overall, managers have consistently referred safeguarding matters and concerns to the local social work duty team. Where the school's policy has not been followed, senior managers have robust systems in place to evaluate these circumstances and to implement any resulting actions to achieve required referral and reporting standards. This demonstrates that the school is consistently focused on ensuring all young people are protected.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Further positive steps are taken to ensure young people are safeguarded. For instance, they are provided with staff who have been properly checked and vetted before they start work in 4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC035625 the school. Young people's privacy and confidentiality is maintained and their rights are effectively promoted because staff fully understand and embrace their role as advocates.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff monitor the whereabouts of young people at all times to reduce the likelihood of them leaving the school site without permission. Many young people are allocated a member of staff to be with them on a daily basis to support and guide them through their domestic and school routines. Staff are vigilant when carrying out these duties and provide the right balance between managing risks and supporting independence. To support staff in this work, a small number of young people wear handling belts to assist with the management of their behaviour. Although the use of a handling belt is assessed along with issuing basic practice guidance to care staff, this method of physical restraint is not included in any individual behaviour management or intervention plan. In addition, the use of a handling belt is not reflected in the school's behaviour management policy or formal staff training. Young people do not fully benefit from this form

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

of intervention because it is not completely integrated into the school's behaviour management frameworks.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are encouraged and supported to manage their relationships with peers and carers with respect and consideration. Staff receive regular training in a range of behaviour management strategies and methods of physical intervention. Staff practice is guided by individual assessments and intervention plans that outline key information about how to help each young person with their behaviour. Care and attention is taken by a multi-disciplinary team of staff to develop supportive, individual programmes that help young people with their social interactions and relationships. Residential care staff are involved in the development of these plans but have less opportunity to discuss the effectiveness of the agreed strategies because team meetings are infrequent and not consistently attended.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Records demonstrate that physical intervention for some young people is a necessary part of the school's approach to managing risks and keeping young people safe. Where formal sanctions are given for poor behaviour, brief records are made of these circumstances. However, many entries reflect that staff intervention is largely based on managing risk and modelling appropriate conduct rather than sanctioning poor behaviour. Many interventions are part of an agreed intervention plan and do not constitute formal sanctions thus making entries in the sanction's book unnecessary.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Overall, there are good systems in place to protect young people, visitors and staff from environmental risks and hazards. The school has well established health and safety practices which are underpinned by strong polices, procedures and staff guidance. The school has effective fire prevention and detection equipment that is regularly tested and serviced. Most staff and young people have scheduled opportunities to practice the evacuation of their houses in case of an emergency. However, not all houses are practising this important routine with the required frequency which could expose young people and staff to additional risks.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. 5 of 6 Inspection Report: SC035625 Information about young people's needs is promoted and shared through newly developed placement plan folders. Staff are in the process of implementing the new folders to ensure that the school's records fully represent the current needs of each young person.

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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

31 March 2010 ensure that the registered person prepares and implements a written behaviour management policy which sets out all measures of control, restraint and discipline which may be used in the children’s home and the means whereby appropriate behaviour is to be promoted (Regulation 17(2)(a)(b)) 31 March 2010 maintain an accurate and up to date record of measures of control used (Regulation 17) 31 March 2010 ensure by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that the persons working at the home and so far as practicable, young people accommodated there are aware of the procedure to be followed in the case of a fire. (Regulation 32(e))

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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 staff meetings occur at least monthly and include discussion of both the school’s work in caring for individual young people and the management of the current group together with the review of the school's practices. All meetings have an agenda and are minuted. (National Minimum Standard 28) 6 of 6 Inspection Report: SC035625

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