Children's Home run by Castle Homes Care Limited in Telford and Wrekin

SC020545 Unique reference number 13 October 2009 Inspection date Janet Manders 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 7 Inspection Report: SC020545

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Brief description of the service

The home is a medium to long stay children’s home which takes mainly planned admissions, but is able to take young people in an emergency where necessary. The home can accommodate up to five young people between the ages of eight to 16. However, there may be no more than six years between the oldest and youngest resident.

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Brief description of the service

The home uses a structured programme of activities through the day, which is designed to have both an educative as well as a personal development element. This programme is designed so that the young people can gain both new experiences and a sense of achievement. Staff work closely with the young people to develop professional and constructive relationships within which, the implications of their behaviour can be discussed and examined on an individual and group basis. These relationships, in partnership with the placing authority, relevant professionals, the young person and family forms a significant part of the work with the young people placed at the home and helps to produce a professional assessment of current and future needs. Recommendations are made in regular reviews and in reports for treatment and intervention programmes, which also identify and comment upon the needs that will require attention if

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Brief description of the service

they are to stay long term at the home or for any future placement.

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Summary

This was an unannounced interim inspection. The visit concentrated on the requirements made at the last key inspection in June 2009. The outcome areas of enjoying and achieving, economic wellbeing and organisation were not looked at during this inspection. Standards in relation to being healthy, staying safe and making a positive contribution are inspected. At the time of the inspection five young people were living at the home.

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Summary

Overall, the home provides a good standard of care for young people. The physical and emotional health needs of the young people are effectively met by appropriately administered medication. Staff work hard to keep young people safe, with young people's needs being central to work undertaken by staff. Young people are well supported at the time of their admission to the home.

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Summary

This judgement will be reviewed at the home'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

The home demonstrates a commitment to ensuring the service meets the national minimum standards. The last inspection required the manager to take action in respect of two issues relating to ensuring that at least one person on duty has a suitable first aid qualification and the undertaking of impact assessments at the time of the admission of a young person to the home. The manager has taken satisfactory action in relation to both these issues, with staff from the home receiving priority on training courses to obtain a suitable first aid qualification. In addition, the manager has introduced a placement matching document, which includes a 4 of 7 Inspection Report: SC020545 risk assessment and impact assessment. This ensures that all young people's needs are considered when agreeing to a new admission to the home.

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Improvements since the last inspection

One good practice recommendation was made at the last inspection in June 2009, this was in relation to the accurate record of the administration of medication. Records demonstrate that improvements have been made to the recording of medication and that accurate details have been maintained by the home.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Medication is handled well. The files for the young people contain signed medical consent forms, a record of all prescribed and non-prescribed medication and whether it has been taken. The home has procedures in place to ensure that medicines are appropriately handled and stored to safeguard young people’s welfare. Young people's medication is safely stored in a wall-mounted lockable cabinet in a secured room which is also locked when not occupied.

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Helping children to be healthy

Staff receive training in the administration of medication and first aid. This ensures that young people's health needs are appropriately promoted and addressed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people live in a home where staff understand their role and responsibilities for keeping young people safe. Safeguarding procedures are in place, staff are trained and are aware of what to do if they are concerned about a young person's safety or protection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's privacy is respected, as the home has clear guidelines on privacy and confidentiality, which are known and followed by staff. Staff do not enter young people's rooms without permission, except when young people are considered at risk. Information held in respect of young people is stored in lockable facilities, which are only accessible to staff. There is guidance regarding the circumstances under which room searches can be carried out and a log of room searches is maintained. Young people have access to a telephone, which allows private conversation when this is an agreed part of their placement plan.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people understand how to make a complaint if they have any concerns about their care and they are confident that the manager and staff listen to them and take appropriate action when necessary. Young people are able to seek support from an independent advocate if they require. Information regarding making a complaint is included in the children's guide. This indicates that the home take young people's concerns seriously.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people live in a caring and safe environment. Young people's welfare is protected by good staff awareness of safeguarding, anti-bullying and unauthorised absence procedures. The home has clear procedures for responding to child protection concerns and the staff have initial training in child protection, which is regularly updated. Staff take all appropriate action to keep young people safe, this includes increased supervision where it is believed that young people are vulnerable to harm. Staff work actively in the home to ensure that bullying does not happen. Young people are well educated about the detrimental effects bullying behaviours have. Unauthorised absences are well recorded with staff having clear protocols about informing the 5 of 7 Inspection Report: SC020545 appropriate authorities. Staff have prepared profiles of the young people to share with the police to assist in locating young people if they are missing from the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home develops clear plans as to how to protect each young person. This is supported by risk assessment and behaviour management plans. Staff have received training in respect of managing young people's challenging behaviour and are able to diffuse difficult situations where necessary. Young people are assisted to develop socially acceptable behaviour through discussions with staff on an individual basis and being provided with clear details of the home's rules and expectations of them when they are admitted to the home. A range of appropriate rewards and sanctions are used to reinforce positive behaviours. Sanctions, rewards and consequences are age and needs appropriate and reparation is encouraged.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people live in a home that provides physical safety and security with risks from young people's behaviour and environmental factors being well managed. Testing of emergency lighting, fire alarms and fire fighting equipment is taking place within appropriate timescales. Fire drills have taken place within the frequency required, including a night time evacuation.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Staff are sensitive and give young people time to help them settle into their new environment.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff ensure that all appropriate information is gathered before a young person is admitted to the home, so that an assessment can be made as to whether the placement is appropriate. Where a young person is admitted to the home in an emergency, a review is undertaken within 72 hours to ensure that the home can meet the young person's needs and to ascertain what the focus of staff intervention will be. The home has introduced a placement matching document, which includes a risk assessment and impact assessment. This ensures that all young people's needs are considered when agreeing to a new admission to the home.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are well supported by staff at the time of their admission to the home, with young people receiving clear guidance regarding the routines of the home, the home's expectation of them and what they can expect from staff.

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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. 6 of 7 Inspection Report: SC020545

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Recommendations

There are no recommendations. 7 of 7 Inspection Report: SC020545

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