Children's Home run by Derby City Council in Derby

SC036240 Unique reference number 22 March 2010 Inspection date Vivien Slyfield Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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26 January 2010 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 6 Inspection Report: SC036240

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Brief description of the service

The home provides medium to long-term care for up to six young people of either gender aged 10 years to under 18 years. The large detached house has a front car park and a fenced rear garden. The premises include two staff offices, a large kitchen, dining room, lounge, a quiet room and an education room. All bedrooms are single and are situated on the first floor. There are sufficient toilets, showers and baths for the young people. There is a flat to enable young people to acquire independence skills and this is used to support young people in placement within the home. The home has several areas to hold meetings and for young people to meet family members in private. It is situated 10 minutes from a city centre with nearby bus stops enabling young people to commute into the city and surrounding areas. The home has its own transport in the form of a people carrier.

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Summary

This was an unannounced interim inspection in which the key standards in the outcome area of staying safe were considered as well as the standards relating to the recommendations made at the last inspection.

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Summary

Action has been taken in relation to each of the previous recommendations. There has been two months between the last inspection and the current inspection and most of the previous recommendations were not fully met. The needs of the young people remain of paramount importance and the staff team work well together in the care they provide. 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 five recommendations made at the last inspection and no actions. Four of these have been addressed and are detailed in the appropriate outcome areas. The recommendations not met continue to be recommendations from this inspection. It is noted that action has been taken in relation to all the previous recommendations but they have not been fully met.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The previous inspection identified the lack of written consent from parental responsibility holders for the administration of non-prescription medication and emergency treatment. Efforts have been made to obtain this information for young people's files but this has not resulted in the consent being in place on all files. This may result in a delay in a young person receiving medical attention.

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Helping children to be healthy

No other standards were considered during this inspection and therefore the judgement remains the same.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. 4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC036240 Young people's privacy is respected and confidential information is stored securely and staff ensure that such information is respected. Young people are aware of how to complain or raise issues of concern and are confident they would talk to staff if there were problems. Formal complaints are recorded and responded to in order to address the concerns raised. There is an anti-bullying policy in place and put into practice to ensure young people feel safe from being bullied.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff have undertaken training in safeguarding and recognise the welfare of young people as paramount. A visitors book is in place and is in use to monitor those visiting the home. Induction of new staff includes safeguarding training and a DVD is used to provide refresher training for staff. Staff respond appropriately if young people are missing from the home without permission and these incidents are recorded. Sanctions are appropriate and are clearly recorded. Since the last inspection there has been one recorded situation, which resulted in a young person being physically restrained. The incident is recorded in line with the national minimum standards.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The specified tests of equipment and fire alarms are in place. There have been four recorded fire drills over the last year, but none of these were at night as directed in the national minimum standards. A check has been undertaken of the use of a wall light switch in one of the bathrooms and it has been replaced with a cord-pull switch.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are well cared for and their safety ensured through the effective operation of the home.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. The home remains well decorated and repairs are dealt with promptly. The homely environment has been enhanced by the removal of gender signs on the bathroom doors. However, there remains a sign on the downstairs toilet indicating it is accessible for people with a disability, which continues to give an institutional feel to the home.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

This was the only standard considered during the inspection and therefore the judgement remains the same.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The recommendations from the last inspection related to supervision and changes to the Statement of Purpose. There has been some progress on the provision of regular formal supervision for all staff within the timescales specified in the national minimum standards. However, not all staff receive one and a half hours of one to one supervision from a senior member of staff each month, although informal supervision is provided. The Statement of Purpose has not yet been fully reviewed. 5 of 6 Inspection Report: SC036240 The lack of progress in these recommendations has a limited effect on the young people and as these are the only standards considered in this inspection the judgement remains the same.

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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

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • ensure that at least four fire drills, including the evacuation of staff and children from the building and fire drills at night, take place in a 12 month period and are recorded (NMS 26.8) • ensure the home is decorated and furnished to a standard which creates a pleasant domestic environment, with reference to the sign on the toilet door off the dinning room (national minimum standard 24.2) • ensure that the performance of the home is monitored in accordance with the Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and identifies any issues, with specific reference to comments made about physical restraints. (NMS 33.1) 6 of 6 Inspection Report: SC036240

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