Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

SC359836 Unique reference number 20 January 2010 Inspection date Bill Drumm Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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15 September 2009 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: SC359836

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Brief description of the service

This is a purpose built children's home with accommodation for up to six young people of either sex. The home is a newly built property in its own grounds. There is a small bungalow in the grounds of the home, which is used for meetings and family contact. The home comprises of two lounges, a computer room, office facilities, kitchen, and a dining room. All young people have their own bedrooms.

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Brief description of the service

Four young people currently live at the home one of whom was present at the time of the inspection and who contributed to the inspection process.

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Summary

This was an unannounced interim inspection of the home. The outcome areas for young people in the area of staying safe were inspected and found to be good. Recommendations made at the previous inspection were also looked at. Not all recommendations made at the previous inspection have been met. Four recommendations have been made following this inspection and the overall quality rating of the home remains good. 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 the manager has written a countering bullying risk assessment of the times, place and circumstances when bullying might occur within the home. In addition, the door locks of bathrooms have been changed. Only members of staff can gain access to bathrooms from the outside in an emergency. The home also has current Public and Employee Liability insurance up to a minimum level.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Two recommendations remain unmet. These relate to reviewing the behaviour management policy and the development of pathway plans as a part of young people's independence planning.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The privacy of young people is respected. There are sufficient bathrooms and toilets to meet the needs of the young people living at the home. Each young person has their own bedroom. Young people are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms in a style of their own choice and to keep the rooms clean and tidy. The home has policies and procedures in place which explain what actions members of staff should take when it is necessary to search a young person's bedroom. The policies and procedures do not provide up to date guidance for staff members with regards to how room searches should be recorded. Two room searches have been carried out since the last inspection. Personal information relating to each young person is stored securely to prevent unauthorised access. Young people are able to make personal telephone calls in private. 4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC359836 There are policies and procedures in place for dealing with complaints in an effective and timely

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

manner. There have been five complaints made since the last inspection. Written records examined at the time of the inspection show that the complaints were dealt with appropriately. The young people's guide provides information to young people about the complaints process. Young people are able to make a formal complaint without having to approach members of staff. Young people were observed at the time of the inspection to speak freely with all members of staff and to make their needs known.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people living at the home are protected from exploitation and abuse. A copy of the Local Safeguarding Children's Board procedures are available in the home. There have been no incidents relating to a child protection since the last inspection. All members of staff working at the home have undertaken training in child protection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are protected from being targeted by bullies. The home has policies and procedures in place with regard to countering bullying and there have been no recorded incidents of bullying since the last inspection. The home's young people's guide includes information for young people about what action they should take if they feel bullies are targeting them. Members of staff working at the home have all received training in countering bullying.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has policies and procedures in place with regard to what action members of staff should take if a young person is absent without authority. Procedures comply with national minimum standards. There have been a number of occasions since the last inspection when young people have been absent without authority. However, in recent weeks there has been a reduction in the number of times this has happened. Young people who are absent without authority are responded to appropriately on their return.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has policies and procedures in place relating to the safe holding or restraint of young people, and members of staff have received appropriate training. The procedures used within the home make reference to the previous two regulatory authorities. This is an outstanding recommendation from the previous inspection. Staff training is reviewed and up dated regularly. Restraint records are retained within a separate bound and numbered book used specifically for that purpose. There have been no restraints used within the home since the last inspection. Members of staff promote socially acceptable behaviour by offering support and encouragement to young people. The home also has policies and procedures in place relating to the sanctions that can be used to help young people improve their behaviour. There have been a small number of sanctions used since the last inspection. Young people are encouraged to make a comment

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

about the sanction given and whether they feel it to be fair and reasonable.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The privacy of young people is respected when bathing. There are sufficient bathrooms and toilets at the home to meet the needs of the young people living there. Locks on the doors of bathrooms and toilets have been changed so that only members of staff are able to open them from the outside in case of emergency. This provides young people with a greater level of privacy.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are protected from fire and other hazards within the home. There are systems in place to ensure that young people, members of staff and visitors to the home are kept safe and free from hazards. Fire drills are carried out at regular intervals. However, the time the fire drill took place and the names of those present at the time is not routinely recorded. It is therefore unclear if a fire drill takes place at night and whether all members of staff and young 5 of 6 Inspection Report: SC359836 people participate in this exercise. The home has current public and employee liability insurance up to a minimum value.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a committed staff team and there are good recruitment and selection processes in place. Safety checks are carried out to ensure the suitability of each applicant. Each member of staff has provided references from previous employers or those that know them. Visitors to the home are asked to clearly identify themselves on their arrival and to sign the visitors book.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. The manager and members of staff encourage and support young people to take responsibility for their actions and to develop adult responsibilities. Formal pathway plans, for all those young people who require them, were not available within the home. Young people may not receive the care and help they need to prepare them and support them into adulthood. This was a previous recommendation made at the last inspection.

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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): • review the home's room search policies and procedures to ensure they provide members of staff with accurate guidance on when it may be necessary to search a young person's possessions (NMS 9.8) • review the home's behaviour management policies and procedures to ensure they refer to the current regulatory authority (NMS 22.2) • record the time at which a fire drill is held at the home and the names of all members of staff and young people taking part (NMS 26.8) • ensure that each young person living at the home who is eligible has an up to date and comprehensive pathway plan. (NMS 6.1) 6 of 6 Inspection Report: SC359836

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