Children's Home run by Bristol City Council in Bristol

SC034184 Unique reference number 24 September 2009 Inspection date Thomas Webber 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 8 Inspection Report: SC034184

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Brief description of the service

This home is one of a number of children's homes operated by this authority. The home provides care and accommodation to five young people of both sexes, aged 15 to 19. The purpose of the home is to provide

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Brief description of the service

young people with life and social skills to enable independent living.

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Brief description of the service

The house is a detached property situated in a residential area of the city. The young people use local transport, with a bus stop being closely situated by the home, so that they can access the facilities of the city centre. There are also local shops and other facilities located within the immediate area.

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Summary

This unannounced key inspection took place over one day, covering all of the children's homes key standards. This forms part of the annual inspection programme to examine the standard of care and services provided to young people.

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Summary

The home continues to provide a good standard of care to young people which ensures that good outcomes are achieved for them. This is supported by comments made by young people, their parents, staff and other professionals involved with the home and young people. 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 has complied with one of the two recommendations made at the last inspection. All sanctions are now monitored by management and are fully recorded. However, not all staff are receiving formal supervision in line with best practice.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The home provides young people with the opportunity to develop their independent living skills within a supportive environment. As part of this programme, staff provide young people with various stages of support to develop budgeting skills, the purchasing of food and the preparation and cooking of meals. Young people are also provided with suitable facilities for the safe storage of food. Staff also monitor food eaten by young people and records are maintained of these.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people live in a healthy environment where their health and emotional care needs are suitably met and Looked After Children (LAC) health assessments are arranged for them. Young people either make and attend their own health care appointments or are supported to do so by staff depending on their particular wishes. Records of these visits and their outcomes are also maintained. Specialist support is available to young people where this need is identified. Guidance and advice is readily available to young people on a range of health care issues and links to these services are available for easy access. 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC034184 Safe storage facilities for medication are established in line with best practice. Young people are able to maintain control over their own medication subject to a risk assessment and signed contract. They are also provided with lockable facilities for this. Suitable systems are established

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Helping children to be healthy

for administration and recording of medication. During medication training of staff, some improvements were identified which are being considered by the authority.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The home actively promotes the rights of young people by ensuring that their privacy and dignity is respected. However, there are differing comments from young people on how successfully this is being achieved. Young people's information is confidentially handled and securely stored.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Clear policies and procedures are established for dealing with complaints. This process is clearly understood by young people and the staff support them to raise any issues openly. A suitable system is established to ensure that all complaints are responded to promptly and appropriately dealt with. The home has received no complaints since the last inspection. However, staff have been complemented about the care they provide to young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people live in a stable and safe environment where their welfare is promoted and they are protected from abuse. Staff have access to the local safeguarding child protection policies and procedures and all staff have received child protection training.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

An anti-bullying policy is established which is conveyed to the young people on admission. Staff and young people do not regard bullying as being a major area of concern and any incident would be promptly addressed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A clear system is established for the reporting and recording of any event where a young person goes absent without consent.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff assist young people to develop socially acceptable behaviour through encouragement, reinforcement and positive behaviour incentives. Although staff are trained in the use of physical intervention, this and sanctions are rarely used. Management now ensures that all sanctions are routinely monitored and are fully recorded.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Robust health and safety policies and practice guidelines are established to ensure that the staff and young people are appropriately safeguarded. A tour of the premises identified no specific health and safety issues. Although young people and staff practise fire evacuation procedures at the authority's recommended intervals, the time is not recorded and fire alarm tests are not always carried out weekly.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Robust staff recruitment practices are established for the careful selection and vetting of all new staff to ensure the protection of young people. No new staff have been appointed since the last inspection.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC034184 Young people receive the level of support they require which also includes life and social skills training. This is linked to the stage each young person has reached within the independence programme. Specialist input is also provided to young people where this need is identified.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The education of young people is actively promoted to enable them to reach their full potential. Young people are supported to engage in further education or seek employment to meet their specific needs. A flexible financial incentive/reward system is established for those young people who maintain good educational/training expectations. Opportunities are available for young people to undertake private study and computer facilities are available to assist them in this process. A clear system is established to support and monitor young people's educational progress.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people have established their own networks within the community and tend to use their leisure time visiting friends and members of their families. However, young people are supported and encouraged to pursue any activity they wish. Young people are offered gym membership and the opportunity to also attend the various local youth groups.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Monthly reports/care plans are established for young people which reflect the progress achieved. Young people are fully supported and encouraged to attend either part or their whole review, depending on their particular circumstances. Young people's statutory reviews are held at the appropriate intervals and all relevant people are invited to attend. However, not all of the formats used within the authority state who was present at the reviews.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff are committed to supporting young people to maintain the level of agreed contact between themselves and family members according to their individual circumstances. Staff also assist with developing strategies for the contact between young people and their families to ensure that these visits are safe and a positive experience for all concerned. Staff also ensure that young people's families and social workers are kept informed of the progress made by young people and matters relating to their wellbeing. Opportunities are in place for young people to maintain contact with families and other relevant people in private.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are encouraged and supported to make decisions about their lives and to influence the way the home is run. This is achieved through a number of forums such as young people's meetings, house meetings involving both staff and young people, individual key worker sessions and attendance at their statutory reviews. Young people are also encouraged to express their views on a day to day basis.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people live in a caring and supportive environment where a friendly and relaxed atmosphere has been created. Comments received from young people's parents and other professionals are very positive about the care and support provided, recognising that it is a unit where young people are working towards independent living. However, young people's comments are more varied, again, reflecting the nature of the unit and their individual circumstances. Staff continue to be very committed to the care and support of young people.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC034184 The purpose of the home is to provide care and accommodation for young people aged 15 to 19 years with a focus on independence training and preparation for adulthood. Young people continue to live in a safe, homely and caring environment which is maintained to a high standard being clean, tidy and comfortable. The home is also furnished and decorated to a good standard. However, there are plans to refurbish the toilet on the first floor.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people are provided with their own bedrooms which are personalised to their individual wishes. Although alarms are fitted to all young people's bedroom doors, these continue not to be used. Appropriate locks are also fitted to young people's bedroom doors. Young people are provided with a safe and lockable storage unit and a fridge freezer within their bedrooms. A lockable cupboard is also available for each young person in the kitchen for the storage of personal food.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home provides young people with sufficient communal space to meet their individual and collective needs. A payphone is located in the quiet/computer room for their use. The home also provides sufficient laundry, bath, shower and toilet facilities to meet the needs of young people.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Diversity and equality are promoted well in all aspects of the service.

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Organisation

A clear statement of purpose is established which describes the level of service the home provides to young people. Copies of this document are readily available on request. A welcome pack (Young People's Guide) is also produced which provides young people with information they need to know about the home. This is usually provided to them during their introductory visit to the home.

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Organisation

Young people are looked after by a staff team who are themselves suitably managed and supported in safeguarding and promoting the young people's welfare. Systems are established to ensure that staff are kept up to date with regard to any issues pertaining to young people and the running of the home. These include regular staff meetings, daily handover meetings and formal and informal supervision. Most staff receive formal and individual supervision at the recommended intervals. Staff are well supported and work well as a team.

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Organisation

Young people are looked after by a stable staff team who are trained and competent to meet their needs. New staff are provided with an in-depth induction programme. Staff are also supported and encouraged to increase their knowledge and skill base through attendance at appropriate training courses. All staff have achieved the National Vocational Qualification Level 3 in the Care of Children and Young People.

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Organisation

The home is committed to providing sufficient staff on duty to meet the individual and collective needs of the young people accommodated. The home continues to provide a minimum of two members of staff on duty throughout the waking day with two staff sleeping in each night. Staff are sensitive to gender issues, 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC034184 particularly when dealing with young people of the opposite sex and there are clear arrangements established in this area of practice. Young people also receive care and services from a staff team who have a variety of experience in the care of young people.

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Organisation

The authority ensures that the care and welfare of the young people is continually monitored. This is achieved by monthly unannounced monitoring visits undertaken by various team managers from within the authority. Reports are produced outlining the visit and any action needed to improve the outcomes for young people.

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Organisation

As the manager is currently on secondment, interim arrangements are in place. One assistant unit manager is acting as manager and their post is currently being advertised on a temporary contract. These arrangements have not adversely affected the running of the home which continues to be organised, managed and staffed to ensure that young people receive stability and consistency of care.

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Organisation

Young people's records are stored securely and reflect their individual needs, how these are met and the progress achieved in accordance with Schedule 3.

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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 all fire prevention records are kept up to date. (NMS 26) • ensure that a consistent format is used which records all attendees at young people's statutory reviews (NMS 3) • ensure that all staff receive formal staff supervision at the recommended intervals. (NMS 28) 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC034184

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