Children's Home run by PIC Children’s Services in St Helens

SC022442 Unique reference number 27 November 2009 Inspection date Paul Gillespie 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 8 Inspection Report: SC022442

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Brief description of the service

This home is one of 11 children's homes that are owned and operated by this private company. The home provides care and accommodation for one young person, aged 8 to 17 and their baby. The home is a terraced property situated within walking distance from the town centre. The location of the home enables young people to access facilities in the community easily. It is close to a range of shopping and leisure facilities.

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Brief description of the service

The home is staffed on a one to one basis, with one member of the staff team sleeping within the home each night on a rota basis. The home's staff team are managed and supported by the Registered Manager who is also registered as a manager for two other children's homes operated by the provider in the area.

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Brief description of the service

One young person lives in the home and they took part in the inspection.

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Summary

This visit was an interim inspection and was unannounced.

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Summary

All the outcome areas for young people were looked at during the inspection with the exception of enjoying and achieving, positive contribution and achieving economic well-being each of which were judged as good at the previous inspection.

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Summary

The main focus of the inspection was on how well the home promotes and safeguards young people's welfare. Also, the inspection looked at the progress made with addressing the action and two recommendations made at the last inspection.

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Summary

This is a good service with a number of outstanding features. The home provides a friendly, safe and stable environment that enables young people to make good progress in all aspects of their lives, especially relating to their social and emotional development. The level of support provided for young people regarding their health and preparation for parenthood is outstanding.

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Summary

Young people are happy and report they enjoy living there. They confirm that they are very well looked after and get the help they need from staff who they say are a 'massive help' and it is 'like a miniature family'. They are looked after by a very competent and settled core staff team. This has enabled young people to build positive relationships with adults based on trust and respect, and have consistent adult role models. The staff's thorough understanding of young people as individuals and the quality of support and guidance assists young people to deal with the significant life changes they face positively and to feel confident about their future. 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 taken appropriate action to resolve the one action and two recommendations identified at the last inspection. The Statement of Purpose has been amended to include current staffing details. The staff training programme now includes specific training on diversity awareness which assists staff to develop a greater understanding of wider equality and diversity 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC022442 issues that impact on young people. All bedrooms are now appropriately furnished with the young people's being especially well appointed and equipped.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Young people enjoy healthy and nutritious meals that meet their dietary needs. Their food choices are always taken into account and they speak enthusiastically about developing healthy eating habits. They confirm that they routinely help to plan meals, go with staff to buy food and sometimes cook. Staff fully understand the importance of good nutrition and what makes up a balanced diet. They actively encourage young people to develop healthy eating habits.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people's physical health and emotional well-being is actively promoted. They have easy access to community health services and are registered with a local doctor, dentist and optician. They have comprehensive health plans, which clearly show how their general and specific health needs are met. Staff routinely review the plans to make sure they are up-to-date and take into account any changes in young people's health. Staff closely monitor young people to make sure they are healthy. They encourage them to attend routine health checks, such as ante-natal health appointments and ensure they get suitable medical advice and treatment when they are unwell. Staff are also very good at identifying when young people are feeling unhappy and ensure that they get support to promote their emotional well-being.

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Helping children to be healthy

Staff always encourage young people to take an active interest in looking after their own health and leading healthy lives, for example the young people spoke about a recent paediatric first aid course they had completed with staff and the fact that they administer their own medication. Young people receive excellent support to do this safely and competently subject to their age, understanding and appropriate risk assessment.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people also receive excellent information and advice to enable them to make informed choices about their health. They have access to information about a wide range of health and social issues, including sexual health, smoking, alcohol, drugs, diet and emotional well-being. This includes guidance from a range of specialist health and advisory services such as the New Start project that provides specialist support and advice for pregnant teenagers. This ensures young people get suitable support with individual health issues. Young people spoke about how staff 'are a massive help' in helping them understand and prepare for significant life events such pregnancy and becoming a parent. Staff support in this regard is commendable.

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Helping children to be healthy

The home’s procedures for managing medication are clear and there are secure storage facilities. This helps to ensure young people’s welfare is promoted and protected.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people’s privacy and confidentiality is well respected. There are good bathroom facilities that promote privacy and considerable effort is taken to ensure young people have well appointed single bedrooms where they can spend time alone if they wish. Young people can make and receive telephone calls in private. Information about young people is managed confidentially and held securely in the office. Staff respect young people's privacy in a way that is consistent with good parenting and the need to protect young people. 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC022442 Young people benefit from an effective complaints procedure. They know how to complain and are confident that their concerns will be listened to and taken seriously. Young people say that they 'do not have one single complaint' and that are confident that they 'can speak to any of the staff' if they feel the need. They have access to information about the complaints

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

procedure of both the home and the placing authority and staff encourage young people to let them know when they have concerns or if they are unhappy.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people feel safe and very well supported by staff who understand their roles and responsibilities to promote and safeguard young people’s welfare. Staff have all received suitable training and regular refresher training is included in the organisations training programme. The home also has procedures and guidance for responding to concerns about young people's safety including the local authority's Local Safeguarding Children Board policies and procedures. Staff are knowledgeable about how to safeguard young people and what action they need to take should they need to raise a concern.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people report that bullying is not a problem in the home. Staff work effectively with young people to help them to develop clear expectations of how they should be treated by close friends and families. This enables them to build good relationships with others.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

At present young people are very settled and absences from care are not an issue at the home. However the home has individual risk assessments and plans for what they should do if young people do go missing. The plans set out what action is taken, including who should be notified and the timescales for letting them know.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The staff at the home encourage young people to develop socially acceptable behaviour. Young people know what standards of behaviour are expected and this has resulted in young people demonstrating a mature and responsible approach to how they conduct themselves. It is to both the young people's and staff credit that there has been no necessity to use sanctions or restraint for a considerable time and this reflects on the very good relationships between staff and young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff view young people in a very positive light and show a good understanding of the issues that may influence young people’s behaviour, such as their past experiences and adapting to new environments. Staff are adept at helping young people feel positive about themselves which helps build self esteem. This approach is very effective and has led to young people commenting that they 'feel listened too' and 'well cared for'. Also, the support and understanding young people receive has enabled them to feel much more confident about significant life events, for example preparing to become a parent.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Overall young people live in a safe environment. They are protected by a comprehensive range of detailed health and safety procedures and risk assessments. Staff carry out regular health and safety checks, including fire drills, to ensure the premises are safe and secure. The home's quality assurance systems ensure that the checks are carried out consistently and any problems are addressed. Also, the home has strong systems in place for vetting and supervising visitors to ensure young people are safe.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is not judged. 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC022442

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The home is very well managed. It provides young people with a safe and secure environment in which their needs are identified and provides them with very effective support that promotes their development as they prepare for new life experiences.

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Organisation

There is a strong commitment to child-centred practice. Staff are enthusiastic about their role in supporting young people and are clearly committed to the young people in their care. Staff are well trained and effectively supervised which means they have the skills and knowledge to look after young people in their care. There is a consistency of approach and they provide positive role models for young people. This is aided by regular team meetings that allow the core staff team to discuss and review individual young people, the running of the home, staff development and training and to look at ways to improve the service they offer.

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Organisation

There are systems in place to monitor the performance of the home. Regulation 34 reviews identify what action is taken to address points raised. However, whilst the frequency of external and internal monitoring is in line with requirements, the regulation 33 reports lack the degree of analysis and evaluation that would help drive forward and promote further improvement in the provision of care.

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Organisation

The home’s written records provide a clear picture of individual young people’s needs, development and progress. Young people’s records are well-organised and contain up-to-date information about them, including relevant documents from placing authorities. Young people are encouraged to read and make comments about what is written about them.

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Organisation

The overall impact is the creation of an environment that provides young people with sensitive and effective care and support.

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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): 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC022442 • improve the degree of analysis and evaluation in the regulation 33 reports in order to promote improvement in the provision of care. (NMS 32) 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC022442

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