Children's Home run by McRae Residential Care Services Limited in Croydon

SC025813 Unique reference number 1 October 2009 Inspection date Caroline Wilson 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: SC025813

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Brief description of the service

This home provides a service for young males from all communities who are in the process of preparing to move on to semi-independence, with a specific emphasis on providing culturally sensitive care to young black males. The service can cater for up to a maximum of eight young people, who each have their own bedroom and share the other communal facilities of the house. The service is located in an area that provides easy access to leisure, community and transport facilities. The managing company also operates a registered school, which is in an adjacent property and a fostering unit. The younger people placed at the unit may have access to these additional services. This children’s unit also now provides an education resource at the unit called the 'Nurture Group'.

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Summary

This unannounced inspection looked at the key national minimum standards. Young people and staff were spoken to as well as relevant documentation read to inform this inspection report.

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Summary

The home had a number of strengths, particularly the relationships between young people and staff and the positive impact that this had on young people's behaviour. Young people spoke about their lives being turned around since being placed at the home.

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Summary

However, there is no evidence on file to support or evidence the work that has been undertaken. Once young people's behaviours improve, staff no longer routinely risk assess and young people's behaviour. Staff rely on their own working knowledge and memory of the work that they have undertaken with young people. This does not promote and safeguard the welfare of young people in the event that new or agency staff are on duty at the home. Staff also regularly consult young people during meal times about the day to day running of the home, but discussions held are never recorded. This is especially important as formal resident's meetings are not held regularly.

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Summary

Not all staff have regular supervision and training records were not available at the time of the inspection. Therefore, it was difficult to confirm whether staff were supported in their role and understood who they were accountable to.

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Summary

Overall, it appeared that young people were getting a good service from the home, but the inconsistency of recording and evidence that young people and staff were supported in their roles were remiss. This has impacted on the overall performance of the home as assessed by the national minimum standards. The overall quality rating is satisfactory. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The actions made at the last inspection have been acted upon. Regulation 33 visits to monitor the performance of the home against its statement of purpose are regularly taking place. The type of sanction given at the last inspection that gave cause for concern is no longer used. 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC025813

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Young people's health needs are satisfactorily met. Whilst there is evidence to suggest that young people have access to health services from primary health care professionals, there is little to no evidence that their health are considered in a planned way. For instance, no health care plans are available which set out young people's medical histories or any specific health interventions that may be required. In addition, although staff may be aware of who the primary health professionals are, this information is not documented in young people's files. Where young people have attended health appointments, staff do not consistently record the outcome health appointments and any requirement of follow up treatment.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people are satisfactorily safeguarded by the home's procedures for the administration of medication. Staff are trained and competent in the safe handling of medication. However, the system for the recording of this information is complicated and involves duplication of information and the recording of the dosage given is not consistently applied.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people enjoy healthy nutritious foods that meet their dietary needs. A cook is employed to ensure that young people are provided with wholesome and properly prepared food that are provided in adequate quantities. Meals have regard to young people's cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds. Meals times are well managed, orderly and social occasions in which staff enjoy the company of young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Records of restraints do not contain sufficient information in order for an assessment to be made of their appropriateness or reasonableness. Vital information, including the antecedents and whether any injuries were sustained are not included in restraints records.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The welfare of young people is promoted to ensure that they are protected from abuse. Staff have regular training on safeguarding matters. The manager takes steps to ensure that staff have a good understanding of these and are knowledgeable about procedures.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's need for privacy is consistent with good parenting and their need to be protected.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Appropriate steps are taken to ensure that young people live in an environment where they are protected from bullying. Any incidents that occur are dealt with immediately and effectively. Young people who are bullied are supported and those who may bully are offered suitable guidance.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people know the behaviours that are expected of them and any sanctions applied are relevant to the incident, reasonable and carried out as contemporaneously as possible.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Visitors to the home are monitored in order to prevent young people being exposed to potential abusers. All visitors are required to sign in and out when they come to the home. 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC025813 Young people who are absent without authority are protected in accordance with written guidance. Risk assessments are undertaken on all young people and those who are considered missing are reported to relevant professionals and those with parental responsibility.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people live in homes which provide physical safety and security. Safety inspections, including fire drills and gas safe inspections are undertaken during relevant timescales.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Satisfactory arrangements are in place to ensure that young people receive individualised support when needed. Young people speak very highly of their relationships with staff and how their input has had an extremely positive impact on their behaviour. However, record keeping is poor and do not evidence that young people are sufficiently supported and guided by staff.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The education of young people is actively promoted. Relevant documentation is on file and good relationships are fostered by the home and young peoples' schools. Young people who are not in full time education are provided with school work of which they are expected to complete during school hours.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people are able to pursue and participate in a range of leisure activities that take into account their culture, interests and abilities. Trips out to events are encouraged and organised by staff.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Young people resident at the home have their general needs assessed well and there is good documentation relating to this on file. Risk assessments are not regularly and consistently completed in all cases and only concentrate on managing negative behaviour rather than the maintaining of positive behaviours. This is important to highlight and help minimise known or potential risks posed to young people's safety.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people's needs and development are reviewed regularly and their progress is well monitored. Young people are fully assisted in contributing their views and wishes to this process. Statutory looked after children reviews also focus on the home's provision of care and placement progress.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff encourage young people to maintain contact with family members and friends while in placement at the home. Young people's files evidence their key social contacts and highlight who it is safe or not safe for the young person to have contact with.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff encourage young people to make decisions about the running of the home. Although formal residents meetings are not held regularly, young people do get the opportunity to contribute their views. This is conducted mainly during meal times where young people and staff discuss a range of issues, including leisure activities. No records of these discussions are available in order for young people to ascertain whether their views have been taken seriously or not and what follow up action has been taken. 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC025813

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is satisfactory. Young people resident at the home generally enjoy homely accommodation, which is adequately furnished, well maintained with good facilities. However, some of the chairs are grubby looking and stained and some of the decoration is showing signs of wear and tear. This is not conducive to a pleasant domestic environment.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The promotion of equality and diversity is good. The service operates within clear equal opportunities polices and staff pay good attention to the gender, religious, ethnic, cultural and language needs of young people.

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Organisation

Information sheets outline mandatory courses that are available for staff. Staff are happy with the quality of training offered which enables them to further promote the welfare of young people in their care. However, training records were not available in order to ascertain whether all staff had received training within relevant timescales.

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Organisation

Staff share a good working relationship with the young people and as a group they work effectively and cohesively to meet young people's needs. The home's staffing ratios are sufficient to meet young people's needs. The registered manager is an experienced child care professional and the home also has a deputy in place who can deputise in the manager's absence. Supervision is inconsistent for some staff and not all sessions are recorded to sufficiently evidence that all staff are managed and supported in accordance with relevant legislation.

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Organisation

Young people and other interested parties are aware of the aims and objectives of the home as this is well illustrated in the home's statement of purpose document. The document is compliant with the requirements of the regulations. The young person's guide holds key information about the home's functioning, expectations, rules and general running is well explained in appropriate language. However, young people are unable to contact Ofsted to make a complaint as the telephone number provided in relation to Ofsted is incorrect.

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Organisation

The home's monthly monitoring visits and subsequent reports are conducted on a regular basis to monitor the performance of the home against its statement of purpose. Reports are fairly detailed in content and focus on key areas of the home's functioning in accordance with the regulations.

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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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Due date Action Standard

7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC025813 31 December 2009 ensure that there is a written plan that sets out the arrangements for young people's health care (Regulation 12 (1) (b) ) 31 December 2009 ensure that young people' files include records specified in Schedule 3 relating to that child (Regulation 28 (1) (a) Schedule 3 (20) ) 30 November 2009 ensure that within 24 hours of a restraint being used, written records are kept, to include details of the restraint used (Regulation 17 (4) (a-g) ) 31 December 2009 ensure that all staff receive appropriate training and supervision (Regulation 27 (4) (a) ) 31 December 2009 ensure that the young person's guide has the correct details of Ofsted, should they wish to make a complaint (Regulation 24 (4) (a) ) 31 March 2010 ensure that the home is kept reasonably decorated and maintained (Regulation 31 (e) ) 31 December 2009 ensure that the home is conducted to promote and make proper

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Due date Action Standard

provision for the young people acoomodated there (Regulation 11 (1) (a) )

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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 written records of the dosage of medication is consistently applied. (Standard 13) 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC025813

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