Children's Home run by S P Homes Limited in Lambeth

SC065535 Unique reference number 2 November 2009 Inspection date Cheryl Carter 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 7 Inspection Report: SC065535

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Brief description of the service

This is a children's home which caters for six young people aged 13 to 17 years. It provides supervised care and support for young people from all cultural backgrounds on a medium to long-term basis. The home's is a double fronted house with parking facilities on the drive for up to five cars. The home has easy access to schools, local amenities and transport links.

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Summary

This was an unannounced inspection that took place to follow up and check compliance with actions set at the key inspection that took place in May 2009. All outcome headings except for Positive Contribution were assessed during this visit, however, not all of the national minimum standards were looked at in detail as the focus of the inspection was to identify what improvements had been made.

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Summary

Although some improvements have been made there are significant gaps and the standard of care provided for young people is unsatisfactory. There is ineffective management of the home and inconsistent recording systems. Significant incidents are not reported to Ofsted. Some staff are working more than sixty hours per week, none of the staff are receiving adequate supervision and recruitment practice is unsatisfactory. This does not promote or safeguard the welfare of the children or properly support the staff in the home.

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Summary

The décor and furnishings are adequate. However, young people do not have keys to their rooms which means that they are unable too secure their personal belongings. This is often a source of conflict in the home. Some actions and recommendations from the key inspection have not been addressed by the provider. The overall quality rating is inadequate - enforcement action. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The menus have improved to reflect choice and healthy balanced meals prepared for young people. The home was refurbished and redecorated during the summer break. Staff are now more proactive in ensuring that network meetings to discuss changes to young people's care plans are held. The certificate of insurance is now displayed in the staff room.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. The home adequately meets young people's health needs. The menus seen demonstrated that young people are provided with healthy nutritious meals that offers choice which reflects their preferences and culture. Young people have the opportunity through key working sessions and house meetings to contribute to the menus. The home does not employ a cook and the preparation of the meals is done by the staff on duty. Records seen indicate that only three members of the current staff team has had food hygiene training. The manager said that every effort is made for one of those staff member to be on shift at all times.

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Helping children to be healthy

The secure storage arrangements guards against the risk of young people having unsupervised access to medication. The home uses a lockable purpose built medication cabinet, which is 4 of 7 Inspection Report: SC065535 located in the staff room. The home maintains medication administration records, however there are anomalies in the records kept for homely remedies. These are dispensed but the records do not show who the medication was dispensed to and for what reason. Staff have not received training in the safe handling and administration of medication,. The manager said that the staff receive instructions on how to administer medication from the senior care worker and this is done as part of their induction.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is inadequate. Young people are not fully protected as the systems that are in place are not always adhered to. Staff invited me into the home without first checking my identity.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are aware of the need to be vigilant regarding confidentiality. Not all complaints are recorded with the action taken and the outcomes. Staff interviewed have a good understanding of their duties in relation to protecting young people from harm and what they need to do to fulfil these, however safeguarding training for staff has not been updated for the past year.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are concerns about the relationships between the young people. There are clearly incidents of bullying going on in the home however these are not acknowledged as incidents of bullying and therefore not recorded or addressed. None of the young people have keys to their rooms as a result young people are unable to secure their belongings which often leads to their belongings going missing. This is a source of conflict between the young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The homes policies and procedures fail to fully safeguard young people. The member of staff who opened the door failed to check my ID but invited me into the home. The home continues to employ staff, prior to receiving all the necessary checks. The home have staff members on the premises without Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks that have been carried out by the home and without two references on file.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Education is actively promoted as valuable in itself and as part of preparation for adulthood. Each young person has access to educational facilities in line with their age, needs, and potential. Staff liaise with social workers and parents and attend events and meetings at schools to support young people's development and progress. Staff are now more proactive by holding network meetings so that all relevant parties involved with young people are aware of any changes to in care plans.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is satisfactory. The standard of the furnishings and décor in the home is satisfactory. A lounge is available and used by the young people, this room is equipped with television, a sofa and chairs. There is adequate communal space available, each young person has their own room. None of the children have keys to their bedrooms so young people cannot secure their personal belongings. 5 of 7 Inspection Report: SC065535

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Organisation

The organisation is inadequate. The promotion of equality and diversity is satisfactory. The home encourages young people to participate in activities that promotes an awareness of cultural diversity. The staff team reflects the diverse needs of the young people placed. There is still no attempt to rewrite policies to include equality and diversity in the outcome groups of every child matters.

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Organisation

The Children's guide has been reviewed and the manager states that this is now on CD for the young people. All but one young person has a copy of the CD. The management and staffing of the home is a concern. The rotas seen indicate that staff are working very long hours. One member of staff has completed 197 hours in three weeks. There are only three permanent members of staff, the remainder of the staff team are all bank staff with contracts that states that they are employed on an ad hoc basis and are paid hourly. Staff are employed without all the checks being completed. Regulation 33 monitoring visits are completed, however these have not been sent to Ofsted. Regulation 34 monitoring of the home against the statement of purpose is not being done by the manager.

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Organisation

Young people receive care from a staff team that is mainly unqualified and unsupported. Staff supervision is not meeting the required standard. All staff do not receive the necessary guidance, as monthly individual supervision is not available. There is no staff appraisal system, which impacts on staff effectiveness and their personal development.

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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

18 November 2009 ensure that all complaints are recorded, the action taken in response and the outcome of the investigation (Regulation 24.5) 18 November 2009 ensure that any events, as listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 5, are notified to Ofsted without delay (Regulation 30) 18 November 2009 ensure that the use of any measure of control, restraint or discipline used in the home is recorded including the name of the child, the behaviour leading to the use of the measure the description of the measure used the name of the person using the measure and any other person present, any consequence as a result and the signature of a person imposing the sanction (Regulation 17.4) 18 November 2009 ensure all person’s employed have in place, prior to their employment, two written references, including a reference from the persons most recent employer. Any issues arising from these 6 of 7 Inspection Report: SC065535

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Due date Action Standard

must be followed up and a record of additional verbal evidence from the referee maintained (Regulation 26, Schedule 2) 18 November 2009 ensure that all recruitment checks are completed prior to a member of staff commencing work at the home(Regulation 26 .1 (a) (b)) 18 November 2009 ensure that all persons employed in the home receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal and are enabled from time to time to obtain further qualifications appropriate to the work they perform (Regulation 27.4 a & b) 18 November 2009 ensure that there is a system in place for the monitoring of the matters set out in Schedule 6 and improve the quality of care provided in the home (Regulation 34.1 a & b) 18 February 2010 ensure that there is at all times, having regard to - the size of the children's home, and the need to safeguard and promote the health and welfare of the children accommodated in the home, a sufficient number of suitably qualified, competent and

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Due date Action Standard

experienced persons working at the children's home. (Regulation 25)

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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 staff receive training in the safe handling and preparation of food (NMS1o) • ensure that the practice of not giving young people keys to their rooms is reviewed (NMS 9) • ensure that all staff training relating to safeguarding children is updated (NMS 17) • ensure that staff receive training to recognise and record incidents of bullying in the home (NMS18) • ensure that staff who administer medication has received training in the safe handling and administration of medication. (NMS130 7 of 7 Inspection Report: SC065535

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