Children's Home run by London Borough of Barnet in Barnet

SC033805 Unique reference number 24 November 2009 Inspection date Jill Marriott 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: SC033805

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Brief description of the service

This children's home supports up to six young people aged between 12 and under 18 years of age. The statement of purpose describes the aim of the home as ‘providing high quality care in a safe environment in which young people are listened to and treated with dignity and respect.’ The home is located close to local schools, leisure services and transport links. The building is detached with communal facilities on the ground floor and bedrooms on the first floor. There is a private room for meetings and for visitors. Each young person has his or her own bedroom.

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Summary

At this random unannounced inspection the actions from the last visit and standards under staying safe and organisation were assessed. Two of the previous actions are now met and one is partially met and is repeated in this report. One further action and one recommendation has been made.

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Summary

The working practices in this home are good. Young people are supported and encouraged to lead healthy lifestyles and take regular exercise. All staff have a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 3 in Child Care. They are trained in child protection and have the skills and knowledge to keep young people safe. The staff are supported by the management team and the on-call out of hours system that is in place.

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Summary

There are two requirements and a recommendation identified at this inspection. The level of supervision has improved but staff are still not supervised regularly each month. Pathway plans are not available on all files where required. A recommendation has been made with regard to increasing and improving the general office space. 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

Staff files include an up to date appraisal and an individual training profile. Regulation 33 visits take place each month and include a full report of the visit. Report formats have been changed to include discussions with young people. This enables young people the opportunity to be involved in the visit and give their views about the services provided.

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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 by staff and appropriate levels of confidentiality are maintained.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a complaints procedure in place, which is incorporated into the children's guide. Staff listen to children and take their concerns seriously. The complaints file shows that complaints are addressed within appropriate timescales with actions and outcomes recorded. 4 of 7 Inspection Report: SC033805 All staff receive child protection and safe care training. There is a clear safeguarding policy, procedure and practice guide in place. This is linked to the policies and procedures of the local safeguarding board. Staff are able to respond in a professional way to any allegation or serious concern raised.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is a bullying policy and procedure in place and there is a range of information for staff and young people displayed in the home. The policy and procedure describes how incidents will be dealt with. A recent incident has been picked up quickly and responded to efficiently. Staffing levels in the home help to reduce incidents of bullying.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is a written procedure for action when young people are missing without authority. Staff try to make contact by mobile phone. Where appropriate staff will look for young people and will collect them if their whereabouts is known. Drinks and snacks are always on offer to young people when they return home. All incidents of young people missing without authority are clearly recorded and information is sent to the relevant professionals.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The children's guide and house rules give clear information about acceptable behaviour. Staff view young people positively and sanctions are used as a last resort. Sanctions are recorded and young people are encouraged to add their own comments to the records kept. The home does not use restraint for the management of behaviour.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Risk assessments are in place for the safety of the premises and grounds. Fire safety and children's behaviours, activities and outings are also assessed and taken into account when planning each shift. Staff and young people receive fire safety instruction. They are made aware of the fire procedures in place as apart of their induction to the home. Fire drills and safety checks are carried out regularly and detailed records are kept.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The vetting of staff and visitors meets the required standard and evidence of criminal records bureau disclosures for all staff is kept in the home. Staff personnel files are held by the local authority personnel department. The home's manager sees recruitment information for new staff prior to making a firm offer of employment.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is satisfactory. The home's communal and private space is in good order. It is homely, furnished and equipped to meet the needs of the young people. The general staff office used as a base for the purpose of this inspection is limited in space and does not appear appropriate for the numbers of staff using it each day. The room is in need of decoration and computer chairs are in need of repair. There is no where for private conversations and phone calls to take place as these can be heard from outside of the room and outside of the building if the window is open. Staff are aware of the lack of privacy in this office. They do there best to ensure that confidentiality is maintained. 5 of 7 Inspection Report: SC033805

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The home has a statement of purpose and a children's guide which show how the home will provide services. Young people receive a welcome pack on arrival at the home and the statement of purpose is available to parents and professionals on request.

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Organisation

The home's manager is registered with Ofsted and has the appropriate skills and qualifications for her role. All staff have achieved at least NVQ Level 3 in child care and have access to a range of training available through the local authority. Staff are aware of the management structure in place. The manager and deputy are available in the home daily. There is an on call system for weekends and out of hours. Details of the management arrangements are available on the daily rota.

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Organisation

Records of regular team meetings are kept in the home. Although staff are still not receiving monthly one-to-one support from the management team files show there has been an improvement in the regularity of supervision. Appraisals have taken place. The training needs of individual staff have been identified and recorded in a personal training profile. All new staff receive an induction and work through a probationary period before they are confirmed in post.

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Organisation

The number of staff on each shift is sufficient. There is a good balance of male and female staff who reflect the backgrounds of the young people. Staff are competent and able to meet the overall needs of young people as well as those related to individual race, culture, ethnicity, sexuality, religion, language and family background.

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Organisation

The home's records and files are audited regularly with an audit sheet kept at the front of each file. Regulation 33 visits take place monthly with regular reports of findings completed. The manager takes action to address areas identified for improvement. The most recent reports have been updated to include a section recording interviews with young people.

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Organisation

Children's records are in general in good order. They are confidentially stored and are arranged in a manner that makes them readily useable by staff and accessible to young people. Appropriate documents and information related to pathway plans are not available as required on files seen. The home's welcome pack gives details about young peoples' access to files and about the staff support available to assist with this process.

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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

8 January 2010 ensure that employees receive regular recorded supervision (Regulation 27(4)(a)) 18 December 2009 ensure that where applicable pathway plans are included on young peoples files. (Regulation 28(1) schedule 3(18)) 6 of 7 Inspection Report: SC033805

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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): • improve the office space available for staff. Ensure furniture is of a good standard and space is available for private discussion and phone calls. (National Minimum Standard 24) 7 of 7 Inspection Report: SC033805

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