Children's Home run by Hillcrest Children‟s Services (2) Limited in Staffordshire

SC398481 Unique reference number 26 November 2009 Inspection date Andrew Hewston 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: SC398481

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Brief description of the service

The home is a four bedded unit offering care and accommodation to young people with a range of differing needs including services for young people that experience emotional and behavioural difficulties. The accommodation is within a semi rural area, and consists of a detached house, with individual bedrooms for all of the young people and sufficient bathrooms. Communal areas include two large lounges, a dining room / kitchen and conservatory. There is sufficient office space for the staff team and manager. Externally the house has a secluded garden that is well maintained.

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Summary

The staff offer a good level of care to the young people within the home. Young people's health needs are well met, through appropriate diets and consistent health checks. Young people are safe within the home due to well known and appropriate systems to respond to negative behaviours. Young people are aware of the differing systems in place that respond if young people are unhappy about an area of their care.

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Summary

Staff fully support young people's educational needs and ensure that activities form a constructive area of care for the young people. All young people have care plans although some of these require additional depth. Young people enjoy contact arrangements that are well thought through by the management team.

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Summary

It is unfortunate that not all of the young people within the home are fully 'looked after', as this is the main contributory factor to the satisfactory judgement, rather than an overall rating of good. 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

This is a new registration following the administration of the old organisation. No concerns have been raised with regard to the continuity of care to the young people as part of this change. No previous actions or recommendations of good practice are in place regarding this provision.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people's health is promoted throughout their time at the home. Mealtimes are pleasant sociable occasions with young people having an input into menu development and staff being aware of young people's likes and dislikes with relation to foods.

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Helping children to be healthy

Each young person has a health plan that is written by the staff. These are in line with the expectations of the standards, and in some cases contain greater information and insight than health plans within the looked after children documentation provided by the placing authority. The home ensures that young people attend all necessary health appointments and staff also support additional health needs. 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC398481 All medication is administered appropriately and records are completed by staff. All medication is audited on a regular basis and staff have completed training in medication administration. Permissions are in place from social workers with relation to non prescribed medication and interventions relating to first aid. Records relating to accidents are completed fully and sufficiently stored.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Staff support young people's privacy within the home appropriately. Each young person has their own rooms and is able to use the telephone in private, although some calls are monitored by staff where permissions have been granted by the placing social worker. Monitoring of phone calls is completed only where permissions have been agreed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Information packs relating to complaints and bullying behaviour is given to young people on admission to the home in addition to the young people's guide. Young people are well aware of how to make complaints or raise concerns if they are unhappy. They are subsequently supported on such occasions and information is fully recorded within both the home's and young people's records. Complaints or bullying incidents are discussed within staff meetings and young people are supported in all incidents.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The staff have good access to differing local authorities safeguarding procedures including those of the local safeguarding team. All staff are trained in responding to safeguarding concerns although there have been no concerns raised since the home's re-registration. Information relating to cross border safeguarding working is known by staff.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people absenting themselves from the home without permission is not a common behaviour currently. Staff are aware of how to record such instances within the home's systems, and how to support young people who absent themselves.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Differing young people's behaviours are responded to well by the staff team. The staff use both positive behaviour management strategies as well as sanctions and restraint within the home. There has been a marked decrease in the use of restraint within the home since the last inspection. All staff are trained in the use of restraint and diversionary tactics. Recordings of restraints lack some necessary detail with regard to the antecedence of incidents. Staff are able to discuss differing behaviour management strategies that are used within the home with young people, showing an awareness of the need for such planning to be individualised.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Health and safety arrangements within the home are good. Regular checks are completed on a range of areas within the home including fire safety and portable appliances. Risk assessments are completed with relation to differing areas of the home, activities and care practices.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The organisation’s staff recruitment checks were inspected on the 6 July 2009 and show that there are robust procedures in place that ensure the safety of the young people. All areas as required by the standards are appropriately checked including criminal records bureau checks, references that are verified, full CV’s and identification checks. Where issues have arisen these are discussed within the recruitment process, responded to and recorded. The organisation has responded to a previous recommendation and now checks against the disqualification for caring for children regulations. 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC398481

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Young people are able to access a very good range of support systems relating to their care, both within the home and externally. Staff ensure that young people have access to differing support systems where these are necessary. All young people are able to contact an independent visitor from an external organisation, young people are also able to contact a specified manager from a different home within the organisation if they wish.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The home's staff ensure that young people are well supported with their education. All young people attend the college linked to the organisation. There is a good range of information relating to each young person and their educational achievements within their paperwork. All necessary statements and individual education plans are in place and are updated on an annual basis.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The organisation of activities within the home is good. Young people have a regular input into the planning of activities and are able to discuss a range of different activities that they have been involved in, both within the home and externally. Young people are fully supported by the staff with involvement in regular activities and the manager is able to discuss how the organisation has funded young people's involvement in national competitions. The home has a good level of activities both within the home and the local area.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. All young people have a placement plan with information based upon the looked after children documentation from the placing authority, and the staff's knowledge of the young person. Where looked after children documentation is not available on admission, this is sought by the home's staff. Placement plans are of a satisfactory level, containing some information under each of the required headings, but lacking in particular depth and not showing how the home supports young people specifically to meet their needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Each young person has an annual review to examine their care and development. Young people are involved with the review process, either through attendance or giving comments to staff to raise at their review meeting. Review minutes of these meetings are good and show that the staff team bring a range of information relating to young people to the meetings.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Contact arrangements are stated within young people's plans and are organised when young people are admitted to the home. The staff are able to discuss differing ways that the young people and their families are supported in developing contact arrangements where appropriate.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people have a constant input into ongoing operations within the home. Weekly group meetings are completed with the young people, although the quality of the minutes of these is variable. There is also a variation in the quality of key worker meetings, that are held regularly. The issue with regard to both of these areas is with regard to the quality of the recording rather than the quality of work with the young people.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC398481 The home is well presented and cared for by the staff and young people. There are areas within the home where young people can either come together as a group with the staff team, or meet on an individual basis. Young people have their own rooms which are well personalised and which they are proud to show off. Bathing and toilet arrangements are appropriate for the needs of the young people.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The home has a well written Statement of Purpose which covers all of the expected areas and is regularly updated. The staffing policy is partly completed but requires some updating to bring it in line with the full expectations of standard 30. The young people's guide is good and also available on a USB stick. An excellent introduction to the home has been completed by a young person on the computer, without staff prompting, or help.

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Organisation

The placement of a young person that is not a 'looked after child', with no specific legal basis at the home causes a concern. This placement was discussed at the point of admission with Ofsted, however the need for statutory provision to be stated while in placement is not in place, as has been subsequently clarified as being necessary. The organisation has tried hard to rectify this situation, with a lack of the full support of the placing authority.

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Organisation

Staff are supported by the management team through supervisions and appraisals. New staff receive an increased level of supervision. Staff meet on a regular basis to discuss ongoing issues within the home and the young people. All staff have completed an induction course, and training is ongoing within the organisation, with a good range of courses being offered to staff. Sufficient staff have completed the expected NVQ training and basic training such as first aid and food hygiene.

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Organisation

There are sufficient staff within the home to meet the needs of the young people. The staff that are involved with leading shifts have a good range of experience and training.

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Organisation

There are good systems in place to evaluate the work and systems completed in the home. This is done through a quality assurance system completed by the staff team, regulation 34 monitoring by the manager and monthly regulation 33 visits.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is outstanding. The staff ensure that there are monthly topics completed by the young people including black awareness month, and a children in need display.

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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: SC398481 15 January 2010 ensure all young people placed at the home has a looked after status and this is clear within the home's records (regulation 28 Schedule 3 (7), regulation 29 Schedule 4 (1)).

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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 all records of restraint are clear with regard to the reason for restraint (NMS 22.9) • ensure placement plans set out how the assessed needs of the young people are to be met (NMS 2.1) • ensure views and opinions of young people are recorded promptly (NMS 8.3). 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC398481

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