Children's Home run by Esland South Limited in Kent

SC059037 Unique reference number 30 March 2010 Inspection date Margaret Lynes Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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12 January 2010 Date of last 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: SC059037

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Brief description of the service

This is a registered children's home offering 24-hour care and support to young people of either sex aged between 13 and 17 years of age. Referrals are considered for young people experiencing severe emotional and behavioural difficulties, who have a record of offending behaviour, drug and alcohol problems, mild forms of disability and those requiring assessment for specialist placements.

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Brief description of the service

A maximum of four young people can be accommodated at any one time and the home seeks to provide medium to long-term placements. Whilst the home advocates the positive aspects of planned placements, emergency referrals are also considered when appropriate.

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Brief description of the service

The home is a four bed, semi-detached property situated within walking distance of the town centre and local amenities, including shops, a cinema, GP surgery, schools and colleges which are all within easy reach.

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Summary

This was an interim inspection in which the key standards in staying safe and organisation were inspected, with the exception of standard 35, which concerns case file recording. Standard 12 in being healthy was also examined to the extent that compliance with a previously made requirement was assessed. In this respect only, being healthy was judged to be good. The overall outcome of the inspection is satisfactory.

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Summary

This inspection has resulted in three recommendations. These relate to staff supervision, actioning recommendations arising from Regulation 33 visits, and staff recruitment. The yet to be registered manager has now been in post for almost four months and has made notable inroads into reorganising some of the recording systems, reviewing the staffing structure, and raising the quality of the service being provided.

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Summary

Most of the young people in residence contributed to the inspection. Whilst they made few comments, they did not raise any issues of concern. 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 last inspection resulted in four requirements and two recommendations. The requirements related to health care plans, health and safety, staffing levels and the home's statement of purpose. The manager has taken steps to action all of these, thus improving the quality of the service provided to the young people. The two recommendations related to the length of staff shifts and the recording of sanctions. Again, the manager has taken steps to address these.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The physical, emotional and health needs of each young person are identified in individual health plans. At the last inspection it was identified that not all of the young people had a 4 of 7 Inspection Report: SC059037 health plan. Action has been taken to remedy this, and on this visit each young person had a recently updated health plan in place.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. The young people's privacy is respected and information about them is confidentially handled. Each young person has their own bedroom to which they have a key.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Complaints are addressed appropriately. There have been three since the last inspection. They have been logged and action taken to rectify them, or they are in the process of being dealt with.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff undergo child protection training; they are aware of and follow good practice guidelines. There have not been any safeguarding issues since last inspection. The home's policy has been sent to the Local Safeguarding Children's Board for comment.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are vigilant to the possibility of bullying and it is made clear to the young people that it will not be tolerated. There have not been any incidents of bullying since last inspection. It was highlighted in the most recent Regulation 33 visit report that there was a lack of publicity around the home with regard to the prevention of bullying. The manager has started to rectify this, and is sourcing relevant posters and other information.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people who are absent without authority are protected in accordance with written guidance. Appropriate records are kept.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff encourage the young people to develop socially acceptable behaviour. Staff usually respond to inappropriate behaviour through the imposition of financial penalties. The effectiveness of these is questionable, as they are often repeated with limited impact on the young people. The manager has identified that this is an area that needs to be reviewed and alternative options, such as restorative justice, implemented.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The young people and staff are enabled to live in a home that provides physical safety and security. At the last inspection it was identified that the testing of portable electrical equipment was overdue. This has now been rectified.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

One new member of staff has commenced work in the home since the last inspection. Copies of some records are kept in home, but the main recruitment file is kept at the provider's head office. Information from that office confirmed that appropriate recruitment checks had been carried out, albeit the employment history was not as detailed as it could be.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is not judged. 5 of 7 Inspection Report: SC059037

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The home has a written Statement of Purpose which describes what the home sets out to do for the young people it accommodates. The previous inspection resulted in a requirement for the statement to be revised so that it accurately portrayed the services being offered. Amendments have now been made, including the addition of information about local resources available to the young people.

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Organisation

There are clear arrangements for staff to deputise for the manager. The home has a deputy manager and also a recently created post of senior support worker. This means that there are more senior staff available to work at weekends, as historically there have not been any such staff on duty at this time. Three of the care staff have achieved a level three national vocation qualification, whilst the remaining three care staff are working towards it. While this means that the home falls considerably below the percentage of staff the national minimum standards require to have this qualification, the home is doing all it can to rectify this shortfall. Staff receive supervision however it has not always been at the frequency stated in the standards. The manager acknowledged this and stated he was taking measures to improve matters.

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Organisation

There are usually two staff on duty plus the manager during the day. It was previously required that staffing levels be adjusted so as to ensure the home can meet the needs of the young people. The home stated that it addresses this issue by calling in additional staff if cover is needed for specific matters. The last report also recommended that the length of shifts be reviewed. This has been done, and whilst staff are still working long shifts, from 8am to 8pm which includes a sleep-in, they do not work consecutive shifts.

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Organisation

Staff have access to range of training. The manager repeated the comments he had made at the key inspection which was that availability of training had improved. One member of staff has just started a drug counselling course. Some staff are booked to do a child protection course and some have recently undergone training in health and safety, food hygiene and first aid.

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Organisation

Regulation 33 visitor reports are comprehensive and list areas of concern and for improvement. It was noted that a number of recommendations made by the visitor are not actioned and are repeated the following month.

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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): 6 of 7 Inspection Report: SC059037 • ensure that comprehensive dates are given with regard to the employment history sought for new staff (NMS 27) • ensure staff supervision is carried out at the frequency stated in the national minimum standards (NMS 28) • ensure that prompt action is taken to rectify shortfalls that are identified in Regulation 33 visits (NMS 33) 7 of 7 Inspection Report: SC059037

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