Children's Home run by The Rose Road Association in Southampton

SC042446 Unique reference number 21 January 2010 Inspection date Brian Mcquoid Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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12 August 2009 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 6 Inspection Report: SC042446

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Brief description of the service

The service is a respite unit that offers short breaks for up to 12 children and young people with severe learning difficulties that may include physical disabilities and additional health problems. It is run by a registered charity which provides support and information services to children, young people and their carers throughout the area. The service is available to children and young people, of both sexes, aged between two years and 17 years. The unit consists of two purpose built residential areas located within a modern purpose built complex that also contains a school and the offices of the charity. All those using the service are subject to a full pre-admission assessment aimed at identifying their care needs. This information is then used by a respite panel to determine if the service is able to meet their specific needs.

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Summary

The inspection was carried out on an unannounced basis and the unit was assessed against all of the key standards for staying safe, as well as standard 1 under organisation. An assessment relating to the garden area was also carried out.

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Summary

The unit provides a safe and secure environment for young people within which they are well cared for and suitably protected from harm. Staff are trained in safeguarding. They know individual young people and their needs intimately and are well aware of their responsibilities to advocate for them. Sanctions and physical interventions are not used within the unit and there is no concern about bullying. Young people enjoy positive relationships with a staff group who operate very effectively in a caring and supportive manner. There is good provision for managing risk associated with all aspects of young people's daily lives and staff recruitment procedures provide appropriate safeguards for the welfare of young people.

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Summary

The unit's Statement of Purpose needs to be reviewed, updated and revised as necessary, and future referrals to the service must be only for children and young people from 2 to under 18 years of age. 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

Since the previous inspection significant work has been carried out in the garden area to improve the facility for young people. There are now always sufficient staff on duty in number, experience and qualifications to be able to meet the needs of young people and agency staff are being used much less frequently.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people benefit from being well cared for in an environment where they are safe and suitably protected from harm. Staff are all trained in safeguarding and are well aware of the associated procedures and what to do if they have any concerns. Young people attending the 4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC042446 unit are treated as individuals and have their privacy appropriately respected by staff who know the individuals they care for intimately. Staff are able to communicate effectively with young people and are aware of their responsibilities to act as advocates for them. Due consideration is given to the compatibility of groups when drawing up respite programmes and staffing levels ensure young people are appropriately supervised and that their needs are able to be met. There is no concern at the unit about young people being at risk from any other young person. Staff are trained in managing behaviour and apply clear and consistent boundaries in a supportive

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

and caring manner. Staff do not use sanctions or physical interventions to manage behaviour.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people benefit from being provided with a safe and secure physical environment where there is good provision for managing risk. Fire safety arrangements are good with an up to date and comprehensive fire risk assessment and checks and tests are carried out and recorded. Currently fire evacuation practices for the respite unit are being held, but not at the required intervals and are not being routinely recorded in the unit's fire log.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Robust recruitment procedures are applied to prospective staff and these provide the necessary safeguards for the welfare of young people.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. Significant work has been carried out in the garden area since the previous inspection. The garden is being well maintained, there are now designated areas for young people to be able to grow things and provision has also been made for sensory stimulus including plants and chimes being installed.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The Statement of Purpose for the unit is dated December 2008 and states, inappropriately, that children and young people aged between 4 and 25 years are eligible for referral. There are always sufficient staff on duty to meet the needs of young people, the staff group operate very effectively as a team and receive regular supervision.

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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

5 of 6 Inspection Report: SC042446 1 March 2010 ensure that fire evacuation practices are carried out at the required intervals and duly recorded NMS 26 Regulation 32 30 March 2010 ensure that the Statement of Purpose is reviewed, updated and revised where necessary NMS 1 Regulation 4 31 March 2010 ensure that referrals to the service are for children and young people aged from 2 to under 18 years of age only. NMS 1 Regulation 1

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Recommendations

There are no recommendations. 6 of 6 Inspection Report: SC042446

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