Children's Home run by PIC Children’s Services in Sefton

SC040785 Unique reference number 25 February 2010 Inspection date Michelle Moss Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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15 October 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 7 Inspection Report: SC040785

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Brief description of the service

The home is an end terraced property that is situated approximately half a mile from the local shopping centre. The organisation also manages nine other small children's homes within an adjacent local authority. The area is well served with junior and high school placements and a good range of leisure facilities are available locally within the town centre. Public transport, train and bus connection links are also close by. The staffing arrangements ensure that a one to one staffing ratio is maintained for all parts of the waking day, with one member of the staff team sleeping within the home each night on a rota basis.

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Summary

This was an interim inspection that looked at the progress the home has made in regards to six actions and three recommendations raised at the last full inspection. All outcomes have been re-inspected to assess the level of improvement made. The home is now meeting the majority of the national minimum standards. One of the key strengths of the service is the tailored care young people receive. Young people now have better access to a consistent staff team. Furthermore, details required about staffing are now held at the home. Other examples of improvements have been in the development of care planning that better capture the holistic needs of young people, inclusive of having details on how the home helps to prepare them for adulthood. These positive changes have meant only two minor shortfalls have arisen out of this inspection. These relate to young people requiring better access to electronic communication

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Summary

and ensuring recording of sanctions fully meet the national minimum standards. Despite these minor shortfalls, there are considerably more strengths that have resulted in enhanced care. These factors have been reflected in a change of the home's overall quality rating. 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

The home has taken a number of effective steps to address previous shortfalls to improve the provision of care for young people. Support necessary to help young people's transition to adulthood is better captured through the development of the placement plan. This is evidenced through day-to-day records that show staff are promoting the welfare of young people and supporting them to build up life skills in preparation of adulthood. Furthermore, risk assessments are more comprehensive and are helping to keep young people safe inclusive of family contact.

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Improvements since the last inspection

There is more focus made by the Registered Manager to monitor young people's records at least monthly and to identify patterns and trends that require attention to enhance their welfare and help keep them safe. Also, more permanent staff have been appointed to the home to ensure continuity of care is achieved. In addition, the manager has ensured information relating to workers is now held at the home. The staff have improved time for handovers that enables them to be better prepared for their shifts and to meet the needs of young people.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Attention has been given to premises including undertaking repairs to damaged areas within the home. These improvements have enhanced the standards of accommodation provided to young people and improved overall safety. 4 of 7 Inspection Report: SC040785

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people have their own individual health plan that holds essential information about their past and current health needs. These are effectively used by staff to help young people stay healthy. Young people have good access to local health services, such as doctors, dentists and opticians. The staff play a key role in ensuring appointments are arranged and provide necessary support to young people.

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Helping children to be healthy

The medication procedure followed by staff ensures young people's health is promoted. This extends to ensuring medication is appropriately stored, administered and disposed of correctly where necessary. Staff support young people to take responsibilities for self administering medication to increase their independence in preparation for adulthood. Any self administration of medication is supported by a comprehensive risk assessment to ensure all known risks are assessed.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people are offered nutritious meals that meet their dietary needs. Meals are prepared by staff with young people encouraged to assist to help develop their life skills. Young people are able to invite friends for meals and staff ensure mealtimes remain a social occasion.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. There are effective systems in operation for securing the health and safety of young people, inclusive of fire and environmental safety. Recruitment of staff is seen as a key in safeguarding young people. This extends to ensuring that all appropriate checks are completed prior to staff being appointed and criminal record checks being updated at regular intervals. Safeguarding training and supervision of staff is equally well developed to help keep young people safe. Staff appreciate the serious implications of bullying and its potential harm to young people’s welfare. There is a commitment by staff to tackle all types of bullying to help keep young people safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are assisted to develop socially acceptable behaviour through encouragement and consistency in the approach developed by staff. Physical intervention has not been used at the home for a considerable period of time and sanctions are only used occasionally. However, although sanctions are appropriately used, the level of detail recorded does not capture all essential information to secure transparency of practice. For example, records such as time and a section for the manager's comments and signature are missing.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

When young people go missing from care, a risk assessment is followed by staff to ensure the right action is taken that is reflective of a young person's vulnerability. Proactive work is also undertaken to reduce the numbers of times young people put themselves at risk from being missing. This extends to using incentives such as financial rewards and praise.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff respect the privacy of young people and information is confidentially stored. Young people are provided with useful information to help them understand about how to raise a complaint if they wish to do so.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. 5 of 7 Inspection Report: SC040785 Young people are valued as individuals and are respected by staff. There is a good system in place to aid young people express their views about their care, through monthly meetings.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people's needs are clearly recorded in their placement plan and are put into practice by staff effectively. There are excellent examples of staff providing advice and support to young people on a wide range of issues, including staying safe, healthy lifestyles and relationships. Where more specialised advice and guidance is needed to assist young people's physical and emotional wellbeing, staff are familiar of where these resources can be accessed.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The staff see education as an important part of a young person's development. They play an active role in encouraging school or college attendance and ensure young people have access to advice on making decisions on future learning and career choices.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Each young person has a care plan that provides a good overview of their needs. Young people's participation is secured through monthly placement reviews, where their opinions and feelings are formally captured. Admissions to the home are planned wherever possible to meet the specific needs and preferences of individual young people. Effective liaison between the home and families help young people to sustain their family heritage. However, although young people are able to keep contact with family and friends through arranged visits and telecommunications, there are no facilities in which young people can sustain contact through other electronic methods that allow them to send and receive mail. Staff support young people to contribute to all statutory and placement reviews and ensure their views are known.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. Enhancement in the quality of provision has meant young people have higher standards of comfort and security. This has provided young people with a more homely setting and somewhere they feel happy to invite friends. The staff are committed to helping young people to learn skills that will help them to be better prepared for adulthood. This extends to ensuring a pathway plan is formatted in a structured way that has achievable goals.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. All shifts start with structured handover. This aids incoming staff to receive essential information necessary to care for young people over a 24 hour period. Staff confirm good communication exists between themselves and the Registered Manager. The staff are knowledgeable about their roles and responsibilities and with increased staffing, young people receive more consistent care. Staff are provided with training opportunities to enhance their skills. Also, they receive regular supervision to reflect their length of experience at the home, which in turn enables young people to be supported by staff, who are themselves guided and advised.

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Organisation

The Statement of Purpose provides intended readers with a detailed picture about the service. This includes what the function and purpose is and what young people and commissioners can expect. 6 of 7 Inspection Report: SC040785 Individual case files contain essential information that is effectively utilised by staff to ensure young people's needs are fully met.

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Organisation

The manager monitors and signs records relating to the care of young people as part of the home's internal quality assurance. This enables the manager to identify patterns and trends and use this information to drive forward improvement in the provision of care.

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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

31 May 2010 provide for the use of young people, communication aids that will allow them to send and receive electronic mail (Regulation 15.4) 31 March 2010 ensure all measures of control records include the time it was imposed. (Regulation 17.4b)

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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): • provide within the sanction log a section for the manager's comments and signature. (NMS 22.11) 7 of 7 Inspection Report: SC040785

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