Children's Home run by Surrey County Council in Surrey

SC040628 Unique reference number 10 March 2010 Inspection date Peter Daniel Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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27 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 7 Inspection Report: SC040628

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Brief description of the service

The children's home is a substantial Victorian detached building that was formerly a home for children with disabilities. It has recently been refurbished to a very high standard and has a very large garden which is well laid out. The home accommodates up to seven children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Placements are medium to long-term. The home accepts children and young people of both sexes between 10 and 18 years but 10 to 14 years on admission. Seven children and young people are currently placed.

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Brief description of the service

The premises are decorated in a bright and modern style and furnished to a high standard. There are excellent facilities including an art room, computer room, soft play area and library. The communal rooms are very large and there is a quiet room for children and young people. The home is about two miles from the town centre and is easily accessible by public transport.

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Summary

This was a random, interim inspection that focussed exclusively on the outcome of staying safe. The home has positive leadership and sufficient and competent staff. The staff are experienced and trained and are properly supervised and supported by management. The staff are child-centred with children and young people receiving excellent individualised care, according to their needs. Staff, children and young people have positive relationships based on respect and mutual trust. There are effective safeguarding systems in place. The staff are trained in implementing safeguarding procedures. Children and young people understand the complaints procedure and are encouraged to express their views about the running of the home. Children and young people report that they feel safe and looked after by the staff. The staff reflect about their practice and the home holds regular staff meetings and workshops. Staff are

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Summary

encouraged to attend training and expand their learning in order to develop their skills. Two issues were identified in relation to meeting the national minimum standards. One is the need to facilitate better access via the fire exit on the girls' landing. In the event of a fire, whilst the exit would allow children and young people to evacuate the building, it could obstruct the fire brigade from gaining entry. The other is to ensure that incidents necessitating calling the police to the home, are notified to Ofsted. Neither of these shortfalls has directly impacted on the children's well-being. The overall quality rating is outstanding. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

There were no actions or recommendations made at the last inspection. The staff are dealing with challenging children and young people. Since the last inspection it has been a case of consolidating practice and gaining experience. The manager is updating procedures to fall in line with Every Child Matters headings.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. 4 of 7 Inspection Report: SC040628 The home safeguards and promotes the welfare of children and young people. There are procedures for child protection, countering bullying, unauthorised absence, significant incidents, restraint, notification of significant events, rewards and sanctions, restraint, complaints, fire safety and health and safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a robust selection and vetting system for all staff and volunteers. No new residential staff have been appointed since the last inspection. Recruitment is dealt with through the head office although the home conducts its own interview process. The home keeps details of Criminal Record Bureau registration numbers and expiry dates. Criminal Record Bureau checks are up to date. Visitors to the home have to sign in and are monitored. Officers from within the wider organisation have to carry an ID card.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home is fully staffed and staff are supported by management. There are appropriate ratios of staff to children and young people. A minimum of two staff is always on shift. Staff are trained and conversant in child protection procedures. They know what to do if a child or young person has suffered or is likely to suffer harm. All staff undertake a wide range of training to enable them to develop and extend their good practice with children and young people. Apart from one, staff will have completed National Vocational Qualification(NVQ) training at level 3 or higher by April. The last member will start in April. The majority of senior staff have completed NVQ training at level 4. One is currently completing the training. All staff completed refresher training in safeguarding last September. Additional training has included children's rights, bereavement and loss, teenage pregnancy, domestic abuse, handling medication and food

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

hygiene. Some staff will attend a conference at the end of March on 'young people moving through change'. Managers have attended an 'excellence in child care' conference. The home holds workshops and utilises staff meetings to cover such topics as case supervision, risk assessment, sexualised behaviour, gang culture and restraint. All staff have had core training in restraint and first aid training. The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) provides advice on self-harming.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The children and young people are assisted to develop socially acceptable behaviour. They are subject to a risk assessment soon after placement and assessments are regularly updated. Staff use 'Attachment Theory' as a way of understanding and helping children and young people to develop meaningful relationships. Staff are able to provide 'emotional containment' for the children and young people. Relationships are based on trust, openness, honesty and respect.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home uses restraint minimally and as a last resort. All staff have done core training in restraint. The home uses sanctions that mostly involve a child or young person having to have an early bedtime or having to make reparation for damages. There are rewards for good behaviour such as allowing a child or young person to take part in an activity of their choice.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home records unauthorised absences and significant incidents. All significant events relating to the protection of children or young people are notified to the designated person for safeguarding. It was noted that significant events involving the police being called to the home are not being reported to Ofsted, as listed under Schedule 5. It seems that the staff were unaware of this. This has been included as a recommendation.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has zero tolerance to bullying and staff deal with it promptly when it arises. 5 of 7 Inspection Report: SC040628 The home provides opportunities for children and young people to represent their views and make decisions about the way the home is run. The home has a complaints policy and children and young people know and understand the procedure for making complaints. Most complaints are dealt with informally. There have been no formal complaints since the last inspection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children and young people are allocated a key worker with whom they can discuss personal or other issues.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff and children and young people meet informally every evening around mealtimes. It has been found that the children and young people will talk best in this informal setting. The home also convenes a children and young person's meeting, usually every two weeks. Therefore the children and young people have varied opportunities to express their ideas and feelings, enabling them to feel supported within the home. Children and young people report 'I feel listened to…………I can talk to most of the staff……its good to talk at the dinner table…….... I have no complaints'.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home and staff respect a child or young person's wish for privacy and confidentiality, as is consistent with good parenting and the need to protect the child or young person. The home provides locks for bedrooms, bathrooms and toilets. Children and young people's records are kept safely and securely.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home ensures that positive steps are taken to keep children and young people safe from risk and fire hazards. Checks of the building and fire drills and equipment tests are done on a regular basis. A member of staff has responsibility for undertaking weekly and monthly checks of the building for general maintenance issues. Staff are trained in first aid. Following a recent fire risk action plan by the local authority's fire safety advisor, work began last week to fit fire doors where necessary that meet the required standards.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The Yale lock on the girls' corridor on the third floor cannot be opened from the outside. Whilst this does not impede evacuation, it could be an obstruction for the fire brigade. The manager has agreed to address the issue and for a turn lock mechanism to be fitted to the external door to the girls' corridor to replace the current one. A recommendation has been included to ensure the work is completed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Overall, the home has adopted a thorough approach to matters of safeguarding which are given a high priority.

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Organisation

The organisation is not judged. 6 of 7 Inspection Report: SC040628

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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): • ensure incidents, as listed in column 1 in Schedule 5, in particular serious incidents necessitating calling the police to the home, are notified to Ofsted (NMS 20.1) • ensure a turn lock mechanism is fitted to the fire safety exit on the girls' corridor to ensure that children, staff and visitors are kept safe from risks from fire and other hazards(NMS 26.1). 7 of 7 Inspection Report: SC040628

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