Children's Home run by Newcastle City Council in Newcastle upon Tyne

SC033642 Unique reference number 28 April 2010 Inspection date Shaun Common Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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30 September 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 10 Inspection Report: SC033642

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Brief description of the service

The children's home provides care and accommodation for up to six young people of either sex aged from 11 to 17 years of age. It is close to main bus routes into the city centre where there is access to a variety of amenities. There are also local shops and amenities nearby. The premises include a kitchen, bathrooms, a dining room, two sitting rooms and a games room. There is also an integral flat that young people can use to prepare for independent living or that can also be used as a bedroom. Young people have their own bedrooms and there are two staff sleep-in rooms. There are two offices, both on the ground floor. There is car parking to the front of the home and a garden to the rear.

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Brief description of the service

Six young people live at this home and four were present during the inspection.

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Summary

This unannounced inspection looked at all key standards and examined all outcome areas.

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Summary

This children's home is an outstanding service. It has a number of strengths. It provides balanced, nutritious food for young people and supports them in learning how to cook meals that are healthy. Young people's holistic health needs are planned for and comprehensively met through multi-disciplinary working and a staff member whose role is specifically health care co-ordination.

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Summary

Young people are treated fairly and supported in developing positive behaviour. Young people are assisted to take responsibility and negotiate positive ways forward with staff. They have very good relationships with staff and hold them in high regard. Young people are provided with excellent individual support helped by staff liaising with relevant external professionals. They are assisted to achieve their educational potential again through staff working very closely with young people and education professionals and a member of staff dedicated to education co-ordination.

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Summary

Young people are afforded many opportunities to have their say, make choices and contribute to operation of the home and improvement of the service. Staff support young people very well to develop skills for the transition to adulthood and independent living. Leadership is excellent, with quality monitoring systems that include consultation, identifying any weaknesses and improving the overall care provided to young people.

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Summary

There are some areas identified for improvement. This includes the complaints information provided to young people, ensuring that the staffing policy is set out in the Statement of Purpose and in ensuring that all parts of the children's home are kept reasonably decorated and maintained. 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

The registered persons were asked at the last inspection to make improvements in the home. They were asked to ensure written records of absences include actions taken and to ensure care plans show staff's contribution to care provision. They were asked to ensure regulation 33 reports include the quality of matters monitored and pathway plans are evaluative and 4 of 10 Inspection Report: SC033642 specific. These matters have been addressed and help to ensure young people are better safeguarded, cared for and overall provision is improved.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The registered persons were asked at the last inspection to ensure window frames are maintained. This matter has not yet been addressed and a further recommendation will be raised in this report about this matter.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Young people enjoy healthy, balanced, nutritious meals that include their personal preferences and choices. Themed food nights provide them with opportunities to learn about foods from different countries and about different cultures. The cook is qualified. She attains advice, liaises with and ensures oversight from a dietician from the local Primary Care Trust in menu development and food provision. She takes an active role in regularly shopping for food with young people, teaching them cooking skills and educating them on managing on a budget for the transition to adulthood. The home has achieved an award for healthy food provision. Staff are trained in safe food handling and hygiene and this ensures food prepared is done so in a way that helps keep young people safe.

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Helping children to be healthy

The home has a health policy which underpins staff practices. Young people's health needs are robustly assessed, identified, planned for and met. They are provided with guidance, advice, support and a range of information on health and personal care issues appropriate to their individual needs. The home has a staff member who takes a lead responsibility for the coordination of health care matters. This person liaises with external professionals and works alongside other staff and young people to ensure excellent health care and support is provided. External scrutiny of health care planning and services provided by the home to young people has taken place by professionals such as the joint health commissioning manager and looked after children paediatric nurse who commended the work undertaken by the home. Young people have access to a number of services and professionals both in and out of the home from

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Helping children to be healthy

primary health services to broader health promotion and support services.

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Helping children to be healthy

The home has in place secure storage for all medications, which helps to keep young people safe. Staff are trained in the safe handling of medications and in the home's medication systems. Clear records are kept of medications that come into and go out of the home with appropriate disposal. Records of medication administration show young people get the medication they need, when they need it, to stay healthy. An external health care professional provides staff with training and gives oversight and scrutiny of medication processes and procedures to improve practice and hence the health and safety of young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Young people are afforded privacy and their information is stored securely and confidentially, which promotes and protects their rights. The home has in place a policy relating to searching a young person's possessions in the interests of their safety and well-being. Records of any searches undertaken are fully completed and commendably young people are encouraged to write their comments in the record about the process. Young people have free access to a telephone to keep in touch with people important to them. 5 of 10 Inspection Report: SC033642 The home has a complaints procedure, which is known and understood by staff so they can provide support to young people. Staff are trained in the procedure. Although young people understand the procedure and know how to use it, information provided for them lacks some information that would help them understand the procedure better. The home has a 'have your

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

say' box, where young people can place complaints or just make comments that are considered by the manager for further action and improvements in the home. Young people have information about how to contact individuals outside the home if they had concerns or need advice, such as the local authority complaints officer, an advocacy service or Ofsted.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff at the home have access to the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures and the home's own child protection procedure. Staff have undertaken relevant training and understand the procedure to be followed should an incident of abuse occur at the home in order to safeguard young people. Young people stated that they are very happy at the home and feel safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people stated that bullying is not normally an issue, but when it is, it is addressed quickly by staff. Young people said they feel safe. There is a bullying policy and procedure that is known by staff and helps them to keep young people safe. Young people and staff have completed a work pack together to gain anti-bullying accreditation for the home. Clear records are kept of any bullying matters, which show they have been fully addressed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has in place a policy and protocol developed with the local police force in relation to young people absent without authority. Staff understand this protocol and follow it to help safeguard young people. A record is kept of all absences with action taken.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people and staff have very positive relationships. Young people speak highly of staff and the home. One stated 'staff are mint' and another said 'I wouldn't want to be anywhere else and think this home is fantastic.' There is a behaviour management policy which underpins staff practices. There are records kept for any physical restraints and there have been none since the last inspection. There are also records kept of any sanctions. These show appropriate measures are used to positively shape young people's behaviour. Young people consistently write their comments and sign this record. This shows young people are encouraged to understand their actions and develop responsibility. Young people said sanctions were fair. One young person gave an example where it was felt the sanction was not fair and was able to talk to staff and re-negotiate an agreed fair sanction.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Risk assessments of young people's likely and known activities takes place. They are discussed at each staff meeting, reviewed and kept up to date in this way. Risk assessments also take place of the premises and grounds. They include appropriate control measures. Keyworkers commendably evaluate identified risks and record the positive progress made by young people in each area enabling them to give young people feedback. Other health and safety matters are managed well and help to keep young people safe, such as maintenance of electrical and gas installations and fire equipment. Fire drills and tests are undertaken as required.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There have been no new staff recruited since the last inspection. The home has in place a policy and procedure for the safe recruitment of new employees to work with young people.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. 6 of 10 Inspection Report: SC033642 Young people are provided with excellent personal support and speak highly of the help they get from staff. Individualised, appropriate and personal health, social, sexual health education and information is provided to young people. This promotes their health, well-being and development. Young people are able to approach any staff member in the home for support, advice and guidance as well as having an identified key worker with whom they have regular individual time. Young people have access to external independent bodies such as advocacy services for additional advice, support and guidance if needed. Where a young person needs specialised support, assistance or advice, the home links with external professionals to ensure this is provided.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The home has in place a policy that shows how young people will be supported to achieve and attain their potential. All young people have a plan that shows what their educational needs are. Excellent support is provided by staff for young people that has improved school attendance and overall attainment. Young people all have access to education provision and are supported by good facilities and resources at home such as private study areas, books, a computer and a laptop. Where young people are absent from school for any reason, the rota designates staff members to provide young people with educational support at home or through educational activities in the community. A member of staff has specific responsibility for the area of promoting young people's educational attainment. Good links have been made by this individual with schools and colleges. This enables professionals to liaise and work in partnership with staff

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

to provide the best possible support for young people to achieve. Examples of such include extra tuition for one young person, enabling them to achieve higher assessment grades.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people are provided with a good range of activities and opportunities to pursue leisure interests and enjoy themselves. Plans show young people's likes and choices. A staff member at the home has responsibility for co-ordination of activities in the home. A vast array of information is available for young people to access about what goes on in the local community and activities that can be accessed and arranged further a field to pursue interests and general enjoyment. Young people's meetings occur regularly and they discuss planning activities, breaks and holidays. At the time of inspection, young people and staff were planning a short break to together. Young people are encouraged to bring their friends to the home and birthdays are celebrated.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Assessment and other background information is used to plan for young people. Plans set out young people's holistic needs and how these will be met on a day-to-day basis. Young people are involved in the process and sign to show they agree with their plan. Plans are reviewed regularly. Managers closely scrutinise care plans as part of their monitoring processes to ensure all elements are being progressed in the best interests of young people. Formal looked after reviews take place within timescales and outcomes are clearly recorded. However, minutes of looked after reviews show that Independent Reviewing Officers do not always consult young people as well as they could. For example consulting with young people before the review about the purpose of the review, what will be discussed and young people's experience of their care and what they want. Contact arrangements are clearly recorded on young people's files and

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Helping children make a positive contribution

staff support young people to keep in touch with people important to them. 7 of 10 Inspection Report: SC033642 The home has a policy regarding the admission and discharge of young people. Although there have been no admissions or discharges for sometime, one young person spoke positively about the experience of coming to the home. The young person said they felt welcomed, made to feel at home and were given information about the home and what to expect. Risk assessments show consideration of the impact any new admission may have to interactions between young people and the operation of the home.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people, their parents where appropriate and placing social workers are consulted regularly about care provided and the operation of the home. Young people are afforded the opportunity to meet regularly with staff to share their views, have regular keywork sessions and can approach any staff or managers to discuss any aspect of their care. Three young people accommodated are part of the local authority's children's council, which enables them to give opinions and ideas on wider children's service provision for young people in the local authority. Parents where appropriate and placing social workers are consulted about the care provided at the home, through discussions with staff and questionnaires. The home has received a certificate called 'Investing in children service' from an external agency. This was awarded to the home for ensuring young people have a voice and are able to influence the services they use.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Although an improvement plan is in place for the home, it is not directly linked to consultation that goes on in order to dynamically drive service improvement.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. There are plans in place to show how young people will be supported for the transition to adulthood and independent living. Plans indicate young people's needs, run alongside pathway plans provided by placing social workers and link to work packs on life skills. Young people work with staff on these packages to develop life skills such as looking after themselves, their belongings, managing on a budget and broader general skills needed for later life. This work is supported by the cook, who helps young people buy food on a budget and learn how to prepare their own healthy meals. Commendably, staff at the home continue to support young people who have left their care. They visit young people in their own accommodation in the community and provide them with help and advice. People who used to live at the home many years ago still visit. These individuals visit to keep in touch, maintain positive links, gain advice,

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Achieving economic wellbeing

support and help and this is provided as part of a continuous support package by staff.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home provides a satisfactory environment conducive to the positive care of young people. The home is well decorated in most places, though some areas are in need of attention. The home is well furnished in most areas, though some areas are worn such as bathrooms and some carpets. Windows throughout the building have condensation that has formed inside the double glazed units that obscures vision.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. The home provides good information for young people, parents and professionals about the home and the services it provides. However, the staffing policy is not contained in the updated Statement of Purpose and this is important so people know what staffing levels the home provide at all times. On admission and throughout their stay, young people receive a lot of 8 of 10 Inspection Report: SC033642 good information. This information is not only about the home, but about matters such as local places of worship for different religions, activities and local transport.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is outstanding. Young people are treated fairly and equally and their individual needs and choices are met and provided for. One young person said 'Staff are dead caring and they treat all the people that live here fairly.' Young people have free access to complaints and independent advocacy services which promotes and protects their rights. Sanctions used are fair and can be negotiated as well as helping young people's behaviour to be positively shaped. Young people's religious and cultural needs are considered in planning. Individualised needs are clearly assessed, recorded, planned for and met. Excellent support is provided to all young people and their personal choices are respected. Young people are provided with opportunities to give their views and they are included in important decisions that affect their lives. There are opportunities to learn about food from other countries as well

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Organisation

Staff are qualified, very experienced, understand their job very well and have undertaken a range of appropriate training. Young people speak very highly of staff at the home. There are a sufficient number of staff on duty at all times to ensure that young people receive good quality care and their needs met and their choices are valued. Deputy Managers are experienced and qualified and provide good support to the Registered Manager of the home. They contribute to monitoring processes, which help to deliver high quality care to young people.

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Organisation

External monitoring of the home takes place and covers all required matters helping to improve the quality of care at the home. The Registered Manager is qualified and carries out internal monthly monitoring as required in order to improve provision to young people. Deputy Managers contribute to the overall quality monitoring within the home. Monitoring includes attaining the views of young people and others in improving the running of the home. Effective leadership is exercised in the home by the manager and deputies in order that the home is organised, managed and staffed to deliver the best possible care to young people. The systems put in place by managers ensure quality care is provided to young people accommodated with positive outcomes.

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Organisation

Young people's files are well organised and contain all required information so young people can make sense of their history.

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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): 9 of 10 Inspection Report: SC033642 • revise the complaints information given to young people to include the matters set out in NMS 16 (NMS 16) • ensure that all parts of the children's home are kept reasonably decorated and maintained; specifically windows, carpets, bathrooms and decor (NMS 24) • revise the Statement of Purpose to include the staffing policy as set out in NMS 30.2. (NMS 30) 10 of 10 Inspection Report: SC033642

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