Children's Home run by Acorn Care (UK) Limited in Darlington

SC390751 Unique reference number 28 April 2010 Inspection date Bill Drumm Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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28 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 9 Inspection Report: SC390751

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Brief description of the service

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five young people of either sex, aged between 12 and 17 years old, who may be experiencing a range of social, emotional and behavioural problems.

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Brief description of the service

The home is a detached house with enclosed gardens to the front and rear. The house has three floors. The ground floor comprises of a kitchen, dining room, lounge and another room used as a staff office. There is also a staff office on the ground floor. On the first floor, there are four bedrooms and bathing facilities. On the second floor, there are two further bedrooms used by young people. Each young person has their own single bedroom.

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Brief description of the service

The home is close to local shops. Bus routes are nearby if young people wish to visit the town centre with larger shops and leisure facilities.

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Brief description of the service

There are five young people currently living in this home, all of whom were present during the inspection and who contributed to the inspection process.

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Summary

This was an unannounced key inspection of the home. All of the outcome areas for young people were inspected. The outcome areas for staying safe, making a positive contribution, economic well-being and organisation were inspected and found to be satisfactory. The outcome areas for being healthy and enjoying and achieving were found to be good. The home has made some improvements since the last inspection. However, further improvements need to be made and the home is still judged to be satisfactory. Relationships between young people and staff appear positive, and this forms the basis for promoting and developing good standards of behaviour. Internal and external monitoring of the operation of the home is good. The home's records are maintained to a good standard and information relating to young people is kept secure and confidential.

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Summary

One action and nine recommendations have been made as a result of this inspection. 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 last inspection the manager has improved the system used to ensure all members of the staff team receive regular supervision. Training has also been provided for staff members in the safe handling and administration of medication. In addition, the system of external monitoring of the home has been improved. The home has up-to-date Public and Employee Liability insurance and only members of staff can gain access to toilets and bathrooms from the outside in an emergency.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Members of staff ensure young people have easy access to fresh fruit and vegetables. Nutritious meals are provided and young people participate in the planning of menus. One young person 4 of 9 Inspection Report: SC390751 spoken to at the time of the inspection said, 'I'm on independence training so I look after a lot of my own food'. The home ensures that young people living there are able to follow the diet of their choice. The home also ensures that young people are able to sample food from different countries and cultures. Young people are encouraged to take exercise and to stay healthy. Young people living at the home enjoy a healthy and well-balanced diet, healthy eating is promoted and they are encouraged to stay fit.

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Helping children to be healthy

A copy of each young person's health care plan was not available at the time of the inspection. Young people living at the home have their immediate health care needs identified and they are supported to attend meetings and appointments with healthcare professionals. Young people are registered with a local doctor, dentist and optician. Members of staff encourage and support young people to attend all relevant appointments. However, because information in health care plans is not complete some health needs may not be met.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people living at the home are protected by the home’s medication administration systems and staff practice. Policies and procedures relating to the safe handling of medication are in place. Members of staff are provided with written guidance for the administration of controlled drugs and the home has a controlled drugs register in place. All members of staff have undertaken formal training in first aid and the safe handling and administration of medication, and all training is currently up to date.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Young people living at the home are treated with dignity and respect and their privacy is respected. Members of staff are pleasant and friendly towards the young people living at the home. There are sufficient bathrooms and toilets to meet the needs of the young people. Only members of staff working at the home can gain access to toilets and bathrooms from the outside in an emergency. Each young person has their own bedroom. Young people are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms in a style of their own choice and to keep the rooms clean and tidy. The home has policies and procedures in place which explain what action members of staff should take when it is necessary to search a young person's bedroom. The room search records comply with national minimum standards. Personal information relating to each young person is stored securely to prevent unauthorised access. Young people are able to make personal

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are policies and procedures in place for dealing with complaints in an effective and timely manner. There have been five complaints made since the last inspection. Written records examined at the time of the inspection show that the complaints were thoroughly investigated, and the complainants were satisfied with the outcome of the complaint investigation. The young people's guide provides information to young people about the complaints process. Young people were observed at the time of the inspection to speak freely with all members of staff and to make their needs known. One young person spoken to at the time of the inspection said, 'I can talk to anyone if I want to'.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people living at the home are protected from exploitation and abuse. A copy of the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures are available in the home. The home also retains copies of the safeguarding procedures for every local authority that has placed children in the home. The home also has its own child protection guidance. All members of staff working at 5 of 9 Inspection Report: SC390751 the home, have undertaken training in child protection. Young people are protected from exploitation and abuse.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has policies and procedures in place with regard to countering bullying and there have been no recorded incidents of bullying since the last inspection. The young people's guide to the home includes information for young people about what action they should take if they feel they are being targeted by bullies. The manager of the home carries out a countering bullying risk assessment of the times, places and circumstances when the risk of bullying is greatest. However, the risk assessment is not regularly reviewed and updated. In addition, not all members of staff have received training in countering bullying. Young people may not therefore be fully protected from bullying.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has policies and procedures in place with regard to what action members of staff should take if a young person is absent without authority. Procedures comply with national minimum standards. There have been a number of occasions since the last inspection when a young person has been absent without authority. However, members of staff actively encourage young people not to run away from the home or to be absent without authority and to keep themselves safe. Discussions between young people and their key workers, following the young person returning from being absent without authority are not routinely undertaken. The reasons for a young person going missing may not be fully appreciated or understood.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has policies and procedures in place relating to the safe holding or restraint of young people, and members of staff have received appropriate training. Restraint records are retained within a separate bound and numbered book used specifically for that purpose. The manager and staff make every effort to promote socially acceptable behaviour by offering support and encouragement to young people. The home also has policies and procedures relating to the sanctions that can be used to help young people improve their behaviour. Young people are assisted to develop socially acceptable behaviour.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are protected from fire and other hazards within the home. There are good systems in place to ensure that young people, members of staff and visitors to the home are kept safe and free from hazards. Fire drills are carried out at regular intervals and these include some undertaken at night. The home's insurance certificate clearly states that the home has current public and employee liability insurance up to a minimum value.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home does not ensure the careful selection and vetting of all staff. Full safety checks are not carried out to ensure the suitability of each applicant and each member of staff has not provided references from previous employers or those that know them. In addition, any gaps in employment have not been fully explored and explained. Young people may therefore be exposed to potential abusers. Visitors to the home are asked to clearly identify themselves on their arrival and to sign the visitors' book.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The progress of each young person is monitored. Young people living at the home receive individual help and support when they need it or when they request it. Each young person has their own key worker. Meetings between key workers and young people take place at regular intervals. One young person spoken with at the time of the inspection said, 'I have key workers but I'll talk to anyone I want'. 6 of 9 Inspection Report: SC390751 All the young people living at the home are encouraged and supported to attend school, college or training. The home has a proactive approach to helping young people progress with their education or training. In addition, young people living at the home are actively encouraged and supported to develop their own hobbies and interests. However, not every young person, who is of school age, has an up-to-date personal education plan which is regularly monitored

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

and reviewed. This means young people living at the home are not enabled to achieve their maximum potential.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Young people living at the home are appropriately placed. Each young person has their own placement plan which outlines what their needs are and how they will be met. In order to help ensure that needs are met, the manager and members of staff undertake individual risk assessments of each young person and devise more detailed care plans following admissions.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The needs of young people living at the home are not regularly reviewed. The manager and members of staff attend review meetings with partner agencies when they do take place, but written records show that review meetings are often cancelled and no alternative dates are agreed. This means that the changing needs of young people are not highlighted and appropriate actions are not taken.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Where appropriate, young people are supported and encouraged to maintain regular contact with their friends and families.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The admission procedure for the home includes, where appropriate, arrangements for the young people to visit before a placement is agreed. Members of staff try to make young people feel welcome and to understand what it will be like to live there.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are encouraged and supported to make decisions about their lives and to influence how the home is run. In addition, the opinions of parents, social workers and other interested parties are actively sought in order to continue to develop the service.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is satisfactory. The manager and members of staff encourage and support young people to take responsibility for their actions and to develop adult responsibilities. Young people are encouraged to participate in activities of daily living and to learn independence skills. Training and employment opportunities are discussed with young people and support is given, where necessary, to help them achieve their full potential. Staff at the home also work closely with the young people to help them develop skills for daily living. Formal pathway plans, written by the young people's social workers, were not available within the home at the time of the inspection.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people enjoy homely accommodation that is decorated and furnished to a high standard. There are, however, a number of repairs which need to be carried out and the carpets are both stained and in one place, burnt. Young people living at the home are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms and they are encouraged to keep their home clean and tidy. 7 of 9 Inspection Report: SC390751

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The promotion of equality and diversity is satisfactory. Members of staff support and enable young people to participate in community based activities on an equal basis and to develop their own identity. Not all members of staff have undertaken training in equality and diversity. The Statement of Purpose requires minor review if it is to fully describe what young people can expect from living at the home.

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Organisation

Young people are looked after by members of staff who are appropriately supported. All members of staff receive regular, formal supervision and the acting manager makes himself available to talk with members of staff should they need to do so. Staff meetings are held at regular intervals. One member of staff spoken to at the time of the inspection said, 'I feel supported, I get supervision and if I want to talk to anyone, the door is always open'.

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Organisation

Young people receive the care and services they need from competent staff. Not all members of staff are trained to a minimum National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People. In addition, some members of the staff team have not undergone training in food hygiene, complaints, countering bullying and equality and diversity. There are clear arrangements in place for members of staff to deputise in the absence of the manager.

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Organisation

Members of staff are sufficient in number to meet the needs of the young people living at the home. The home's rotas ensure that, where possible, there is a mix of both male and female staff on duty. Staff sickness and holidays are covered by existing staff members being flexible in their work patterns. Consistency of care is provided to young people.

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Organisation

A record of all training received by members of staff is maintained within the home. Most staff are trained and competent to meet the needs of children and young people. However, some members of staff have not received training in a number of essential areas. This may mean that, sometimes, young people may not be looked after by staff members who are fully equipped to meet their needs.

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Organisation

The care of young people living at the home is monitored regularly. A system is in place, to ensure performance is monitored and any patterns or issues requiring action are highlighted.

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Organisation

The needs of young people are recorded to reflect their individuality, and daily records are maintained. Information relating to the care that young people receive is stored securely. Young people are able to access this information within the home if they request it.

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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

8 of 9 Inspection Report: SC390751 30 July 2010 ensure there is documentary evidence that all the details required by Schedule 2 are on every staff member's file. (Regulation 26)

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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 that each young person has a clear and up-to-date health plan (NMS 12.2) • carry out a recorded risk assessment of the times, places and circumstances in which the risk of bullying is greatest (NMS 18.5) • ensure that discussions take place between key workers and young people following the return of a young person from being absent without authority (NMS 19.6) • ensure that every young person who is old enough has an up-to-date and accurate personal education plan (NMS 14.2) • ensure that the needs and development of each young person are reviewed regularly (NMS 3) • ensure that all young people living at the home who are old enough have a pathway plan in place (NMS 6.2) • maintain the interior and exterior of the home to a standard that creates a pleasant and domestic environment (NMS 24)

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Recommendations

• review the home's statement of purpose to ensure it fully describes what young people can expect form living at the home (NMS 1). • ensure that all members of staff are fully trained and competent to meet the needs of the young people living at the home. (NMS 29) 9 of 9 Inspection Report: SC390751

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