Children's Home run by Stockton on Tees Borough Council in Stockton-on-Tees

SC035222 Unique reference number 26 April 2010 Inspection date Bill Drumm Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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9 December 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: SC035222

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Brief description of the service

Care and accommodation is provided for up to three young people aged 11 to 17 years. The home is semi-detached with an enclosed rear garden. The house has two floors. On the ground floor there is a lounge, dining room, kitchen, quiet room and staff office/sleep-in room. On the first floor there are three bedrooms, a family sized bathroom and a separate toilet.

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Brief description of the service

The home is situated within a residential area and is near to local shops. The home is close to local bus routes which provide easy access to the town centre with its larger shops and leisure facilities.

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Brief description of the service

Three young people currently live in this home, two of whom were present at the time of the inspection although did not directly contribute to the inspection process.

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Summary

This was an unannounced interim inspection of the home. The outcome area for young people in the area of staying safe was inspected and found to be outstanding. The recommendation made at the previous inspection was also looked at and was found to have been met. Young people receive consistently high levels of help and support from a well trained, committed and experienced staff team. Care planning arrangements are excellent and young people are consulted about the care they receive. The home's records are maintained to a good standard and all information relating to young people is kept safe and secure. The home is very well managed and the outcomes for young people are outstanding. 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

Since the last inspection the manager of the home has reviewed the recording of all sanctions given to young people. The effectiveness of all sanctions is now considered and fully recorded.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Information, which is personal to each young person is stored safely and securely at the home. Members of staff working at the home are acutely aware of the need to maintain confidentiality and are very careful not to have their conversations overheard. Advice, support and help in relation to personal care is provided discreetly and privately to those young people who require it. Each young person who lives at the home has their own lockable bedroom. Members of staff retain a key to each young person's bedroom for use in an emergency situation. 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. One room search has been carried out since the last inspection. This means the privacy and dignity of young people are promoted and maintained and that young people are treated with respect.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC035222 The home has policies and procedures in place for dealing with complaints thoroughly and effectively. The young people's guide to the home provides clear detailed information to young people about who they can contact if they are unhappy about anything. The young people's guide is very easy to understand and is written in plain English. There has been one complaint made by a neighbour since the last inspection. The manager dealt with the complaint quickly and efficiently.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures are available in the home and all members of staff have received training in child protection and safeguarding. There have been no child protection referrals made since the last inspection. Young people living at the home are fully protected from exploitation or abuse.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has up-to-date policies and procedures to help staff counter bullying. Each young person who lives at the home has an up-to-date risk assessment, which includes the likelihood of them being a victim of bullying or a perpetrator of bullying. Members of staff working at the home have all received training in countering bullying. There have been no incidents of bullying since the last inspection. Young people are fully protected from bullying.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There has been a small number of occasions since the last inspection when a young person has been absent from the home without authority. Written records show that young people are responded to positively on their return to the home and great efforts are made to help them understand the risks they could face by being absent.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has policies and procedures in place for the safe holding and restraint of young people. Members of staff have all received training in safe holding techniques. Restraint records are maintained within a separate bound and numbered book used specifically for that purpose. There have been no restraints used on young people since the last inspection. Written records are monitored monthly by someone who does not work at the home. Sanctions records are also maintained. A number of sanctions have been imposed on young people because of their behaviour since the last inspection. Written records relating to any sanctions imposed on young people are fully recorded in a separate bound and numbered book used specifically for that purpose. The effectiveness of any sanctions given is regularly reviewed. Members of staff respond positively to young people, who are encouraged and supported to develop socially

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All visitors to the home are asked to identify themselves and to sign the visitors' book prior to being given entry to the building. Regular fire drills are undertaken at the home, which involve both members of staff and young people. However, the written records of the fire drills list the initials of those involved and not their full names. It is unclear therefore, how many members of staff and young people have actually taken part in the drill. Some young people may therefore be unaware of what action to take in the event of a fire within the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There have been no new appointments to the staff team at the home since the last inspection. Members of staff working at the home provide a consistently high quality of care and support to the young people living there. Young people living at the home are provided with physical safety and security and are protected from being exposed to potential abusers.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is not judged. 5 of 6 Inspection Report: SC035222

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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): • improve the system used within the home for recording when a fire drill has been carried out and who has taken part. (26.8) 6 of 6 Inspection Report: SC035222

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