Children's Home run by Mulberry House Care Homes Limited in Staffordshire

SC060554 Unique reference number 28 July 2010 Inspection date Jackie Callaghan Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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11 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 8 Inspection Report: SC060554

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Brief description of the service

This is one of five children's homes operated by the provider. It is a detached house that accommodates up to two young people between the ages of 9 and 18 years of age. The home aims to offer a homely supportive environment where a young person can thrive and grow. It is located close to local amenities and travel networks.

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Brief description of the service

The home comprises of a reception room, lounge with dining facilities, overlooking a large back garden, and a large kitchen. The first floor has two large bedrooms with study facilities, a bathroom, study, and staff office/bedroom. At the time of this inspection the home was occupied by two young people, with one being present throughout. The second young person had completed a survey giving their views of the home.

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Summary

This unannounced key inspection focuses on all five outcome areas. The inspection also considers whether the actions and recommendations made during the previous inspection have been addressed. The one action and one recommendation set at the last inspection have been met.

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Summary

The physical, emotional, health and welfare needs of the young people are well met overall. Young people are kept safe through differing systems relating to absconding, complaints, and behaviour management systems. Safeguarding concerns are responded to fully and appropriately recorded. Staff complete regular health and safety checks and recruitment checks are thorough. The home is generally well cared for by the staff and young people.

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Summary

Young people enjoy a good range of activities. There are effective placement plans for young people and staff ensure that young people are fully involved in contact arrangements where appropriate. All young people are involved with the planning of their placements through the review process and also contribute to the day-to-day decision making within the home.

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Summary

Staff are effectively managed, through supervisions and appraisals. The home is appropriately staffed to meet the needs of the young people and all monthly monitoring is completed.

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Summary

Two recommendations have been made as a result of this visit. The home does not have a fully operational development plan. Young people's meetings minutes do not contain enough detail to show that active feedback is being given to the young people following consultation. 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

At the last inspection the Registered Manager was asked to ensure all staff receive appropriate supervision and make sure that staff who lead shifts at the home have substantial relevant experience.

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Improvements since the last inspection

All staff are now receiving regular supervision which helps them to develop their knowledge base on the diverse aspects of care. All staff who lead shifts are now appropriately experienced to do so. As a result, young people are being provided with good care that promotes their well-being. 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC060554

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people enjoy healthy, nutritious meals that meet their dietary and health needs. They are encouraged to prepare snacks and participate in the preparation and serving of meals. Young people say, 'staff tell me about the importance of healthy food'.

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Helping children to be healthy

The health and care needs of young people are identified and updated regularly. A clear plan for each young person details how their specific and general health issues are to be addressed. All young people are registered with the required health professionals. Staff, in partnership with the person with parental responsibility, actively seeks out further services when required to meet the individual needs of young people. For example, SUSTAIN which is part of the mental health service.

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Helping children to be healthy

The looked after children’s nurse sees the young people on a regular basis and explores with the young people any health concerns they have. This means that the young people receive care that actively promotes their well-being and health. The files for the young people contain signed medical consent forms from the person with parental responsibility for vaccinations, preventative inoculations including the administration of household medication and first aid.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people's privacy is respected by the staff team. Recording systems are in place regarding room searches but such actions have not been necessary. Young people are aware of how to complain if they are unhappy about any aspect of their care. Young people say, 'I speak to any member of staff because they are all friendly and approachable'.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people know that bullying is not tolerated and they are confident that staff will intervene to ensure they are protected from bullying by others should the need arise. Young people say 'they feel safe living here'. Their safety is further promoted when their whereabouts are unknown as staff follow the agreed reporting procedures for these circumstances. This results in practices that are consistent with wider police protocols for reporting young people who abscond.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Appropriate systems are in place to respond to safeguarding concerns. Where concerns have been raised and incidents investigated there are full recordings of all action steps that have been completed, and minutes of all meetings. Incidents are recorded with an appropriate amount of anonymity and information is shared within the team in a thoughtful way by the Registered Manager.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff support positive behaviours within the home through a known reward structure. Sanctions are fully recorded with additional referencing to allow for patterns of behaviour to be noted. Incidents requiring restraints are fully recorded and staff are trained in this area, including the use of diffusion techniques. However, no physical interventions have taken place since the last inspection. This is confirmed by the young people, demonstrating the good care being provided.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people live in a home that provides for their physical safety and security. There are appropriate risk assessments for all aspects of the safety of the premises and grounds. This includes serious incident planning; the behaviour of the young people and their activities, all of which are updated as required. 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC060554 Robust procedures are in place to protect young people from fire. There are records to show that all the fire systems are regularly tested. Staff and young people undertake fire drills in excess of requirements. Relevant certificates show that regular servicing and maintenance is completed on all gas and electrical equipment.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

No new staff have been employed since the last inspection. The organisation’s staff recruitment checks, having been examined in August 2009, showed that there are robust procedures in place to ensure the safety of young people. All areas as required by the national minimum standards are appropriately checked. This includes criminal records bureau checks, references that are verified, full application and identification checks.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Young people are receiving effective and dynamic individualised support when they need it. The home values both the spiritual and moral development of each young person. As a result, staff fosters excellent supportive and caring relationships with young people. All young people have purposeful access to an independent visitor system, for example, the children's advocacy and rights service.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The progress and development of young people is systematically documented in their files and show how young people are supported throughout their stay. For example, young people are provided with regular opportunities to spend individual quality time with their key worker. These sessions provide young people with copious opportunities to talk about particular issues that are pertinent to them. Key worker sessions also provide opportunities to educate young people on areas of equality and diversity, such as sexuality.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

All young people access educational provisions and there are strong links between the home's staff and education staff. Personal education plans and educational statements are in place to support young people's education and the home receives regular updates relating to progress made.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

All young people are supported and encouraged to participate in hobbies and activities of their choice within and outside of the home. Staff ensure that is a correct balance between supervised and unsupervised time. These activities are risk assessed and take into consideration the age, gender, abilities and individual interests of the young people. As a result, young people are receiving outstanding individualised care.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Young people's placements are supported by good plans and appropriate looked after children documentation. Plans show that staff have a thorough awareness of the differing needs of the young people and how these are to be met. Young people have appropriate opportunities to add to their own plans and comments are systematically recorded.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people have regular reviews and these are recorded. Staff and young people have an input into the review process through the completion of reports and attendance. Young people are able to move into and leave the home in a planned and sensitive manner and all say they have a basic awareness of what is planned for the future. 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC060554 Young people say they are encouraged and supported to make decisions about their lives. Young people's comments include, 'any meetings that involve me I am invited to'. Young people are actively encouraged to communicate their views in regular discussions with their key workers, during group meetings and on an informal basis every day. Staff visibly show that they value the views and opinions of young people. However, staff are failing to comprehensively exploit the formal consultation recording systems, for instance, young people's meeting minutes.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Currently they do not detail action taken to demonstrate that agenda items covered at prior meetings have been addressed.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

In accordance with their care plans all young people are encouraged to maintain contact with members of their families. Staff clearly understand how important communication and contact with their family is for the young people and fully support their contact arrangements.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. No young people are currently of an age to need a pathway plan. Basic life skills assessments are completed and young people are encouraged to take part in their laundry and personal care.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home is located in a residential area and the young people have good access to transport, education facilities, health care provision and leisure activities. Individual communal rooms are domestic in style and this supports young people in learning how to live with others. Rooms are decorated, furnished and maintained to a reasonable standard. Young people say they are able to have some say in personalising their bedrooms. The home does provide ample space for the number, age and gender of the young people living here.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Both the interior and exterior of the home are maintained in a good state of structural and decorative repair with an ongoing maintenance programme.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The home has an appropriate Statement of Purpose and this includes a range of information regarding the home. There is an appropriate young people's guide that covers the main areas of life at the home. This includes how to make complaints to a range of differing organisations.

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Organisation

There is a clear staffing structure with clear lines of accountability in the home. The Registered Manager is appropriately qualified, skilled and experienced to provide leadership to the staff team and young people. He is actively involved in the day to day operation of the home and has clear expectations that the staff team will achieve the best possible outcomes for all young people in their care. The home has clear deputising arrangements in his absence.

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Organisation

Staff are well supported within the home. Regular staff meetings are recorded and these cover a good range of information, including the development of the young people and general staff notices. Appraisals are reported to have been completed with all of the staff team. All supervision records are up to date and show that staff receive regular meetings with the home's management. 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC060554 Staff duty rotas and the manner in which staff are deployed confirm that the home keeps sufficient staff on the duty rota at all times, but to do this requires the occasional use of bank and agency staff. Senior members of staff who are sufficiently experienced and competent lead the shifts. The staff team is made up of a range of experienced and qualified staff with the overwhelming majority holding National Vocational Qualification at level 3.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. All of the home's recording systems take account of potential needs in relation to a young person's diversity such as identity, race, culture, religion and sexuality. The Registered Manager undertakes regular schedule 5 monitoring, in order to sufficiently provide appropriate quality assurance checks. However, the Registered Manager has yet to fully complete a development plan to either show any planned changes or confirm the continuation of the home's current operation and resourcing.

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Organisation

Each young person has a permanent private and secure record of their history and progress. As a result, young people's needs, development and progress are recorded to reflect their individuality.

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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): • develop young people's meeting minutes to demonstrate that they are receiving active feedback following consultation (NMS 8.5) • create a written development plan which identifies the future of the home in regard to the operation and resourcing. (NMS 33.5) 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC060554

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