Children's Home run by Frances House Ltd in Lancashire

SC403462 Unique reference number 22 April 2010 Inspection date Monica Farrimond Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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8 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 8 Inspection Report: SC403462

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Brief description of the service

The home is operated by a private organisation and is registered to care for up to five young people, of both genders, between the ages of 11 and 17 years. The home cares for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The house is situated in a small town, close to all amenities and is easily accessible to the motorway. The house is a large end of terrace property, comprising large communal areas, two kitchens and single bedrooms for the young people accommodated. The home is furnished and decorated to a high standard.

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Summary

At this unannounced full inspection all key standards were inspected. Young people's welfare is enhanced by positive relationships that exist between experienced staff and young people, and between young people and their peers. Young people are encouraged to eat healthily, they are kept safe and they are provided with support from professional services outside the home. Staff are well supported by the Registered Manager, who is effective, enthusiastic, and has a strong commitment and focus on improvement. The promotion of equality and diversity is good throughout the standards inspected. No actions and only two recommendations are made following this inspection, which reflects the high standard of care offered by this home. 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

This is the first inspection since the home was registered in January 2010.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people's dietary needs are catered for in a way that promotes good health. Young people are actively involved in choosing food for the weekly menu. Fresh produce is used in the preparation of meals and fresh fruit and drinks are always available. Activities encouraged by the staff for young people, emphasises to them positively about the importance of eating well and taking regular exercise. All staff are trained in food hygiene; this ensures that staff and young people's awareness of the importance of hygiene is raised. Effective monitoring and detailed records ensures young people receive adequate quantities of wholesome and nutritious food, which is properly prepared and served in an attractive manner. Theme nights are held throughout the year; young people's choices of food are promoted and diversity is encouraged through studying different cultures and sampling different cultural foods.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people's health needs are identified through regular assessments carried out by staff. Health plans are detailed and provide staff with a clear understanding of the needs and support young people require. This ensures that staff have a clear understanding of the aims of the plan, and work together with young people to achieve optimum health. Professional services assist young people to understand and to deal with specific health issues. Young people attend regular appointments with local health services. Young people's health and welfare is closely monitored by staff ensuring their good health is promoted. Staff have developed a good understanding of a wide range of health needs, which ensures that personal health plans are reviewed and promoted. 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC403462 Staff and young people are trained in the administration of medication, and drug awareness ensuring young people's health needs are safeguarded and promoted. All medication is stored

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Helping children to be healthy

securely, preventing young people from unnecessary access. Clear records ensure all medication is accountable, administered appropriately and disposed of safely. All staff are trained in first aid and can respond to minor injuries, prior to seeking professional medical advice. Accident records are kept within individual young people's files.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. There are sound procedures and good care practices that keep young people safe in the home. Staff demonstrate a strong commitment to preserving the dignity and privacy of young people and they have a very good understanding of safeguarding issues, which ensures that young people are protected from abuse. Training for staff is kept up to date and detailed policies and procedures guides them in their work. Staff are sensitive to gender issues. This helps to ensure that equality and diversity is considered when caring for the young people accommodated. The service has a well developed complaints procedure and all complaints are responded to promptly. Young people know the complaints procedure and they are confident that any complaint will be taken seriously. The manager is developing a quality assurance document for young people, parents and social workers; this is to gain the views of all involved with the young person's

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

placement, and identify complaints or concerns. This ensures that young people feel that their views and opinions are valued.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are quick to intervene should a bullying situation arise and any issues relating to bullying are handled well, ensuring young people feel safe. However, there are no individual risk assessments in relation to bullying, thus young people's welfare is compromised. Good staffing levels ensure that young people are well supervised. There is a clear protocol for staff to follow in the event of an unauthorised absence, which ensures that young people are properly protected.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Relationships between young people and staff are good. Staff have a positive view of the young people they work with. They promote and reward positive behaviour and support young people well, so that they are protected from incidents developing into episodes of challenging behaviour. All staff are properly trained to diffuse difficult situations. Young people say that the staff are fair in the use of sanctions. Individual risk management and behaviour support plans clearly show how staff will work to promote behaviour that is positive and to lessen the risk of behaviour becoming challenging. Restraints are only ever used as a last resort and in very clearly defined situations. The infrequency of such incidents indicates that the strategies that staff use work well and that young people benefit from the way in which they are cared for.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Health and safety matters are managed well, so that young people benefit from being cared for in an environment that is safe. All staff have attended training on health and safety, thus promoting the highest possible awareness of hazards to both staff and young people. However, individual risk assessments are not carried out on activities and this compromises the safety of the young people when engaged in activities that potentially carry a high risk to personal safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home's procedures for the recruitment and selection of staff are robust. All staff are thoroughly vetted before they are appointed to ensure that they are safe to work with vulnerable children and young people. 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC403462

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The comprehensive knowledge that staff gain about a young person prior to placement in the home, means that they are able to provide young people with good levels of individual support. Full information about all young people is obtained prior to placement and is developed into care and support plans. These are kept up to date. Staff work very closely with parents and with other professionals, so that care is consistent.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff have a positive attitude towards the value of education and make sure that young people's educational needs are promoted when they use this service. There is a good exchange of information and support from staff at the home with educational facilities. Staff also provide young people with opportunities to extend their learning, through educational activities during their stay at the home.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people benefit from being involved in a number of activities. These include trips to educational places of interests as well as healthy activities, such as the local gym, thus promoting the young people's confidence and experiences. The needs and wishes of each young person are taken into account when activities are planned, thus promoting equality and diversity.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Assessments and risk assessments are undertaken on young people before they stay at the home. From this information, staff in consultation with parents and placing social workers, develop detailed care and support plans. All plans are regularly reviewed by the home and also through the formal local authority reviewing process. The admissions process is thorough, so that placements can be planned, with due regard to the needs of all young people currently accommodated. This ensures that the home is the appropriate placement for any individual young person and that the home itself runs smoothly. Staff also work closely with parents and agencies who are concerned with the care of a young person, to support young people when they move on from a placement at the home.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff know the children and young people well and they are able to communicate effectively with them. This enables them to make sure that young people can make their views known in key worker sessions and in the interactions of daily life. It also enables young people to be supported to make choices about all aspects of their care. Staff have regular communication with parents and families and welcome them into the home, so that parents feel they are fully involved. Contact with family or significant people in the young people's lives is promoted.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. The manager and members of staff encourage and support young people to take responsibility for their actions and to develop adult responsibilities. Basic skills in relation to independence are facilitated. Independent living plans are well used at the home, and young people's progress towards independent living is closely monitored. Young people experience an environment that is well designed and pleasant. It is decorated and furnished to a high standard. The home provides suitable facilities for young people to study, with sufficient learning materials available to them. 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC403462

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The service has a clear Statement of Purpose that sets out how young people will be cared for when they stay at the home. The young person's guide to the service is produced in a child-friendly format, giving young people a clear and detailed picture of how the home works and who will be looking after them during their stay.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. The manager of the home is experienced and appropriately qualified. The service is effectively managed and well run. Staff are provided with a good range of training, including mandatory courses in safeguarding, first aid and the administration of medication. This ensures that staff who care for the young people are knowledgeable and encourages a professional approach to their work. All staff appointed to work at the home are required to have, or to work towards, a qualification in caring for children and young people.

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Organisation

Staffing levels are good, which ensures that young people are properly supervised and they are able to take part in activities. Rotas allow staff sufficient time to undertake individual work with young people, to attend regular team meetings and to complete necessary paperwork. Staff demonstrate a clear determination to promote inclusion for young people and to encourage them to develop their skills. Staffing levels support this.

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Organisation

The manager and staff also demonstrate a strong commitment to reviewing and improving the service that is offered to young people and their families. Team meetings are used to look at practice issues and the needs of the young people. There is discussion with parents and professionals from other agencies about the care that young people are given and there are robust systems in place to monitor the quality of care that is given to young people, and ensure that the quality of the work is of a high standard.

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Organisation

Information that is held on young people is thorough, so that their needs can be met. All information that is sensitive is securely stored, so that confidentiality can be maintained. Information is easily accessible to all staff, which ensures that care is consistent and in line with the young person's care plan.

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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): 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC403462 • ensure that recorded risk assessments are regularly carried out of the times, places and circumstances in which the risk of bullying is greatest, and takes action where feasible to reduce or counteract the risk of bullying (NMS 18) • ensure risk assessments are carried out in relation to children's known and likely activities, both permitted and illicit. (NMS 26) 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC403462

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