Children's Home run by Headway Adolescent Resources Limited in Bristol

SC066250 Unique reference number 28 April 2010 Inspection date Wendy Anderson Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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19 January 2010 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: SC066250

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Brief description of the service

This service is a three-bedded children’s home for young people of either sex who are aged 11 to 18 years. It is located in a post-war house in a residential area. The home is decorated and furnished to a high standard. There is a pleasant garden to the rear of the building. There is a short walk from the home to bus services for the city centre. All shopping, utilities, essential services and schools are located in the nearby area.

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Summary

This was an unannounced interim inspection. All of the key standards under staying safe were scrutinised. In addition the five actions from the previous inspection were followed up during this visit.

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Summary

This inspection found that the home has been able to maintain the overall rating of good from the last inspection. 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

Since the last inspection the manager has ensured that all staff now receive supervision at the required intervals. The manager is in the process of completing a planned schedule for the annual appraisal of the staff team. Regulation 33 visits are now happening at the required intervals but the majority of these are recorded as being announced not unannounced. The managers Regulation 34 reports now include the review of the homes Statement of Purpose against the performance of the home over the previous month. With regard to the extended test of the emergency light system the responsible engineer has visited and the manager said that the extended test was done but there is no clear record of this in the engineers report

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The home's policies and procedures protect young people and assist in providing them with a safe environment to live. Since the last key inspection the home has reviewed and where appropriate updated all their policies and procedures.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people’s privacy is respected by staff. Bathrooms and toilets are fitted with the appropriate locks. The home has an appropriate privacy and room search policy and procedure in place.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has an appropriate complaints policy and this is known to all staff and young people. There is also clear information in the young person's guide on how to make a complaint. The home’s record of complaints received was seen and this contained the appropriate information. There have been no complaints since the last inspection. 4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC066250 The bullying policy is comprehensive. The recent policy review has led to this policy now including cyber bullying.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The child protection policy and procedure is clearly written and staff receive training in child protection as part of their induction process. There are also on-going refresher training courses on child protection for all staff.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All young people have an individual behavioural plan. This identifies possible behaviours, potential triggers, de-escalation techniques to be used, and the level of physical restraint to be used. There is also a detailed risk assessment on individual young people. These clearly identify risks, the level of risk and to whom, and methods/action to reduce such risk. These are reviewed and updated weekly.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Records of incidents requiring physical restraint or sanctions are correctly recorded, providing a robust audit trail with clear descriptions of the behaviours which lead to the restraint or sanction. There has been one sanction and no restraints since the last inspection. These also record the effectiveness of the restraint or sanction and the young people’s views. Both the sanction and restraint logs are regularly monitored by the manager and the Regulation 33 visitor. All staff are appropriately trained in the home's preferred method of restraint, Prevention, Assessment and Management of Violence and Aggression. The incident log at the home is clear and detailed. The home has the appropriate record of young people absent without authority. Where absconding has been identified as an issue for a young person the home carries out a specific risk assessment on this and there is clear evidence of this being put into operation.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a good relationship with the local police. The manager said that when called the police attend promptly. These systems ensure that young people's behaviours are appropriately addresses.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has alarms fitted to the bedroom doors. At the time of inspection the manager is in the process of obtaining the agreement from young people's social workers for these alarms to be used. The home's Statement of Purpose clearly details the policy and process for using these alarms, which includes a risk assessment.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has comprehensive records regarding fire issues. However, the engineer who carries out the extended emergency light test does not clearly record this in his report. The fire risk assessment is comprehensive and includes the sites of all fire fighting equipment, exits, emergency lights and call points. There are frequent fire drills held at different times of the day. Staff receive formal updates to their fire awareness training.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has risk assessments for the premises including individual rooms. The home has an appropriate health and safety policy and procedure which they adhere to. The portable appliance testing of electrical equipment is overdue but a date has been arranged for this. This system ensures the young people live in an environment free from hazards.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a robust recruitment and vetting process for new staff to ensure young people are protected. During this inspection staff files were not inspected as there had been no recruitment since the last inspection.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is not judged. 5 of 6 Inspection Report: SC066250

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Staff at the home receive an appropriate level of supervision which covers all aspects of their work and detailed notes are kept. Appraisals of staff are carried out by the manager on an annual basis. This is a two way process with both staff and the manager providing written input from which a personal development plan is written to cover the forthcoming coming years work including any identified training needs.

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Organisation

There are monthly Regulation 33 visits carried out by either the provider or a manager from one of the organisations other units. However, the majority of these visits are recorded as announced not unannounced. These reports cover all the required elements and include any actions points. The manager then provides a written response to any action points raised. These reports are shared with the staff team at team meetings.

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Organisation

The manager writes monthly Regulation 34 reports which cover all the required elements and include reviewing the homes work against the Statement of Purpose.

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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

30 June 2010 ensure that a record is kept of the extended tests carried out on the emergeny lighting. (Regulation 32 (a) ) 30 June 2010 ensure that the majority of Regulation 33 visits are unannounced. (Regulation 33)

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Recommendations

There are no recommendations. 6 of 6 Inspection Report: SC066250

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