Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

SC039248 Unique reference number 29 June 2010 Inspection date Elaine Clare Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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7 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: SC039248

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Brief description of the service

The home is registered to provide a service for six young people of either sex aged from 13 to 17 years. The home has single occupancy bedrooms on the first floor and communal rooms and offices on the ground floor. It is owed and run by a local authority.

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Brief description of the service

Several young people spoke with the inspector during this visit.

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Summary

This was an unannounced key inspection during which all the key standards were inspected together. This inspection found the standard of care to be good.

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Summary

Leadership and management of the home is strong. There are sound policies and procedures in place to safeguard children which have been applied in all instances.

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Summary

Young people are well supported by staff with an emphasis on supporting and encouraging education and leisure opportunities. 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

Following the last inspection in December 2009 there were no requirements or recommendations made and therefore this area has not been assessed.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people are involved in planning the menu with staff and are largely satisfied with the meals served. Menus show good variety with an acceptable balance between the use of convenience and fresh foods. The opportunity for young people to be involved in shopping and cooking helps them develop skills for adulthood. Staff are available to support if assistance is required.

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Helping children to be healthy

Health needs are identified as young people are admitted to the home and services planned accordingly. Routine medical, dental and optical checks ensure young people remain in good health. If not supplied by placing social workers, the home liaises with the local looked after child nurse in the local Primary Care Trust to make sure young people are up to date with their immunisations. Young people have access to the general practitioner on request and can choose whether or not staff accompany them to appointments. The detailed recording of the reasons that young people attend appointments and any treatment given, informs the on going monitoring of health issues. The potential onset of issues such as eating disorders is recognised and advice sought at an early stage. Similarly external assessments, such as psychiatric reports, are sought if considered necessary.

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Helping children to be healthy

Secure arrangements are in place for the storage of medication. Staff are trained to administer medication safely. 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC039248

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Bedrooms provide young people with a private place where they can keep their possessions safe. They each have their own bedroom door key and this promotes responsibility and independence. Staff do not normally enter bedrooms without first asking permission. There is a policy for conducting room searches and if possible children are present while this takes place. Staff have been required to read and sign the confidentiality policy and reminded that such conduct can result in disciplinary action. Confidential information is stored securely within the staff and manager's office.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people know how to make complaints and are given written information to refer to. Records show that no complaints have been made by young people since the previous inspection of the home. Young people are comfortable to raise issues informally with staff and the registered manager and are happy with the responses they receive.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff receive training to recognise and respond to disclosures or allegations of abuse. No bullying is currently reported in the home but the young people have only just started living together and it is not yet clear how they will relate to each other. Staff are aware of the potential for bullying to occur and acknowledge some previous incidents during which young people may have felt intimidated by others. Following such incidents young people receive excellent levels of support to resolve issues and to develop strategies for avoiding and dealing with incidents in the future. Young people say that ‘I have seen other kids getting bullied and staff step in straight away'. Staff have the ability to empathise with young people and express an awareness of how they are feeling. As a result young people are able to approach staff and talk to them about difficulties in relationships with their peers.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Overall behaviour is managed well with little use of sanctions and physical restraint. Staff receive guidance on the strategies they should use to work with each young person based on advice given by professionals. There are, however, occasions when situations escalate and the police are asked to respond to incidents. Detailed reports are compiled of the incidents that occur.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There has been an increase in the levels of being absent without authority, since the last inspection December 2009 with 24 reported incidents. A significant number of these incidents have, however, involved one young people. Incident reports show that procedures have been followed with young people being reported as missing to the police when they could not be located.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a robust system in place for reviewing the standard of care provided. Monthly reviews of practice are conducted by the Registered Manager and by an external visitor to the home. Written reports provide evidence of any shortfalls noted and the recommended action to address them. There is good evidence that consideration has been given in quality assurance audits, to the recent increase in young people being absent without authority.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Rigorous health and safety procedures are in place to ensure the home provides a safe environment for young people and for staff. Regular checks are completed in all matters and some checks, for example tests in relation to fire, exceed the frequency recommended by the local fire officer. 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC039248 Procedures for recruiting staff are robust and in most cases exceed standards. Personnel and training files are well ordered and information is easy to locate.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. A high staff presence enables staff to be available and responsive to the needs of young people. Staff use a variety of methods, such as regular key-working sessions and writing letters, to gain the confidence and trust of young people. Young people say there are people they can talk to if they are worried about something or unhappy. One young person wrote ' I would go to the staff members I trust and respect'. Key worker sessions are currently not recorded and though there is evidence to support such events take place, with no recording available other staff members are unable to be updated on a young person's progress. This was identified as a shortfall in a recent staff meeting and plans are afoot to reinstate the practice.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Education and career opportunities are promoted. Staff recognise and promote good attendance with the use of rewards. Young people are supported to make constructive use of their leisure time with the promotion of interests and hobbies. One young person has recently been offered a summer job.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Each young person has their own placement plan which outlines the methods being used to work with young people. They accurately reflect the needs of young people and take into account the views of young people and the local authority. They also incorporate information in written documentation such as behaviour management plans and referral information. Good practice is evident with young people being familiarised with the contents of their plan and signing to say they have read it. Young people say the home is good at helping them do the things they want to do in the future.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The home contributes to statutory reviews and encourages young people to attend. Those that prefer not to, have their views represented by staff. Reports presented to the review are comprehensive and professional. The Registered Manager makes detailed notes of issues discussed and decisions made in case of any delay receiving minutes from placing authority.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Arrangements for young people to have contact with their families is discussed and agreed with placing social workers. Access to electronic communications, if agreed as part of their plan, enables young people to maintain regular contact with their family and friends. Young people are educated about internet safety and encouraged to share information with staff. Any tracing and resumption of contact with family members through internet web sites, is followed up with social workers and plans agreed.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The suitability of young people to be placed in the home is thoroughly assessed. The involvement of the Registered Manager means that a reliable assessment is obtained of potential issues. Impact risk assessments, completed prior to admission, carefully consider the likely dynamics between young people and identify strategies to address these. Young people receive an excellent introduction to the home and the transition from one placement to another is carefully planned. 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC039248 Young people's views are taken into account and weekly community meetings provide them with the opportunity to say what they would like to happen in the home.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is satisfactory. The young people are supported in learning the skills that prepare them for leaving care and their move into independent or supported living. Pathway plans are introduced and the young people are encouraged to be involved with the daily life of the home. Once eligible the staff ensure that they are allocated appropriate personnel such as a 'leaving care' social worker, to facilitate a smooth transition.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home is a large two storey detached building, situated in a residential area. The home is in an area of severe deprivation. There are large incidents of crime and the home's location does not provide an environment that is supportive to a young person's development.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home has sufficient communal space to enable the young people to meet together, relax or have some quiet time. Each young person's bedroom is personalised as they wish and the large kitchen provides sufficient space for the young people to be involved in meal preparation. A concrete area to the front of the house provides parking space for several cars and a secure garden area to the rear provides a safe area for relaxing and recreation.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The general décor, furniture and furnishings in the lounge and activity rooms have improved but there is some damage to décor and furniture in communal hallways. This will be addressed in the on going maintenance.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The promotion of equality and diversity is good. There is a good recognition that young people each have different needs and these are reflected in placement plans. For instance some young people are supported to lead an independent lifestyle alongside others who receive more intense support from staff.

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Organisation

Information describing the available services is in the Statement of Purpose and service user guide. Overall, the document remains an accurate reflection of the services provided. Young people confirm receiving a copy of the service user guide before being admitted to the home and that they found it informative.

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Organisation

Management and leadership of the home is strong in a lot of areas with clear direction being given to staff and young people. Staff shortages at the time of the previous inspection have now been addressed and the home is fully staffed by one member. Inexperienced staff benefit from receiving a phased introduction to their role. Training in key matters such as physical restraint, fire safety and safeguarding are provided during a structured induction and probationary period. Refresher training provided at regular intervals ensures that staff skills and knowledge are kept up to date. Training for some of the long-serving staff has expired but this is now scheduled to take place. Senior staff all hold professional qualifications commensurate to their role. 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC039248 Staff benefit from receiving regular structured supervision with a senior member of staff. They are well supported following incidents that occur with a separate meeting being convened to

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Organisation

reflect on the incident. Staff meetings take place twice a month and these provide a further opportunity for staff to be supported and to reflect on their practice. Staff say that the unit manager is very approachable and listens to concerns. Even though opinions sometimes differ, once consulted, action is usually taken quickly.

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Organisation

Comprehensive and thorough quality assurance audits take place each month to assess the quality and standard of care being provided. Reports compiled by the registered manager and the external Regulation 33 visitor provide a detailed analysis of the standard of care provided. They also make recommendations about areas for improvement.

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Organisation

Files inspected did contain complete looked after children information. The home's own referral and pre-admission information contains most of the detail that the home is required to keep, including medical consent. Files are kept secure.

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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): • provide written evidence of any individual support young people receive in key work sessions. (NMS 7) 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC039248

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