Corton Road Family Assessment Unit

Corton Road Family Assessment Unit Inspection report for residential family centre

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SC399219 Unique reference number 18 May 2010 Inspection date Mary Timms Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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20 Corton Road Address LOWESTOFT Suffolk NR32 4PL 01502 560344 Telephone number daniel.f-p@break-charity.org Email BREAK Registered person Daniel David Forde-Pogson Registered manager Hugh Morgan Responsible individual 9 October 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: Corton Road Family Assessment Unit,18 May 2010

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Brief description of the service

The centre provides accommodation for four families. Each family is provided with two bedrooms, one for adults and one for children. The main bedroom has an en suite bathroom and a cot, the children's bedroom has two single beds. The ground floor has a large communal lounge, two offices, a toilet and four kitchens, each nominated to individual families corresponding to a specific flat. There is a laundry room and a large garden. The first floor has sleeping accommodation for three families, a shared bathroom and a staff sleep in room with en suite facilities. The second floor has accommodation for one family, a staff sleep in room and an office. The centre is located within a residential area close to local services. There were four families resident at the time of this inspection and each one contributed to the inspection.

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Summary

This unannounced inspection is the first visit since the service was registered in October 2009. This inspection was planned to review the care provided against identified key national minimum standards. The quality of care is found to be satisfactory overall with some good aspects.

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Summary

This new service is generally well managed, although the lack of appropriately detailed placement plans as required by national minimum standards had not been identified as a shortfall. Trained and experienced staff are available in appropriate numbers to support parents and children. The progress of assessments and the care families receive is monitored by external managers. Safeguarding children is prioritised within care arrangements. Families receive support and guidance, they receive feedback and are able to make their views known.

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Summary

Some areas of shortfall are identified where further improvement is necessary to ensure that national minimum standards and residential family centre regulations are met. Detailed written placement plans and risk assessments are not routinely produced to guide care and assessment arrangements, necessary to ensure that needs would always be fully met. Requirements and guidance issued by the newly formed Independent Safeguarding Authority has not yet been reflected into written procedures and understood by the service. There are times when there is no appropriate private space for families to meet with visitors or key workers. The overall quality rating is satisfactory. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Not applicable. This is the first inspection since registration.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Families have access to health care and are supported to prioritise their child's health needs. Staff closely monitor children's health. Detailed observations are made and staff act when necessary to ensure that children's health needs are fully met.

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Helping children to be healthy

Parents may choose to remain registered with their own General Practitioner, if not they are supported to register with a local practice. The service works closely with primary health care professionals in relation to children's health. Health visitors and midwives visit families who 4 of 8 Inspection Report: Corton Road Family Assessment Unit,18 May 2010 have very young babies, providing guidance for parents and consultation for staff. Families are supported to attend appointments for child developmental checks and also to respond to arising health needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

Parents are provided with guidance about promoting children's health including child development and play, emotional care and healthy eating.

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Helping children to be healthy

Families are supported to manage medication themselves. They are provided with a cabinet within their individual accommodation in which to store medication. However, this cabinet is not lockable as directed by the centre's own policy. This raises the potential that the storage of medication may be unsafe. The administration of medication to children is monitored by staff and if necessary is given by staff. Parental consent is obtained to administer medication to children when parents are not present.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children's safety and well-being is prioritised by satisfactory care arrangements.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children and families are safeguarded by the overall effectiveness of staff recruitment procedures. This includes the required checks undertaken prior to staff commencing work in the centre. However, there is not always a full record maintained in the home of the process followed for each member of staff.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Families live in a safe environment where fire safety is prioritised. Environmental risk assessments inform care arrangements and a range of health and safety monitoring checks are undertaken on a regular basis. Privacy is respected. Families have individual bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens which are lockable. Procedures and practice respect individual family's privacy, while being mindful of the potential for safeguarding concerns. There is a clear understanding that should staff feel concerned they will enter family accommodation.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's safety is prioritised. Safeguarding children and safeguarding vulnerable adult policies and procedures were approved by the local authority prior to the service opening in October 2009. However, staff do not have access to a copy of the Local Safeguarding Children board policies and procedures. Also, the centre's procedures have not been updated to reflect evolving guidance from the new Independent Safeguarding Authority, necessary to support and guide safeguarding arrangements. Parents are taught about child safety. There is close monitoring and recorded observations of parenting capacity. There is good communication within the staff team who understand the known and potential risks relating to individual assessments. However, risk assessments are not always produced in writing, necessary to set out clear risk management strategies and to ensure that children are fully safeguarded. Identified concerns are conveyed

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

promptly to both parents and placing social workers. Action is taken when necessary to ensure that children are fully safeguarded.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Parents are provided with written and verbal information about the service on admission. The brochure they receive sets out clear information about centre rules and consequences to unacceptable behaviours. Comments from families include 'Yes, we were told what to expect and about restrictions'. Staff undertake behaviour management training which has a focus on de-escalation techniques. This training supports their ability to calm challenging behaviours. 5 of 8 Inspection Report: Corton Road Family Assessment Unit,18 May 2010 The service has the required complaints policies and procedures which are introduced to placing teams and families at the beginning of an assessment. Parents confirm in discussion that they know how to raise a complaint. Parents are provided with daily opportunities to voice any concerns they may have about their placement or the assessment process.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Families are provided with clear information about their assessment and the service. They are given support and guidance in relation to parenting, and also provided with daily feedback about the progress of their placement.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Families are able to visit the centre prior to a planned admission. The service also supports families who arrive for an emergency admission. Families are provided with written and verbal information about the service and facilities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

A placement agreement is drawn up in consultation with placing social work teams, a copy of which is provided to parents. Communication within the staff team is good and staff have a sound understanding of the structure and process of individual assessments. However, a detailed placement plan is not developed. This means that staff do not always have detailed written guidance to inform daily practice and raises the potential that needs may go unmet. Detailed daily observations of parenting capacity and the progress of the assessment are recorded. These are shared with parents who are able to add their own comments to records. Parents are involved in discussions about the progress of their assessment. They attend a weekly review meeting within the service and also a monthly progress review attended by social workers.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. Families are provided with good accommodation which is appropriate to their individual needs and also supports the assessment process. The premises were fully refurbished at the point of registration in October 2009 and are well decorated and furnished. However, there is sometimes difficulty finding appropriate private space for families to receive a private visit. Families have individual sleeping accommodation with en suite shower room facilities on the top two floors of the centre. A bathroom is also available, which is large enough for parents and staff to be present while babies and children are being bathed. On the ground floor families have individual lockable kitchens for their sole use. A communal lounge is used by families during the day. This supports required observations and monitoring to inform the assessment process.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The Statement of Purpose describing the facilities and services provided was developed and assessed by Ofsted at the time of registration in October 2009. A summary of key information about the service is issued to parents.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Individual needs are identified and supported by staff who understand the potential for parents to feel disempowered by the assessment 6 of 8 Inspection Report: Corton Road Family Assessment Unit,18 May 2010 process. Parents with learning difficulties are supported. Staff ensure that parents understand guidance and direction. They may repeat information several times, they may use pictures and/or appropriate text to support families to understand what is required. If parents have poor reading skills, staff will read reports and daily records to them.

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Organisation

The service is well managed. There are appropriately qualified and experienced senior staff who are able to deputise in the manager's absence. Staffing levels are adjusted to reflect the needs of the families currently in placement. This may involve one-to-one supervision day and night. New staff undertake an induction programme which reflects the modules set by the Children's Workforce Development Council. A rolling training programme is operated including safeguarding children, behaviour management, first aid, fire safety, child development and professional boundaries. The quality of care provided is monitored by external managers who visit the home on a regular basis. The Registered Manager also monitors care. However, the lack of detailed placement plans reported under positive contribution had not been identified through management monitoring. This highlights that care requirements set out in national

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Organisation

minimum standards are not always fully monitored.

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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 Residential Family Centres Regulations 2002 and the National Minimum Standards. The Registered Provider must comply with the given timescales.

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Due date Action Standard

24 June 2010 devise in consultation with the placing authority a written plan for each family. In particular this relates to the need to produce a plan which sets out the full details set out in National Minimum Standard 3.1 (Regulation 13.1) 24 June 2010 prepare and implement a written child protection policy which sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of any allegation of abuse or neglect. In particular, this refers to incorporating updated guidance which reflects the evolving requirements of the Independent Safeguarding Authority. (Regulation 12.1)

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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): • ensure that the centre's policy in relation to the secure storage of medication is implemented in practice. In particular this relates to the need to provide families with a lockable facility in which to keep medication secure (NMS 4.5) • ensure that a copy of the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures are kept within the centre. The registered person should ensure that staff have read these, understand them and are knowledgeable about them (NMS 11.2) 7 of 8 Inspection Report: Corton Road Family Assessment Unit,18 May 2010 • ensure that shared spaces include rooms in which parents and children can meet privately with visitors and for play (NMS 21.2) • ensure that there is a written record of the recruitment process followed in respect of all staff, including evidence that all requirements of schedule 2 of the Residential Family Centre

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Recommendations

Regulations 2002 have been met in every case (NMS 15.1) • ensure that undertaken risk assessments are recorded in writing and are regularly reviewed. In particular this relates to the need to produced written risk assessments in relation known and potential hazards for individual families (NMS 22.4) • ensure that the manager of the service reviews the records set out in national minimum standards at least quarterly to identify any patterns or issues requiring actions, signs the records and takes any required follow up action. (NMS 24.1) 8 of 8 Inspection Report: Corton Road Family Assessment Unit,18 May 2010

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