Children's Home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Wolverhampton

SC390576 Unique reference number 10 May 2010 Inspection date David Morgan Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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19 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: SC390576

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Brief description of the service

The home was registered in April 2009 and is a four-bedded home for children and/or young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is a detached property in a suburban area and is indistinguishable from its neighbours. There are good transport links with all parts of the West Midlands. Each young person has their own bedroom and there is ample communal space, including a secure garden at the rear. The two young people currently living at the home contributed to this inspection.

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Summary

This unannounced full inspection considers all areas of care and concludes that the overall quality rating and attention to equality and diversity are good. There are also a variety of improvements and outstanding features, for example in leadership, quality assurance, the physical environment and enjoying and achieving. This shows that the home is meeting the needs of young people well and is striving to raise standards across the board.

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Summary

The previous actions and recommendations have been addressed in most respects but one recommendation regarding the matching of new admissions is carried forward. Five new recommendations are made. These apply to placement planning, training, and staff qualifications, so that welfare standards can continue to be raised. 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

The last inspection raised two actions. These have been addressed by ensuring that new staff receive the required training before starting their shifts. This means they are properly prepared to deal with issues that are likely to arise. Ventilation in bedrooms is now appropriate to meet the needs of young people. A recommendation was made regarding ensuring that risk assessments are regularly reviewed and this now occurs regularly. This helps to ensure that levels of protection are maintained.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people enjoy excellent meals that have high nutritional value, including fresh fruit, vegetables and salads. Young people are strongly encouraged to eat healthily and staff provide a range of meals, including occasional takeaway meals. Young people are always involved in planning meals. Care is taken to ensure their dietary needs are thoroughly addressed by researching their cultural circumstances. Records show their individual intakes and this allows staff to identify whether they are eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, which is good practice. Meal times are sociable occasions that young people enjoy and which are an important social feature of the day. Young people’s good health is also promoted effectively with health services such as doctors and dentists. Young people understand the importance of good health and its application to their daily sporting activities. Appointments are attended

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Helping children to be healthy

promptly and translation services are used when required. Appropriate arrangements are also in place for any medication that is prescribed. Staff are trained and medicines are stored safely. 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC390576

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. All complaints are addressed without delay. Young people feel pleased that they are kept informed by the manager and that issues are addressed promptly. Staff and professionals who visit actively help young people to raise concerns and complaints. The complaints procedure is translated into appropriate languages to ensure it is accessible to all young people. The manager ensures that even minor concerns are processed and this also helps to ensure that young people feel they are listened to. Staff are fully aware of the relevant safeguarding procedures and this knowledge effectively helps to ensure they keep young people safe. Instances of bullying and being absent without authority are minimal. In addition, staff respect young people’s privacy well. For example, staff ensure that private matters are not shared inappropriately and that sensitive gender issues are discussed by an appropriate member of staff.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Good systems are applied by staff to manage behavioural difficulties. These are seldom required at present, which is a reflection of staff's effectiveness. Staff use rewards to reinforce positive messages, including praise, and these are recorded well. Staff visit other homes from time-to-time in order to maintain and expand their skills. All significant events relating to the protection and development of young people are raised promptly with the appropriate authorities, such as social workers.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home provides young people and staff with high levels of physical safety, especially in terms of fire safety. All safety measures are in place and monitored, including risk assessments. The selection and vetting of all staff also contributes to the safety of young people. A comprehensive recruitment system is reflected in documents on site. However, these are not available for all staff on site. The manager oversees all aspects of recruitment to the home and is in the process of compiling recruitment evidence for each new member of staff.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. A high standard of individual support is provided whenever young people need it. For example, staff meet the religious needs of young people well. Staff take young people to religious meetings and help them make social links with people of similar backgrounds. This means that young people are able to settle in quickly and benefit from the care provided. Similarly, the organisation is proactive in providing teaching support to young people and this has a major impact on their lives, for example, with their English skills. Various external sources of support are available but one young person expressed the confidence they have in staff by saying, 'I don’t need to speak to someone from outside the home, I’ve got the staff'.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people consider that their education is excellent. It is clear that unusually rapid progress is being made in literacy, which is to the credit of all concerned. In addition, the leisure and recreational activities provided to young people, such as competitive sports, help them to develop confidence in their skills. The home ensures that such activities are promoted strongly and supported sufficiently well for young people to succeed at high levels.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC390576 Each young person has a clear placement plan that identifies their key needs and targets. Young people are involved in setting targets and are helped to address them through key worker meetings, in particular. However, records do not show that staff are addressing important targets as frequently as necessary, for instance, on a daily basis. This means potentially that young people do not benefit as much as possible. On the other hand, young people consider their own progress at regular statutory reviews. They are involved in discussions prior to the meetings; use interpreters during the meetings, and have opportunities afterwards to clarify their understanding. Staff ensure that decisions made in reviews are implemented promptly to the benefit of young people.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff provide a high level of support to facilitate young people's contact arrangements. For example, this means travelling substantial distances on a regular basis. This allows young people to receive appropriate emotional support. Phased introductions and discharges are arranged, where possible, with excellent attention to detail. For example, admission arrangements usually occur over a period of time. They are carefully recorded to ensure all relevant information is provided, including the children’s guide. On the other hand, there is insufficient written evidence that matching of new young people with the existing group is appropriate in all cases.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

In light of the communication needs of young people, there are excellent efforts made to involve them in decision-making. For example, they are able to express an opinion regarding the choice of key worker, and there are weekly young people's meetings. These processes are effective in practice and help to ensure important decisions are made sensitively and in a timely way. For young people for whom English is not their first language, staff ensure their understanding of issues by use of translation web sites. In large part, this success is due to the ability of staff to establish positive working relationships with young people in a short space of time.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. Young people receive a wide range of opportunities to prepare them for adulthood. Staff show good initiative by helping young people to learn new skills when they are ready rather than waiting for statutory reviews or formal plans. Young people's budgeting and language skills, for example, are addressed by all staff; specific issues needing more attention are addressed in key worker meetings. Their degree of independence in the community is increased according to their skills and confidence. Regarding the house itself, young people enjoy excellent, homely accommodation that is decorated, furnished and maintained to a high standard. Original stained glass and a high standard of fittings and furnishings make the house attractive and extremely comfortable. Young people enjoy ample space inside and out.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Young people receive a good standard of care especially to do with their equality needs, such as language and religion. Also, staff find out about issues such as cultural expectations so that young people are fully involved in the home. Young people also discuss with staff a range of diversity issues arising in the community; most recently regarding the General Election and immigration issues. The manager is compiling a programme of activities to ensure that diversity matters continue to be addressed regularly. 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC390576 This approach is reflected in the home's Statement of Purpose. On admission, young people are guided through a document about the services they can expect from the home.

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Organisation

Staff themselves receive excellent support from the manager and have ready access to advice about young people’s welfare. There is a thorough supervisory system that is recorded and shows that the specific responsibilities of staff are checked; this is an important contribution towards maintaining a competent team. The system also applies to bank staff and this is at a higher frequency than required, which is excellent practice reflecting the fact that such staff are less familiar with the home.

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Organisation

Staffing arrangements are adjusted to ensure they are sufficient in number and experience to meet the needs of the young people during the day and night. For example, only senior staff are allowed to work alone. A social worker reported that, ‘The home handles everything professionally’. Staff training is up-to-date and organisational training is supplemented in-house, which is good practice. Such additional courses cover relevant issues such as domestic violence and sexual exploitation. The manager ensures that new staff are appropriately trained before they begin work. However, staff are not trained to the required level 3 of the National Vocational Qualification. There is no training regarding working directly with families away from the home. This is necessary to provide young people with the most effective service possible.

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Organisation

Monitoring by the organisation is satisfactory and the required matters are covered every month. It is to the credit of the manager that her own monitoring is particularly thorough. Young people are asked to write comments at least monthly and also at the end of their placements here. This is good practice and the manager ensures that any issues raised are addressed and recorded. A similar process is used with parents and social workers. This practice is important and helps to improve the quality of care. One young person said, ‘Staff make me feel like I’m heard’.

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Organisation

Young people enjoy the stability of a particularly well-run home. The manager provides clear and effective leadership that is child-centred. Significantly, the manager is also proactive in introducing new ways of raising standards and checking on welfare, which is excellent practice. Examples include improved recording, well-presented young people’s files and consultation with stakeholders.

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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: SC390576 • ensure there is a written record of the recruitment process which is followed in respect of all staff, including evidence that all requirements of Schedule 2 have been met in every case (NMS 27.1) • ensure each placement plan shows how the assessed needs of each child will be met on a day-to-day basis (NMS 2.1) • ensure the needs of the child concerned, and the likely effects of his/her admission upon the existing group of residents, are taken into account, and recorded, in decisions on admission to the home (NMS 5.7) • ensure there is a minimum ratio of 80% of all care staff who have completed their Level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People NVQ, or have similar qualifications (NMS 29.5) • ensure where staff members do not already have the necessary skills, they have been

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Recommendations

provided with access to programmes of training that address the issues detailed in Appendix 2, with regard to number 24 working with families. (NMS 31.5) 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC390576

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