Children's Home run by Fairfield Residential Limited in Cheshire West and Chester

SC397987 Unique reference number 12 May 2010 Inspection date Alicea Churchward Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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20 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: SC397987

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Brief description of the service

This home provides accommodation for up to two children with learning difficulties.

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Brief description of the service

The home is a semi-detached property comprising fenced gardens to the front and rear of the premises, a garage which has been converted for use as an office and a utility room. Inside on the ground floor there is a lounge, kitchen-diner and downstairs toilet. There are three bedrooms and a bathroom including a toilet, bath and shower. The property has been completely refurbished; it is suitable for purpose and indistinguishable from surrounding properties. The home is close to all amenities and public transport.

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Summary

This was an unannounced full inspection. The purpose of the visit was to assess how the home is meeting the national minimum standards and children's home regulations. All of the key standards were assessed.

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Summary

Positive observations were made in relation to the home and the staff working with children. They are making good progress. This is the first inspection of this service since registration and the home has attained an overall judgement of good.

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Summary

All outcome areas for children that were inspected are good. Staff and managers are committed to providing good outcomes for the children. A recommendation was made to ensure that managers monitor the home frequently, and an action raised regarding the use of restrictive additional equipment in vehicles. 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 home is newly registered and this is the first inspection of the service.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children enjoy healthy, nutritious meals that meet their dietary needs. Menus reflect the meals served. All meals are served with vegetables or salad, healthy snacks are freely available. Children have opportunities to plan, shop for and prepare light snacks. Any known allergies are clearly recorded in health and placement plans. Children have the opportunity to go to restaurants and experience eating in public places and food from different cultures. A nutritionist has been consulted about nutritional values of foods and portions. In addition the nutritionist has developed awareness of the impact of particular foods upon behaviour and sensory eating.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children live in a healthy environment. Their physical, emotional and health needs are identified and services are provided to meet them. Their good health is promoted effectively. Appropriate action is taken to secure medical, dental and other health services, speech and language therapists and occupational therapists. Health plans are very good, clearly outlining any needs. The home is in the process of developing 'my health action plan' in consultation with parents. The documents give a good overview of routines, likes and dislikes. 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC397987 Children’s health needs are met and their welfare is safeguarded by the home’s policies and procedures for administering medicines and providing treatment. Storage and recording of medication is good. Medication is regularly audited. Consent to medical treatment is held on children's files. Staff have had good training in the safe administration of medication.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children’s privacy is respected and information about them is confidentially handled. Staff respect a children's wish for privacy and confidentiality as is consistent with good parenting and the need to protect the child.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The is a good complaints policy in place. Children are given pictorial information in the children's guide about how to make a complaint, information is also given to parents and placing authorities. No complaints have been made in respect of the quality of care delivered by the service. The home is in the process of dealing with a neighbour complaint; they have made some progress in trying to resolve this matter. Staff have received training in dealing with complaints.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All staff in the home have received service specific training in relation to safeguarding children with additional needs. This is good because it develops increased awareness of differing communication tactics and possible physical signs of harm. The home has a good child protection policy in place, however up to date local area safeguarding policies are not present. There have been no incidents of a safeguarding nature since the home was registered.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a clear bullying policy in place. There are no issues of bullying in the home or at school.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is a good absence policy, in respect of children being absent without consent. Children using the service have additional and complex needs. This means that they are supervised by staff at all times. No incidents have taken place.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Individual behaviour management plans are in place. They offer good information to staff in respect of how they should respond to particular behaviours. There is a good behaviour management policy in place and staff respond positively to the children. They use distraction and diversionary skills effectively to reduce the need for physical intervention. Restraint records comply with regulation and the use of such measures is very low.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home uses a harness for children in the vehicle to ensure safety during transport. Currently the use of this equipment is not recorded as a restraint. There is no reference to the use of additional restrictive equipment in the home's policy or restraint records. Written parental consent is present to use the harness and there are clear pictorial and written instructions about how to use the equipment. There is also a clear risk assessment in place which explains why the harness may be used to safeguard the children during transportation.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The children live in home that provides physical safety and security. Positive steps are taken to keep children, staff and visitors safe from risk from fire and other hazards. There are a range of good risk assessments. Validation certificates of electricity, gas and fire equipment are also present. There are regular fire drills. The home have a policy, procedural guidance and a separate risk assessment for lone working staff. 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC397987 Staff employed at this home have been re-deployed from another home within the organisation and now work here on a full time, permanent basis. Staff files have been inspected at the other service and were found to comply with regulatory requirements. There is careful selection and vetting of all staff working with children and young people in the home.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are given individualised support in line with their needs and wishes, and children identified as having particular needs receive help, guidance and support when needed or requested. Staffing is provided which meets the needs of children well, staff are very knowledgeable about the children placed.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

There is an education policy that shows how the home intends to promote and support the educational attainment of children throughout the time they live here. This includes supporting the child by facilitating their prompt arrival at school with the necessary school equipment. The education of children is actively promoted as valuable and meaningful by the home. There is excellent communication with schools. Reviews of educational needs have taken place and the home plays an active part in school life and supporting the children with their education. Additional support is provided by a life long learning skills tutor and a speech and language therapist, both are employed by the organisation.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Placement plans are excellent. They give a very precise overview of the day to day arrangements and routines of each child. They provide a very good point of reference for staff in all areas of care. These include communication needs, diet, health, identity, sensory needs, education, activities and safeguarding. Staff have a good understanding of individual communication needs of each child this enables them to work closely with children and ensure that their needs are met.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children participate as much are they are able to in their reviews. Pictures of the children during their time at the home are used to give an overview of the placement and progress made. All parties involved in the care of the child are included in the review process. There are review reports on the children's files and records of outcomes of these meetings are clearly recorded.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Arrangements for contact with families are good and clearly outlined in the placement plans. Children are provided with practical support for constructive contact with parents, family and other significant people, and they are encouraged to maintain contact.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Given the additional needs of the children using the service there are very clear plans of integration into the home. This is a long and comprehensive process which is led by the needs of the children. Integration plans are in place and outline how the process of evolving to full time placements takes place. There are procedures for introducing children to the home.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The home provides good evidence of consultation with the children. Each child's preferred method of communication is known to the staff. Speech and language therapists are engaged to promote the use of differing forms of communication. Observations of interactions are good. Parents and placing social workers are regularly consulted during meetings and contact. 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC397987

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. Children are not of an age whereby pathway or transition planning into adult life is appropriate. The home aims to enhance independence skills through choice. This includes choosing meals, clothing, getting dressed, toileting, bathing and bringing laundry to the washing machine.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Children enjoy bright homely accommodation, decorated, furnished and maintained to a high standard, providing adequate facilities for their use. The gardens are well maintained and secure, with some outdoor play equipment available. Individual children's bedrooms are clean, well-furnished and personalised. A maintenance programme is in place and this includes prompt repair to any damage.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. There is a good statement of purpose and children's guide, a combination of these documents give a clear explanation of the what children parents and placing social workers can expect from the service. The staffing policy for the home is clear and it is contained within the statement of purpose.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. The staff team provide a variety of cultural backgrounds. Christian and other multi-faith festivals are celebrated through food outings, activities and dressing up. The home has worked well to develop a programme of integration into the local community.

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Organisation

The home has a good complement of suitably qualified and experienced staff. The rotas for the home reflect the staff on duty. Staffing of the home is centred on the needs of the children and there are periods of the day where additional staff are provided to enable children to participate in activities. Staff in the home either have an equivalent qualification or are undertaking their national vocational qualification level 3 in caring for children and young people. This means that children receive the care and services they need from competent staff.

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Organisation

Staff report that training opportunities are good. They have attended a variety of training, including administration of medication, autism awareness, personal care, manual handling, positive behaviour management, safeguarding children with disabilities, first aid and CPR. This means that children receive the care and services they need from competent staff.

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Organisation

The manager regularly monitors the records held within the home. Some of the monthly audits have not been undertaken. The manager is clear about the requirements of the monitoring systems and action is taken to address any identified shortfalls. The home has a development plan, but this is part of the overall organisations plan. It is currently under review and in due course the home is to have a it’s own development plan in place.

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Organisation

Children have comprehensive individual files which hold all the information required by regulation. Files are securely stored, orderly and accessible. 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC397987

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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 revise the behaviour management policy so that it takes full account of children with additional needs, and makes clear in what circumstances. if any, additional restrictive equipment may be used. (Regulation 17(2)(a))

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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): • obtain an up-to-date copy of the local area safeguarding procedures (NMS 17.2) • ensure that there are regular audits of the homes records and that the home has a separate development plan. (NMS 33.1 and 33.5) 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC397987

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