Children's Home run by S P Homes Limited in Lambeth

SC065535 Unique reference number 10 May 2010 Inspection date Cheryl Carter Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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2 November 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: SC065535

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Brief description of the service

This is a children's home which caters for six young people aged 13 to 17 years. It provides supervised care and support for young people from all cultural backgrounds on a medium to long-term basis. The home is a double fronted house with parking facilities on the drive for up to five cars. The home has easy access to schools, local amenities and transport links.

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Summary

This was a key unannounced full inspection. All key standards were inspected. Young people receive a satisfactory service with some good features. Staff work consistently with families and the placing authorities and other professionals to promote the best interests of the young people. Young people feel safe and are able to contribute to the decision making in the home via their house meetings and their statutory reviews.

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Summary

There are shortfalls in some areas that contribute to the outcomes in key areas. None of the files seen had a consent to medical or emergency treatment; there was no up-to-date gas safety record and no current record of the portable appliance testing. A recommendation to improve practice relate to ensuring that young people sign that they are happy with the outcome of their complaints has been made. 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

At the last inspection the home was required to address eight actions. The recording of complaints has improved and records now show how complaints have been investigated with outcomes of the investigation. This practice now ensures that staff are listening to what young people are saying.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The home was also asked to ensure that all young people have individual health care plans and to improve the practice in relation to the safe handling of medication. This has been addressed and young people all have individual health care plans on file. Medication practices better protect young people. Staff now record all medication received and medication disposed of. The exact dosage of all medication administered is also recorded and dated.

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Improvements since the last inspection

A shortfall in relation to the notification of significant events was highlighted at the last inspection. This has improved and significant events are now reported to Ofsted in a timely manner.

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Improvements since the last inspection

There was also a need for the home to improve the recording of sanctions, rewards and any restraint used in the home. The system to record these has been reviewed and modified to ensure better recording of these events and provide a better audit trail.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The home was asked to improve their recruitment practices and to ensure that staff have all the necessary checks before starting work in the home. Although there have been some new staff employed by the home none of these staff have been allowed to take up their post until the relevant checks have been completed satisfactorily. 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC065535 The shortfalls in relation to staff training and supervision of staff have been addressed. There are now three members of staff currently undertaking national vocational training at Level 3.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The manager of the home was not able to evidence how he monitored the home against the Statement of Purpose. The home now has a system to monitor the home to ensure the safety and welfare of children at the home.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Five recommendations were also made to improve practice. These were in relation to the safe handling and preparation of food, reviewing the practice of not giving children keys to their rooms, that all staff receive up- to-date training on safeguarding, training on bullying and the recording of incidents of bullying and medication training for all staff. All of these recommendations have been addressed. Staff training now includes food hygiene training and medication training. The policy on bullying has improved and it is displayed around the home for both staff and young people to familiarise themselves. Incidents of bullying will also be recorded separately.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Young people are positive about the food they receive. The home does not employ a cook, so the quality of the meals depends on which member of staff is on duty. Young people spoken to say that most of the times they enjoy the food, however it depends on who cooks. They are able to help themselves to snacks when they are hungry and healthy options such as fresh fruit are also available. Young people are encouraged to be involved in planning the menus. There are also opportunities for young people to go shopping with staff and to assist in the preparation of meals. This helps to develop their independence and learn new skills.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people are encouraged to lead a healthy lifestyle. Staff ensure routine healthcare is available to them, such as optician and dental services and the importance of maintaining good health is highlighted during discussions with young people. Health care plans for young people were seen; none of the files seen had consent for first aid and medical treatment from those with parental responsibility. Training in first aid for staff is ongoing, currently there is always a member of staff qualified in first aid on each shift to ensure someone can provide emergency treatment.

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Helping children to be healthy

There are suitable arrangements for administering, storing and disposal of medication in the home. Individual records ensure any first aid, prescribed or non-prescribed medication given to young people is recorded appropriately.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Young people enjoy an appropriate level of privacy. Personal space is respected and all young people now have a key to their room. Staff always knock and announce themselves and wait to be invited before they enter a young person's room. Confidential information is kept secure and discussions about young people is done only between staff in the privacy of the office to ensure the privacy of the young people is respected.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has an accessible complaints policy. There have been a number of complaints made by young people. These are well recorded, however young people do not sign to say that they 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC065535 are satisfied with the outcome of the complaint. There are suitable arrangements to safeguard young people. All staff have had updated safeguarding training and the staff demonstrate that they know how to respond appropriately to any allegations or incidents.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are satisfactory arrangements to protect young people from bullying. Bullying is not currently an issue in the home and staff are clear that bullying will not be tolerated. Young people's behaviour is managed fairly through discussion with individuals and use of rewards and sanctions. A reasonable system of sanctions, which is usually monetary, is used. These are being used infrequently as staff prefer to work positively with young people and the system of using incentives to encourage acceptable behaviour is preferred. There have been no incidents of restraint recorded since the last inspection

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are procedures for staff to follow should a young person not return to the home when they are expected to. Records demonstrate that unauthorised absences are notified to the appropriate authorities to ensure that the young person is returned to the home safely.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is a system for carrying out checks on prospective staff to ensure they are suitable to work with young people; this was an action raised at the last inspection and since then the new staff recruited do not start working at the home until the checks are completed. This ensures a sufficiently robust process.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Weekly health and safety checks are carried out to identify hazards on the premises; fire safety is promoted, for example through regular checks of equipment and testing. Frequent fire drills are carried out however there is no record of which staff participated in the fire drills, therefore it is not clear that all staff have taken part in a fire drill. There is also no evidence that there have been any fire drills carried out at night. Evidence of electrical installation checks were seen, however the gas safety and portable appliances testing records is not available.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Visitors to the home are asked to sign in however there are some gaps in the visitors' book where they fail to sign out at the end of the visit.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Positive relationships exist between young people and staff. Each young person is allocated a key worker to monitor their care and individual needs. Young people are supported by all of the staff team and regular discussions about each young person is carried out during the staff meetings to ensure that staff are familiar with the care plans and the desired outcomes for that young person

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Education is important in the home. Staff support young people to attend their educational placements regularly to improve their educational outcomes. Staff endeavour to motivate young people to consider their future and to take advantage of all opportunities available to them. The links between schools, colleges and the home are very effective and this ensures that everyone involved with the young person works together to ensure that each young person achieves to their full potential.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC065535 There are procedures for introducing young people to the home and to explain what they might expect from the service. Staff encourage young people to keep in touch with their family and friends who are important to them, where this is appropriate.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people's needs are assessed effectively when they move in. Their needs are regularly reviewed and adapted in light of their progress in the home. Young people are encouraged to contribute to reviews of their care so their views may be considered. There are also opportunities for them to give their views on all aspects of life in the home, so they may influence how it is run.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. Young people enjoy a satisfactory standard of accommodation which is kept clean, tidy and reasonably decorated. There are sufficient bathroom facilities to meet their needs. There are suitable arrangements for young people to maintain contact with family and friends by telephone. New carpets on the stairs and landing contribute to the overall improvement of the premises, however this is spoilt by the burn in the carpet on the first floor landing.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Staff encourage young people to develop independent skills, such as shopping and preparing meals. Staff also work with young people and assess what support they will need in future to develop their life skills. Guidance for young people in relation to their allowances is also available.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Written information is provided to guide people on how the home operates. The children's guide is not produced in a format that can easily be understood by all the children which means that not all the children know what they may expect from the service. Each young person has a secure, clear record of their time in the home. There are suitable arrangements to monitor the quality of the service.

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Organisation

Young people can be assured there are adequate numbers of staff to support them. When there is a need for extra staff, the home ensures continuity for the young people by employing others in the staff team or using the same agency staff. Every effort is made to ensure that staff who are left in charge of the home are always sufficiently experienced.

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Organisation

Time is scheduled for staff handover so information on what has happened in the home during the previous shift is known by the staff coming on duty. Rotas do not always accurately reflect who is working in the home, times of work and who is leading each shift, to make this clear for staff and young people.

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Organisation

New staff follow an induction programme to help prepare them for their working in the home. Ongoing training ensures staff can develop further skills to meet the changing needs of young people. Training in first aid, safeguarding, behaviour management, food hygiene and first aid form part of the core training for staff. The recommended ratio of staff with the appropriate vocational qualifications has not yet been achieved; however, the home is working towards achieving this as there are a number of staff currently undertaking NVQ training at Level 3. None of the staff spoken to have had an annual appraisal to identify their training needs. 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC065535 The promotion of equality and diversity is satisfactory. The home addresses the needs of young people based on their culture, ability, preferences, gender and religion. The staff team is diverse to reflect the needs of young people. Staff show respect for children's differences.

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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

16 June 2010 ensure that unnecessary risks to the health and safety of children accommodated in the home are identified and so far as possible eliminated. (Regulation 23.c) 16 June 2010 ensure that the children's guide is produced in a form appropriatedto the age, understanding and communication needs of the children accommodated in the home (Regulation 4.4) 16 June 2010 ensure that all persons employed in the home receive an annual appraisal (Regulation 27.4)

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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 complainant signs that they agree or disagree with the outcome of their complaints (NMS16) • obtain and retain on file, prior written permission for the administration of first aid and other medication from a person with parental responsibility (NMS 13.4) • ensure that fire drills are also carried out at night and the names of staff participating in fire drills are included in the fire records. • ensure that staff take responsibility for the monitoring of visitors to the home (NMS27) • ensure that all areas of the home are in good repair and condition (NMS24) 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC065535

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