Children's Home run by Doncaster Children‟s Services Trust Limited in Doncaster

SC032167 Unique reference number 17 May 2010 Inspection date Nicola McEvinney Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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4 January 2010 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: SC032167

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Brief description of the service

This home provides up to 10 short break placements for children and young people who have physical and/or learning disabilities aged from six to 17 years of age. The accommodation consists of 10 single bedrooms and communal areas for eating, playing and relaxing. The home is in a residential area, approximately five miles from the town centre, and is close to public transport and schools. There are waking night staff on duty. The home owns their own mini-bus and there are appropriate beds suitable for the children and young people who use this service. Hoists are fitted in bathrooms.

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Summary

The purpose of this unannounced full inspection was to check on the progress of the recommendation made at the last inspection and to ensure the home is meeting the national minimum standards.

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Summary

This is a good home with a staff team sharing a common ethos who are clearly committed to providing children and young people with a meaningful experience when they come for a short break. Staff have clear, fair and consistent boundaries which children and young people respond to positively. This is apparent by the very few sanctions and no restraints used since the last inspection. The home has embraced healthy eating and the children and young people eat healthily while they attend the service. There is a clear understanding on the impact of 'junk' food on the behaviours of children and young people, particularly those children or young people with autism.

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Summary

Shortfalls identified at this inspection relate to young people not having a discrete health care plan that would easily identify the health needs of the individual to enable all staff to address these needs. Written behaviour management plans are not in place identifying individual behaviours with strategies in place to manage these behaviours that would ensure a consistent approach at all times. 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 Registered Manager was asked to ensure that restraints were not used to enforce compliance. There have not been any restraints since the last inspection, although, staff are fully aware that they are not to use a restraint to enforce compliance.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children and young people are provided with a healthy and nutritious diet. Advice has been sought from the dietician in respect to healthy eating. While attending the service the children and young people do not have any unhealthy food or drink. This extends to when young people are taken out for a meal; they do not go to places where unhealthy food is served. This is good practice. Staff are very aware of the link between behaviour and diet. As a result children and young people who have previously displayed challenging behaviours have settled well and their behaviours have improved. Care plans are in good detail and give clear guidance on what help 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC032167 and support children and young people require at meal times; what utensils are to be provided and how they like to be fed. Mealtimes are organised to ensure that these are a stress free time, which can occasionally mean children and young people have their meals at different

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Helping children to be healthy

times. Appropriate diets are provided to children and young people who have a special diet or have religious or cultural needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

Although information regarding children and young people's health is available in their file. This information is not maintained in a discrete health care plan which would allow easy reference to the specific health care needs of individuals ensuring health needs are appropriately attended to. However, care plans include procedural guidance for ensuring that all staff know what action to take for specific health care matters. For example, epilepsy protocols are in place for ensuring that all staff know what action to take in the event of a child or young person having a seizure. All staff have attended training on the administration of Buccal Midazolam. This training is specific to each child or young person requiring this intervention.

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Helping children to be healthy

A medication policy has been written specifically for this home. The policy is understood and followed by the staff team. Medication records are in good order, with clear instructions on how children and young people are to be administered their medication. All staff have attended first aid training ensuring a qualified first aider is on duty at all times.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The home has a privacy and confidentiality policy as well as an intimate care policy. Children and young people's care plans give clear guidance to staff to ensure that their dignity is maintained at all times. Young people's information is kept securely, ensuring privacy is respected.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

One complaint is recorded which was dealt with appropriately. Staff have good link work sessions with young people and the team are well established and are able to interpret when an individual is not happy. The children's rights officer visits the home and meets with the young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All staff have attended safeguarding training and are in the process of having an update to ensure that they keep abreast of good practice. The home has produced a new safeguarding policy specific to the home, to ensure that all staff know what action to take if there are any concerns.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff have a good awareness of how children and young people can intimidate other individuals and are vigilant in ensuring that all young people are kept safe. An anti-bullying policy is in place. This policy is specific to the home, giving clear guidance on how to manage the different aspects of bullying.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is clear guidance to staff on what action to take in the event of a child going missing when taken out. Young people have free access to outside areas although they are discouraged to exit via the front door.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

This is a well-established staff team who are very familiar with the children and young people. There are good handover sessions and staff share strategies in effective approaches to manage children and young people to ensure a consistent approach. This would be further enhanced by having written behaviour management plans to ensure that new staff also had a good 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC032167 understanding of the children and young people. The home have good consistent boundaries in place and children and young people present socially acceptable behaviours. There are few sanctions recorded. These are closely monitored by the Registered Manager who will make comment on the appropriateness. There have been no restraints recorded since the last inspection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All relevant health and safety checks have been undertaken for ensuring the safety of the home. Risk assessments are in place for each individual, activities and the premises. These assessments identify the risk with strategies in place to minimise this risk. These strategies are reviewed to ensure that they remain effective.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There have been no new members of staff employed in the home, although, some individuals have moved from other homes in the town; these individuals have gone through a robust recruitment procedure. All staff are vigilant in checking the identity of all visitors to the home which ensures only appropriate people have access to the children and young people.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Families and staff access a number of services to help meet the needs of the children and young people who are receiving a short break. For example, the children and adolescent mental health service (camhs) supports some individuals to manage their behaviour. There are good links with health care professionals to ensure that staff are aware of young people's health conditions. The dietician works closely with the home to advise on healthy eating and help develop a healthy eating policy which has been embraced by the home.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Although parents oversee the education of their children, the home has good links with schools. A number of different communication systems are in place to enable staff and schools to liaise over the young people. This includes the exchange of home school diaries and the use of electronic communication systems. Personal education plans are in place for some children and young people. Care plans contain details of the child or young person's school with the name of their teacher and a reminder to staff of what equipment is needed on specific days. This ensures that the children and young people arrive at school with all their necessary accoutrements.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Care plans give detail on what activities children and young people like to be involved with. Detailed care plans are in place for ensuring that the needs of children with limited or no verbal communication skills are fully understood by all staff. Children and young people come to the home to have fun and they are provided with lots of activities to ensure that this aim is met. For example, they have parachute games, go shopping, visit local parks or go to the cinema. The home has a range of games and activities that children and young people enjoy. This includes a sensory room and a range of outdoor equipment.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. There are detailed care plans in place setting out the individual needs of each child and young person with clear guidance on how these needs are to be met. Written routines are in place for each child and young person including their morning and bedtime routines. These records include details of individual's sleeping patterns and ensure a consistent approach to their care. 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC032167 Care plans are reviewed and updated three monthly to ensure that the needs of the children and young people continue to be met. Although child care reviews are held on block, the Registered Manager organises for reviews to be held in school to enable young people to participate.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

A number of children and young people have moved to this establishment from another home within the town. These individuals initially moved here with staff from their former home. These staff have since returned to their substantive posts. The children and young people have settled well into their new home.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents receive an end of placement letter from the home informing them of how their child has been while they have had a short break. Parents were also sent a questionnaire ascertaining their views of the service. Replies were very positive and parents were very complimentary about the service their children receive. Children and young people's views are sought through link work sessions. Staff talk to young people about who will be working with them and what will happen on their visit. This ensures that young people know what is going to happen.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. Children and young people will require support throughout their lives. However, they are encouraged to develop some self help skills. These include clearing the table after a meal and putting toys away.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home is well maintained and pleasantly decorated providing a homely environment for the children and young people. Each individual chooses which room they wish to stay in when they come for a short break. All bedrooms are colourful and have a theme. Staff are working hard on the outside area and are planting out vegetables to enable young people to watch these grow and have them to eat.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. An up-to-date Statement of Purpose is in place informing all interested parties what the service has to offer. A child friendly young people's guide is also in place informing the children and young people of what they can expect when they come for a short break.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Children and young people have an individualised care plan in place. Child care reviews are organised to enable young people to attend if appropriate. There is a choice of meals available; children or young people with religious or cultural needs are provided for. Individuals may choose which room they wish to stay in and staff do not stereotype children and young people. For example, boys are encouraged to use the pink bedroom if they wish.

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Organisation

The staff team is well established, although some staff, as well as children and young people have joined the home following the closure of another home in the town and a reorganisation of the disability service. These staff have integrated well into the team and their appointments have not had any negative impact on the young people. This is a result of the effective implementation of routines, policies, procedures and the transitional programme. All staff have 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC032167 either attained National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in the Caring of Children and Young People or are registered on this course.

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Organisation

There are sufficient numbers of staff on duty ensuring young people are well supervised and engaged in meaningful activities. All staff have received essential training relevant to their task. This training includes the administration of Buccal Midazolam or rectal diazepam, gastrostomy feeding and the administration of oxygen. Other basic training has also been attended, for example, safe handling of medication, moving and handling and equality and diversity. A training matrix is maintained which easily identifies what training staff have attended and what they require.

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Organisation

There are good systems in place to monitor how the home operates. The Registered Manager monitors the home's records to ensure that they comply with regulation and are appropriate.

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Organisation

Children and young people's files contain all the relevant information to ensure that their history can be followed.

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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): • ensure that each child and young person has a clear written health care plan (NMS12.2) • implement individual behaviour management plans. (NMS 22.16) 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC032167

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