Children's Home run by Cumbria County Council in Westmorland and Furness

SC034158 Unique reference number 28 July 2010 Inspection date Anne Bannister Inspector Key Type of Inspection

p.1

16 February 2010 Date of last inspection .

p.1

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.

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.3

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 10 Inspection Report: SC034158

p.3

Brief description of the service

This is a local authority, four bedded children's home situated in an established residential area. It provides respite accommodation and care for young people of both sexes aged between 11 years and 17 years. The home functions only at weekends and during school holidays. The aim of the home is to provide short breaks and outreach services to young people with significant emotional and behavioural difficulties. The staff team aims to achieve this by working in open partnership with families and carers to offer purposeful and pre-planned care in response to locally identified needs. This can take the form of short overnight stays, attendance at planned activities or the offer of outreach work to young people and their families or carers in their home environment. Young people are all accommodated in single en-suite bedrooms and share communal recreation areas. There are local shops within access of the home and the town

p.4

Brief description of the service

centre can be accessed via a regular bus service.

p.4

Brief description of the service

Three young people were resident at the start of inspection. They did not participate in the inspection on the day, but some filled in questionnaires prior to the visit.

p.4

Summary

This unannounced key inspection of the home assessed all of the key national minimum standards for children's homes to determine how well they were performing against these standards.

p.4

Summary

The satisfactory judgement has been made as a result of senior managers within the organisations instructing senior staff within the home to admit young people on an emergency basis. This is contrary to the home's Statement of Purpose. The practice has resulted in considerable disruption to the planned admission activities and outreach work the staff team were undertaking. One such admission was made which breached the home's conditions of registration.

p.4

Summary

The outcomes for many young people attending the home are good, with some being judged as outstanding. The home is well run and benefits from the strong leadership of an experienced staff team. Staff have adapted well to the significant change in the Statement of Purpose which has occurred since the previous inspection. The home now only admits young people at weekends and during school holidays. During other times staff are engaged in outreach work supporting young people and their parents/carers in the community. Eighty-seven per cent of young people supported by the home are not in the Looked After Children system. The varied programme the home is able to offer young people, in order to maintain and support their family placement, is a credit to the staff team.

p.4

Summary

The practices implemented within the home ensure that young people's health and dietary needs are appropriately met. The life skills used within leisure and educational activities assist young people to develop skills, which will support their independence. This aspect of the care provided is judged outstanding. The overall quality rating is satisfactory. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection. 4 of 10 Inspection Report: SC034158

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

In response to the two actions raised following the last inspection the staff now ensure that young people are given the opportunity to speak to someone outside of the home when they return from being absent without authority. They also ensure that, if it is necessary to search a young person's room, all staff involved in the search will sign the log.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

Three recommendations were raised. The fire records now indicate the time that a fire drill took place. Behaviour management interventions applied by staff in the form of rewards and sanctions are routinely reviewed in the weekly staff meeting. The organisation have reviewed the frequency that behaviour management training is available to newly appointed staff. It currently remains a course run annually each March but in addition an introductory training day is provided as part of their induction. The two new members of staff will not be authorised to involve themselves in any physical intervention until they have completed their training in March 2011.

p.5

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people enjoy the food in the home and participate in decisions about the menus. This ensures that likes, dislikes and individual needs are properly catered for. The planned menus reflect a healthy, balanced and nutritious diet. Healthy snacking on fresh fruit is encouraged and one young person commented positively that, 'we hardly ever get junk food'.

p.5

Helping children to be healthy

Young people receive support from staff with regard to their health and emotional well-being. The main responsibility for addressing health needs remains with carers, as young people are only accommodated for a brief periods of respite care. Arrangements are in place for young people to be registered as temporarily resident with the local surgery should they require medical attention during their time in the home.

p.5

Helping children to be healthy

Staff have an understanding of a range of medical conditions because they seek training in line with the needs of young people using the services the home provides. Young people's files contain appropriately signed medical consent forms that cover medical treatment, first aid and giving prescribed and non-prescribed medication. A range of educative material is available in the home for staff to use with young people. These include books and games relating to self-esteem, healthy sexual relationships, the right to say no and drug and alcohol awareness. Although young people's files contain a range of information which covers the requirements of the national minimum standards (NMS) they do not include a clearly identified health plan.

p.5

Helping children to be healthy

There are stringent procedures for the storage, handling and recording of medicines. This ensures that young people receive their required medication on time and according to the prescription. Staff receive training in the administration of medicines and are clear about each medicine and how it should be administered. On occasions when the recording of administration of medicines has not been correctly maintained this has been identified and addressed by the Registered Manager. Some out of date non-prescribed medicines were stored in the medicine cabinet. This was despite the fact that the date they expire is clearly displayed on the inner door of the cabinet. These medicines were disposed of during the course of the inspection. All staff members hold first aid certificates.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. 5 of 10 Inspection Report: SC034158 Staff are sensitive to the needs of young people. They are aware of the need to balance respect for privacy with young people's safety. Staff work with young people to alert them to potential dangers, such as fire and road safety and stranger awareness. An induction checklist ensures all young people are made aware of fire evacuation procedures and other policies and practices implemented by staff to promote their safety and well-being. This practice equips young people with the knowledge required to make safe choices.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are familiar with the complaints procedure which they are also made aware of as part of their induction. They all receive a young person's guide which includes important telephone numbers and advice as to who else they can pass concerns on to. The home is visited by a member of the National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS) each month. These visits ensure that young people attending for respite care have opportunities to speak about the service to someone external from the home. Documented feedback to the authority from the May report indicates young people enjoy joining in the activities, making friends and learning new things. One young person told the NYAS worker they 'like anything that involves being here'.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The staff are trained in safeguarding and are clear about what they should do if there is a safeguarding issue. They are very clear about what actions they need to take for individuals and have regular contacts with other professionals. Important information is passed on promptly. This ensures that an overall picture can be established about risk and vulnerability and therefore keeps the young people as safe as they can be.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are clear about the risks that young people present. Risks are clearly identified and well managed. Staff are able to implement working practices that ensure young people's safety and well-being. Their good practice has, however, been compromised over recent months. This is due to the instructed emergency admission, on three separate occasions, of young people whose known behaviours potentially compromised the safety and well-being of other young people attending for respite care. These admissions have been authorised by senior managers within the organisation. During the course of the inspection one such placement resulted in two young people's stay being ended prematurely and another's planned respite cancelled.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Work takes place on educating young people about how to keep themselves safe and this support is very individual. If young people should go missing there is a very clear procedure identified in each young person's risk assessment. Staff are very familiar with the steps that they should take to ensure that young people are as safe as possible.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Anti-bullying is promoted in the home in line with the organisation's policies and procedures. Information is made readily available for young people on how to contact external agencies, such as Child Line for advice and support if they need to. The staff team work hard to create a harmonious atmosphere in the home and openly challenge any form of bullying, including verbal abuse.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The staff team promote positive behaviours in young people. They use reward rather than sanctions to promote positive behaviours. The use of sanctions has not been necessary since the previous inspection.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Most staff have completed behaviour management training and are competent in diffusing situations to avoid the use of physical intervention. Where this is needed it is the last resort and well recorded. Good behaviour management systems are employed and staff training is 6 of 10 Inspection Report: SC034158 updated every six months. However, two members of staff recently appointed will not undertake training until March 2011. This is contrary to the authority's good practice of updating existing staff's behaviour management training every six months. This issue was raised at the last inspection and has been partially addressed by the organisation. New staff will receive introductory training to the behaviour management system used.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

No significant incidents have occurred which require notification under Schedule 5 of the Children's Home Regulations 2001. The home has procedures in place to notify all relevant agencies and carers of significant incidents which affect the well-being of young people.

p.7

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The environment is safely managed and maintained. The risk of fire is safely managed and detailed health and safety checks are carried out within timescales.

p.7

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Thorough procedures are in place to ensure that staff recruited to the home are suitable to work with young people. Staff routinely check the identity of visitors to the home and ensure that a record is appropriately maintained.

p.7

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Members of staff have a good understanding of the young people's needs. Positive working relationships are developed between members of staff, the young people and their families/carers. Young people's files contain information detailing how their individual needs will be met. Each young person/family is allocated a dedicated outreach or key worker to support them in the delivery of this plan. Young people are provided with different opportunities to acquire life skills and are well supported by the staff in these. Members of the staff team liaise regularly with families and care professionals, to keep them up to date on the progress being made by individual young people.

p.7

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The main responsibility for meeting their educational needs is with young people's parents/carers. Young people attending for respite care continue to attend local schools throughout the area. Staff are positive in their approach to education and its value for the young people in their care. The role of the education coordinator has established excellent links with all education facilities attended by young people. There are also close links with the Looked After Children's Education team (LACES). The education co-ordinator ensures that both the LACES team and social workers receive monthly summaries detailing young people's educational progress and the support they require to continue to achieve. This is a considerable task as the home is currently supporting 25 young people and their families/carers. The links developed ensure practical and emotional support is provided to young people experiencing

p.7

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

All staff are trained assessors under the Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network (ASDAN). The home is a centre registered by ASDAN. This enables planned activities to be accredited to assist young people to gain formal qualifications. The educational co-ordinator has also developed links with youth groups in the area. As a result, funding has been made available for young people using the services provided by the home to attend courses such as: staying safe, circus skills, street dancing, drama and the young fire fighters award. All these courses are certificated and contribute to young people's portfolio of achievement. 7 of 10 Inspection Report: SC034158 Young people enjoy their leisure activities both when attending respite care and out in their communities. There is an emphasis on personal choice and young people are encouraged in their abilities, interests and hobbies. A wide range of activities are offered and young people

p.7

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

are supported to attend events and clubs in their local area.

p.8

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is inadequate. There are a number of care planning documents for each young person which, when read collectively, provide good information about young people's individual needs and how they will be addressed. However, there is no formal plan which meets the requirement of national minimum standard 2.1.

p.8

Helping children make a positive contribution

All young people who use the home's facilities are referred to the home by Local Authority. An agreement that a young person may access the home's services is granted following panel meetings attended by the home's Registered Manager. However, contrary to the home's Statement of Purpose, senior managers within the authority have on four occasions since March 2010 instructed staff to accept emergency admissions. On these occasions documentation confirms that these managers are aware they are breaching the home's admission criteria. On one occasion senior managers within the organisation also breached the home's conditions of registration by instructing admission of a young person outside the age range specified for registration. The negative effects of such admissions on the existing group of young people was evidenced during the course of the inspection. This practice negates the positive matching

p.8

Helping children make a positive contribution

process for admissions routinely employed by the Registered Manager.

p.8

Helping children make a positive contribution

The support given to young people attending the home is formally reviewed by all professionals after four weeks, three months and six months. This exceeds the review timescales for Looked After Children. The views of young people, their parents/carers and social workers are sought when forming and reviewing plans. The aim is that within the six month timescale the staff team provide sufficient input to maintain the current placement or prevent family breakdown. Monthly progress reports on each young person are compiled and forwarded to placing social workers. This ensures both young people and their parents/carers are able to reflect back on the achievements being made.

p.8

Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. A detailed assessment of young people's needs and the home's capacity to support their current placement ensures that young people are well prepared before attending the home for respite care. The staff team work with young people on individualised programmes to support the development of their skills. The staff team liaise closely with appropriate professionals including placing social workers, family placement officers, adoption support workers. Staff introduce and encourage young people to develop networks of support within their own communities. Where it is appropriate the team would also contribute to the pathway plan for young people preparing for independent living.

p.8

Achieving economic wellbeing

The location of the home is convenient for leisure facilities, transport and other community facilities, which are important for young people's development. Young people benefit from homely accommodation, which is decorated and furnished to a high standard. They have their own individual, en-suite bedrooms. These actions ensure the home provides a high standard 8 of 10 Inspection Report: SC034158 of accommodation for young people and that they can be involved in choosing furnishings and decorations for the home.

p.8

Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The home is well managed and efficiently run, providing a safe and stable environment for the young people living there. The Registered Manager is well supported and supervised by senior managers and provides clear management for the care staff team. The care staff team demonstrates an awareness of their roles and responsibilities that ensures young people’s assessed needs are being met.

p.9

Organisation

The Statement of Purpose sets out the aims and objectives, management structure, staffing and what young people can expect the home to provide. Reference has already been made to breaches of the admission criteria as defined in the Statement of Purpose. Young people receive a booklet on admission that contains relevant information about the home. They also receive a user friendly guide to how to make a complaint and what to do if you are being bullied.

p.9

Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. The home has good policies in place that provide staff with guidance and relevant information on such issues. Young people are treated as individuals and good care planning and individual support assist them to develop their own individuality and identity. They are encouraged to be tolerant of each other and respect the views of others and any unacceptable comments or behaviours are well addressed. Young people are made aware of differing beliefs and cultures and various festivals and occasions are observed and celebrated.

p.9

Organisation

All staff are very committed to providing high quality care for young people and monitor and review staff practice to improve and further develop the service they are providing. Viewing of staff duty rotas and observation of working practices show the home is adequately staffed for the young people planned to be using the service. When emergency placements are made there is evidence that outreach work may at times have to be cancelled.

p.9

Organisation

The staff training programme includes a comprehensive induction. All staff have a personal development plan, which is reviewed and updated as part of their annual performance appraisal. Staff are positive in their comments about the training provided and state that any specialist training required to ensure they can meet a young person’s needs is given. These actions show the home takes suitable measures to ensure they have an appropriately qualified and trained care staff team.

p.9

Organisation

There is a competent, experienced staff team in place. In the Registered Manager's absence, other suitably experienced senior staff take over managerial responsibilities. The staff team is a mix of genders. There is a good National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) training programme in place. 100% of the care staff team hold an appropriate NVQ. Supervision has not always occurred within the required frequency. The occasions when timescales have not been met are attributed to periods of illness of the manager and one of her deputies. This issue has now been addressed.

p.9

Organisation

Monthly monitoring visits by a representative of the local authority and also by the Registered Manager are carried out and form part of the quality assurance system of the home. The home 9 of 10 Inspection Report: SC034158 is developing its quality monitoring systems and seeks feedback from placing social workers, education providers, parents or carers and young people as part of this.

p.9

Organisation

Young people's case files are kept securely in a suitable place. They contain relevant information and young people are aware they can view their own files if they wish. The progress of young people is closely monitored and recorded within individual files.

p.10

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.

p.10

Due date Action Standard

31 August 2010 ensure there is a written placement plan for each child provided with accommodation which indicates on a day to day basis how they will be cared for, and their welfare safeguarded and promoted by the home; it should include the arrangements made for their health care and education Regulation 12. 1 (a) 31 August 2010 ensure there is a written placement plan for each child provided with accommodation which should include the arrangements made for their health care and education Regulation 12. 1 (b) 31 August 2010 ensure that the children's home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its Statement of Purpose. (Regulation 4.6)

p.10

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • further review the frequency that behaviour management training is made available for newly appointed staff. (NMS 22) • ensure than out of date medicines are disposed of promptly. (NMS 13) 10 of 10 Inspection Report: SC034158

p.10