Children's Home run by Evolution Children Services Limited in Newcastle upon Tyne

SC382595 Unique reference number 28 May 2010 Inspection date Leonard Hird Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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11 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 7 Inspection Report: SC382595

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Brief description of the service

This children's home is a large, three-storey, double-fronted terraced property located in a quiet residential area of a major city. The home is registered to provide residential care services for up to five young people from 11 years old up to 17 years old. The main purpose of the home is to provide long-term care for young people and to help them prepare for independent living.

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Summary

This unannounced key inspection of the home assessed all of the key national minimum standards (NMS) for Children's Homes to determine how well the home was performing against these standards. Young people's privacy is well respected by members of staff. Young people spoke well of their working relationships with staff and that they feel well supported by members of staff in helping them to attend school and to take part in the different activities arranged by the home. The home is providing good levels of care and support to young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. However, the overall quality rating is only satisfactory as regulations are not being met in the outcome area of Being Healthy. 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

In response to the action raised at the last inspection in regard of the recording of restraints on young people, the home is now ensuring that within 24 hours of a restraint occurring a full and accurate record is fully completed by members of staff protecting the welfare of the young people.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Members of staff are promoting a healthy lifestyle and encourage young people to eat healthily and to take regular exercise to help them stay fit and healthy. There are good recording systems in place to ensure that the home's kitchen is meeting the requirements of food safety legislation. Menus are well-planned by staff and often with the assistance of the young people. The home's menus take full account of any specialist dietary requirements as well as the individual likes or dislikes of the young people.

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Helping children to be healthy

The daily healthcare needs of young people are satisfactorily met. Young people living at the home are registered with a local doctor, optician and dentist. Members of staff encourage and support the provision of specialist healthcare services to meet the often complex health needs of the young people. Each young person has a healthcare plan in place which provides information about health assessments, health appointments and the treatment of minor ailments and accidents. Systems for the safe handling and administration of medication are in place. Members of staff have been trained in the safe handling and administration of medication and first aid in case young people become unwell or have an accident. The home has clear policies and procedures in place for the recording and management of the administration of medication for young people, but on occasion staff have failed to correctly record the administration of

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Helping children to be healthy

prescribed medication. 4 of 7 Inspection Report: SC382595

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The company provides effective policies and procedures for staff to address the transmission and storage of confidential information relating to young people. There is easy access to a telephone for young people to make and receive private calls. Each young person has their own bedroom to which they have a key. There are sufficient rooms available in the home to enable young people to meet visitors in private. Young people indicate that members of staff respect their privacy.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people confirm that they are able to speak to any member of staff for advice if they are unhappy or have any problems. All complaints are taken seriously by the home and are fully recorded and investigated.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Effective systems are in place to report safeguarding concerns. The home has good links with the placing authorities and all of the staff team receive regular and recorded training in safeguarding young people from abusive situations.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A countering of bullying policy and procedure is in place at the home. Members of staff receive training in the countering of bullying and take prompt action to stop all forms of bullying from occurring. Members of staff receive appropriate levels of training in safeguarding and behaviour management. The behaviour management system in use at the home rarely involves the use of holds. Members of staff are aware of the relevant policy, procedures, guidance and reporting procedures relating to these areas of practice.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has policies and procedures relating to a young person being absent without authority. Young people who do go missing are given the opportunity to talk to somebody on their return and the reasons for them being absent are discussed with them.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Comprehensive systems are in place to record, monitor and prevent risks to health and safety at the home. Fire and safety equipment is regularly checked by members of the staff team and outside agencies. Regular recorded fire drills are held in the home and young people with the assistance of the trained staff know what to do in case of a fire. All visitors to the home are required to provide evidence of their identity and to sign the visitors book. There are good systems in place to ensure the safety and well-being of young people at the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Members of staff, before commencing employment at the home, are subject to a robust recruitment and selection process undertaken by the company. Similarly, agency staff prior to their commencing employment at the home are subject to similar checks by their company and these are verified by the home. This process is in accordance with the relevant regulations for people working with children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Members of staff have a good understanding of the young people's needs and requirements. The staff team have developed positive and professional working relationships with the young people. Each young person has an individual care plan in place that details how their needs and requirements will be addressed. All of the young people have their own key worker to support them in the delivery of their care plan. Members of the staff team meet regularly with 5 of 7 Inspection Report: SC382595 other care professionals and the young people's families, to keep them up to date on the progress being made by the young person.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Each young person has a Personal Education Plan in place which is updated on a regular basis by the key worker. Young people are well supported by members of staff to attend their local school and to take a full and active part in school life. Regular education reviews are taking place, to ensure the educational needs of the young person concerned are met. A young person said they get good support with their education and that they are involved in their meetings. Computers can easily be accessed by young people to assist them to complete their studies at the home.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Each young person has their own individual placement plan in place that details how their needs will be met and addressed by the home. Before young people come to live at the home, a number of assessments are undertaken by members of staff and the home's manager to ensure that the young person is being appropriately placed.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Regular recorded statutory and internal review meetings are taking place at the home to monitor the progress of the young person. Young people are well supported by their key workers at these meetings and where appropriate by independent advocates to ensure their views are being taken fully into account.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There are various opportunities for families and supporters to meet with members of staff either formally or informally to discuss the care of the young person in the home. Members of staff and young people regularly meet to discuss what is happening in the home and records are kept of these meetings.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. Currently there are no young people of an age living at the home who need a formal transition plan to move into adulthood.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The environmental standards within the home are very good and provide young people with a safe, attractive and homely place to live in. All of the young people have their own lockable bedroom. All of the bedrooms can be personalised by young people, if they wish. Each bedroom has a single bed, seating area and storage space. All of the children have a lockable draw for the storage of personal possessions. There are good levels of bathing, showering and toileting facilities available throughout the home. The communal living areas are spacious, well decorated, equipped and furnished.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Members of staff receive training in the promotion of equality and diversity as part of their core training. Staff have a good understanding of the needs of the young people living in this care environment and ensure that young people are treated as individuals. The work of the staff team is supported by the policies and procedures of the company in the promotion of equality and diversity. 6 of 7 Inspection Report: SC382595 The young person's guide and the Statement of Purpose clearly states how the home operates. The information in these documents is presented in a way that can be understood both by the young people and their supporters. In the absence of the Registered Manager, the deputy managers, assisted by the staff team, are ensuring that the home is satisfactorily organised, managed and run in line with the Statement of Purpose.

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Organisation

Members of staff are provided with good opportunities for training in caring for children and young people. Many of the staff have achieved the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) at level 3 in the Caring for Children and Young People award or higher. Members of staff undertake regular core training in areas, such as first aid, behaviour management and fire safety. The members of staff spoken with confirm that they are receiving regular training and recorded supervision which provides them with support and professional guidance. Staffing levels at the home are good and are meeting the identified needs of the young people.

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Organisation

There are a number of different quality assurance systems in place at the home, including a monthly unannounced Regulation 33 monitoring visit by the company's visiting consultant. When actions or recommendations have been highlighted in these reports regarding the overall performance of the staff team the company has acted upon them to ensure that performance levels do not drop.

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Organisation

Young people's case files are securely stored and in a manner which makes them accessible to members of staff. Those files examined were being well monitored, maintained and managed.

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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 ensure that a written record is kept of the administration of any medicine to any child (Regulation 21 (2 (c)).

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Recommendations

There are no recommendations. 7 of 7 Inspection Report: SC382595

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