Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

SC359836 Unique reference number 31 August 2010 Inspection date Bill Drumm Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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20 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 9 Inspection Report: SC359836

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Brief description of the service

This is a purpose built children's home with accommodation for up to six young people of either sex. The home is a newly built property in its own grounds. There is a small bungalow in the grounds of the home, which is used for meetings and family contact. The home comprises of two lounges, a computer room, office facilities, kitchen, and a dining room. All young people have their own bedrooms.

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Summary

This was an unannounced key inspection of the home. All of the outcome areas for young people were inspected and were found to be good with the exception of economic wellbeing which was judged to be satisfactory. Overall, this is a good service.

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Summary

Members of staff care about the young people who live there and treat them with dignity and respect. In addition members of staff are fully committed in supporting them to achieve their maximum potential and to develop socially acceptable behaviour. Young people were observed to have a friendly, open and honest dialogue with members of staff and appeared relaxed and comfortable in approaching them with their concerns.

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Summary

Members of the staff team are knowledgeable, skilled and committed to delivering a high quality service to young people. Monitoring processes are good and ensure high standards are maintained, with any shortfalls addressed quickly to improve provision to children. There are clear systems and procedures for keeping young people safe and for their health and welfare to be promoted and their needs met. Young people and members of staff actively share ideas about what the home does and how high standards and quality can be maintained.

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Summary

Three young people currently live at the home, all of whom spoke with the inspector and contributed to the inspection process. 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

Since the last inspection the manager has reviewed and updated the home's room search procedures to clarify when it may be necessary to search a young person's possessions. In addition, the manager has reviewed the procedures for undertaking a fire drill. The time at which a fire drill is held is now recorded.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Members of staff ensure young people have easy access to fresh fruit and vegetables. A well stocked fruit bowl is freely available and young people are encouraged to help themselves. Nutritious meals are provided and young people participate in the planning of menus. Young people are also encouraged to participate in shopping for food items and meal preparation. The home ensures that young people living there are able to follow the diet of their choice. One young person said, 'most food is homemade, we have a cook who provides healthy balanced meals'. The home also ensures that young people are able to sample food from different 4 of 9 Inspection Report: SC359836 countries and cultures. Young people living at the home enjoy a healthy, well-balanced diet and healthy eating is promoted.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people living at the home have had their individual health care needs fully identified and reviewed. Each young person has a healthcare plan which outlines what their physical and emotional needs are and what support they may need. Young people are supported and encouraged to attend all meetings and appointments with healthcare professionals. Members of staff have all attended first aid training. Generally the health care needs of young people are promoted, however the home does not have an up-to-date policy for promoting the health of children. The policy they do have was written some years ago.

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Helping children to be healthy

Policies and procedures relating to the safe handling and administration of medication are in place. All members of staff have undertaken training in the safe handling and administration of medication. An audit of the home's administration records was undertaken during the inspection and was found to be accurate and up-to-date. One young person said, 'if you're on medication they remind you to take it and when you're poorly they provide tender loving care'. Young people living at the home are protected by the home’s medication administration systems.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Members of staff are pleasant and friendly towards all the young people living at the home. There are sufficient bathrooms and toilets to meet the needs of the young people living at the home. Each young person has his or her own bedroom. Young people are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms in a style of their own choice and to keep the rooms clean and tidy. The home has policies and procedures in place, which explain what action members of staff should take when it is necessary to search a young person's bedroom. Personal information relating to each young person is stored securely to prevent unauthorised access. Young people living at the home are treated with dignity and respect.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are policies and procedures in place for dealing with complaints in an effective and timely manner. However, the procedures do not expressly forbid any reprisals being made against young people who wish to make a complaint, potentially meaning that concerns may not be fully addressed. The young people's guide provides clear information to young people about the complaints process. At the time of the inspection one young person was reviewing the young people's guide to ensure it is fit for purpose. Young people were observed at the time of the inspection to speak freely and honestly with all members of staff and to make their needs known. Members of staff have received training in the complaints process.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people living at the home are fully protected from exploitation and abuse. A copy of the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures is available in the home. There has been no child protection referrals made since the last inspection. All members of staff working at the home have undertaken training in child protection and the welfare of young people is promoted.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has policies and procedures in place with regard to countering bullying. There has been one recorded incident of bullying since the last inspection. Records show that this incident was taken seriously, and appropriate action was taken. The young people's guide to the home includes clear information for young people about what action they should take if they feel they are being targeted by bullies. Information about independent agencies that can help young people, if they feel they are being bullied, is available within the home. One young person who 5 of 9 Inspection Report: SC359836 completed an inspection questionnaire said, 'there's a bullying book and there's sometimes name calling but nothing major'. Members of staff working at the home have received training in countering bullying, young people are protected from bullying.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There have been a number of occasions since the last inspection when young people have been absent without authority, and the home has policies and procedures in place with regard to what action members of staff should take if a young person is missing. Procedures comply with national minimum standards and provide clear and explicit timescales for staff action, particularly when a young person returns to the home after being missing. Records show that these timescales for action have not always been met, and the young person has not been seen by someone independent of the home for some considerable time after they have returned. Members of staff make every effort to search for the young person and to ensure their safety. Young people are not always responded to positively on their return.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has policies and procedures in place relating to the safe holding or restraint of young people, and members of staff have received appropriate training. Restraint records are retained within a separate bound and numbered book used specifically for that purpose. There have been a small number of restraints used within the home since the last inspection. The home also has policies and procedures in place, which relate to the sanctions members of staff are permitted to use to help young people modify their behaviour. However, the sanctions records have not always been fully completed. Clear and accurate records of which sanctions work for particular young people in helping them modify their behaviour may not be retained.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are protected from fire and other hazards within the home. There are good systems in place to ensure that young people, members of staff and visitors to the home are kept safe and free from hazards. Fire drills are carried out at regular intervals and these include some undertaken at night. Risk assessments are undertaken on the known and likely activities carried out by young people. These risk assessments are thorough and help to protect young people from the risk of accident or injury.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There have been no new appointments to the staff team at the home since the last inspection. Written records show that thorough and detailed checks are carried out to ensure that all members of staff are suitable to work with young people. Young people living at the home are provided with physical safety and security and are protected from being exposed to potential abusers.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Young people living at the home receive individual help and support when they need it or when they request it. Young people have their own key worker. Meetings between key workers and young people take place at regular intervals. One young person said, 'if I want anything I can talk to my key worker, or any of the staff'. The progress of each young person is regularly monitored and members of staff offer help, guidance and support to help them improve their behaviour.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

All the young people living at the home have left school. The home has a proactive approach to helping young people progress and to achieve their maximum potential through going to college, attend training or find a job. In addition, young people living at the home are actively encouraged and supported to develop their own hobbies and interests. 6 of 9 Inspection Report: SC359836

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Young people living at the home are appropriately placed. Planning and placement meetings take place prior to the admission of any young person to the home. Meetings held prior to admission help to ensure all essential information is available and that the placement has the greatest chance of success. Each young person has their own placement plan, which outlines what their needs are and how they will be met. In order to help ensure that needs are met, the manager and members of staff undertake individual risk assessments of each young person and devise more detailed care plans following admissions.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The needs of young people living at the home are regularly reviewed and care services adapted to meet changing needs. The manager and members of staff regularly attend review meetings with partner agencies, and strategies are developed to help meet identified needs quickly.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Contact with friends and family is discussed at each young person's planning meeting, prior to admission. Where appropriate, young people are supported and encouraged to maintain regular contact with their friends and families. Restrictions on contact between young people and their families are discussed prior to admission. The reasons for these restrictions, if any, are both known and understood by the manager and staff at the home.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The admissions procedure for the home is thorough. Where appropriate, arrangements are made for the young person and their parents to visit the home before a placement is agreed. Members of staff work hard to try to make young people feel welcome and to understand what it will be like to live there.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are encouraged to raise issues, which affect their lives. Meetings take place between members of staff and young people about how the home is run and what improvements can be made. One staff member who returned a questionnaire said, 'all young people are informed how the home is run and can voice opinions how and when they please'. All young people who returned inspection questionnaires said that they were able to make their views known and to have a say in what happens in the home.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is satisfactory. Formal pathway plans, for all those young people who require them, were available in the home at the time of the inspection. However, the pathway plan for one young person did not show the involvement of the young person, it also had some important other information missing. Robust pathway planning was raised as a recommendation at the previous two inspections of the home. Young people may not receive the care they need to prepare them and support them into adulthood.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people enjoy homely accommodation that is decorated, furnished and maintained to a very high standard. Members of staff help to maintain the building and to keep it clean and tidy. Young people living at the home are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms and are encouraged to keep their home clean and tidy.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. 7 of 9 Inspection Report: SC359836 The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Members of staff support and enable young people to participate in community-based activities on an equal basis and to develop their own identity. The Statement of Purpose has recently been reviewed and accurately describes what young people can expect from living at the home. Young people know what services they can expect from the home.

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Organisation

Young people are looked after by members of staff who are very well supported and properly managed. All members of staff receive regular, formal supervision. The manager also makes herself available to talk with members of staff should they need to do so. Staff meetings are held at regular intervals. Members of staff spoken to said, 'we've had a difficult patch and we sometimes feel quite drained, but you just pick yourself up and get on with it, we're a good team'.

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Organisation

Young people receive the care and services they need from competent staff. All members of staff are trained to a minimum National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People or are undertaking the training. The home's rotas ensure that, where possible, there is a mix of both male and female staff on duty. Staff sickness and holidays are covered by existing staff members being flexible in their work patterns. Consistency of care is provided to young people and there are clear arrangements in place for members of staff to deputise in the absence of the manager.

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Organisation

A record of all training received by members of staff is maintained within the home. Young people are looked after by members of staff who are well trained and competent to meet their needs.

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Organisation

The care of young people living at the home is monitored regularly. A system is in place to ensure performance is monitored and any patterns or issues requiring action are highlighted.

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Organisation

The needs of young people are recorded to reflect their individuality and daily records are maintained. Information relating to the care that young people receive is stored securely. Young people and their parents are able to access this information within the home if they request it.

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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): • review the home's health promotion policy and procedures to ensure there is accurate and up to date guidance for members of staff in promoting the health of children (NMS 12.5) • review the home's complaints procedure to ensure reprisals against children making a complaint are expressly forbidden (NMS 16.3) 8 of 9 Inspection Report: SC359836 • ensure that young people who return from being absent without authority are seen by somebody independent of the home (NMS 19.4) • ensure that all written records of sanctions given to young people are completed accurately and appropriately (NMS 22.6) • ensure that each young person living at the home who is eligible has an up-to-date and comprehensive pathway plan. (NMS 6.1) 9 of 9 Inspection Report: SC359836

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