Children's Home run by Building Bridges Care Homes Ltd in St Helens

SC063284 Unique reference number 19 July 2010 Inspection date Elizabeth Taylor Inspector Key Type of Inspection

p.1

1 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 9 Inspection Report: SC063284

p.3

Brief description of the service

The home provides care for up to five young people of mixed gender with emotional and behavioural difficulties, between the ages of 11 to 17 years. The property is a large, detached house situated in a residential area close to a town centre. Each young person has their own bedroom. There is a large garden to the rear and parking space to the front of the house. The house is close to local shops, transport links and community resources.

p.4

Summary

At this unannounced full inspection, all key standards were inspected. Action taken in response to previous recommendations was also assessed. Three young people were living in the home and two contributed briefly to the inspection process.

p.4

Summary

The overall judgement is that the home provides a good service to young people with excellent outcomes in keeping them healthy and ensuring they receive individual support to meet their differing needs. The culture of the home is open, friendly and child-centred. Young people describe the home as an 'okay place to live in' and say they feel safe. Staff share their interests and hobbies with the young people and this helps to promote positive relationships between them. The overall quality rating is good. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

Two recommendations were made as a result of the previous inspection. One has been fully addressed. The home was asked to ensure young people's placement plans were regularly reviewed to reflect any changes in their needs. Review dates are now recorded on individual plans and improved recording reflects developments or changes in young people's lives or needs. This ensures plans for young people's care remain relevant and fully support their needs.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

The home was also asked to ensure accurate records were maintained in respect of monies taken from young people as reparation or restitution. It was not possible to cross reference all entries with other records kept in the home. Therefore, an action has been raised in this respect.

p.4

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Healthy eating is promoted for young people. Young people are actively involved in planning the weekly menus, in purchasing food and cooking meals for themselves. This ensures they develop appropriate skills to support their independence as an adult. Staff ensure young people are well informed about safe food handling and that they understand the nutritional value of different foods. Staff also motivate young people by sharing their interest in growing fruit and vegetables. This has been effective in encouraging young people to apply to take part in a national project scheme. Young people have successfully produced a development plan and gained funding to support their venture to grow produce in the garden which will be shared with a local community facility. This is a commendable achievement. 4 of 9 Inspection Report: SC063284 Staff work hard to ensure young people understand the importance of maintaining a healthy

p.4

Helping children to be healthy

lifestyle. In addition to the promotion of healthy eating, staff encourage young people to engage in regular activities which involve physical exercise. This contributes to young people enjoying good health. Young people's health needs are fully assessed on admission and action is taken to ensure they access relevant services. Specialist healthcare is gained when it is required and staff work in collaboration with health professionals to ensure young people's health needs are met. Older young people are supported to take increasing responsibility for their own healthcare to help prepare them for adulthood.

p.5

Helping children to be healthy

Effective arrangements are in place for the safe storage, administration and disposal of all medication. Accurate records are maintained. This ensures young people receive appropriate treatment, in a safe manner.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people's privacy is respected. Information about young people is securely stored and staff uphold confidentiality at all times. Information about the complaints procedure is clearly described in the homes' Statement of Purpose and in a leaflet in the young people's admissions pack. Young people are aware of the formal complaints procedure but say they prefer to tell staff informally about any issues they have. They say staff take action to resolve matters quickly. The home also acts promptly to promote good relationships within the community.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Detailed risk assessments on young people ensure that safeguarding issues such as bullying, unauthorised absences and high risk activities are fully addressed. Incidents of bullying between young people were previously recorded. However, the home has taken action to address this with the result that young people say bullying is no longer an issue in the home. Young people's placement plans contain clear, practical guidance for staff to ensure they respond appropriately and consistently to keep young people safe. A proportionate approach is taken to older young people choosing to stay out overnight with family members or friends, with basic safeguards in place such as informing staff of their whereabouts and staff checking this with other responsible adults.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people know what is expected of them and what is unacceptable in terms of their behaviour. Staff are generally effective in using diversionary tactics and positive reinforcement to help young people maintain acceptable behaviour. Restraint is rarely used and is proportionate to stop a young person from either hurting themselves or others. Young people are expected to make reparation for damage caused to property and records are maintained of such payments. However, these records do not cross reference with other relevant records such as pocket money allowances.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Effective systems are in place to support good health and safety measures within the home. Fire safety installations are regularly checked and drills are routinely carried out. Young people participate in drills and evacuations to ensure they know what to do in the event of a fire. Environmental and fire risk assessments are maintained up to date. Certificates to show appliance testing, electric and gas checks take place regularly are in place and are up to date. This shows that facilities and services within the home promote safety for young people.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Vetting procedures for visitors and staff promote the safety of young people. A visitor's identity is checked and their presence in the home is recorded. A robust staff recruitment and selection 5 of 9 Inspection Report: SC063284 process is implemented in the home. This ensures persons looking after the young people are suitable to carry out the task and demonstrates the home's commitment to protecting young people.

p.5

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. The majority of the young people have been resident in the home for over a year and staff have a thorough understanding of their individual needs. This knowledge is supported by detailed placement plans which describe young people's specific needs and the support and services they require to address them. A range of professionals are involved in supporting the young people. Staff maintain good communication with them to ensure young people's needs are met in practice. The home's key working system is effective in ensuring young people receive the individual support they need. Staff have frequent significant discussions with young people about important matters in their lives and advise them about health and social issues. Improved record keeping provides evidence of the positive support and outcomes achieved for young people.

p.6

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The home places considerable emphasis on supporting young people to benefit educationally. Staff have established good links with local schools, colleges and Connexions advisers. This ensures the various options and opportunities available to young people locally are identified and used to good advantage. Young people are supported to access work experience/training courses to enhance their chances of employment. This is successfully implemented in practice as all the young people either attend school or have work experience or training placements. Young people have access to facilities in the home such as a computer, reference and reading books to enable them to increase their learning.

p.6

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Young people have detailed plans for their care which describe the level of guidance and support they require to effectively address their needs. The plans cover the physical, emotional and social needs of young people and are supported by robust risk assessments. There is a regular reviewing process and improved record keeping clearly demonstrates how young people are supported to develop and achieve. A new initiative has been implemented in the form of a document which seeks young people's views and wishes about their daily care and future plans. Young people actively engage in completing this task and the information gained assists staff in identifying targets relevant to helping young people. Young people are increasingly countersigning their plans so they know what the home is doing to meet their needs and the contribution that staff will make to support them.

p.6

Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people's placement plans are also reviewed as part of the statutory reviewing process. Young people are encouraged and supported to attend and contribute to their statutory reviews.

p.6

Helping children make a positive contribution

Contact arrangements are clearly detailed in young people’s records. The home facilitates contact with young people's families and other significant people in their lives, in accordance with the wishes of social workers or legal directives. Staff ensure that arrangements for contact promote and safeguard young people’s welfare. 6 of 9 Inspection Report: SC063284 Young people are listened to and their views are taken into account in the general running of the home. Records show staff are successful in engaging young people in discussions about their daily care and in gaining their suggestions about menu planning, choice of activities and improvements to the home.

p.6

Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. Staff support young people to prepare for adult life by encouraging them to take increasing responsibility for themselves, appropriate to their age and ability. Young people are able to learn and develop practical skills such as planning meals, food shopping, doing their own laundry and simple household tasks. They are also helped to gain skills such as opening a bank account and using public transport to facilitate their increasing independence and social skills.

p.7

Achieving economic wellbeing

The home is situated in a place that is convenient to access public transport and a range of community resources and facilities. Although there had been recent incidents of considerable damage to the property internally, repairs had been quickly effected and the standard of accommodation brought back to its usual high standard. This encourages young people to take a pride in their surroundings, which they now do.

p.7

Achieving economic wellbeing

The home is decorated and furnished in accordance with good quality, domestic style living. There is sufficient space within the house and garden for young people to relax and enjoy different activities. Photographs of young people are displayed around the home to reflect their sense of belonging. Cultural and ethnic diversity is promoted by the use of appropriate posters and pictures.

p.7

Organisation

The organisation is good. The home's Statement of Purpose describes what the home sets out to do for the young people who are accommodated there. The document is available to placing authorities, young people, their parents or carers and other interested persons. It has recently been revised to reflect changes within the staff team. Therefore, all interested readers receive accurate information about the home. Young people are given a welcome pack on admission which includes a range of leaflets to inform young people about different services they can access in the community or independently to support their needs. The young person's handbook is currently being revised. A draft version shows information will be provided in a more child-friendly format, to enable less confident readers to understand how the home operates.

p.7

Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Young people's rights are respected and promoted. Their views are sought and acted upon. Young people's diverse needs are assessed and action is taken to ensure plans for their care address these needs. Young people access the same facilities and activities that are available to other young people. Staff ensure young people learn about different cultures to promote tolerance and understanding about our multi-cultural society.

p.7

Organisation

Changes to the staff team have occurred as a result of the company opening another home. These changes do not appear to have unduly affected continuity in the care of the young people. In fact, both young people and staff view the changes as positive. Staff in particular commented that the different mix of the team has brought new energy and enthusiasm to the 7 of 9 Inspection Report: SC063284 service. This was being channelled to good effect by the manager to help inform the development of the service.

p.7

Organisation

The staff team offers a good gender balance and the minimum staffing level of two ensures young people's needs can be adequately addressed. Staffing levels are increased, if necessary, in accordance with young people's changing needs. Staff support systems are effective in practice; regular supervision and frequent staff meetings provide regular opportunities for staff to discuss issues relating to the care of the young people and the running of the home.

p.8

Organisation

Newly appointed staff receive a thorough induction process which prepares them for their caring role. Regular supervision ensures staff's understanding and competency is formally assessed on a continual basis. Staff are supported to gain a nationally recognised qualification in caring for children, although the current team do not quite meet the required 80% level of qualified persons.

p.8

Organisation

An established quality assurance system assists in identifying strengths and weaknesses in the service offered in the home. Regular monitoring visits are undertaken each month by the provider. A report is compiled and an action plan is developed to address issues raised. The manager reviews and signs the home's records on a monthly basis and also completes a monthly report on its operation. These inform the home's development plan and demonstrate a commitment to continuing to improve the quality of service offered to young people.

p.8

Organisation

Young people have accessible records which identify their needs and show the contribution made by staff to meet them. The records are stored securely but young people can access information in their files and contribute to certain records such as their development and placement plans. This ensures young people feel they can influence decision making about their care and future plans.

p.8

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.8

Due date Action Standard

6 August 2010 maintain an accurate and up to date record of measures of control used, as set out in Regulation 17, in relation to the imposition of monetary sanctions

p.8

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • ensure behaviour management plans show measures taken by staff to reduce the likelihood of negative behaviour becoming the focus of attention (NMS 22.3) • ensure plans for the care and control of young people cross reference to promote consistency (NMS 2) 8 of 9 Inspection Report: SC063284 • ensure a minimum ratio of 80% of all care staff have completed National Vocational Qualification level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People (NMS 29.5 ). 9 of 9 Inspection Report: SC063284

p.8