Children's Home run by London Borough of Hillingdon in Hillingdon

SC032502 Unique reference number 8 June 2010 Inspection date Muhammed Harunur Rashid Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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16 October 2009 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: SC032502

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Brief description of the service

This is a children's home registered to care for up to 14 young people of either sex aged between 12 to under 18 years of age. There are 12 beds that accommodate children for a maximum of nine months and two emergency beds. The home provides care specifically for asylum seeking young people. The home is located on a residential road not far from local amenities and transport links.

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Brief description of the service

The home is purpose built and contains individual and communal space for young people. There are several offices on the ground floor along with several bedrooms including the bedrooms for emergency placements. There are three staff sleep-in rooms, one on the ground floor and two on the first floor, one on each side of the building. There are bathroom facilities situated throughout the home and two kitchens, one specifically for the use of young people. There is a games room on the ground floor and two lounge areas as well as a separate dining area. The gardens surrounding the home can be accessed by the young people.

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Brief description of the service

Five young people participated in the inspection.

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Summary

This is a good service. Young people’s welfare is enhanced by the good relationships that exist between staff, and young people, and between young people and their peers. Young people are encouraged to eat healthily. They live in a safe environment. Young people receive individualised support. Their educational attainments are promoted. The home works closely with a wide range of outside agencies in order to meet the full range of young people’s needs. There are good opportunities for staff training in a number of areas. Staff are well supported by the Registered Manager who has commitment to promoting the welfare of young people and focusing on improvement. 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

At the previous inspection the Registered Manager was asked to ensure that staff are able to access all young people's health care needs assessments and health care plans and staff attend basic food hygiene training.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The service has acted upon these. These steps help staff to promote the health care needs of young people.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. There are good arrangements for promoting the healthy lives of young people coming to stay at the home. Young people are encouraged to eat healthily home cooked meals. Staff support young people to plan and choose the menus. Young people enjoy a variety of dishes that reflect their diversity and preferences. Young people who are on semi-independence programmes have opportunities to shop and cook meals with members of staff. All staff have attended their 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC032502 basic food hygiene training. Staff maintain records of fridge and freezer temperature on a daily basis.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people's health care needs are consistently identified and promoted. Staff have easy access to a newly developed Integrated Children's Services (ICS) system where young people's up dated health care needs, assessments and health care plans are stored electronically. Young people are all registered with a local doctor, dentist and optician. Staff accompany young people to various medical appointments and maintain records of all appointments they have attended. Staff work closely with the local health authority in order to meet young people's health care needs in full.

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Helping children to be healthy

The home has an appropriate medication administration policy and procedure in place which staff adhere to. Medication is stored in the ground floor sleeping in room. However, it was evident on the day of inspection that staff stored fruits in the fridge which is designated for the use of medication only. Staff maintain accurate records of all medication administered to young people. A designated member of staff completes monthly medication audits. Staff have attended medication administration and first aid training. First aid boxes are provided in the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people’s privacy and confidentiality is promoted by the policy in place, the practice of staff and through the secure storage of young people’s records.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

An appropriate complaint policy and procedure is in place and the procedure is made accessible by being displayed in the premises. The home also developed the complaint procedure in various community languages. Staff maintain a complaint log book. Complaints are appropriately recorded and managed according to the home’s procedures. Young people know what to do should they have a complaint and follow agreed procedures.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A comprehensive safeguarding policy and procedure is in place which provides guidance for staff to protect young people. Staff have attended safeguarding training and have awareness of safeguarding issues. The home has an anti-bullying policy. Staff have sound knowledge and skills to deal with bullying if it is suspected. Young people have good relationships with the staff team and other young people living in the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a policy and procedure in place for dealing with unauthorised absence from care. Staff take appropriate actions when a young person is suspected of being missing from care. Staff also record the date and time in the missing from care log book.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are well-supported and encouraged through the provision of appropriate training, such as managing challenging behaviour. Staff have sound knowledge of safeguarding issues and are trained in the use of restraint.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff have attended health and safety training. They take appropriate steps to keep young people, visitors and themselves safe from the risk of fire and other hazards. A risk assessment of the premises is in place. Staff carry out regular fire alarm testing and fire drills. Current gas and electric test certificates are available for inspection. Although staff maintain records of all fire drills carried out, however, they do not always record these on the daily log book. 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC032502 Staff are recruited according to the policy of the local authority. The human resources department ensures that all necessary documents including enhanced Criminal Records Bureau disclosure certificates are obtained prior to the appointment of staff.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Young people are given individualised support in line with their needs and wishes. Young people can approach any member of staff including the Registered Manager and their concerns are listened to. Young people have access to advocacy services. Staff develop an individual risk assessment for each young person and a strategy is in pace to eliminate or reduce the identified risk factors. The service has recruited staff from various minority ethnic groups and they are able to communicate with young people in their own languages. In addition to this, interpreting services are made available to young people who requires this. Staff encourage and support young people to learn English and familiarise with the local community within a short period of time.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff are committed to encourage and support young people to attend formal education. A number of young people attend a centre to learn English and develop various life skills, for example, healthy eating, personal safety, communication and understanding human values. In addition to this, young people have opportunities to attend a local young people's centre where they receive a range of informal education activities. These activities are helpful for young people's personal and social development. Staff at home encourage and support young people in developing numeracy and literacy skills. The home provides a quiet room for young people to study. Staff support young people with homework. The home provides computers for young people to use for recreational and educational purposes.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Young people’s care needs are well assessed. Each young person has an individual care plan in place. Guidelines are in place about individual aspects of care for each young person; this ensures that staff have a consistence approach in providing care. Staff complete daily records which include information about individual care and support given to a young person. Designated key workers monitor these care plans to ensure that they are implemented during young people’s stay at home. Young people are encouraged to get involved in their review process. Evidence shows that statutory reviews take place on time.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff work hard to build on any family links young people have in the United Kingdom and support young people to maintain contact with any family members. Staff encourage and support young people to build local support networks, such as visits to mosques and churches.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There are appropriate procedures in place for introducing young people to the home. However, the service accommodates and provides care to asylum seeking young people who are usually admitted at very short notice.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Appropriate consultation systems are in place to seek young people’s views. There are sufficient resources available to address young people’s religious, linguistic and cultural needs. Interaction between staff and young people is genuinely warm and relationships are valued. Ofsted have 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC032502 received a number of feedback forms from young people prior to the inspection. These stated that staff consult with them and listen to their concerns.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. Staff encourage and support young people to develop independent living skills. Staff support them to look after their personal spaces. Young people have opportunities to be involved in shopping and cooking meals under staff supervision. Staff support young people to be able to travel independently and also to buy various items for themselves. Staff also support young people in developing their numeracy and literacy skills.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home’s location, design and size are in keeping with its purpose and function. The home serves the needs of young people. The premises are decorated, furnished and well maintained. The service recently has purchased new beds and beddings for all young people.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The Statement of Purpose has been updated. This includes all the required information, such as the aims and objectives of the service. The young people’s guide provides information regarding the facilities available to them.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Evidence supports a consistent commitment to improving equality and diversity in practice. Young people receive an individualised service in the home which is designed to meet their personal needs.

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Organisation

There are systems in place to monitor the performance of the home against the Statement of Purpose. Regulation 33 visits take place in each month. The Registered Manager monitors and signs the home’s records and the home takes appropriate steps on issues requiring actions.

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Organisation

Appropriate staffing arrangements are in place to meet young people’s assessed needs. The home has recently recruited seven care staff and one head of care. These newly recruited staff will be in posts by July 2010. Currently the home is covering these vacancies by the agency staff. The Registered Manager reviews staffing levels in accordance with the assessed needs of young people. Rotas show there is a balance of gender and cultural backgrounds of staff whenever this is possible. The general competence and experience of staff help them to work with disabled children and young people who have complex needs.

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Organisation

The Registered Manager and the head of care are qualified and have several years of experience in child care settings. The Registered Manager is available for both staff and young people for support and advice.

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Organisation

All staff receive regular supervision and annual appraisals from their line manager. Weekly staff meetings are held and staff have opportunities to contribute to the meetings. Staff attend various in-house and external training to promote their professional development. The staff team have access to various internal and external training. Staff spoken to were satisfied with the training they are receiving. Sufficient numbers of staff have completed their National Vocational Qualification at Level 3 in the Caring for Children and Young People. 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC032502 Each young person has an individual and secured care file. The home is accommodating asylum seeking young people. The service ensures that young people have access to all community amenities.

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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 staff do not keep any food items in the fridge designated for the use of medication. (NMS 13) • ensure that conducted fire drills are recorded in the log book.(NMS 26) 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC032502

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