Children's Home run by Keys Care Limited in Lincolnshire

SC370899 Unique reference number 25 June 2010 Inspection date Mark Ryder Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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21 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: SC370899

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Brief description of the service

This children's home, owned by a private company, is registered for up to three boys aged between 11 and 17 years and is located in a rural setting. It is a detached house providing communal facilities and three single bedrooms. There are private gardens to the front and rear of the property. Young people can access nearby towns by public transport and transport provided by the home. Young people also access leisure and community facilities within these areas. Three young people are presently in placement. One young person contributed to this inspection.

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Summary

At this unannounced full inspection all key standards were inspected. The home has been assessed as having good outcomes for young people in all outcome areas. Young people are supported by a competent and well managed team. Consultation between young people and staff is a particular strength of this service. The home continues to provide a good standard of care for young people in all areas of their placement. Education is promoted for all young people with some notable achievements. Monitoring of the home is evaluative and reflects the progress of integration of equality and diversity practice and care planning. Areas of improvement include ensuring that all notifiable events are passed to Ofsted as required by regulations, improving risk assessments in relation to bullying and ensuring that all staff receive annual appraisals. 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

There were no recommendations or actions made at the last inspection.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people's health needs are suitably met through assessment and awareness of staff. Young people's cultural differences are catered for. For example, young people are provided with meals that reflect their culture and upbringing.

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Helping children to be healthy

Meal times are social events with staff and young people using the time to discuss day-to-day issues. Meals are, on the whole, nutritionally varied and of good quality. For young people who do not enjoy healthy foods an alternative is provided. Staff ensure that young people receive guidance and support on the value of eating a healthy balanced diet. A young person commented positively on the meals provided at this home.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people are registered with the local General Practitioner (GP), dentist and opticians when they first arrive at the home. Young people can choose if they wish to see a GP on their own or with staff. Records reflect that each young person has a comprehensive health assessment that includes historical medical information. For example, recording of a young person's known allergies provides staff with essential information. Records also demonstrate that young people are routinely supported to attend health appointments. 4 of 9 Inspection Report: SC370899 Staff receive training in first aid and the safe management of administering medication. Young people are able to self administer their own medication when assessed as safe to do so. For example, young people are able to use their own inhalers. Storage of medication and Medication Administration Records (MAR) are managed well. Staff are clear about how to administer

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Helping children to be healthy

medication and record when they have done so. Records are regularly monitored by the Registered Manager.

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Helping children to be healthy

Parental consent for staff to administer minor first aid and non-prescribed medication is kept on each young person's file. This provides suitable safeguards for young people to have their health needs met.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people's welfare is managed by robust polices and procedures, through competent and well trained staff and by living in an environment where health and safety is regularly monitored.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people feel that staff respect their privacy and dignity at this home. Staff are aware of young people's rights of privacy and are clear about how they do this. For example, they will knock on a young person's bedroom door before they enter. Staff manage sensitive and personal information in a way that does not breach confidentiality.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are informed about how to make a complaint and to discuss any concerns with staff members. Details of the home's complaints procedures are referred to in the young person's guide which is written in a style easily understood by young people. Complaints are addressed within timescales.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are clear procedures to inform Ofsted of any serious event that impacts upon the young people and home. However, on one occasion this did not occur. While the impact on the welfare of the young people was not compromised on this occasion, the omission prevents regulatory assessment as to how appropriately the service responded.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are aware of and have received relevant training on responding to child protection incidents. Staff are able to refer to the organisation's own safeguarding policies as well as the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) procedures. The home has managed previous potential safeguarding incidents appropriately.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people do not feel that bullying is an issue at this time. Staff respond to such behaviour and intervene to reduce any potential situations arising. There is information for young people about what they can do if they feel they are being bullied within the home. For example bullying is referred to in the young person's guide. Risk assessments on the potential to be the victim or perpetrator of bullying behaviour is kept on each young person's file. However, the information does not contain an assessment of the times, places and circumstances in which the risk of bullying is greatest. While there is no evidence that bullying is a concern, not assessing all potential circumstances of bullying behaviour could undermine the safe practice within this home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people who are absent without the knowledge or consent of the home are reported to the police and placing authorities as reflected within the home's policy and individual risk assessments. Young people are able to discuss the reasons for running away with staff during 5 of 9 Inspection Report: SC370899 key working meetings. Staff respond positively when young people return to try and help and understand their motives. Records of when young people are missing are monitored by the Registered Manager on a monthly basis.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Relationships between staff and young people are friendly and good natured. Young people are aware of the boundaries in place to keep them safe and to help them understand the consequences of negative behaviour. Young people say that sanctions are fair and fit the reasons for them to be made. For example, young people are stopped from going out to activities or having the use of televisions in their rooms if their behaviour warrants it.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are very few occasions when the use of physical intervention is required at this home. The staff team have developed a culture in which young people respond positively without the need to be held. However, staff have received appropriate training on safely responding to young people if physical restraint is required.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people, staff and visitors are kept safe through robust health and safety measures. Fire safety is monitored regularly and includes checks on the fire alarm system and emergency lighting. The staff arrange monthly fire drills which include all staff on duty and young people present. A record is made of each evacuation including the time it took to leave the building. All staff receive regular fire safety training. The home's fire risk assessment is reviewed on an annual basis. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) is suitably assessed and managed. Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) for all electrical items used within the home are checked on an annual basis.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The recruitment and selection of care staff is managed through a thorough vetting procedure. All staff have checks against the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) prior to working with young people. References are checked and application forms reviewed. Gaps in employment histories are identified and explained. Newly recruited staff feel that the selection process is fair and comprehensive. Planned staff induction helps new staff gain the confidence and skills in working with young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Visitors to the home are asked for identification and checked to ensure that they are suitable to be near young people. Visitors who do not have such identification are supervised throughout their stay. All visitors are required to sign in and out of the building. This promotes safe practice.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Young people are assisted and supported throughout their placements at this home. For example, young people are provided with individual therapy. Staff also receive guidance to support the young people through regular consultations with therapists. Young people's cultural needs are met through a staff team knowledgeable and respectful of each young person's background. For example, staff and young people celebrate different cultural days such as Burns Night as a way of recognising young people's heritage.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff promote education and encourage all young people to engage in educational activities if not in full time school. There is good and consistent communication between schools and the home. Individual education plans (IEP's) refer to specific and achievable targets for the young people. Educational successes are recognised through, for example, putting educational 6 of 9 Inspection Report: SC370899 achievement certificates on display. Educational and recreational timetables ensure that the young people have full and active placements that helps them reach their potential.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Care plans include all required details of a young person to ensure staff are able to support and care for them throughout their placement. The plans provide details on health, education and historical information. Plans are signed by social workers and key workers. Young people are able to read their plans and sign their agreement of the contents although not all young people do this. Care plans reflect the cultural needs of young people.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Meetings to review the arrangements for young people's placements are held within timescales and attended by both key workers and young people. Young people are consulted about their views of the care they receive and the future plans. Review minutes are on file and refer to specific action points to address any outstanding areas as well as plans to further develop young people's placements. Young people say that the review process is helpful and that they fully contribute to it. This is a particularly positive aspect of this service.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people confirm that contact arrangements for them to see their families are supportive. The staff promote contact with family and friends and ensure either transport is arranged or, for more independent young people, the funds for travel. Contact between parents and staff is positive and supportive.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff encourage young people to express views about their care and future plans in a number of ways. The home has a relaxed and supportive atmosphere in which young people can talk to staff about their wishes and feelings at any time. A young person said that 'you can talk to anyone here, they will listen to you'. Key working sessions are held at least monthly and include a record of the areas discussed. This is particularly useful for young people and key workers to refer to during the course of the placement. Resident meetings are also held monthly where the group are able to discuss a range of suitable topics about living at this home.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Social workers receive reports by email on updates on each young person's placement. There is a good quality of information for placing authorities to consider which is positively received by social workers. A social worker wrote that 'There is a strong sense of partnership working at T……. whereby all care staff work to the best interests of the young person'.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. The home supports and prepares young people into adulthood. Pathway plans provide details of how young people can develop essential skills and knowledge in moving into independent living. Staff are very supportive of young people who are preparing to leave the home. A programme to assist young people acquire the skills for independent living is in place. This is a particular strength of this home.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The accommodation provides young people with a home that reflects the positive values of how staff respect them. Both the interior and exterior of the house is well maintained. The décor and furnishings are of a good standard and paintings and prints reflect a diversity of cultures. Young people are able to personalise their own rooms and have a choice in colour and 7 of 9 Inspection Report: SC370899 design. Young people are also able to chose which bedroom they have, depending on the number of residents in placement.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The management and organisation of this home promotes a safe environment and a good level of support for the young people to gain from their placements. The home's Statement of Purpose and young person's guide accurately reflects the functions and practice within this home. The guide for young people is written in a style easily accessible to them and contains useful and informative information about the home and what the service can provide. A young person explained that they were given the guide before they came to the home and a member of staff went through it with them.

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Organisation

Young people receive the care and support from a competent, experienced and well trained staff team. Staff receive at least six days of paid training a year and have completed all mandatory training. The organisation provides refresher training and self directed learning booklets to assist staff to further develop their knowledge on a range of child care situations. Six of the nine staff working at this home have completed the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in Caring for Children and Young People at level 3.

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Organisation

Staff receive both formal and informal support from the manager and senior members of the team. Supervisions are held monthly, more so for new staff, and are recorded. However, appraisal meetings to reflect the professional development of each member of staff are not always completed on a annual basis. This is an area for improvement.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Staff respect and value the young people in their care. Consideration of culturally appropriate diets and celebration of historical events promote young people's self identify. The staff team enable young people to be active citizens in the community and challenge the perceived stigma of institutional care. For example, staff advocate on behalf of young people if they are blamed for incidents in the community in which they were not involved in.

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Organisation

Rotas reflect suitable staffing levels to meet the needs of the young people. Shifts are arranged to ensure there is continuity of care for the young people. For example, staff would normally work from ten in the morning until the following day.

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Organisation

The files of young people include all relevant information to help staff and others to assess the progress being made. Information within these files accurately reflects the young people's presenting needs. Young people are able to access their records and there is a system in place for them to do so although this is rarely taken up.

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Organisation

Monitoring of the home's practice and records is conducted on a monthly basis. A senior member of the organisation visits the home to check the standards of care and records. The reports are written in a child friendly format which young people are able to read. Equality and diversity is also monitored and assessed on how well integrated such practice is. This a particularly good aspect of this service. The Registered Manager signs records and produces a report on the running of the home. These reports are available to staff to consider and act upon. 8 of 9 Inspection Report: SC370899

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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

2 July 2010 notify without delay the relevant persons or agencies of the matters set out in Schedule 5 in particular any serious complaint about the home or persons working there. (Regulation 30.2)

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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 the registered person regularly carries out recorded risk assessments of the times, places and circumstances in which the risk of bullying is greatest (NMS 18.5) • ensure that all staff have their performance individually and formally appraised at least annually by their line manager. (NMS 28.7) 9 of 9 Inspection Report: SC370899

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