Children's Home run by Channels and Choices Kent LLP in Kent

SC385631 Unique reference number 30 June 2010 Inspection date Lucy Ansell Inspector Key Type of 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: SC385631

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Brief description of the service

This children's home is a newly built detached house in a semi-rural area. There is off-road parking in front of the home and a garden to the rear. The home is registered to care for three young people from eight years to 17 years. There is single room accommodation for young people. The home is located close to local shops, a mainline train station and bus services.

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Summary

This was a full unannounced inspection with all key standards inspected. At the time of the inspection six staff members and all three young people were spoken to. This is a good service with the outcome area of enjoying and achieving rated as outstanding. Young people's welfare is enhanced by the provision of a suitably trained and committed staff group. The home works well with a range of professionals in order to meet the young people's needs. The young people have the opportunity to develop their social and independence skills in preparation for adulthood and are well supported to achieve positive outcomes for themselves. The staff are well managed and supported by the Registered Manager and management team. The plans of care are of a good standard and ensure the needs of the young people are met and help promote education, contact and health needs.

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Summary

The home received four recommendations and one action under staying safe and one action under positive contribution. 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

The home has had a key inspection fairly quickly after the last interim one, this has meant that the actions required have only been with the home for a couple of weeks. The home has completed most of the actions but some remain partially met and have been reissued; particularly on recruitment and the recording of restraints. The safety of the young people remains the focus for the home and these checks will still be completed retrospectively. The certification of the gas appliance was seen and the policy on permissible sanctions has been changed. The home unavoidably was unable to send in regulation 33 reports due to the independent visitor being unavailable. Supervision for new staff has been changed to a new fortnightly schedule.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people's health is promoted. All staff provide a good service ensuring the health needs for the young people are met in a comprehensive way. This includes healthy eating, a range of activities, education and information giving. The home ensures that young people's health needs are assessed and that access to resources are secured. The health care plan and the recording of health information coming into the home are good and the monitoring and administration of medication is well organised ensuring the young people receive a strong service. Young people enjoy healthy nutritious meals with menus checked by a dietician. Culturally diverse options are offered within the menus prepared. 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC385631

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The home promotes the rights of young people by ensuring that their privacy is respected and information is confidentially handled. Young people's records are appropriately stored.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people feel comfortable in raising any concerns. Clear policies and procedures are established for dealing with complaints. Staff support young people to raise any issues of concern openly and the process of making a complaint is clearly understood by them. The home has not received any complaints from the young people since the last inspection. The home does not record external complaints/concerns within the complaints book.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people live in a safe environment where their welfare is promoted and they are protected from abuse; with clear safeguarding processes and procedures. All staff receive training, supervision and guidance to cover safe caring, managing behaviour, recognising signs of abuse and ways of boosting and maintaining the young peoples self-esteem. Senior staff have not accessed local authority safeguarding training. Staff take prompt action to deal with any incidents of bullying and polices and procedures ensure the young people are protected. Appropriate systems are in place for recording and reporting if young people go absent without consent.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people enjoy positive and supportive relationships with staff members. A lot of work has gone into ensuring disciplinary measures are constructive and help reinforce positive behaviour messages to the young people. Training in positive handling techniques for staff is up to date. The log books were seen; management have signed off and commented on most incidents. The monitoring and recording of related significant incidents has vastly improved but still needs further work.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people live in a home which is a safe and secure environment; with all checks and health and safety requirements met. Regular checks and drills are completed to reduce any risks from fire hazards. The home has a clear and effective system in place for maintenance reporting.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The staff personnel files mainly contained all the required information. There is no evidence of telephone verification of written references being undertaken or that that gaps in employment have been followed up.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Individualised 24-hour management plans enable staff to ensure the young people receive the individual help and support most appropriate for them. Young people have individual one-to-one support, through the use of key working sessions, care plans and planning and review meetings to ensure they are supported and encouraged to achieve good outcomes.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people in the home engage with education. The home has its own education resource for when young people are out of the education system or they attend schools in the local area. All residential staff regularly attend school events and open evenings and take an interest in all aspects of school life. The home actively participates in reviews and planning and has monthly review meetings with young people's schools to ensure a focus on education is maintained. 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC385631 The young people engage in social activities. They attend individual as well as group leisure activities to help them develop their skills and self-confidence. For example: bowling; youth clubs; swimming; cheerleading; dance club; guitar lessons and football. Future outings and a week's holiday abroad during the summer holidays will be discussed in the upcoming house meetings. The young people are encouraged to be involved in the local community and use

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

organisational resources as well as local clubs and local places of interest. The home is very active in pursuing all opportunities for their young people.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The young people have comprehensive plans of care which helps to ensure their needs are met. The 24-hour management plans include details of how individual needs are to be met and the key worker action plans have priority targets so work is focussed. Young people are encouraged to be involved in the development of their plan of care. However, the risk assessments are neither robust or comprehensive. Formal reviews are undertaken within the required timescales and young people are enabled to contribute to and attend reviews. The plans of care and corresponding paperwork are reviewed in a timely manner.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are supported to have constructive contact with family and friends. A strength of the company is working closely with the families and to make funds available to support activities between young people and their family. Individual contact arrangements are clearly recorded on the files, and good communications between staff and family ensure contact remains a positive experience. The staff ensure young people are able to communicate with significant people in a manner that suits them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people said that staff listen to them and that there is plenty of chances for them to speak out. For example, key worker sessions which are held daily; and weekly house meetings and informal chats with staff. Regular consultation is undertaken with family and monthly reports sent to the social workers. Young people are routinely involved in the process of gathering and recording information about themselves, contributing to assessments and to the formulation of care plans.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. Young people who are of an age to have pathway plans have been consulted on this. The key worker action plan also ensures that staff are offering tasks to develop independence to all the young people. All the young people are supported to open a bank account and staff are mindful to encourage saving.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home is maintained to a good standard and provides comfortable accommodation. There is sufficient space downstairs for privacy with several lounges and comfortable areas. The bedrooms have been recently redecorated and are individualised for the young people. There is a rear garden that the young people can access for play. The front garden is unsuitable for play as staff cars are parked there.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC385631 The promotion of equality and diversity is good. The home promotes staff awareness of issues of discrimination through company policies, training and team discussions. Working practices show that each young person is a valued individual with the right to respect and positive self image.

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Organisation

The Statement of Purpose contains all the required information. A young people's guide is also produced which provides information about the home. Young people receive this information on admission and staff ensure they have understood the guide and have no questions.

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Organisation

Young people are looked after by a staff team who are trained and competent to meet their needs. Staff receive regular supervision and annual appraisal. There are team meetings each month to ensure staff are fully informed and are working consistently with young people. The staff team have been receiving specialist therapeutic training to meet the needs of the young people placed in the home.

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Organisation

All new staff receive an in depth induction programme and staff are supported and encouraged to develop their knowledge and skill base by attending a range of training. At the time of the inspection 80% of the permanent staff team have achieved the National Vocational Qualification at Level 3 in the Care of Children and Young People. The two newest staff do not hold this qualification.

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Organisation

The home is committed to providing sufficient staff on duty to meet the individual and collective needs of the young people accommodated with staff levels at one staff member to one child. The home provides two members of staff sleeping-in each night. Young people commented positively about the care and support provided by staff. Young people feel comfortable in raising and discussing any issues with them.

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Organisation

The Registered Manager carries out weekly and monthly monitoring reviews on the quality of care in the home. Along with comprehensive regulation 33 reports this ensures clear direction for the home and the management team are clear about what areas need improvement. The home provides a good record of young people's needs, development and progress.

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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 September 2010 ensure evidence on personnel files of telephone enquiries made to follow up written references (Regulation 26) 30 September 2010 ensure the risk assessments are comprehensive and robust. (Regulation 12)

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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): 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC385631 • ensure that staff accurately record any episodes of restraint (NMS 26) • ensure all complaints are included in the complaints book to be signed off by the regulation 33 visitor (NMS 16) • ensure senior staff are assisted to access local authority safeguarding training (NMS 17) • ensure gaps in employment history are followed up and this is clearly written on the application form. (NMS 27) 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC385631

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