Children's Home run by Lincolnshire County Council in Lincolnshire

SC042950 Unique reference number 7 July 2010 Inspection date Elaine Cray Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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18 November 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: SC042950

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Brief description of the service

The home is a six-bedded children's home run by the local authority. It caters for young people aged between 10 and 17 years of age. The home aims to provide and develop physical, emotional and psychological care to young people so that they may return to their birth family, move to foster care or develop skills to live independently in the community. The home is situated close to the town centre and enjoys good access to local facilities and public transport.

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Brief description of the service

Ground floor accommodation comprises of a kitchen, pantry, dining room, hall, lounge, toilet and shower and two offices. On the first floor are six bedrooms and two bathrooms. Outside there are large gardens to front and rear with car parking to the front and side of the building.

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Summary

This inspection is an unannounced full key inspection visit, looking at all the key national minimum standards. The outcome groups relating to being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, positive contribution, economic well-being and organisation are all assessed and judged as good.

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Summary

The overall quality rating is good. The service provides a structured, nurturing and safe environment for young people and behaviour is well managed. There are clear boundaries, consistent reward and celebration for improved behaviour. Young people are provided with good opportunities to develop both educationally and emotionally. They identify improvements in their behaviour and are proud of the progress they are making. Young people say they feel safe and are enthusiastic about their relationships with staff. They are protected by clear procedures and looked after by well trained staff.

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Summary

Six actions mainly to do with the wider organisation’s documentation and one recommendation are set as a result of this inspection visit. 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

No actions or recommendations were set at the last inspection.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people's health is promoted and there are improvements in their physical and emotional health. Positive outcomes for the young people’s health include eating more healthily, taking up more exercise and giving up smoking. Young people’s medical and health needs are recorded in health assessments and arrangements to meet these needs are well organised. Young people have a good awareness about maintaining healthier diets, lifestyles and accessing health agencies in the community.

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Helping children to be healthy

Records show young people's medical appointments are arranged and their health closely monitored, including liaison with local and specialist agencies and support from the looked 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC042950 after children nurse. Staff have a good awareness of health issues relating to the psychological needs and current lifestyles of young people.

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Helping children to be healthy

Staff have a good knowledge of the young people’s medication requirements. The home’s medication procedures are organised and effectively implemented to ensure young people benefit from safe practice and health needs are addressed. Staff are trained in first aid.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people like the food and they say healthy eating is promoted and discussed with them. Menus are varied, multicultural and include choice. Young people are able to take responsibility for shopping and cooking their own meals and are encouraged to develop an understanding of healthy eating and independence life skills.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The procedures and practices for promoting the welfare and safety of young people are well managed. Young people say they are safe at the home, are protected from bullying and identify significant improvements in their behaviour.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is thorough and robust staff recruitment and selection process and all staff are trained in safeguarding children procedures. Young people’s welfare is promoted by staff who understand the clear risk assessment and management strategies documented for each young person and the general running of the house. Risks regarding young people going missing from care are effectively managed by promoting and implementing clear inter-agency protocols. Staff know who to notify about serious incidents in the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are protected from bullying and they feel confident that staff will challenge and stop any type of bullying. Risks relating to bullying are documented in risk assessments, discussed in key working sessions and young people’s meetings. The manager and staff show a good level of commitment to listening to and ensuring young people's concerns are taken seriously. However, written information about how to complain, both in the home’s statement of purpose and the young people’s guide lacks detail, does not include contact details for Ofsted and does not reflect the positive practices in the home. Young people are able to express their concerns and what they are pleased about via the niggles and compliments process. Records for this process are generally good, but there are some gaps in recording some of the good action taken by the manager and staff. The privacy of young people is respected and

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

young people enjoy their own private space.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is a written behaviour management policy and staff are trained in behaviour management and physical intervention. Staff promote clear boundaries and expectations and are very enthusiastic about maintaining positive and interactive relationships with young people. Young people are very proud of the improvements in their behaviour and these achievements are consistently reinforced and celebrated by the staff. Records are generally well maintained, but the central record for sanctions does not provide enough detail about the staff and young people present, the effectiveness of the measure, young people’s comments or clarity that the sanctions are checked and counter signed by a senior member of staff.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The physical environment is well maintained and monitored in terms of health and safety, with comprehensive and detailed documentation. Fire safety procedures are checked, monitored and young people know what to do if there is a fire. 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC042950

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Young people’s needs are individually assessed and appropriate individual support afforded to each young person. Staff are sensitive and able to respond to a complexity and diversity of need. They provide individual support to young people in one-to-one key working sessions and are also good at liaising with and engaging young people with appropriate agencies in terms of more specialised needs.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people are supported to develop their education and fulfil their potential. All young people have education plans, with the majority of young people attending full-time mainstream schools. Some young people receive additional support from after school tutors at the home. Young people are very positive and proud of the improvements they have achieved both in school attendance and their efforts. Young people are given opportunities to develop confidence in their personal identities, social relationships and goals for their future.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Young people are supported and cared for by staff who have a good knowledge of their needs. Staff provide consistent care on a day-to-day basis resulting in improvement in the welfare, behaviour and safeguarding of all young people living at the home. Young people have a placement care plan provided by their social worker but there is no placement care plan provided by the home to set out the actual day-to- day support and care provided by staff. This does not affect outcomes in this instance as staff are clear about how to meet young people's needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people understand why they are living at the home and they know about their plans for the future. They say they regularly meet with and get on well with their key worker and have opportunities to discuss their needs, views, wishes and attend meetings. However there is no documented indication that young people have read, understood and agreed with their written plans. Young people are supported to develop and maintain contact with family and friends and they say support from staff has helped build positive relationships with their families. Key workers are proactive in working alongside social workers and family members to promote positive outcomes for young people. Young people are involved in the running of the home. They have regular meetings to discuss and give their ideas about how the house is run.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There are clear and supportive admission procedures and young people say they have settled in well because the staff were helpful and very supportive when they moved into the home. Similarly young people are well-prepared to leave the home in a positive and supportive manner. Staff continue to support young people in their new placements and many young people return to visit the home after they have left.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. Plans and opportunities for young people to develop skills and confidence to live more independently and leave care are good. Young people are encouraged to engage with education, employment opportunities and a variety of activities, enabling them to develop emotional confidence and practical skills that will contribute to their transition to adulthood and future economic well-being. 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC042950 Young people live in a well-maintained and comfortable home. The lounge, dining room and kitchen are spacious and maintained to a high standard, providing a homely environment for young people. Young people’s bedrooms are well furnished, personalised and are adjacent or near to bathrooms and staff sleep-in rooms. There is a large rear garden with perimeter fencing and there are sound security arrangements.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Young people are looked after in a home that is well managed and promotes young people's needs, safety and welfare. Young people and others can read about what it is like to be looked after in a local authority children’s home in the Statement of Purpose document and a generic young people's guide. Both these documents provide general information about the organisation and are not specific to the actual facilities and running of the individual home. Each child has a permanent and private file, which is comprehensive, well organised and shows a clear a record of each young person’s progress.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Discussion with staff show that discriminatory behaviour and bullying are challenged and addressed. The staff team present an openness, sensitivity and firm commitment to assessing and understanding the individual needs of all young people. The staff team provide a clear commitment and environment of care to meet the needs of all young people currently living at the home and future young people who may come from a diversity of backgrounds.

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Organisation

Young people are looked after by competent, confident and well trained staff. They have a good understanding of the needs of the young people and knowledge of the policies, procedures and recording systems in the home. The staff team has good levels of experience, staff have completed extensive and varied training and staff supervision is regularly provided. Staffing arrangements are good and sufficient in number to provide good quality care so the young people can progress and achieve in their placements. Handover meetings are held daily and staff meetings are regular.

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Organisation

The running of the home and quality of care to young people is monitored through independent regulation 33 visits and monthly checks by the assistant manager.

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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

27 August 2010 ensure the written complaints procedure includes the name, address and telephone number of Ofsted (Regulation 23.4 (a)) 27 August 2010 ensure the sanctions book provides the details as required in Regulation 17.4 (e) 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC042950 27 August 2010 compile in relation to the children’s home a written Statement of Purpose which shall consist of the matters listed in Schedule 1 and produce a children’s guide about the children’s home which shall include a summary of the home’s Statement of Purpose, a summary of the complaints procedure and the address and telephone number of Ofsted (Regulation 4.1; 4.3).

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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 a written record of the action taken in response to concerns recorded in the “niggles” book is made (NMS 16). • ensure the placement plan for each young person sets out clearly the assessed needs, the objectives of the placement, how these are to be met by the registered person on a day to day basis and the contribution made by staff at the home (NMS 2.1) • provide a written procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children accommodated in the home and include the details as set out in paragraph (2) of Regulation 24 (NMS 16.3) 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC042950

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