Children's Home run by Dove Adolescent Services Limited in Barnsley

SC064454 Unique reference number 7 July 2010 Inspection date Russell Shackford Inspector Key Type of 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 10 Inspection Report: SC064454

p.3

Brief description of the service

The home is a brick-built detached two-storey building. There is a rear garden, and at the front of the home there is a further garden area and a hard car parking area. The home is on the edge of the town centre. It is on the bus route servicing the town centre and outlying areas. In the local community there are shops, schools, health, leisure and employment facilities.

p.4

Brief description of the service

The home provides placements to young people aged eight to 17 years, who have a history that encompasses placement breakdowns and emotional and or behavioural problems.

p.4

Summary

This was an unannounced full inspection to check on all key standards and related regulations under the Every Child Matters outcome groups for young people. This is an outstanding service. Young people are encouraged to eat healthily and their good health is extremely well promoted. This is an area of outstanding strength. Complaints are well handled. There are very good child protection procedures and practices, which helps to safeguard the welfare of the young people. Behaviour management policies and practice are very good. Risk assessments are consistently well recorded and reviewed. Fire safety procedures and practice is good. Education and leisure needs are extremely well met and the home works closely with other services to meet the range of young people's individual needs. Approaches to care and support are individualised. This is an area of outstanding strength. Placement planning is excellent and placement plans are

p.4

Summary

extremely well delivered recorded and reviewed. The delivery of care and support is a notable area of outstanding strength. Staff are sufficient in number and they are very well trained, experienced and competent. The Registered Manager exercises highly effective leadership of the home’s staff and operation, such that the home is organised, managed and staffed in a manner that strives to deliver the best possible outcomes for children and young people. There is excellent monitoring of the standard of safety and care provided in the home. The promotion of equality and diversity is outstanding. The overall quality rating is outstanding. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

There were no actions or recommendations raised at the previous inspection.

p.4

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Young people are given choices about their food and the food served is both healthy and nutritious. Staff encourage young people to eat healthy foods and snacks. Staff are supported with training around food health, nutrition and hygiene. The staff have a good understanding of food issues that arise out of diversity. This is particularly well managed. The staff are aware of individual young people's likes and dislikes to ensure that they enjoy the food served. Young people's health is enhanced by the use of fresh vegetables grown in the garden. The menu planning takes account of individual young people's religious and cultural preferences. Themed cooking is used to introduce young people to new tastes and provide information about other cultures. Individualised learning opportunities reflecting care plan targets around health are planned and supervised on a regular basis. This includes shopping for, preparing and cooking

p.4

Helping children to be healthy

4 of 10 Inspection Report: SC064454 meals. These are supported by education staff offering diet and nutrition advice. Records of young people's food consumption are kept to inform staff and other professionals about individual diets. There is a range of food health information available to support staff in meeting young people's needs. Health and safety audits are done regularly to help ensure that there is best practice in the kitchen. The excellent practice that contributes to young people enjoying healthy, nutritious meals that meets their dietary, cultural and religious needs is a notable area of outstanding strength.

p.4

Helping children to be healthy

Health promotion is an utmost priority at the home. The young people’s health is closely monitored and record keeping is very good. Health care plans are used. There is good training and detailed written guidance for staff on a wide range of young people’s health and medical matters. This makes sure that they understand about young people’s health and what their responsibilities are. The manager keeps up to date with best practice and cascades information to the staff through the use of training materials and resources. Healthcare records are up to date and accurate, enabling staff to inform health professionals and parents of their children’s health progress. The home has links with a wide variety of specialist health services and there is much evidence of these being used to meet individual young people’s needs. Young people benefit greatly from the wide range of healthy activities offered. Staff plan and facilitate a

p.5

Helping children to be healthy

number of activities that encourages individual interests and involvement in healthy activities. This helps to enhance many aspects of young people's health. Examples highlighted include walking swimming, gym and multi activity fitness sessions. The young people are registered on accreditation schemes, which include healthy activities and learning opportunities. This is an area of outstanding strength.

p.5

Helping children to be healthy

Strong measures are in place to safeguard young people's welfare. Staff are trained in medication matters to enable them to safely store, administer and record the medication that they are responsible for. Medication is securely stored and records are up to date and accurate. Medication audits are undertaken regularly. All staff have received training to enable them to provide first aid if necessary. Therefore, young people's health needs are met and their welfare is very well safeguarded by the home’s policies and procedures for administering medicines and providing treatment.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Each young person has their own bedroom and a key to lock the door if they wish to. Washing and toilet facilities have good locks to maintain privacy in a safe manner. Young people have access to a private telephone which is free to use for reasonable periods. This ensures that young people’s privacy is respected and the payment method is convenient. Staff demonstrate a very good understanding of facilitating privacy for the young people. This is done very sensitively and safely. Details about young people's care is recorded and stored appropriately to maintain good levels of confidentiality.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Strong measures are in place to receive and act upon any complaints. All staff have received training on complaints, to ensure that they know what to do if there is a complaint about the service. The young people know how to make a complaint. Staff have explained the procedure and there is also information in the young people’s guide about how to complain. An accessible complaints symbol book is available to young people who can use it to show staff if they are unhappy about something or somebody. A similarly accessible poster alerts young people to 5 of 10 Inspection Report: SC064454 use the book. Staff are sensitive to young people's behaviour which may indicate that they are unhappy. The young people also have the support of an independent advocate who visits. The complaints records contain the required details. Therefore, complaints are well handled.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The young people's welfare is significantly enhanced by the organisations meticulous approach to child protection. The manager and staff have received child protection training and the provider has a good safeguarding procedure for staff to follow, in the event of any allegation or suspicion of abuse. Staff demonstrate excellent knowledge and understanding of the safeguarding procedures to promote and protect the young people’s safety. There are good links with the Local Safeguarding Children's Board. An independent safeguarding forum has been established and independent safeguard visitors are employed to visit and report on the young people's safety and welfare. All staff have received anti-bullying and awareness training. A young people's council meet regularly to discuss the views of young people. Safeguarding is a standing item on the agenda. Therefore, the welfare of young people is very well promoted.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

They are protected from abuse, bullying and unauthorised absence. A robust response is made to any allegation or suspicion of abuse. This is an area of outstanding strength.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All significant events at the home have been notified to the relevant authorities including Ofsted.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Positive handling plans are used. They contain good, individualised details for staff to follow when managing young people's behaviour. Sanctions are relevant and reflect the age and understanding of the young people. They are reviewed regularly for effectiveness. Physical restraint is rarely used to manage behaviour. Staff are trained in the provider’s policy and authorised techniques. The training is designed and delivered in a manner that ensures that as much as possible, incidents are managed without the use of physical intervention.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Reducing unnecessary risks to young people is a high priority at the home. Consistently high quality written risk assessments are recorded to enable staff to know what action to take to minimise the risk to each young person during their known and likely activities. These are reviewed regularly. The manager takes a very proactive approach to managing risks, ensuring that staff practice and the home environment are as safe as possible. Staff talk in a determined manner about their commitment to ensuring that the young people's welfare is safeguarded. They use local knowledge and contacts to support their efforts. Other agencies are used to support and complement the work of the staff. There is very good evidence that this collaborative approach to minimising risks results in very good outcomes for young people. This is an area of outstanding strength.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All staff, regular visitors and young people have been involved in regular fire drills. All staff working at the home have received up to date fire safety training, to enable them to minimise the risks to young people in the event of a fire at the home. The fire safety check records are up to date and accurate. Therefore, young people's physical safety from fire in the home is well protected.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All staff have been appropriately recruited and undergone suitable Criminal Records Bureau checks. The manager has undertaken safer recruitment training to help ensure that staff are suitable to work with young people. 6 of 10 Inspection Report: SC064454

p.6

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. The young people receive superb personalised care and support appropriate to their needs. The records contain details of individual support services involved in the health, care and education of young people. The home has links with a wide range of helping agencies and the provider commissions services to fit the young people’s needs. The staff appreciate that the individual young people have a range of needs arising from diversity. All staff have received training around equality and diversity. Individualised approaches to communication, providing information target setting are well planned and recorded. Themed events are used to promote diversity and introduce young people to different forms of religion and cultural differences. This is an area of outstanding strength.

p.7

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Education is a very high priority and it is vigorously promoted. Staff make a lot of effort to encourage young people's good attendance at their various education providers. Young people are well prepared for the education day. The home is registered as an independent school with the Department for Education. Therefore, if any young person is unable to attend school, very good alternative arrangements are in place that allows a child or young person to continue to be educated at the home. This can include home tuition and or work experience, and Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network (ASDAN). Some staff have gained ASDAN teaching qualifications to assist young people's learning. A senior manager takes particular responsibility for overseeing home education. Individualised education plans detail young people's targets and progress is very well evidenced. Young people learn about diversity through

p.7

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

personal health and social education subjects. There is space, resources and facilities at the home, to enable the completion of homework or other learning opportunities. A computer is available for the young people to use for educational purposes. Therefore, the education of young people is actively promoted as valuable in itself and as part of their preparation for adulthood. The very high quality practice around the current young people's education is an area of outstanding strength.

p.7

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Each young person has a rich, varied and imaginative activity plan, which is devised from their own indicated preferences. Young people are encouraged and supported to try new activities. This helps to enhance many aspects of young people's lives. Examples highlighted include helping at horse stables, gym, swimming, cinema, arts and crafts. There is also a good range of books, DVDs and games available for learning and entertainment.

p.7

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Within the activity plan, all young people have the opportunity to gain accreditation in a range of programmes and qualifications to develop key skills and life skills. Each young person gets accreditation for achieving set targets at different levels, which are incremental. Following external assessment, young people have been presented with progressive achievement awards.

p.7

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people's involvement is supported by staff who explore their individual choices, likes and dislikes. The staff have established very good links and relationships with community based activity providers. Therefore, young people are able to pursue their particular interests, develop confidence in their skills and are supported and encouraged by staff to engage in leisure activities in and out of the home. This is an area of outstanding strength.

p.7

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. 7 of 10 Inspection Report: SC064454 The home's referral system enables the manager to fully assess the needs of the young people concerned and to take into account the likely effects of their admission upon the existing group of residents. Admissions to the home are planned and the child or young person and their family where appropriate are involved in the planning. Young people may visit the home before they move in. There is a young people's guide to the service provided at the home. It is produced in a variety of formats and languages. Therefore, young people are able to move into the home in a planned and sensitive manner.

p.7

Helping children make a positive contribution

Consistently high quality placement plans are used. These are supported by the use of positive handling behaviour management plans, individualised daily routines and activity plans. Young people are at the heart of the care planning and they confirm that they have been fully consulted about their plans. The plans are very comprehensively written, incorporating clear instructions for staff to follow and good quality risk management strategies. The daily records reflect very well the content of the care plan and the action taken by the staff to meet the identified needs of the young person. Focused one-to-one work is also undertaken to enable young people to seek guidance, advice and support on any matter. The staff recordings are colour coded to make analysis and monitoring easier. The care planning and recording system is a notable area of outstanding strength. Key workers monitor the care plans and produce monthly summaries

p.8

Helping children make a positive contribution

of progress. Further internal reviewing takes place in light of changing behaviours and the information recorded. Therefore, young people have their needs assessed effectively and comprehensively. Written placement plans outline how these needs will be met and are very well implemented.

p.8

Helping children make a positive contribution

There is a system for reviewing the placement plans of the children and young people at the home. This system includes participation in the statutory reviews, person centred planning meetings, care management meetings, best interest meetings and multi-disciplinary meetings. Statutory case reviews take place within the required timescales. This ensures that the young people's needs and development are reviewed regularly in the light of their care and progress at the home. The planning and reviewing procedures are an area of outstanding strength.

p.8

Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people’s contact is promoted and facilitated. Staff confirm that young people can keep in touch with people that are important to them and that they can have family come to visit them. A family meeting room and facilities are available.

p.8

Helping children make a positive contribution

Very good means are provided frequently, for any child with communication difficulties to make their wishes and feelings known regarding their care and treatment in the home. Staff describe ways in which young people are encouraged to make decisions about their lives and influence the way that the home is run. This includes key worker sessions, visits from young people's rights and advocacy services and daily discussion. Nobody is assumed to be unable to communicate their views. Young people confirm that they feel that their views are important and they are listened to. Therefore, young people’s views are sought and acted upon.

p.8

Helping children make a positive contribution

The manager makes every effort to achieve continuity of staffing, such that young people's attachments are not overly disrupted. The young people have good relationships with the staff. They were observed enjoying friendly, respectful banter, as well as praise and encouragement from the staff.

p.8

Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is outstanding. 8 of 10 Inspection Report: SC064454 Young people are taught day-to-day life skills, according to their level of maturity and understanding. The young people can learn skills informally through taking part in the tasks of running the home, such as shopping, cooking, vegetable gardening and cleaning. They are also given guidance and support with social skills, laundry, clothing care and handling money. For others, this is done more formally using an independence programme of work linked to pathway plan objectives. The manager is dogged in her determination to ensure that transition work is done jointly with the placing authority in a timely fashion so as to help ensure that transition planning is effective. Transition planning is recorded and implemented. Therefore, young people receive care which helps to prepare them for adulthood. This is an area of outstanding strength.

p.8

Achieving economic wellbeing

The interior and exterior of the home is maintained in a good state of structural and decorative repair. The home is kept clean and there are homely touches throughout. There is a maintenance and repair programme for the building, furniture and equipment. The garden is well maintained and safe. Therefore the young people live in a home that is clean, suitably furnished and kept in good repair and decoration.

p.9

Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. An up to date Statement of Purpose is available to inform professionals and members of the public about how care is provided at the home. There is a very good children’s guide. It is available in a variety of formats and languages. Before admission, the staff provide as much information as they can about the home to young people, so that they know what to expect if they come to live there.

p.9

Organisation

There is a consistent staff team, which has been added to recently to fill vacancies and to broaden the range of skills and experience among its members. There are sufficient staff members at the home and systems are set up, to ensure that any shortages or crises can be managed. New members of staff receive very good quality induction training before commencing work with the young people. Staff refer to written guidance frequently during discussion and give examples of how it is implemented in practice. A particular strength of the team is their willingness and ability to network with other agencies in an effort to improve and develop their own delivery of care. Staff support and supervision is of consistently high quality.

p.9

Organisation

All staff are trained in a wide variety of safety and childcare subjects. The induction programme includes best practice principles and safeguarding systems. An ongoing programme of refresher training is provided in a range of subjects, to enhance the staff's competency to meet the needs of the young people. There are good measures in place to ensure that part time workers are included in training. Young people receive care from confident, self assured staff that are competent, experienced and qualified to meet their needs. The service continues to provide good opportunities and support to enable the vast majority of staff to achieve at least a National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People. Higher education is available to all staff.

p.9

Organisation

The provider undertakes monthly, unannounced monitoring visits to the home. This is to ensure that the care of children can be adapted in the light of information about how the home is operating. Action points are identified to be followed up by the manager. The highly motivated manager has established and maintained a system for monitoring and improving the quality of care provided in the home. Senior managers conduct unannounced inspections of the delivery 9 of 10 Inspection Report: SC064454 of care. Ongoing discussions in team meetings about improving service delivery are well documented. Health and safety audits ensure that practices in the house kitchen are to a high standard. Therefore, there is highly effective monitoring of the quality of care, welfare and safety of the young people in the home. This outstanding approach greatly enhances many aspects of young people's care and support.

p.9

Organisation

The Registered Manager is confident and self assured. She exercises effective leadership of the home’s staff and operation. The home is organised, managed and staffed in a manner that strives to deliver the best possible outcomes for young people.

p.10

Organisation

Young people's individual case files are confidentially stored and are arranged in a manner that makes them useable by staff and yet accessible to young people. The young people know that they can have access to their records. The young people’s individual case records reflect their development and progress.

p.10

Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is outstanding. Examples of outstanding approaches to promoting equality and diversity are detailed in all outcome areas.

p.10

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.10

Recommendations

There are no recommendations. 10 of 10 Inspection Report: SC064454

p.10