Children's Home run by Care Haven (UK) Limited in Stockport

SC065374 Unique reference number 10 August 2010 Inspection date Sue Winson Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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7 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 8 Inspection Report: SC065374

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Brief description of the service

This children's home is a detached house on a housing estate near to the centre of a large town. It is close to all local public amenities including shops, leisure facilities and schools. The home cares for up to five young people. Each young person has their own bedroom and two members of staff sleep on the premises each night.

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Summary

This unannounced key inspection considered all key standards in every outcome area. Two young people were present. This is a good home where the safety and welfare of young people is well promoted. The managers and staff are child-focused and are committed to helping young people to achieve positive outcomes through individualised care and support. Education and healthy living are encouraged. Working in partnership with parents and other agencies and professionals is evident and benefits young people. Effective placement planning details individual work with young people. This is also done in line with their risk assessments. Diversity and equality are well promoted in all aspects of the service. There are sufficient staff that are skilled, experienced and well managed. There is a robust quality assurance system which informs the improvement agenda. There are some training needs that remain to be undertaken.

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Summary

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

Four of the five recommendations made at the last inspection have been acted upon in full. Permissions for the use of homely remedies have been obtained. All young people have been involved in fire drills. Staff meetings take place each month and monitoring and auditing systems have been considerably strengthened. Progress has been made but there remains some outstanding staff training needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The health and well-being of young people is promoted. They enjoy a balanced and varied diet and are involved in menu planning, shopping and cooking. They benefit from the advice and support of staff to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Individual diets are monitored and young people are encouraged to widen their diet and try foods which are new to them. Healthy living is promoted and staff encourage young people to take exercise.

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Helping children to be healthy

Health plans outline individual physical and emotional health needs and how they will be met. Information about medical histories and immunisations inform care planning. All are registered with doctors, dentists and opticians and the home ensures they have access to other health professionals where necessary. There is a strong focus on health promotion.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people are safeguarded by the home's procedures for the administration of medication. Written consent for medical treatment and administration of specific non-prescription medication is gained from the relevant people. Not all staff have been trained, however practice in the home ensures that medicines are regularly monitored, fully recorded and administered in line with appropriate procedures. 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC065374

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people are treated with dignity and respect. The young people's guide tells them about the room search policy but there have been no occasions where this has been necessary. Young people have keys to their bedroom and staff knock before entering. Suitable arrangements have been made for young people to make telephone calls or use alternative communication strategies in private. Information is stored securely to ensure confidentiality and staff are careful to ensure that young people cannot overhear conversations in the office.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Policies, procedures and practices in respect of safeguarding, bullying, complaints and absence without authority serve to protect the young people. Complaints have been dealt with appropriately, are fully documented and are monitored by the manager. Young people know of their right to complain and are reminded in young people's meetings. The staff are trained in safeguarding and are focused on helping young people keep themselves safe. They discuss risks and dangers and remind young people about personal safety issues and maintain high levels of supervision where necessary. Guards are in place to provide protection when they are using the internet. Young people are protected from bullying. They are informed of their rights, and what constitutes bullying, in the young people's guide and through individual and group work. Young people who are absent without authority are protected as far as is possible. There

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

have been very few incidents. Staff work closely with the local police, and multi-agency meetings take place when there are concerns about safety or vulnerability.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home failed to notify Ofsted of a safeguarding issue since the last inspection. An investigation visit took place which concluded that this was an oversight and that appropriate actions had been taken to safeguard young people's welfare. Since then the home has implemented procedures to ensure that notifications of significant events are fully recorded and effectively monitored.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The staff practice positive behaviour management to the benefit of the young people, who are encouraged and supported to take responsibility for their own behaviour. Sanctions are of short duration and are fair and reasonable. There have been few incidents requiring physical intervention and these are fully recorded. They demonstrate that restraint is used only where necessary for safety reasons. The home uses a reward system which the young people like and respond to positively. A small number of achievable goals are identified for each young person and they are encouraged, reminded and sometimes assisted to achieve them. Positive relationships between the staff and the young people contribute to the effectiveness of behaviour management strategies used, as does consistency of care. Staff receive training including updates.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Individual risk assessments serve as working documents and provide staff with specific guidance on managing risks, to keep young people safe. They contain clear and specific strategies to reduce or minimise risks and are updated regularly. The home provides safety and security and appropriate checks are carried out within the required timescales. Young people have the opportunity to practice evacuating the building during fire drills. There is a system in place to record all visits made to the home for the safety of the young people. 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC065374 The company has appropriate procedures for the recruitment of staff which safeguards young people. No new staff have been employed since the last inspection. Criminal Records Bureau checks on staff are regularly updated.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Young people receive individual support in line with their assessed needs and requests. The staff team has successfully worked to improve the recording of individual sessions and can demonstrate that work is carried out to meet the aims outlined in placement plans. The work is monitored by the deputy manager to ensure that young people continue to progress. Support is provided for young people who use alternative methods of communication and specialist services are provided. Young people can, and do, approach any member of staff for assistance.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Education is actively promoted and young people are supported and encouraged to attend and achieve at school. There is good communication between schools and the staff, which ensures young people are well supported. Examples were given where staff are working with young people to develop their skills, in conjunction with education staff. Staff attend school meetings and education information is held on young people's files. They are encouraged to engage in community activities in line with their wishes and interests. Trips out are arranged by staff, and young people are given choices.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Young people's needs are assessed effectively and comprehensively. The home can demonstrate that they are appropriately placed and are making progress. Staff are persistent in requesting full and updated written information from placing social workers to inform the plans. These are written in the first person in a child-friendly format. Staff know the young people well and are committed to working in partnership with other agencies, professionals and parents to the benefit of the young people. Reports record progress, and statutory reviews and planning meetings take place. Young people are encouraged to attend and are supported to express their views.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Contact with parents and other significant people is promoted. The staff establish and maintain positive working relationships with parents and support contact in practical ways. Examples were given where working in partnership has benefited the young people. Staff keep parents informed of events and progress and ensure that contact takes place in line with care planning.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are able to move into and leave the home in a planned manner where possible. Staff are sensitive to their needs and have supported them in settling in to a new house and area. Examples were given where young people have successfully moved to independent living and continue to keep in contact with the staff.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The home promotes inclusion of young people in decision making about their future and the running of the home. They are consulted in both group meetings and individual sessions. They are empowered to give their views and opinions as part of everyday life and do so readily.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC065374 Young people receive care which helps prepare them for adulthood. They are encouraged to carry out household chores and tasks, shopping, budgeting and cooking, at levels which reflect their age and abilities. Staff support them to develop life skills and balance their need for independence with safeguarding issues. None of the young people are of an age where formal pathway planning is in place. Young people receive pocket money and exercise choice in the clothes and personal requisites that they buy.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The house is suitable for purpose and provides sufficient space and adequate facilities to meet the needs of the young people resident. It is decorated in a homely style and young people have their own bedrooms which they are encouraged to personalise. There is sufficient dining space and rooms are available for young people to see visitors in private.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Tolerance and respect are promoted and young people are encouraged to value difference. They receive individualised care and are given appropriate choices as part of day-to-day life. Guides and plans are written in forms which are accessible to a wide range of young people. They are supported to keep in touch with their home areas and local papers are available to them. A record of their time in the home is kept which they take with them when they leave.

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Organisation

The home's Statement of Purpose reflects the services provided. The young people's guide has been revised in consultation with the young people and contains all the required information in both written and pictorial formats. There is a facility for translation to other languages should this be needed to make it accessible to young people for whom English is not their first language.

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Organisation

The staff group are committed to achieving positive outcomes for young people and are involved in the improvement agenda. The majority of them have worked in the home for some time and they work as a team to provide consistency of care, to the benefit of the young people. There are sufficient staff and only occasionally are bank staff, known to the young people, used. Staff meetings take place monthly and provide a forum for discussion about young people and practice issues. There is sufficient time for handovers, completion of paperwork, shift planning and reflecting on practice. Staff say they are well supported by the manager and deputy who are available and approachable. They value training as opportunities to improve their practice and skills. However, despite some progress the training programme does not yet meet Appendix 2 of the national minimum standards.

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Organisation

The functioning of the home is continually monitored and action plans are in place to remedy any issues which arise. Visits under Regulation 33 are taking place each month and comprehensive reports are compiled. The manager and deputy carry out regular audits and compile monthly reports. The home has a development plan to guide their improvement agenda.

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Organisation

Individual files are maintained for each of the young people which reflect their progress. They are well ordered and organised. 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC065374

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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 all staff are trained to meet Appendix 2 of the national minimum standards and the needs of young people resident. (NMS 31) 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC065374

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