Children's Home run by Kingston upon Hull City Council in Kingston upon Hull

SC034746 Unique reference number 22 July 2010 Inspection date Lynne Busby Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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25 February 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: SC034746

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Brief description of the service

The home is owned and run by a local authority. It was originally a large family home, which has been converted into a children's home. The home is registered to look after a maximum of five children, of either sex, between the ages of 12 and 17 years old. There are four young people accommodated and the inspector spoke to three young people.

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Brief description of the service

The home is a large three-storey building with an enclosed rear garden. Downstairs there is a communal lounge, a games room/second lounge, a computer room, telephone room, dining room, kitchen, laundry and office. Upstairs there are six single bedrooms, two bathrooms and two staff sleep-in rooms. There is a small self-contained flat on the first floor, used for meetings and training.

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Brief description of the service

There are health services and local shops nearby, with easy access to bus services. There is a parking area to the front and side and additional on-street parking.

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Summary

This was an unannounced inspection that assessed the key standards under the Every Child Matters outcome areas, plus the additional area of Organisation. An assessment of the compliance with the action and recommendation made at the last inspection was also undertaken. The overall judgement is satisfactory with good outcomes in being healthy, staying safe and enjoying and achieving. Staff are dedicated and committed to provide good outcomes for young people, as their work includes many challenges with young people who have complex needs. There are a number of recommendations identified for development, which some relate to recording systems in particular gaining young people's views and opinions on the home and on sanctions and physical interventions undertaken. The overall quality rating is satisfactory. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the registered provider was asked to develop a placement plan that set out the assessed needs of the young person. This has now been completed and identifies the young person's needs on a day to day basis. This is regularly updated by the young people's key worker.

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Improvements since the last inspection

There are risk assessments available for staff which identifies the risks in the building, grounds and different aspects of the behaviours of young people. This ensures staff are aware of any hazards in the home and strategies to reduce risks to young people, staff and visitors.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people's health needs are assessed clearly and documented in the looked after children health plans and within the placement plan. Support and guidance is made available to young people on substance misuse, alcohol and sexual health. Staff work hard to encourage young people to engage with health and support services, unfortunately some of the young people refuse to be involved. Staff have used different methods to distract young people from being 4 of 9 Inspection Report: SC034746 involved in activities which are dangerous to their health. This is good practice and demonstrates staffs commitment to providing good health outcomes for young people.

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Helping children to be healthy

Records are kept demonstrating that young people are supported at a range of medical appointments such as dental, optical and doctors. Young people said staff encourage them to attend the doctors but they do not always want to go.

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Helping children to be healthy

The meals are well prepared and offer choice to all young people and special dietary needs are catered for and this includes religious and cultural requirements. Fresh fruit and vegetables are available daily and staff encourage young people to make healthy choices. Young people are given opportunities to take part in physical activities to help them keep fit and healthy. The staff take young people to the nearby park where football and basketball can be played.

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Helping children to be healthy

Medications are safely administered. Clear records are kept on all medication brought into the home. The storage is within a locked office but the cabinet was not locked. This does not fully provide a safe system of storage. All staff are trained in first aid and know how to deal with minor injuries and illnesses. All accidents are appropriately recorded.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The young people's welfare is promoted by staff who are aware of their responsibilities to provide a safe and secure environment to protect them from harm. The young people's privacy is respected and staff demonstrated an understanding of confidentiality. Young people said they can lock their bedroom doors and staff knock before they go in. There is telephone which is for the sole use of the young people and offers privacy. There have been no recent room searches undertaken but policies are in place if the need arises.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The arrangements for complaints, child protection, missing without authority and health and safety are safely managed with clear policies and procedures in place. The young people are clear about how to make a complaint and have opportunities to discuss any concerns. The young people said they feel listened to by the staff.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The staff have a clear understanding on how to safeguard young people. The young people said staff talk to them about risk taking behaviour to alert them to dangers they may put themselves and others in. The Local Children's Safeguarding Board procedures are accessible to staff and all staff have had recent child protection training including ancillary staff. Staff are aware of the whistleblowing policy, which provides guidance for reporting concerns.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The young people said they 'feel safe in the home' and there are no issues with bullying although, 'we do argue sometimes'. The staff recognise that there are times when bullying occurs but deal with any issues that may arise. There are appropriate procedures which are followed in practice when young people go missing. There are new protocols in place with the police. When a young person returns from going missing the police ensure they are safe and well. This allows young people an opportunity to discuss the reasons they went missing.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The staff have training in care and control which includes methods of restraint, however, this is rarely used which is good practice. However, the recording of the duration of physical interventions has on some occasions been lengthy. This is because there is no clear differentiation between the incident time and how long the young person was held. This lack 5 of 9 Inspection Report: SC034746 of clarity does not provide an accountable recording system. Young people said they thought sanctions are reasonably fair. However, both records on sanctions and physical interventions do not include young people's views. The system is being reviewed but is not yet in place. Therefore, there is no opportunity for young people to give their opinions.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home provides a safe environment for young people to live in. All maintenance is up to date and fire drills are regularly held and staff and young people are knowledgeable about evacuation of the building. There are risk assessments in place for activities undertaken by the young people, fire and the building and grounds.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All staff have been appropriately recruited and undergone suitable Criminal Records Bureau checks to ensure they are suitable to work with young people. All visitors are appropriately checked when entering the building.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Young people are provided with good support that promotes their development and meets their needs depending on their background, age, race and culture. The young people have a key worker who supports them in meetings, education and gives them opportunities to have their say about some aspects of their development. However, there are no formalised key working sessions which can focus on specific needs which relate to that young person. There are informal discussions which take place with groups of young people but these are not recorded and so do not evidence the depth of work carried out. Young people said they get on well with their key workers but can talk to any staff if they have any concerns.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The manager and staff promote education to motivate young people to achieve successfully. Young people have a range of educational packages and some attend mainstream schools. The staff attend school meetings and support young people to attend interviews for college placements. Young people have a personal education plan or an individual education plan which identifies how their educational needs are going to be met and how staff can best support them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Some admissions to the home are planned and the young people can come and look round, stay to tea and have an overnight stay before moving into the home. There is a planning meeting which involves the manager to discuss the placement and whether its is best to admit the young person. Documents indicate that this takes into account the young persons needs but does not take into account the impact on the existing group of young people and how this may effect them. Young people who are leaving the home mainly do so in a planned way. Where this is not possible staff ensure it is completed as sensitively as possible.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There are placement plans which detail young people's needs and the support they require from staff. This helps ensure positive outcomes for young people. Staff monitor the plans and can review them if needed in line with young people's needs progress and development. Young people are consulted about their future and participate in statutory case reviews and more regularly core group meetings. This process ensures that young people's needs, development and placement plans are reviewed regularly, in the light of their progress within the home. 6 of 9 Inspection Report: SC034746 The staff are aware of the contact arrangements and of any restrictions which may be in place. Young people can keep in touch with people that are important to them. Staff have regular communication to update family members.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are involved in the decisions made about their lives such as in reviews but there is little opportunity for young people to discuss issues on day to day living as residents meetings rarely happen. Therefore, this does not give young people time to give their views and or influence the way the home is run. This is because young people will not engage in meetings. Young people said they are rarely all in at the same time, however, some made suggestions of how this could be rectified. The social workers and parents views are sought through the new monitoring system which can be used to assist in the future development of the home.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is satisfactory. The home's staff positively encourage young people to practise their independent living skills through cooking and keeping their rooms tidy. However, young people said they have to bring laundry down but do not do this themselves and rarely cook or shop. Therefore, this does not help develop life skills for the transition to adulthood. Eligible young people have a pathway plan but because of the difficulties in securing a young people's support worker the staff have had some training and have started the process themselves. However, there are some difficulties in getting young people to cooperate and engage with the process. The home has a small flat that young people can use after they are 16 and staff offer support to develop skills for moving on.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home is a large house which has been converted to a children's home. It is integrated into the local community, with no distinguishing signs. Single bedrooms are provided for young people, which are well personalised which demonstrates their individuality. Young people have had an opportunity to choose the colours of their rooms where possible. There are plans for some further refurbishment such as replacing carpets and painting externally. There is a large lounge, dinning room, kitchen, laundry and computer room. There is a separate area for games. The outside has a large garden and the front has parking for several cars.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The home has a clear Statement of Purpose and children's guide. The statement of purpose has been recently updated to include the changes to staffing. The young people said that they were given a children's guide as part of a welcome pack when they were accommodated at the home. This gives information on the expectations of the home and helpful contact numbers such as Ofsted.

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Organisation

Staff receive a thorough induction into the home, which promotes safe practice. Staff are offered a range of training to give them the skills and knowledge to meet young people's needs. However, the training file does not reflect what staff said they have completed. The manager has commissioned some work on this to ensure it is up to date. Staff have completed National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 3 in Caring for Young People. Staff are supported through supervisions, annual appraisals and staff meetings. However, the monthly meetings did not include discussions both on the home's work in caring for young people and management of 7 of 9 Inspection Report: SC034746 the current group of young people. This does not give an opportunity to review the home's practices.

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Organisation

The home is adequately staffed in line with the statement of purpose. The staff group offers a gender and age balance on the staff team and young people benefit from being looked after by competent staff, who have a broad range of skills and experience. Staff on duty are supported by senior staff and an out of hours team are on call to offer support and give guidance.

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Organisation

There is a quality assurance system in place to promote the raising of standards. This includes monthly monitoring visits, an internal monitoring system completed by the manager and a written development plan. The monthly monitoring system has recently been reviewed and now includes other stakeholder's views. There have been some problems in ensuring that it takes place monthly but this is in the early stages and the manager is rectifying this.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is satisfactory. The staff have completed training in equality and diversity. Staff treat young people as individuals and try to meet their complex individual needs. However, records do not demonstrate the work carried out which fully reflects their individual needs. The Statement of Purpose and children's guide is only available in one format but the manager is reviewing how this can meet young people's individual needs.

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Organisation

The young people's files contain relevant information about their progress, files are partly on a computer system and some are held in hard copy. These are kept in a locked office to promote confidentiality.

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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 prescribed and household medication, is kept securely (NMS 13.10) • ensure when disciplinary measures or restraint are used, children are encouraged to write or have their views recorded and sign their names against them if possible in the records of the home (NMS 22.14) • review the record on restraint to ensure there is clear differentiation between the duration of the incident and the restraint (NMS 22.9) • ensure the opinions and views of children on all matters affecting them, including day to day matters, are ascertained on a regular and frequent basis such as children's meetings (NMS 8.4) • ensure both the needs of the child concerned, and the likely effects of their admission upon the existing group of residents, are taken into account, and recorded (NMS 5.7)

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Recommendations

8 of 9 Inspection Report: SC034746 • ensure young people receive care which helps prepare them for and support them into adulthood (NMS 6) • ensure team meetings include discussion of both the home's work in caring for children and management of the current child group, together with review of the home's practices. (NMS 28.10) 9 of 9 Inspection Report: SC034746

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