Children's Home run by Wakefield Council in Wakefield

SC062573 Unique reference number 20 July 2010 Inspection date Russell Shackford Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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28 October 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 6 Inspection Report: SC062573

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Brief description of the service

This children's home provides care and accommodation on a planned, long-term basis for seven children of either sex, from 12 years old up to 17 years old. The home is purpose-built in its own grounds. It is suitably located for access to all local amenities and it is convenient for public transport. The home has a lounge, games room, and kitchen and dining room on the ground floor. The main offices are also located on the ground floor. All seven bedrooms are en-suite.

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Summary

This was an unannounced interim inspection to check on key standards and related regulations under the Every Child Matters outcome group of staying safe. It also looked at the progress made on recommendations previously set.

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Summary

This is a good service. Children's privacy is well respected in all aspects and complaints are well handled. Very good safeguarding policies and practice around child protection, bullying, missing from care and 'e' safety promote and protect children's welfare. This is a notable area of strength. There is a good, constructive approach to behaviour management. Staff demonstrate a good awareness of the risks to the children during their known and likely activities. Good quality written risk assessments are particularly well acted upon and provide clear detail of the action required to minimise the identified risks and comprehensively promote children’s safety. Good policies and procedures help to protect children's physical safety in the event of a fire at the home. Staff recruitment checks are satisfactory. All staff are trained in appropriate safety subjects including fire safety, complaints, child protection and physical restraint.

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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

The registered person was asked to ensure that all children have a key for their own bedroom. Children confirm that if they wish to have a key they can do. Most prefer their key to be in the safekeeping of the staff from whom they can retrieve it as they wish.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children confirm that privacy is well respected in all aspects. Staff show good appreciation of the importance of children's privacy and describe a number of ways in which children's privacy is respected. They always knock on doors before entering. Children can have a key for their bedroom to help them feel that they control that private space. Details about children's care is recorded and stored appropriately to maintain good levels of confidentiality. Children have access to a private telephone which is free to use for reasonable periods.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children confirm that complaints are well handled. The children know how to make a complaint because the staff have explained what to do and there is information in the children’s guide about how to complain. Children receive regular visits from the children's rights officer, 4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC062573 complaints officer and an advocacy service. Details of external agencies and contact numbers are displayed clearly in the home. The complaints records contain the required details. All staff have received training on complaints to ensure that they know what to do if a person complains about the service. There are very few complaints about the service.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The welfare of children is exceptionally well promoted, they are protected from abuse and bullying and an appropriate response is made to any allegation or suspicion of abuse. The provider has a good safeguarding procedure for staff to follow in the event of any allegation or suspicion of abuse. The manager and staff have received child protection training. Staff demonstrate good knowledge and understanding of the safeguarding procedures to promote and protect the children's safety. The staff take a robust, proactive approach to keeping the children safe, working well with other agencies concerned with the protection of children. Staff describe a range of strategies used during some of the very good work done with children about staying safe in the home and in the community. This is a notable area of strength. Children confirm that staff discuss staying safe matters with them. Anti bullying training is provided to

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

all staff and the staff collaborate with other agencies to support children. There is good written guidance for staff to follow in the event of a child being missing. This is supported by recorded risk assessments for staff to follow.

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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.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are assisted to develop socially acceptable behaviour through the encouragement of good behaviour and through constructive staff responses to any inappropriate behaviour. The sanctions policy is effective, promoting the use of praise, encouragement and de-escalation of behaviours. Staff confirm that their training helps them to manage the behaviour of the children. They are also supported through the use of individual crisis management plans which describe individualised approaches to behaviour management. Sanctions are relevant and reflect the age and understanding of the children. 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.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are knowledgeable about the risks to individual children. There is good evidence of the strategies identified to minimise risks being implemented and recorded. Good risk assessments are recorded to enable staff to know what action to take to minimise the risk to each child during their known and likely activities. Written risk assessments relating to children being absent without authority have also been completed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's physical safety from fire in the home is protected. All staff working at the home have received up-to-date fire safety training to assist them in minimising the risks to children in the event of a fire at the home. The fire safety check records are well ordered and information is easy to retrieve. The records are up to date and accurate. All staff and children have been involved in a fire drill to ensure that they are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire in the home. Children confirm that they have been involved in fire safety evacuation practices.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All staff have been appropriately recruited and they have undergone suitable Criminal Records Bureau checks to ensure that they are suitable to work with children. 5 of 6 Inspection Report: SC062573

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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

There are no recommendations. 6 of 6 Inspection Report: SC062573

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