Children's Home run by Surrey County Council in Surrey

SC040628 Unique reference number 27 July 2010 Inspection date Peter Daniel Inspector Key Type of 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: SC040628

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Brief description of the service

The children's home is a substantial Victorian detached building that was formerly a home for children with disabilities. It has recently been refurbished to a very high standard and has a very large garden which is well laid out. The home accommodates up to seven children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Placements are medium to long-term. The home accepts children and young people of both sexes between 10 and 18 years but 10 to 14 years on admission. Seven children and young people are currently placed.

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Brief description of the service

The premises are decorated in a bright and modern style and furnished to a high standard. There are excellent facilities including an art room, computer room, soft play area and library. The communal rooms are very large and there is a quiet room for children and young people. The home is about two miles from the town centre and is easily accessible by public transport.

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Summary

This was an unannounced full inspection that considered all the national minimum standards. The home has effective leadership and an experienced and qualified management team. The stability of trained and competent staff group offers continuity of care to the young people.

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Summary

The home strives to improve and reflect on its practice. Staff receive regular formal supervision and are also supported in their development through training, clinical supervision and case discussions. The home has forged professional links with a looked after children's nurse, a community paediatrician and the local child and adolescent mental health services. The staff are child-centred and the young people receive individualised care, appropriate to their needs. Relationships between the staff and young people are very positive. There is a good atmosphere within the home. The home has excellent systems for record keeping and monitoring. including safeguarding procedures. Young people gave positive feedback such as, 'they generally look after us, they keep us safe. Some staff are really nice'. All the minimum standards are met exceptionally well. There are no breaches of regulations. The overall quality rating is outstanding.

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Summary

This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The home is now notifying significant incidents under Schedule 5, where it has necessitated calling the police to the home. The lock on the fire door from the girls' bedrooms can now be opened from the outside.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. The home is judged as outstanding in the way it is meeting the health needs of the young people in placement. There are illustrations of excellent practice in relation to this outcome.

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Helping children to be healthy

The home has new procedures in relation to good health and well-being. The procedures correspond and are in line with regulations and the national minimum standards. 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC040628 Each young person has a health plan that keeps a comprehensive record of his or her health progress. Staff support young people who have to attend medical appointments and visits to the general practitioner, dentist, optician and child mental health services.

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Helping children to be healthy

Link workers raise awareness and give advice about personal hygiene and the consequences of smoking, substance abuse and sexual exploitation. The home has integrated its practice with local health professionals and has developed links with the looked after children's nurse and the community paediatrician. A child and mental health psychiatrist regularly visits the home and works with the staff group on a consultative level and also offers individual work to the young people.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people enjoy healthy, balanced meals that meet their dietary needs. The are consulted about their food preferences. Fresh fruit and vegetables are available as part of their diet.

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Helping children to be healthy

The home has a new policy for storage, logging and recording of medication. A majority of the staff are trained in the administration of medication and first aid. Some staff have additionally done training in food hygiene.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. The home has systems in place to promote the safety and welfare of the young people. The procedures and practice for keeping young people safe and managing their behaviour is of a high standard.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The manager and her staff team give priority to supporting staff in developing their competence and skills in managing the young people's behaviour. Staff training and staff development is high on the agenda. The home convenes staff meetings that include clinical supervision. There is also a learning group that meets on a regular basis and helps staff to make sense of the children's behaviour. Staff have recently completed refresher training in safeguarding and have been offered a range of other training options.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff demonstrate that they understand their role and responsibilities in relation to protecting children and the reporting of any concerns to management and referring on to the relevant authorities.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is robust vetting of staff working at the home and the monitoring of visitors. There have been no new appointments since the last inspection. Criminal Record Bureau checks are up to date and there is a system for renewals. The home has appropriate procedures in place for vetting visitors to the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The staff are attuned to the needs of the young people and convey a sense of containment and sensitivity whilst also setting clear boundaries. Staff and young people have positive relationships, based on trust and mutual respect. The stability and consistency of the staff team adds to the security offered to the young people. Young people spoke positively about their relationships with staff.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has excellent procedures for managing and monitoring behaviour. These include procedures for undertaking risk assessments, monitoring bullying, recording and notifying significant incidents, using and monitoring restraint, using sanctions and recording complaints. 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC040628 The staff use restraint only minimally. There are door sensors to check movements at night time.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people know how to access the complaints procedure. Since the last inspection, there have been no complaints. One young person reported 'We know how to complain. We feel listened to.'

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home ensures that residents are safe from hazards within the building. Regular building and fire checks are being done, including a night time fire drill. The lock on the fire door, on the third floor, can now be opened from the outside and is no longer locked. All the girls' bedrooms now have fire doors.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's privacy is respected. They can use their bedroom, a girl's room or the lounge or dining room for times they want to be alone. Bedrooms, toilets and bathrooms can be locked but overridden, if necessary.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Young people receive individual support. The home has a link worker role that supports the young people regarding their personal development.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The education of young people is actively promoted. Most young people are in mainstream education but where this is not possible, they attend alternative education provision. Staff support the young people by attending their personal education planning meetings and parent evenings and helping them with homework. The home plans to set up a new computer soon. The home has the availability of a semi-independent flat where the young people can move to in their transition to adulthood. Currently there are no young people in the home that fit this category.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The staff encourage the young people to take part in leisure and recreational activities such as visits to the cinema, swimming, visits to restaurants and shopping. The link worker will often be present to support the young person in these activities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. The home excels in its care planning. Case records and placement plans show evidence of continued assessment of young people's needs. Each young person has a comprehensive placement plan and staff undertake a risk assessment. The placement plan covers key aspects of the young person's needs and development and the way in which the home sets out to meet them. The needs of the young people are regularly reviewed in light of their progress at the home. Risk assessments are also updated at intervals. The young people are also reviewed under looked after procedures. The link worker from the home attends the young person's review as well as personal education planning meetings.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Contact with family and friends is actively encouraged. Staff offer outreach work to families where appropriate, in an endeavour to facilitate contact or to work towards rehabilitation.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The staff also deal effectively and sensitively when young people are admitted to or leave the home. Before a young person moves in, they have the opportunity to attend for an introductory 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC040628 visit. Where young people return home, the family is offered after care support. For young people making the transition to independent living, the home has the advantage of an independent flat where they can develop independent living skills whilst retaining the support of staff.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff encourage young people to contribute their views and to influence the way the home is run. Their approach is to do this in an informal way. Rather than hold house meetings the staff prefer to involve the young people in informal discussions at the dinner table. Young people also have link worker sessions and attend their looked after review. Their wishes and feelings are logged in their individual logs. Young people reported 'We feel listened to. We go to our reviews. We fill in the consultation form for the looked after review'.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is outstanding. The home ensures there is a comprehensive plan for young people to leave care and move into independent or semi-independent living. The plan is consistent with the young person's placement plan and the Pathway Plan.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Through its semi-independent flat and link worker support, the home is able to make a real impact in preparing young people for independence. Staff also support young people in completing the Pathway Plan and where appropriate may offer outreach work once the young person has moved into the community.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home provides a high standard of accommodation and facilities for the use of the young people. The latter enjoy homely accommodation that is decorated and furnished to a high standard. Bedrooms are suitably furnished. Young people can personalise their rooms. There is a comfortable lounge area, girl's room, boy's room and a spacious garden area. There is a well-equipped kitchen and dining area. The washing, bathroom and shower facilities are appropriate to the needs of the young people.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. The home is effectively managed and organised. There is a written Statement of Purpose which accurately describes what the home sets out to do. The manager is in the process of updating all the home's procedures. There are seven children in placement and 15 staff including the manager. All staff are properly managed.

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Organisation

The management team is well qualified and provides exceptional leadership, knowledge and experience. The manager has a management qualification and the management group have qualifications in therapeutic and psychoanalytic childcare.

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Organisation

The staff group are competent and well trained. Three senior residential workers have National Vocational Qualifications at level 4 and one is currently completing the qualification. The majority of the staff have National Vocational Qualifications at level 3 or are about to complete. The two newest members of staff will commence training in September. They have however completed Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) training. 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC040628 The home strives to improve its practice and understanding of the young people's problems and how to manage them. Staff are encouraged to engage in reflective practice through discussion and training. They undertake a wide range of training to enable them to develop their practice. The staff meeting includes clinical supervision and supports the development of staff. There is also a learning group that helps staff understand children's behaviour. The home

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Organisation

is also linked with child mental health (CAMHS) training. Other training offered has included handling medication, restraint training, first aid, food hygiene, awareness of drug and alcohol, safeguarding, managing violence and aggression, attachment, moving on and domestic violence. All staff have had core training in restraint and first aid.

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Organisation

There have been no staff changes since the last inspection. All, apart from three staff, have been in post for more than five years. The consistency of the staff team is evidence of the stability and continuity of care offered to the young people. There are appropriate ratios of staff to children and young people, both during waking hours and at night time.

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Organisation

Staff are well supported by management. In addition to training, staff receive formal supervision every four to six weeks. Because of the nature of the work, staff also receive a lot of informal supervision.

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Organisation

Regulation 33 visits and reports are being done routinely and the care of young people is monitored and adapted in light of this information.

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Organisation

Young people have a secure record of their progress and children's files are in excellent order.

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Organisation

The home's approach to diversity is outstanding. The gender and ethnic balance of the staff team reflects the community it serves. Food menus are culturally sensitive. Young people are taken for trips to London and visit cultural areas of the city.

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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. 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC040628

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