Children's Home run by Five Rivers Child Care Limited in Wiltshire

SC059717 Unique reference number 9 August 2010 Inspection date Roy Bega 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 9 Inspection Report: SC059717

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Brief description of the service

The home is a family style house situated near to the centre of a small city. It is one of four settings in the area owned and managed by a national child care agency. There are close operational links with the organisation's fostering service and school. The house was originally two semi-detached properties that have been converted into one home. The ground floor communal areas include two lounges, a large play/computer room, a laundry area and a kitchen dining room. All the bedrooms are single, and there is an enclosed rear garden.

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Brief description of the service

The home currently accommodates girls only, and provides short-term and long-term placements. It encourages the development of more socially acceptable sustainable behaviours to improve young people's quality of life towards independence. A registered psychotherapist works closely with the staff team to advise and assist on managing and understanding the young people's emotional well-being and behaviours.

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Brief description of the service

Three young people currently live in the home and two were present for majority of the inspection.

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Summary

This was a full unannounced inspection which looked at the key standards under all the outcome areas. One action point is raised resulting from this inspection.

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Summary

Young people's health care needs are comprehensively assessed, documented and met through the implementation of policies and procedures, staff training and good monitoring.

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Summary

Young people's privacy and dignity is promoted and they are safe; staff receive appropriate training and guidance and are subject to stringent vetting procedures before they start working at the home.

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Summary

Young people are supported in their education and leisure pursuits. Individual needs are assessed and well

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Summary

documented. Young people are encouraged to express their wishes through key working sessions and residents' meetings. Where appropriate independence is promoted through support with life skills.

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Summary

The home is well managed; staff are supported through good induction, training, supervision and team meetings. Appropriate monitoring systems are in place to ensure young people receive consistently good support and care. 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

No actions or recommendations were raised resulting from the random inspection of 08 December 2009. 4 of 9 Inspection Report: SC059717

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. There is a good awareness amongst staff regarding the need to provide young people with healthy, nutritious meals. Young people indicate that they are encouraged to eat healthily and make reference to the ready availability of fresh fruit and healthy snacks. Discussions and records show young people are regularly consulted about what foods they like and dislike and what they want included in the weekly menus. These show a good variety, and that occasional themed meals and special treats take place. The young people have the opportunity to shop for food with the staff and also help to prepare meals. Care is taken to ensure young people with specific dietary needs have these met. Meals are prepared in a well equipped domestic style kitchen by a member of the care team. Training on food hygiene and nutrition is provided for all staff.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people's health care needs are well assessed and documented in health care plans. They include clear guidance to specific needs of young people which enables staff to have a consistent approach regarding health care matters. Strong links with health services are maintained with young people being registered with local practitioners. For example, when a particular health need is identified the involvement of specialist health workers such as the community mental health service are sought. Discussions confirm young people are actively encouraged to take an interest in their personal health and supported to attend planned appointments. Young people confirm they are provided with good information about health and social issues and receive helpful support in accessing them.

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Helping children to be healthy

Staff have good knowledge of the home's medication policy, procedure and practice guidance which includes the use of non prescribed medication. They receive training in the handling and administration of medication and maintain good records. The medication storage cupboard is inappropriate for the pharmacist's system being used. Management need to ensure all medication including non prescribed is kept in an approved lockable storage cupboard.

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Helping children to be healthy

Any treatment or first aid given to young people is well documented. Records show, prior to admission, written permission is obtained from the person with parental responsibility for each young person for the administration of first aid and appropriate non prescribed medication.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people's privacy and confidentiality is respected through staff training to ensure they are aware of, and understand, the home's policies, procedures and ethos. Young people are given personal space, as far as the need for supervision to ensure their safety will allow. Staff demonstrated that they are aware of the need to respect confidential information and records are stored appropriately.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home takes positive steps to ensure that the young people, parents, and significant others are advised about how they can raise issues with the home. Information is also contained in the young person's handbook. Contact details for national help-lines are readily accessible. Young people confirm that they can tell staff of any concerns they have and that they will be dealt with swiftly. Records indicate that there have been very few formal complaints in recent times. The home has information about independent advocacy but it has been identified through 5 of 9 Inspection Report: SC059717 reviews and discussion with the placing authority that none of the current young people require this support.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people confirm that they feel safe in the home. Records and discussions show that all staff receive safeguarding training as part of their induction and this is updated on an annual basis. Staff demonstrate a good awareness of how to manage any safeguarding issues which may arise. Safeguarding appears as a set item for discussion on the staff meeting agenda

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Management and staff create an atmosphere where bullying is known to be unacceptable. There is a policy on countering bullying, which is known to all and is effective in practice. Young people confirm that bullying seldom happens within the home and that staff act immediately upon any information that bullying is taking place. During the visit staff effectively managed an incident which concluded amicably for those concerned. Anti bullying appears as a set item for discussion on the staff meeting and house meeting agendas.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Individual risk assessments and plans are in place for individual young people in the event of them becoming absent without authority. They detail the action to be taken, including timescales and specific people to notify. Discussion and records show there have not been any incidents since the previous inspection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The ethos of the home is to encourage positive behaviour through incentives, praise and rewards. Inappropriate behaviour is managed by the imposition of a relevant consequence. One to one sessions with key workers and weekly house meetings provide ongoing opportunities to discuss behaviour related issues as a group and individuals. All staff are trained in recognising de-escalation and restraint methods. Records and discussions show there have been two occasions subsequent to the previous inspection where the use of minimum restraint has been necessary.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people live in a home which provides physical safety and security. There are risk assessments which address how to minimise any identified hazards, equipment is serviced at appropriate intervals and regular checks of the fire alarm and emergency lighting take place.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are appropriately safeguarded by the organisation's robust and stringent recruitment procedures. Good quality internal monitoring and audits of recruitment files are undertaken to ensure that all appropriate checks within Schedule 2 of the children’s homes national minimum standards and regulations are sought prior to staff commencing employment. All visitors are monitored and sign the visitors' book.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Young people's individual needs are identified and met by their placement plan. Discussions and records show staff ensure one to one sessions with young people are well planned. Young people commented they like having the one to one sessions as they help get things sorted. There are well established and effective links and partnerships with a variety of external agencies and support professionals that meet the young people's needs.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The young people's education is promoted very well and they are supported to achieve to the best of their ability. Each young person has a specific education file and their education targets are cross referenced in their care plans. Discussions and records confirm there is effective liaison 6 of 9 Inspection Report: SC059717 with schools and care staff assist the young people with their home work. Young people spoken with confirm staff keep on at them about the importance of education and encourage them to do their best.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff are very good at encouraging and supporting the young people to become involved in community and sport and leisure activities. Staff support young people in the pursuit of their interests and hobbies. The home also provides group activities and holidays which discussion shows are enjoyed by the young people.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Young people's care plans clearly set out the objectives of the placement and how they are to be met and who is responsible for seeing that these are carried out. They are monitored by link workers who update them with the young people following statutory reviews.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The home has well established and thorough systems in place for participating in the reviews of the young people's placements. Link workers are responsible for writing and when possible presenting reports to annual reviews. The reports are shared with the young people before being presented. Discussions show the young people are made aware of the importance of their annual reviews and the need to be a part of what is being discussed.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Discussions and records show that in accordance with their wishes and any safeguarding restrictions in place, young people are able and encouraged to maintain contact with their parents and families and significant others. The details of agreed contact arrangements are recorded in young people's care plans. The home actively initiates meetings with placing authorities, between statutory review dates, if a need to amend contact arrangements is identified. Discussions and records show staff are actively involved in organising contact at and away from the home. Staff arrange and provide transport for those young people on home visits as well as offering practical support for those parents and significant others who have difficulty in visiting the home.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Admissions to the home are planned. Referrals are made directly to the home by a placing authority or, following a review decision for a planned move of a child from another of the company's homes. Subject to agreement with the placing authority planned admissions involve a gradual introduction of a young person to the home over a period of time. Discussions with young people show that the introductory arrangements helped them to feel comfortable with the staff and home.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The young people are encouraged and supported to make decisions about their lives and to influence the way the home is run. Discussion and records show weekly house meetings is an established forum when staff and young people meet to exchange information and to offer views and opinions on a range of matters which affect the day to day running of the home. Attendance at statutory reviews provides the young people the opportunity to be involved in key decision making.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. 7 of 9 Inspection Report: SC059717 Leaving care pathway planning is not appropriate for current young people. However, appropriate policies and procedures are in place to enable such planning to be undertaken. Discussions and records show young people are supported to learn life skills, such as budgeting, menu planning, cooking, domestic duties, and management of their personal allowances.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Observation and discussion show the standard of the young people’s clothing is very high enabling them to feel proud of their appearance among their friends and peer group. Young people informed the inspector they are fully involved in planning the spending of the budget allocated to their personal clothing and toiletries. They are enabled to exercise choice in the clothes and personal requisites through normal shopping arrangements. Records of personal allowances paid to the young people are maintained to a high standard but avoid an institutional approach.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home is decorated and furnished to a standard which creates a pleasant domestic environment. Discussions show young people are actively involved in the choice of décor and show pride in their bedrooms by personalising them with possessions and posters.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

There is a good maintenance and repair programme for the building. The organisation employs its own maintenance staff to ensure faults are rectified as soon as possible.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The Statement of Purpose is very clear in identifying the setting's aims and objectives and how they are to be provided. It is presented in a form that is easily understood by young people and their families. Young people are provided with a copy and a well produced brochure containing photographs of the setting in operation. The information provides a clear picture of the setting, the principles under which it operates, its aims for young people and a suitable overview of daily living in the home.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Discussions, observations records and policies confirm the setting provides a service tailored to meet the specific individual needs of young people. It promotes a holistic approach in working with young people that considers all aspects of diversity. Staff receive appropriate training, ensure they are conversant with young people's needs and seek external professional support and guidance where required.

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Organisation

The organisation and management are continuing the process of reviewing the setting's development and operational ethos. Discussions and observations show that while staff are needing to adapt to changing methodology it is not affecting outcomes for young people.

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Organisation

Young people benefit from living in a home that is effectively managed. Discussions and observations show there are clear lines of management accountability in the home with staff being well supported by unit leaders. Observations, discussion and records confirm the staff team are well organised and committed in ensuring the needs of young people are met.

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Organisation

Staff confirm the organisation makes good provision for their support, training and development. All staff undergo a comprehensive induction programme and foundation training that equips them with the setting's particular approaches and philosophies in caring for young people. Staff are actively encouraged to access the organisation's ongoing in-service training, staff development programmes and external professional courses. 8 of 9 Inspection Report: SC059717 The staff team has a balanced mix of male and female members. Staff duty rotas indicate there are sufficient staff on duty at all times. Specific time is allocated for quality time with young people, administration and handover. Management openly discussed the continuing recruitment drive and protracted time in employing the right personnel for the vacant positions. The organisation therefore is temporarily using the same staff from an agency to cover current

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Organisation

shortfalls to ensure continuity of care. Staff indicated while inconvenient, the use of agency staff is not adversely affecting the care of young people.

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Organisation

Thorough monthly monitoring visits are carried out forming part of the quality assurance system of the setting. It is centred on the experience of young people and whether the home is meeting their needs. Staff are fully involved in this process and confirm action is taken on any points raised.

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Organisation

Young people's individual case files are stored in a secure cabinet and are arranged in a manner that makes them readily useable by staff and accessible to young people.

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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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Due date Action Standard

1 October 2010 ensure all medication including non prescribed is kept in an approved lockable storage cupboard. (Regulation 21)

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Recommendations

There are no recommendations. 9 of 9 Inspection Report: SC059717

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