SC 040491

SC040132 Unique reference number 11 August 2010 Inspection date Chris Passmore Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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3 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 6 Inspection Report: SC040132

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Brief description of the service

This registered children's home provides respite care for children with autism. At any one time it provides regular, short-break care facilities for a maximum of four children, aged between five and 17 years. The service supports approximately 25 to 30 children in total. Children stay for varying lengths of time and frequency depending on their assessed needs. Most visit weekly, arriving after school and staying the night, before returning to their family after school the next day. Some stays are longer and can be at weekends or during the school holidays. Visits are regular so that children are familiar with the service and feel safe and secure.

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Summary

This was a short notice announced interim inspection of this respite and short breaks care service. All the national minimum standards for staying safe were inspected. Where there was direct observation or inspection of records relating to other standards comment is made under the appropriate group heading.

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Summary

This service promotes and safeguards the welfare of young people receiving respite care. Staff know the young people using the service well and adjust their approach to each individual appropriately. The young people receiving respite care at the time of this visit were an older and more able group. They talked about their interests and demonstrated their ability and understanding of several pieces of equipment available to them. They made choices about what they wanted to eat and what they wanted to do as a group and individually. The relationship between staff and young people is good natured and trusting. Staff showed themselves to be competent in care and knowledgeable about the young people and the services they require. 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

There was one recommendation made at the last inspection regarding documentation relating the safety of the new boiler. This documentation has now been clarified with the installation engineers, is in place and has been updated to show the system is in a safe working condition.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Staff support children's health well. They provide food that children can choose enjoy. They introduce and encourage healthy options at mealtimes but balance this with opportunities to eat out as well. In this way children and young people's social experiences are widened. Staff provide a variety of opportunities for exercise and entertainment by accessing local community facilities as well as the local coast and moorlands. Staff ensure individual children's health needs are monitored and supported but overall responsibility lies with parents. Staff contact children's families if there are concerns about health matters or medication. They ensure the home is clean and hygienic and sensitively help children with any personal hygiene matters.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. 4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC040132 The service continues to promote and safeguard the welfare of those living there well.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are effective systems and procedures in place to promote the privacy of individuals, counter bullying and covering the event of a young person being absent without authority. Safeguarding is well managed. Staff receive training in basic awareness and know who to report any concerns.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are appropriate complaint procedures in place that are accessible to parents and young people. Records of complaints and compliments are kept separately. However, the recording format for complaints does not comply with requirements for a separate bound volume. The level of complaints received is low.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The small number of placements together with staffing levels helps promote positive responses and reduces the need to use behaviour and disciplinary procedures. There are procedures and records in place to impose a sanction in response to any inappropriate behaviour. These are little used but appropriate when used.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is guidance in place for staff on how to respond to individual behavioural episodes. Staff are trained in positive handling techniques to de-escalate behaviour or to physically move young people if needed. Records relating to these incidents are generally comprehensive, cross referenced to other sources of information and contain an analysis of outcomes. There is some inconsistency in relation to the recording of durations of physical interventions in these records. This shortfall does not have any impact on the young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The maintenance of the home is well managed and there are arrangements in place to ensure that essential services and installations are maintained and serviced by professional contractors. Staff turnover is low and safe recruitment practice is evident.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are clear management arrangements in place and staffing is appropriate to the needs of the young people being accommodated. There are two recommendations arising from this inspection relating to recording practice under this heading. These do not impact on the outcomes for young people at all.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. There have been repairs and refurbishments carried out since the last inspection. Part of these works have improved the quality of catering provision and safety levels within the kitchen for both staff and young people. Repairs to elements of the central heating have further improved the quality of individual bedroom temperatures. The sensory room is also now complete and fitted with specialist equipment for young people to enjoy times of quiet relaxation or sensory stimulation. The room is close enough to staff facilities for young people who are sufficiently able to enjoy the room unsupervised. It is also large enough to accommodate staff supervised 5 of 6 Inspection Report: SC040132 sessions. There are also plans for work to be carried out in the lounge aimed at improving safety and to fit a new carpet.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The Registered Manager was on leave at the time of this visit and records of monitoring were not available. It is clear from the registered provider's monitoring reports that internal monitoring is being carried out.

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Organisation

The deputy manager is in the process of collating records of staff training, identified training needs and projected refresher training dates. Staff confirmed they receive regular training in areas such as first aid, health and safety and food hygiene as well as practice based awareness of issues such as epilepsy and autism.

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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

29 October 2010 ensure that a written record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of the investigation. (Regulation 24(5))

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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 restraint records show duration of restraint consistently. (NMS 22.9) 6 of 6 Inspection Report: SC040132

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