Children's Home run by City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council in Bradford

SC059635 Unique reference number 26 August 2010 Inspection date Stella Henderson Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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26 January 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: SC059635

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Brief description of the service

This children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to eight young people of either sex, aged 12 to 18 years, who may be experiencing a range of social, emotional, and behavioural problems. The home offers a supportive living environment on a medium to long-term basis. There are communal rooms on the ground floor and individual bedrooms upstairs. The home is situated in a suburban area but close to local amenities.

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Brief description of the service

All of the young people were on holiday at the time of this inspection.

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Summary

This full key announced inspection was undertaken to ensure the service continues to provide suitable care and support to the young people residing at the home.

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Summary

The home provides an outstanding level of care for young people. The needs, safety and development of young people are central to the running of the home. The efforts of staff are completely focussed on producing positive outcomes for young people. Staff work hard and persevere through difficult times to ensure that the best is achieved for young people. They provide excellent support for the very diverse needs of young people, helping to create an atmosphere of tolerance and acceptance.

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Summary

The manager and staff continually strive for improvement through reflective practice and there is consistent use of self-evaluation mechanisms. This means that any improvements identified are managed in a timely and effective way. The overall quality rating is outstanding. 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 made at the last inspection.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Young people have a choice of nutritious meals which contribute to a healthy lifestyle. Young people are actively involved in planning, preparing and shopping for food both in general and as part preparation for leaving care. Staff receive training in food hygiene and store, cook and handle food safely. There is good practice in that all food in the fridge and freezer has a use by date, including leftovers.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people's religious and cultural needs are met with separate storage and utensils available. Young people observing Ramadan are supported throughout this period both by staff and other young people.

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Helping children to be healthy

Excellent practice ensures that young people's health and welfare is carefully considered and actively promoted. Each young person has a separately allocated looked after children's nurse. Young people have the opportunity to have annual health assessments and are registered with primary health care services. Clear recording and health planning shows that where there are 4 of 9 Inspection Report: SC059635 concerns about young people's health and well-being, staff provide effective guidance and support.

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Helping children to be healthy

Staff ensure that young people are equipped with appropriate knowledge and information to protect themselves and others where, for example, sexual health, drug use or smoking is concerned. Some staff have particular expertise in dealing with sexual health, for example, which means that young people have a choice of who to approach for help with this.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people's health needs and well-being are regularly monitored informally, by discussion and observation as well as through more formal mechanisms such as the statutory review process. Young people are encouraged to take responsibility for managing their own health needs and medication where this is safe to do so.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people receive medication where necessary for minor illnesses, either prescribed or bought from the pharmacist. A secure medicine cabinet is available and records tally with amount left in storage. A minor recording error was amended during the course of this inspection, but otherwise young people are safeguarded where the dispensing of medicine is concerned.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Young people benefit from a service that has an excellent focus on safeguarding. The home has a good range of operational policies and procedures that are individualised and used to promote the safety and welfare of young people. Staff have an excellent grasp of their responsibilities regarding this area of practice.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

For example, there are effective arrangements in place to deal with absconding, bullying and complaints. The home has clear systems in place to deal with situations where young people go missing. The home has an anti-bullying champion and all forms of bullying, including racist bullying, is promptly addressed in key working sessions with young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Complaints of any degree are responded to quickly and the manager ensures young people are aware of the process and outcomes. A child-friendly complaints sheet in the form of a flow-chart is available, clearly showing the process young people can expect to see followed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home's arrangements promote the privacy of young people. The majority of information about young people is stored electronically and is password protected. Other hard copy documents are stored appropriately and securely. Consideration is given to young people who may need privacy during prayer times, when meeting with other professionals or during the making of telephone calls.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Excellent practice and sound policies ensure that young people are effectively safeguarded. For example, the staff team are well trained and familiar with the implementation of child protection procedures. Young people are appropriately supervised and the deployment of staff on each shift emphasises this.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are alert to the need to keep young people safe within the wider community. For example, during this inspection staff were planning alternative activities so that young people could avoid a controversial demonstration in the local city centre. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: SC059635 Young people are supported and encouraged to develop socially acceptable behaviour by the use of sanctions and support from staff. The age of young people in the home means that dialogue and negotiation is an important aspect of shaping behaviour and records show that staff treat young people as the young adults they are. Physical intervention is rarely needed as an option to keep young people safe though staff are trained in the use of safe techniques.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home provides a safe environment for young people. A risk assessment approach applies to all aspects of care and the known and likely activities of young people. For example, regular testing and maintenance of fire equipment and systems ensures that they remain in good working order. The home also ensures that young people are conversant with fire evacuation procedures.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Personnel records were not inspected on this occasion, but young people are safeguarded by the local authority's robust and stringent recruitment procedures which ensures that all appropriate checks are sought prior to staff commencing employment at the home.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Outstanding practice at the home ensures that each young person receives the guidance and support that is tailored to their individual needs. The competence and expertise of staff and flexibility in staffing means that even when young people have very different levels of need, these are successfully met.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff are pro-active and resourceful in providing individual support. The staff team have developed effective links with a range of helping agencies and services to fit young people’s needs. This means that young people have a very wide range of resources to draw on.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people benefit form a highly effective key working system which ensures that young people each have a specific member of staff who is responsible for the implementation of any care plan. Young people can approach any member of staff however, who are fully informed about each individual's needs, progress and development. This enables young people to receive consistency in the care, advice and guidance they receive.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people receive excellent support with their education. This year, one young person has achieved nine GCSE's, another the equivalent of six GCSE's. One young person who sat these examinations a year early has also achieved good results. Young people have access to a suite of computers, some of which are linked directly to school portals. This means, for example, young people can access their homework on line and staff can view all the school information from the home.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff ensure education is an integral part of life at the home and not just limited to school or college. Education continues outside of the formal classroom in areas of interest to the young people. For example, staff promote the introduction of new activities, with the aim of young people learning new skills, interests and hobbies. Young people have access to plenty of reading material in the home, and there are board games, cards and a pool table available. Young people have the opportunity to join a local gym, some enjoy football and one young person is a member of a female rugby team. 6 of 9 Inspection Report: SC059635 Young people going through transition to adulthood are supported to continue to access learning, developing their life skills and exploring future employment and further education opportunities. There is excellent liaison with a range of services to make these aspirations a reality.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Young people benefit from having high quality individual care plans. Plans draw together information received from a number of different sources, such as referral documentation, statutory reviews and any assessments that may have been completed. Staff are very well-informed about the diverse range of needs of the young people accommodated and implement different methods of working in recognition of these.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are consulted on a frequent basis and are empowered, as far as it is possible, to consider their circumstances; behaviours; relationships and interactions. Young people are provided with forums, such as young people's meetings to discuss any choices and views they may have.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff in the home strive to create an inclusive, participatory environment that encourages consultation and discussion. This is effectively balanced by realistic boundaries. The home has a participation champion and the participation of young people is a set agenda item at every team meeting.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are encouraged by the home to have appropriate contact with family and friends in order to retain ties with family and their local community. Any restrictions on contact are noted and safeguarding issues are always borne in mind. Young people without family ties are enabled to mix with others of their own background and community. This enables them to maintain a positive sense of self and identity.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is outstanding. Acquiring the skills needed for adult life is a fully integrated part of the care provided in the home. For example, staff encourage all young people to participate in cleaning, laundry, shopping and cooking. More formal planning is in place for those young people who are closer to becoming independent and young people benefit from excellent liaison with the leaving care service.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

For example, the leaving care service provides a 'taster flat' so that young people can get a tenancy with a local housing association. Young people are supported during this time but have the security of being able to move back into the home if they feel that they are not ready for independent living.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

When it is clear young people are struggling with aspects of independent living, staff take back some responsibility. This means that although young people are supported to make their own decisions and choices, they are still safeguarded as much as possible during this transition.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people live in a comfortable home, which is furnished to a good standard and creates a pleasant domestic style environment that provides ample space for the number, age and gender 7 of 9 Inspection Report: SC059635 of the young people living there. Young people are involved with the choosing of the décor and furnishings to enable them to feel that it is their home.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The location of the home is convenient for leisure and other community facilities that are important for the development of young people. The home is clean and any damage is quickly responded to. The outside area is also kept tidy and free from hazards.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Good relationships are maintained with neighbours and the wider community and the manager attends the local village meetings to ensure there are no problems arising from the home.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Young people are supported by a staff team who are highly competent and suitably experienced to meet their needs. Sufficient numbers of staff are available at all times and staffing arrangements ensure young people and staff are supported at all times. This means that young people can enjoy continuity of care from staff who are familiar to them.

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Organisation

The staff team are equipped with the skills and qualifications they need for the task of caring for young people. Staff training and development is well established and staff meetings and supervision focus on the needs, safety and progress of young people. This ensures that the development and well-being of young people remains central to the running of the home.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is outstanding. Young people are treated fairly and have equal access to opportunities and experiences. There is excellent practice in ensuring young people's individual diverse needs are met, particularly in relation to culture, religion and identity.

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Organisation

The values underpinning this practice clearly have an impact on young people, who, during Ramadan, choose not to eat until it was time for others to break their fast. Young people also benefit from having a staff team that is balanced in terms of age, ethnicity and gender.

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Organisation

Young people's well-being and safety is monitored through independent oversight which takes place through monthly regulation 33 visits. This includes visits from a designated councillor. The home is well managed and the manager undertakes a regular audit of the home's performance. This ensures that the home continues to provide excellent care for young people.

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Organisation

Secure arrangements are in place for files and records and young people's individual progress and achievements are recorded in line with regulations. A range of information is available to inform young people and parents about the home and local authority services. This includes a Statement of Purpose and suitable young person's guide which is also available in different languages.

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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. 8 of 9 Inspection Report: SC059635

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Recommendations

There are no recommendations. 9 of 9 Inspection Report: SC059635

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