Children's Home run by One To One Crisis Intervention Ltd in Devon

SC068205 Unique reference number 27 August 2010 Inspection date Michelle Oxley Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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25 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 6 Inspection Report: SC068205

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Brief description of the service

The home is registered as a children's home to provide care and accommodation for one young person of either gender, aged from 7 to under 18 years. Staffing levels are provided to meet the assessed needs of the accommodated young person.

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Brief description of the service

The property is a modern semi-detached house, situated in a residential area in a village setting. The home comprises of the sitting room and dining area, the kitchen and a toilet on the ground floor. On the upper floor there is the bathroom, the young person's bedroom, two staff bedrooms, the staff bathroom and the office. The enclosed rear garden provides a paved patio and planted borders. There is parking available at the front of the property and on the street. Local services are within walking distance and a comprehensive range of facilities and additional services are accessible in the nearby town.

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Summary

The purpose of this unannounced interim inspection is to assess the home's performance in meeting key national minimum standards under the Every Child Matters outcome area of 'staying safe'.

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Summary

The service provides a good standard of care to young people. The approach to keeping young people safe is well managed and well organised. Young people are protected and kept safe by the homes systems, while being supported to participate in activities consistent with their age and peer group.

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Summary

Positive relationship between staff and young people mean that behaviour is well managed.

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Summary

Following this inspection there is one good practice recommendation made. 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 were no recommendation or actions made following the last inspection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people's privacy is respected at the home. Policy and procedure documents regarding privacy and confidentiality are in place. Young people have single bedrooms and their own bathroom, fitted with privacy locks. Staff do not routinely enter young people's rooms without knocking. Young people feel that they are able to have time alone in their rooms without unnecessary interruptions from staff. Young people are able to make telephone calls in private. The office landline is made available although this is not a cordless phone. Young people have their own mobile phones which are handed into staff at 10pm and pocket money is currently used for top-up. The result being that young people's privacy is promoted and protected. 4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC068205 An effective system to manage complaints is in place. Young people can approach staff or the responsible individual directly with their concerns, they can also write their complaints in the

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

complaint log. There has been one complaint made since the last inspection, a record of the outcome states that this was later withdrawn. Young people receive information about how to make a complaint in the welcome pack when they are admitted to the home. Young people can also raise concerns at house meetings or informally through staff. The home's complaint systems ensure that young people's concerns are listened to and followed up. A complaints policy is in place.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The systems in place to promote welfare and protect young people from harm are well organised and known to staff. Staff receive training and know how to proceed should they receive an allegation or suspect that a young person is being abused. The induction procedure for new staff includes a section on safeguarding. A policy concerning counter bullying is in place. Staff and young people feel that bullying is not currently a problem at the home. All visitors to the home are required to sign in and out. The contact details for the local authority designated officer (LADO) and the child protection policy are accessible to staff.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A process to manage risk is in place. A series of risk assessments are carried out for each young person, these include, behaviour, the environment and activities. In some cases where risks associated with behaviours are identified the assessment document does not always give detailed direction to staff about how to avoid the risk or what to do if it occurs. Although in practice staff do manage risk well, the absence of written guidelines leaves potential for inconsistency in practice to occur.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A procedure is in place to protect young people who are absent from the home without authority. The procedure is well known to staff who are provided with guidelines to follow. The guidelines are created for each young person in the context of individual risk assessments. This means that young people are protected in a pre-defined manner and in line with their individual circumstances. An overall absence policy is in place.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Behaviour is well managed at the home. Relations between staff and young people are positive and built on mutual respect. The team have worked hard to ensure that they find an appropriate balance between protecting young people from harm and enabling them to enjoy freedoms consistent with that of their peer group. An incentive system is in place which allows young people to earn money over and above their pocket money. This is used to reinforce positive behaviour and to develop skills for independent living. Physical interventions have not been used at the home since the last inspection although staff receive regular, ongoing training.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Positive steps are taken to ensure that the building is safe. Fire safety equipment checks are carried out at the required intervals. A health and safety and fire safety risk assessment have been carried out. Electrical appliances are tested as are electrical and gas installations.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is not judged. 5 of 6 Inspection Report: SC068205

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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

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • provide increased written directions to staff in relation to identified risks. (NMS 26) 6 of 6 Inspection Report: SC068205

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