Children's Home run by Dove Adolescent Services Limited in Wakefield

Unique reference number SC060811 Inspection date 02/09/2010 Inspector Debbie Foster Type of inspection Key

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Date of last inspection 02/02/2010 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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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 Crispins, 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.

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About this inspection

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 outcomes for children set out in the Children Act 2004 and the relevant National Minimum Standards for the service.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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Brief description of the service

The home provides care for two children who are aged between eight and 17 years old. The primary reason why a child is admitted to the home is because of emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Brief description of the service

The home is a terraced house situated within a small town. On the ground floor there is a staff office, lounge, kitchen with dining area, and a porch. On the first floor are two young people's bedrooms, a staff bedroom, bathroom with toilet and a shower room with toilet. At the rear of the house is a yard, which is reached by an unmade road and provides an additional car parking space for the home.

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Brief description of the service

The home is centrally placed for public transport, the library, shops and other leisure facilities. A primary school and secondary school are within walking distance.

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Summary

The overall quality rating is satisfactory.

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Summary

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

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Summary

This was an unannounced full inspection focusing upon 25 key national minimum standards (NMS) under the Every Child Matters outcomes for children and young people.

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Summary

The health of young people is given importance by the staff. This is promoted through health appointments being accessed quickly and individual health needs being identified and met. A high focus and support for each young person's safety is in place. Staff receive a wide selection of training which equips them to meet young people's needs. Staff have a good knowledge of young people's care needs. Education arrangements are being pursued for individual young people and there are plenty of activities for young people to take part in to build on their confidence and add to their life experiences.

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Summary

The staff demonstrate an appreciation that individual young people may have a range of possible needs arising from diversity.

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Summary

Young people's welfare is enhanced by the positive relationships fostered by the staff team. The service is monitored, thus enabling the registered provider to oversee the operation of the home.

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Summary

The following short falls have been identified; not all staff have received a fire drill or practice at regular intervals. Fire safety has been further compromised through the wedging open of an internal door. Physical intervention records do not record all the required information to assist in facilitating the effective use and monitoring of this area.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The home continues to support staff in achieving the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) at level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People. However, they have not yet met the minimum ratio of 80% to complete the qualification recommended in the national minimum standards.

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Helping children to be healthy

Staff are good at securing all the relevant information required to enable them to respond to any health needs that arise. Prompt registration with local primary health care services occurs and clearly written healthcare plans are completed to monitor young people's health and physical development young people receive encouragement and support from staff to attend their routine medical appointments at suitable intervals. Therefore, young people have their health needs fully assessed on admission to the home.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people are offered and provided with a varied diet and are involved in menu planning. There is plenty of fresh fruit available, although young people are of an age where they decide for themselves what and when they will eat. Staff recognise the potential impact of this on general health and well-being and work with young people to promote regular healthy eating.

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Helping children to be healthy

There are safe policies, procedures and practices in place to ensure young people receive medication as required by their doctor. There are consent forms on file for young people to receive medical intervention if necessary. All staff have received training in the safe administration of medication, first aid and a number of staff have received specialist epilepsy training.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people have their privacy and confidentiality respected. The identity of visitors is checked and files are stored securely in a locked cabinet in the office. Young people can make telephone calls in private. A young person confirmed they have a key to their own bedroom, keeping their own processions safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are effective measures in place to ensure that young people are safeguarded. Staff are conversant with the circumstances under which child protection procedures should be invoked and all staff have up-to-date training in relation to safeguarding. On admission young people are advised of the complaints procedure. Young people explained the procedure to the inspector to indicate they are fully aware of how to make a complaint if they wish to.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Bullying is not an issue at the home at this time. Young people state that although they do not always get on with each other, bullying is not tolerated either within or outside of the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There have been a significant number of incidents of young people going missing in the home since the last inspection. Staff have been active and work with a number of other agencies when young people go missing without authority to assist in their safe return home. Young people have been made aware of the dangers and possible risks to their safety when they go missing by staff and work continues in this area.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people benefit from an individualised approach to positive handling. Staff work hard to establish positive relationships with young people. The focus in managing behaviour within the home is centred on using praise and encouragement to improve behaviour. This is supported by rewards and incentives.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The new manager has reviewed the use and effectiveness of sanctions. The number of sanctions used with young people has reduced. The use of physical intervention is used as a last resort and staff are trained in approved techniques. The staff explained their main priority is to divert and diffuse challenging situations. Those made have been reasonable for the behaviour presented. Omissions have been found in the recording of some physical intervention records, for example, the time is not recorded.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are risk assessments in place, which cover the relevant areas. These vary in detail from good to satisfactory. However, not all risk assessments have clear review dates set. Staff have a good awareness and implement the strategies and safeguards to reduce risks identified for individual young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Fire records show that regular checks on the system are undertaken. Although regular drills have taken place, some staff have not received a fire drill or instruction at regular intervals. A door from the lounge to the kitchen is routinely being wedged open. Therefore, young people's safety is affected through these practices.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are detailed vetting and recruitment procedures for staff to ensure young people are prevented from being cared for by unsuitable people. The organisation undertakes the required and relevant checks on the staff recruited. This includes a Criminal Record Bureau check, references from the previous employer and having a full employment history of the worker. In addition, declarations are obtained from staff to ensure they have not been disqualified from caring for children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The service has some links and liaises with professionals to provide individual support to young people when they need it to assist them in making progress in their lives. There are links with mental health services, missing person’s officer, youth offending and the community police.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Education is given good attention. Young people are supported well to attend school to help them attain an education. This assists them to achieve their potential and gain skills which will support them into adulthood. Personal Education Plans and other relating information are in place for young people. This is evidenced by staff having regular communication on young people’s progress and supporting their transport to school. The manager and staff have rigorously pursued organising suitable and new education provisions for individual young people who have recently being admitted to the home.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The home has a selection of books and games, which include some study materials. There is a computer with internet access available for the young people for education and leisure.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people are encouraged and supported well by staff to pursue activities which develops their confidence and builds on their self-esteem. They have undertaken a selection of leisure activities, such as youth clubs, arts and crafts, games, swimming and horse riding.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Close attention is paid to ensuring that placement plans reflect young people's needs in good detail. Staff present young people with plenty of opportunities to be involved in this process and they have regular opportunities to discuss their needs with staff. Specific requirements in relation to diversity and equality are also incorporated into the overall plan of care.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The review process is effective in highlighting young people's progress and in identifying shortfalls or concerns. Contact with families is recognised as an important aspect of a young person's life and a means by which young people can have a positive sense of identity reinforced.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The good practice of staff means that there is frequent dialogue with young people about their care, needs and wishes. They are offered the opportunity to participate in review meetings, young people's meetings and focus work sessions.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people are supported to gain independence skills to assist them in preparing for adulthood appropriate to their age and understanding. Staff do encourage and support young people to be involved in menu planning, shopping, meal preparation, cooking, processing their own laundry and cleaning their bedrooms. The home is clean, tidy, maintained and in good general repair internally. Overall the accommodation is decorated and furnished to a satisfactory standard, providing a domestic environment for the young people to live in.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Since the last inspection the lounge and kitchen have been decorated. Young people's bedrooms are adequately equipped and furnished. However, the bathroom and shower room are showing signs of wear and tear. The seals around the shower are discoloured, the bath panel is loose and some decoration is marked. The rear yard area is basic and continues not to be a child friendly area and is mainly used to dry laundry. It has been affected by the building work taking place next door.

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Organisation

This service provides a safe setting for young people with emotional and challenging behaviour. The staff team are motivated and professional.

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Organisation

The Statement of Purpose sets out what the home will provide and is clear about the way in which this will be achieved. A welcome guide to the service is given to all young people on their first visit and the guide is presented in a child friendly format.

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Organisation

Staff are well supported and guided in promoting young people's welfare. Formal supervision is provided at regular intervals. There are regular staff meetings and daily handovers. Staff said that communications systems have improved since a new manager started. All said they work well as a team and work hard to provide a consistent care approach, which assists them in providing good care to the young people. Staff have a child centred approach and they spoke about their work with young people with commitment.

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Organisation

Staffing levels are good and young people receive care from competent and experienced staff to help meet their needs. At the time of the inspection, the morning shift was worked by the manager and two residential care workers who are providing care to two young people. Three staff worked on the evening shift.

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Organisation

The staff have access to a wide selection of training in current childcare practices to ensure they are competent to meet the needs of the young people. They have opportunities to undertake mandatory and other training in a number of areas, such as equal opportunities, drugs and alcohol awareness, Children's act, life story work, self harm and every child matters. Staff thought they would benefit from having further understanding in caring for young people with learning disabilities.

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Organisation

The national minimum standards ratio of 80% of staff achieving an NVQ qualification at level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People has not yet been met. Although, progress is being made in this area.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. This is evidenced through practice, supporting policies, procedures and the individual placement plans. This is reported on in each section of the report. Young people receive an individual service which is being tailored to meet their personal needs. The staff have a good knowledge of each young person's needs and are working with them to ensure the right support and care is being provided.

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Organisation

There are a number of quality assurance processes in place. These include monthly monitoring visits. The manager also produces a monthly report. Action points from the visits are followed up and these lead to improvements in practice. However, a number of safety issues have not been identified within the home's monitoring systems which impact on its effectiveness.

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Organisation

Young people's individual case files are confidentially stored and are arranged in a manner which make them readily accessible to staff. This upholds young people’s privacy and confidentiality. The files examined are well maintained and organised.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions, which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The Registered Provider(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Std. Action Due date

22 ensure the physcial intervention records include all the required information as set out in the regulation (Regulation 17 (4)) 28/09/2010

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Std. Action Due date

26 make sure that all staff undertake fire drills and practices at suitable intervals to ensure they are fully aware of the procedures to be followed in case of a fire (Regulation 32 (e)) 05/09/2010

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Std. Action Due date

26 ensure adequate precautions against fire are taken. In particular that doors are not wedged open. (Regulation 32 (e)) 05/09/2010

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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):

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Recommendations

 ensure the risk assessments have a clear review date (NMS 26.3)  ensure that all areas of the home are well decorated and maintained. In particular the bathroom and shower rooms ( NMS 24.2 & 24.3)  enhance to garden space ensuring it is safe and young people can make use of it (NMS 24.3)  ensure that the minimum ratios of 80% of all care staff complete their National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in the Caring for Children and Young People (NMS 29.5)  build on the current quality assurance systems further to identify all omissions and deficiencies in the service. (NMS 32 & 33)

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