Children's Home run by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council in Tameside

Unique reference number SC357979 Inspection date 14/09/2010 Inspector Alicea Churchward Type of inspection Key

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Date of last inspection 03/03/2010 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 premises have been purchased by a local authority. It is a substantial property, which has been completely refurbished; it is suitable for purpose and indistinguishable from surrounding properties. The home is close to all amenities and public transport.

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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. The purpose of the visit is to assess how the home is meeting the national minimum standards and Children's Home Regulations. All of the key standards were assessed.

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Summary

The home is in a period of transition. Two of a very settled group of three young people have moved on to independence. Offering placement stability and building positive, trusting relationships with new admissions to the home is currently at the forefront of the work being undertaken. The outcomes for young people are good.

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Summary

The overall judgement for the service has changed this is due to shortfalls in meeting standards in respect of staff recruitment checks, lack of written medical consent and the fact that all menus do not provide evidence of a healthy, balanced nutritional diet. These shortfalls could have a significant impact upon young people in terms of their health and safety. Other matters such as updating the discharging policy, ensuring that young people sign and have their views recorded regarding sanctions, and making sure placement plans are up to date have little impact. This is because young people report the rules are fair and staff know in practice what day-to-day arrangements are in place for each young person.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the time of the last inspection a recommendation was made to regularly review the records of complaints by young people to check satisfactory operation of the complaints procedure. This was because of a reluctance on the part of young people to make a complaint, this matter has been addressed. A lot of information is given to young people about how to make a complaint and there is evidence that the procedure has been used to good effect; with positive outcomes.

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Helping children to be healthy

Some young people have been undertaking a two week course in 'independence'. They have the opportunity to plan, budget and shop for their own meals. These young people have had guidance about the safe storage and preparation of food in the form of short courses or during the course of their part-time work. They have also had guidance from the staff who have all undertaken training in food hygiene. The home has been allocated a gold award by the national health service for healthy eating and many staff have taken a course in how to prepare food from basic ingredients.

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Helping children to be healthy

The main menus in the home demonstrate a healthy, varied nutritional diet. The menus for the young people during this time do not, there is no records of fruit or vegetables eaten during the time they were undertaking this course. They say finances given for food at that time were sufficient. They also report that it is good learning how to manage a budget and that this will help to prepare them for when they have to manage their own when they leave the home.

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Helping children to be healthy

Health plans are good, they are contained in the placement plans. The plans clearly identify routine registration and attendance of appointments. Records of any allergies are also recorded. None of the young people have needs requiring specialist intervention. The home actively encourages young people to lead a healthy lifestyle and enjoy activities. The home encourage smoking cessation and provides for gym, swimming passes and other sporting pastimes. Young people also have access to sexual health services and an organisation specifically for substance misuse, should they need to access them. There is a policy and written guidance, implemented in practice, on promoting the health of the young people.

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Helping children to be healthy

There are excellent systems in place to manage medication in the home. All medication records are always up to date and fully comprehensive. Staff have easy access to medication policies, procedures and practice guidance and have all undertaken training in first aid, one member of staff is awaiting their refresher course. Before a young person is given responsibility for their own medication a detailed risk assessment is completed to decide whether they can do this safely. Young people’s health needs are met and protected by highly effective medication policies, procedures and practice guidance which are implemented extremely well. All but one of the young people have consent to medical treatment this should be completed upon admission to the home, which in this case was over three weeks ago, the home have tried to pursue the information.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home have a room search policy in place. Forms advising young people of the guidance about the circumstances in which this may happen are clear. Instances where the police may enter young people's rooms is included in the guidance if they are missing from home. Staff receive training in maintaining privacy and confidentiality during their induction to the home and through subsequent training. Young people report that staff respect their privacy.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Keeping young people safe is at the forefront of practice and implementation of policy guidance. Discussions with staff and records demonstrate that this is the case. Staff are very clear about their responsibilities to respond and report any concerns. Staff have had training in team meetings about dealing with complaints. Bullying is dealt with very well and swiftly resolved wherever possible.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There have been times where young people have been missing and steps such as approved overnight stays have been taken to reduce the absences. There is an excellent policy in place and a protocol with the police about the management of any absence. Accurate records are kept in relation to any matters of concern and they are regularly monitored by the Registered Manager. All absences are reported to the children's rights officer.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All staff have received training in positive behaviour management and the need to physically intervene if necessary. There have been no restraints and all sanctions are appropriately recorded. On the whole sanctions are to repay misspent monies. There are some sanctions whereby monies are withheld in practice. Currently young people are not given the opportunity to write or have their views recorded and sign their names against these records. Staff work hard to establish positive relationships with the young people and use this as a foundation to de-escalate and diffuse potential areas of conflict. Relationships between staff and young people are observed to be based upon mutual respect.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people’s welfare and safety is protected by a comprehensive range of very well written health and safety policies, procedures and guidance. There is a lot of consistent evidence that all the necessary health and safety checks maintain a safe environment. Young people and staff have been involved in a fire drill to make sure that they understand the procedure.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A record of the recruitment process and all documentation in relation to staff is held at the home. Files are orderly and accessible. Much of the information required is present, with one exception, There is an employment gap of several years. This shortfall has not been identified in the manager's monitoring of these records. It is not clear what action has been taken to address this matter, the deputy took steps on the day of the inspection to address this. However, ensuring that staff files comply with regulatory requirements is fundamental to demonstrating safe recruitment of staff. There is a clear visitors policy in place which is followed in practice by the staff.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people's individual needs are constructively identified and well met by their placement plan. Records show the plan is implemented effectively. There are well established and very effective links and partnerships with a variety of outside agencies and support professionals that meet young people’s needs. Young people have clear, detailed information about which agencies and services they can use without referring to staff.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Each young person is given full access to educational facilities, at both school level and in further education as appropriate. The ethos in the home is that expectations to enjoy and achieve through education is of paramount importance. The impact of failing to attain through education and the longer term effect upon life chances is clearly understood. Staff work hard to maintain this and support young people wherever possible. To their credit young people also make good efforts to attend and are actively engaging in education. Older young people see a clear link to how this prepares them for adulthood and future employment prospects.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people have placement plans in place; generally they outline the day-to-day arrangements for each young person. The plans are subject to regular review. One plan had not been updated to reflect current educational arrangements. The staff have regular key work sessions with the young people and there is evidence of these on their files. Young people are positive about their key workers and their placement. The focus upon new admissions to the home since the last inspection is about offering placement stability.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are fully consulted and participate in their review and planning meetings. This is reflected in the minutes of such meetings and that young people are clear about their plans. Staff take time to prepare young people for their meetings and prepare a progress report. The result of all statutory reviews and reviews of placement plans are recorded on individual files, and individuals responsible for pursuing actions at the home arising from reviews are clearly identified.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

All young people have contact with their families and friends. This is promoted and wherever necessary facilitated by the home. Contact arrangements are clearly recorded in the placement plans. One young person has visited their extended family abroad which was also facilitated by the home.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Placements made in the home are planned wherever possible. Young people receive a visit by prospective key workers and are invited for visits before their admission. The home does not admit young people in an emergency. Managers are part of discussions about matching young people with the existing group, to prevent any disruption to current residents. The home's policies for admitting young people and discharging them from the home are clear, however, the discharge procedures do not include discharging young people in an emergency. A new admission pack has been introduced to ensure that young people are aware of their rights and responsibilities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are consulted about routine matters and all aspects of their care plans. The home have regular meetings with the young people to obtain their views and discuss issues in relation to the rules, bullying, activities and the general running of the home. In addition young people have been part of the revision of regular questionnaires which are given to young people who complete them for a financial incentive for their savings accounts.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Also one young person is part of the user involvement group for the authority, which also allows for young people's views to be heard by councillors and senior management within the authority, this allows young people to contribute to changes in policy and influence some decision making.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Some of the young people have begun the process of pathway planning; they have dedicated leaving care workers. The home encourages independent living skills in respect of budgeting, cooking, travel on public transport, savings, laundry and being responsible for the cleanliness and tidiness of their individual bedrooms. Some young people have moved out of the home onto independent living since the time of the last inspection, this was managed well, staff have visited them and they remain in touch with the home.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home is warm, clean, welcoming and indistinguishable from surrounding properties. Staff and young people are proud of their environment. The overall appearance of the home exceeds the national minimum standards. Young people enjoy living in a home that provides an excellent standard of accommodation The interior and exterior of the home are maintained in a very good state of structural and decorative repair.

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Organisation

The home has a good Statement of Purpose. The document accurately describes the service and what it intends to offer young people in their care. The staffing policy is clear and contained within this document. The children's guide is excellent, informative and well presented. The guide contains a variety of independent contact information and free phone numbers, the telephone number for Ofsted is included. Both documents have been reproduced in colourful formats in line with the authority’s branding requirements.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is outstanding. The authority have a dedicated equalities co-ordinator; they have visited the home to develop awareness and understanding of responsibilities in respect of equality impact assessments. The home also have a nominated equalities champion on the staff team. Young people are treated equitably in all aspects of opportunity and access to services. Festivals and different faiths are explored through meals, trips out and evoke discussions about children and young people from different cultures and countries to illustrate the differences. Staff have received training in equality and diversity.

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Organisation

There is a longstanding, dedicated, committed, and enthusiastic staff team. Staff are very positive about the support and training offered to them by the management team in the home. The number of staff holding the required qualifications exceeds the 80 per cent cited in the national minimum standards. There is excellent access to training and a sample of training undertaken in the last 12 months includes; equality and diversity, team teach, sexual exploitation, mental health, domestic violence, promoting resilience, working with young people who display sexually harmful behaviour and E safety communicating with children and young people.

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Organisation

Regular monitoring takes place in the home by the manager, these reports have been revised and improved, however, there is no clear system in place to identify and rectify shortfalls, in this case staff recruitment records. There is a good development plan for the home. The plan has clear links to the authority's strategic plan for their looked after children.

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Organisation

Young peoples files are well organised and accessible; they are stored in a confidential manner and comply with requirements.

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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

27 ensure that all staff have a complete employment history prior to commencing their employment (Regulation 26 (3)(d) and Schedule 2 (6)) 29/10/2010

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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 menus for individual young people demonstrate a healthy balanced diet (NMS 10.4)  ensure that all young people have written consent to medical treatment (NMS 13.4)  when disciplinary measures or restraint are used, ensure that young people are encouraged to write or have their views recorded and sign their names against them, in the records kept by the home (NMS 22.14)  ensure that discharge procedures incorporate procedures for young people being discharged in an emergency (NMS 5.4)  ensure placement plans reflect the day-to-day arrangements in respect of education arrangements. (NMS 2.2)

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