Children's Home run by Headway Adolescent Resources Limited in Bristol

Unique reference number SC066250 Inspection date 11/11/2010 Inspector Wendy Anderson Type of inspection Key

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Date of last inspection 28/04/2010 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

This service is a three-bedded children’s home for young people of either sex who are aged 11 years to 18 years. It is located in a post-war house in a residential area. The home is decorated and furnished to a high standard. There is a pleasant garden to the rear of the building. There is a short walk from the home to bus services for the city centre. All shopping, utilities, essential services and schools are located in the nearby area.

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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 due to be a key inspection, however service currently not providing accommodation for young people. Our inspection methodology relies on evidence found at the time of inspection and this essentially includes users’ views about the service. As this evidence is not available when there are young people present we have completed a proportionate inspection; the purpose of which is to decide that should an admission be made the service would be able to work to a satisfactory standard. This involves an inspection of the policies and procedures linked with the key standards under being healthy, staying safe, achieving economic well-being and organisation. Due to this proportionate inspection is it not possible for a service to receive quality ratings higher than satisfactory.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection two actions were made. One was to ensure that there was a record kept of the extended tests that are carried out on the emergency lighting system and that the majority of the Regulation 33 visits are unannounced. Both of these have been implemented.

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Helping children to be healthy

The home's menus are varied and well balanced and the policy is to keep a written record of what each individual young person eats within their file. Young people are encouraged to have input into the menus, shopping and the preparation of the meals. There is also a programme in place to support and enable young people who are working toward independence. The home has records of fridge and freezer temperatures. These also contain any actions taken to ensure that the fridge or freezer remains within the recommended temperature range. There are robust policies and procedures in place to promote young people's health and well-being. There is a process of gathering information on young people’s medical needs and required consents prior to admission and this is regularly reviewed and updated. The young people are registered with a general practitioner and a dentist and routine check-ups are arranged. Where young people require

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Helping children to be healthy

specialist medical or therapeutic input a young person is assessed and the required service will be provided. Medication is appropriately stored and administered. Staff are trained in the administration of medication and first aid, which is frequently updated. Where young people wish self-medicate the general practitioner is consulted about the possible risks involved of a vulnerable young person self- medicating with the drug being currently prescribed. The home also carries out a risk assessment. There are robust systems in place for the recording of medication administered and any accidents and injuries.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home's policies and procedures protect young people and assist in providing them with a safe environment to live.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has an appropriate privacy and confidentiality policy. The bedrooms, bathrooms and toilets are fitted with the appropriate locks. There is a comprehensive policy and procedure concerning the searching of young people's rooms which is supported by detailed records.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has an robust complaints policy and staff receive training on how to support young people in making a complaint. There is also clear information in the young person's guide on how to make a complaint. The home’s record of complaints received was seen and this contained the appropriate information. There have been two complaints since the last inspection. These were well documented and responded to in an appropriate manner.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The bullying policy is comprehensive and includes detailed information and guidance on cyber bullying.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The safeguarding policy and procedure is clearly written and staff receive training in safeguarding as part of their induction process. There are also on-going refresher training courses for all staff. There are no on going safeguarding issues.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a comprehensive policy and procedure on behaviour management, sanctions, restraints and rewards. Any young people placed has an individual behavioural plan which identifies possible behaviours, potential triggers, de- escalation techniques to be used, and the level of physical restraint to be used. This is supported by a detailed risk assessment on individual young people which clearly identify risks, the level of risk and to whom, and methods and action to reduce such risks. These are reviewed and updated weekly. Records of incidents requiring physical restraint or sanctions are correctly recorded, providing a robust audit trail with clear descriptions of the behaviours which lead to the restraint or sanction. These also record the effectiveness of the restraint or sanction and the young people’s views. Both the sanction and restraint logs are regularly monitored by the manager and the Regulation 33 visitor. All staff are

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

appropriately trained in the home's preferred method of restraint. The most recent training on this was early in November 2010. The incident log at the home is clear and detailed. The home has the appropriate record of young people absent without authority. Where absconding is identified as an issue for a young person the home will carries out a specific risk assessment on this. The home has a good relationship with the local police.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has alarms fitted to the bedroom doors. This is documented in the home's Statement of Purpose which clearly details the policy and process for using these alarms, and includes a risk assessment.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has comprehensive records regarding fire issues and all the required checks are carried out at the required intervals. The fire risk assessment is comprehensive and includes the sites of all fire fighting equipment, exits, emergency lights and call points. There are frequent fire drills held at different times of the day. Staff receive formal updates to their fire awareness training.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has risk assessments for the premises including individual rooms. The home has an appropriate health and safety policy and procedure. The portable appliance testing of electrical equipment is overdue but a date has been arranged for this. This system ensures the young people live in an environment free from hazards.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a robust recruitment and vetting process for new staff to ensure young people are protected.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home has a warm and welcoming atmosphere. All parts of the interior of the building are decorated and furnished to a good standard. The bathroom and toilet facilities ensure privacy and are of a good standard. The garden has an array of well- cared for plants and shrubs. There is a summerhouse and a large garage. There is an abundance of games, books and recreational facilities within the home.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home has a robust admission and discharge policy and procedure, which includes the taking of emergency admissions. The manager is fully involved in this process and there was clear evidence of the manger refusing to take admissions as they were not appropriate in light of the needs of young people already in placement. The home maintains an admission and discharge register containing the appropriate information about young people.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

There is a robust policy, procedure and guidance for staff for preparing young people for adulthood. Pathway plans guidance covers all the required elements and the home will involve young people in all their individual plans. Staff will also provide support for young people once they have left where a need had been identified.

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Organisation

The home has an appropriate Statement of Purpose which sets out the work the home will undertake with the young people being placed there. There is also a guide for young people produced in a young person friendly format. These are reviewed on an annual basis.

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Organisation

The home is well managed and staffed by a competent staff group who are sufficient in number to meet the needs of residents. At the time of inspection the staff team have been deployed to either work in the providers other homes and/or decorate the home. Currently the home does not have 80% of its staff team who have gained the National Vocational Qualification at level 3 however staff have been enrolled on this course. The home has a good range of experience, skills and gender within the staff team. Staff training has a high profile in the home. Staff are encouraged and supported in their training needs and interests. There is clear evidence to support this on staff files. The staffing rota showed that there are always two staff on duty at night but usually three on during the day. The staff rotas incorporate handover times and team meetings.

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Organisation

Staff supervision and appraisals are happening at the required intervals and these are being carried out by the manager at the home as well as the managers at the homes where the staff have been deployed too. The home has a comprehensive staff induction programme in place which demonstrated that new staff are trained in all key areas of care work. The home has staff meetings every week when young people are accommodated there. These meetings look at individual young people, development of the home and any other related issues. These meetings have agendas to which the staff team are encouraged to contribute to.

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Organisation

The home is well monitored by the manager and the provider. Within the home's records there is clear evidence to support this monitoring. The Regulation 33 visits are consistently carried out at the required intervals and the majority of this are unannounced. These reports are well formatted and give clear guidance to staff on action required and are discussed at the weekly staff meetings. The manager carries out monthly Regulation 34 monitoring of the home's work which includes monitoring the home work against the homes statement of purpose. The home also carries out three monthly quality assurances with the social workers and other professionals who work with the home.

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Organisation

Currently as there are no young people accommodated there are no young people’s files to inspect. There is clear guidance to staff as to what is required to be kept in young peoples files.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. The home's commitment to equality and diversity is reflected in all the home's policies. The comprehensive care planning policy and guidance focuses on the identification of individual needs coupled with the staff developing a detailed knowledge of the young people they care for ensure young people receive a good service and have their needs met. Staff receive training in equality and diversity.

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