Children's Home run by Right-Trak Limited in Newcastle upon Tyne

Unique reference number SC394909 Inspection date 26/11/2010 Inspector Stephen Graham Type of inspection Random

p.1

Date of last inspection 11/05/2010 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

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.

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.3

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.

p.3

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

p.3

Brief description of the service

The home provides care and accommodation for up to six young people aged between 10 years and 17 years old. The property is situated in a residential area within a short walking distance of a range of local amenities. There is easy access to public transport. Young people benefit from individual bedrooms, shared bathrooms, lounge, kitchen/dining room, as well as a large rear enclosed yard and patio.

p.4

Summary

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

p.4

Summary

The purpose of this unannounced visit was an interim inspection to sample some key national minimum standards. The inspection examined outcomes for young people in the area of staying safe. In addition, progress with the recommendation made at the previous inspection with regard to being healthy was also examined.

p.4

Summary

Outcomes for the areas assessed and the overall quality rating are good. Five shortfalls were identified as a result of this inspection; these relate to aspects of recording and documentation, which only impact in a limited way on the well-being and safety of young people.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

At the previous inspection, one action and five recommendations were made to improve practice in the outcome areas of being healthy and staying safe. All but one of these has been satisfactorily addressed. The one outstanding recommendation relating to missing person records is repeated from this visit.

p.4

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has good arrangements in place to help make sure that young people are cared for safely. There is written guidance in place regarding staff entering and searching bedrooms, if this is necessary, to help keep children safe. Improvements have been made in the recording of those searches undertaken. The records now clearly demonstrate that young people have been made aware of the reasons for each search and the outcome. Young people receive written guidance and are supported by staff to access and contribute to their care records. Written guidance is also provided to staff about how they should complete case records and keep them safely stored.

p.4

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff members check to make sure that any visitors to the home are suitable. They supervise visitors to help ensure that both they and the young people who live in the home are safe when they are present. A CCTV system has been introduced to help monitor the front door of the home and improve safety for young people and staff. However, details of this are not included in the current Statement of Purpose for the home or recorded in the placement plan of each young person living at the home. Checks are undertaken on staff to ensure that they are suitable to work with children. However, the records of these are not always sufficiently detailed to demonstrate the thoroughness of the checks completed.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Arrangements for safeguarding young people from abuse are good. The staff team receive regular safeguarding training. There are good systems in place to help monitor the safety of young people and respond to any incidents. The staff team work closely with placing social workers to help keep young people safe. They complete detailed risk assessments, in partnership with social workers and young people to help achieve this. If young people are ever missing staff have agreed procedures to follow to make sure they are found and kept safe as quickly as possible. A written record is kept of each absence and any known reasons for this. However, this record is not always fully completed and does not always demonstrate clearly whether the young person has been seen by their social worker or someone independent of the home following their return. Clear guidance is provided to staff to help them protect young people from bullying. A record is kept of any instances that

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

may occur at the home and the action staff may take in response to them.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people receive clear information about how they can complain if they were ever unhappy living at the home. Complaints' records are monitored regularly. However, the arrangements for the registered provider to monitor these each month are currently not effective. There are procedures in place which are used by staff to help children develop socially acceptable behaviour. Agreed sanctions can be imposed and reparation can be taken for any damage caused. Restraints can also be used at the home if this is necessary to help keep young people safe. Accredited training in this is provided to staff. The guidance provided regarding the detail of recording needed within the restraints log has been improved.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Risk assessments and health and safety checklists are used by staff to help ensure that the home is a safe place for children to live. Routine checks are completed on the building and the safety equipment that might be needed in an emergency. However, some of these checks are not completed at the agreed frequency. The staff team receive training in fire safety. They know what to do if there is an emergency and they practise this with the children.

p.5

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.

p.6

Std. Action Due date

26 ensure that the CCTV system used at the home to help safeguard young people is described clearly in the Statement of Purpose and within each placement plan (Regulation 22 (a)(b)) 30/01/2011

p.6

Std. Action Due date

27 ensure that all required information is obtained and maintained for reference within staff files.(Regulation 26(3)) 30/01/2011

p.6

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s):  ensure that the missing persons records include full details of each event and the responses made to it (NMS 19.4)  ensure that routine checks undertaken on fire safety equipment occur at the agreed regularity (NMS 26.8)  ensure that the record of complaints is monitored and checked each month.(NMS 32.2)

p.6