Children's Home run by First 4 Care Limited in Doncaster

Unique reference number SC390293 Inspection date 23/11/2010 Inspector Robert Curr Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 12/05/2010 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 setting provides up to three long-term placements for young people aged between 10 and 17 years. The accommodation consists of four single bedrooms and spacious communal areas for eating, studying and relaxing. The home is in a rural hamlet approximately five miles from the city centre. One of the main aims of the setting is to provide facilities to enable young people to achieve positive changes in their lives.

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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 interim inspection. Matters looked at during this visit relate to the outcome area of staying safe and recommendations made at the last inspection. Details of the previous recommendations are outlined in the improvement section of this report.

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Summary

The outcome area of staying safe is met and staff have a clear understanding about keeping young people safe from harm. Young people's privacy and confidentiality is respected by staff. Good systems exist for young people to be supported to raise any issue or concern they may have about their support in the setting.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the registered person was asked to take action in relation to aspects of organisation. These included staff training and creating a more established staff team.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The permanent staff team now offer continuity of staffing such that young peoples attachments are not overly disrupted.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Although some progress has been made in relation to staff training, National Vocational Qualification ratios do not meet current standards and some staff have still not had behaviour management training.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's privacy and dignity is respected in different ways. Information on young people is kept confidential, both within the home and when corresponding with outside agencies. Young people can have privacy whilst making telephone calls and they have use of their own mobile telephones. The house is large enough for young people to have private space to themselves should they want it.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Good practice and sound policies ensure that young people are effectively safeguarded. The staff team are trained and familiar with the implementation of child protection procedures. Young people are appropriately supervised and the deployment of staff on each shift emphasises this. There are clear guidelines in place for managing incidents of bullying, including support for the victim and perpetrator.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

When young people are absent without authority, staff have appropriate policies and procedures in place that detail action for staff to take. Records confirm that staff strive to obtain information about the whereabouts of a missing person to ensure their safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are also supported and encouraged to develop socially acceptable behaviour by the use of consequences and support. However, the dedicated books that hold the records of consequences are in a poor condition with loose pages. This could result in vital records becoming lost. Not all staff are trained in the use of behaviour management techniques.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has an effective complaints procedure. This includes information given to young people on how to make a complaint. All complaints are taken seriously, investigated within given timescales and young people are kept informed throughout.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Individual risk assessments are in place for minimising incidents of bullying and other known and likely activities of young people. Environmental risk assessments are also undertaken and routine checks are carried out on equipment around the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All fire drills, fire alarm tests and safety equipment checks are up to date. Professional technicians regularly service the electrical equipment and gas appliances. All of these actions help to promote the safety of young people in the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Visitors are welcomed into the home once they have satisfied staff of their identity and the purpose of their visit, and have signed the visitors book.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Thorough recruitment procedures ensure staff have the necessary checks carried out before they commence work in the home.

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Organisation

Staffing levels are sufficient and ensure that young people's need for consistent support and supervision are met.

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Organisation

The majority of staff have recently undertaken training in child protection and administering medication. However, training records are hard to retrieve. It is not clear who has had training in the various subjects.

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Organisation

The staff are in varying stages of achieving the National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People. Currently, the overall qualification recommendation is not met but appears to be on target.

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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

31 ensure all staff receive appropriate training, in particular, behaviour management training. (Regulation 27(4)(a)) 10/01/2011

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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

 maintain a dedicated bound and numbered book for recording any measures of control, discipline and restraint (NMS 22.10)  ensure a minimum ratio of 80% of all care staff complete a National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People or an equivalent (NMS 29.5)  maintain a comprehensive written record of all training for all staff working at the home. (NMS 31.4)

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