Children's Home run by North Yorkshire County Council in North Yorkshire

Unique reference number SC034235 Inspection date 28/09/2010 Inspector Michael McCleave Type of inspection Key

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Date of last inspection 02/11/2009 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 is a local authority children's home and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six young people of either gender, aged from 13 years old up to 17 years old, who have emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Brief description of the service

The home is a detached property, situated within a short distance of local amenities and public transport facilities. Downstairs, there is a kitchen, an open plan dining room, kitchenette and lounge, a games room and quiet room/meeting room. Upstairs, there are six single bedrooms, two bathrooms, computer room and another lounge/meeting room.

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Brief description of the service

There is a driveway, car parking space and surrounding gardens.

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Summary

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

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Summary

At this unannounced full inspection all key standards were inspected.

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Summary

This is a home that is well managed. The young people are supported by a team of staff who demonstrate a positive commitment to ensuring their welfare. It is commendable that through using the restorative justice approach, staff engage with young people to examine their behaviour in a mature and responsible way. This encourages the young people to reflect on their actions and to understand the effect of their behaviour on others.

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Summary

Safeguarding the young people is a priority and staff are aware of their responsibilities to keep the young people safe. Importantly the young people say they feel safe living at this home.

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Summary

A new project attached to the home enables young people to experience independent living with high level support in preparation for the time when they leave care. This is a valued resource that is appreciated by young people who want to work towards their independence.

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Summary

The management team provide effective oversight of the operation of the home and ensure that staff are supported.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The young people are now actively encouraged to have a greater awareness of diversity issues through the weekly world food nights. This has proved to be very popular.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Strong links have been established with the local hospital nutrition department to improve the approach to healthy meals.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The young people are positively supported to achieve their potential through education, with the appointment of a staff member who has responsibility for education matters. This role is being developed and the member of staff concerned has formed some very positive links with the education service.

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Helping children to be healthy

Staff adopt a proactive approach to encouraging the young people to take care of their health through eating healthy meals. Most young people when they initially move into the home, have poor diets and staff work with the young people to change their eating habits. This has proved particularly successful and the menu planning involving young people reflects this positive change. This is commendable. Staff are aware of those young people on special diets relating to health or religious needs. All staff have completed food hygiene training and strong professional links have been established with a nutritionist at the local hospital who reviews the menus. This is excellent practice. Young people commented that, 'the food here is good' and confirmed that choices are available. Of particular note are the weekly world food nights that have proved to be very popular. The young people are actively involved in choosing a country to study. They carry out extensive research

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Helping children to be healthy

on the culture and cuisine of that country. Much use is made of pictures and written materials depicting customs, the national dress, the language spoken and the foods from that country. Not only does this enable the young people to prepare and enjoy the meal, it encourages a more enlightened outlook on different cultures. This is an excellent demonstration of equality and diversity.

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Helping children to be healthy

Individual health needs are clearly identified in case files. This information details how the specific and general health issues of young people are to be addressed. Where specialist medical resources are required, staff ensure that the appropriate health providers are notified. There are excellent links established with various health professionals. These include the looked after nurse, child and adolescent mental health service and a nutritionist at the local hospital. The manager at the home attends key health service meetings representing the needs of the young people. This is excellent practice. The health needs of the young people are very well met. Staff encourage and support the young people to take an interest in looking after their health. This includes participating in activities that promote physical health such as canoeing, abseiling, and rock climbing at an outward bound activity centre.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff ensure that the privacy of the young people is respected, for example, it is normal practice for staff to knock on bedroom doors before entering. All young people have a key to their bedroom. They have access to quiet rooms where they can meet with their families or social worker in private. All confidential information stored in the office is locked away and cannot be accessed by unauthorised persons.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is a complaints procedure in place. A very informative and colourful complaints form is available and this is designed so that young people can easily understand how to make a complaint. They are able to contact someone from outside of the home if they have any concerns, and this information is included in the welcome pack of information given to all young people when they initially move into this home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The staff have a clear understanding of child protection procedures. The staff work with the young people on risk-taking behaviour to alert them to dangers they may be exposed to in the community, criminal activity and drugs. The Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures are accessible and all staff have completed appropriate safeguarding training. There is a whistle-blowing policy in place, which provides guidance on reporting concerns. The young people said they feel safe in the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The staff deal promptly with any bullying issues that may arise. The restorative approach rather than sanctions is used to deal with any bullying incidents. There is information on anti-bullying available for staff including training. This information is freely available in the social areas of the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are procedures in place if a young person goes missing without consent. However, the incidents of young people who absent themselves from the home without authority are few. The more common incidents involve young people not returning to the home at agreed times.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Although all staff have received formal training in behaviour management, including restraint, this approach is rarely used. Staff base their management of behaviour on discussion using restorative practice. It is evident that young people benefit from this approach and by having clear and consistent boundaries. This is very good practice. The young people say that the system of sanctions is fair at the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home provides a safe environment for the young people to live in. The maintenance for electrical installations, fire alarm system, and portable appliances testing is up to date. Fire drills are held regularly including full evacuation of the home, and staff have attended training in fire awareness. There are risk assessments completed for activities undertaken by the young people and for the building and grounds.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home operates a robust recruitment and selection policy whereby all applicants for employment are required to have full clearances before being appointed to a post at the home. These measures promote the safety of the young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is a good safeguarding culture at the home. Staff are fully aware of their responsibilities to ensure that the young people are protected from any harm or risk to their well-being.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The support given to the young people is excellent. Their coordinator is responsible for ensuring that all aspects of care and support are provided. Staff support them with their plan and to achieve positive outcomes during their time at the home. The individual situation of each young person is closely monitored by staff in order to determine if extra support or resources are required. The home has established very positive links with the various health care service providers enabling access to resources as required. This is excellent practice and additionally demonstrates a positive approach to equality and diversity. Young people are actively supported and encouraged to increase their self-confidence through participation in physical activities. The strong support given to the young people positively promotes their care and well-being.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The promotion of education among the young people is a strong feature at the home. A member of staff who is a qualified teacher, has lead responsibility for ensuring that young people are provided with the support and encouragement to achieve positive outcomes from their education. Staff work with young people to teach them how to conduct themselves at interviews for future employment and how to write a curriculum vitae (CV). This is excellent practice. During out of school time, staff organise visits to places of educational interest. During a recent visit to London the young people were given responsibility to plan the travel arrangements around the city. These young people have rarely ventured from the local region and the experience was challenging as well as being enjoyable. This is commendable.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people each have a placement plan that details how their needs are to be addressed. They are supported by the staff who ensure the requirements of the care plan are implemented. Young people are consulted regularly about their plan. They meet regularly with their coordinator to assess how outcomes are being achieved. This is good practice. Consulting with young people is common practice at the home. Staff are positive about listening to young people and gaining their views on a variety of issues, including plans for their care, talking to them about how the home is run and helping them to make decisions on matters that affect them directly. This approach encourages the young people to feel that they have a stake in the life of the home. Young people are aware of and are involved in their statutory reviews. They attend their reviews and have an opportunity to make their wishes and feelings known. Staff

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Helping children make a positive contribution

ensure that good effective consultation takes place with the young people to ensure that they participate fully in decisions about their lives.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are provided with practical support to ensure contact with family and friends is maintained. Staff have an important role to assist in the organisation of these contact arrangements. The home provides appropriate facilities to enable young people to maintain contact with their friends and families.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

All admissions to the home are planned in advance involving the young person and where possible, their family. Visits are encouraged before they move in and the pace of admission is centred around the young person to make the transition as smooth as possible. Staff recognise the sensitivity required during admissions and discharges from the home.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Staff provide good support for any young person leaving care or moving on to another placement. The young people learn skills through taking part in the daily tasks at the home, such as shopping for food, domestic skills through keeping their bedroom tidy and learning about how to budget. The independence project enables young people to experience living on their own with staff support. Staff work with other professionals to ensure that a pathway plan is developed with the young person, identifying what skills and support will be required.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The location of the home is convenient for schools, leisure facilities, public transport and shops. Although somewhat institutional in design, the décor and furnishings are to a high standard. The young people have their own individual bedrooms and these are comfortably furnished and decorated. Bathroom facilities are clean and well maintained. There is a large garden to the side and rear of the house where the young people enjoy the space to play active games such as football.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is outstanding. All young people have an equalities impact assessment on arrival. This provides a full and comprehensive picture of each young person including their religious and cultural needs, abilities, self-confidence and maturity. The staff have a proactive approach to enhancing the potential of young people through positive support and encouragement, thereby enabling them to overcome the limitations of their social backgrounds. The positive promotion of education is a strong feature at this home. Excellent work has been undertaken to develop links with schools and colleges. The young people are encouraged to have a greater awareness of other cultures through world food nights held at the home. Equality and diversity are enhanced among staff by having this as a standing agenda item at staff meetings. Young people are treated with respect and encouraged to achieve their potential through a variety of activities and with the

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Organisation

The Statement of Purpose gives a clear indication of what the young people and their parents can expect from the home. This document provides information about the purpose of the home and identifies the skills and experience of the staff.

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Organisation

The staffing numbers at the home are appropriate to ensure that young people are well cared for and to maintain the safety of staff and young people.

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Organisation

The staff enhance their skills through regular training. They are trained to National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) at level 3 in caring for children and young people and 90% now hold this qualification. The manager and group leaders are qualified to NVQ at level 4 in management. The team of staff are clearly enthusiastic about their work with the young people. Formal supervision and appraisal systems are in place to ensure that staff competences are monitored and that support is provided by managers. Opportunities are used during staff meetings to provide in-house training through dissemination of information associated with residential care and safeguarding. This is good practice.

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Organisation

Standards of care provided for young people are regularly monitored by the management team. This is enhanced with the regulatory monthly monitoring visits by a member of the local authority not employed at the home. In addition the manager produces a six-monthly progress report on the operation of the home. This report identifies any trends that are evident. The management team provide effective oversight of the day-to-day operations and ensure that staff are appropriately supported in their duties. The young people's case records contain the required information and these are kept secure within the main office.

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