Children's Home run by Acorn Care (UK) Limited in Darlington

Unique reference number SC390751 Inspection date 27/10/2010 Inspector Bill Drumm Type of inspection Random

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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

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five young people of either sex, aged between 12 and 17 years old, who may be experiencing a range of social, emotional and behavioural problems.

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Brief description of the service

The home is a detached house with enclosed gardens to the front and rear. The house has three floors. The ground floor comprises a kitchen, dining room, lounge and another room used as a staff office. There is also a staff office on the ground floor. On the first floor, there are four bedrooms and bathing facilities. On the second floor, there are two further bedrooms used by young people. Each young person has their own single bedroom.

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Brief description of the service

The home is close to local shops. Bus routes are nearby if young people wish to visit the town centre with larger shops and leisure facilities.

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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 an unannounced interim inspection of the home. The outcome area for young people in the area of staying safe was inspected and found to be satisfactory. The action and recommendations made at the previous inspection were also looked at and were found to have been met. Young people receive good levels of help and support from a trained and competent staff team. Care planning arrangements are good and young people are consulted about the care they receive. The home's records are maintained to a good standard and all information relating to young people is kept safe and secure. The home is well managed and the outcomes for young people remain satisfactory.

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Summary

Five young people currently live at the home, four of whom were present during the inspection and who contributed to the inspection process.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection the home's manager has ensured that each young person has an up-to date and accurate health care plan. In addition, the manager has undertaken a countering bullying risk assessment of the times, places and circumstances where bullying might occur. The countering bullying risk assessment is regularly reviewed. Each member of the staff team has supplied information to explain any gaps they may have had in their employment history. Young people who are old enough have up-to-date personal education plans and a review of their needs is regularly undertaken.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people living at the home have had their individual health care needs fully identified and reviewed. Each young person has a health care plan which outlines what their physical and emotional needs are and what support they may need. Young people are supported and encouraged to attend all meetings and appointments with health care professionals. Members of staff have all attended first aid training. The health care needs of young people are promoted.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Members of staff are pleasant and friendly towards all the young people living at the home. The home has policies and procedures in place, which explain what action members of staff should take when it is necessary to search a young person's bedroom. A small number of room searches have been carried out since the last inspection. The reason for these searches appear reasonable. However, written records relating to any room searches that have taken place do not always record the time the search was carried out or the comments of the young person themselves. Personal information relating to each young person is stored securely to prevent unauthorised access. Young people living at the home are treated with dignity and respect.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are policies and procedures in place for dealing with complaints in an effective and timely manner. The young people's guide provides clear information to young people about the complaints process. Young people were observed at the time of the inspection to speak freely and honestly with all members of staff and to make their needs known. Not all members of staff have received training in the complaints process. However, this training has been scheduled to take place in the near future. Young people know how to complain if they are unhappy with any aspect of living at the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A copy of the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures is available in the home. Copies of the safeguarding procedures of placing authorities are also available within the home. There has been no child protection referrals made since the last inspection. All members of staff working at the home have undertaken training in child protection and the welfare of young people is promoted. It is unclear whether the home's gardener and maintenance man have appropriate Criminal Records Bureau clearance. Young people living at the home may not, therefore, be fully protected from exploitation and abuse.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has policies and procedures in place with regard to countering bullying and all members of staff have received training in countering bullying. The young people's guide to the home includes clear information for young people about what action they should take if they feel they are being targeted by bullies. Information about independent agencies that can help young people, if they feel they are being bullied, is available within the home. The manager of the home has written a countering bullying risk assessment. The risk assessment outlines the times, places and circumstances where bullying might occur and is regularly reviewed. Young people are protected from bullying.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There have been a number of occasions since the last inspection when young people have been absent without authority, and the home has policies and procedures in place with regard to what action members of staff should take if a young person is missing. Procedures comply with national minimum standards and provide clear guidance for staff action, particularly when a young person returns to the home after being missing. Each young person has a risk assessment in place, which outlines whether or not they are likely to run away, and any specific action members of staff should take in order to keep them safe. Young people are responded to positively on their return.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has policies and procedures in place relating to the safe holding or restraint of young people, and members of staff have received appropriate training. Restraint records are retained within a separate bound and numbered book used specifically for that purpose. The written records do not fully comply with national minimum standards. No record is retained to show that a young person has been offered a medical examination within twenty four hours of any incident where they have been held or restrained. There have been a small number of restraints used within the home since the last inspection. The home also has policies and procedures in place, which relate to the sanctions members of staff are permitted to use to help young people modify their behaviour. Sanction records have been completed appropriately.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are protected from fire and other hazards within the home. There are good systems in place to ensure that young people, members of staff and visitors to the home are kept safe and free from hazards. Fire drills are carried out at regular intervals and these include some undertaken at night. Risk assessments are undertaken on the known and likely activities carried out by young people. These risk assessments are thorough and help to protect young people from the risk of accident or injury.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There have been no new appointments to the staff team at the home since the last inspection. Written records show that thorough and detailed checks are carried out to ensure that all members of staff are suitable to work with young people. A review of the home's existing procedures has been carried out and all members of staff have been asked to clarify any gaps they may have in their employment history. Young people living at the home are provided with physical safety and security and are protected from being exposed to potential abusers.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people living at the home attend school, college or training. Personal education plans are in place for those who require them. In addition, young people living at the home are actively encouraged and supported to develop their own hobbies and interests.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Written records retained within the home show that the needs of young people are formally reviewed at regular intervals and within agreed timescales. The changing needs of young people are highlighted and appropriate action taken. The home's manager, members of staff and young people themselves regularly attend these meetings. The needs of young people living at the home are regularly reviewed.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

No young people currently living at the home are yet old enough to have a formal pathway plan to aid their transition into adulthood.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people enjoy homely accommodation that is decorated, furnished and maintained to a very high standard. Members of staff help to maintain the building and to keep it clean and tidy. Young people living at the home are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms and are encouraged to keep their home clean and tidy.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Members of staff support and enable young people to participate in community based activities on an equal basis and to develop their own identity. All members of staff have attended equality and diversity training. The Statement of Purpose has recently been reviewed and accurately describes what young people can expect from living at the home. However, further review is necessary to fully clarify the experience staff members have. Young people know what services they can expect from the home.

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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

 review the documentation used within the home for recording when a room search has been carried out (NMS 9.8)  ensure that all those who work at the home and who may have unsupervised access to young people have an up to date Criminal Records Bureau check (NMS 17.8)  review the home's restraints records to ensure they fully comply with national minimum standards (NMS 22.13)  review the home's Statement of Purpose to ensure it fully reflects the experience of staff members. (NMS 1)

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