Children's Home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Staffordshire

Unique reference number SC005050 Inspection date 02/11/2010 Inspector Joanne Vyas Type of inspection Key

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Date of last inspection 16/02/2010 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 is a children's home that is part of a large organisation. The home provides care for five boys aged between 11 and 16 years old who have emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Brief description of the service

The home is a modernised and adapted farmhouse situated in a rural and remote location. On the ground floor there is a kitchen, dining room which also is also used as a games room, a lounge, three bedrooms, toilet facilities, a shower room and a staff office. On the first floor there are two bedrooms, a bathroom and a family room. Education can be offered on site as the home is now also a registered school, or at either of the two other educational facilities run by the organisation. The home has transport which, due to the location of the home, is used to take the young people out for social, educational, medical and leisure needs.

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Brief description of the service

Staffing is dependent on the needs of young people and occupancy levels. When there is full occupancy there are three staff on duty during waking hours, one sleeping-in staff and one waking night staff. There are on-call arrangements.

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Brief description of the service

There are five young people currently living at the home.

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Summary

The overall quality rating is outstanding.

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Summary

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

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Summary

At this full unannounced inspection all key standards were inspected. This is an outstanding service. Young people’s welfare is enhanced by the positive relationships that exist between staff and young people, and between young people and their peers. There is a strong focus on meeting the needs of each individual young person including supporting and encouraging them to value themselves and each other. The promotion of equality and diversity is outstanding throughout the standards inspected. The staff team are highly qualified, caring and competent. They are committed to work in partnership with families, social workers and external agencies to promote a child centred approach to care and education. The young people are protected by robust recruitment, health and safety procedures. The Registered Manager has a strong commitment and focus on improvement. However, minor shortfalls were identified with regards to the medication procedures.

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Improvements since the last inspection

No actions or recommendations were made at the previous inspection.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people are encouraged to eat a variety of home cooked meals that are healthy and nutritious. They enjoy their meals. Mealtimes are a relaxed and sociable occasion where all staff and young people sit down at the dining table together. There is plenty of food on offer. Young people decide on the menu at each weekly house meeting. They are encouraged to try foods from different countries and cultures. They help shop for and cook meals. All staff have undertaken a food hygiene course as well as some young people.

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Helping children to be healthy

Staff are focussed and committed to ensuring a high quality provision for health care for young people living at this home. They are proactive and responsive to the emotional and health care needs of the young people. All young people are registered with doctors, dentists and opticians. They have access to a variety of healthcare professionals including mental health services. They also have a qualified play therapist who provides them with regular therapy sessions as and when they are required. The home regularly accesses drug and alcohol workers and provides good support to successfully help young people to stop smoking. Each young person has a comprehensive health plan which is up to date and states separate health needs including those arising from cultural needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

The safe handling of medication is well managed in this home. The home only use prescribed medication and there is very little of this. Staff receive training in the safe handling of medication. Medication is accurately recorded, received and disposed of appropriately. The medication cupboard is secure. However, procedures for the storage and recording of controlled drugs could be improved. Additionally, staff currently make up home leave medication for young people. This is called secondary dispensing and can lead to errors. Staff also handle medication without the use of gloves. This can be detrimental to their own health as well as being unhygienic. All accidents are documented but any first aid given is not recorded. All staff are trained in first aid and renew their training as appropriate.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The safety of young people is prioritised in this home. Young people are safe and feel safe. Staff have a good knowledge of the bullying policy and ensure all bullying behaviour is immediately addressed. Staff carry out work with young people to help them understand, accept and value difference in others. Procedures for young people missing from the home are good and incidents are clearly reduced the longer a young person lives at this home. Concerns raised by parents or young people are appropriately and swiftly resolved. The home's recruitment procedures are robust, ensuring all safeguarding checks for new staff are carried out. Young people are involved in interview processes for new staff ensuring their views about potential staff are paramount. All visitors sign in to the home and must show identification. Staff view young people positively and there is a relaxed, family atmosphere where staff and young people enjoy each others company. Staff have all received training in

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

physical intervention but rarely use it. Young people are aware of the rules and boundaries and say these are fair. They are rewarded for good behaviour and given sanctions when behaviour is poor. They are given opportunities to earn back anything that is taken away and this could be seen in action as young people tried to negotiate with staff. Staff provide a nurturing environment where young people feel cared for and safe. A social worker said, 'They have been very helpful towards my young person in helping them to understand how to feel safe and behave in a way that keeps them safe.' Offending behaviour in young people has been drastically reduced as well as incidents of police involvement. Behaviour that challenges is managed competently, consistently and professionally.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The privacy of young people is respected by staff. The living arrangements provide space where they can relax and easily find privacy away from other if they wish. Staff ensure the privacy and dignity of the young people, for example, the home has a family room where young people can meet in private with their visiting families. All records are kept confidentially. Young people's issues are not discussed openly.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has comprehensive risk assessments for all aspects of safety of the premises and grounds including young people’s behaviour and activities. These assessments have taken into account the daily activities in and outside the home. There is a satisfactory fire risk assessment. All staff are given fire safety training and fire drills are carried out regularly. Fire safety equipment is checked as appropriate and a detailed record kept. The safety of young people is promoted by an established health and safety policy.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff are positive in their approach to education and its value for young people. It is an intrinsic part of life at the home. Care and teaching staff work closely together to ensure consistency of practice to enhance the quality of care provided. Young people can attend the on-site school or mainstream education. For those who do not attend the home's on-site school, they are transported to and from their placement and fully supported with their educational needs. Young people attend education, where previously, prior to living at this home, they hadn't and make clearly evidenced progress. Staff engage young people in activities which promote their learning enabling them to make positive choices about their future such as college placements.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Individual support is comprehensively detailed in each young person's placement plan. Observations and discussions with staff demonstrate that staff ensure each young person's individual needs are fully addressed, for example, young people are fully funded to receive private lessons to learn new skills such as swimming. The practical individual support is reflected in the variety of planning documentation that is in place. This includes identifying any religious and cultural needs a young person may have. The staff know the young people well and are knowledgeable of their individual needs and the implications this has for their care.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The Statement of Purpose clearly sets out the home’s admission policy. Young people are supported during the admission process and when leaving the home. A social worker was complimentary about the home's admission procedures. Staff carefully consider group dynamics when admitting a new young person.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff provide a high standard of care to young people and meet their individual needs with the knowledge and understanding they have of them. A comprehensive care plan and risk assessments are in place for each young person. Key workers discuss the care plan with their key young person each month as part of the review process, ensuring young people are fully involved in decisions made about their care. Parents and social workers are consulted about the care plans and subsequent reviews. Any changes to the care plans are effectively communicated to the staff team. Young people complete a life story book and memory book to help them make sense of their past and to help them remember important events such as family birthdays. This, in turn, helps them to rebuild relationships with their families. The needs and aspirations of young people are accurately identified and met, leading to impeccable progress. They are supported to engage with education, reflect on their

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Helping children make a positive contribution

behaviour and develop coping strategies, foster relationships with their families and make plans and have aspirations for their future.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people meet weekly with staff to discuss any issues or suggestions they may have, for example, activities, or the menu. Their views and wishes are clearly listened to and have led to an improved and child-centred home. Young people recognise that staff are supportive in helping and guiding them towards making positive decisions for themselves. They are relaxed in the company of staff and are quick to approach them with any issues they may have.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Staff encourage young people to carry out a variety of tasks independently or with support. These include personal hygiene, cooking, shopping and cleaning. Young people are rewarded for carrying out these tasks. They can also gain awards in independent living skills. Each young person's placement plan clearly identifies independence work young people are encouraged to carry out. This work develops their confidence, abilities and understanding to enable them to achieve their right to growing independence. Staff provide a consistent and committed approach to enabling young people's successful transition into adulthood. Young people live in a homely environment with good quality furnishings. There is an adequate amount of communal space. The young people have good facilities. They have single bedrooms. Communal areas are personalised with photographs of young people and their achievements. The home is clean, tidy and well maintained.

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Organisation

The values and ethos of the home are clearly set out in the Statement of Purpose and young people's guide. The commitment to promoting equality and diversity is explicit in this information.

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Organisation

Staff training is fully supported by the organisation. An annual programme covers mandatory training which all staff are expected to undertake. Most staff have qualified to a National Vocational Qualification at Level 3 in the Care of Children and Young People. This is a very positive and enabling staff team who have developed mutually respectful relationships with the young people. Staff are qualified, caring and competent and feel well supported.

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Organisation

There are good staffing levels to meet the needs of young people. A record of staff shifts is maintained on the home's rota. Staff hand over meetings ensure that each shift is appropriately planned and issues arising from earlier are competently communicated.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is outstanding. Evidence supports a strong commitment to improving equality and diversity in practice. The quality and detail of young people’s plans also supports this commitment. Young people receive an individual service in the home which is designed to meet their personal needs. All staff have in-depth knowledge of the young people they are working with to ensure their needs are consistently met.

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Organisation

It is clear that the Registered Manager ensures effective and rigorous monitoring of the home and has a strong commitment to improving practice further. A senior member of the organisation also visits the home on a monthly basis and reports on the conduct of the home. Young people's records are kept in good order and reflect all of the information necessary for staff to care and support them throughout their placement.

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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):  ensure there is a policy with written guidance, implemented in practice, for storing, disposing and administering medication. This specifically refers to the Registered Manager complying with the guidance from The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain on the storage and administration of controlled medication, secondary dispensing and the handling of medication (NMS 13.10)  ensure there is a written record of all first aid given to children (NMS 13.2)

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