Children's Home run by St Christopher’s Fellowship in Sandwell

Unique reference number SC404994 Inspection date 07/12/2010 Inspector Jacqui Gosling Type of inspection Key

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Date of last inspection 06/08/2010 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 one of a number of homes operated by the same organisation. The home has been set up as part of a tendering contract with a local council to provide care for no more than three children aged12 years to 16 years. The accommodation is a detached four-bedroom house and is situated in a residential area, with access to local facilities and amenities and is near to local bus routes.

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Brief description of the service

There are three bedrooms for young people. On the ground floor there is an office, a lounge and a dining room that also acts as a recreation/education room. There is a large kitchen which can also be used to dine in. There is also a laundry/utility room. At the rear of the house there is a large secluded garden and patio area. At the time of the inspection two young people were living there.

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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

At this unannounced full inspection all the key standards in all outcome areas were inspected. One young person took part in the inspection.

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Summary

There are appropriate arrangements for protecting and promoting the health of young people. The home provides a safe setting for young people. There are very good arrangements for consulting young people and involving them in decisions about their life and the everyday running of the home. Staffing levels are appropriate to the Statement of Purpose. The accommodation is homely and decorated and furnished to a good standard.

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Summary

The promotion of equality and diversity is good throughout all the standards inspected. The arrangements for monitoring the service and the care and welfare of young people is satisfactory. Seven good practice recommendations across all the outcome areas except economic wellbeing have been raised as a result of this inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

This is the first inspection since the home was registered in August 2010.

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Helping children to be healthy

There are appropriate arrangements for providing young people with a variety of healthy and nutritious meals that meet their individual dietary needs and preferences. Staff ask what young people would like and encourage them to help preparing and cook meals.

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Helping children to be healthy

Staff encourage the young people to attend their routine health appointments. Young people also have the additional resources and services they need. For example, the child and adolescent mental health service, in line with their assessed needs to promote their emotional well-being.

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Helping children to be healthy

Although, none of the young people are currently prescribed any medication, there are satisfactory arrangements in place for storing, administering and monitoring medication. There are suitable procedures covering the administration of medicines. For example, the home has obtained appropriate looked after child written consent for medical intervention should it become necessary and the administration of non prescription medicines. However, consent for the administration for first aid has not been obtained. Staff receive training in first aid training so they can met health needs of the young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff respect the privacy of young people. For example, they knock and ask permission before entering their bedroom. Written information about young people is handled confidentially. There are clear procedures for staff to follow should a room search be necessary.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are satisfactory procedures for managing complaints. Young people receive appropriate information and say that they know how to make a complaint and that staff deal with issues properly. There are clear procedures for safeguarding young people from abuse. Staff receive child protection training. This helps staff protect young people from abuse and ensure they respond appropriately to any allegation or suspicion of abuse. Young people say they 'feel safe living here'. The home has a clear bullying policy and sufficient staff are on duty to ensure the young people are appropriately supervised at all times.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are satisfactory procedures for responding to incidents where young people leave the home without consent. Staff follow these procedures and take appropriate action to keep young people safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are appropriate procedures and guidance for staff regarding how they should manage the behaviour of young people. All of the staff team have had training in positive handling techniques and records show that overall the staff team manage the young people's behaviour appropriately. However, there are some occasions when staff's negative rather than positive response to young people's teenage behaviour has exacerbated incidents rather than de-escalating the situation. This is not good childcare practice.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The systems in place to keep young people and adults safe from the risk of fire and other potential hazards are appropriate. Staff carry out regular fire drills and checks of the fire equipment. Appropriate service contracts are in place for fire and electrical equipment. Staff also carry out a range of recorded risk assessments covering, for example, general health and safety matters.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has appropriate procedures for making sure it only employs suitable people. There are suitable arrangements for monitoring and managing visitors to the home. These help ensure they do not have inappropriate access to young people.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staffing levels provide opportunities for staff to give young people support and assistance to meet their individual needs and wishes. Staff involve young people in decisions about their daily lives and plans for the future. Young people and staff interact well.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff have access to a range of information that identifies specific needs and support for each young person. A key worker system is in operation and a member of staff takes some responsibility for the delivery and monitoring of a young person’s care and support. Records also take account of potential needs in relation to a young person's diversity, such as identity, race, culture and religion.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

None of the young people currently attend mainstream education facilities. There are alternative arrangements in place for the young people but they do not offer the young people full time education opportunities. If the young people refuse to attend their education provision, the procedures in the home do not actively promote the value of education. Therefore, young people are not practically and emotionally supported to engage with education.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people are able to take part in a range of appropriate leisure activities. Young people are involved in choosing and planning these activities and suitable risk assessments are in place.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There are appropriate arrangements for when young people move into and leave the home and suitable procedures for this purpose. All young people have placement plan that sets out how the home will meet their assessed needs. However, when the young people do not engage in this process, there is no evaluation of the effectiveness of the placement in meeting their needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are not always involved in their statutory reviews but this is their choice.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff ensure that agreed family contact arrangements are supported. This includes providing transport where appropriate.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff are very good at supporting and enabling young people to be involved in making decisions about their daily lives and future. It is evident that staff take the views and opinions of young people seriously and where possible act upon them.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people are all supported to learn practical skills that will benefit them in later life. This is done at a pace that is appropriate to their individual needs. Young people help to choose menus and cook meals and are encouraged to keep their own rooms clean and tidy.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people benefit from living in a homely environment. There is an appropriate amount of accommodation that allows them the space to be either private or to spend time as a group. All young people have individual rooms which they are encouraged to personalise. Bathroom and toilet provision is appropriate and gives suitable levels of privacy to young people and staff. The interior and exterior of the home are appropriately maintained and the house is suitably furnished and kept clean and tidy.

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Organisation

Young people, parents, staff and placing authorities have access to a Statement of Purpose and young people's guide, which outlines the principles, practice and the services that they can expect from the home. However, the Statement of Purpose does not contain required staffing information.

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Organisation

There is an appropriate staffing structure in the home. The Registered Manager is appropriately qualified, experienced and provides appropriate leadership to the staff team and young people. The home has clear deputising arrangements in her absence with seniors leading the shifts. Staff duty rotas and the manner in which staff are deployed confirm that the home keeps sufficient staff on the duty rota at all times. Appropriate information systems are in place to ensure the team's training and development needs are met.

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Organisation

There are sufficient systems in place to monitor the daily lives of the young people currently living in the home. Regulation 33 visits are undertaken monthly to monitor the overall care and welfare of the young people. The reports assess the records and physical environment to ensure the home is a stable environment for young people. However, the reports are not always sent to Ofsted as required.

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Organisation

The manager undertakes quality monitoring of all the files and records as required. The home has implemented an appropriate system for obtaining the views of young people on the quality of care they receive while living at the home.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. The individual records of young people are of good quality and their needs, development and progress are recorded to reflect their individuality. Their files contain a range of information about young people's history and progress, which matches the requirements set out in Schedule 3 of the Children's Homes Regulations 2001.

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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

 obtain and retain on file prior written permission from a person with parental responsibility for each young person for the administration of first aid (NMS 13.4)  ensure measures of control and disciplinary measures are based on establishing positive relationships with young people and are designed to reduce the likelihood of negative behaviour becoming the focus of attention (NMS 22.3)  ensure for young people of compulsory school age who are not in school there is in place an educational programme during normal school hours and staff work with the placing authority to secure appropriate full-time educational provision (NMS 14.7)  ensure the placement plan for each young person sets out how the effectiveness of the placement is to be assessed overall and specifically in respect of the educational needs of young people (NMS 2.1)  ensure the Statement of Purpose provides all the information required in

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Recommendations

Schedule 1 of the Children's Homes Regulations, specifically the number, relevant qualifications and experience of persons working at the home (NMS 1.2)  ensure a copy of the Regulation 33 report is sent to Ofsted every month (NMS 32.1)  ensure all staff receive supervision at least monthly and new staff receive one to one supervision at least fortnightly during the first six months of their employment. (NMS 28.2)

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