Children's Home run by Surrey County Council in Surrey

Unique reference number SC040638 Inspection date 15/12/2010 Inspector John Chivers Type of inspection Key

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Date of last inspection 12/01/2010 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 eight local authority children's homes and caters for eight young people of either gender. The home supports children and young people who present emotional and behavioural difficulties. The house is set in a residential area and is in easy walking distance of the local town centre and its amenities, which include a shopping centre, park and library. There are bus links near the home and there is a train station nearby.

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Brief description of the service

Five young people are currently resident in the home and two took a limited part in the inspection process, giving their views and opinions via discussion.

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Summary

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

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Summary

The inspection was a full inspection and unannounced. All of the key national minimum standards for children's homes were assessed on this occasion. The one action made at the last inspection was found to have been met in full and two recommendations are made as a result of this inspection. The home is organised and managed to a good professional standard and affords an equally good professional standard of care and support to the resident young people The staff have a clear regard for equality and diversity throughout all aspects of its operation.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the Registered manager was asked to: ensure the frequency of fire alarm tests are increased. Fire alarm tests are now carried out on a weekly basis and are recorded. This now enhances the home's fire safety arrangements for young people and staff.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people enjoy a balanced and healthy diet and any special medical, cultural or preferential diets are catered for. Young people are advised on aspects of healthy eating and help to shop for provisions and prepare meals. The home's catering arrangements meet the standards of the local environmental health department and staff are trained in food hygiene. Provisions are safely and correctly stored and freezer and refrigerator temperatures are taken and recorded. Young people's health and medical care is well managed, monitored and reviewed by staff. Staff encourage young people to live active and healthy life styles and inform them of the dangers of making inappropriate choices regarding their life styles. Any special ethnic health care needs are met as appropriate. Young people have detailed health and medical care histories on their individual files and clear and detailed health care profiles are held; however, signed parental consent for medical and

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Helping children to be healthy

emergency treatment is not held in all cases. All young people are registered with a local general practice and visits to the doctor and other health care professionals are clearly recorded.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people receive safe and diligent medical care from staff that are trained in first aid and medication administration. Medication is securely held in locked cabinets and records of medication entering and leaving the home are kept. Young people raise no issues regarding their health care.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are aware of the importance of confidentiality and confidential records are securely held in locked cabinets within locked offices. Young people are treated with dignity and their privacy is respected. Young people have lockable safes in their bedrooms in which to keep valued and treasured possessions and a telephone is available where they can make and receive telephone calls without reference to staff. Toilet and bathing facilities afford good privacy.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people and their parents have unrestricted access to the home's complaints procedure and any complaints are taken seriously, investigated thoroughly and record action taken and the outcome. Staff are trained in the area of complaints. Young people are aware of the complaints procedure and know how to make a complaint and who to complain to; however, they raise no concerns or complaints saying things are 'cool' in the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are protected from harm and abuse by staff that are trained in child protection and are alert to safeguarding issues. Staff are aware of the home's child protection procedures and where they can be accessed; staff have full regard for young people's protection and well-being. Young people learn about aspects of their personal safety via their individual schools curriculum and this is reinforced by staff in discussion and direct work with them. There are no current or ongoing child protection or safeguarding issues at the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Bullying is not a current issue in the home and any past such conduct has been immediately challenged and addressed by staff. Young people raise no concerns in this area. There is a detailed policy and procedure for when young people are missing and any unauthorised absences are clearly recorded; however this is not a significant issue currently.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's behaviour is well managed by staff that are trained in behaviour management and challenge unacceptable behaviour in a confident and professional manner. Despite the difficult and challenging conduct presented by some young people, staff remain committed and enthusiastic in their dealings with them. There are positive relationships between staff and young people with sound interaction and engagement evident. Young people generally respond positively to staff instructions and requests and raise no issues regarding the standard of discipline and behaviour management in the home. Sanctions and restraint are clearly recorded and are appropriate and necessary in the circumstances described in the records.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home takes active steps to keep young people, staff and visitors safe from the inherent risks of fire and other potential safety hazards. Standards of cleanliness and hygiene are high throughout the home and no safety hazards are evident in the areas of the premises accessed. Young people live in a safe and diligently monitored environment.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home's recruitment arrangements are robust and help to ensure only suitable staff are employed to look after the young people. Staff personnel files hold all required information including two written references and checks via the Criminal Records Bureau at enhanced level.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people receive a good standard of care and support from their key workers and other staff at the home. In addition further support is available from a range of external professionals as appropriate, including access to independent visitors. Key workers meet with young people on a regular basis and write monthly progress summary reports which are held on their individual files. Progress and issues are monitored and recorded on young people's placement plans and review reports. Staff work in a committed way and make commendable inputs into young people's holistic care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people benefit from a staff team that promotes their education and learning in out of school time and encourage and engage them in a range of sedentary and active pursuits. Staff encourage young people to complete homework and liaise closely with schools that young people attend. Copies of young people's individual education plans and school reports are held and staff are aware of and knowledgeable about these. However placing social workers have not forwarded copies of young people's individual education plans to the home in all cases.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people benefit from having clear and detailed placement plans which are monitored and reviewed on a regular basis. In addition there are detailed assessment reports, monthly summaries written by key workers and risk assessments held; these give staff and young people a clear picture of progress and issues regarding their placement.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Statutory reviews are held within the prescribed time scales. Key workers make a significant contribution to the review reports and attend reviews alongside the young people and their parents. Young people can make a verbal and written contribution to the review proceedings if they choose to.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The home has a clear admissions criteria, which can also include emergency admissions. The home's admissions process helps to ensure that only appropriate young people are admitted to the home. Currently all of the young people are within the home's remit in terms of their care planning and behaviour management. Young people usually leave the home in a planned way and have pathway plans in place which include independence and life skills training.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There are a range of forums where young people can express their views, opinions and exercise choice in matters that affect their daily lives. Such forums may be via one-to-one discussion with their key workers or group meetings which are held on a regular basis. Meeting minutes show agendas, matters discussed and decisions made. Questionnaires are also used to secure the views of young people and their parents.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people are usually prepared to leave the home or care in a planned way and follow agreed transition and pathway plans and independence training which helps equip them with the knowledge and skills for later life.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people receive pocket money on a sliding age scale and a clothing allowance and personal requisites allowance is provided.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people live in a safe and well-maintained environment and any wear and tear or damage is promptly scheduled for maintenance, repair and redecoration. Communal areas are decorated and furnished to a good standard, are homely, comfortable and provide adequate space for the young people. Young people's bedrooms are spacious, well equipped and personalised to varying degrees by their occupants. There are a range of books, games and recreational equipment available including computers. Toilet and bathing facilities are of a good standard and afford privacy.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. The home is organised and managed to a good professional standard and affords an equally good professional standard of care and support to the resident young people.

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Organisation

Young people and their parents are given sufficient information about the home via a detailed Statement of Purpose and young people's guide that accurately describes the service and facilities provided.

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Organisation

Young people receive a good professional level of care and support from a well trained, supervised and appraised staff team. The staff team have the necessary skills, experience and competencies to meet the needs of the young people and enable the home to achieve its aims and objectives. Staff are supportive of the home's management and ethos and confirm their training and supervision arrangements and that the home has a clear regard for equality and diversity. The management style is open and inclusive with sound communication between the staff team. Young people's individual files are organised and maintained to a very good standard and contain all statutory information.

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Organisation

The home's management team monitor the conduct of the home on a monthly basis and this is reinforced by monthly Regulation 33 visits. The combination of these activities act as a sound and effective quality assurance mechanism identifying good practice and issues. Parent and young people's questionnaires are also used to assist in this process. There is an annual development plan for the current year and a current insurance liability certificate is held that complies with the county council's responsibilities as an employer.

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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

 ensure prior written permission is obtained and retained on file from a person with parental responsibility for each young person, for the administration of first aid and appropriate non-prescription medication (NMS 13.4)  ensure any outstanding individual education plans are obtained from placing social workers or schools that young people attend. (NMS 14.2)

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