Children's Home run by East Riding of Yorkshire Council in East Riding of Yorkshire

Unique reference number SC035543 Inspection date 13/12/2010 Inspector Nicola McEvinney Type of inspection Key

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Date of last inspection 10/03/2010 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 children's home is a large three storey, detached house set in a residential area. The town centre, with all associated amenities and shops, is a short walking distance from the home. The home is owned by a local authority, and can provide residential care for up to six young people of either gender, aged between 14 years and 17 years on admission.

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Brief description of the service

All young people have their own bedrooms, situated on the first and second floors. There are sufficient bathrooms to meet the needs of the young people.

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Brief description of the service

There is a large lounge, a separate dining room and a newly refurbished kitchen. The home also has a computer area, a laundry room and good sized gardens.

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Summary

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

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Summary

The purpose of this unannounced full inspection was to evaluate the home against the national minimum standards.

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Summary

This is a good home with some outstanding features. The staff team are clearly committed to the young people they care for; they celebrate their achievements and support those young people when they are going through some difficulties. Young people recognise the support they receive, saying, ' they make this place just like it would be in your own home, they are great at listening. Overall the staff make it a great place to live. An amazing environment to live just like a family home; loving, caring and heart warming'.

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Summary

Staff have a good understanding of safeguarding issues and young people are kept safe. The home is embarking on an independence training programme to equip young people with the necessary skills to live independently.

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Summary

Young people are given opportunities to experience a range of outward bound activities that enrich their lives and build their self esteem, for example, rock climbing, kayaking and survival skills.

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Improvements since the last inspection

There were no requirements or recommendations made at the last inspection.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people are provided with healthy and nutritious meals. The home employs a cook who prepares the main meal of the day and she devises the menus which are discussed at young people's meetings. All likes and dislikes are taken into consideration and alternatives are provided. Young people are encouraged to help with meal preparation, although this is not done routinely. Young people have free access to the kitchen and are able to make drinks and snacks when they choose.

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Helping children to be healthy

Care plans set out young people's health needs with guidance to staff to ensure that these needs are met. All outcomes of appointments with doctors, dentists and opticians are recorded ensuring that there is a clear medical history. Details of immunisations are maintained and any required are arranged, ensuring young people are protected against a number of communicable diseases. The looked after nurse and sexual health co-ordinator attend the home regularly. The sexual health co- ordinator undertakes question and answer sessions for the young people to ensure they have good information and are given appropriate guidance. The consent to emergency first aid and the administration of non-prescribed medication has been obtained from the person who holds parental responsibility.

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Helping children to be healthy

Medication records are in good order, any omissions with the reason why are clearly recorded. There are sufficient staff who hold a first aid certificate to ensure that a first aider is on duty at all times.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's files are kept securely to ensure confidentiality. Young people are spoken to about the appropriateness of their dress, they are provided with dressing gowns and pyjamas to ensure that their dignity is preserved.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

An individual from a children's rights organisation is a regular visitor to the home and acts as an advocate for young people. Young people know how to make a complaint and are confident that they would be listened to.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The staff team have an excellent understanding of safeguarding issues and are proactive in ensuring young people are kept safe. Disclosures are dealt with sensitively and young people are given support to explore their emotions. Staff are vigilant in monitoring computer access although they are slightly hampered by young people accessing the internet on their personal mobile phones. Young people are given guidance about keeping themselves safe and recognise that staff are acting in their best interests. Staff sleeping-in arrangements ensure that young people are well supervised at night. Staff have attended a number of safeguarding courses covering a range of topics, for example, internet access, signs and symptoms of abuse, sexual health and domestic violence.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children in the home have experienced some bullying but staff were proactive in addressing this. Children's Rights were involved in undertaking some restorative justice work with the young people and this has resulted in young people caring for each other and having mutual respect. Young people confirm that they feel safe in the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people seldom fail to return to the home when expected. There are individual protocols in place advising staff what action to take when this does arise. As part of the joint protocol with the police young people are seen by the missing person's coordinator when they return to the home. This ensures that there is a clear monitoring of this behaviour. When a young person fails to return to the home staff make regular phone and text contact to ensure the safety of the individual.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home is very settled, each young person has an individual crisis management plan identifying triggers to potential behaviours with strategies in place to manage these. Each young person's behaviour is regularly discussed at staff meetings and staff develop a clear plan to ensure a consistent approach is maintained. Young people are involved in drawing up incentive targets to help them develop socially acceptable behaviours. The home has a adopted a restorative justice approach and mutual respect which has been effective in getting young people to work together and negotiate with one another. One restraint has occurred sinc the last inspection; this is well recorded although staff have challenged this restraint as it was felt that the staff member could have behaved differently. This is very positive and protects young people from inappropriate measures. All staff have attended appropriate restraint training and amongst the staff team there are individuals qualified to deliver

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

this training. A number of sanctions are recorded, these are proportionate. Young people are not given the opportunity to make comment on the sanctions and restraint records. However, young people confirm that staff treat them fairly.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Risk assessments are in place for each young person, the premises and activities, identifying the risk with strategies in place to minimise them. Fire records are in good order with drills held at night to ensure that everybody knows what action to take in the event of a fire. Other health and safety checks are maintained, for example, gas installation, electric appliances and water. This ensures that the home is kept safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are robust recruitment procedures in place that ensures only suitable people are employed in the home. All visitors to the home have their identity checked.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The home has access to services that help meet the needs of the young people. A consultant psychologist gives support to some individuals. The child and adolescent mental health service works with some young people and staff have good links with these professionals. The looked after children’s nurse and the sexual health coordinator attend the home regularly. Young people have direct access to the sexual health coordinator and may discuss relevant issues with this individual. An individual from a children's rights organisation is also a regular visitor to the home and supports young people.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Some young people have good education placements where they are achieving well. However, not all the young people attend mainstream education or college provision. The home employs an individual who has expertise in outward bound activities. Young people who do not have the ability to achieve well in education are given opportunities to develop alternative life skills that help them build on their self esteem and equip them with skills that will last their life time. For example, young people undertake the John Muir and Duke of Edinburgh awards; they learn abseiling, kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing as well as having outward bound holidays and learning a number of survival skills.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Each young person has a leisure plan clearly identifying activities that they wish to be involved in. As well as the numerous outward bound activities available, young people enjoy going to the cinema, the ice arena, some play badminton, table tennis, do archery and attend football matches. The young people enjoyed participating in their own, 'come dine with me' activity which helped them to build good relationships with one another. Some individuals play rugby union in one of the town’s teams. Staff participate with many of the activities young people engage in, promoting good relationships.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Each young person has an individual placement plan clearly setting out their needs with guidance to staff to show how these needs are to be met. This ensures that there is a consistent approach to their care. Young people are fully involved in drawing up these plans. Plans are regularly reviewed and kept up to date.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Statutory childcare reviews are held as required. Staff produce a detailed report on the young person's progress for the meeting. Young people are supported to fully participate in their review, some individuals produce a power point presentation for their meeting. Consultation documents are completed with the support of a children's rights worker. Young people are able to say who they wish or do not wish to be present at their review. The home is exploring other ways to maximise young people's involvement in their meeting, in particular for some young people to chair their review.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Contact arrangements are clearly set out in each young person's files. The home facilitates and promotes contact with significant people. Family members are made welcome in the home. All admissions to the home are planned. There are good gate keeping systems in place and careful consideration is given to the gender mix to ensure the protection of all the young people. Young people are supported to identify appropriate move on placements and this is undertaken in a structured way to ensure young people are ready for their next move.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Residents meetings are held regularly with the children's rights worker being a regular attendee. Young people have access to this individual by text, telephone or email to enable them to have independent advice and support. The home also encourages young people to access a computer programme specifically designed to ascertain their views. The local authority employs a consultation and participation worker who organises a number of events where young people can share their views. This ensures that young people are heard.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home has embarked on an independence programme produced by the National Leaving Care Advisory Service. This programme gives good guidance on what skills young people need to develop to ensure that they are able to live independently. This programme is tailored to suit each young person's level of understanding and competence. The home, through the leaving care service, has access to an independence training flat where young people are able to further develop their skills. This flat is occasionally used for contact and young people are able to prepare a meal for family members.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home is decorated and furnished to a high standard creating a homely environment for the young people. Any damage to the home caused by the young people is quickly rectified with staff supporting young people to make amends.

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Organisation

There is a comprehensive Statement of Purpose in place clearly setting out to interested parties what the home has to offer. A children's guide is also produced, this is a child friendly document and explains to young people what they may expect when they come to live in the home.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is outstanding. The care plans and the leaving care programs are individual to the young person. Individual support is secured for each young person whether this is with regard to previous experiences, sexuality or developmental needs. Staff are clearly committed to the young people and it is evident by their enthusiasm that they enjoy their work. There are good training opportunities for the staff team. For example, staff have attended behaviour management with refresher training, attachment and children's behaviour, working with young people who have suffered harm, eating disorders, restorative justice and embracing children's needs which included the emotional wellbeing of children. All staff have attained National Vocational Qualification at level 3 or equivalent or are embarking on this qualification. Some staff are also supported to undertake a social work qualification

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Organisation

and social workers are employed in the home. This ensures that there is a competent and knowledgeable staff team looking after the young people.

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Organisation

There are adequate numbers of staff employed in the home to meet the needs of the young people. Staff are well supported, there are good supervision arrangements in place and staff find the management team approachable.

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Organisation

There are excellent monitoring systems in place that identify issues that are quickly addressed. The Registered Manager exercises effective leadership and empowers staff to enable them to give the best possible care to the young people. Young people say, 'this home is an amazing place, what an asset it is to me, it has helped me grow up and become a better person.'

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Organisation

Young people's files contain all the necessary information and are easy to follow.

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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

 encourage young people to write or have their views recorded and sign their names in the homes records of restraint or disciplinary measure.(NMS 22.14)

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