Children's Home run by North East Lincolnshire Council in North East Lincolnshire

Unique reference number SC367802 Inspection date 19/01/2011 Inspector Fiona Parker Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 07/09/2010 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 offers care for children and young people aged between five and 17 years with physical and/or learning disabilities. The home forms part of the children's disability service and provides care for children or young people that have been assessed as requiring this service.

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Brief description of the service

The bungalow is a purpose-built facility, situated close to a town and provides accommodation for two children or young people of either gender receiving shared or long-term care. Bedrooms are single occupancy and there is a wet room with shower, toilet and electronic changing bed. Bathrooms and bedrooms have hoist equipment installed. Other facilities include a lounge with dining area, a fully fitted kitchen which is domestic in style and a conservatory.

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Brief description of the service

The home is situated within the community and close to shops, sports facilities and other recreational areas. The home has shared use of a minibus. The home is complemented by a secure, garden with play equipment and a summer house.

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Brief description of the service

There are currently three young people receiving a service, with one or two young people in the home at any one time. One young person was present and observed during the morning routine before education.

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Summary

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

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Summary

This is an interim inspection to assess the progress on the two recommendations from the previous key inspection in September 2010. In addition the key standards in staying safe were assessed.

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Summary

The overall judgement for this inspection is good, this is a change from a judgement of outstanding. Children and young people continue to receive mainly excellent and high quality care. There are some shortfalls in clearly recording interventions which as a result does not fully satisfy accountable practice in all areas. As a result there is one action and three recommendations arising from this inspection.

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Summary

Welfare and safety is a high priority and focus in this service. Young people benefit from positive relationships with a caring and committed staff team. A diligent approach to risk assessments promotes young people's safety in all aspects of their lives.

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Summary

An acting manager, currently registered for another home has recently joined this service. The acting manager is in the process of registering with Ofsted to manage this service.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The two recommendations from the previous inspection related to; ensuring the latest health plan from the looked after nurse is available on files and signatures are available on plans for managing behaviour to show the strategies are agreed with parents and social workers. The two recommendations are met, the latest health plan from the looked after nurse is available and behaviour plans contain appropriate signatures to show they are agreed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people receive good quality care from a stable and committed staff team. Young people's welfare and safety is the focus of practice and day-to-day arrangements during their stays. As a result young people benefit from high levels of care and attention where their privacy and individuality is respected. Staff tailor the support they offer in line with young people's needs and capabilities when washing, bathing and seeking private time. Staff are aware of their responsibilities to protect young people, to keep information confidentially and ensure they only share information with agreed people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Good procedures outline practice in respect of complaints and safeguarding matters. Staff receive regular updates through refresher training and staff team updates. Where young people require individual approaches, detailed plans outline and guide staff. Managers and staff regularly focus on young people's needs, strategies and improving outcomes. Promoting young people's welfare is a priority and engaging with parents and relevant professionals supports young people's plans.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff creatively and individually manage behaviours through understanding young people's disabilities. Measures focus on promoting positive behaviours using diverting and diffusing methods. Where behaviours escalate, staff appropriately employ intervening strategies to keep all young people and staff safe. In the main, incident and physical intervention records are very clearly detailed, however, the duration of interventions is not routinely recorded in the bound book. Although clearly recorded on incident forms this does not fully meet the standard. Some records lack clarity on the practice resulting in physical interventions on the floor. Although this appears to be a recording issue, this does not fully ensure accountable practice. Plans and records clearly report the agreements and circumstances for using 'time out' to support young people calm when needed, however, these are not currently recorded

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

as a sanction. Although monitoring measures have not identified these shortfalls, the managers are confident the newly introduced recording systems will improve.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A comprehensive approach to assessing risks to protect young people and staff is routine practice. As a result thorough and detailed risk assessment outline all aspects of care, welfare and practice. Thorough risk assessments cover outings, activities and life in the home. The potential for young people's behaviours to impact upon others is clearly assessed and robust strategies guide staff. As a result, and through regularly reviewing risk strategies, potential risks are significantly minimised. Equally stringent is the approach to maintaining a safe environment. Regular checks and tests of all equipment, including fire equipment routinely takes place. Practising fire drills ensures young people can evacuate safely and personal evacuation plans ensure this is tailored and supportive to each young person. Good systems check, monitor and vet visitors to ensure only those appropriate to visit have contact with

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

young people. No new staff have joined the service therefore recruitment is not assessed. Overall young people stay in a safe and homely environment.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions, which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The Registered Provider(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Std. Action Due date

22 ensure within 24 hours of the use of any measure of control, restraint or discipline a written record is kept. In particular records are clear on the practice and circumstances where restraints occur on the floor. (Regulation 17 (4) ( c )) 04/02/2011

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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 the restraint record includes the duration of the restraint in the separate dedicated bound and numbered book (NMS 22.9)  ensure all periods of 'time out' are recorded in the separate dedicated bound and numbered book for sanctions (NMS 22.10)  regularly monitor the record books to monitor compliance with the home's policy, procedure and guidance. (N MS 22.11)

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