Children's Home run by Broadlands Hall Limited in Suffolk

Unique reference number SC060936 Inspection date 14/01/2011 Inspector Deirdra Keating / Clive Lucas Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 10/12/2010 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 children's home provides care, accommodation and education for young people with learning difficulties and emotional and behavioural difficulties, aged between 11 and 17 years.

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Brief description of the service

The home is a large detached property with extensive grounds and hard surfaced areas for outside ball games. It is situated in a rural village within reach of a nearby town and local amenities. Each young person has their own bedroom some with en suite bathroom facilities. A number of communal areas are provided for recreational activities. Separate facilities are provided for staff, together with office space.

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Brief description of the service

The ground floor comprises a lounge, dining room, kitchen and games room. The first floor has bedrooms, bathrooms, staff office and overnight sleep room. The second floor has three large bedsitting rooms with separate kitchen facilities. There is a large separate education building equipped with white boards, computer access and fitness equipment. Ten young people currently live in the home all of whom were present during the inspection.

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Summary

The overall quality rating is inadequate - notice of action to improve.

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Summary

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

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Summary

This unannounced interim inspection looked at the outcomes for staying safe and the regulatory outcomes associated with a complaint received by Ofsted. This was in relation to health and safety, food, staff ratios, staff practice, written records and facilities in the home. This inspection also looked at the progress the setting has made with the actions and recommendations made at the last inspection. These were in relation to; accommodation, health and safety, documentation, staff supervision and monitoring of the home. Enjoying and achieving and positive contribution were not looked at during this inspection. Despite the short timescale there is some evidence of improvement in these areas. However, there has been a failure to adequately address the health and safety matters which have been raised on previous occasions. Overall, appropriate action has not been taken to resolve all these requirements.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The registered person was asked to: improve the decoration and cleanliness of the home; revise the placement plans; review the recording of sanctions; and monitor the management structure including the criteria for the independent monitoring visitor. Work has been undertaken to address the decoration and cleanliness of the home but due to the short timescale between inspections this work is ongoing. There are plans to review records and update placement plans. However, the timescale between this inspection and when the action was raised has resulted in the action being repeated. At the last inspection there were issues regarding the leadership structure and the independent monitoring visits. There have been changes to the way in which the monitoring visits are carried out, but the management is still failing to maintain proper oversight of the environment, and the internal reporting and rectification of problems is ineffective.

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Improvements since the last inspection

In addition the registered person was asked to address the health and safety issues arising from the building works in the grounds. There has been a failure to rectify these issues and implement the necessary risk assessments to maintain the grounds safely. The steps taken to tackle these requirements have not sufficiently improved young people's safety as they continue to be exposed to some hazards.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's privacy is respected by staff who have an understanding of confidentiality and personal space. Staff knock and wait for a response before entering rooms and personal information relating to individuals is discussed in private. Staff provide personal care sensitively with clear guidance on how best to support individuals while respecting their privacy at all times. The allocation of bedrooms ensures that bathrooms are close to young people's rooms and these are equipped with the facilities required for their intimate care needs. The home's telephone is situated under the main stairwell and this gives young people the space in which to make personal calls.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is an adequate procedure for making complaints at the home and these are addressed and investigated by the senior management team. There have been two complaints since the last inspection, one of which has been addressed at this inspection. This related in part to health and safety issues associated with the current building works in the grounds. These works are at the final stages of completion and have given cause for three complaints to Ofsted. In relation to the building works there has been a failure to consistently maintain a safe environment for young people. The written risk assessments for the building works state that debris and rubble should be removed daily. However, on the day of inspection there was a small pile of rubble outside the door, a pile of debris including wood with protruding nails situated on the far side of the portakabin. In addition at the back of the portakabins there were a thick bunch of internet cables trailing from the roof of

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

the cabin to the ground. In and around the grounds there was a large piece of broken wood, a floodlight lying in the grass and an exposed trench around which the temporary fencing had collapsed. There have been accidents to staff and young people in the weeks preceding this inspection directly caused by the poor management of this site. Failure to implement the risk assessments in practice has resulted in an unsafe environment which compromises young people's safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The interior of the building is free from hazards, and fire prevention equipment is checked regularly. This is all recorded along with checks of the electrical appliances and the electrical supply. Fire drills are planned and carried out regularly, staff have defined roles and fire drills work well. This shows young people how to act calmly and safely in the event of a fire in the building. There are some new staff who have not yet been included in fire drills.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The building is generally secure, staff request identification from visitors and monitor their whereabouts carefully. The home has a satisfactory recruitment and selection process in place. Criminal Record Bureau checks are carried out on all prospective staff, before they work in the home. All staff provide proof of identity and written references prior to employment helping ensure young people are cared for by safe, suitable staff. New staff receive training in child protection during their induction period to ensure that they have an understanding of how to safeguard young people. Existing staff have a sound knowledge of safeguarding issues and know how to implement the setting's policy.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are protected adequately from bullying. High staff ratios and an ethos where bullying is not tolerated have resulted in few incidents. These are generally minor and monitored closely by staff. Staff promote and encourage positive behaviour and review this on a separate behaviour management plan. This provides information for staff regarding behaviour management of individual young people. However, some of these plans have not been regularly reviewed and do not reflect current issues. As a result some information for staff is out of date and this does not promote consistent practice. Incidents of sanctions and restraints are recorded in separate bound books. However, the sanction record does not always contain sufficient information such as full details of the behaviour leading to the measure and details of the measure. This makes the monitoring of sanctions difficult to ensure they are fair, consistent and appropriate to the behaviour. Physical restraints are

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

carried out, when necessary, by staff who have been trained in safe physical and psychological intervention. Training is regularly provided and this helps promote best practice. The protocol for young people missing from care is carried out in accordance with the age, stage and vulnerability of each young person. This ensures that procedures are carefully tailored to individuals and risks are assessed accordingly.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Several aspects of the home's environment were looked at during this inspection after concerns were raised regarding the sleeping accommodation and associated furnishings. Young people have their own bedrooms and have personalised these with their own belongings and possessions. Bedrooms are generally furnished to accommodate young people's individual and complex needs. However, on the day of inspection a mattress was found to be worn, dipped and permeating a strong offensive odour. This was discussed with the provider who took immediate action and replaced the mattress. In addition there was no mattress cover resulting in a thin sheet between the young person and the plastic mattress cover. In relation to other areas of the environment work has begun which is improving and upgrading the decoration and cleanliness of the home since the last inspection.

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Organisation

The Registered Manager is responsible for the daily management of the home and is supported by a senior management team including the registered individual who has an in-depth knowledge of the day-to-day running of the home.

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Organisation

The Registered Manager oversees and conducts the supervision of staff. This is recorded and the record shows that frequent supervision has taken place over the last month. However, supervision for new staff has not been fortnightly (as required by National Minimum Standards) and they are not fully supported and informed.

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Organisation

The management has not been effective in monitoring and resolving problems in the home, including the extensive health and safety issues.

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Organisation

Arrangements to improve the standards of care in the home are inadequate. Although monitoring systems are in place to evaluate the quality of care provided, senior managers have failed to take action to address the health and safety concerns raised at the previous inspection. This compromises the welfare of children living in the home.

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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

24 ensure that children are provided with sleeping accommodation which is equipped with bedding and other furnishings suitable to their needs (Regulation 31 (8) (b)) 18/01/2011

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Std. Action Due date

24 ensure that home is kept clean, reasonably decorated and maintained (Regulation 31 (2) (e)) 15/02/2011

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Std. Action Due date

26 ensure that unnecessary risks to the health and safety of children accommodated in the home are identified and so far as possible eliminated with particular reference to the current building works being carried out (Regulation 23 (c)) 18/01/2011

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Std. Action Due date

22 ensure that within 24 hours of the use of any measure of control, restraint or discipline a written record is made which shall include details of the behaviour leading to the use of the measure and a description of the measure used (Regulation 17 (4 ) (b) (c)) 26/01/2011

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Std. Action Due date

22 revise placement plans to show on a day-to-day basis how each child will be cared for and how this will be promoted by all staff in the home (Regulation 12 (1) (a) (2)) 15/02/2011

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Std. Action Due date

32 conduct the home so as to promote and make proper provision for the welfare of the children accommodated there this is in particular reference to health and safety. (Regulation 11 (1) (a)) 18/01/2011

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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 that new staff receive one-to-one supervision at least fortnightly during the first six months of their employment (NMS 28.2)  ensure the Registered Manager of the home exercises effective leadership of the home’s staff and operation, such that the home is organised, managed and staffed in a manner that delivers the best possible child care. (National Minimum Standard 34.6)

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