Lincolnshire Secure Unit

Unique reference number SC042921 Inspection date 20/01/2011 Inspector Gwen Buckley / Linda Christie Type of inspection Key

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Date of last inspection 17/06/2010 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 is a secure unit managed by a local authority. It is located on the outskirts of a small town. The secure unit is registered as a children’s home, but is also approved by the Secretary of State to provide secure accommodation for up to twelve children and young people aged between 13 and 17 years.

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Brief description of the service

The home has just completed a major rebuild. Department for Education funding has enabled the gym and school facilities, office accommodation, external play area, doors, windows, vocational areas and all young peoples bedrooms to be upgraded.

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Brief description of the service

At the time of inspection there were ten young people placed in the home. The views of the young people contributed to the inspection findings and are reflected in the report.

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Summary

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

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Summary

This was an announced key inspection to evaluate the quality of care and security at the secure children’s home. The inspection has the purpose of informing the Secretary of State on the continuing suitability of the home to restrict children’s liberty along with ensuring compliance with the Children’s Homes Regulations 2001.

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Summary

All key national minimum standards and additional licensing standards under each of the Every Child Matters outcomes were inspected. The formal education provision at the home was inspected on this visit. An architectural advisor also visited the home to conduct an inspection of the premises.

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Summary

This secure children’s home has a number of strengths. It provides good individualised care and support to young people which are focused on meeting their needs and ensuring their safety. Young people speak well of the staff who care for them and relationships between staff and young people are extremely good. Young people trust staff and feel staff respect them. Parents and external professionals are complimentary about the commitment of staff to meet the needs of young people and the high level of care provided.

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Summary

The management team is committed to improving practice and have good systems in place to monitor incidents and learn from them. Staff have access to a wide range of training opportunities to help them meet the individual needs of young people. The education, support from staff to help young people manage their behaviour and achieve are good. Health care arrangements are also good and external health care work well with care staff to provide the best possible care for young people.

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Summary

As a result of the inspection, a recommendation will be made to the Secretary of State for a three year approval to be given for the home to continue to operate as a secure children’s home.

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Improvements since the last inspection

No recommendations or actions were raised at the last inspection.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people’s privacy is respected by staff who successfully manage the balance between privacy and the need to observe young people and undertake searches to ensure safety and security. Staff that are the same gender as the young person manage searches sensitively. The level of searches undertaken is dependant on risks posed by young people. Young people are aware of the reasons behind the differing level of searches undertaken.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people feel safe and say they have a range of ways to raise issues about the day-to-day life at the home and the service they receive. Complaints and any issues young people raise are well managed. There is a quick response from the management team to formal complaints and any points raised at young people’s weekly meetings. Young people receive the minutes of their meetings within two working days along with management comments and decisions. An independent advocate visits weekly and supports individual young people when requested. The local authority manager who oversees complaints at the home is complimentary about how receptive the staff team are to working with others and resolving issues for young people. Other visiting professionals are also complimentary about the staff commitment to ensure young people have a voice that is heard by external agencies that have responsibility for their care.

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Helping children to be healthy

Robust staff recruitment safeguards young people. All checks required by the regulations are undertaken prior to staff commencing work in the home. Young people take part in the interview processes for new staff and are rightly proud of their involvement.

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Helping children to be healthy

Staff receive training which supports their ability to protect children, including training in safeguarding children, behaviour management and physical restraint. Restorative justice conferencing training has been provided for some care staff and more is planned in the near future.

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Helping children to be healthy

Behaviour management is child focused. When needed an individual behaviour management plan, agreed with the young person, helps them manage their challenging or concerning behaviour. This individual approach ensures all young people are able to succeed on the rewards and privilege scheme. The incentive scheme supports young people to work towards set targets and boundaries and also rewards their success. Young people receive a good level of one-to-one support in relation to behaviour and staff spend time talking to young people who put themselves at risk and provide guidance about unacceptable behaviour. The psychologist and mental health nurse have reviewed the rewards and privileges scheme with staff. Some young people who do not work well with the system are taken off the system when needed and have a more individualised programme of rewards with the emphasis on rewarding good behaviour.

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Helping children to be healthy

Staff are aware of the potential for bullying to occur and closely monitor interactions between young people. Young people do not report that bullying is an issue. They are confident staff will take action to keep them safe should bullying occur. Staff are aware of young people who may be at risk of self-harming and they are carefully observed and monitored.

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Helping children to be healthy

Sanctions used in the home are considered by young people to be fair and generally relate to the unwanted behaviour. For example, loss of extended bedtime if young people have had refused to get up in the morning. Communication between staff is not always as effective as it could be. For example, when a young person received a sanction at lunchtime, the staff on duty in the afternoon were not all aware of this in time to impose the sanction expected at the next mealtime. Also, on a few occasions, items young people had permission to have in their bedrooms were taken from young people or they were not allowed to be take them to their room.

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Helping children to be healthy

There is robust and transparent internal and external monitoring of incidents in the home. The Local Authority Designated Officer for child protection visits the home to review the closed-circuit television footage of all incidents involving a restraint or allegation young people may make against staff. The numbers of physical restraints and single separations have reduced from those occurring in previous years. There is also a significant reduction over the last six months. There were 113 restraints in 2009 and 70 in 2010. In the last six months, there have been 16 restraints. There were 416 single separations in 2009, 289 in 2010 and in the last six months 118. There have been many changes at the home over this period which have impacted positively on the care, resources and behaviour. These developments include new media centres in young people’s bedrooms; extended camera coverage in communal areas and the completion of a new lounge for young people on the highest rewards

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Helping children to be healthy

and privilege level. The use of the restorative justice approach to aid conflict resolution and the debriefing of staff and young people after an incident are also now embedded in practice.

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Helping children to be healthy

Staff consistently strive to improve the care provided. A culture of reflecting on practice is supported by incident debriefs for both young people and staff. Staff and managers use camera footage to review incidents. This effectively enables staff to help a young person manage their behaviour or highlights if staff need to change the approach used with individuals.

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Helping children to be healthy

Visitors and external workers are effectively monitored at the home. Everyone has their identity checked when they arrive, people are escorted around the building and escorts used to transport young people from the home have their identity checked before young people leave.

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Helping children to be healthy

Maintenance of the home is well managed ensuring young people are protected from potential health and safety hazards. Safety certificates are obtained when needed and general repairs are undertaken quickly to provide a high standard of building safety and security. A wide range of health and safety monitoring checks take place on a regular basis with some done daily as required. Risk assessments include a fire safety risk assessment. Fire safety equipment is monitored and monthly fire drills ensure that staff and young people are aware of the fire evacuation procedures to follow either during the day or night. Detailed records are maintained of the young people and staff involved in each fire drill, ensuring that over the year all staff will have been involved.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people have en-suite shower rooms. The bathroom at the home is not being used at present as the bath and sink fittings pose a potential risk to some young people. The blinds fitted within new windows are not all working and the staff at the home are taking action to address this.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's privacy is respected by staff who successfully manage the balance between providing privacy, and the need to observe young people and undertake searches to ensure their safety and security. Staff that are the same gender as the young person manage searches sensitively. The level of searches undertaken is dependent on risks posed by young people. Young people are aware of the reasons behind the differing level of searches undertaken.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people feel safe living at the home and say they have a range of ways to raise issues about the day-to-day life at the home and the service they receive. Complaints and any issues young people have are well managed. There is a quick response from the management team to formal complaints and any points raised at young people’s weekly meetings. Young people receive the minutes of their meetings within two working days along with management comments and decisions. An independent advocate visits weekly and supports individual young people when requested. The local authority manager who oversees complaints at the home is complimentary about how receptive the staff team are to working with others and resolving issues for young people. Other visiting professionals are complimentary about the staff commitment to ensure young people have a voice that is heard by external agencies that have responsibility for their care.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Robust staff recruitment safeguards young people. All checks required by the regulations are undertaken prior to staff commencing work in the home. Young people take part in the interview processes for new staff and are rightly proud of their involvement. Staff receive training which supports their ability to protect children, including safeguarding children training, behaviour management and physical restraint. Restorative justice conferencing training has been provided to some care staff and more is planned in the near future.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Behaviour management is child-focused. When needed, an individual behaviour management plan, agreed with the young person, helps them manage their challenging or concerning behaviour. This individual approach ensures all young people are able to succeed on the rewards and privilege scheme. The incentive scheme supports young people to work towards set targets and boundaries and also rewards their success. Young people receive a good level of one-to-one support in relation to behaviour and staff spend time talking to young people who put themselves at risk and provide guidance about unacceptable behaviour.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are aware of the potential for bullying to occur and closely monitor interactions between young people. Young people do not report bullying as an issue. They are confident staff will take action to keep them safe should bullying occur. Staff are aware of young people who may be at risk of self-harming and those at risk are carefully observed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Sanctions used in the home are considered by young people to be fair, and generally relate to the unwanted behaviour. For example, early bedtime if young people have had refused to get up in the morning. Communication between staff is not always as effective as it could be. For example, when a young person received a sanction at lunchtime, the staff on duty in the afternoon were not all aware of this in time to impose the sanction expected at the next mealtime. Also, on a few occasions, items young people had permission to have in their bedrooms were taken from young people or they were not allowed to be take them to their room.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is robust and transparent internal and external monitoring of incidents in the home. The Local Authority Designated Officer for child protection visits the home to review the closed-circuit television footage of all incidents involving a restraint or allegation young people may make against staff. The numbers of physical restraints and single separations have reduced from those occurring in previous years. There is also a significant reduction over the last six months. There were 113 restraints in 2009 and 70 in 2010. In the last six months, there have been 16 restraints. There were 416 single separations in 2009, 289 in 2010 and in the last six months 118. There have been many changes at the home over this period impacting on young people and their behaviour: new media centres in young people’s bedrooms; extended camera coverage in communal areas and the completion of a new lounge for young people on the highest rewards and privilege level. The use of the

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

restorative justice approach to aid conflict resolution and the debriefing of staff and young people after an incident is now embedded in practice.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff consistently strive to improve the care provided. A culture of reflecting on practice is supported by incident debriefs for both young people and staff. Staff and managers use camera footage to review incidents. This effectively enables staff to help a young person manage their behaviour or highlights if staff need to change the approach used with individuals. Directed supervision takes place where an analysis of incidents helps staff understand the young people and how their own actions effect the situation.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Visitors and external workers are effectively monitored at the home. Everyone has their identity checked when they arrive, people are escorted around the building and escorts used to transport young people from the home have their identity checked before young people leave.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Maintenance of the home is well managed ensuring young people are protected from potential health and safety hazards. Safety certificates are obtained when needed and general repairs, undertaken quickly to provide a high standard of building safety and security. A wide range of health and safety monitoring checks take place on a regular basis with some done daily as required. Risk assessments include a fire safety risk assessment. Fire safety equipment is monitored and monthly fire drills ensure that staff and young people are aware of the fire evacuation procedures to follow either during the day or night. Detailed records are maintained of the young people and staff involved in each fire drill, ensuring that over the year all staff will have been involved in a drill.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people have en-suite shower rooms. The bathroom at the home is not being used at present; the bath and sink fittings pose a potential risk to some young people. The blinds fitted within new windows are not all working and the staff at the home are taking action to address this.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

There are some good working relationships in place between the care and education disciplines at the unit. Care staff support the formal education of young people and encourage their achievements.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Activity sessions are offered each evening. There are two sessions per day which are preceded by an enrichment period which enables group work and one to one meetings with key workers to be undertaken. For one session a week this often involves external speakers covering subjects such as sexual health and keeping safe.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff try to ensure that there is one active and one craft or entertainment activity each evening. To help facilitate this all staff interests and skills are canvassed and recorded. Where a young person has a particular interest staff will try and accommodate this whenever possible.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people are able to choose the sessions they would like to attend from those on offer. Attendance is not reliant on the incentive level which has been achieved by a young person, however conduct and attainment that day is taken into account. Planning for the activities is carried out on a daily basis, this does not always allow staff sufficient time to prepare for a session nor does it enable young people the opportunity to be aware of what is available in the next week.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Facilities available to provide activity sessions are good. There is an excellent sports hall facility and outdoor play area. Resources for craft and entertainment style periods are generally easily accessible. On occasions, outside instructors are brought into the centre to undertake targeted sessions, for example a physical training instructor provides circuit training.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

There are a number of theme days and enrichment weeks which take place. These generally are linked to a theme of other countries enabling young people to broaden their knowledge whilst learning about other customs, cultures and experiencing a range of foods.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The opportunity to experience vocational activities has seen a decrease whilst the building works at the unit are completed. The lawnmower renovation scheme and horticulture will recommence when work to the vocational building has been finalised.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The evaluation of the benefits of activities is minimal. Written evaluation of some activities takes place and occasionally young people are asked what they thought of an activity. This does not ensure that the activities provided are those that the young people most enjoy or would want to see provided regularly.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Evidence from lessons and from young people’s work folders show that they make good and often very good educational progress during their stay. The recording of this good progress, especially in reading, is not well developed and limits the opportunity for managers to demonstrate effectiveness of teaching and learning. Levels of accreditation are relatively high and young people are able to work towards qualifications that are appropriate to their needs, abilities and aspirations. Virtually all young people, whose length of stay allows, gain nationally recognised accreditation in literacy and numeracy and many gain qualifications in information and communications technology (ICT) as well as in most other areas of the curriculum.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The qualifications gained by young people are recognised by colleges, training providers and employers. Some young people aged 12 and 13 have gained entry level qualifications in literacy and numeracy. Young people who were studying for General Certificates in Education (GCSEs) prior to their admission are able to continue with their studies. Last year five GCSEs were gained by young people whilst they were in the home and when needed others were supported to continue with their GCSE course work. Since the last inspection, more qualifications at level 1 and above have been gained enabling more able young people to achieve to their potential. Most but not all subjects now offer higher level accreditation.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people’s behaviour in lessons is good and often very good. The very small amount of swearing is challenged effectively by staff, often resulting in an apology from the young person concerned. Young people develop into effective learners and they work hard to achieve high standards of work, of which they are justifiably proud. Young people speak articulately and enthusiastically about their work and achievements. The standards of work in art are very high and young people develop good skills in physical education (PE) as well as learning the importance of teamwork. They develop confidence in writing and numeracy and they use ICT well, including the use of the internet for research.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Attendance is excellent at nearly 100%, excluding unavoidable absences such as visits from a young person’s legal advisor and court appearances. Punctuality is generally good although there are occasional delays at the start of the morning.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Teaching and learning are good. In most lessons expectations of what young people will achieve and how they will behave are high. Most young people enjoy living up to these expectations. Most tasks and activities provide young people with sufficient challenge and as a result they make good and often very good progress in lessons. They are encouraged to attempt tasks that often they initially believe they cannot do. In most cases young people go on to complete tasks to a high standard due to the effective use of praise and encouragement by teachers and care staff. These achievements boost young people’s confidence significantly. Teachers plan tasks that take young people’s abilities and educational needs into account, thereby enabling all young people, regardless of age or ability to participate well in lessons. For example, in a lesson on Shakespearean theatre, young people carried out different tasks

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

successfully, dependent on their ability and previous experience. In PE, lessons are very inclusive and all young people participate with great enthusiasm, regardless of ability. Young people are welcomed by staff in the corridors at the start of each session which reinforces the positive ethos of most lessons.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Relationships are very professional and mutually respectful. Young people benefit from good support from care staff in some lessons where care staff participate in the lesson or provide individual support to help young people remain on task. On a few occasions, this support is overly-directive, preventing young people from solving problems for themselves.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Teachers use a variety of learning activities in most lessons although some lessons rely too heavily on the sole use of printed worksheets.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The curriculum is satisfactory despite the very considerable constraints imposed by very small numbers and the current lack of facilities for vocational provision. It is based on an appropriately adapted version of the national curriculum and includes all core and foundation subjects, including modern foreign languages. Courses studied will enable a degree of continuity for those young people returning to mainstream education. The curriculum is enhanced by the inclusion of visiting groups for subjects such as dance, drama and music. Young people benefit from participating in PE lessons daily and this makes a significant contribution to helping them maintain healthy lifestyles. It is however unfortunate that young people are unable to shower after PE lessons.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The curriculum is planned well and allows a good degree of flexibility to cater for young people’s individual needs and aspirations. For example, one young person was able to receive guitar lessons to meet their particular needs and aspirations. Those young people who express an interest in craft, design and technology (CDT) are able to access good quality individual tuition and support to help them complete their projects. The timetable is planned well and allows young people to experience a good variety of subjects each day.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Mobility is used well for things such as work experience placements and college interviews. Teachers and care staff have a good understanding of young people’s needs and aspirations. This results in the good progress and achievement mentioned earlier. Young people’s levels of literacy and numeracy are assessed soon after their arrival. This information is used well by teachers to plan appropriate tasks and activities and is also shared with residential staff. Young people have individual learning plans that appropriately contain targets for improved behaviour where necessary as well as some academic targets. These plans are not reviewed sufficiently frequently.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The service provided by Connexions is very innovative and valued highly by staff and young people. Good quality transition plans are prepared by Connexions and some imaginative and very effective group work on topics such as job interviews is carried out. In addition, some young people have been able to open bank accounts with the support of the Connexions service.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people have been supported in organising a range of fund raising events for charities including the Motor Neurone Disease Association, Children in Need and Action for Children. Last year over £1000 was raised by young people.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Leadership and management are very good. There is a clear vision for education within the school and this is shared by all staff, including care staff. This vision is based on providing the best possible opportunities for young people to achieve their potential both in terms of their personal and social development and their academic achievements. Teamwork is excellent within the department and accountabilities and responsibilities are clear. Communications within the department are good as are the relationships with care staff. The department runs smoothly on a day-to-day basis.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Lesson observations are carried out regularly with the support of the School Improvement Partner. While these are thorough and outcomes are recorded, all are not graded.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The department has benefitted greatly from the development of a highly appropriate self-critical culture. This is reflected well in the production of the good quality, evaluative and largely accurate self-evaluation report. It has also enabled managers to identify areas for improvement and, with the support of the School Improvement Partner, prepare good quality development plans, such as those for the development of vocational education.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Resources are managed well and are treated with respect by young people with very little evidence of graffiti.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people’s needs are effectively and comprehensively assessed. The range of assessments undertaken include; a review of their mental and emotional well-being, physical heath, educational attainment and an understanding of their offending behaviours. Young people’s cultural and religious needs are also identified. Assessments inform placement planning and the range of interventions required for each individual young person.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The quality of planning and target setting is good. All targets and identified direct work listed are individualised, clear and specific. Young people say staff help them in lots of ways during their stay. One young person said ‘staff really helped me understand the consequences of my behaviour on other people’. Another said the work done to help deal with angry feelings ‘helped me understand my anger and find other ways of telling the person how I felt’.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

A parent completing the pre-inspection survey form said staff had ‘picked up on my child’s needs quickly. Staff are very aware of his emotional needs and respond appropriately to them and he is making positive progress’. Another parent spoken to during the inspection made similar comments about the progress made by their children. The parent described an excellent piece of work their child did as part of a restorative justice approach with the family of the victim. The parent was glowing in praise and said the family could not thank the staff enough for the excellent work and help given to their child.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are well supported by staff, with whom they enjoy mutually respectful relationships. Each young person has two key workers with whom they have opportunities to meet privately and undertake direct work. A separate case manager takes the lead in coordinating the assessment and placement or sentence planning, arranges reviews and maintains contact with placing agencies and parents. Several key workers said in their pre-inspection survey forms and during the inspection that they would welcome having a more active role in the assessment, planning and review processes for young people. Although they undertake direct work with young people they generally do not believe they have sufficient opportunities to develop their skills in assessment and case management.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

While the negative impact on young people is minimal, there is clearly an unused capacity for key workers to work holistically with young people. The present arrangement means that they do not have an overview of the young person and their family. This limits the range of work which key workers are able to complete.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are benefitting from an improved mental health service provided on site. This has clearly contributed to staff having an even greater understanding of the mental health and emotional well-being needs of young people, including understanding the impact of previous traumas on their present behaviour. Key workers receive effective supervision and support. A range of resource material is provided to help them undertake individual work focused on the need of the individual young person.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

A part-time group worker post has recently been established and the person appointed has developed a wide range of sessions focusing on drug misuse, road safety, fire safety and issues linked to offending. These are powerful educative sessions as they are often delivered by specialists and members of the public speaking from first hand experience.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Other aspects of the group work sessions include talking to young people about current affairs and topics in the news. These are led by the group worker with support from care staff. There is little evaluation of the impact of these interventions with young people and the outcome in terms of reducing reoffending. Evidence of work young people have completed is then not available in a way that can be given to them or their placing agency when they leave.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Consultation with young people is excellent. They are consulted about matters related to the day-to-day routines of the unit and encouraged to make suggestions on service improvement. Records show young people are listened to and action is taken to implement their suggestions where feasible. Young people are kept informed of the outcome of their suggestions and encouraged to feel they have a voice and their views are welcomed.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There is an excellent focus on planning and reviewing young people’s progress. Case reviews take place as required by regulation and expected national standards. Meetings to review progress take place every six to eight weeks, even when regulations only require them to be three monthly. There is a good clear focus on reviewing agreed actions and targets and there is evidence that young people’s views are taken into account. Parents are considered an important stakeholder in the decision-making and reviewing process.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are encouraged to maintain regular contact with their families and significant others. A weekly report is produced for each young person and sent to their placing agency. Parents receive a copy of these reports each month. This is a positive and effective procedure for keeping parents fully up-to-date with the day-to- day issues and developments for their child.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The reception and admission process is good. Young people are admitted to the home in a well organised and sensitive way. Young people receive an admission pack when they arrive. The pack contains essential information about day-to-day life and expectations, advocacy and how to complain. While in the admission room, young people also watch a DVD which gives similar information to the pack. A staff member is available to explain the contents of the pack and to help the young person familiarise themselves with the daily routine and procedures and for those young people who do not speak English an interpreter would be provided. Staff understand that for some young people placement in a secure setting can be frightening and they respond sensitively to their needs. One young person said they arrived at midnight and was concerned that their mother would be worried. The young person was allowed a twenty minute call home to reassure their mother. Both the young

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Helping children make a positive contribution

person and the mother stated this really helped them feel at ease with the placement.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people are given good support and preparation for when they leave the unit. Discharge planning is thorough and begins at the initial planning meeting where a resettlement plan is produced. The plans, which are reviewed at subsequent meetings, include details of the proposed arrangements for accommodation, education, health and parental contact. The case manager and case worker have a good understanding of young people’s needs and review and amend plans of care accordingly. Whenever possible a case manager or worker from the home will attend a young person’s first review after they have been discharged, in order to promote the continuation of work which has been undertaken in the home. This is good practice and helps to ensure a young person receives the correct support when they have left.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Case workers from the home promote young people’s rights and constantly remind external agencies and placing authorities of their responsibilities. They will increase the tempo of this work where an authority is not meeting it’s obligations by involving advocacy services and legal representation. Recently care staff have provided support to a young person whose planned future placement is felt inappropriate. Appropriate external forums are also attended in order to enhance workers knowledge and practice. They are members of a regional group and the national resettlement network.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people are given the opportunity to learn some of the skills which will prepare them for adult life. There are some outstanding sessions including cooking, budgeting, laundry skills, opening of bank accounts and interview skills are all covered and the capacity to learn is good. The cooking programme is tailored to a young person’s individual needs and takes into account any cultural requirements. The Connexions worker carries out some extremely useful work with young people regarding further education and the funding of college placements.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Sessions on life skills are delivered in formal education, as well as being provided by the group work coordinator and Connexions worker. However, there is little coordination between the various disciplines carrying out the work meaning that there is substantial opportunity for repetition of areas of learning to occur. While a formal package of life skills learning is available via the PHSE sessions in formal education, the detail of this is not known by all of the adults who provide the information and guidance to young people.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people are able to make choices about the purchasing of clothing, toiletries and other items and are supported by their key workers to do so if they are unable to leave the secure environment on mobility. The building is well maintained, kept clean and tidy by domestic staff who take a pride in their work. Young people’s artwork is of a high quality and displayed around the home.

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Organisation

Good information is provided for young people, parents and professionals about the home and the services it provides. The home provides a Statement of Purpose which sets out required information about the services and function. However, some aspects are out-of-date as there is mention of the area child protection committee and old fire regulations. On admission, young people receive a summary of information set out within a young person’s guide. The home has access to their local authority facilities which enables them to have information provided in a range of different languages and formats when needed.

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Organisation

Young people’s files are maintained in good order and are stored securely. The home operates a range of good quality assurance monitoring processes. External monitoring includes monthly visits to the home by an external professional that monitors and reports on the progress made by young people. An elected member from the council also visits the home four times a year and takes time to talk to the young people as part of the authority’s corporate parenting responsibility. He liaises with external people and the manager over issues he considers will help the young people. The elected member also visits when invited to attend celebrations or parties with the young people.

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Organisation

The frequency and quality of supervision is good. Experienced staff receive formal supervision at least monthly and new staff twice a month. Staff reflect on practice and highlight training needs during their supervision sessions.

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Organisation

The Registered Manager is supported by senior staff who deputise in his absence. Staff receive a comprehensive training programme from the beginning of their employment. New staff undertake an induction programme following the Children’s Workforce Development expectations and then progress to National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) at level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People. Training opportunities ensure staff have a good knowledge of issues affecting young people to help them meet their care needs and keep young people safe. The training offered also enables staff to follow their own particular interests and skills. Additional courses that have been undertaken include: a foundation degree in youth justice studies; social work degree; the treatment of young people who sexually offend and NVQ at level 4 Leadership and Management.

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Organisation

There are sufficient numbers of staff on duty during the day to ensure young people receive good quality care. The staffing policy is at least one member of staff on duty for every two young people in the home. Two staff are on duty at night with another member of staff sleeping on the premises and available if needed. Senior managers are available on site or on call all the time.

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Organisation

The home has a written development plan in place that identifies current issues under the Every Child Matters outcomes and covers issues relating to the operation of the home. It sets out plans for developing provision such as the vocational facilities. Good use is made of external and independent perspectives to improve outcomes for young people. A range of external professionals speak positively about how they work with managers and staff to develop practices and ensure good services are provided to young people.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Young people are treated as an individual with specific needs. Comments from young people include ‘all my needs are met’ and ‘I have items in my room that helps me follow my religion’. The home provides activities that respect difference, creates a sense of achievement and builds esteem and confidence for all young people. The activities offered include fundraising which supports young people to widen their knowledge of disadvantage and other cultures. Staff understanding of equality and diversity helps them meet young people’s needs and monitoring of incidents provides the management with details of the different backgrounds of people involved such as their gender and ethnicity.

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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

1 update the Statement of Purpose to ensure reference to other agencies is up-to- date, this relates to changing references to the Area Child Protection Committee to that of the Local Safeguarding Children Board and fire regulations. (Regulation 4) 28/02/2011

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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

 develop a policy and written guidance for staff to enable young people to keep and administer their own medication when safe to do so (NMS 13)  ensure the bathroom is safe for young people to use (NMS 26)  implement the plans for the development of vocational education so as to broaden the curriculum further (LS 4.0)  ensure young people are able to have a shower after PE when needed (NMS 25)  coordinate the delivery of the life skills learning programmes carried out at the unit (NMS 6.6)  enhance the delivery of the activity programme by considering the planning, evaluation and evidencing of all sessions (NMS 15)  review the role of key workers to enable them to carry out a full range of holistic work with young people (NMS 2.2)  review the effectiveness of how staff communicate. This specifically relates to how they keep up-to-date with changes agreed with young people on what they can do and the implementation of new sanctions. (NMS 29.6)

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