Children's Home run by Time-Out Children’s Homes Limited in Calderdale

Unique reference number SC069293 Inspection date 01/02/2011 Inspector Shaun Common Type of inspection Key

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Date of last inspection 16/08/2010 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 and accommodation for up to two young people of either gender from 11 years to 17 years of age.

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Brief description of the service

The house is a modern, detached property and has four bedrooms. There are two bedrooms designated for young people and one of these bedrooms has en suite shower and toilet facilities. Two other bedrooms are used by staff that sleep-in. One of these rooms doubles as office space.

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Brief description of the service

There is a bathroom on the first floor, with a lounge, separate dining room, toilet and kitchen on the ground floor. The house has an enclosed garden at the rear and a small garden plot at the front. It is in a residential area of a small town. There is easy access to public transport, leisure and other facilities.

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Brief description of the service

Two young people were living at the children's home at the time of the inspection. One young person spoke to the inspector about how they are cared for.

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Summary

The overall quality rating is satisfactory.

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Summary

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

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Summary

This unannounced key inspection looked at all key standards and examined all outcome areas.

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Summary

This children's home is a satisfactory service. It has strengths in promoting the health needs of young people, supporting young people to achieve their potential in education, preparing young people for leaving care and in the individual support they receive from staff.

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Summary

Improvement is needed in a number of areas: ensuring robust recruitment information is available for all staff; that staff receive appropriate supervision; that only sufficiently experienced and competent staff are left in charge of the home at any time; that staff receive appropriate training; that a staff register is maintained and the rota accurately kept; risk assessments are devised for any absences and records of such incidents are fully completed; a dedicated sanction book is kept; the education policy is revised and the manager obtains a relevant management qualification.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The registered persons were asked at the last inspection to make improvements at the home. They were asked to inform Ofsted of the departure of the previous Registered Manager and arrangements for the running of the home. They were also asked to revise risk assessments and conduct a night-time fire drill. These matters have been addressed and ensure that young people are kept safe and the home is appropriately managed.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The registered persons were also asked to keep a staff register, record staff hours on the rota and ensure absence records are accurately kept. These issues have not been addressed. A statutory requirement and recommendations will be made in this report.

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Helping children to be healthy

Food provided is good. Young people are encouraged to eat a healthy and balanced diet. Menus reflect this and determine variety and choice that promotes a healthy lifestyle to aid young people's development. The dining room is well decorated and suitable for the number and needs of the young people. Staff have undertaken training in safe food handling and hygiene, which ensures food prepared is done so in a safe manner that helps promote young people's well-being.

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Helping children to be healthy

Health plans are in place for young people that set out their assessed needs and how these will be met. Young people have access to a range of health care professionals such as doctors, dentists and opticians. Staff support young people to make and attend appointments to ensure they stay healthy. Young people also have access to broader health promotion services and information. For example they have received advice and guidance on sexual health, substance misuse, alcohol and smoking.

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Helping children to be healthy

Medication systems are clear and effective and help keep young people safe. Consent is in place for each young person for emergency treatments if ever needed. There is also consent for administration of first aid and homely remedies. This helps to reduce the likelihood of any adverse reaction to any treatments given and helps keep young people safe and well. Medications are stored securely and appropriately, which helps to keep young people safe. Records show that young people get the medication they need when they need it, to help them stay healthy and well. However, staff are not yet trained in the safe handling of medications.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Information is stored securely in the home, which promotes young people's rights. Young people have access to a telephone so they are able to keep in touch with people important to them. A policy and procedure is in place that is satisfactorily understood by staff, in relation to the searching of young people's possessions. This procedure is followed where required to safeguard young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A complaints procedure is in place. Some staff are trained in this procedure to help them support young people if required; however some staff have not received this training. Young people have been provided with satisfactory information about making a complaint. They know how to make a complaint and therefore can access a system that helps to promote and protect their rights. A record is in place for any complaint made and this shows any matters are fully responded to. A young person stated they have no concerns and are treated fairly.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A copy of the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedure and the home's own child protection procedure are available. Staff have access to these, have a satisfactory understanding of them and know how to keep young people safe. All staff have undertaken training in child protection, which also helps them to keep young people safe. A young person stated they feel safe at the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A countering bullying policy and procedure is in place that is known and understood by staff. However, not all staff have undertaken training in countering bullying to support their practice in safeguarding children. There have been no incidents of bullying at the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

An absence without authority procedure is in place that is known and understood by staff that helps them safeguard young people. Any incidents are reported to relevant professionals and authorities. Records of such matters do not always demonstrate robust processes and practice in safeguarding. For example, young people's comments about reasons why they were absent are not always ascertained so appropriate action can be taken. All action taken is not demonstrated in the records, such as reviewing risk assessments, care plans or convening a meeting of relevant professionals if appropriate.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff have good relationships with young people. There are a range of behaviour management policies that guide staff in building positive relationships with young people and in managing any difficulties faced in the best way possible. There have been no physical restraints of young people since the last inspection. A record is in place for any such matters. Two sanction records are in place and both are being used at the same time. Records do not therefore run consecutively so effective monitoring and action can be taken by the manager to improve provision. Sanctions recorded are appropriate. Young people's comments are recorded. This means young people are encouraged to develop understanding and responsibility.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Risk assessments are carried out of most of young people's likely and known activities and of the premises and grounds. These are followed by staff and help them to keep young people safe. They are detailed, though some matters recorded in them are not risks and it is not straightforward or always easy for staff to link the risk to the control measure that helps them keep young people safe. Risk assessments have not been carried out in relation to young people being absent without authority to show measures in place to prevent re-occurrence and reduce the risk to young people. The procedure is followed by staff when these incidents occur.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Health and safety matters are managed well that help keep young people safe. For example maintenance is carried out on matters such as gas and electrical installations and fire equipment. Fire drills are carried out regularly with staff and young people so they know what to do to stay safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A policy is in place in relation to the safe recruitment of new employees. Staff files examined of those newly recruited show that most information is in place as required that helps to ensure the right people are employed to work with children. In one case, gaps in employment history had not been fully ascertained or explored.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people are provided with good support. They have an allocated keyworker who they spend regular time with and from whom they can attain help and guidance. They can also approach any staff member for assistance and support. Independent advocacy services are available to young people should they need to access these. Input from external professionals is available to young people where required or appropriate in areas such as emotional well-being, sexual health and substance misuse.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

An education policy is in place; however it does not show how staff within the home will support young people to achieve their potential. For example, by ensuring young people arrive at school promptly with all necessary equipment and support they receive from staff in the home. Young people are provided with good support from staff in a number of ways. Staff liaise regularly with schools and colleges to assist and support young people in their education. They attend various meetings and reviews as well as parents evenings so they know and understand young people's progress in order to deliver further help, advice and assistance. Plans are in place for young people that show the support they need to achieve and these are delivered in practice.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Good care plans are in place for young people that set out their individual needs and how these needs are to be met. Outcomes are evidenced that are linked to the care plan objectives showing a young person's progress. Care plans are kept up to date by keyworkers and are shared with young people so they can comment and suggest any changes.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Statutory reviews of care plans take place within required timescales. Young people are invited to attend these meetings and are always asked their views on their progress and care at the home. Contact arrangements are clear and ensure that young people are encouraged and supported to keep in touch with people important to them. A policy and procedure is in place regarding admissions and discharges from the home. Young people are able to bring personal items and belongings with them and they get to have a say on the decoration of their room. They get good information about the home so they know what to expect and are provided with support to settle in. Plans are in place for when a young person leaves and good support is provided by staff who help and guide young people in this transition.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people and their placing social workers are consulted about the running of the home and the care provided. Young people can attend house meetings and have regular keywork sessions. Social workers are regularly asked their views and sent questionnaires. All views are listened to and used to make positive changes.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Plans are in place for young people preparing to move onto adulthood and independent living. These are delivered in practice. Young people are encouraged and supported to develop the many skills needed for such a transition, such as cooking, budgeting and self care. Pathway planning is in place that shows the broader help, resources and support needed after a young person moves on.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home is well decorated and furnished throughout providing an environment conducive to the positive care of young people.

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Organisation

Good information is available to young people and professionals about the services the home provides and what the home is like. The Statement of Purpose and children's guide are kept up to date and reflect the provision.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is satisfactory. Young people's individual needs are assessed, planned for and met. Young people are treated fairly and have access to complaints information that promotes and protects their rights. Staff provide young people with information on a range of matters such as religions and different cultures. Not all staff are trained in issues of race, ethnicity, religion and culture to support their practice.

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Organisation

Staff are not provided with sufficient formal support through regular supervision to deliver the best care possible to young people. They have a good understanding of the needs of young people and a satisfactory understanding of the home's policies and procedures that support their practice. They have undertaken some training that supports best practice and care, but some essential training is lacking. Half the staff team are qualified and the other half are enrolled onto relevant courses. Staff who are not yet sufficiently experienced, trained or qualified are at times left in charge of the home. External monitoring of the home takes place each month as required. Reports are provided in a timely manner to the home and the regulatory body. Reports cover required matters and contain issues to help the registered person improve the quality of care.

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Organisation

Internal monitoring is carried out each month by the Registered Manager and covers all required matters. Monitoring is satisfactory. Most matters are closely scrutinised to ensure young people are kept safe and improvements made.

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Organisation

The home has a new Registered Manager in place. The manager is qualified in the care of young people, but does not yet have a management qualification to support her in the overall service delivery to young people. The home does not have a staff register. This means that, should it ever be necessary, it is difficult to readily obtain information about staff who have worked in the home.

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Organisation

Young people's records contain all required information. This means they can make sense of their care at the home and their history.

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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

27 obtain for all staff, before they start work at the home, all the information set out in Regulation 26;, specifically a full employment history that contains months and not just years (Regulation 26(3)(d)) 28/02/2011

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Std. Action Due date

28 ensure that all persons employed receive appropriate supervision; specifically to the level set out in NMS 28.2 (Regulation 27(4)(a)) 01/03/2011

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Std. Action Due date

29 ensure that a sufficient number of suitably qualified, competent and experienced persons are working at the children's home; specifically ensure that NMS 29.3 is followed (Regulation 25(1)) 07/02/2011

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Std. Action Due date

31 ensure that all staff receive training in countering bullying, safe handling of medicines, fire safety, first aid, complaints and issues of race, ethnicity, religion and culture (Regulation 27(4)(a)) 31/05/2011

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Std. Action Due date

34 maintain in the children's home those records required by legislation. In particular this relates to a staff register and a roster of the day-to-day hours actually worked by the acting 31/03/2011 manager and the staff in the home. (Regulation 29 (1), Schedule 4 (2),(11))

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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 a single dedicated sanction book is kept (22.10)  ensure absence without authority records are fully completed on each occasion and specifically include all the action taken (NMS 19.6)  devise risk assessments relating to children's likely and known activities; specifically relating to absence of any child without authority (NMS 26.2)  revise the education policy to show how the home intends to promote and support the educational attainment of children throughout the time that they live there (NMS 14.1)  ensure the Registered Manager has a qualification at level 4 NVQ in management or another qualification that matches the competencies required by that NVQ. (NMS 34.3)

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