Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

Unique reference number SC359836 Inspection date 02/02/2011 Inspector Bill Drumm Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 31/08/2010 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

This is a purpose built children's home with accommodation for up to six young people of either sex. The home is a newly built property in its own grounds. There is a small bungalow in the grounds of the home, which is used for meetings and family contact. The home comprises of two lounges, a computer room, office facilities, kitchen, and a dining room. All young people have their own bedrooms.

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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 unannounced interim inspection of the home. The outcome area for young people in the area of staying safe was inspected and found to be good. Five recommendations were made at the previous inspection. Three have been met and two have not. Young people receive good levels of help and support from a trained and committed staff team. Care planning arrangements are good and young people are consulted about the care they receive.

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Summary

The recommendations made at the previous inspection relating to the home's complaints procedures and pathway planning have not been met.

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Summary

Five young people currently live at the home, all of whom were present at some time during the inspection. All the young people contributed to the inspection process.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection the home's manager has started to review the policy and procedures for the health promotion of young people. In addition, the manager has reviewed the missing from home procedures to ensure that young people are seen by someone independent of the home when they return. Written records relating to any sanctions given to young people to help them modify their behaviour are completed accurately.

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Helping children to be healthy

Each young person who lives at the home has a clear health plan. A written record is kept within the home of all accidents or illnesses suffered by a young person. Young people are registered with a local doctor, dentist and optician and they are actively encouraged to attend all relevant appointments. In addition, specialist healthcare advice is also provided to young people who require it. The home's manager has started to develop policies and procedures for promoting the health of young people living at the home. Young people have their health needs met and their good health is promoted.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Members of staff were observed to be pleasant and friendly towards all the young people living at the home. Each young person has access to a telephone if they wish to contact anyone and can meet visitors in private. The home has policies and procedures in place, which explain what action members of staff should take when they feel it is necessary to search a young person's bedroom. Five room searches have been carried out since the last inspection. There is a full written record of the reasons why these searches were thought to be necessary. Personal information relating to each young person is stored securely to prevent unauthorised access. The privacy of young people is respected and information confidentially handled.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are policies and procedures in place for dealing with complaints in an effective and timely manner and members of staff have received training in the complaints process. The procedures do not fully comply with national minimum standards. This was raised as a recommendation at the previous inspection and has not been addressed. There have been no complaints made since the last inspection. However, four compliments have been received. The young people's guide provides clear, easy to understand information to young people about the complaints process. Young people were observed at the time of the inspection to interact and speak freely with all members of staff and to make their needs known. Young people know how to complain if they are unhappy about anything.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people living at the home are protected from exploitation and abuse. A copy of the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures is available in the home. There has been no child protection referral made since the last inspection. All members of staff working at the home have undertaken training in child protection. Training in child protection is updated regularly. Young people are protected from abuse.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has policies and procedures in place with regard to countering bullying. The young people's guide to the home has recently been reviewed and now includes clear information for young people about what action they should take if they feel they are being targeted by bullies. There has been one incident of alleged bullying since the last inspection. Written records show that this was treated seriously and fully investigated. Young people living at the home are fully protected from being targeted by bullies.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has policies and procedures in place with regard to what action members of staff should take if a young person is absent without authority. There have been a number of occasions since the last inspection when young people have been absent without authority from the home. Written records relating to these occasions have been completed accurately. The home's policies and procedures for dealing with a young person who is absent without authority have recently been reviewed and up dated. Young people are responded to positively when they return from being absent without authority.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has clear policies and procedures in place, to guide members of staff with regard to the appropriate measures they can adopt in helping young people to develop socially acceptable behaviour. The consequences of unacceptable behaviour are made clear to young people in key worker meetings and house meetings. Written records of any sanctions or restraint used are retained within a separate bound and numbered book used specifically for that purpose. There have been five restraints used at the home since the last inspection. Where possible, members of staff prefer to use less punitive measures such as patience, negotiation and reasoning to help young people develop socially acceptable behaviour.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people, members of staff and visitors are protected from fire and other hazards within the home. There are good systems in place to ensure that the home is kept safe and free from hazards. Fire drills are carried out at regular intervals, which includes those carried out at night. Young people live in a home that provides them with physical safety and security.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a committed staff team and there are good recruitment and selection processes in place. Safety checks are carried out to ensure the suitability of each applicant. Each member of staff has provided references from previous employers or those that know them. Visitors to the home are asked to clearly identify themselves on their arrival and to sign the visitors' book. Young people are protected from being exposed to potential abusers.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Formal pathway plans, for the young people who require them, were not all available in the home at the time of the inspection. The pathway plans which were in place did not clearly show what the plans were for the future of the young people. In addition, the plans had no specific contingency arrangements in place. Appropriate and suitable pathway planning was raised at the last inspection and has not been fully addressed. Young people may not receive the care they need to prepare them and support them into adulthood.

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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

 review the home's complaints procedure to ensure reprisals against young people making a complaint are expressly forbidden (NMS 16.3)  ensure that each young person living at the home who is eligible has an up-to- date and comprehensive pathway plan. (NMS 6.1)

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