Children's Home run by Keys Educational Services Limited in Lincolnshire

Unique reference number SC363422 Inspection date 06/12/2010 Inspector Andrew Hewston Type of inspection Key

p.1

Date of last inspection 10/02/2010 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

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.

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.3

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.

p.3

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

p.3

Brief description of the service

This home is registered for three young people aged 14 years to 17 years of either gender and is owned by a private provider. The home is a modern detached bungalow. It is situated on the edge of a small rural village and there are no immediate community facilities within a short walking distance. The home provides transport for access to services and activities as appropriate in neighbouring larger towns.

p.4

Summary

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

p.4

Summary

This was a full unannounced inspection that concentrated on key national minimum standards. The inspection focused on areas related to health needs, keeping young people safe, education and how individual support is provided. The inspection also concentrated on how the home consults with young people, plans for their care and how staffing and management arrangements support the operation of the service.

p.4

Summary

The home's staff ensure that young people receive a good level of care. Health planning is appropriate for the needs of the young people and medication is administered correctly. However, controlled medication is not recorded within a designated log. Thorough systems and effective staff working practice ensure that young people are kept safe within the home.

p.4

Summary

Young people are involved in differing educational and social activities and these are supported by the staff team. Planning for young people is of a high level and shows that staff have a good awareness of the needs of the young people. The home provides a pleasant and homely environment and young people are developing their independence skills well.

p.4

Summary

The home is appropriately staffed and managed. Staff are fully supported by both the manager and the organisation. Supervision and the development of the team support the care of the young people.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

The previous inspection of the home was completed in February 2010 and the home received an inadequate judgement; 20 statutory requirements were raised to develop improvement. The home was visited in April and the organisation and staff team were seen to have developed the home and systems within it. This inspection shows that all of the 20 previous actions have been met. Medication arrangements are now appropriate and all young people have health plans that meet their needs.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

Complaints are now appropriately investigated and recorded. Significant events are reported to the necessary authorities. Behaviour management planning has been updated and is in line with the expectations of the standards. The safety of the young people is now supported by ensuring that all areas of the home are as free from hazard as practical and risk assessments are in place relating to all areas of safety for the young people. Suitable fire safety equipment is now in place. Full recruitment information now shows that sufficient checks are completed on staff prior to them working at the home.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

The home has been redecorated by the staff team and all bedrooms now afford individuals sufficient levels of privacy. Young people have access to a range of activities that have been risk assessed. Placement plans are now consistent with those prepared by the placing authority.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

All staff now receive appropriate support through supervision, appraisal and training. The home now has a Registered Manager and Regulation 33 visits are completed on a regular basis.

p.5

Helping children to be healthy

Young people's health needs are appropriately supported by the staff team and all actions highlighted at the last inspection have been met.

p.5

Helping children to be healthy

Young people are supported with their menu planning and cooking meals that are in line with their needs. Staff promote healthy eating and there is information on display relating to a healthy lifestyle.

p.5

Helping children to be healthy

All young people have personalised health plans that are in line with the expectations of their placing authorities' plans. Records show that young people have attended a range of appointments with external health professionals and there are systems in place to provide additional support for young people relating to mental health needs. Young people are registered with the local doctor and may visit on their own if they so wish.

p.5

Helping children to be healthy

Staff have all completed training in the administration of medication and the home has good systems in place to ensure the safety of young people in this area. All medication is stored appropriately and controlled medication is fully signed off by staff, although there is currently no controlled medication book being used in line with Royal Pharmaceutical Society guidance. Auditing of medication is completed on a regular basis to ensure medication levels are correct.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All actions highlighted at the last inspection have been met to ensure the safety of young people at the home.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's privacy is supported by the staff team through young people having their own keys to their rooms, access to a private telephone area and appropriate room search records, although the latter have not been used since the home's last inspection.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Information relating to how to make complaints is within young people's guides and there are also discussions relating to how complaints are resolved within young people's meetings. All complaints are responded to in a timely fashion and fully recorded including outcomes. Some complaints information is out of date, however, in relation to how to contact Ofsted. Systems are also in place relating to bullying and this topic is discussed within young people's meetings. Young people state that there are currently no problems relating to bullying. The home has a dedicated bullying log to highlight patterns in such behaviour, although there are no entries within this.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Good procedures are in place to safeguard the young people within the home. Staff are appropriately trained in child protection and information is available for staff relating to who to contact in the event of a concern, including staff within the organisation, the Local Safeguarding Children Board and the local authority designated officer. Child protection concerns have been fully investigated and information is available for scrutiny. All child protection referrals are copied to Ofsted for information.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Systems are in place to record incidents of absence without permission; these records link with the incident records relating to the home. Reporting protocols are in place with the local police. There has been a decrease in the level of absence from the home since the last inspection; this is due in part to the age of the young people currently resident.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home's staff promote positive behaviours within the home and rewards are given for personal development. Levels of restraint are low and when this occurs it is fully recorded. All staff have completed training in the use of restraint as well as diversion techniques. Young people have good positive handling plans in place that highlight preferred ways that young people are to be restrained. Records relating to sanctions are generally well recorded.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Thorough routines are in place to ensure that health and safety checks are completed within the home. All fire checks and risk assessments are in place. Certification regarding necessary checks is available including portable appliance testing. General risk assessments relating to the home and activities are completed. Recruitment of staff to the home ensures the safety of the young people. Full checks are completed in line with the expectations of the standards and regulations.

p.6

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

All young people are supported through an individualised care package that relates directly to their needs. Young people have information relating to independent advocates and how to access these. Minutes of meetings with key workers show well-targeted discussions relating to how young people are developing at the home.

p.7

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff support the educational development of young people appropriately, through the organisation of college placements and linking with the Connexions service. Young people have the ability to attend the organisation's school and individual learning plans are completed to highlight areas of necessary development. Young people also have personal education plans in place.

p.7

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people have access to a range of differing activities. Although staff are available to support young people with these activities, they are generally planned for and completed independently. This is appropriate for the age and ability of the young people currently in residence at the home. Young people are involved with budgeting for activities.

p.7

Helping children make a positive contribution

There is a range of ways in which young people have an input into their level of care. Staff ensure that key worker meetings include time for young people to discuss ongoing developments at the home. Young people's meetings include conversations about the home and changes that need to be made.

p.7

Helping children make a positive contribution

Placement plans are in place for all young people and state the general needs of the young people and how these are to be met by the staff team. Plans include a good range of information and are in line with the expectations of the standards in the majority of areas. Plans also include a high level of personalisation, and show that staff have a good awareness of young people's likes and dislikes. Looked after children documentation includes information that is in line with the home's plans. Young people state an awareness of their plans.

p.7

Helping children make a positive contribution

Reviews are completed on a regular basis and minutes of these are available. Recordings show that young people are fully involved with the review process, either through attendance or completion of questionnaires prior to the meeting. Staff ensure that there are in-depth reports relating to the development of the young people at the home available for reviews.

p.7

Helping children make a positive contribution

The staff team support young people with contact arrangements between themselves and their families. Clear contact arrangements are available within young people's files, including who they can and cannot have contact with. Contact information is not referred to within the placement plans, however.

p.7

Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people are involved with the development of their independence skills and this is thoroughly supported by the staff team. Good baseline assessments are in place to examine the current skills of the young people, and training packages develop the individuals through a range of awards as they become more confident with their self- help skills. Pathway plans are in place from the placing authority and arrangements exist to link the young people with their own authority's independence team.

p.8

Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people enjoy living in pleasant and homely surroundings that are well cared for by both staff and young people. All rooms are appropriately furnished and clean. Young people have an input into the décor of their own rooms where possible. The staff team have worked hard to bring the home up to a good level following the last interim inspection in February. Information relating to a range of areas is within the education area.

p.8

Organisation

The home's Statement of Purpose gives a good awareness of the way that the home works and how young people are cared for. Information is clearly presented and is appropriate to the needs of placing authorities and parents who may wish to know the purpose of the home. The Statement of Purpose includes a staffing policy in line with the expectations of the standard and ensures that there are sufficient staff to meet the needs of the young people. Additional staff work in the home when required, with all staff working for the organisation to ensure a consistency of care. The young people's guide gives clear information about the home and basic rules and expectations of behaviour. There is a good range of information about how they will be supported while living at the home and additional contact information about external agencies.

p.8

Organisation

Staff are supported through supervision sessions, and staff meetings are completed regularly and ensure that there is a consistency of practice within the home and across the organisation. The staff team is made up of a good range of experienced and qualified staff. The organisation of the training of staff is good and all staff complete basic training as part of their induction, followed by more formal qualifications. There is a sufficient number of qualified staff working at the home. The home has had a new Registered Manager since the last inspection and staff are able to discuss a range of ways in which the staff team has developed since that time. The home is effectively monitored by the manager and the Regulation 33 visitor. All records are checked on a regular basis and there are thorough systems in place to audit the recordings and respond if areas need to be developed.

p.8

Organisation

Young people's files are well organised and information is easy to find within them.

p.9

Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. The home ensures that information relating to young people's religious observation is sought on admission to the home and subsequently supported. The staff are able to discuss a range of ways that young people's culture is supported at the home. All young people's needs are supported on an individual basis.

p.9

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s):

p.9

Recommendations

 ensure that the administration of medication is in line with Royal Pharmaceutical Guidance relating to controlled medication recording (NMS 13.2)  ensure young people are able to contact Ofsted if they wish to make a complaint (NMS 16.5)  ensure placement plans contain information relating to contact arrangements. (NMS 2.1)

p.9