Children's Home run by Kent County Council in Kent

Unique reference number SC037282 Inspection date 11/01/2011 Inspector Liz Daniels Type of inspection Random

p.1

Date of last inspection 21/07/2010 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 unit is owned by the county council and provides respite care for children and young people aged between five and 18 years, who have learning difficulties, physical disabilities and other associated complex needs. Over 100 children and young people stay at the unit on an occasional or regular basis; access to the service is through referral and is funded by the local authority. The number of staff, children and young people in the unit is based on a dependency assessment of care needs; a maximum of seven children and young people can be accommodated at any one time. They are cared for by a team of nurses funded by the Primary Care Trust and care staff funded by the local authority.

p.4

Brief description of the service

The unit provides a range of facilities including office space, a kitchen, communal areas, bedrooms, bathrooms, a sensory room and soft play areas. Upstairs, a separate flatlet provides the opportunity for the children and young people to develop some independence and learn life skills. Outside there is a sensory garden and a large grassed area where there are swings, a play house and an adventure area on a safe surface. Off-road parking is available in front of the complex and the unit has its own adapted transport, enabling children and young people to access activities and education in the local community.

p.4

Brief description of the service

Seven children and young people were booked to stay at the unit on the day of the inspection and all were present during the evening.

p.4

Summary

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

p.4

Summary

This unannounced interim inspection was the second visit to the setting for the year April 2010 to March 2011. The service was judged as good at the key inspection, undertaken in July 2010. The aim of this inspection was to inspect those standards that ensure children and young people are safe, and to inspect the progress made in implementing the actions and recommendations previously made. The visit was facilitated by the manager and provided the opportunity to meet with some children,young people and care staff.

p.4

Summary

This setting continues to provide a nicely decorated, well furnished and comfortable place for children and young people to stay. An enthusiastic, motivated staff team provides care to meet their needs and good arrangements are in place to keep children and young people safe. Meeting each child or young person's needs is an integral part of how the unit runs and staff are keen to enable children and young people to achieve their full potential.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

Two actions were issued at the last inspection, one of which has been met and the other partly met. As a result, recruitment has improved; senior staff at the setting now ensure all the correct information is obtained for new staff before a start date is agreed. In addition, the arrangements for staff supervision have improved whereby it is undertaken more regularly and staff are finding it beneficial. However, it is not yet occurring for all staff, with the frequency that is required by regulation. Therefore, this action has been re-issued.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

Similarly, four recommendations were also issued at the last inspection, all of which have been fully met. All staff involved with children and young people are now trained in child protection, and re-decoration of the bedrooms means they are now all pleasant and comfortable for children and young people. In addition, the records of sanctions and restraints now include all those who witness the incident. Similarly, fire drills to practice evacuation are now well recorded and evaluated.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Comprehensive policies guide staff in how to respect children and young people's privacy and handle information about them with sensitivity. Staff training during induction ensures they recognise the importance of providing privacy and they balance that well with the need to supervise and care for children and young people. Good sized bedrooms and bathrooms provide plenty of space for personal care and a mixed staff team enables sensitivity to gender issues. A payphone is available for children and young people to make calls and staff support them to do so, as needed.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are alert to signs that children and young people may be concerned or unhappy and use a variety of communication methods to explore their anxiety; concerns are taken seriously, investigated and acted upon. Each child or young person has a family member or responsible adult who can advocate for them. Similarly, complaints by parents and adults involved with the unit are followed through well. The unit's complaints procedure is well publicised and clearly outlines the different stages of the complaints process. Complaints are monitored as part of the unit's quality assurance and reviewed during the monthly visits to fulfil Regulation 33.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The unit's procedures are aimed at promoting the welfare of children and young people and protecting them from abuse. All staff are now trained in child protection and know the action to take in response to any concerns; the local safeguarding procedures are also readily available for them to reference in the event of any safeguarding allegations. Good records are maintained. Sound recruitment procedures require that all staff have an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau disclosure before employment, to protect children and young people.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are very alert as to what constitutes bullying and intervene promptly, promoting that it is unacceptable. Careful planning of the groups accommodated includes consideration for those children and young people likely to bully as well as those who are vulnerable. In addition, good staffing levels and risk assessments enable children and young people to be well supervised, greatly reducing the risk of any intimidation. These good practices have resulted in a very low incidence of bullying and, similarly, no recent instances of unauthorised absence.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff adopt good strategies to manage children and young people's behaviour, resulting in well-managed incidents. Measures to manage behaviour are detailed in each child or young person's file; these include a positive handling plan identifying what they are good at and like doing, the routines they require to avoid situations arising as well as any modifications to the environment. Staff guide children and young people as to what is socially acceptable behaviour and discourage them when their behaviour is inappropriate. Any events are well recorded in the required bound logs; they are well monitored and each event evaluated as part of the unit's quality assurance. Staff are all trained in behaviour management techniques.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Good measures are undertaken to maintain the safety and security of children and young people when they stay. The unit is insured appropriately and risk assessments completed for the premises, individuals and activities children and young people take part in. Positive steps are taken to protect against the risk of fire and other hazards. All the required checks of fire equipment continue and staff undertake weekly day time fire drills. In addition, staff continue to explore how challenging children and young people may be supported in the event of a fire at night through creative mock scenarios. These are now very well recorded and evaluated to ensure all staff know how to keep children and young people safe.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Visitors and contractors continue to be well monitored. They are required to show evidence of identification and to sign the visitors' book before they access the unit, accompanied by a member of staff. Procedures for the recruitment of staff are robust. All the information relating to prospective employees is initially centralised with the local authority before being copied for the setting; the manager now closely monitors what information has been received before arranging start dates for new employees.

p.6

Achieving economic wellbeing

The unit is a purpose-built facility set within its own grounds and situated near a large town where shops and facilities are easily reachable by car. Set back from the road, there is a car park which provides sufficient space for several cars to park. A large enclosed area to the back of the unit, well equipped with play equipment, provides safe recreational space for children and young people. The exterior of the property is in a good state of structural and decorative repair. Internally some recent refurbishment has enhanced the accommodation and additions such as bed bumpers make it safer for children and young people. Several play areas and sitting rooms ensure there is space for all those who stay to be together or spend time alone. Similarly, a sensory room provides space for relaxation. There are also plenty of toilet and wash facilities, well adapted to meet children and young people's needs. In

p.7

Achieving economic wellbeing

addition, a 'spa bath' is greatly enjoyed by many children and young people who stay. A good-sized dining area provides sufficient space for staff, children and young people to eat together and the single bedrooms are a good size, bright and suitably furnished. A self contained flatlet is an excellent facility which is very well equipped to enable young people to be more independent with staff support or to have some one-to-one time. Overall the unit provides comfortable accommodation which is nicely decorated, furnished and very well maintained.

p.7

Organisation

The home continues to be managed by a knowledgeable, experienced and qualified Registered Manager. She leads a team of nurses and care staff, supported by an experienced and competent senior team leader who deputises for her in her absence. There are sufficient staff on the rota to meet the home's Statement of Purpose, and the shifts undertaken allow sufficient time for the completion of records as well as the handover of information. Timetabled supervision continues; staff confirm it is useful and some re-organisation is enabling it to occur more regularly, to provide staff support.

p.7

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.

p.8

Std. Action Due date

28 ensure that all staff receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal. (Regulation 27(4)(a)) 01/04/2011

p.8