Children's Home run by Brighton and Hove City Council in Brighton and Hove

Unique reference number SC044880 Inspection date 17/02/2011 Inspector Paul Taylor / Keith Riley Type of inspection Random

p.1

Date of last inspection 08/09/2010 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

The service has two Registered Managers. Young people with a learning difficulty stay at this home. It is divided into two separate sections and has a total of eight single bedrooms. Up to five young people can be accommodated for residential short breaks in one section of the unit and a further three young people in the other section of the unit.

p.4

Brief description of the service

There are communal areas which include lounges, kitchen/dining rooms, a sensory room, a soft-play room and a large garden, which has numerous pieces of play equipment.

p.4

Summary

The overall quality rating is outstanding.

p.4

Summary

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

p.4

Summary

At this unannounced random inspection the key standards in the area of staying safe were assessed as well as how the home has responded to the single recommendation made at the last inspection. The young people continue to receive an outstanding level of care and support. Detailed behaviour support plans and a high awareness of each young person's individual needs and vulnerability means that the young people's safety and well- being is promoted to an excellent level. Systems in the home and high levels of staff commitment ensure that practice is reviewed and maintained to a very high standard. The recommendation made at the last inspection has been addressed. Young people who live in the home on a permanent basis no longer have to change bedrooms when other young people come to stay. No recommendations were made as a result of this inspection.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection a recommendation was made asking the home to ensure that young people living there on a full time basis did not have to change bedrooms to accommodate the specific needs of other young people receiving respite care. This has now been addressed. The young people who are at the home on a full time basis have their own bedrooms which they have personalised and decorated and are now regarded as their own space. They are no longer required to change rooms when other young people receive respite care.

p.4

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Privacy is valued and respected by the staff team and sensitive information is stored securely. Young people are afforded privacy and dignity very sensitively. Plans of care, which have been endorsed by social workers, parents and key workers, clearly outline how personal care is to be provided at a level which ensures each young person's dignity and safety.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people, who understand the concept of what constitutes a complaint, are able to make complaints if they wish. They have numerous members of staff they can voice their opinions to, as well as having contact with social workers and an independent advocate. Support plans which are very detailed, outline how the young people, who are not able to make formal complaints due to their learning disabilities, make their displeasure and distress known. These plans involve input from parents and professionals who know the young people very well so that their preferences of how they communicate their emotions are known by the members of staff. The home has a clear system to follow in the event that any person, such as a parent or social worker wishes to make a complaint. No complaints have been received since the last inspection in September last year.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All members of staff are trained in child protection. Safeguarding procedures are available for reference in the staff offices. Every member of staff is aware of what to do and who to talk to in the event that they have concerns about a young person's well-being. Records of child protection issues are clear and include details of which agencies have been involved and how the situation was resolved in order to maintain a young person's safety.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Most of the young people who live at the home do not have the cognitive ability to understand the concept of bullying. Therefore staff awareness is very high and group dynamics closely supervised to minimise the potential for any incidents. For those young people who are able to understand what bullying is, a clear set of rules and expectations about respect and being safe have been developed using their input. The approach operated in the home has ensured that staff have an excellent awareness of any issues and are proactive in preventing incidents occurring.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Very clear procedures and individual risk assessments are in place with regards to the possibility of young people going missing. The learning disabilities of most of the young people means that they are extremely vulnerable if left unsupervised, especially in the community. Staff awareness of their vulnerability means that they are diligent in their supervision of the young people, when out in the community and ensure that they know their whereabouts at all times, when they are in the home.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people receive a high standard of individualised support. Individual plans outline what strategies need to be used to manage situations where young people can become distressed and what circumstances may trigger this behaviour. Behaviour support plans are regularly reviewed by key workers and endorsed by parents and social workers. Young people experience a constructive response to behaviours and achievements are celebrated by staff praise. Staff give extensive consideration as to the reason for any behaviour and its prevention. Trends are monitored through the vigilance of the management in the recording process as well as by regular discussions in team meetings. The planning and attention to detail is of a very high standard and ensures that the young people are supported, reassured and nurtured.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Numerous risk assessments ensure that the young people's safety in their environment and in activities and behaviour is measured and assessed robustly and consistently. Risk assessments pinpoint areas of vulnerability for each young person and what measures need to be in place to promote their safety. The risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated and include input from external specialists, such as psychologists and occupational therapists if needed. There is a culture in the home that sees the emotional and physical safety of the young people as paramount.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Fire drills occur regularly and each young person has a personal emergency evacuation plan which includes details on how each young person may react in the event that a fire alarm sounds and what support they need in order to evacuated safely.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The organisation which runs the home has a robust system in place which ensures that all members of staff have all the appropriate checks carried out before they commence employment.

p.6