Children's Home run by Nottingham City Council in Nottingham

Unique reference number SC034969 Inspection date 21/02/2011 Inspector Rosemary Chapman Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 03/08/2010 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 home, which is provided by a local authority, is registered to care for five boys and girls aged between 10 and 17 years with emotional and behavioural difficulties. It aims to provide settled care as an alternative for young people who cannot remain within their family, and a safe and caring environment for vulnerable young people who may display challenging behaviours.

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Brief description of the service

The home is situated north of the city centre in a residential area. Local facilities include schools, shops and a medical centre. The building comprises three houses converted into one. Bedrooms are single with adjacent bathrooms and toilet facilities. There are two office areas, lounge, dining area, family room and kitchen.

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Brief description of the service

Five young people were living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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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 was an unannounced interim inspection, the purpose of which was to monitor the progress on the action and recommendations made at the previous key inspection and assess how well the home keeps children safe.

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Summary

Young people's safety and well-being are maintained to a satisfactory standard. The home has had an unsettled period which has disturbed its equilibrium and resulted in an increased amount of bullying and incidents requiring physical intervention. Staff have worked hard to address this and have been able to support and protect young people through increased supervision and monitoring.

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Summary

Some of the recommendations from the previous inspection have been repeated as they have not been fully addressed, and there are two further actions made as a result of this inspection. These relate to the number of fire drills held in a 12-month period and notifying Ofsted of significant incidents. This has resulted in the judgement for the staying safe outcome area being assessed as satisfactory.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the previous key inspection, one action and seven recommendations were made. The action related to the safekeeping and recording of medication. The manager has improved the systems, including more effective monitoring, and this action has been met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The seven recommendations related to: the record of menus; the checking of the electrical installations; the insurance certificate specifying the name of the particular home; ensuring children know the content of their care plans and are given the opportunity to sign them; obtaining the views of parents and social workers; ensuring the staffing policy is in the Statement of Purpose; and the monthly monitoring and signing of records by the registered person. The electrical installations have been checked within the last three years, and the views of parents and social workers have been sought to inform the home's development. These two recommendations have therefore been addressed. The manager has improved the monthly signing of records but not all the records which are checked as part of her monthly monitoring are signed, so this recommendation is not fully met. Likewise, although a system has been established to record alternative food options taken, this

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Improvements since the last inspection

has not been implemented effectively. Young people are not signing their care plans, the insurance certificate does not state the name of the home, although the manager has made stringent efforts to address this, and the Statement of Purpose does not contain the staffing policy. These five recommendations have therefore been repeated.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are sound arrangements in this home to protect young people from harm and promote their well-being; outcomes for young people are therefore satisfactory.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people have their privacy respected and information about them is confidentially handled. Young people have keys to their bedrooms and also a lockable safe within their rooms for any items they wish to keep particularly private. Staff practice is guided effectively by clearly written policies and procedures. The room search policy is very clear and young people are made aware of this as it forms part of the information in their welcome pack.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are made aware of how to complain if they are unhappy about any aspect of their care. They receive this information in their welcome pack, it is on display in the home, staff are clear about the procedures and there is regular access to an independent advocacy service. There have been two formal complaints since the previous inspection. These were dealt with appropriately and fully recorded. The manager is also very accessible and approachable so young people are able to raise any issues with her before they become formal complaints. She also has a proactive attitude to resolving any difficulties in the neighbourhood by developing informal friendly relationships with neighbours. This ensures young people are a welcome part of the community. Young people are protected from abuse by clearly written policies and procedures which are implemented in practice by staff who have appropriate training, support

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a clear anti-bullying stance which all young people are aware of. There has been an increase in bullying behaviour over the last few months and staff have made every effort to address this and protect young people. All young people have an anti-bullying risk assessment, with clear actions to address any identified risks, and staff ensure they provide good supervision. Despite this, some young people felt this was ineffective in protecting them from being bullied.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are good procedures which protect young people who go missing from the home, although this is not an issue currently. All young people have a risk assessment which outlines the action to be taken if this occurs. This is supported by good protocols and effective working relationships with the police.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Incidents are recorded thoroughly and the majority of those that are required to be notified to Ofsted have been. However, one serious incident which necessitated calling the police to the home had not been notified as required. This means the regulatory body does not receive relevant information about the operation of the home between inspections which weakens its ability to monitor this effectively.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are encouraged to behave appropriately through the use of rewards rather than sanctions. For example, some of the young people are going on an overnight fishing trip with staff, but this is dependent on their good behaviour. Sanctions are generally appropriate and properly recorded. They tend to be repayment for damage or inappropriate use of taxis. The manager monitors sanctions for effectiveness and signs the sanctions book; there have been occasions when she has deemed sanctions to be unnecessary and withdrawn them. There has been a notable increase in physical intervention since the last inspection, as the home has had an unsettled period. Staff have approved training to ensure they do not hurt either young people or themselves when carrying this out and it is recorded appropriately and monitored by the manager. Young people also have the opportunity to state their views.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The environment is maintained to a level that keeps young people safe and secure. For example, all the maintenance checks on the electricity and gas are carried out at appropriate intervals. However, there have only been two fire drills in the last 12 months, rather than the required four, which may impact on young people's safety if they have not had the opportunity to practice leaving the building in an emergency.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are protected from contact with unsuitable people; all visitors to the home are asked for proof of identity, sign the visitors' book and are monitored while on the premises. Staff are only appointed after a thorough vetting process and their Criminal Records Bureau checks are renewed every three years.

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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

20 notify without delay the relevant persons or agencies of the matters set out in Schedule 5, in particular serious incidents necessitating calling the police to the home (Regulation 30(1)) 31/03/2011

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Std. Action Due date

26 ensure by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals that the persons working in the home and so far as practicable children accommodated there, are aware of the procedure to be followed in the case of fire. (Regulation 32(1)(e) 31/03/2011

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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 there is a record of menus (as served) to demonstrate the provision of a suitable and varied diet (NMS 10.4)  ensure the certificate of insurance specifies the name and address of the particular home (NMS 26.9)  ensure children know the content of their overall care plans and placement plans and are given the opportunity to sign them (NMS 2.6)  ensure that the staffing policy is set out in the Statement of Purpose and addresses the areas in standard 30.2 (NMS 30.2)  ensure the registered person of the home monitors and signs the home's records at least once a month. (NMS 33.1)

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