Children's Home run by Destiny House in Harrow

Unique reference number SC038906 Inspection date 14/02/2011 Inspector Karen Malcolm Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 21/07/2010 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 children's home is privately run. The Registered Manager is also the named Registered Provider. The home provides care and support for up to eight children or young people of either sex aged from 13 to 17 years. The home is situated on a busy main road close to local shops and transport. The house is an extended semi- detached building on two floors. There is one double room and two single rooms on the ground floor. In addition to this there is a double and three single rooms on the first floor. There are shower rooms on each floor. The laundry is situated on the ground floor. There is a large kitchen and spacious dining/lounge area. There is off street parking to the front of the house for several cars. There is a large, rear garden with a small indoor swimming pool but this is not in use.

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Brief description of the service

The home has security surveillance equipment positioned outside and within some of the communal areas of the home. At the time of this inspection three young people were placed, one was interviewed.

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Summary

The overall quality rating is inadequate - notice of action to improve.

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Summary

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

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Summary

This unannounced interim inspection looked at the progress the setting has made with the requirement made at the last inspection. All key standards under staying safe and organisation along with two standards under positive contribution were inspected.

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Summary

The shortfalls from this inspection are that care plans are not consistently reviewed when any changes occurr especially when there is a risk to a young person's safety. The procedures for notifying the appropriate authorities of any significant event is not consistently completed. The minimum staffing levels at weekends is reduced and it is unclear if this compromises the safety and welfare of young people. Records pertaining to quality assurance monitoring such as staff training records, appraisals and induction have not been managed effectively or efficiently.

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Summary

Young people spoken to were happy living at the home and felt that their care and support needs are being met by staff. The relationship between staff and young people are positive and good.

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Improvements since the last inspection

There were eight actions from the previous inspection asking the provider/manager to ensure all staffing records have some form of photographic identification and records of supervision, induction and appraisals are to be maintained on individuals file. Care plans are to be robust covering all areas of support and when there is an identified area of risk this is to be reflected clearly. All contact information is to be recorded, and the home’s Statement of Purpose is to reflect the manager’s details. All records under schedule 6 are to be monitored and the rotas are to reflect accurately all staffing cover. Further to this an action plan is to be submitted to Ofsted regarding the home supporting young people over the age of 17 years.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The outcome of this inspection is that individual staffing records had photographic evidence and supervision records were in place. All contact information is recorded and the Statement of Purpose now reflects the manager’s details. Ofsted is up to dated regularly with all matters pertaining to young people over the age of 17 years who resides in the home.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Four actions have been restated in this report these relate to the registered person monitoring all records under schedule 6 such as staff appraisals and young people's care plans and risk assessments.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are not fully protected when they are absence without authority. The home was unable to demonstrate clearly what safeguarding measures are in place for those young people who are frequently absence without authority. Risk assessments do not clearly outline how areas of risk are managed by the home. Staff are responsive and involve the police appropriately whereby every effort is made to reduce the risks for young people. However, records maintained do not show how events unfold and what strategies are in place to encourage a young person to return. When a written agreement is made with the placing authority and changes are made to this agreement. It is unclear, how these changes are recorded and monitored to ensure the young person's safety is protected at all times.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are no records of physical intervention being used in the home since the last inspection. Physical intervention is used only when there is a risk of harm to an individual. However, the training records show that all staff refresher training has not been up dated for sometime. Sanctions are imposed if behaviour is deemed unacceptable and this is managed appropriately.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has not ensured all records of significant events relating to the protection of young people is notified to the appropriate authorities including Ofsted.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has an electronic surveillance system in place. There are eight cameras in total around the exterior parameters of the building as well as the communal areas. The home's surveillance policy indicates that the primary reason for surveillance monitoring is to reduce the criminal behaviour of young people. All new admissions have signed an agreement relating to surveillance equipment and they were happy knowing the devices were in place. Social workers are also aware of the surveillance equipment prior to placing a young person in the home. Risk assessments make mention to surveillance enhancing both the safety and security of young people and the staff. Young people can be confident that any information about them is confidentially handled. Policies guide them as to the circumstances under which such information is accessed for the welfare of young people. The mixed staff team are sensitive to any gender issues when caring for them. Room searches are undertaken

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

with respect for their space and possessions, and only when necessary for their welfare. Young people can lock their rooms. Baths, showers and toilets are of a number and standard to meet the needs of the young people. All have appropriate locks for the privacy and safety of each young person placed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are confident that they can voice their opinions and that any concerns expressed will be dealt with. Written information about the home's complaints procedure is included in the young person's handbook and young people know how to complain. No complaints were recorded on the home's file.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff training records pertaining to safeguarding and child protection have not been up dated for sometime along with other individual's statutory training needs. Staff spoken to are familiar with the home's own safeguarding procedures which relate to the local procedures. There are good links with the local safeguarding team. The culture within the home is that bullying is unacceptable and that staff will intervene to protect young people. By being alert to those who are likely to bully as well as those who are vulnerable staff take effective measures to reduce the risk of bullying as well as to manage any instances.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Suitable measures are undertaken to maintain young people's safety and security. There are risk assessments for the premises, individuals. Clear steps are taken to protect against the risk of fire and other hazards. Fire prevention equipment is well managed and regular fire drills teach staff and young people how to evacuate in the event of a fire; fire awareness training and monitoring of whose been included in the drills ensures that all personnel are appropriately trained. However, gas safety checks are not completed yearly, to ensure the equipment in place is safe for use.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Visitors are well vetted; they are required to show evidence of identification, to sign the visitors' book. Recruitment process is managed by the manager and records are not kept on site, therefore at this inspection recruitment records could not be fully assessed as part of this inspection.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Each young person's care plan is monitored by a key worker who ensures that the requirements of the plan are implemented in the day-to-day care of that young person. However, some care plans did not clearly demonstrate when a change to an individual's care and how this is then implemented, monitored or reviewed, to ensure the young person's overall care needs is safeguarded.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are able to maintain constructive contact with their families, friends and other people who play a significant role in their lives. Records in place show this clearly.

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Organisation

The staffing level within the home is satisfactory. However weekend rotas reflect aa reduction in the minimum staffing level. One member of staff covers a long day with another member of staff covering the night sleeping-in duty. This contradicts the home’s Statement of Purpose which clearly states that the minimum staffing over a 24 hour period is two residential workers at all times. At the last inspection the Registered Manager was required to ensure appropriate cover is in place at all times, accurately reflected on the rota, to include when the placement numbers have decreased. However, the Registered Manager has failed to demonstrate clearly what action has been taken and the reason for a reduction in staff over the weekend period. It is also unclear during this time are young people's safety and welfare is fully protected.

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Organisation

The home's Statement of Purpose has recently been updated and this sets out what the home intends to do and lets young people know what they can expect, except that the minimum staffing level that varies at different times during the week is not included. Young people are given a copy of the children’s guide when they move into the home.

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Organisation

There are support systems in place for staff such as supervisions, team meetings and appraisals. However, records of formal appraisals and staff induction were not available at the time of the inspection.

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Organisation

The home obtains most of the training provided to staff through the local authority. Due to the local authority financial cut, training is proving difficult to access and other avenues are being sourced. Training such as safeguarding and restraint training has not been kept up to date.

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Organisation

The internal quality assurance has been completed by the manager and a consultant. Although some areas have been monitored, areas such as staff appraisals, updating risk assessments, notifications, training and staffing levels have not been monitored appropriately. There are also no plans in place as to how to remedy or to identify emerging trends.

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Organisation

Young people all have a care plan, however, these are not well kept in order and information on file is not in a logical order to meet individual care and their current need.

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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

26 ensure that risk assessments reflect accurately all the areas of risk pertaining to each young person's care and support needs (Regulation 23) 31/03/2011

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Std. Action Due date

20 notify Ofsted of any significant incident as set out under Schedule 5 (Regulation 30 (1) Schedule 5) 31/03/2011

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Std. Action Due date

26 ensure all gas safety checks are completed regularly ( Regulation 23) 24/03/2011

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Std. Action Due date

2 keep under review and revise the placement plan as necessary and ensure that the placement plan is consistent with any plan for the care of the child prepared by their placing authority (Regulation 12(2)(4)) 31/03/2011

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Std. Action Due date

30 ensure that there is at all times sufficient numbers of suitably qualified competent and experienced persons working in the home(Regulation 25(1)(a)(b)) 31/03/2011

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Std. Action Due date

31 ensure all staff training is updated regular and an accurate record is maintained for all staff this includes training in child protection and physical interventions (Regulation 27(4) 31/03/2011

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Std. Action Due date

28 ensure that staff appraisals are undertaken regularly (Regulation 27) 31/03/2011

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Std. Action Due date

31 ensure that staff induction is completed (27 Regulation) 31/03/2011 34 monitor all matters as set out in schedule 6 which includes staffing rotas, placement plans, records of notifications. 31/03/2011 (Regulation 34)

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