Children's Home run by West Sussex County Council in West Sussex

Unique reference number SC037454 Inspection date 01/03/2011 Inspector Paul Taylor Type of inspection Random

p.1

Date of last inspection 23/11/2010 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 service is a five bedded mixed gender children's home. The service is currently aimed at young people between the ages of 12 and under 17 years old who have difficulty living within a family environment.

p.4

Brief description of the service

The home is situated in a residential area close to all the amenities a town can offer. The house provides a comfortable living environment and is purpose built. The home is situated in a large residential estate which has a population which is multicultural. On the ground floor the home has communal rooms, a kitchen, offices and a games room. The first floor rooms consist of bedrooms and bathrooms.

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 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.

p.4

Summary

The home continues to provide carefully thought out plans of care and support to the young people. Their safety is seen as paramount and the home rigorously pursues any matters or issues of concern with a view to ensuring young people's well being. Young people reported that they feel safe in the home and that the staff strive to do what is best for them. Systems operated in the home as well as the staff commitment and awareness ensures that the young people's safety and wellbeing is promoted to an excellent standard.

p.4

Summary

One recommendation has been made as a result of this inspection. The home has been asked to ensure that that the police are aware of and help implement the individual protocols for young people when they are missing from the home.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection a recommendation was made asking that the home evidenced that a plan made by a placing social worker has been implemented. This has been achieved. The home's care planning process records how the individual plans carried out in the home reflect the longer term plan for the young person. This is especially evident in the implementation of pathway plans which are in place to develop young people's self care and independence skills.

p.4

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's privacy is protected to an excellent standard. Confidential information is securely stored. Members of staff always knock on doors before entering a young person's bedroom and young people report that they are able to discuss sensitive issues in private and that the staff are sensitive and supportive in this process. If a room search occurs than a record is made of the event and the young people always have the reason for this explained to them.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The young people are aware of the complaints process and who they can complain to, including external agencies and senior members of staff from the organisation but who do not work at the home. No complaints have been made by a young person since the last inspection. House meetings and regular sessions with key workers and other members of staff means that open communication and constant discussion ensures that issues and niggles do not become formal complaints. It is clear that the young people's opinions are highly valued and that they are given every opportunity to voice how they are feeling and how they feel they are being cared for.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All members of staff are aware of what to do and who to speak to if they have concerns about a young person's welfare. Records show that very close liaison is kept with the relevant agencies, such as police officers and placing social workers, if there are outstanding concerns about any young person. It is clear that the staff response to issues of concern is diligent and robust, with the young person's safety and well being treated as paramount.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home addresses any issues of bullying in a robust and measured manner. Young people are clear that bullying is not accepted and report that they are supported if there are any issues. Detailed records show that concerns about bullying have clear action plans and that staff awareness ensures that incidents and dynamics in the young people's group are closely monitored to ensure that every one feels safe living in the home.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a clear individual protocol for each young person which is to be put into action in the event that a young person is missing. Risk assessments outline each young person's vulnerability and the young people are clear that they know that they will reported to the police, in line with their individual plans, if they go missing. While the staff team is very clear about its obligations, police officers who are informed about young people being missing are not always aware of agreed individual protocols. This means that the police response to reports of missing young people is not always consistent. Each young person has an individual behaviour management plan which outlines what strategies to use in the event that they become distressed or challenging and what triggers may provoke such behaviours. The plans also include what is the most appropriate way to physically hold a young person if the staff need to intervene to

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

ensure their safety. Each young person is encouraged to sign their behaviour management plan.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Each incident which involves physical intervention is recorded in detail in an incident report and in the physical restraint log. These records are checked by the manager on a regular basis to ensure that the intervention was appropriate.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A clear record is made of any sanctions imposed and the young people report that these are fair. Restorative sanctions are sometimes used to enable the young people to put right some misdemeanours, especially if they are related to damage caused. This gives young people an opportunity to do something positive for their home as well as giving them the chance to make amends for negative behaviour.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Numerous risk assessments are in place relating to the environment, activities, and behaviours which the young people may display. These outline what measures and strategies need to be used to minimise risk and are reviewed regularly. The staff team are acutely aware that the backgrounds of some of the young people may lead them to take risks or not be aware of the risks which certain behaviours, such as alcohol and drug abuse as well as absconding, may entail. The staff team work extremely hard to support and supervise the young people and at the same time educate them about safer lifestyles and risk minimisation. The conscientious approach to supporting the young people and approach to risk management means that the young people have an opportunity to take acceptable risks, such as horse riding and camping, and are actively discouraged from taking negative risks.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Fire equipment is regularly checked and serviced and fire drills occur on a routine basis.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A robust recruitment process ensures that no member of staff begins to work in the home before all the appropriate pre employment checks have been carried out.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The systems in the home, monitoring by the manager and senior members of staff and commitment shown by the staff team, ensures that the young people's safety is highly valued. Strenuous efforts are made to ensure all the young people are safe and are cared for to an excellent standard.

p.6

Recommendations

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

p.7

Recommendations

 ensure that the police are aware of the individual protocols which are in place when a young person is missing from the home. (NMS 19)

p.7