Children's Home run by Building Bridges Care Homes Ltd in St Helens

Unique reference number SC063284 Inspection date 24/02/2011 Inspector Elizabeth Taylor / Ann-Marie Born Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 19/07/2010 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

The home provides care for up to five young people of mixed gender with emotional and behavioural difficulties, between the ages of 11 to 17 years. The property is a large, detached house situated in a residential area close to a town centre. Each young person has their own bedroom. There is a large garden to the rear and parking space to the front of the house. The house is close to local shops, transport links and community resources.

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Summary

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

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Summary

At this unannounced interim inspection the standards for protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe were inspected. Progress with actions and recommendations raised during the previous inspection was also assessed. Three young people reside in the home and two contributed individually and briefly to the inspection process.

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Summary

The home has strengths in providing young people with individual support and by staff working effectively with them to assist their development and level of independence. This is achieved by positive relationships being established between staff and young people. The atmosphere with the home is open, friendly and warm and the young people were clearly happy to arrive home. One young person said, 'Ofsted come and everything but everything’s reet here and nothing needs to change, I like living here, am happy.'

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Improvements since the last inspection

One action and three recommendations were made as a result of the last inspection. All of these matters have been addressed and met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The home was asked to maintain an accurate and up to date record of measures of control used in relation to the imposition of monetary sanctions. Since the last inspection the pocket money sheet for each young person has been adapted to record how much is being deducted and which sanction incident number the deduction relates to. The sanctions record and the incident form cross reference with the newly adapted form. This means that incidents, sanctions and outcomes can be tracked by young people and staff. Young people are given the opportunity to comment on the sanction imposed, one report read 'Fair enough.' In addition, young people are given the opportunity for reparation rather than purely monetary sanctions. The manager was asked to ensure behaviour management plans show measures taken by staff to reduce the likelihood of negative behaviour becoming the focus of attention. Also, to ensure plans for the care and control of young people cross

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Improvements since the last inspection

reference to promote consistency. A system known as 'Significant Conversations' has been implemented. Meaningful discussions between staff and young people are recorded about a range of subjects, from a complaint by a young person, any problems young people are having, sanctions following being absent without authority, attendance at looked after children reviews, to plans for the future. The significant conversations link in with incident report forms and are in addition to key worker sessions and group discussions. These systems help to promote the young people’s rights, keep them safe and promote their overall care.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The home was also asked to ensure a minimum ratio of 80% of all care staff have completed National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People. A sufficient number of care staff have completed this qualification to meet the minimum ratio. Newly appointed staff have already commenced the new diploma course. This means staff are supported to access relevant training to enable them to provide appropriate care and support to young people. This contributes to helping young people achieve positive outcomes.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The atmosphere in the home is generally relaxed. Young people are treated with courtesy and respect. Staff act to meet young people’s individual needs while encouraging group cohesion. Relationships between staff and young people are friendly and positive. Young people learn to trust adults and to work cooperatively with them. One young person said the best thing about the home was the staff who 'talk to us if we have a problem and help sort it out.'

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people’s privacy and dignity is promoted. Staff respect young people's privacy and balance this well with the need to protect them. Young people's individual bedrooms have appropriate door locks, as do all bathing facilities. The accommodation is spacious enough to offer young people room to relax, spend time alone or meet with visitors. Confidential information is held securely in the office and staff ensure information is only shared with relevant persons concerned with the young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The complaints procedure is effective in practice for young people. They are provided with good information about the complaints procedure and records show they have confidence in using it. Detailed records are kept of complaints and the outcome of the investigation. Young people have the opportunity to comment on whether they are satisfied with the outcome. One such entry stated 'It was dealt with fairly.' Staff are trained in dealing with complaints and understand the complaints procedure so that they can fully support young people. A separate record is kept of complaints from persons outside the home and the outcome. This acts to further safeguard the young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are well trained in safeguarding matters and are conversant with the referral process to the Local Safeguarding Children Board. Records show the home acts in a transparent and robust manner to safeguard young people. Concerns are reported promptly to relevant, external agencies and professionals and staff work cooperatively with them to facilitate any subsequent investigation. Young people are supported to understand the risks associated with some of their behaviours. Detailed risk assessments ensure staff act consistently and appropriately to keep young people safe. These measures ensure young people's safety is effectively promoted.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Policies, procedures and guidance are in place regarding young people being absent without authority. These are in accordance with the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures. Staff are conversant with the procedures and guidance. They act appropriately to report young people to the relevant authorities and interested persons. Staff also take practical steps to try to maintain contact with young people during their absence, establish their whereabouts and return them safely to the home. However, records do not always show a young person is offered the opportunity to speak with someone independent of the home on their return. This means that although young people are supported to develop their independence, their welfare and rights are not fully promoted.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Bullying was an issue in the home but this has been addressed and resolved to the young people's satisfaction. Young people say they now feel safe in the home. Any observed or reported incidents of bullying are recorded and a plan is initiated to monitor the behaviour of the perpetrator and to provide support to the victim or victims. Practical strategies are devised to minimise the risk of further episodes of bullying such as careful consideration of the grouping of young people in shared activities. Other professionals are used to support individual work with young people to help them understand the effect of bullying on others, the possible consequences of their actions and more appropriate ways of interacting with their peers. This means that although bullying incidents may occur from time to time, appropriate action is taken to stop such behaviour.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The manager and staff work towards promoting a positive culture within the home thereby protecting the young people and reducing the likelihood of the need for any physical intervention. This is effective in practice. Young people are supported to behave in an acceptable manner by positive means rather than negative measures. This is exemplified by an incentive scheme linked to attendance in education or training and the development of independence skills. Sanctions are infrequently imposed but are appropriate measures which are relevant to the misdemeanour. The young people are afforded the opportunity to discuss house rules and expectations via regular house meetings and one-to-one meetings with their key worker and the manager. Staff have very good relationships with young people and young people are very complimentary about the individual support they receive in the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has good systems in place to ensure it is maintained in good order and is safe for young people to live in. These include environmental risk assessments and regular servicing of electrical and gas installations and equipment. Fire safety is promoted by suitable equipment throughout the home and regular drills and evacuations. Staff are trained in fire awareness matters and young people are instructed about fire safety measures when they are admitted to the home. This ensures those living and working in the home know what to do in the event of an emergency. Visitors are carefully vetted and their presence in the home is recorded. These measures promote safety for young people.

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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 the child is seen if possible by his/her social worker or a person independent of the home to consider the reasons for absence without authority. (NMS 19.4)

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