Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Blackpool

Unique reference number SC415710 Inspection date 01/03/2011 Inspector Elaine Clare Type of inspection Key

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Date of last inspection 28/09/2010 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 service provides short, medium and long term care for three young people aged ten up to the age of 17 years who experience serious emotional behavioural difficulties. The home is a detached property on a residential street in a coastal town. It is furnished to a good standard and each young person has an individual bedroom. There are local facilities and amenities near by for young people to enjoy.

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Summary

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

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Summary

This unannounced inspection was the first to the home following registration for the year April 2010 to March 2011 during which the key standards were inspected. The visit provided the opportunity to meet with the home's new manager, her deputy and a few members of the care team. The young people currently accommodated were at home for parts of the inspection .

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Summary

This setting provides a comfortable home for the young people with a caring staff team to support them; meeting the young people's individual needs is seen as an integral part of how the home runs. The manager is not yet registered with Ofsted, but is well supported by a knowledgeable and experienced deputy in leading a team of qualified care staff. The staff see their role as providing a happy environment where the young people can come to terms with earlier disruption in their lives, enabling them to integrate back into school and achieve their full potential. In addition, there are good measures in place to keep the young people healthy and good arrangements to maintain their safety.

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Improvements since the last inspection

This was the home's first inspection and therefore this area is not applicable.

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Helping children to be healthy

The young people enjoy varied, healthy meals and are positive about the quantity and types of food available. Healthy eating is promoted and food is well presented. The young people are also given opportunities to buy, prepare and cook meals with staff support. Meals are well ordered, social occasions enjoyed by the staff and young people. Food storage is well managed as most of the staff are trained in food hygiene. Discussions, records and observations confirm that the young people's health needs continue to be well met. Health records capture the required information and this, together with the young person's care plan, identifies their individual needs. The required medical appointments are arranged and referrals are made to health professionals when it is beneficial for the young people. Accidents and injuries are well recorded and key worker sessions provide an opportunity for the staff to discuss

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Helping children to be healthy

Medications and treatment are very well stored, administered and recorded. A small stock of 'homely' medicines are held; separate medication administration records are correctly completed for prescription and non-prescription medications, for each young person. The required consents are in place for emergency treatment and the administration of first aid. Staff are trained in first aid. The first aid boxes are stocked with the required supplies.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The staff respect the young people's privacy and are careful to maintain confidentiality when discussing their needs on the telephone or handling information about them. In general, a mixed staff group is on duty enabling sensitivity to gender issues. The young people can use the home's cordless telephone or their own mobiles to make calls in a private area of the home. Although bedroom door alarms are fitted to enable the staff to monitor activity, these are currently not activated.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The staff recognise the importance of the young people raising their concerns and ensure they are supported to do so. Their concerns are taken seriously, investigated and acted upon. Records confirm that they are managed to a satisfactory outcome for the young people. There has been one external complaint recorded and investigated. Staff are clear of the process to follow. Complaints monitoring is a part of the home's internal monitoring.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The staff are trained in child protection and know how to respond to safeguarding concerns. The local safeguarding procedures are readily available in the home for the staff to reference and sound recruitment policies require that all staff have an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau disclosure before employment. Senior managers are always contactable and guide staff on how to proceed in the event of allegations or safeguarding concerns; these are then discussed with the relevant professionals and good records are maintained.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The staff are alert to the risk of intimidating behaviour among the young people and intervene promptly to de-escalate any situations. Activities are organised with consideration for the dynamics of the group involved and staffing adjusted to ensure the young people are appropriately supervised. The young people do not identify bullying as a concern within the home. The staff consistently encourage and praise socially acceptable behaviour but are fair in the way they manage poor behaviour. Suitable sanctions are used, recorded and monitored. Similarly, physical intervention is used only when there is a significant risk to an individual, by staff who are appropriately trained; good records are maintained. Each young person's behaviour management plan is developed from risk assessments and the consequences of unacceptable behaviour with the resulting loss of privileges are made known to them; they confirm that these measures are fair.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Good measures are undertaken to maintain the safety and security of the young people. Risk assessments are completed and the organisation has the required public liability insurance. Positive steps are taken to protect against the risk of fire and other hazards. Fire prevention equipment is managed and fire drills held regularly. The young people have all been included in fire evacuations and fire drill records show attendance.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The careful vetting of visitors alongside good recruitment processes which involve the young people, are all aimed at protecting them. Visitors and contractors are well monitored by being required to show evidence of identification and to sign the visitors' book, as well as being supervised while on site. Recruitment is managed through the organisation's head office and records confirm that all the necessary information is received prior to employment.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The staff know the young people well and identify their individual needs. They recognise those at risk of being isolated by others and promote their inclusion in the home's social group. Professional services are accessed when needed and individual one-to-one time is spent with each young person. Some sessions are planned but generally they are unplanned. Records are maintained. Staff try and engage the young people in contributing to planned sessions and signing the records kept.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

All the staff are positive about education, encouraging each young person to progress and achieve. The staff support them and enable them to attend school or college each day; the required documentation that outlines their education plan is held in their case file. In addition, there are plenty of books and resources around the home to promote learning, as well as sufficient study facilities to enable them to complete homework or additional education.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

A range of activities are offered to the young people and the staff encourage them to pursue any particular interests they may have. Games and pastimes are evident around the home and there are also opportunities for the young people to join in sports activities and film nights arranged by the organisation. Newspapers and books are readily accessible within the home and a good development is that the young people are now provided with a suitable magazine each of their choice. The young people enjoy regular breaks away from the home, having recently returned from a short break to Devon for the half term holidays.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Each young person's needs are assessed prior to their placement and they benefit from a placement care plan that outlines how those needs are met. Staff regularly review the plans and discuss any changes with the young person's placing social worker; additional informal communication by telephone and e-mail ensures they are fully aware of each young person's progress. In addition, the plans are reviewed as part of the monitoring to fulfil Regulation 34. Staff confirm that they discuss the young people at staff meetings so all are aware of any changes to their care. Equally, any changes are shared with the young people during one-to-one time; similarly, staff confirm that the young people can have individual time with any of the team to seek guidance, support or advice.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The staff support and facilitate looked after child reviews, to ensure each young person's needs and development are reviewed in the light of their care and progress at the home. The process includes key staff, family members, as appropriate, and other professionals involved with the young person. The staff have developed a pre- review report to provide the opportunity to seek and record the young people's views; they are then encouraged to attend, to voice their choices and aspirations. They are also supported through the process by the independent reviewing officer who feedbacks to them after the review. All the appropriate paperwork is held in the young person's file which staff support the young people to access and read if they wish.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Contact arrangements with family members are very well managed in accordance with each young person's care plan and good records are maintained. Staff are aware of the adverse effects that contact may have on a young person and follow this up well.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The young people are moved into the setting in a planned and structured way. They are given information about the home and the staff are readily available to answer any queries and concerns they may have. The young people confirm they can bring small personal possessions with them and that they are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms. Equally their leaving is well organised and plans put in place to aid the transfer. Even when there are short timescales, the young people's needs are well considered.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The young people are encouraged to make choices and decisions about their lives and they influence the way the home is run. Meal times provide a useful informal opportunity for the staff and young people to discuss the home and how they feel about it. One-to-one time with the staff provides an opportunity to discuss any specific concerns or ideas. In addition, the young people take part in house meetings which are beneficial as a forum for ascertaining their views. All meetings are recorded.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home is a detached house set within its own grounds and situated in a residential area within easy reach of the town. An enclosed garden to the rear provides a safe space for relaxing and recreation. Two lounges and a dining area enable the young people to meet together, relax or have some quiet time and the kitchen provides sufficient space for the young people to be involved in meal preparation. All the young people have their own bedrooms, which are personalised and there are sufficient toilets and wash facilities for them to use. An informative health education notice board in the lounge, a study room and plenty of books are available for the young people to reference. In addition, memorabilia and artefacts help create a homely environment.

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Organisation

The organisation's Statement of Purpose has recently been updated and reflects how the setting operates, how the young people will be cared for and what services they can expect. A suitable young people's guide is also available and given to them when they are admitted to the home.

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Organisation

The home has appointed an experienced manager who has managed another home within another organisation. She is supported by a deputy manager who deputises for her in her absence. Overall there are sufficient staff on the rota to meet the home's Statement of Purpose and minimal bank staff are being used. The shifts undertaken allow sufficient time for the completion of records as well as the handover of information.

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Organisation

Fewer than the required 80% of the staff are trained in a National Vocational Qualification for the care of children and young people at level 3. The manager confirms that with the Children’s Workforce Development Council's proposals, she has experienced difficulties accessing the training places identified for this year; in addition, two new members of staff are still within their probationary period and are therefore not yet eligible to undertake the training. Timetabled supervision provides staff support. In addition, a team of therapists support the young people; the staff can draw upon their expertise for guidance and to enable reflection on practice.

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Organisation

The manager undertakes good internal quality assurance to monitor the care of the young people and the home's performance against its Statement of Purpose. The appropriate records are reviewed. Visits to comply with Regulation 33 are undertaken and comprehensive reports produced.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. The staff explore the individual personal, social, health and emotional needs of each young person and provide care to meet them. The home celebrates festivals and there are cultural dishes on the menus. The young people are treated fairly and with dignity. They take part in the community as much as they are able and exert choices within their lives in the home.

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Organisation

Each young person's file is a permanent record of their history and progress that is stored securely. It can be accessed and read by the young people with staff support.

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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 that at least 80% of the staff team are qualified to NVQ level 3 (NMS 29).

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