Children's Home run by Break Charity in Norfolk

Unique reference number SC025718 Inspection date 02/03/2011 Inspector Julian Parker Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 25/11/2010 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 owned by a registered charity that also owns a number of other children's homes and a residential family centre in the county. The charity also offers a residential respite care service for children with behaviour or learning disabilities.

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Brief description of the service

This children's home provides medium- to long-term accommodation for up to five young people, aged between eight and 17 years of age. The terraced house is on three levels and situated in a residential area near to the town and local community facilities. Young people access education provided by the local education authority. Accommodation comprises of a lounge, sitting room, kitchen diner and utility room. On the first and second floor there are seven bedrooms, bathing and toilet facilities and an office. There is an enclosed garden to the rear of the property. Parking for staff and visitors is on the road outside the home. Five young people were accommodated at the time of the inspection.

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Summary

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

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Summary

The purpose of this unannounced interim inspection was to follow up the actions and recommendations made at the last inspection and to assess key standards under the outcome area of staying safe.

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Summary

The home continues to provide a good level of care to young people. The actions and recommendations made by the last inspection are commented on in the improvement section of this report.

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Summary

Safeguarding systems promote the well-being of the young people living at the home. Young people's behaviour is encouraged and managed positively to offer stability in the placement and in preparation for independence. Young people respond positively to consistent routines, good staffing levels and the rewards and incentives used in the home which support them to develop acceptable social skills.

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Summary

Young people are listened to. They express their views directly and through their behaviour, by being compliant with the structure and security their care plan provides. The home environment is being generally maintained to a good standard. Systems are in place to ensure regular health and safety checks are carried out. The deficits identified by this inspection are considered to be minor, easily remedied, and do not practically compromise quality of care or the safety of the young people living at the home.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The action set at the last inspection has been met. The registered person was required to ensure all medication is stored in a secure place. Guidance has been taken that confirms the present administration and storage arrangements satisfy regulation confirming that practice in the home is safe.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Two recommendations were set at the last inspection. The Registered Manager has successfully completed the required National Vocational Award and presently awaits its certification.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The recommendation that each child's file contains a copy of their personal education plan and that systems be put in place to notify placing authorities in writing if they have not made such plans has not been fully implemented by the responsible individual on behalf of the children's home. This recommendation is renewed by this report.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The privacy and confidentiality of young people living at this home is respected by the staff working with them. Young people have their own individual bedrooms which allow them to have their own personal space, decorated to their own chosen style. They have access to a telephone from which they can make calls in private. Any room searches deemed necessary to protect the safety of young people are done so in line with the provider’s procedures that promotes individual safety and respects privacy. In situations where high staff ratios are needed, this is managed sensitively by the manager and staff team.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff demonstrate respect for the privacy of young people by maintaining appropriate levels of administrative confidentiality with their recording practice. Young people are aware of the situations when staff are required to share information with other professionals or family members. Young people are provided with regular opportunities to add comments to their daily records and share their comments about such private matters within key worker sessions.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are made fully aware of the home's complaints system and what opportunities exist for them to raise and discuss any matter they are unhappy with. Written information about the complaints procedure is available to young people in their handy guide. Young people can express their comments in sessions with key workers and may contact persons independent of the home identified by their placing authority. Staff at the home always take seriously any concerns and complaints made by young people in their care. Staff deal with any emerging concerns in accordance with the registered person's guidance and policies. Complaints are dealt with effectively by the manager and young people are kept informed of the progress and outcome of these.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are very clear about what risks each individual young person presents and about their potential vulnerability, both in the home and in the community. Specific risks to each young person are clearly identified and well managed, using established procedures and risk assessments that help to ensure their safety. Such concerns are transparently shared with young people to encourage them to share with the responsibility for their personal safety. Staff are well trained and fully conversant with the home's and placing authority's safeguarding procedures. This ensures that all relevant information is passed on in a timely manner to protect and promote the emotional, sexual and physical safety of young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The welfare and safety of young people is further promoted through the application of the registered provider's formal policies and procedures. There is an anti-bullying policy in the home with which staff and young people are familiar. Young people have written details included in their guide, poster advice around the home and know what to do and who they can talk to if they feel oppressed in any way. Young people are protected practically from bullying as staffing levels in the home are sufficient in number to offer good levels of support throughout the day.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a written procedure identifying the action to take when young people go absent without authority. Staff will actively look for young people where this is appropriate. They will arrange to collect young people whose whereabouts are known and welcome home any young person upon return. Records show that young people, however, do not presently speak with an independent person about the reasons they have for going absent from the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home notifies all those persons and appropriate authorities listed in Schedule 5 of any significant event that has occurred that includes young people. Where required and in accordance with individual care plans, significant people in the lives of young people are also informed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are committed to promoting behaviour that is respectful and, because of this, young people can develop sound, good quality relationships with their carers if they choose to. Staff have time to spend with the young people they look after and get to know them well. Staff also receive training about dealing with bullying behaviour during their induction period. This informs their workplace practice.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people receive care from staff that are appropriately trained and understand the need to encourage good behaviour. This includes techniques that manage challenging behaviour and include when essential the appropriate use of a nationally- accredited methodology for physical intervention. Staff endeavour to understand the reasons for behaviours so that support can be given prior to an incident escalating. Where sanctions or physical intervention is necessarily used to help safeguard young people from their own behaviour or that of others, this is well recorded providing a clear description of the event. There is good oversight of behaviour management and patterns and trends are well considered by the home’s manager and the care team. Disciplinary measures are proportionate and young people generally consider them to be fair.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home uses risk assessments to evaluate all aspects of its practice and home safety. Risk assessments are taken into account when planning daily activities in the home and for trips away. All staff and young people know the fire safety instructions and there is an effective awareness of fire safety in the home. Fire drills and evacuation practice are carried out regularly and compliance records are kept. The integrity of the building to withstand fire is, nevertheless, compromised by damage to a fire resistant door which has yet to be addressed by the provider's maintenance team.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The displayed insurance cover certificate does not confirm that it applies to this home and is out of date, suggesting that the home is uninsured and unable to cover potential risks posed to residents and staff.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The building is otherwise generally well maintained by the regular redecoration and refurbishment of damaged items. The safety of gas, electric, and portable appliances is regularly checked and up to date. Environmental risk assessments are reviewed routinely.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The registered provider’s recruitment and selection process asserts that no staff member would start working with children being looked after ahead of all of the prescribed suitability checks being completed and cleared. The schedule of personnel recruitment records held at this home include dates of updating criminal records checks for all new and established staff. The Registered Manager confirmed that all new staff appointed since the last inspection staff have been thoroughly checked and cleared, confirming their suitability, qualification and experience before being allowed to work in the children’s home. These practices support the levels of safety that protect young people.

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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

19 ensure that following an unauthorised absence young people are afforded the opportunity to be seen by a person independent of the home to consider the reasons for the absence Regulation 30 (NMS 19.4) 23/03/2011

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Std. Action Due date

26 ensure that there is a current certificate of insurance that includes the homes name and address Regulation 36.3(e) (NMS 26.9) 23/03/2011

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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 that each child's file contains a copy of their personal education plan and that there are systems in place to notify placing authorities in writing if they have not made such plans. (NMS 14.2)  ensure that there is a satisfactory maintenance and repair programme for the building that renovate damage quickly. Pay particular attention to fire doors (NMS 24.3)

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