Children's Home run by Lincolnshire County Council in Lincolnshire

Unique reference number SC042967 Inspection date 07/03/2011 Inspector Caroline Oldham Type of inspection Random

p.1

Date of last inspection 19/01/2011 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 home is managed by a local authority and provides longer-term care for up to 6 young people between the ages of 10 and 18 years. Admission to the home is on a planned basis. The home aims to provide young people with care and support for their emotional and behavioural needs. Structured independence support is available for young people at this stage in their lives.

p.4

Brief description of the service

This home is purpose-built. The office is situated in a separate building behind the home.

p.4

Brief description of the service

Six young people, all males, currently live in the home.

p.4

Summary

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

p.4

Summary

This unannounced interim inspection focused on reassessing the key standards on staying safe. There was one recommendation from the last inspection which was followed up. This related to a minor shortfall in risk assessing incidents of bullying. The outcome areas; being healthy, enjoying and achieving, positive contribution, economic well-being and organisation were not looked at during this inspection.

p.4

Summary

The home has a well established, experienced staff team who receive ongoing training, ensuring that young people are cared for by appropriately experienced staff. Staff have excellent working relationships with the young people. Through good communication they help young people to manage their behaviour, encouraging them to keep themselves safe; consequently young people's welfare is safeguarded and protected.

p.4

Summary

Comprehensive environmental risk assessments, and building and equipment checks are carried out regularly ensuring that young people live in a safe and homely environment.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the provider was asked to ensure that risk assessments in relation to countering bullying include the time, places and circumstances in which the risk of bullying is greatest, and the action required to reduce that risk. Comprehensive documentation has now been produced to address this recommendation to ensure that bullying incidents are fully assessed and appropriate action taken to minimise the risk of further incidents.

p.4

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's safety is given paramount importance in the home. All staff receive comprehensive training packages in safeguarding and are aware of the relevant policies and reporting procedures for referring issues of concern. Staff are very clear about the need to consider the welfare of the young person as their first priority. Although currently there are no issues of bullying in the home, there are robust systems in place and staff demonstrate a good understanding of how to deal with issues of bullying. Young people confirm that they feel safe and that bullying is treated seriously as staff respond appropriately to resolve concerns. As a result of good systems and well trained staff young people are kept safe.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff make very good arrangements to ensure that both young people and their possessions are kept safe. Young people continue to have their privacy respected, for example there is a telephone available for their use in a small private room away from the main communal areas. In addition, mobile phone top-ups are provided, these facilities ensure that young people can keep in touch with people who are important to them. Information on how to make a complaint is readily available for young people and they confirmed that they know their concerns are treated seriously and issues are resolved. Staff are well trained to deal with young people's confidential information securely, and are aware of the sensitivity of some the information that they handle. This ensures that young people are kept safe, and information is only shared with those who need to know.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff have excellent working relationships with the young people and through good communication help them to manage their behaviour well. Staff training in managing young people's behaviour is focused on an approach to reduce the need for restraints and physical interventions. It was evident from discussions that there is a culture of minimum intervention and positive interactions to diffuse most situations. There is clear guidance for staff to follow setting out roles and responsibilities when a young person goes missing. However, there have been no incidents of young people going missing since the last inspection.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The staff recruitment and selection process continues to be rigorous, and comprehensive checks are made to ensure that young people are always cared for by appropriately experienced staff. Visitors to the home are always required to provide evidence of their identity and to sign the visitors' book, so that young people are protected from people who could cause them harm.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home is very well maintained. There is comprehensive health and safety documentation, and also risk assessments to address environmental and behavioural risks in the home. Annual and weekly health and safety checks are monitored to a high standard. Fire drills take place regularly and there are routine checks and servicing of the fire alarm system and fire extinguishers. Where necessary additional advice and support from outside agencies is obtained to advise and educate the young people of the dangers of some behaviours. Consequently young people live in a home that is safe, very well maintained and they are protected from potential hazards.

p.5