Children's Home run by Cumbria County Council in Westmorland and Furness

Unique reference number SC034158 Inspection date 10/03/2011 Inspector Anne Bannister Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 28/07/2010 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

This is a local authority, four bedded children's home situated in an established residential area. It provides respite accommodation and care for young people of both sexes aged between 11 years and 17 years. The home functions only at weekends and during school holidays. The aim of the home is to provide short breaks and outreach services to young people with significant emotional and behavioural difficulties. The staff team aims to achieve this by working in open partnership with families and carers to offer purposeful and pre-planned care in response to locally identified needs. This can take the form of short overnight stays, attendance at planned activities or the offer of outreach work to young people and their families or carers in their home environment. Young people are all accommodated in single en-suite bedrooms and share communal recreation areas. There are local shops within access of the home and the town centre can be

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Brief description of the service

No young people were attending for respite care on the day of the inspection.

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Summary

The overall quality rating is satisfactory.

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Summary

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

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Summary

This was an unannounced interim inspection. As this was an interim inspection, it did not assess all of the key national minimum standards (NMS). However, the inspection did assess how well the Registered Manager and care staff protect and promote the safety of the young people in their care. Since the previous inspection the Registered Manager has resigned. Until a new appointment is made a Registered Manager from one of the local authorities other homes is providing management support to the staff team.

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Summary

The inspection also assessed whether the three actions and two recommendations from the previous key inspection had been addressed. One of the actions has been repeated as placement plans continue not to provide all the information required.

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Summary

There were no young people attending for respite care on the day of the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Two actions had been raised relating to the formal placement plans for young people attending for respite care. In response to these amendments have been made to the documentation compiled by staff. However, not all files viewed contained the new format. On those young people's files viewed that contain the revised documentation not all sections had been completed. As a result placement plans continue not to address the requirements of national minimum standard 2.1. The third action raised related to the home admitting young people on an emergency basis. This practice was contrary to the home's Statement of Purpose and function. The Statement of Purpose and function has recently been updated and now indicates that on occasions senior managers within the organisation may instruct the home to admit young people in an emergency.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The authority continues to provide the initial four day behaviour management training for newly appointed staff once per year. If staff appointed miss the planned date they will participate with other staff in their six monthly refresher training and attend the next scheduled four day training. They also receive advice and support on de-escalation techniques which work with young people in their formal supervision sessions and through team meetings. The contents of the medicine cabinets are reviewed each month to ensure that any out of date medicines are disposed of.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Overall there are satisfactory arrangements in place to help to ensure that the young people living at this home, staff who work there and all visitors are kept safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are suitable arrangements in place to ensure young people's privacy. These include single en-suite bedrooms which young people can lock with their own key. Confidential information is securely stored.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff work with young people to alert them to potential dangers, such as fire and road safety and stranger awareness. An induction checklist ensures all young people are made aware of fire evacuation procedures and other policies and practices implemented by staff to promote their safety and well-being. This practice equips young people with the knowledge required to make safe choices. A range of appropriate risk assessments are in place which means that young people are protected as far as possible from accident and injury. These cover all activities, environmental hazards and the risks to young people from their own behaviour. Fire safety systems are in good order and weekly and monthly checks are undertaken, and equipment is routinely tested. This ensures that young people live in a home that is safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There have been no formal complaints since the last inspection but young people have opportunities to discuss any concerns with their key worker, other care staff and the Registered Manager. An induction check list confirms that this information is made available to them as soon as they begin attending for respite care. However, the contact number for Ofsted has not been updated to reflect recent changes and may therefore prevent young people from accessing the organisation to raise their concerns.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All staff are trained in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of looked after children. They work in close partnership with other agencies to ensure an appropriate response to any safeguarding concerns. This ensures that they have, and maintain, the skills to protect young people from abuse. Staff are also trained in the awareness of and effective strategies to counter bullying and take a pro active approach to any incidents. Bullying is not a major issue in the home as a result of the matching processes implemented when planning periods of respite care.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has suitable policies and procedures detailing action for staff to take in any instances of young people being absent without authority. There has been one incident of a young person going absent without authority since the last inspection. The documentation is not well completed in terms of evidencing young people's views on the reason for their behaviour and their feelings about actions that are put in place to try to encourage them not to repeat this practice.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Since the last inspection one incident has occurred which required notification under Schedule 5 of the Children's Home Regulations 2001. The home has procedures in place to notify all relevant agencies and carers of significant incidents which affect the well-being of young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Good behaviour is positively encouraged and rewarded and sanctions are rarely used. Individualised behaviour management plans are in place and known to staff. These detail potential triggers, strategies to diffuse situations and preferred handling techniques. All the staff are trained in the positive care and control of young people to help to ensure safe and consistent practices. There have been three incidents when physical intervention has been necessary since the last inspection. The records of these do not evidence that either staff or young people involved in the incidents are given opportunities to reflect back on the behaviours which lead to the intervention. As a consequence there is insufficient evidence that young people are being supported to look at alternate ways of managing socially unacceptable behaviours.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Systems are in place for the safe recruitment of staff and visitors to the home are monitored.

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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

2 ensure there is a written placement plan for each child provided with accommodation which should include the arrangements made for their health care and education Regulation 12. 1 (b) 22/04/2011

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Std. Action Due date

17 ensure that following the use of any measure of control, restraint or discipline in a children's home a written record is made which shall include the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. In particular this relates to there being evidence that all parties involved have the opportunity to reflect back on the incident ( Regulation 17.4(f)) 22/04/2011

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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 information provided to placing authorities and young people reflects the recently changed telephone number for contacting Ofsted ( NMS 16.5)  ensure that there are written records which include all action taken by staff, the circumstances of the child's return, any reason given by the child for absconding, and any action taken in the light of those reasons (NMS 19.6)

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