Children's Home run by Appletree Treatment Centre Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Unique reference number SC033268 Inspection date 15/03/2011 Inspector Graham Robinson Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 01/11/2010 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 12-bedded children's home is one of three run by the company. The home is located in a small village with a purpose-built school also on site. It is a detached house with its own extensive grounds. The home has access to a range of local facilities in a nearby town.

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Brief description of the service

It is registered for 12 young people, aged from six years to 12 years, of either gender, with emotional and behavioural difficulties. There are currently nine young people on roll. Most young people have a statement of special educational needs, which provides for their additional needs.

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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 unannounced interim inspection was used to follow up the actions and recommendations made at the last inspection. In addition, the key standards linked to staying safe have also been reviewed. No other areas have been inspected on this occasion, so no change to the overall quality rating attained at the previous full inspection has been made.

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Summary

Since the previous inspection the Registered Manager has resumed her full duties following a period of absence. Some additions to the number of care staff have also been made. The overall management of the home, along with its structure and working practices, remain as they were.

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Summary

Young people provide positive feedback about the care they receive and of their own experiences living at the home. They all attend the on-site school. No-one raised any concerns, issues or complaints and all appear well settled in their placements.

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Summary

One new action linked to the review and updating of young people's individual risk assessments has been made. In addition, the report contains three recommendations. The first, linked to the monitoring of physical intervention records, is new. The second regarding a previous recommendation around staff training has been partially addressed and therefore reworded. The final recommendation, linked to the format of staff personal development plans, has been carried over.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The report from the previous inspection contains two actions and five recommendations. Both actions have been addressed positively resulting in improvement regarding the qualifications, skills and experience of the staff group, along with an improvement to the quality of induction provided for agency staff. The home is now obtaining written confirmation from the agency that any staff placed by them have been recruited against the requirements of Schedule 2 of the Children's Homes regulations 2001.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Of the five recommendations, three have been addressed fully. This has led to improved recording in the central absconding log, greater consistency regarding implementation of the formal staff supervision programme, and the return of the Registered Manager.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Although improvements have been made regarding the management input and oversight of the staff training programme, a shortfall remains in the number of days training received by some staff during the previous year. In some instances this falls below the target set out in the minimum standards.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The safety and rights of young people are protected. The home retains its links with the external agencies charged with specific safeguarding duties and any incident of a safeguarding nature that has occurred since the previous inspection has been referred to them immediately. Staff understand their role, responsibilities and what action to take should a safeguarding issue arise. All staff receive basic safeguarding training which is refreshed every three years. Senior staff undertake more advanced training which is refreshed every two years.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are comfortable with the levels of privacy they experience. For example, they confirm that staff knock on their bedroom door and check if it is appropriate to enter. All bedrooms currently occupied by young people are single occupancy. Young people also confirm that telephone calls can be made and received in private, while acknowledging that for some, restrictions apply due to safety issues.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Although not tested since the previous inspection, young people understand how to access the formal complaints procedures, with appropriate information being easily accessible to them. A suggestions and worries box is located in a convenient position in the main hallway and can be used by young people as a form of initial contact, should they have a worry or concern.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Bullying is not an area of concern to young people who confirm that staff are always around, are quick to intervene and do not allow bullying to take place. Staff remain vigilant to bullying, with good staffing levels and organised deployment around the home going some way to eliminate opportunities for bullying to occur.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Since the previous inspection there have been two incidents of young people absenting themselves from the home. The police and other relevant people were notified appropriately. On both occasions, young people were returned quickly and safely. Generally, young people absenting themselves is not a live issue within the home, with young people being quite settled in their placements.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Behaviour management is an area that is given great attention within the home. Individual needs, along with coping strategies, are identified and addressed in planning documentation. Underpinning this documentation is an individual risk assessment for each young person. Current working practices dictate that they should be reviewed and updated monthly. However, not all young people's risk assessments are reviewed and updated in line with practice guidelines. This could impact negatively in the effectiveness of minimising future behaviour management issues

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people have a clear understanding of sanctions and what the consequences of negative behaviour entail. They feel that staff are generally fair and raised no issues or concerns about sanctions and punishment. Sanctions are recorded appropriately and meet with the regulatory requirement. To counteract this, the home has a range of systems in place designed to reward good and positive behaviour, for example, systems where young people can gain points and rewards for recognised good behaviour.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The records of physical intervention and the monthly statistics collected by senior staff show a continued reduction in the number of physical interventions taking place within the home. The staff spoken with recognise that physical intervention should only be used as a last resort and demonstrate some awareness around techniques to avoid the use physical intervention. Positive handling training is ongoing and is available as both initial and refresher training.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Generally, records of physical intervention are kept up to date. However, some incidents are worded in a way that could lead to misinterpretation. For example, the recording of a recent incident was ambiguous about the reason for, and the necessity of, the physical intervention.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The systems to clear and recruit staff continue to meet with regulatory requirements and current good practice. Appropriate clearances are being obtained for new staff before they take up their duties in the home. Longer serving staff are being re- checked every three years.

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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

26 ensure the individual risk assessments for each young person are reviewed and updated. (Regulation 23(c)) 31/03/2011

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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 the monitoring of physical intervention records reviews the standard of recording, along with an analysis of each incident (NMS 22.11)  ensure that all staff receive at least a minimum of 6 days training per year (NMS 31.4)  develop the personal development plan format used for staff further, along with its practical use, to ensure it meets the needs of staff. (NMS 31.4)

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