Children's Home run by Action for Children in Northumberland

Unique reference number SC000673 Inspection date 21/09/2010 Inspector Mick Earl Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 26/10/2009 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

The home, in partnership with the local authority and health trust, provides short- term residential care for children and young people, aged from 6 years old up to 17 years old, who have moderate to severe learning disabilities. The premises are purpose built and consist of two linked units.

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Brief description of the service

One unit has six places, including an emergency bed and normally accommodates children aged from 6 years old up to 13 years old. The other unit has four places and normally accommodates young people aged from 11 years old up to 17 years old. There is a range of aids and adaptations within the home. The premises includes a garden and enclosed play area. The home has the use of two adapted mini-buses.

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Brief description of the service

The home is within walking distance of the centre of a market town. It is close to a variety of community resources, that includes a leisure centre, swimming pool, theatre and library.

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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 interim unannounced inspection. Not all of the standards were assessed. However, the evidence gained will be used to form part of the overall judgement at the next key inspection. Therefore the overall judgement remains the same as the previous key inspection.

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Summary

The national minimum standards were sampled in the 'staying safe' outcome area and identified that the home has many good strengths. These are in supporting young people's privacy and confidentiality, providing individual support, providing a physically safe home, promoting the protection of young people and safe staff recruitment.

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Summary

There are areas for improvement which include: ensuring all staff know how to access the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures; the completion of staff training; ensuring a night time fire drill takes place; and ensuring all incidents requiring restraint are recorded in the appropriate log.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection there was one action. The service was asked to ensure that all staff receive appropriate training in the use of restraint and awareness of effective strategies to counter bullying. This action has been partially met. All appropriate staff have received training in restraint which is updated annually. Most staff have received training in countering bullying although four need to complete this.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people benefit from good policies, procedures and practices that ensure their safety is protected and they are kept free from harm.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people and their families are given appropriate information on the complaints procedure and there have been no complaints since the last inspection. Complaints information is well recorded and previous records show that prompt action is taken to investigate any complaint. This helps to show that concerns raised are taken seriously.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures are available in the home although some staff are not aware of how to access them. Members of staff receive training in the protection of young people and demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of safeguarding procedures. Young people are protected from bullying, through the home's policies, procedures and the practice of the staff. However, some staff have still to complete the training.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are clear procedures in place for staff to follow when a young person is absent without permission and there have been no incidents since the last inspection. High staffing levels help to make sure young people are safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Members of staff encourage and support young people to develop and maintain socially acceptable behaviour. There are clear and detailed procedures and guidance for staff regarding how they should manage the behaviour of young people. All members of staff receive training in safe ways to restrain young people. There is one recorded episode of physical intervention and two sanctions since the last inspection. Records in the 'incident file' and one of the sanction records show that some of these incidents have involved the need to physically intervene and restrain young people. These need to be fully recorded in the restraint log book.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are good systems in place to keep the young people and adults safe from the risk of fire and other potential hazards. Regular fire drills occur at the right times although there is no record of a night time drill taking place. Checks of the fire equipment and appropriate service contracts are in place for fire and electrical equipment. A range of recorded risk assessments covering general health and safety matters have been completed. This helps to reduce some of the potential risks to young people, staff and visitors.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Members of staff undergo a range of checks, including a Criminal Records Bureau disclosure check, to help make sure that they are suitable to work with young people. There are suitable arrangements for monitoring and managing visitors to the home to help ensure they do not have inappropriate access to 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

22 maintain an accurate and up-to-date record of measures of control used, as set out in Regulation 17 and ensure that all episodes involving restraint are recorded. (Regulation 17) 05/10/2010

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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 a copy of the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures are kept in the home and that all staff are aware of how to access them (NMS 17)  ensure all staff complete training in how to prevent bullying (NMS 18)  ensure that one fire drill during a twelve month period is held at night. (NMS 26)

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