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

Unique reference number SC386003 Inspection date 23/09/2010 Inspector Anne Bannister Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 21/04/2010 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 four bedded children's home, is one of three run by the company. It is a detached house with its own front and rear garden areas. The home has access to local facilities and provides accommodation and care for four young people of either gender, aged 12 years to 16 years. Single bedroom accommodation is provided for all young people. The service provided is primarily aimed at young people who have lived in one of the other homes registered by the company and who have been unable to return to families or foster families before their 13th birthday. The home has been established to ensure consistency of care to young people and to ensure they develop life skills for independence.

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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 manager and care staff protect and promote the safety of the young people in their care.

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Summary

The inspection also assessed whether one action and two recommendations from the previous key inspection had been addressed. One action and one recommendation have been addressed. One recommendation is repeated as it has yet to be responded to.

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Summary

There were two young people resident at the time of inspection. The inspector was able to meet with and speak with one young person during the course of the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

One action and two recommendations were raised following the previous inspection. The fire risk assessment has been revised to ensure it includes staff responsibility to remove any door wedges prior to vacating the building. The management team are in the process of reviewing placement planning to try to ensure that the majority of information is contained in one working document. There is one outstanding recommendation relating to the maintenance of records following a safeguarding referral. This recommendation is being repeated.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Overall, the arrangements to safeguard and promote the safety and welfare of young people are good. Staff show a respect for young people's privacy and are well aware of the importance of maintaining confidentiality.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff take concerns and complaints raised by the young people seriously. Young people are aware of what to do if they are unhappy about something. There have been three recorded instances of young people making a complaint since the last key inspection. The records maintained did not indicate whether the complainant was satisfied with the outcome of the investigation.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff have a good understanding of safeguarding procedures. A rolling programme of training for all staff is in place. It ensures that they have, and maintain, the skills to protect young people from abuse. There are two current safeguarding issues relating to young people in the home. Reporting of safeguarding incidents complies with local safeguarding procedures and the Ofsted protocol for reporting significant incidents. However, records relating to incidents are currently logged in a number of different documents. When read collectively these documents provide a full account of the progress of a safeguarding referral. A previous recommendation made that the manager revise the manner in which safeguarding referrals are documented is yet to be actioned.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Bullying has previously been an issue. However, the manner in which staff have, and continue to respond to such incidents has a positive impact on relationships between young people. Bullying is no longer a significant concern for young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Detailed procedures are in place to protect young people if they go absent without authority. Local protocols with the police are in place. Procedures ensure all relevant agencies and personnel would be contacted. There have been no incidents where young people have been absent without authority since the last inspection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is a clear and comprehensive behaviour management policy which is consistently used by all staff. Training in the organisations preferred method of managing challenging behaviours is regularly updated. This concentrates on developing knowledge of the triggers which may previously have result in a physical intervention. Individual behaviour management plans include advice on diverting young people's behaviours. These concentrate on assisting them to regain self control and engage more positively with other staff and young people. Generally, sanctions are appropriately recorded. However, one incident of bullying resulting in a sanction being imposed was not logged in the sanction book.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Since the last inspection two significant incidents have occurred which require notification under Schedule 5 of the Children's Home Regulations 2001. The home notifies all relevant agencies and carers of significant incidents which effect the well- being of young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Evidence and observation show that the home has a responsible attitude towards health and safety matters. The home has risk assessments in place for all aspects of the safety of the premises and grounds. There are also risk assessments relating to young people's behaviours and planned activities they undertake. The fire risk assessment has been updated in response to an action made at the previous inspection. These actions show the home is committed to ensuring young people live in a safe and secure environment.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is thorough selection and vetting of all staff working at the home prior to employment, that meets the requirements. All required pre-employment checks are carried out and staff recruitment records are well maintained. These actions show the home takes suitable measures to ensure staff employed are suitable to be working with 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

16 ensure that a written record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of the investigation. In particular the documentation should evidence whether the complainant is satisfied with the outcome of an investigation (Regulation 24) 29/10/2010

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Std. Action Due date

22 ensure that within 24 hours of the use of any measure of control, restraint or discipline in a children's home, a written record is made in a volume kept for that purpose. In particulat this relates to the need to ensure sanctions recorded in other documentation cross references with the sanction log. (Regulation 4) 29/10/2010

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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

 consider revising the manner in which safeguarding referrals are documented. This is to ensure there is one record which provides a comprehensive account from referral to outcome of an investigation. (NMS 17)

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