Children's Home run by Green View Young People Limited in Barnsley

Unique reference number SC386057 Inspection date 14/12/2010 Inspector Debbie Foster Type of inspection Key

p.1

Date of last inspection 13/01/2010 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 children's home intends to provide care for up to two children and young people aged between 11 and 18 years with emotional and behavioural difficulties, or learning disabilities. The house is in a busy community near to the local town. Shops, leisure facilities, education provision and public transport are located nearby.

p.4

Summary

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

p.4

Summary

This was an unannounced key inspection focusing upon 25 key national minimum standards under the Every Child Matters outcomes for children and young people.

p.4

Summary

Young people have taken part in the inspection process.

p.4

Summary

The healthcare of young people is supported well. They have access to a selection of health professionals who assist in meeting their diverse needs. The safety of young people is important. Safety measures are identified and strategies are in place. This promotes their safety well. The education of young people is a priority. Young people benefit from having a staff team that work consistently, giving clear boundaries and support. The home is decorated and furnished to a good standard, providing a domestic environment for young people to live in.

p.4

Summary

Young people are consulted on all areas of their lives; this empowers them and builds self-confidence. Young people can develop independence skills appropriate to their age which will help them in preparing for adulthood. Staff do have opportunities to undertake a selection of mandatory and other training relating to current childcare practices.

p.4

Summary

Shortfalls have been found in the following areas: estimated risk levels are not in place and direct work relating to address safety is not always recorded. Not all care plan objectives are set out clearly to show how they will be achieved. The minimum ratios of 80% of all care staff completing their National Vocational Qualification ( NVQ) level 3 in the caring for children and young people is not yet achieved.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

There were no actions or recommendations raised at the previous inspection.

p.4

Helping children to be healthy

Young people enjoy healthy, nutritious meals that meets their dietary needs. They are involved in planning meals and shopping. Diverse and nutritious meals are provided and young people's preferences are considered in the planning of the menu. They have access to a well-equipped kitchen, where they can prepare drinks snacks and meals for themselves. Young people confirm that they are given advice about healthy eating options and nutrition.

p.5

Helping children to be healthy

The healthcare needs of young people are well met. They are clearly identified in detail within support care plans. A proactive approach is used to ensure any specialist support required by young people is accessed. The staff have strong links with a number of specialist health services. This ensures that young people receive good health care support.

p.5

Helping children to be healthy

Medication is administered, recorded correctly and securely stored. Staff are trained on how to administer medication to young people and in first aid. There is regular monitoring of medication stocks within the home to ensure that young people's medication is safely administered and their health promoted.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people feel their privacy is well maintained at the home. They said they can have their own space using their bedrooms and can see visitors in private. Staff demonstrate respect for young people by not entering their bedrooms without permission. All confidential information is kept within lockable cabinets. All visitors identification is checked when they call to the home to ensure they are suitable and appropriate to attend.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All staff have received training on complaints to ensure that they know what to do if a person complains about the service. The young people know how to make a complaint because the staff have explained what to do and there is information in the young people’s guide about how to complain. There are systems in place to record the required details. Although, no complaints have been received since the last inspection. Therefore, complaints are satisfactorily handled.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provider has a good safeguarding procedure for staff to follow in the event of any allegation or suspicion of abuse. The manager and staff have received child protection training. Staff demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of the safeguarding procedures to promote and protect the young people's safety. Therefore, the welfare of young people is promoted, they are protected from abuse and an appropriate response is made to any allegation or suspicion of abuse. Young people said there is no bullying occurring in the home or in the community currently. Staff are aware of how to deal with bullying situations. Therefore, young people are protected from bullying, through the home's policies, procedures and the practice of the staff.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are measures in place to manage unauthorised absences. Staff are aware of the individualised protocols and risk assessments to follow for young people. Young people are clear in what circumstances they will be reported missing. Staff have made strong links with other agencies to support young people in this area. They give guidance to young people on the safety risks they may put themselves in when they go missing.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is a strong emphasis on managing behaviour positively in the home. There are clear boundaries and well-structured daily routines in place. Young people are involved in determining weekly plans. This assists in the success the young people are making. They behave well and are responding well. Young people said they get on with all the staff. Minimum sanctions are given and no restraint has taken place since the last inspection. These records hold the required information and the young people sign the record.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Priority is given to the safety of young people. There are individual written risk assessments for each young person. These cover a number of areas and explain how these identified risks will be reduced or eliminated. Staff have a good awareness of the risks relating to young people. However, the work identified to take place to address and reduce some of these risks is not always recorded as taking place. The risk levels are not recorded.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's physical safety from fire in the home is protected. All staff and young people have been involved in a fire drill to ensure that they are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire in the home. All staff have received up-to- date fire safety training to assist them in minimising the risks to young people in the event of a fire at the home. The weekly fire safety check is up to date and recorded.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are good vetting and recruitment procedures for staff in place to ensure young people are prevented from being cared for by unsuitable staff. The organisation undertakes the required and relevant checks on the staff recruited. This includes the Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) check, references from the previous employer and having a full employment history of the worker.

p.6

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

There is good individual support for young people from the staff and a selection of professionals when they need it to assist them to make progress in their lives. The home has links with a number of health and care professionals such as the children's area mental health service, safe at last, safeguarding and the youth offending service.

p.6

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Education is given importance and it is strongly promoted. This supports young people to gain skills which will benefit them in adulthood. Staff are assisting and supporting young people well to participate in full-time education. The staff are liaising with social workers to set up alternative education packages for some young people who have recently been admitted to the home.

p.7

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

There are good opportunities for young people to pursue hobbies and interests. Young people said they like to spend their time, going to the cinema, bowling, out for meals, playing electronic games and socialising with friends and family.

p.7

Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people's needs are assessed in varying detail and documented within their case files and other supporting documents. Some care plan information is clearly set out in order. This assists staff in promptly establishing how they all should be providing specific care to individual young people. However, some care plan objectives do not set out clearly how these will be achieved. There is not always evidence of the direct work taking place as indentified in the care plan and other supporting documents. There are other areas which are not set out as clearly. Although, staff are able to verbalise the specific care they provide to young people to meet their individual needs.

p.7

Helping children make a positive contribution

The progress of young people is being built upon and monitored. Care reviews are taking place. The review minutes are held on individual case files. Young people and parents are invited to attend the reviews.

p.7

Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff actively encourage and facilitate constructive contact with family members and significant others for the young people. This ensures they maintain important links with their family, own identity and their community. Young people meet regularly with family and friends.

p.7

Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people spoke about the positive relationships they have with the staff. This is evident in the way discussions take place between staff and young people.

p.7

Helping children make a positive contribution

Consultation takes place with young people about things which affect their lives. They said they make decisions about their meals, how they spend their leisure time, decoration in the home and their views are sought when attending their statutory reviews.

p.7

Achieving economic wellbeing

The young people are taught day-to-day life skills, according to their level of maturity and understanding. They learn skills through taking part in the tasks of running the home, such as shopping, cooking and handling money. They are also given guidance and support with social skills, laundry, clothing care and cleaning.

p.8

Achieving economic wellbeing

The interior and exterior of the home are maintained in a good state of structural and decorative repair. There is a good maintenance and repair programme for the building, furniture and equipment and any damage is repaired promptly. The garden is well maintained and safe. The home is kept clean and there are homely touches throughout.

p.8

Organisation

The Statement of Purpose informs others of what to expect from the home and how young people are cared for. A children's guide to the service is given to all young people prior to or on admission. The guide is presented in an age-appropriate format. This service provides a safe and supportive setting for young people to live in. The staff team are committed and motivated.

p.8

Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. This is evidenced through practice, supporting policies, procedures and the individual placement plans. Young people receive an individual service, which is tailored to meet their personal needs. The staff have a good knowledge of the young people's needs and they are working with them to ensure the right support and care is being provided. This has been reported on throughout this report.

p.8

Organisation

Staff receive regular formal supervision. There are good support systems in place. Staff said the manager is approachable and listens to staff and young people. Staff meetings and daily handovers assist staff to work well together resulting in a stable staff team which provides consistent care to the young people. Therefore young people receive care from an experienced staff team, who can meet their needs. The assistant manager and a residential care worker worked the morning shift to care for two young people. Staff said there are suitable staffing levels.

p.8

Organisation

The staff have access to a selection of training in current childcare and mandatory practices to ensure they are competent to meet the needs of the young people. The target of 80% of the workforce achieving the National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in caring for children and young people is not yet met. Although, the service is working to achieve this. There is a good quality assurance system in place. An independent person undertakes monthly visits, to check how care is provided in the home. Further monitoring is undertaken by the manager and provider to ensure the young people living at the home are well cared for. However, no deficiencies or omissions are identified in these checks to indicate where improvements could be made.

p.8

Organisation

Young people's privacy and confidentiality is upheld. Young people's individual case files and other records are stored confidentially.

p.9

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s):

p.9

Recommendations

 ensure risk assessments estimate the level of risk to safety and the direct work relating to the risk assessments takes place to support reducing the risks identified (NMS 26.2)  ensure all care plan objectives clearly set out how the objectives will be achieved. In particular, the identified focus work undertaken reflects the aims and objectives within the care plan and records show the progress made by young people to achieve the objectives (NMS 2.1)  ensure that the minimum ratios of 80% of all care staff complete their NVQ level 3 in the caring for children and young people (NMS 29.5)  review the current quality assurance systems to identify all omissions and deficiencies in the service. (NMS 32 & 33)

p.9