Children's Home run by Keys Care Limited in Cambridgeshire

Unique reference number SC370910 Inspection date 23/03/2011 Inspector Tola Akinde-Hummel Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 11/11/2010 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 children’s home, owned by a private company, is registered for three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties, aged between 11 and 17 years. The home is domestic in style and set within a housing estate.

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Brief description of the service

The home is a detached house, providing spacious and comfortable communal facilities and three single bedrooms. There is a wooded garden area to the front and rear of the property. Young people can easily access shops and community facilities in the vicinity, and a nearby city by public transport or transport provided by the home.

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Brief description of the service

Two young people were in the home during this inspection and both willingly participated in the inspection.

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Summary

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

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Summary

This interim unannounced inspection looked at the progress the home has made since the key inspection.

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Summary

The home provides a good service to the young people that live there. Young people feel safe in the home and are looked after by staff who are committed to making young people's time there a place for personal growth and achievement, whilst providing comfort and support.

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Summary

The recent change of manager to the home temporarily upset the young people in the home. This was due to the way in which it was managed and resulted in unacceptable behaviour towards the new manager.

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Summary

This has now settled and the manager is establishing relationships with young people and staff and moving the home on to another phase of development.

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Summary

The improvement and monitoring of recorded information is required to ensure standards are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The manager was asked to make improvements at the previous inspection. The areas identified included improving how the home feeds back information to young people, to demonstrate that their views have been fully considered. The home was asked to repair the shower fittings and to ensure that staff meetings occurred at least monthly.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The home has made some progress in feeding back information to young people but these records still require more clarity. Young people are pleased that the shower fitting has been repaired. Records show that staff meetings are taking place more regularly. This provides staff with the opportunity to develop the meetings which will enable discussion, clear guidance and focus on the home's development and priorities.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are respected by staff in all aspects of privacy and confidentiality. Young people's personal information is stored in lockable cabinets in the office accessible to staff only. Information about young people is shared on a need-to- know basis.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a policy and procedure in place for receiving and responding to complaints. Young people in the home are confident about using the procedure to express their dissatisfaction with any aspects of their care or the way the home operates. All complaints and responded to in writing. However attention is not always paid to ensuring that dates and signatures on complaints paperwork is consistently recorded.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The staff manage all aspects of safeguarding including bullying and absences well. Staff remain vigilant and use training to enhance and refresh their knowledge in this area. One field social worker commented, 'I am happy with the details received when I ask for information and am confident that if concerns were raised by staff they would let me know.' Young people are encouraged by staff to discuss their behaviour, the impact this may have on keeping them safe and making informed choices. One young person said, ' I know staff care about me'. This provides insight and awareness to young people as part of the home's strategy to safeguard young people. The home has a document available to young people about bullying. This information includes a definition of bullying, the home's response to bullying and where young people can seek additional help external to the home. The home keeps a record of all incidents of bullying that occur. This includes bullying towards staff.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people do not report bullying as an issue in the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has procedures in place for dealing with absences. Young people are aware of what action the home will take if they do not return at the agreed time. Young people are settled in the home, enjoy being there and rarely go missing. Staff continue their successful system of behaviour management. These are recorded in the consequences log. All positive behaviour is rewarded and negative behaviour carries a sanction. Records show that more positive behaviour is highlighted than negative at a ratio of 2:1. Staff receive training in behaviour management but use their communication skills and lead by example to encourage acceptable behaviour in the young people. Young people consider this approach to behaviour fair and reasonable. During residents' meetings staff and young people communicate what kind of sanctions they believe would be acceptable to manage particular behaviour. A monetary sanction suggested by young people to help manage behaviour relating to

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

domestic chores in the home is not acceptable.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people can be assured that the home has up-to-date fire risk assessments and health and safety checks are routinely carried out. Young people report that regular fire drills and tests are carried out. External contractors employed by the company managing the home regularly service and repair fire fighting, gas and electrical equipment. However some aspects of the home's recording in relation to fire alarm tests, fire drills and fire training for staff is incomplete, confusing, and inaccurate. For example, some records of fire drills do not record the date or time that these took place and some fire alarm test records are incomplete and duplicate information recorded on fire drill records.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has employed four new members of staff since the previous inspection including a new manager. Staffing records show that they are subject to rigorous vetting procedures through the central human resources team. All visitors must sign into the home and be given entry. Visitors are accompanied around the home by a member of staff.

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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 records of responses to complaints are appropriately signed and dated (Regulation 34 (1) (a)) 06/05/2011

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Std. Action Due date

22 ensure the imposition of a financial penalty is not made other than a requirement for the payment of a reasonable sum by way of reparation (Regulation 17 (5) (g)) 06/05/2011

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Std. Action Due date

26 ensure records of fire drills and tests are fully recorded, accurate, signed and dated. (Regulation 29 (1)) 06/05/2011

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