Children's Home run by Pathway Care Solutions Ltd in Nottinghamshire

Unique reference number SC390190 Inspection date 24/03/2011 Inspector Fiona Parker Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 17/06/2010 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 operates out of a newly-built home on the outskirts of a city centre. It offers care and accommodation for three young people with emotional or behavioural problems between the ages of eight and 17 years. Three young people currently reside in the home and one young person spoke with the inspector.

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Brief description of the service

The home is a detached house with a lounge, dining room, activity room and kitchen on the ground floor. On the first and second floors there are three bedrooms, a bathroom and office. Two bedrooms have en suite facilities. The office is also a staff sleeping-in room. There is a small enclosed garden and patio area at the rear of the property. The home is within walking distance of shops and there are regular bus services into the city centre.

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Summary

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

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Summary

This inspection is an unannounced interim inspection. The purpose of this inspection is to assess the progress on the action and five recommendations made at the key inspection. In addition the key standards under the staying safe outcome are assessed.

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Summary

The Registered Manager has made good progress to address the previous shortfalls demonstrating a commitment to making improvements. As a result of this inspection there is one action relating to ensuring all staff receive safeguarding training without delay and four recommendations. One recommendation is repeated from the previous inspection. The shortfalls do not significantly impact upon young people's care and experiences.

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Summary

Overall this is a good home and young people benefit from good, positive relationships with the staff team. As a result young people feel safe, well cared for and enjoy living in the home. Importantly young people feel staff are genuinely concerned for their safety and well-being. Complaints are well managed and bullying is not of a concern. Young people, when asked to judge their home say the home is 'good'.

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Improvements since the last inspection

One action and five recommendations resulted from the key inspection. The action related to ensuring the complaints procedure includes the details for Ofsted. The contact numbers for Ofsted are clearly included and accessible in the complaint information. This action is met. The five recommendations related to ensuring a suitable and varied diet; respecting young people's privacy; ensuring young people have a right to medical examination following physical intervention; ensuring young people have lockable storage for personal possessions and sufficient light in their bedrooms to read. In addition, all staff to receive monthly supervision.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Four recommendations are met. Menus demonstrate meals are balanced and varied, as a result young people benefit from a suitable and varied diet including the times when they eat away from the home. The manager includes information in restraint records to reflect medical attention is offered to young people. Bedside lamps and lockable storage facilities have been purchased for young people. There is a commitment to replacing these items, if and when they are damaged, so young people can continue to read, and store possessions safely.

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Improvements since the last inspection

A structured system demonstrates supervision sessions are planned and take place. However, there are some shortages relating to the frequency for new staff, part-time staff and staff members. The Registered Manager acknowledges the gaps and is working to address these, however this recommendation is repeated in this inspection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Overall young people enjoy living in the home, they feel safe and benefit from positive relationships with a committed staff team. Young people report they get on with other young people, they are not concerned about bullying and feel they are fairly treated. Young people are happy with their own space and privacy, they feel staff are respectful of their needs. Measures such as room searches are conducted for appropriate reasons which young people acknowledge and understand. Staff maintain various strategies to balance the need for supervising young people appropriately and affording personal space. One staff member reported recognising signs young people want time out and comments 'we don’t hassle'. The good relationships demonstrate this balance is successfully achieved.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Complaints are treated seriously and procedures followed. Young people report 'I haven't made a complaint for awhile' but confirm when they have, they have been clear on the progress and happy with the outcome of their complaint. Staff strive to maintain good relationships in the neighbourhood by promptly responding to any issues and taking appropriate action. This promotes the home positively and keeps formal external complaints to a minimum. Some young people are encouraged away from the home by external influences, leading to absences. All staff work hard to encourage changes in behaviours by guiding and advising young people about safe choices. Young people confirm staff routinely speak with them about their safety and show concern for their well-being. Importantly, young people report any absences are not as a result of being unhappy in the home or with their care. Staff demonstrate their concern by searching for

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

young people and exercising reporting procedures. When risks increase, multi- agency professionals meet to consider future actions and the reviewing and updating of individual risk assessments ensures staff employ revised strategies. Risk assessments are structured, include current assessments and demonstrate each young person needs are clearly understood. Staff work hard to minimise risks and support young people. Safeguarding procedures are initiated appropriately and good records ensure practice is accountable. Although planned, not all staff have undertaken safeguarding training and this has lapsed for a period, as a result there are some gaps in knowledge of formal procedures.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The basis for managing behaviour is through support and giving opportunities for young people to express their feelings in non-aggressive ways. Sanctions are fairly applied and young people understand the rules. Staff receive training in recognised techniques and regularly refresh their training ensuring their skills are current. One of the approved holds, although not a banned hold, has potential to conflict with Government guidance. In practice there are no concerns this hold is frequently or inappropriately used. All physical interventions are monitored through an external system to the home which is good accountable practice. Physical interventions are not routine and records support few take place. Young people are encouraged to discuss incidents and developments are underway to engage in briefings with young people. However currently young people's views are not routinely captured so opportunities are missed to record views. Young people report restraints rarely

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

happen, they understand the reasons for restraints and they are fair when they do happen, although one young person felt one past restraint was not consistent or fair compared with others.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Good systems for maintaining health and safety ensure a safe home and environment. Regular checks keep appliances and equipment in safe working order. Monthly fire drills ensure evacuations are routinely practised and this exceeds the standard. Appropriate vetting for visitors ensures they are suitable, however, the visitors' book lacks detail on the purpose of visits and leaving times on some occasions. Information to confirm satisfactory checks including enhanced Criminal Record Bureau is available in the home to confirm staff suitability to work with children. Full recruitment files are held at the head office and will be assessed at the next inspection.

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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

31 ensure staff recieve appropriate training, in particular all staff recieve safeguarding training and if this is missed this is re- arranged promptly. (Regulation 27 (4) (a)) 25/05/2011

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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 all staff receive at least one and a half hours of one-to-one supervision per month. In addition new staff and part-time staff receive supervision in line with the standards (NMS 28.2)  ensure there is a clear policy for monitoring visitors. In particular ensure visitors record the purpose of the visit and leaving times (27.11)  consider and make sure the current physical intervention options are reasonable, in light of emerging guidance and new standards (NMS 22.8)  ensure each restraint is fairly and consistently applied and encourage young people to record their views on each occasion. (NMS 22.14)

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