Children's Home run by 4d Care Ltd in Cambridgeshire

Unique reference number SC064557 Inspection date 21/03/2011 Inspector Rachel Ruth Britten Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 07/01/2010 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 home is a detached property located in a small village. It is registered to accommodate up to six young people aged between 12 and 18 years with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is fully equipped for all aspects of daily living and provides sufficient space for group and separate activities. All young people have their own bedroom. There are two small classrooms in a building on the home’s grounds for the exclusive use of young people living in the home.

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Brief description of the service

Four young people currently live in this home, all of whom were present during the inspection.

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Summary

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

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Summary

The purpose of this unannounced interim inspection was to review the home's progress on the actions and recommendations raised at the last inspection in January 2011. The national minimum standards relating to the Every Child Matters 'staying safe' outcome area were also inspected. The home's progress to meet previous shortfalls is good. The quality of the home's work to meet standards relating to keeping young people safe is also good overall. Young people receive good and consistent support and care which is suitably tailored to their individual needs. There are a few shortfalls relating to staying safe, but the overall quality grading for the setting is now good.

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Improvements since the last inspection

There were four actions and six recommendations made at the last inspection. The home managers have been proactive to meet these and the organisation of the home is better as a result. This in turn supports improved outcomes for young people so that the setting is now graded as good.

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Improvements since the last inspection

An action was raised to ensure that the home's Statement of Purpose includes details of the staff and their qualifications and experience. This information is now set out accurately and in full, so that placing social workers and interested parties can see details of the staff in the home, including their professional development. Similarly, an action was raised to ensure that all staff files show a recent photo for identification and a clear explanation of any gaps in employment history. The home and staff have updated all staff files to ensure that these details are in place. This makes the evidence of staff suitability more robust. A third action was raised because staff appraisal, training and supervision was not taking place with the required frequency and within required timescales. There has been action taken to enrol and complete professional training. The appraisal format has been amended and forms

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Improvements since the last inspection

are currently with appraisees for completion before their appraisal meetings. Supervision meetings are improved, although signed copies of minutes are not all available. There has been satisfactory progress to meet the action and assure that staff are well supported and trained to complete their work well.

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Improvements since the last inspection

A fourth action was raised concerning the risks posed to young people through the storage of sharp kitchen knives and broken glass in the grounds. The knives are now stored more safely in the office in a lockable cupboard. The broken glass has been cleared from the grounds and more shingle delivered to improve the drive and hard standing areas. These changes improve young people's safety.

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Improvements since the last inspection

It was recommended that medication records include details of when medication ceases or expires and how it is disposed of. The nominated staff member who oversees medication has altered the medication sheets to show the expiry date and the method and date of disposal. There is also now one separate sheet used for each different medication so that there is improved clarity. These changes improve safe practice around the medication being administered to young people.

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Improvements since the last inspection

It was recommended that clear guidance be given to young people about when it may be necessary to search their possessions. This information has been provided to young people in an updated young person's guide which also has updated photos and contact numbers. This improves the information to young people about their rights and responsibilities.

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Improvements since the last inspection

It was also recommended that all sanctions are logged and that the record includes the names of people present, the time, location and sanction number, so that the records may be used effectively. The sanction log was inspected and all necessary details are now available. However, manager monitoring of the log is not taking a considered overview of entries to look for the implications for the care of individuals and current care practice.

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Improvements since the last inspection

It was recommended that the physical interventions log be developed to show clearly whether a young person is offered examination by a medical practitioner following a physical intervention. The existing record has not been changed, but staff are usually remembering to write on the record that medical examination has been offered and whether it was declined or taken up. However, there are still some instances where there is no note of whether the offer was made or not. The record was amended during inspection so that there is a written prompt on it to help staff to remember to offer medical examination in every case.

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Improvements since the last inspection

A recommendation was raised about encouraging young people to give their views and sign their names against records concerning behaviour incidents. There is still little evidence in sanction and restraint records that young people are being effectively engaged to consider their behaviour and is implications. However, managers and staff believe that work with young people to obtain their views and feelings more often takes place through meetings and sessions with the key worker. They acknowledge that there is still more that they could do to turn behaviour incidents into effective learning experiences from which young people learn and move on.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The sixth and final recommendation was about the manager monitoring of the home and the prompt identification of issues and the taking of timely action to improve and adjust the home. There is evidence of improved team working between the registered individual, the manager and the Regulation 33 visitor to make more timely and well considered improvements. For example, changes to the rotas, training on unmet emotional needs of young people and improved maintenance, are beneficial results of better monitoring. There are clear action plans being completed which link together and identify who is responsible for what and the timescales for action.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Overall, the effective action taken since the last inspection contributes to the improved overall quality rating of the setting.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's privacy is well respected and staff are seen to treat each individual with proper respect. Young people can have games consoles and electrical equipment in their rooms and are encouraged to keep their room locked. Young people know how to complain and good information is always accessible to them on their notice board and in the updated young people's guide. There have been no complaints since the last inspection. Regular young people's meetings take place and are a venue to make joint plans for group activities and resolving issues of concern to the household. Meals are taken as a whole house group and encourage positive relationships and a sense of responsibility.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home's child protection procedures are suitable and generally effective in safeguarding young people. Child protection training has recently been undertaken by some staff during their professional training, but other staff have not undertaken refresher training for over a year. Nevertheless, all staff can locate the safeguarding policy and procedures, including contact numbers for the local authority designated officer. Each young person has a detailed placement plan and risk assessments which detail appropriately how their rights to family contact, use of the telephone, supervision and privacy are balanced with the need to safeguard them, and those around them, from harm. Concerns about possible smoking and drug use are reduced at present. There are no bullying issues in the home and staff are vigilant for this. Good information is also posted for young people, so that they know what bullying is and how to get help.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people who are absent without authority are protected in accordance with their risk assessment and care plan. However, some older young people are frequently absent, which does pose significant risks to their safety. Patterns are emerging where young people are staying out late with friends and are getting out of routine. Staff consider that this may be associated with periods of exclusion from education or the beginnings of disengagement from care. Young people are responded to positively when they make contact and return, but sanctions are not proving to be effective in preventing this behaviour. Manager monitoring, staff meetings and key work sessions aim to re-evaluate the behaviour management strategies in place, but this work has not yet taken place. The sanctions records are not currently being effectively reviewed to consider the implications for behaviour patterns, the care of individual young people, and current care practice. As a result,

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

the behaviour of going missing is persisting.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Despite this, the young people in placement are enjoying a settled period. They all want to continue here while they attend college and prepare for independence. They are mostly able to respect the staff caring for them and the environment of the home. Any damage caused is promptly repaired and young people complete sanctions which contribute to the maintenance of their home, for example, cleaning out the home's vehicles. Staff and managers are confident that their relationships with each young person are deep enough to facilitate and enable young people to function and behave well. At the same time, young people are also addressing long standing and deep seated difficulties by attending various therapeutic psychology and counselling services.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home provides good physical safety and security to young people. Training, procedures and checks ensure that the building and utilities are safe and adequate for purpose, both day-to-day and in the event of an emergency. For example, fire evacuations, food storage and monitoring, safe storage of chemical products, and young people's individual risk assessments, are all good. There are specific risk assessments for activities, such as, putting up the Christmas decorations; using a mini digger in the grounds; and walking on holiday in Scotland. The homes' bullying risk assessment and impact assessment for new admissions are useful documents too, although these are not reviewed regularly enough. However, there are a number of very generic risk assessments that have been adopted, unchanged, from a county council. These do not give any specific guidance and are of very limited use.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is a consistent and committed staff group providing care to young people. New staff do not start work until the vetting process is completed. Staff files show good detail about qualifications and vetting. Details about drivers' insurance and licenses is now kept up to date. These aspects support safety in the setting. All staff are aware of the policies and procedures of the home, but they are not always recording accidents and injuries incurred whilst working in the home. This is required in the Regulations for the protection of everyone.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Visitors to the home are properly checked and monitored to keep young people safe. Managers and staff use the notification system correctly to ensure that the appropriate agencies are informed about events. For example, all staff know that Ofsted must be notified of the instigation of any child protection investigation. There have been no notifications to Ofsted since the last 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

26 ensure that a record of all accidents occurring in the home is kept, in particular, of accidents and injuries incurred by staff working in the home (Regulation 29 (1) Schedule 4.4). 21/04/2011

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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):  provide risk assessments which relate specifically to the home or the persons in it and ensure that these risk assessments are regularly reviewed and used to reduce identified risks to acceptable levels (NMS 26.2)  monitor the effectiveness of sanctions and consider the implications of behaviour patterns and sanctions for the care of individual children and current care practice (NMS 22.11).

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