Children's Home run by Norfolk County Council in Norfolk

Unique reference number SC068076 Inspection date 24/03/2011 Inspector Rachel Ruth Britten Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 19/10/2010 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 provides short-term placements and is owned and run by the local Children's Services Department. It is a semi-detached property located in a small village and is registered for two young people aged 11 to 17 years. Domestic style accommodation is provided throughout. Young people each have their own bedroom and separate facilities are provided for staff. Two young people are currently living in the home, both of whom took part 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

The purpose of this unannounced interim inspection was to review the home's progress on the recommendations raised at the last inspection on 19 October 2010. The national minimum standards relating to the Every Child Matters 'staying safe' outcome area were also inspected. The home has taken satisfactory steps to meet the two previous shortfalls. The quality of the home's work to meet standards relating to keeping young people safe continues to be good overall. Young people receive high quality consistent support and care from committed and skilled staff. This is tailored well to young people's individual needs. There are some shortfalls identified relating to staying safe, but these have not detracted significantly from the safeguarding or welfare of young people.

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Improvements since the last inspection

There were two recommendations raised at the last inspection. The home's fire drill record now shows the time at which drills take place. This enables the home to monitor how it varies the time and circumstances in which a drill takes place. For example, the record shows that drills have taken place during the hours of darkness, although not when young people have been in bed asleep.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The second recommendation concerned the need to include the staffing policy in the home's Statement of Purpose. Details of the staff and management arrangements are now included in the Statement of Purpose, although this does not include details of how the home is staffed overnight and the start and finish times of staff on duty overnight.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The action taken to address both these recommendations is satisfactory to meet the standards.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's privacy is respected and information is confidentially handled. Young people have keys for their bedrooms and staff do not go into their rooms uninvited. Young people's personal things are kept around the home and may be locked if they wish. For example, young people may choose to lock their bathroom cabinet containing their personal toiletries. Appropriate measures are in place to ensure that the internet is used properly and that children and young people only use media that are deemed suitable for their age range. All young people have free access to a pay phone in the setting and also may use their mobile phones. If there are difficulties arising between young people because of possessions going missing, searches are organised and are discussed between everyone. Opportunities are given to find and return items and young people are taking increasing responsibility in this area. However, the registered person does not provide young people with clear guidance

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

on when it may be necessary to search their possessions and the documentation of searches does not record all the details required in the standard. The impact of this shortfall is minimal because searches on welfare grounds have not been needed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are encouraged to raise any worries or concerns they may have at an early stage. They feel that their complaints are dealt with openly and fairly. They receive an informative children's guide which explains their rights and responsibilities clearly, including how bullying is not tolerated. Good information about sources of support is also displayed for them to use if they feel unsafe, wish to complain or want outside guidance or help. Staff are committed to using positive behaviour management strategies and empowering young people by supporting them to feel valued. For example, staff have recently used restorative justice methods in young people's meetings. This has proved a positive way of engaging each young person in taking individual responsibility for situations.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Waking night staff are not needed in the setting and young people are generally settled at night. Door alarms and monitors are in use at present so that staff are alerted when young people are out of their rooms and may need support. This surveillance on welfare grounds is acceptable practice, but has not been made clear in the home's Statement of Purpose. The reasons for it have not been clearly stated and consented to by placing authorities as required by the standard. Nevertheless, young people say that they see the measures in a supportive light.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Policies and procedures are in place to promote the safeguarding of young people from abuse and bullying. Staff receive child protection training and have opportunities to discuss safeguarding matters during supervision sessions and team meetings. Some young people are being taught how to keep themselves safe whilst moving towards independent living. Others are receiving support to behave safely towards peers in school. Staff give high levels of support to young people where it is identified that this is necessary to secure them and those around them from harm or bullying. Key worker sessions address bullying and behaviour issues, including cyber- bullying. Careful observation, record keeping, updating risk assessments and monitoring of behaviour patterns is ongoing, so that staff can help young people to make personal progress with managing their behaviour. Good links are also maintained with other professionals concerned with safeguarding and young people

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Clear guidance is in place for staff regarding the action to take if a young person goes missing. There have been no reported incidents since the last inspection. There have also been no instances of restraints being required in recent months. Young people working towards independence receive appropriate incentives to behave well. For example, they earn evening free-time extensions for coming in at agreed times, being polite and considerate, and not drinking or taking drugs. Young people who are struggling with their behaviour in school are supported by staff accompanying them. Sanctions logs indicate that the sanction of cancelling paid activities at weekends is not very effective in supporting improved behaviour in school. Managers and staff have noted this and are trying more immediate and positive strategies. For example, they are trying star charts which amount to weekend and evening special activities. They are also trying restorative techniques like immediate apologies and

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Health and safety matters are taken seriously by the home and there is a generally good system of policies, procedures and risk assessments that support the maintenance of a safe, pleasant environment for young people, staff and visitors. Staff and young people are familiar with fire evacuation procedures and fire drills take place at various times. Servicing records of electrical equipment, boiler and fire detection systems demonstrate regular cycles of maintenance. However, there is a recent unsatisfactory report on the electrical installations which ambiguously goes on to state that another test is not needed for three years. The manager is seeking immediate clarification about this and intends to promptly secure any necessary work. There are also outstanding deficiencies in the standards of fire safety which have not been rectified despite the report being over three months old. The manager states that the necessary work to fire doors in particular will not be undertaken until

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

the new financial year. Both these issues have the potential to seriously affect young people's safety in the home.

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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 that the use of electronic surveillance devices for safeguarding purposes is explained in the Statement of Purpose, consented to by the placing authority, and provided for in young people's placement plans (NMS 19.8, Schedule 1.19 and Regulation 22)  ensure that young people are provided with guidance on when it may be necessary to search their possessions, and that records of searches include the time, date, reason, what was found, who was present, who conducted the search and the signatures of all those present (NMS 9.8)  ensure that electrical installations meet safety requirements and that there is a certificate of periodic inspection showing that they are satisfactory (NMS 26.4)  ensure that action is taken to remedy deficiencies identified from visits by the fire safety officer. (NMS 26.8)

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