Children's Home run by Five Rivers Child Care Limited in Wiltshire

Unique reference number SC059717 Inspection date 29/03/2011 Inspector Sharron Escott Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 09/08/2010 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

The home is a family style house situated near to the centre of a city. It is one of four settings in the area owned and managed by a national childcare agency. There are operational links with the organisation's fostering service and school. The house was originally two semi-detached properties that have been converted into one home. The ground floor, communal areas include two lounges, a play/computer room, a laundry area and a kitchen dining room. All the bedrooms are single, and there is an enclosed rear garden.

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Brief description of the service

The home currently accommodates girls only, and provides short-term and long-term placements.

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Brief description of the service

Four young people currently live in the home and all were present for majority of 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 inspection was unannounced. This inspection assessed the national minimum standards in the Every Child Matters outcome area of staying safe. It looked at the progress made to meet shortfalls identified at the last inspection in May 2010.

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Summary

The young people were present during this inspection, and stated they enjoyed living in the home and feel their wishes and feelings are considered by the care team. Positive relationships are established with key workers and young people.

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Summary

The home encourages the development of more socially acceptable sustainable behaviours to improve young people's quality of life towards independence. A registered psychotherapist works closely with the staff team to advise and assist on managing and understanding the young people's emotional well-being and behaviours.

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Summary

The service continues to operate at a good standard overall. Children live in a stable, effectively run home that is organised around individuals needs, and prioritises and seeks to improve their life experiences. The manager and staff team are committed to providing young people with a positive residential experience, promoting their participation and consultation in matters relating to their daily living and well-being. The appointment of a new manager within the home since the last inspection has promoted stability and continuity of care for the young people in placement. Administrative systems are being reviewed, to provide further opportunities for staff to add detailed information on all documents relating to the young people.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, the home was required to ensure that there are suitable arrangements for the safe storage of any medicines including controlled drugs. This is in part met as a new lockable cupboard has been purchased and secured, however, there is no separate storage for controlled drugs as per the Royal Pharmaceutical Guidelines. Therefore this action has been reinstated as a recommendation.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff support young people to live safely in the home and the wider community. This is achieved because staff understand procedures designed to protect young people and implement them effectively. Each young person is treated as an individual and staff work well with them to put in place safeguarding arrangements which meet their individual needs and risk assessments.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people’s privacy is promoted by staff who clearly understand an effective policy. Young people have their own keys to their bedrooms and say the staff respect their privacy and always knock before entering their room. Protocols and information regarding room searches available for young people is not clear in the young person’s guide. The information available does not meet the level of understanding and age of all the young people in placement. There are facilities available for the young people to make and receive calls in private, or they may use their mobile telephone subject to risk assessment and in accordance with their care and placement plans. Individual documents relating to the young people are stored in a secure cabinet within a locked office ensuring confidentiality at all times.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are protected from abuse through robust practices. Staff have a sound understanding of the young people in their care and their individual vulnerabilities. There is a clear procedure for reporting and managing safeguarding concerns and the care staff understand their responsibilities within this process. Staff are all trained in safeguarding issues and this is regularly updated to ensure that their knowledge is current.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Behaviour management strategies and clear effective policies underpin good staff practice. Young people are supported and encouraged to develop positive behaviours by the use of individualised rewards and incentives rather than sanctions. The documents relating to restraint requires further improvement to ensure the care team record in detail times, location and duration of the restraint so the manager can effectively monitor the appropriateness of the restraint and the subsequent actions taken. The training records show all staff are trained in a method of physical intervention. This is currently under review and a new intervention method is being introduced.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff encourage young people to communicate concerns without delay so that any issues can be dealt with as quickly as possible. Their concerns are treated seriously and dealt with sensitively; an agreed protocol has been established for one young person with the local safeguarding board and social services that allows the care team to manage complaints and allegations. Staff encourage young people to show respect for each other's well-being, however, the young people in placement do not have all available information and guidance to help identify and manage incidents of conflict that could result in bullying.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A detailed fire risk assessment is on file including gas and electrical safety checks, these are carried out at recommended intervals. Evacuation drills are well recorded and identify which staff and young people have attended.

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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

17 ensure the Registered Manager has full and satisfactory information in respect of all staff employed, inclusive of proof of identity, including a recent photograph. (Regulation 26) 29/04/2011

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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):

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Recommendations

 ensure all medication including non prescribed is kept in an approved lockable storage cupboard. specifically relating to the storage of controlled drugs (NMS 13.10)  ensure the children's guide to the home is in a form appropriate to age and understanding of all the children accommodated within the home (1.3)  carry out the required monitoring checks as set out in Schedule 6 at least once a month. (NMS 33)

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