Children's Home run by Derbyshire County Council in Derbyshire

Unique reference number SC035976 Inspection date 17/05/2011 Inspector Catherine Ross Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 06/01/2011 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

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.

p.2

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 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

p.3

About this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the Inspections of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011) and the evaluation schedule for children's homes.

p.3

The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service that exceeds minimum requirements Satisfactory : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

p.3

Brief description of the service

This children's home is registered to a local authority and is located in an urban area. The home can accommodate up to four young people aged between 10 and 17 years with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

p.4

Brief description of the service

The home is a large detached bungalow set back off a street with other residential properties. The young people have single bedrooms with bathrooms located nearby. There is a lounge with dining area and a kitchen. A sun lounge provides a computer room for young people. There is a garden and car parking at the front of the property. The home is close to local shops and leisure facilities and there is access to public transport.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be satisfactory .

p.4

Overall effectiveness

The home effectively provides personalised care for young people which recognises their individual needs. Young people's views are sought and taken seriously in the day to day running of the home and their own care planning. Young people say they feel safe and secure at the home and feel confident they can talk to staff if they have a problem. Most young people have positive views about the quality of their care in the home and their relationships with staff. Staff receive regular and good quality training which enables them to keep young people safe. The quality of care in the home promotes improved outcomes for young people.

p.4

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 person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) review and revise the Statement of Purpose this is in particular reference to Ofsted's telephone number and the list of persons working at the children's home. (Regulation 5 (a)) 01/08/2011

p.4

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

p.5

Recommendations

 ensure young people are encouraged to have their views recorded in the records kept by the home when sanctions are used (NMS 3.18)  ensure young people are helped to understand how to keep themselves safe including outside the home (NMS 4.4)  ensure all staff's work is consistent with the National Minimum Standards and a copy is available to them (NMS 21.3)  ensure staff are provided with regular supervision. (NMS 19.4)

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are satisfactory .

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from individualised support which helps them grow in confidence. They are helped to develop their own identities through supportive staff and following personal interests such as gardening or use of computers. The home actively acknowledges racial, religious, gender and other differences and encourages open discussion and learning on such issues. As a result, young people are encouraged to develop a positive self view.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are helped to understand the importance of healthy lifestyles and are supported well with their own health needs. Medication is appropriately administered and logged. Staff respect young people's privacy in relation to their individual health needs and lifestyles and encourage them to make positive choices. Young people enjoy a balanced diet, have access to snacks and drinks when needed and enjoy food which is cooked to a high standard. This helps young people stay healthy. Young people are encouraged to access suitable medical support which could include confidential appointments with their own doctor and other health care providers. A specialist nurse for looked after children is also involved in young people's care. This means they receive personalised and age-appropriate physical, emotional and psychological healthcare.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are given opportunities to contribute to the running of the home through weekly resident's meetings and informal conversations with staff. Young people see the results of their ideas, which include choice of meals, an increase in size of the vegetable patch, the decoration of rooms and impending refurbishment of a communal area. Young people are offered opportunities to engage in activities in the local community and away from the home but often chose not to engage in these activities. Other agencies, such as a youth worker, also come in to the home to offer activities. This gives young people the opportunity to have new experiences, learn new skills and grow in confidence.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people

Staff actively promote young people's attendance at school, college or in alternative education and work with other professionals involved in the young person's life to devise education plans which fit their needs. Educational achievement is encouraged and young people make sound progress in relation to their starting points.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people feel well supported to maintain regular contact with family members and those people significant to them. Photographs of family members are displayed around the home. Young people are prepared well for a successful transition into independence and adult life and they are encouraged to be part of the planning. Staff are committed to supporting young people into adulthood.

p.6

Quality of care

The quality of the care is satisfactory . Most young people enjoy sound relationships with each other and interact positively with staff and visitors. Staff take active steps to reduce conflict if it arises by using a restorative approach where necessary. Staff are well trained in methods of physical intervention, however these methods are rarely used, other behaviour management strategies such as 'achievement points' and sanctions are used instead. The use of sanctions is fair, however where they are used, young people's views are not always clearly recorded meaning it is not clear how young people felt about receiving the sanction or the effectiveness of it. Young people know how to complain if they feel it necessary and feel their views would be taken seriously. Young people say they find staff supportive.

p.6

Quality of care

Staff recognise when events in young people's lives may be affecting their mood or behaviour and try to support young people to overcome these feelings. Most young people have positive views about the quality of their care in the home and their relationships with staff. Staff are committed to building up constructive and positive relationships with young people, however where young people make poor choices or put themselves in risky situations outside the home, staff need to be more proactive in engaging, educating and supporting young people to manage their behaviour differently even when they are unwilling to engage.

p.7

Quality of care

Young people's individual needs relating to cultural back ground and personal identity are identified and positively addressed in both daily living and care planning. Care plans are detailed and young people are involved in writing them meaning young people have a voice in planning the care they receive.

p.7

Quality of care

Health and safety requirements are up to date meaning young people live in an environment which is safe and free from hazards. Fire safety and health and safety checks are carried out at the required intervals. The home has established systems in place and structures to maintain safe practices and fulfil health and safety obligations. The home is appropriately located and adequately meets the needs of the young people. Some décor is dated and the lounge area is currently in a poor state of repair. However this area is due to have a substantial refurbishment in the near future. Young people have been fully involved in the planning and design of the new lounge. This is an example of how young people's views, wishes and feelings have been taken in to account in the running of the home.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

The service is satisfactory at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe. Young people say they feel safe and feel they are looked after at the home. One young person commented "I feel safe and secure, always a member of staff available to talk to. Staff always help with any problems you've got". Staff are clear about safeguarding procedures and know what to do if they feel their concerns are not being taken seriously. Any safeguarding concerns or incidents are dealt with adequately with appropriate management oversight meaning young people are protected from harm.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Bullying is not tolerated at the home and it is regularly discussed in young person's meetings. Parts of the building which could be "hot spots" for bullying are recognised by staff that are vigilant in their supervision. These measures help protect young people. When young people go missing the home has a clear policy and procedure in place and agreements with local police which ensures young people are protected as far as possible. When young people return home they are responded to positively and offered food or a drink.

p.8

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people's privacy is respected and each young person has a key for their own bedroom. Risk assessment of young people's vulnerability is recorded and regularly reviewed meaning staff can effectively support young people. There are robust recruitment procedures in place and staff working with children in the home are carefully selected and vetted meaning the risk to young people is lessened.

p.8

Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are satisfactory . The home is well managed and has an ongoing development plan which clearly identifies the strengths and areas for improvements of the home. The provider meets all of the aims and objectives in their Statement of Purpose which is clear and accessible; however some details are significantly out of date which could prove misleading to those using it. Young people benefit from management which models a commitment to meeting the needs of all young people, including those in relation to disability, ethnicity, faith, gender, language, religious belief, and sexual orientation. Regulation 33 and 34 monitoring is regularly carried out and young people are consulted during monitoring visits. Staff say they are well supported however some staff supervision is not regular meaning staff progress is not formally monitored. This means staff do not always receive support they need to enable them to meet the

p.8

Leadership and management

Young people enjoy the stability of a well run home with a stable staff team and experienced management. Staff are sufficient in number and qualifications to meet the needs of the young people although there is currently a management vacancy which has lead to extra work load pressure on the staff team. Staff receive regular training on issues which may affect young people in care. However, managers and staff are not up to date with new legislation and practice developments, for example, the national minimum standards 2011, which may impact on the quality of care young people receive.

p.9

Leadership and management

At the previous inspection a recommendation was raised in relation to electrical installations. This recommendation has been met meaning young people live in a home which meets health and safety requirements. Young people’s records are well structured and are held securely and confidentially. They cover all matters required in the regulations. There has been one notification during the past inspection period and staff are well aware of the process and requirements to report significant events. Managers have positive relationships with other agencies and use their support to help young people achieve good outcomes.

p.9

Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is satisfactory .

p.9