Lincolnshire Secure Unit

Unique reference number SC042921 Inspection date 14/12/2011 Inspector Gwen Buckley Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Secure Unit

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Date of last inspection 08/06/2011 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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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.

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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.

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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

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Brief description of the service

This is a secure unit managed by a local authority, registered as a secure children's home and is approved by the Secretary of State to provide secure care and accommodation for 12 young people.

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Brief description of the service

Education is provided on site and external professionals offer support for young people's physical and emotional health needs.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

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Overall effectiveness

The home provides a good standard of care for young people. Relationships between staff and young people are in the main very positive. The manager and team have created a culture of support and nurturing which helps young people manage their behaviour, feelings and anxieties.

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Overall effectiveness

Good systems are in place to assess, monitor and review care needs. Placement plans are highly individualised and risk assessments are robust. Young people say they feel safe within the home; this is underpinned by efficient systems to monitor practice and promote effective care.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people have good opportunities to maintain contact with family members and influence how the home operates. Visiting professionals and parents report that the care and support provided for young people are very good. The manager has been asked to improve how single separation records are maintained.

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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 person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

17B (2001) The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of any measure of control, restraint or discipline in a children's home, a written record is made in a volume kept for the purpose. Specifically ensure that the effectiveness of any measure used is recorded and that events of separation are not indicated in the records as a sanction. (Regulation 17B.3) 31/01/2012

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Recommendations

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

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are good .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people receive excellent support from staff. Support provided takes account of their varied and often complex needs which helps young people cope with life and develops their confidence, emotional awareness and resilience. Young people state 'the staff here get to know you, help you and give you the support you need.’

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people enjoy the food provided at the home. Individual dietary needs are well catered for. Young people have a choice each mealtime including a vegetarian option. The menu provided incorporates food from around the world and mealtimes are relaxed and sociable. Young people develop acceptable table manners and are supported to learn about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle through good diet and exercise.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Good arrangements are in place to assess, review and provide support to young people on admission. Young people are helped to understand the health implications associated with drugs, alcohol and smoking. Support is provided for smoking cessation. Young people confirm that if they are ill staff look after them well. Young people receive ongoing support in the form of alternative therapies which, along with the staff support helps them manage different situations.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Attendance at school is actively encouraged and is linked to the reward and privileges system in the home. All young people have personal education plans. Prior to discharge schools are identified for young people to attend. Education staff liaise with the new school to support and help young people continue to achieve educationally.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people establish and maintain important local community links. They have recently been involved in raising money for local and national charities and working in a local stable. Young people are also actively involved in local mentoring schemes giving talks to disadvantaged young people or those at risk of offending. This continues for some young people after they leave the secure children’s home.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people express a desire to use on-line social networking sites in the evening; however, this is currently not permitted as young people have not maintained E- safety standards. Within the school environment young people are able to use the computers in line with educational needs. The home is well equipped to provide assessment and ongoing skills training in relation to independent living. Depending on length of stay, age and understanding young people are supported by a multi-disciplinary team at the home and gain new skills in preparation for adulthood.

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Quality of care

Relationships between staff and young people are positive. Young people all say they have an adult they can approach if they have issues they want to discuss. A key work team is allocated to each young person and a member of this team is always on each shift. This approach to care creates a stable and nurturing environment where young people know staff care and they always have someone to whom they can turn that understands their issues. All staff demonstrate good care practice which values and supports young people as individuals with very specific and often complex needs. This helps young people build trust in adults.

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Quality of care

Comprehensive placement plans are in place which set out needs and the aims of the placement. Plans include dietary, cultural and a wide range of other individual needs such as personal identity, family cultures and gang related issues. Plans are updated in line with changing needs. The review process promotes the views of young people and ensures they are included in decision making and care planning. Staff regularly work with young people in one-to-one and group work sessions focusing on agreed targets for their care.

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Quality of care

Good health is supported at the home. Young people confirm that they see the nurse and doctor shortly after admission and other health care staff as required. Training and support from external health professionals focuses on the needs of the young people being cared for. Staff awareness of risks young people present to themselves associated with suicide and self-harm is very good and they know when to refer to others and seek help. Visiting professionals report, ‘staff are receptive to ideas on how best to care for individuals’ and ‘this is an emotionally and physically safe environment for young people.’ Staff attend training to assist them to understand the needs of young people such as courses on attachment and complex trauma.

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Quality of care

Medication administration recording is good. Consent for medical administration is obtained ensuring homely remedies used are known to parents. A new policy to enable young people to take care of their own medication is available. This was recommended at the last inspection. However, to date this self-medication policy has not been implemented. Managers are consulting new medical staff over this before training care staff. This helps ensure consistent practice and new policy and guidance is known and understood by all staff before being introduced.

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Quality of care

There are excellent systems in place to listen to the views of young people. Young people feel their views are respected, they can influence practice and the Registered Manager is aware of what is important to them. On an informal basis, staff interact with young people in a consultative way and requests from young people to meet senior staff to discuss issues are followed through quickly.

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Quality of care

Complaints are managed well. Young people raise any concerns they have by talking to staff or using the issues and suggestions forms. Issues raised are looked at by a senior manager and a case manager, who responds in a timely manner and meets with young people to ensure the resolutions are satisfactory. Detailed records are held of all investigations and outcomes and these are audited by an external visitor from the local authority and the Youth Justice Board monitor. Additionally, young people can if they wish make a complaint direct to the local authority complaints officer and this will be investigated independently.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is good at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Good arrangements are in place to keep young people safe. Young people feel confident staff will keep them safe and they have access to an independent advocate. The advocate visits on a weekly basis and all young people know they can speak to them in private should they wish. This ensures that young people have a voice and are able to raise concerns independently.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff have a good awareness of child protection practice and procedure and maintain detailed records. Positive relationships are in place with local child protection services and advice is sought from local child protection services appropriately. This enables allegations or disclosures to be taken to relevant external professionals in a timely manner and assists any investigations.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff are very aware of the potential for bullying to occur and young people report it seldom happens, but if it does staff will take action to stop it. Any suspicion of bullying is recorded and shared with other staff. Any indication that a young person may be at risk of self-harm is addressed by increased observation and interaction with them. Additional support is sought from relevant external mental health professionals if required to work with the bully or support the young people being bullied. These measures help protect the welfare of all the young people at the home.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The complex behaviours of young people are well managed. All young people have an individual risk assessment and behaviour management plan in place. This identifies any areas of concern and all staff are aware of the actions agreed to help each young person.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are encouraged to display appropriate behaviour by a staff team who are able to form positive relationships and understand their individual needs. A rewards scheme is in place which has recently been amended to recognise efforts and achievements throughout the day including attendance and effort in education. The scheme is being further developed with senior managers investigating ways of ensuring it remains positive and motivating. Young people are consistently consulted about the privileges available and any remodelling of the scheme. Good quality assurance systems are in place enabling senior managers to identify any trends or areas of practice that may need to be changed. The number of behaviour management interventions used has fluctuated over the past six months in direct correlation between the number of young people resident and the type of negative behaviours presented.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Any physical intervention used is only as last resort. Staff receive regularly updated training and were observed during the inspection to use diversion and diffusion techniques competently to avoid occurrences escalating to a point where restraint would be required.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Incident logs are used to detail all sanctions, separations and physical restraints and although seldom signing the records, young people are given the opportunity to countersign these entries and their comments are recorded. Records are effectively monitored and audited by a senior manager. The Local Authority Designated Officer or Safeguarding Manager view CCTV footage of all occurrences of restraint to ensure its use is appropriate. This ensures a transparent overview of practice at the home and contributes to safety and welfare of young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Any sanctions which are used are relevant to the misdemeanour and fairly applied. Staff are trained in restorative justice practice and its use is beginning to have an effect on the number of sanctions given. When appropriate young people take part in resolution conversations and reparation tasks rather than receive a formal sanction. Not all sanction records include an evaluation of the effectiveness of its use. On occasions separation is used to allow a young person a short period to compose themselves following an unsettled period where risk to themselves or others is evident. This allows them to return their behaviour to an acceptable level before rejoining the group. Young people say that are not separated from the group unfairly although a few report that the time spent in their room does not help them resolve their issues. Some records, which detail the reason for a single separation, also record, wrongly, the event as a formal sanction. All observations while young people

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Safeguarding children and young people

are separated are recorded comprehensively on monitoring sheets which helps keep them safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The environment is safe and secure. All visitors are required to produce identification and they are accompanied while in the building. A range of risk assessments for the premises and activities ensure the safety of all at the home. Any repairs required are carried out quickly and proficiently and there are excellent maintenance practices in place which include regular servicing of equipment.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The Registered Manager has obtained funding to extend the community areas which will provide additional visiting and games areas. A previous recommendation was made to reduce the potential ligature risk in the bathroom. Funding has been obtained for this and work is due to start in the New Year.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are good .

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Leadership and management

Young people benefit from an effectively managed provision and feel secure, an important part of life at the home. The senior management team are always looking for ways to improve practice and offer structured and effective guidance to staff. A forward looking development plan is in place. Enhancements to the premises form part of this plan and work continues to be carried out to improve the experience, education and facilities available for young people. The other recommendation made to develop a self-medication policy has been met.

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Leadership and management

A statement of purpose is in place which sets out the aims and objectives of the home and reflects the actual practice. On admission young people receive a comprehensive guide which provides them with information about expectations and their rights, as well external advocacy and complaint details.

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Leadership and management

Good support is provided to staff. They are supported well by regular formal supervision from their direct line managers. Reflection on practice and identification of any training needs are considered. This help supports and prepares staff to work effectively with young people.

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Leadership and management

Training provision for all staff is comprehensive. A training officer identifies needs, provides and makes arrangements for staff to attend training. Almost all staff hold formal qualifications in childcare and for new staff the centre has embraced the new Children and Young People’s Workforce Development Council induction and qualification standards. All mandatory training is undertaken on a rolling programme basis including child protection and first aid. This helps ensure staff possess competences and skills to effectively meet young people’s individual needs.

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Leadership and management

Good links are in place with external agencies including health services, youth offending teams and some local community groups. The training officer includes a local foster carer, the Regulation 33 visitor and the visiting advocate in some of the training sessions which enhances links with the local community. Escorts used to transport young people are fully checked as suitable to be with young people.

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Leadership and management

Good internal monitoring of the provision occurs monthly providing an overview of all aspects of the home’s operation which identifies areas for development. Comprehensive consultation with young people is undertaken regarding their welfare. This ensures good quality services are available for young people.

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Leadership and management

External monitoring is undertaken monthly as required. The visitor views records and speaks with young people and staff enabling them to have a say about living and working at the home. An elected member of the council also visits the home to speak with young people and attend celebrations which provides additional safeguards for young people.

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Leadership and management

Individual young people’s records are well structured and maintained, regularly updated and stored securely. The depth of recording enables a clear understanding of a young person’s needs and development. Equality and diversity practice is good .

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