Children's Home run by Aspris Children’s Services Limited in Southampton

Unique reference number SC407783 Inspection date 09/12/2011 Inspector Anna Williams Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 26/07/2011 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 progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011).

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

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Brief description of the service

This home is run by a national private organisation and provides accommodation for an associated residential special school. The home provides care and accommodation for up to five young people aged nine to seventeen years who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making inadequate progress.

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Progress

The last full inspection of this children’s home was in July 2011 and the overall judgement was satisfactory.

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Progress

Since the last inspection the majority of young people living in the home have left the organisation, or moved to different settings within the overall organisation. The manager at the last inspection has left this children’s home, and the majority of staff have also changed. In September, young people and staff from another children’s home within the organisation moved into this setting. The new manager is currently applying for registration with Ofsted.

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Progress

Since the last inspection the quality of care within the home has not been maintained, and the outcomes for young people have declined. Whilst the home has met three recommendations and one requirement from the previous inspection, there are two previous requirements and three recommendations which have not been met. And in addition to this, further requirements and recommendations have been set as a result of this inspection.

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Progress

Improvements to the home since the last inspection include work to the home’s heating and hot water system and the addition of a new boiler. Staff now receive supervision on a regular basis. The numbers of staff on shift are now in line with the home’s Statement of Purpose, and rotas demonstrate an appropriate gender balance on shift. Staff are now clear about the senior line management arrangements if the registered person is absent for any length of time.

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Progress

Since the last inspection, house and activity risk assessments have not been updated to reflect the new young people living within the home. Individual young people’s risk assessments have not been updated to reflect significant events in their lives over recent months. This means that staff may refer to out of date information, and the recommendation to ensure that risk assessments are regularly reviewed has been repeated. In the kitchen area, the larder contains a mix of cleaning products and materials, fresh and dry foods, and toiletries. The larder does not have a risk assessment to inform staff of safe food storage practices, this means cross contamination between foods and harmful products could occur.

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Progress

Further to this, the fire risk assessment does not contain an assessment of the safe keeping of lighters and matches on the premises, nor does it consider actions to address fire setting behaviours of young people. This means that staff do not have any clear guidance and procedures to follow in relation to these fire safety matters which effects the safety of all in the home.

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Progress

A previous recommendation to seek the views of young people, families and relevant professionals regarding the quality of care given has not been met. Young people say they have limited opportunities to have their views listened to. Resident's meetings take place, however records of these are not up-to-date. Systems to gain feedback from families and professionals are not in place. This means that there is no formal system of feedback which can be monitored and used proactively to help shape and improve outcomes for young people and this recommendation is repeated.

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Progress

One of the two deputy members of staff does not hold one year’s relevant supervisory experience and this recommendation has been repeated to ensure that suitably experienced staff deputise for the manager when they are absent.

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Progress

A previous requirement relating to complaints has been met. However, information in the complaints log regarding staff was not shared with the Local Authority Designated Officer in line with safeguarding procedures and was resolved through internal investigation only. This information was also not shared with Ofsted in line with significant event notifications, which had been a previous requirement and is now repeated. This means that information has not been shared appropriately and promptly with relevant parties, to ensure that suitable action is taken following any significant incident.

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Progress

Medication systems within the home are not safe and effective. A previous requirement to ensure suitable arrangements for the safe disposal of medicines has not been met. Prescribed medication which is no longer required by young people remains in the medication cabinet and staff knowledge on safe disposal procedures is poor. Further to this, prescribed medication is not being administered to young people in accordance with the prescription. Medication administration records are inaccurate and inconsistently completed. Medication administration records are not completed when a young person refuses to take their medication. This means that young people are not having their health and medical needs met. Strips of tablets are cut and this means that staff cannot safely check the expiry date or batch number of medication prior to administration.

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Progress

Young people say that food and drink is used as a sanction within the home. Staff confirm that food is sanctioned. Such sanctions are inappropriate and not in line with Children’s Homes Regulations. Further to this, young people say that access to food within the home is restricted at times, and say that overall there is not enough food available to young people. Staff confirm that budgetary constraints have placed pressure on providing adequate portions of food, drinks and snacks for young people and food is routinely locked away. Kitchen cupboards and freezer space demonstrate a lack of general stock items of food and drink, however the home was due to complete a shopping trip on the day of the inspection. This means that young people are not provided with adequate quantities of food and at regular intervals.

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Progress

Young people say that rooms and spaces within the home are locked routinely by staff. This means that young people have their normal physical movement through the home restricted, and it is unclear how such a routine promotes young people’s welfare and development.

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Progress

Young people within the home display self-injurious behaviours. However, staff do not maintain accurate individual records within the home of when a young person has self harmed. This means it is difficult to pinpoint when a young person has started to self harm and then monitor such behaviours, and means it is hard to look for triggers and patterns of behaviour if records are incomplete.

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Progress

Young people have mixed views about living in the home. All the young people highlight access to food and freedom of movement within the home as important to them. Young people say they generally get on well together within the home.

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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

(2001) ensure the home is conducted so as to promote and make proper provision for the welfare of children accommodated there, with particular reference to the accurate recording of self-harm injuries (Regulation 11 (1) (a)) 13/02/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that children accommodated in a children's home are provided with food which is served in adequate quantities and at appropriate intervals (Regulation 13 (1) (a)) 13/02/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the registered person shall prepare and implement a written policy which is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children's home from abuse and neglect, with particular reference to ensure that allegations against people that work with children are reported by the designated person to the Local Authority Designated Officer (Regulation 16 (1) (a)) 13/02/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that no punishment involving the consumption or deprivation of food or drink is used within the children's home (Regulation 17 (2) (b)) 13/02/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure there are suitable arrangements for the recording, handling, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of any 13/02/2012 medicines received into the children's home (Regulation 21 (1))

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) maintain a record in respect of each child who is accommodated in the children's home which includes the information, documents and records specified in Schedule 3, in particular (24) details of the administration of any medicines to the child (including refusals) (Regulation 28 (1) (a) (b)) 13/02/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that if any of the events listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 5 takes place, the registered person shall without delay notify the persons indicated in respect of the event in column 2 of the table (Regulation 30 (1)) 13/02/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) review the fire risk assessment to include an assessment of the safe keeping of lighters and matches, and an assessment of fire starting behaviours. (Regulation 32 (1A)) 13/02/2012

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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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Recommendations

 ensure the views of the child, the child's family, social worker and independent reviewing officer are sought regularly on the child's care, (unless in individual cases this is not appropriate) (NMS 1.4)  ensure that physical restrictions on normal movement within the home are not used unless this is necessary to safeguard children and promote their welfare and development. Such restrictions for one child do not impose similar restrictions on other children (NMS 10.4)  ensure that risk assessments of the whole children's home environment are carried out to identify any potential sources of harm to the children, are recorded in writing and are regularly reviewed (NMS 10.8)  ensure the deputy of the registered person of the home (or the person designated to deputise for the registered person in his/her absence) has at least one year's relevant supervisory experience. (NMS 17.4)

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