Children's Home run by Action for Children Services Ltd in Buckinghamshire

Unique reference number SC424103 Inspection date 25/01/2012 Inspector Emeline Evans Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 09/08/2011 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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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 is a short-breaks service run by a national charitable childcare organisation. The home accommodates up to six children and young people with disabilities. The young people’s needs range from moderate to severe learning disabilities with associated physical, health and sensory impairment and/or complex multiple needs.

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Progress

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

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Progress

The home was judged as good at the last inspection in August 2011 with four requirements made and three recommendations for areas identified for improvement.

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Progress

The manager has complied with the requirement made at the last inspection to ensure a volume is kept for the use of any measures of control, restraint or discipline. New systems have been introduced to the home, which now ensure all recording is in line with legislation. The system in place cross-references to all incidents involving the young person in the home. There have not been any restraints since the last inspection. If a restraint was to be used this would be inputted into a secure computer database. This is a robust process of which staff are aware and ensures that effective monitoring and recording is taking place. There is a comprehensive volume kept to record any sanctions imposed in the home; this record allows staff to monitor the effectiveness of behaviour management programmes.

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Progress

At the last inspection, children’s records were highlighted as an area to be addressed. In particular, this related to ensuring that documents and records relating to young people are kept up to date. A file audit has now been introduced to the home. This process ensures monitoring of children’s files routinely takes place. Therefore, children’s records are relevant and contain current information. However, the result of statutory reviews are not recorded on children’s files, therefore, individual responsibilities for pursuing actions are not clearly identified. Young people’s individual risk assessments are comprehensive and identify the high level of supervision that the young people require; this ensures that they are kept safe within the home and when accessing the community.

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Progress

The home was asked to comply with the fire service audit relating to fire door closures on bedrooms. The doors have all been fitted with door closures. This is reflected in the current fire risk assessment and ensures that the fire safety of the building is not compromised. Since the last inspection, building work to extend the home has commenced. The current risk assessment of the children’s environment does not sufficiently address these additional hazards and, therefore, risks have not been fully explored. Staff demonstrate detailed verbal knowledge of the young people’s individual risks, however, staff are unable to refer to current building risk assessments. Regular fire alarm tests and drills take place and are recorded. However, the current fire evacuation plan does not take into account the interim fire escape route while building work is taking place.

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Progress

Since the last inspection, the Registered Manager has undertaken training to enhance her present skills and experience. This has included safeguarding training, medication updates and specific management training. This has led to the sharing of knowledge with staff to improve the quality of care provided by the service.

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Progress

The children’s guide has recently been reviewed. This has resulted in a guide that is appropriate to the young people presently accessing the service and contains all the relevant information. The children’s guide supports young people to understand the aims of the home and what it is like for a young person accessing the service.

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Progress

The Registered Manager formally reviews Schedule 6 items on a regular basis. This is resulting in a strategic overview and an awareness of key issues in the home. The Regulation 34 reports do not indicate that routine consultation with the young people and parents takes place. Therefore, a requirement has been raised to ensure this information is documented.

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Progress

Young people have good relationships with the care staff and they respond well to the consistent encouragement received. Young people describe the staff as ‘brilliant’ and parents comment, ‘we are able to relax knowing he is safe and sound.’ The care provided for the young people is good and they are benefiting from a stable staff team. Young people know how to make a complaint and young people express their confidence in taking issues to staff. However, the home does not have a sufficiently robust system for logging complaints. This shortfall of an effective system does not allow the service to take account of, and learn from, complaints and worries raised.

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Progress

There is a commitment from the management and staff in the home to improve outcomes for young people; staff have positive and realistic aspirations for young people. Young people benefit from a homely environment, although there are some areas identified that are in need of decoration and repair. The Registered Manager is aware of the maintenance work to be undertaken. Young people are positive about the quality of care they receive and describe the home ‘as fun.’ Young people know and understand what is expected of them. As a result, young people continue to receive structured care which is based on their individual identified needs.

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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 a written record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of the investigation (Regulation 24 (5)) 29/02/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the monitoring arrangements under Regulation 34 provide for consultation with children, their parents and placing authorities and that the report made under this regulation is supplied to HMCI. (Regulation 34 (2) (3)) 31/03/2012

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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 home provides a comfortable and homely environment and is well maintained and decorated ((NMS 10.3)  ensure risk assessments of the whole of the children's home environment are carried out, to identify any potential sources of harm to the children, are recorded in writing and regularly reviewed (NMS 10.8)  ensure there is an up-to-date emergency escape plan that all staff and children are familiar with (NMS 10.9)  ensure the results of all statutory reviews are recorded on the children's files. (NMS 25.8)

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