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

Unique reference number SC059717 Inspection date 07/03/2012 Inspector Wendy Anderson Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 05/12/2011 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The home 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 home currently accommodates girls only, and provides short-term and long-term placements. The home is registered to care for six young people.

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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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Progress

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

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Progress

The overall quality rating for this service was judged as satisfactory at the full inspection undertaken on 5th December 2011. At that inspection seven requirements and four recommendations were made. Of these, three requirements and one recommendation have been met. One of the recommendations relating to information stored on staff personnel file is carried over to the next key inspection as this information is not held at the home but at the organisation’s headquarters.

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Progress

The requirements that have been met now ensure there is a system for monitoring the matters set out in Schedule 6 on a monthly basis which monitors the work undertaken at the home. The risk assessments have now been reviewed and updated, and an environmental risk assessment has been completed. The home now has a sufficient number of suitably qualified, competent and experience staff, and newly appointed staff are not left in sole charge of the home. The one recommendation which has been met ensures that all staff sign and date all the records at the home. The home’s Statement of Purpose has been updated since the last inspection but this does still not include information fire precautions and associated emergency procedures, arrangements for contact between young people and their parents, or a description of electronic or mechanical means of surveillance used in the children's home

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Progress

The requirements which have not been met are that there is no evidence of actions made by the Regulation 33 visitor being acted upon. There is also evidence in the recent Regulation 33 reports of shortfalls being identified in the report but no action being made. The current Regulation 33 format at the home provides space for actions to be raised and then an action plan to be made by the manager in light of these actions. These are not being used consistently. Records related to fire checks and drills continue to be incomplete. Such actions could place young people at risk. Staff are still not receiving supervision or appraisals at the required intervals. This could lead to inconsistency in working methods and issues/concerns being left unaddressed.

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Progress

Recommendations which have not been met concern the descriptions of the behaviours young peoples have exhibited which have led to incidents, sanctions and restraints. As well as this, since the last inspection, staff have failed to complete the restraint logs. One of the senior staff has transferred this information in the last few weeks. Due to the poor/lack of recording in these records, it is not possible to deduce if restraints or sanction where responded to appropriately. The young people at the home do not have current personal education plans.

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Progress

The notification of significant events are not being sent to Ofsted within the required timescales. These notifications do not contain clear description of events or information related to individual protocols which are in place for some of the young people placed at the home. These gaps of information again provide insufficient evidence on which to make sound judgements which can affect the timing of inspections.

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Progress

Since the last inspection the Registered Manager has had a period of absence. During this period the management tasks do not appear to have been reassigned. This has had a negative impact on the day-to-day management of the home, the monitoring of records, and the actions being taken in light of the last inspection. Information to support the inspection process is lacking. The staff are unclear as to where information is and the organisation of some files is poor. These shortfalls in management practice do not ensure that there is consistent care for the young people.

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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 Statement of Purpose consists of a statement as to the matters listed in Schedule 1 (Regulation 4 (1) Schedule 1 (19, 20, 23) 30/04/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the Regulation 33 report identifies shortfalls in the areas they are required to inspect and actions made by the Regulation 33 visitor are implemented (Regulation 33 (1, 4.) 30/04/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure there are adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment and provide adequate means of escape. In particular ensure comprehensive records of fire related checks in this provision are maintained (Regulation 32 (1 (a, b) ) 30/04/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure staff receive appropriate supervision and appraisal (Regulation27 (4 (a)) 30/04/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the registered person maintains in respect of each child who is accommodated in a children's home, a record in permanent form which includes the information, documentation and records specified in Schedule 3, in particular pathway plans (Regulation 28 (a) ) 30/04/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) 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 this purpose. In particular this includes a clear description of the behaviour which has led to the incident, sanction or restraint (Regulations 17, 17A (3) ) 30/04/2012

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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. In particular the notification needs to be detailed and include reference to individual protocols for young people. (Regulation 30 (1) ) 30/04/2012

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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 that where staff have lived or worked overseas information is obtained from the appropriate authority as to their suitability to work with children and young people. (NMS 16.3)

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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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