Children's Home run by Kirklees Council in Kirklees

Unique reference number SC033367 Inspection date 05/03/2012 Inspector Ann-Marie Born Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 02/11/2011 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

The children's home is provided by a local authority and cares for up to six young people who are vulnerable, and for different reasons are unable to live with their families.

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Progress

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

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Progress

This interim inspection has focused on the progress made by the home since their last full inspection in November 2011, at which they were judged to be good. Three recommendations were raised and all have been met.

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Progress

Young people report that they feel safe, happy and 'cared for' in the home. The committed new manager and enthusiastic staff team view education as a priority. Young people each have a personal education plan and those not attending school have appropriate education and training programmes. This ensures that young people are supported and enabled to resume full time education while enhancing their social skills and increasing confidence. One young person's attendance at school increased from 13% to 100% following their admittance to the home.

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Progress

Information supplied in the children's guide and available within the home ensures that young people know how to contact a range of independent advocates, including their independent reviewing officer, the Children's Rights Director and Ofsted. This empowers young people and provides avenues for them to raise any areas of concern. However, although young people know and understand the home's complaint procedures, complaints are not recorded in a log kept for the purpose. As a result the home is missing opportunities to identify patterns or trends and gain young people's views on outcomes thereby having a detrimental effect on young people's feelings of well-being.

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Progress

Young people thrive within the caring and supportive atmosphere provided by the nurturing staff team. A comprehensive re-decoration programme is planned to make the building more 'homely'. Regular maintenance and system checks ensure young people's welfare is protected. Nevertheless, full fire drill and evacuation procedures are not practiced enough, therefore young people are not fully safeguarded.

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Progress

There has been an increase in young people going missing from the home. Robust missing children protocols are followed well and conscientious staff make every effort to find and maintain contact with young people when they are absent from the home. In addition, reports by some young people that they feel 'picked on' by other residents are comprehensively addressed by the manager. Young people's care plans include strategies to prevent missing episodes and bullying and to promote positive behaviours. However, young people have not signed to say they have seen and understood their care plans. Nor is it evident that key workers are implementing these plans in the day-to-day care of young people. These omissions have the potential to have a negative effect on young people's behaviours and their attachment to and investment in the home.

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Progress

Staff are well trained in the use of any physical interventions and restraint is only used as a last resort to protect the young person. However, young people are not being fully safeguard as they are not offered the opportunity to be examined by a medical practitioner following a restraint. Sanctions are used effectively with young people to improve behaviours and they report they understand why sanctions are imposed. Nevertheless, young people's views are not always recorded following any episode of restraint or receipt of a sanction therefore opportunities to capture their wishes and feelings are being missed.

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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 that a written record is kept of any complaint in a log specifically for the purpose. The written record is to include the action taken in response to the complaint, the outcome of the any investigation and the complainant's response to the outcome. (Regulation 24.5) 16/04/2012

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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 there has been a physical restraint young people are always given the opportunity to be examined by a registered nurse or medical practitioner and that the home can call on medical assistance as required (NMS 3.16)  ensure that young people are encouraged to have their views recorded in the records kept in the home following any sanction, disciplinary measure or restraint (NMS 3.18)  ensure that there is an emergency escape plan, including a full evacuation, that young people are familiar with and have practised at different times of day and night so they know what to do in an emergency (NMS 10.9)  ensure that young people have seen and understand, within their level of understanding, the purpose and content of their plan and the reasoning behind any decisions about their care (NMS 25.1)  ensure that each young person's placement plan is monitored by a key worker who implements the requirements of the plan in the day-to-day care of that

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