Lincolnshire Secure Unit

Unique reference number SC042921 Inspection date 10/05/2012 Inspector Shaun Common / Graham Robinson Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Secure Unit

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Date of last inspection 14/12/2011 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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Brief description of the service

This secure children's home is managed by a local authority with education provided on site. It is approved by the Department for Education to restrict young people's liberty. The home provides accommodation for up to 12 young people. Admission of any young person over the age of 10 but under 13 years of age requires the approval of the Secretary of State.

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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 Adequate : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

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Overall effectiveness

Young people receive good quality care. They have individualised care plans that are monitored and delivered in practice by a skilled, qualified and well trained staff team. This results in young people having positive outcomes.

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Overall effectiveness

The views and wishes of young people are very much part of, and considered, in the day-to-day running of the home. They have good relationships with staff and managers as well as access to a range of professionals who support them with their needs.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people state they are safe and feel safe. A range of systems, processes, policies and procedures are delivered in practice by staff and monitored by managers, which ensures good safeguards are in place for young people. Any shortfalls are quickly identified and addressed by managers to ensure improvement in the quality of care.

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Overall effectiveness

Some areas for improvement have been identified to include: consultation with parents, young people and placing authorities when monitoring takes place by the manager; recording more clearly the quality of the matters monitored; sending Ofsted a summary report of monitoring that takes place; develop procedures for the searching of communal areas; and further develop the absconding procedures.

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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 system for monitoring the matters set out in Schedule 6 provides for consultation with children, their parents and placing authorities. (Regulation 34(3)) 30/06/2012

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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

 further develop the missing from home procedure so it is fully compatible with, and has regard to, Runaway and Missing from Home and Care (RMFHC) protocols and procedures maintained and managed by the police or by the local authority for the area where the home is located and from each commissioning authority (NMS 5.6 and Volume 5, statutory guidance, para 2.81)  ensure that reports of the monitoring of matters set out in Schedule 6 contain recording about the quality of the matters monitored that will enable the provider to identify any trends and issues of concern so that all those involved in running and working in the home can continually improve the quality of care they are providing (Volume 5, statutory guidance, para 3.14)  ensure that summary reports of regulation 34 monitoring are sent to Ofsted every six months and within 28 days of completion (Volume 5, statutory guidance, para 3.14)  ensure the home has a policy regarding regular security searches of communal

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Recommendations

areas that is agreed with the Local Safeguarding Children Board. (NMS 23)

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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

The ethos of the unit, coupled with routines and working practices, are both directive and supportive of young people, encouraging them towards setting and achieving personal goals. Young people recognise they are well supported by staff, which assists them to develop stability in their lives and go on to prosper socially and educationally.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The arrangements to promote and improve young people’s health are good. As well as young people having daily access to services that address their day-to-day health needs, the unit provides immediate access to more specialised services. From a young person’s perspective, services ensure their physical, emotional and psychological health needs are well met and positively promoted.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people have varied opinions regarding the quality and quantity of food served. Meals are taken in a recently expanded and refurbished dining area, giving young people the experience of mealtimes being pleasant and social occasions. Senior staff monitor the quality of food. They are in regular dialogue with the caterers with the aim of continued improvement. Special dietary and cultural requirements are noted at the point of admission and catered for appropriately. Attention is paid to healthy eating with input to the menus from a nutritionist which ensures a balanced diet is provided for young people.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are encouraged to improve their lifestyle through exercise, diet and education. They are provided with information and given support and encouragement to address issues such as tobacco, drug and alcohol misuse. As a result, young people enjoy improvement in their general health and fitness levels.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people engage positively with their education, with high aims and expectations being evident from staff. Young people speak positively about education. For example, one young person described the good support given by staff in preparation for undertaking a range of GCSEs. The ethos, practice and morning routines of the unit are geared towards preparing young people for school. As a result attendance levels are high which helps young people to make good progress.

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Outcomes for children and young people

As young people settle into the unit they are helped to reflect on the factors and circumstances behind their admission to secure care. Both group work and individualised programmes allow young people to move forward, gain positive experiences and develop greater self-confidence and self-esteem.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff give young people opportunities to contribute positively to both the unit and wider community through a range of initiatives. For example, the unit operates a successful scheme where young people in danger of becoming admitted to the secure estate, visit the unit and are mentored by young people who are resident. This scheme has had considerable success in diverting those at risk away from potential admission. This positive contribution made by the young people who reside in the home gives them a sense of pride and achievement.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from contact with family and other people important to them. Positive feedback received from visitors shows that the unit works flexibly and energetically to facilitate and promote regular contact. Visitors say they are made to feel welcome and are put at ease by the warm response of staff. This contributes significantly to making contact visits a positive experience for all concerned.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The unit plans well for young people’s transition and their journey towards independent living and adult life. Planning commences when young people are admitted, with detailed plans put in place that are monitored and regularly reviewed. There is a clear commitment to deliver the best and most appropriate outcomes for young people as they move on.

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Quality of care

Young people, their family members and visiting professionals feel that the quality of care provided is good. The ethos and working practices of the unit are based on developing and maintaining positive relationships with young people, in which staff are skilled.

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from the good relationships and attachments they make with staff. Staff work positively with young people and communicate effectively with them. This results in young people experiencing a good standard of care in a trusting atmosphere, which leads them to engage with adults in a positive way.

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Quality of care

Good quality care plans clearly identify individual need. This includes identity, religious and cultural needs. Regular review, monitoring and updating of plans ensures young people’s needs are recognised and understood as they progress. Young people are well informed about their plans. As a result, young people look to their future with optimism and have a greater confidence in success when they leave.

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Quality of care

A range of planned and agreed strategies address individual needs effectively and encourage young people to settle and develop trust in the staff who work with them. Strategies are proactive and imaginative to meet the individual needs of a young person. For example, a priest visited the unit during the inspection to look at ways of how best to meet a young person's spiritual needs.

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Quality of care

Young people settle into the unit and invest in the routine of a more ordered lifestyle, allowing them to develop socially, emotionally and educationally. This in turn leads to them developing a more positive view of themselves and others, with significant improvement to their emotional resilience and knowledge.

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Quality of care

There are a range of forums in place for consulting young people. Young people confirm their views, wishes and feelings are actively sought by staff, allowing them to make choices and influence aspects of the units operation. For example, young people took an active role in the recent recruitment of staff and review of the incentive scheme. This gave them the experience of positive decision making, coupled with developing responsibility.

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Quality of care

Young people understand how to make a complaint and are confident to do so. They confirm they are given information about the procedure on admission. As well as a formal process, there is an informal system for raising minor concerns, which are responded to quickly by managers and give young people reassurance their worries are taken seriously and addressed. There have been no formal complaints since the last inspection. Although young people gave mixed responses about activities and leisure pursuits, they are provided with a wide range of activities on a daily basis. Good and varied programmes of activities are put into place during school holidays. Many are provided by people from outside the unit who have specialist skills or experiences that they share with young people. Young people benefit from a range of positive experiences, from which they gain skills that can be utilised further, following

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Quality of care

A tour of the premises shows the units location, design and size supports its purpose and function as a secure children’s home. Building work to expand facilities is ongoing. Appropriate service contracts, along with regular security and health and safety checks are in place. Young people understand what action to take in the event of fire. The standard of maintenance, décor, fixtures, fittings, furnishings and equipment are of a high standard, providing young people with a safe and relaxing environment. They can spend private time alone in their bedroom if they wish, which can be personalised to suit their personal tastes.

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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

Young people say they get on well with staff and have good relationships, which makes them feel safe and well cared for. They have access to advocacy services for independent support and advice.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There are very good systems in place to address risk and keep young people safe. For example, there are comprehensive risk management processes that address issues such as self-harm. This means that risk is robustly assessed and recorded. The information is shared with all relevant people and protective factors put in place for young people. This risk assessment process includes holding formal weekly reviews of all young people and more often where required. This ensures any presenting concerns are responded to quickly and efficiently to safeguard young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home has policy and procedures in place in relation to child protection, safeguarding children and anti-bullying, that staff are aware of and these help staff understand how to keep young people safe. There have been no allegations or child protection concerns since the last inspection. All historical concerns have been quickly and robustly addressed in liaison with relevant external and independent professionals. Young people stated they have no concerns or worries and feel safe at the home. They have not seen any bullying and feel staff would address any incident quickly if a problem arose. There are very strong and proactive relationships with the local authority designated officer (LADO) and the police. The Registered Manager is also a member of the Local Safeguarding Children Board. These links help to ensure that there is open and transparent practice at the unit that helps to protect and

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Safeguarding children and young people

There has been no absconding or absence without authority of young people since the last inspection. There is a procedure in place for such incidents that staff understand and helps them to keep young people safe. However, the procedure does not contain some of the matters set out in government guidance and local protocols so that staff practice is better supported.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are encouraged to develop socially acceptable behaviour. This is achieved through a combination of support from staff, who implement restorative practices and individualised behaviour management plans, the appropriate use of measures of control and through the use of an effective incentive scheme. The incentive scheme is clear and well understood by young people and they have been involved in its recent review. Young people feel they are treated fairly and equally. Since the review, the use of sanctions and single separation has reduced and young people have made good progress in developing positive social skills and behaviour. Young people engage in reparation and restorative practices, meaning they develop a deeper understanding of the effect that their behaviour and actions have on others. More positive behaviour has developed as a result. All sanctions and any use of single separation are recorded clearly and monitored by managers for their

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Safeguarding children and young people

The use of physical restraint is appropriate and fully recorded and staff practice is supported by a clear policy. When physical intervention is used, managers fully review the event including using closed-circuit television. This monitoring assists in identifying with staff where practice can be improved and reinforces areas of good practice. It also assists managers and external partners in identifying the rare cases where practice is not to the required standard so that appropriate action can be taken.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Searches are carried out of areas of the unit and are recorded in order that the availability of potentially dangerous items that could place young people at risk are minimised. However, searches are not always carried out to the frequency determined by the policy. The policy also does not include how routine searching of communal areas of the home should be carried out. The Registered Manager does however ensure that there is a risk assessed approach to searching in order to keep young people safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There is a clear process for the robust and safe recruitment of any new staff to ensure they are the right people to work with vulnerable children. There have been no new staff recruited since the last inspection. Young people have been involved in the recruitment of staff currently undergoing assessment for potential employment, which is commendable.

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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

The Statement of Purpose sets out very clearly the home's aims and objectives. This means parents, placing authorities and others know what services the home aims to provide and what to expect from the unit. The home has good relationships with neighbours and the local community. All care staff are all qualified. All staff have undertaken a range of fundamental, important and varied training that ensures they are skilled to meet the needs of the young people they look after appropriate to their role. For example, as well as mandatory training in child protection, first aid and fire safety, staff have undertaken training in attachment theory, substance abuse and child development. Staff stated they are very well supported by the Registered Manager to attain further and higher qualifications relevant to their work, such as degree level studies.

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Leadership and management

Staff are sufficient in number to care for young people and are they are well supported. They receive regular formal supervision and appraisal. The staff team is not yet up to full compliment and some vacancies exist following reorganisation within the local authority. However, some new staff are being recruited to start work at the home in the near future, which will mean better support and care for young people.

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Leadership and management

Health and safety matters are very well managed and monitored to ensure young people are safe at the home. For example, full and regular maintenance takes place of fire systems, electrical and gas appliances and installations.

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Leadership and management

External monitoring of the home in the form of monthly visits by an independent person are good. These visits examine a range of matters and help managers to make further improvements that benefit young people.

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Leadership and management

Internal monitoring by the Registered Manager also takes place each month and covers all required matters. However a six month summary report has not been sent to Ofsted. The monitoring carried out by the manager helps to ensure that young people are safe and are cared for appropriately. The manager produces an internal report to show the range of matters covered. Although this system and process covers what is required, the reports do not always evidence the quality of the matters monitored and evaluate the full extent to which the provision is delivering quality care and positive outcomes for young people. A range of consultation processes are in place at the home. However, the internal monitoring process does not include the views of young people, parents and placing authorities about the matters monitored. It is therefore not clear how these are used to help drive forward improvements to the service. A clear development plan is in place that identifies the

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Leadership and management

current position of the home and objectives for the future in order to improve the care provided and the outcomes for young people.

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Leadership and management

There is effective leadership and management of the home supported by clear evidence trails and most recording systems. This means the home is well run and delivers positive outcomes for young people. Managers keep up to date with new developments in secure care and social care practices to help them drive forward service improvement for young people's benefit. Areas for improvement are quickly and fully addressed. A statutory requirement was made at the last inspection, to ensure that sanction records include the effectiveness of the measure and that single separation is not recorded as a sanction. This matter has been fully addressed and evidences that sanctions imposed help young people to develop positive behaviour and records are kept as required.

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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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