Children's Home run by Stockton Borough Council in Stockton-on-Tees

Unique reference number SC442886 Inspection date 29/08/2012 Inspector Steve Pearson Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 15/03/2012 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

The children's home is registered to care for up to four young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties. The registered provider is a local authority.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service of high quality 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 adequate .

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Overall effectiveness

This is the first inspection of the home since it started operating five months ago.

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Overall effectiveness

The Registered Manager and staff have had a challenging time since the home opened. The team of staff have come together well and the Registered Manager and deputy have led the team effectively.

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Overall effectiveness

While some children have been unsettled, outcomes particularly in education have been positive.

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Overall effectiveness

The staff have often had to restrain children to keep them safe. There are some minor shortfalls in the information recorded about restraints.

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Overall effectiveness

The monitoring of the quality of care is not fully effective and this is limiting the capacity for self-improvement.

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Overall effectiveness

Three requirements and three recommendations have been made at this inspection.

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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) record all the necessary information when documenting the use of any measure of restraint in the volume kept for this purpose. The details to be recorded here must include the name and signature of the author of the record (Regulation 17B) 29/08/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the system for monitoring the matters set out in Schedule 6 provides for consultation with each child's placing authority (Regulation 34 (3)) 31/10/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) maintain a system for monitoring the matters set out in Schedule 6 and improving the quality of care. This means that when assessing the completion of previous recommendations, the assessment does actually evaluate those recommendations. (Regulation 34(1)(b)) 31/10/2012

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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 records kept in the children's home regarding CRB Disclosures conducted on members of staff describe the level of the Disclosure and the outcome of the check including whether the individual is barred (NMS 16.3)  ensure that the home's record of CRB information includes the date when each check was completed and who carried out the check (NMS 16.4)  take action to address any issue of concern that is identified or raised in the external visitor's reports. In particular this means reinforcement of the framework around the front door. (NMS 21.9)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are adequate .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Children generally have positive relationships with each other and with the staff, although some very challenging behaviour can have a negative impact on the quality of life for some young people. The registered persons respond to such behaviour appropriately and they recognise that the long term welfare of all young people living in the home is of primary importance.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Children gain a sense of identity and esteem through being able to take part in leisure activities and hobbies that they are personally interested in. They also gain a clearer sense of identity through taking part in life history work with the staff.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Children gain positive emotional and physical health. One young person said in a survey, 'the staff help me with my condition and it is getting better.' Children also have good attendance at school and have made satisfactory attainment in the five months that the home has been operating. Children have made successful transitions from junior to senior schools.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Children also benefit from regular contact with their family and friends. If necessary the staff provide supervision of contact and social workers appreciate the written reports of how contact sessions have been. When asked, 'What is good about this children's home' one young person said 'contact with my relative.'

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Quality of care

Children are fully involved in decisions about the running of the home and they have a full say in the content of their care plans. The staff hold a house meeting every two weeks and children's suggestions are considered and implemented when appropriate. Children confirmed in their surveys that they know how to complain if necessary. The Registered Manager responds appropriately when complaints are received and they implement appropriate actions when complaints are upheld.

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Quality of care

The Registered Manager and staff ensure that young people have information about how to stay healthy and they are successful in helping young people to gain positive health through specialist treatment as necessary. Children visit health professionals on a regular basis and they receive regular support and oversight by a nurse for looked after children.

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Quality of care

Children also benefit from a wide range of stimulating leisure activities which also involve physical exercise to keep them fit. Several young people said in their surveys, 'the best thing about the home is the activities we go on.'

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Quality of care

The staff are also effective in promoting children's education. The home receives a weekly newspaper written for young people, there is a wide range of books and children have access to their own computer.

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Quality of care

The home is generally well-maintained and the staff try to ensure damage is repaired as soon as possible.

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Quality of care

The staff care for children in line with their care plans and these plans are comprehensive and up to date. Pre admission procedures are also thorough to ensure that the mix of children living in the home is appropriate.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is adequate at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The staff have to restrain some children quite often due to very challenging behaviour and sometimes they have to call on police assistance. In a survey, one young person said, 'the use of restraint is very reasonable'. The staff issue sanctions to young people for unacceptable behaviour and also reward them to promote positive behaviour. The home's incentive system is starting to show very positive effects and some young people have made significant achievements. There is not full accountability for the use of restraints because the name and signature of the author of the reports is not being recorded.

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Safeguarding children and young people

In surveys children say, 'I feel safe.' Some children feel negatively affected by the behaviour of others and appropriate measures have been implemented in response to this.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Children rarely go missing and the staff carry out appropriate procedures if this does happen and all the necessary information is recorded.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The premises are maintained in a safe condition. A system is in place for regular professional servicing of electrical equipment, gas appliances and equipment for preventing, detecting and extinguishing fires. Risk assessments on hazards that may affect children are in place.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Appropriate arrangements are in place which help to ensure that staff recruited to work with young people are suitable. All staff must have a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check before they can work in the home. The information held about these checks does not provide for full accountability because all the necessary details are not being recorded.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are adequate .

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Leadership and management

The home is managed effectively and the Registered Manager is appropriately qualified and experienced. The new staff team have developed together positively while having to respond to some very challenging behaviour from children. The staff feel supported and they receive regular formal and informal supervision from the Registered Manager and deputy manager.

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Leadership and management

The home has a clear Statement of Purpose and the staff team are meeting the aims and objectives described in this document. Children receive an informative children's guide when they come to live in the home.

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Leadership and management

The home is resourced appropriately and an annual development plan is in place which considers longer term development of the service. The staffing levels are appropriate and the Registered Manager increases the number of staff if circumstances make this necessary. This helps to promote the safety and welfare of the children.

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Leadership and management

The staff undertake a comprehensive package of induction training when they first come to work at the home. They also receive training in a wide range of subjects and undertake qualifications in caring for children. This helps to ensure they are suitably skilled and knowledgeable.

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Leadership and management

The quality of care is monitored on a regular basis. Shortfalls in the effectiveness of this monitoring is limiting the capacity to improve. Once a month the Registered Manager assesses a range of factors required by legislation. They then produce a written report highlighting any shortfalls in provision and any actions to be taken to address them. The reports do not show evidence of what social workers who have placed children in the home think about the quality of care. Their opinions are important in identifying issues that may need addressing.

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Leadership and management

The structure of these reports provides for consideration of recommendations made in the previous report in order to check they have been met. Sometimes the recommendations made at the end of one month are not the same as those assessed the next month. Consequently, such checking of progress is ineffective.

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Leadership and management

In accordance with legislation, an external person also visits the home once a month to assess the quality of care. These reports cover the necessary range of information and provide good focus on children's progress. The visitor makes recommendations when necessary but these are not always carried out in a timely manner.

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Leadership and management

Information about the children is stored securely in the home. The Registered Manager ensures that statutory reviews of children's care takes place at appropriate intervals. In surveys, children said, 'I am helped to take part in meetings about me.' The staff confirmed that children can read their records, as appropriate, and can add their own comments if they want to. This helps children feel valued and respected.

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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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