Children's Home run by Action for Children in Northumberland

Unique reference number SC000673 Inspection date 07/02/2013 Inspector Shaun Common Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 17/10/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

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.

p.2

Brief description of the service

This children's home is operated by a national voluntary organisation. It offers short- break care and accommodation for up to ten children with a learning disability, including one place for use in emergencies.

p.3

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.

p.3

Progress

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

p.3

Progress

At the last inspection in October 2012, the overall effectiveness rating was judged good.

p.3

Progress

Three requirements and one recommendation were made following the last inspection. These have all been fully addressed. Two new areas for improvement have been raised as part of this inspection.

p.3

Progress

At the last inspection, the registered persons were required to ensure that records of sanctions and restraints are in formats that cannot be tampered with after the event. Due to the nature of the young people's needs, sanctions are never used. A record has been designed and implemented for recording any physical restraint of a young person. This record is in a bound and numbered book and is tamper proof. The record contains all required information. This ensures young people's information is kept safe and their rights promoted.

p.3

Progress

The registered person was also asked to ensure that the Statement of Purpose includes all required matters. This has been fully addressed. The Statement of Purpose now contains a good range of information about the home and the services it provides, which is beneficial to parents, placing authorities and relevant professionals.

p.3

Progress

A further requirement was made that the registered person's system for monitoring and improving the quality of care, provides for consultation with placing authorities. This has been fully addressed. Reports of monitoring that have taken place demonstrate that consultation takes place with placing social workers. This ensures that the views of relevant stakeholders are obtained, listened to and used to make improvements to the quality of care provided to young people.

p.4

Progress

A recommendation was made at the last inspection that the practice of using electronic key fobs on external doors is fully reviewed, agreed and risk assessed so that restrictions for one child do not impose similar restrictions on other children. The manager has reviewed this practice with the staff team. Risk assessments have been carried out for each young person and are recorded clearly. They show the need for any restrictions and how these are used to keep young people safe. Risk assessments are individualised and take account of each young person's needs and abilities.

p.4

Progress

Since the last inspection, progress has been made in other areas and these have enhanced the quality of care provided to young people and promoted positive outcomes. More frequent consultation meetings with parents have been arranged and have taken place. These meetings have also developed into a group for parents to get together and share information and provide each other with support and advice. This consultation process assists the home to attain parent's views regularly. These views in turn are used to improve and further develop the service for young people.

p.4

Progress

An inclusion representative visits the home regularly. They visit the home to engage with young people to attain their views independently about the care provided. This forum and the information gathered provides the manager with important information she can use to further develop the quality of service provided to young people.

p.4

Progress

Three staff have become in-house training officers. This means the staff team have access to specialist trainers who can provide advice and support as well as direct training to staff in matters such as health and safety, moving and handling, physical restraint, administration of medication and anti-bullying. This supports staff further in developing their skills and gives them access to knowledgeable people so they can improve their practice with children.

p.4

Progress

There are two areas for further improvement identified at this inspection. Some young people are unable to communicate their views when they have been physically restrained, due to the nature of their disabilities. Where this is the case, staff are recording that after an incident a health professional is 'not needed' to assess the young person or recording it is not applicable. Restraint records do not show that where a young person is not able to decide if they need to see a health professional, that parents or placing authorities are asked for their views or have been consulted about what the child may need or require.

p.4

Progress

Regular monitoring of the service takes place by the Registered Manager in order to assess and improve the care provided to young people. Monthly reports are written about this activity. However, a six-monthly summary report of such monitoring has not been developed or sent to Ofsted, so that Ofsted can continue to assess and evaluate the quality of care provided to children and young people.

p.5

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

p.5

Recommendations

 ensure that the home is conducted in a way that promotes the welfare of children accommodated; specifically, where young people are unable to communicate their needs and they have been physically restrained, that their parents or their placing authority are contacted for their views on whether the young person should been seen and assessed by a health professional (Volume 5, statutory guidance, paragraph 2.20 and 2.102)  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, paragraph 3.14)

p.5

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.

p.6

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.

p.6