Children's Home run by Action for Children in Hertfordshire

Unique reference number SC426172 Inspection date 28/08/2013 Inspector Natalie Burton Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 25/01/2013 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

The service is managed by a large charitable organisation. It provides short breaks for up to six children with learning difficulties and/or physical disabilities

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 inadequate progress .

p.3

Progress

At the last inspection in January 2013, the overall rating for the service was judged as adequate, with six requirements and three recommendations set within the inspection report.

p.3

Progress

The service has addressed five requirements and one recommendation raised at the previous inspection. Notifications of significant events are sent to the appropriate authorities and people without delay. These include details of the action taken following the incident. This ensures effective sharing of informing. The provider has kept Ofsted and staff informed with timely copies of external monthly visits. As a result, the Registered Manager has sufficient time to take action to address any issues of concern the report identifies. The service has made suitable arrangements for the safe administration of medication. For example, the manager has implemented a controlled drugs book. All medication that is administered is now being recorded appropriately.

p.3

Progress

Staff and management have improved the service by ensuring the storage of food is now in line with the organisation’s policy. Therefore, potential hazards to young people’s health and safety have been addressed. A requirement in relation to the need to provide a well maintained and decorated homely environment has been addressed by the provider, and in addition, a new maintenance recording system has been implemented. This ensures that when a repair is needed within the home, there is a clear record of when it is fixed. As a result, young people live in a well maintained and decorated homely environment. The service provides a sufficient number of staff to care for young people. In addition, the service has a contingency plan in place, to have available bank workers in the event of a shortfall in staffing levels. As a result, there are sufficient staff to meet the needs of the young people.

p.3

Progress

The manager has established a system for monthly monitoring within the home; however, the system does not improve the quality of care provided. Internal monthly monitoring has not identified concerns in this report. In addition, the system lacks consultation with children, parents and placing authorities. This fails to provide children with an opportunity to feed back about the quality of service that they receive. In addition, a recommendation regarding monitoring of the records by the manager is only partially met. The Registered Manager has implemented a system for shift leaders to ensure they check records as part of their daily tasks. However, shortfalls identified are not followed through by the manager. For example, staff involved in incidents and restraints are not provided with a debrief. As a result, staff are not provided with an opportunity to discuss the incident or helped to understand

p.4

Progress

and manage their own feelings. The service’s internal monitoring is weak, and there is a lack of immediate action to address issues raised.

p.4

Progress

During this inspection a number of concerns were raised. Records of measures of control lack detail. For example, the required recording does not include the effectiveness of the measure of control used. This means that young people are not assisted to make changes to their behaviour. Not all staff have received first aid training. This does not ensure that at least one member of staff on duty, in particular during the night, can meet the basic first aid needs of young people. The service does not have a development plan. As a result, this has a negative impact on its capacity to improve. Some staff within the service have not attained a minimum level 3 qualification. This is because the service has not provided staff with the professional training to achieve this. As a result, young people are looked after by some staff who are not fully equipped with the skills and knowledge required to fully meet their needs.

p.4

Progress

Since the last inspection young people have been part of the recruitment process within the service. This provides managers with a young person’s view of potential staff. The young people’s living environment is warm, comfortable and homely. Young people have accessed activities which meet their personal interests such as a safari park, Aqua splash and have been on meals out. Staff have further developed placement plans to have more achievable targeted outcomes for young people.

p.4

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.

p.5

Reg. Requirement Due date

17B (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 the purpose (Regulation 17B (3)(a-i)) 04/10/2013

p.5

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that at all times, at least one person on duty at the children’s home has a suitable first aid qualification. (Regulation 20 (2)(e)) 25/10/2013

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 staff are supported to manage their responses and feelings arising from working with children, particularly where children display challenging behaviour or have difficult emotional issues (NMS 3.10)  have a written development plan, reviewed annually, for the future of the home (NMS 15.2)  ensure that all existing staff have attained a minimum level 3 qualification. (NMS 18.5)

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