Children's Home run by Keys Direct Care Limited in Lincolnshire

Unique reference number SC419429 Inspection date 18/09/2013 Inspector Tracy Murty Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 30/05/2013 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 can accommodate up to four young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home provides single sex occupancy placements only.

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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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Progress

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

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Progress

At the last full inspection undertaken in May 2013, the overall effectiveness of the service was judged as adequate. Five requirements and three recommendations were made as a result of that inspection. The home has failed to address one requirement and has not met any of the recommendations made at the last inspection. The quality of care and outcomes for young people have declined since the last full inspection.

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Progress

There are now sufficient lavatories for young people to have access to. Staff now have suitable storage facilities for clothing and personal items within the home. The Registered Manager has devised and implemented a new system for the daily monitoring of all perishable food items by staff. Repairs have been made to furniture items and carpets have been cleaned.

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Progress

The home has failed to ensure that there is suitable sleeping accommodation for staff working in the home. It is apparent that staff continue to sleep in communal areas of the home. Whilst plans are in place to address this in the near future, no satisfactory interim arrangements have been put in place to ensure that staff do not sleep in communal areas. This undermines the ability of young people to have full access to such areas during the night.

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Progress

The monitoring of complaints made by young people is not robust and young people are not routinely provided with clear or consistent feedback. Records do not reflect that young people's views on how complaints have been dealt with have been sought and if they are satisfied with the outcome. Records do not reflect the timescales taken to address all complaints clearly or consistently.

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Progress

Not all relevant events have been notified to Ofsted, these include allegations against members of staff. Allegations against members of staff have not routinely been reported by the designated person to the local authority designated officer (LADO). Records held do not reflect how allegations have been followed up, what action has been taken or decisions reached. This could impact on the safety of young people living at the home.

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Progress

Staff do not have the necessary skills or competence to deal with issues of bullying within the home. Young people who report bullying as an issue do not receive consistent or suitable support from the staff team to ensure that such behaviours are eradicated. Key work sessions do not reflect the seriousness of the concerns or reflect work done with either victims or perpetrators in a planned manner. The Registered Manager has failed to follow the bullying policy within the home to ensure that such issues are addressed appropriately and in a timely manner. Staff have not received training in relation to bullying. Young people report that more work needs to be done by staff to prevent bullying occurring within the home.

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Progress

Whilst some young people engage in their educational placements, others have poor attendance and engagement over a sustained period of time. The staff team has not ensured that young people make use of educational facilities and the routine of the home has not been organised in order to further young people's participation in education. Internal guidance relating to the consequences of young people not attending educational placements has not been followed by the staff team.

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Progress

Some young people do not routinely engage in appropriate leisure activities and have also taken part in activities which could have placed them at risk of injury. Weekly planners completed for some young people do not refer to any appropriate leisure activities being put in place. This reduces their social opportunities or ability to engage in the local and wider community.

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Progress

Vehicle checks have not been undertaken at the stated frequency by the staff team. Records do not reflect if identified repair works have been carried out. This could place young people and staff at risk of serious injury when travelling in the home's vehicles. Some young people were also noted to have engaged in activities during this inspection, which could pose a risk to their health and safety. Staff had not ensured appropriate supervision of such activities.

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Progress

The Statement of Purpose for the home does not state the number, qualifications and experience of staff working at the home and does not reflect the current staffing position within the home. A copy of the most recent Statement of Purpose including staff details has not been provided to Ofsted.

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Progress

The Registered Manager has failed to ensure that monitoring systems improve the quality of care for young people in the home. This is in relation to the previously stated concerns about persistent bullying, lack of staff training, vehicle checks and engagement in education and leisure activities for young people. The quality of care received by young people and outcomes for them has been undermined as a result of the lack of robust monitoring by the Registered Manager.

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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 there us suitable sleeping accommodation for staff working in the home which does not necessitate them sleeping in communal areas of the home (Regulation 31(10(b)) 26/10/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that a written record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of the investigation. This is also with reference to the need to ensure that the person making the complaint is formally told of the outcome and their comments recorded (Regulation 24(5)) 26/10/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that if any of the events listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 5 takes place, the registered person shall without delay notify the persons indicated in respect of the event in column 2 of the table (Regulation 30(1)) 26/10/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that all persons employed receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal. This is with specific reference to the need for all staff to receive training in relation to bullying and harassment (Regulation 27(4)(a)) * 26/10/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the children made use of educational facilities appropriate to their age, aptitude, needs, interests and potential (Regulation 18(1)(a)(b)) 26/10/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that children accommodated at the home are encouraged to develop and pursue appropriate leisure interests and are provided with appropriate leisure facilities and activities (Regulation 18(2)(a)(b)) 26/10/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) compile in relation to the children's home a written statement (in these Regulations referred to as "the statement of purpose") which shall consist of a statement as to the matters listed in Schedule 1. This is with specific reference to the need to provide details of the number, relevant qualifications and 26/10/2013 experience of staff working in the home (Regulation 4(1)Schedule 1(5))

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that any activities in which children participate are so far as reasonably practicable free from avoidable risks (Regulation 23(b)) 26/10/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) prepare and implement a written policy for the prevention of bullying in the children's home, which shall in particular set out the procedure for dealing with any allegation of bullying (Regulation 16(4)(a)) * 26/10/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) establish and maintain a system for improving the quality of care provided in the children's home (Regulation 34(1)(b)) 26/10/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the prompt referral to the local authority in whose area the children's home is situated, any allegation of abuse or neglect affecting any child accommodated in the children's home. This is with specific reference to contacting the Local Authority Designated Officer. (Regulation 16(2)(b)) 26/10/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice

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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 a clear and comprehensive summary of any allegations made against a particular member of staff, including details of how the allegation has been followed up and resolved, a record of any action taken and the decisions reached, is kept on the person's confidential file and a copy is provided to the person as soon as the investigation is concluded. (NMS 20.7)

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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.

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