Children's Home run by Blackpool Borough Council in Blackpool

Unique reference number SC033611 Inspector Jackie Line Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Blackpool Borough Council Registered person address Municipal Building PO Box 50 BLACKPOOL FY1 1NF Responsible individual Martin Birch Registered manager Judith Susan Green Date of last inspection 01/09/2014 2 of 7 Inspection date 25/02/2015

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Previous inspection adequate Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

This home was judged adequate at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has declined in effectiveness .

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This inspection

At the last full inspection, the overall effectiveness of the home was judged to be adequate. At this time, Ofsted asked the provider to address seven requirements and five recommendations. Although progress has been made in some areas identified for improvement, two out of seven requirements have not been met and two recommendations are yet to be addressed.

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This inspection

Internal and external monitoring arrangements are weak. This is because quality assurance systems in place are still not sufficiently robust to identify and act on shortfalls in the service. For example, the Registered Manager and independent visitor do not routinely monitor medication records to ensure that medication is being administered and recorded correctly. Moreover, there has been some difficulty in regulating the temperature within the medication room. The temperature has reached and exceeded 25 degrees on occasion, and this can interfere with the effectiveness of some medicines. This was said to be ‘in hand’ at the time of the last inspection, but to date no action has been taken to address this. Continued inaction has the potential to compromise young people’s health and welfare.

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This inspection

Quality assurance monitoring has failed to identify that staff supervision records still do not consistently reflect the time and length of supervision. Because this has not been sufficiently addressed, this recommendation is repeated.

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This inspection

Monitoring reports do not provide an evaluative picture of the effectiveness of the quality of care, the impact of the service on young people’s progress, or how young people are enabled to maximise their potential. Reports completed by the independent visitor are not always sent through to Ofsted in line with regulation, and this inhibits the regulator in undertaking their scrutiny role. Poor monitoring means that areas for development are not clearly identified and prioritised. This does not help to secure improvements in the home’s function or improve outcomes 3 of 7 for young people.

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This inspection

One safeguarding concern has been raised between inspections. Although information was shared with the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), there is no evidence that follow up action advised by the LADO has taken place. Moreover, there is no clear record kept in the home detailing the exact nature of the concern, actions taken, and the outcome. This does not represent good safeguarding practice, and adequately protect children.

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This inspection

A review of recruitment practice has been undertaken, and shortfalls identified in personnel records have been addressed. References have been sourced and verified, gaps in employment history have been accounted for, and disclosure and barring certificates obtained and verified. This means there is full and satisfactory information about all staff employed to work at the home, and this protects young people from unsuitable people having access to them.

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This inspection

Staff have received training in moving and handling, and this ensures they are able to attend to the personal care needs of young people safely. A programme of e- safety training has been introduced, and staff are in the process of completing this. In addition, work is being undertaken with some young people about keeping safe on line. As a result, staff are being equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to appropriately support young people.

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This inspection

Young people’s risk assessments have improved; they are regularly reviewed and updated to account for changes in young people’s behaviour and presentation. This means that risks are more clearly identified, with strategies in place to manage and minimise incidents. As a result of these changes, young people’s welfare is promoted more effectively.

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This inspection

The recording of the use of physical intervention continues to require improvement. Although records clearly explain the reasons for physical intervention, and the technique used, recording systems are still not clear. A second physical intervention log book has been introduced, and the presence of two recording systems is confusing. Records stipulate who was on duty at the time of an incident but do not differentiate between who has been involved in the actual physical intervention, and who has witnessed the event. Furthermore, individual staff do not sign the record; the duration of incidents is not recorded consistently, and one incident has not been reviewed by the manager. The inspection identified no concerns about the use of physical intervention or staff practice; however poor recording and monitoring of such incidents does not sufficiently protect young people and staff.

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This inspection

Improvements have been made to the home’s Statement of Purpose. Furthermore, the Children’s Guide now includes a summary of the home’s function, and this is available in different formats to suit young people’s individual communication styles. As a result, young people have access to information about the home’s function and purpose. 4 of 7 One of the key strengths of the service is the quality of relationships between staff and young people. Families continue to be confident in the care provided to young people, and one parent said: ‘Staff genuinely care about our children’. Young people clearly look forward to visiting the home for short breaks. Some young people have developed friendships with others staying at the home, and they enjoy meeting up with them regularly. The home continues to provide a warm and welcoming environment; young people enjoy the space, and make good use of the facilities on

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This inspection

offer. As a result, this short breaks service continues to make a positive difference to the lives of children and their families.

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This inspection

Staff demonstrate that they are flexible, and can adapt the service to meet the needs of individual young people. For example, they provide additional outreach support to facilitate a young person’s weekly attendance at a theatre group; without this she would not be able to access this activity which provides her with a positive social experience. In addition, there has been a review of a young person’s support package. Staff now provide support in the community because this is more suited to their particular needs. However, there are occasions when staff do not have the resources to meet some young people’s individual needs. For example, staffing ratios do not always enable young people to access outings in the community during their stays, and this means their experiences are sometimes limited. The Registered Manager has identified the need to review the combination of young people staying at the home on particular nights. This is to ensure staff can balance and meet the

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This inspection

needs of all young people, and young people are appropriately supported to get the most out of their short stays. This has not yet been actioned and is an area identified for improvement.

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This inspection

Following this inspection five requirements and four recommendations have been made to secure improvements. 5 of 7

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a local authority. It provides a short break care service for 10 children and young people with a disability.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/09/2014 Full adequate 20/02/2014 Interim good progress 25/04/2013 Full outstanding 05/02/2013 Interim good progress

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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 there is a written record kept of any allegation of abuse or neglect and of the action taken in response (Regulation 16(d)) 02/04/2015

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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 which shall include all information as set out by this regulation (Regulation 17B(3)(4)) 02/04/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that visits undertaken in accordance with this regulation are sufficiently robust to identify any shortfalls in the home(Regulation 33) 02/04/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the independent person produces a written report about a visit and provide a copy of the report to HMCI (Regulation 33(9)(a) 02/04/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

34 ensure the registered person establishes and 02/04/2015 6 of 7 (2001) maintains a system for monitoring the matters set out in schedule 6, and that reports reflect improvements in the quality of care provided and the impact this has on the lives of children accessing short breaks at the home (Regulation 34)(1)(a)(b)).

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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 staff meet children’s individual needs as set out in the child’s placement plan and where appropriate their relationship with the wider group of children, in particular young people receive the additional support necessary to enable them to go out into the community, and review the combination of young people on specific days to ensure children and young people get the most out of their short stays (NMS 2.3)  ensure medicines kept in the home are stored safely, specifically that the temperature within the medication room is adequately controlled (NMS 6.13)  ensure a written record is kept by the home detailing the time and date and length of each supervision held for each member of staff, including the registered person (NMS 19.5)  ensure quality assurance arrangements in place scrutinise how the home is supporting young people to enjoy and achieve (Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations Volume 5: Children’s Homes 3:12).

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Recommendations

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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

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Information 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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Information 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 framework of inspection for children's homes.

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