BisphamInspection report for Children's Home

Of~

Unique reference numberInspection dateInspectorType of inspection

5C033432

06/11/2007DavidMartin

Key

Setting address 331 Bispham Road, BLACKPOOL,FY2 OHH

Telephone numberEmail

Registered personRegistered managerResponsible individualDate of last inspection

01253476776

Blackpool Borough Council

David McCombe

17/07/2007

Inspection Report: Bispham,06/11/2007 20f8

@ Crown copyright 2007

Website: www.ofsted.aov.uk

This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided thatthe information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

You can obtain copies of The Children Act 2004, Every Child Matters and The National Minimum Standards forChildren's Services from: The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Crispins, Duke Street,Norwich, NR3 lGN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering: www.tso.co.uk/bookshoD

Inspection Report: Bispham,06/11/2007 30f8

About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, thepublic, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the serviceprovided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identifiedduring the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation tothe outcomes for children set out in the ChildrenAct 2004 and the relevant NationalMinimumStandards for the service.

The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding:Good:Satisfactory:Inadequate:

this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high qualitythis aspect of the provision is strongthis aspect of the provision is soundthis aspect of the provision is not good enough

Inspection Report: Bispham, 06/11/2007 40f8

Service information

Brief description of the service

331 Bispham Road is a children's home accommodating up to six children of eithersexagedbetween11yearsand 18years.It is ownedandoperatedby BlackpoolBorough Council. The home provides placements for medium to long-term care. It isa six bedroom detached house and is located on a busy main road on the outskirts ofBlackpool. It has gardens to the front and rear.

Summary

The overall quality rating is satisfactory.

This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

This was an announced inspection which involved an assessmentof the home'sperformance against all key standards. The visit included a review of actions andrecommendations made at the previous inspection, the details of which are outlinedin the section below. None of the young people spoke directly with the inspector butcompleted questionnaires prior to the inspection.

331 Bispham Road is making a number of changes to the way in which it meets theneeds of individual young people. Many improvements have been made since thelast inspection. It is making good progress and is achieving satisfactory standards inall outcome areas. As the improvements are consolidated, young people benefitfurther from positive and constructive experiences in the home.

Improvements since the last inspection

At the time of the last inspection the home was going through a particularly difficultperiod. Since, the registered manager has left and a new temporary manager hasbeen appointed. Work has begun on making a number of improvements to the wayin which the home functions and creating better outcomes for young people.

The application of sanctions has previously been inconsistent. The new manager hasimplemented a system of 'restorative justice' and has plans to address the issuethrough the staff development programme. This ensures that young people feel theuse of sanctions is fair.

At the last inspection the home was asked to obtain PersonalEducation Plans,Pathway Plans, health plans and placement plans for all young people. It has beensuccessful in achieving this. This assistsyoung people to understand the need forthem to be in education and to be clear about how they will move on to independentliving. It also helps the staff to support young people and meet their individual needsin a consistentway.

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The newmanagerhas implementeda newsupervisionprogramme,has identifiedstaff training needsand is workingwith the staff on ways in whichthey canengagepositivelywith youngpeople.This hasimprovedstaff moraleand helpedthem to feelempoweredto makedecisions.Theyoung peoplebenefitfrom workingwith staffwho are well motivatedto meettheir needs.

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory.

Sincethe last inspection,healthcareplanshavebeencompletedfor all the youngpeople.Wherenecessary,the youngpeoplereceivespecialisthelpand supportsuchas that providedby the localChildandAdolescentMentalHealthService.The youngpeopleare registeredwith a dentistand doctorand they canmakeappointmentsasthe needarises.This meansthat the youngpeople'sday-to-dayhealthcareneedsare beingmet.

The staff activelydiscouragethe young peoplefrom smokingand usingalcoholandillegalsubstances.The staff are ableto openlyengagethe youngpeopleindiscussionaboutsexualhealth. Localyouth servicesand the LookedAfter Children'snurseprovideadditionalinformalsupport.Oneyoungpersonsaidthat the staffdiscuss'relationshipswith you'.Youngpeoplehaveaccessto adultswho canadvisethem on generalhealthcarematters.

Thereare policiesand proceduresin placeconcerningthe administrationofprescribedand non-prescribedmedication.All medicationis storedsafely.Noneofthe young peopleare currentlytaking prescribedmedication.Thereare systemsinplaceto ensurethat medicationis administeredto young peoplesafely.

Staff havecompletedfirst aid and food hygienetraining.The homeprovidesnutritious,well balancedmeals.The youngpeoplecancontributetheir ideasto theweeklymenu.Thisassiststhemto understandthe principlesof eatinghealthily.

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provisionis satisfactory.

The young people'sright to privacyis respected.They havetheir own bedroomdoorkeysand there are lockson bathroomdoors.There is a privatetelephonebooth.Therotasare designedto ensurethereisa genderbalanceoneachshift.Eachyoungpersonhasindividualsessionswiththeirkeyworkerswherethey candiscusspersonalissuesand shareinformationheldon file.

There is a complaints procedure. The young people have been provided withinformation about raising their concerns. There are people to whom they can turn toshare their worries. This means that there are systems in place to ensure that youngpeople-arelistenedto whentheyareunhappy,Noneof theyoungpeoplehavemadea complaintsincethe last inspection.

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There are policies and procedure in place relating the protection of young peoplefrom abuse. Staff have completed safeguarding training. They are confident aboutreporting any concerns to the appropriate people and understand issues ofconfidentiality.Thus, the young people are protected from people who are not safe.

The staff openly discuss issues of bullyingwith the young people. Any incidents ofbullyingare dealt with promptly. This ensures that young people are livingin anenvironment where bullyingis minimised.

There is an effective missing person procedure. Each young person has an individualplan if they are missing from the home. There is evidence to show that this is putinto practice. The home liaises with partner agencies when young people go missing.This means the risks to young people are minimised when they are away from thehome.

The home is developing the ways in which it helps young people learn about sociallyacceptable behaviour. The staff have been made aware of the need for them toengage in a positive way with the young people. They are starting to rely less on theuse of sanctions and to develop a 'restorative justice' approach to dealing withproblems. The use of restraint is minimal and the staff are beginning to use earlierinterventions to manage behaviour. The young people are starting to benefit frompositive, respectful relationships with staff.

Riskassessments have been drawn up to ensure the safety of the environment andstaff have completed fire safety training. The young people live in a home that isphysicallysafe.

Staff are recruited followinga robust assessment which includes criminal backgroundchecks, proof of identity, and employment history. This means that young people donot have unsafe adults working with them.

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory.

Each young person has a care plan which they have discussed with their keyworker.They may add their own comments to the file if they wish. Care plans are adapted toreflectthe individualneeds of young peopleand take intoaccountany particularneeds based on race, gender, sexuality, age and beliefs. This means that theuniqueness of each young person is recognised and valued.

The home is beginning to change its approach to the education of young people. Inrecent weeks it has established a clear expectation that young people of school ageshould be in education. Personal Education Plans have been obtained for all young

Inspection Report: Bispham,06/11/2007 70f8

peopleof schoolage and the staff are workingcloselywith placingauthoritiestosecure appropriate educational programmes. The young people are supported tocomplete their education. Young people are in an environment where education ispromoted.

The young people have access to a wide range of community based leisure activities.They are able to see their friends and have contact with family as appropriate. Theyoung people have helped choose educational and games software for use on thehome's computers and have safe access to the internet. The home is encouragingthe young people to make constructive use of their time.

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory.

The young people's files contain all necessary LookedAfter Children'sdocumentation. The format for care plans is being changed to ensure that it isrelevantand informative.The plans provide staff with a clear guide as to howyoungpeople's individualneeds are met. The young people have had input into this processthrough personal key worker sessions. This means that young people's needs arebeing properly assessed and planned for.

The care needs of young people are regularly reviewed. Young people attend theirreviews and can make both written and verbal contributions. In addition to statutoryreviews, planning meetings with partner agencies are arranged as the need arises.This means that the home is able to respond quicklyand effectively to changes in ayoung person's circumstances.

The young people are able to contribute their views to the day to day operation ofthe home through weekly house meetings. They can share their ideas about leisureactivities and the menu, for example. On an individual basis they have chosen itemsto decorate their rooms and can purchase their own clothing and toiletries.

The young people havebeenmadeawareof the complaintsprocedureand otherwaysof raisingany concerns.Theyfeel as though they are listenedto. The newmanager is keen to ensure that staff engage with the young people in positiveconstructive ways and the relationship between staff and young people is beginningto change.The home is making improvements in the way it communicateswithyoung people.

Young peopleare ableto maintainan appropriatelevel of contact with their families.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is not judged.

Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory.

There is a clear Statement of Purpose which sets out the aims and objectives, themanagement structure, staffing and the services provided. It is a well organiseddocument which sets out clearly what young people, placing authorities and parentscan expect. Similarly,the young person's guide to the home is up-to-date andprovides a clear description of the service.

The home has a well established and experienced staff team. Sickness levels andstaff turnover are currently low. There has been an over reliance on the use ofagency staff in the recent past but this problem is now being managed effectively.There are sufficient numbers of staff on duty. Levelthree National VocationalQualifications have been completed by 80 per cent of the staff team. In the recentpast they have not accessed ongoing training but plans are in hand to rectify thisissue. This means that in the future training willbe available to ensure that the carepractice of staff is up-to-date.

Monthlymonitoring visits are carried out on behalf of the provider and the manageris completing monthly reports on the activity in the home. This means that the workof the home can be modified to reflect the current needs of the young people.