Sherbrooke Avenue Care Home Service 53 Sherbrooke Avenue Pollokshields Glasgow G41 4SE Inspected by: (Care Commission Officer) Type of inspection: Anne Borland Announced Inspection completed on: 21 September 2006 1/10
Service Number Service name CS2003001068 Sherbrooke Avenue Service address 53 Sherbrooke Avenue Pollokshields Glasgow G41 4SE Provider Number dummy Provider Name SP2003003390 Glasgow City Council Inspected By dummy Inspection Type Anne Borland Care Commission Officer Announced dummy Inspection Completed Period since last inspection 21 September 2006 8 months dummy Local Office Address 1 Smithhill Street Paisley PA1 1EB dummy 2/10
Introduction Sherbrooke Avenue is a residential children s unit for eight young people who are in the care of the local authority. Glasgow City Council are the providers of the service and in doing so meet their statutory responsibility as set down in the Children s (Scotland) Act 1996. The staff team, who provide a 24 hour service, are employees of Glasgow City Council Social Work Department. The house is a large Victorian villa set in its own attractive, well maintained gardens which also have a furnished patio area. The house was found to be homely, well furnished and maintained, clean and tidy. The aim of the service is to provide a safe, caring environment in which young people are encouraged and assisted to reach their potential. The long established and experienced staff team maintain links with area team social workers, educational resources, health professionals and, where appropriate, the families of the young people. Basis of Report This report follows an announced inspection which took place over one day on the 21st of September 2006. During the inspection the Officer spoke with five staff members who included the manager, senior practitioner, two residential workers and the chef. The Officer spoke individually with two young people and joined the young people for the evening meal. This service was inspected after receiving a Regulation Support Assessment (RSA) to determine what level of support was necessary. The RSA is an assessment undertaken by the Care Commission Officer which considers complaints activity, changes in the provision of the service, nature of notifications made to the Care Commission by the service and action taken upon requirements. This service was required to have a low level of support which resulted in an inspection based on the national inspection themes, which include, nutrition Child protection, care planning, the use of restraint, safer recruitment of staff, and the Scottish Social Service Council (SSSC) code of practice. In conjunction with the themes, the Officer examined the services performance in relation to five of the core standards for this inspecting year, these being: Standard 4 - Support Arrangements Standard 5 - The environment Standard 6 - Feeling Safe and Secure Standard 7.7 - Management and Staffing Standard 10 - Eating Well In addition the Officer looked a range of documents which included; Young people s support plans Individual Crisis Management plans Daily reports for young people Complaints log Violent Incident forms Sanctions Log Staff message book 3/10
Fire Safety Book Action taken on requirements in last Inspection Report There were no requirements made following the last inspection. Comments on Self-Evaluation The manager completed a self evaluation statement identifying strengths and areas for development within the service. View of Service Users The Officer met with two young people and received five completed questionnaires about the quality of the service provided. All were aware of who their key workers were and young people confirmed that they had members of staff whom they could approach for help with issues of concern. All felt that staff were sensitive when discussing personal information and their privacy was respected. Young people felt life in the home was generally good and that their needs were being met. Most felt the food to be good and confirmed they have a choice of meals. One young person was unhappy at sharing his bedroom and felt it was having a detrimental effect on his and his room mates relationship because their preferences were different. View of Carers The Officer did not speak with any carer s at this inspection. 4/10
Regulations / Principles Regulation : National Care Standards National Care Standard Number 4: Care Homes for Children and Young People - Support Arrangements All young people have the full range of Looked After and Accommodated paperwork (LAAC) which includes day to day placement arrangements, core record and initial assessments. Young people s support needs and future care plans are agreed at multi disciplinary care reviews which are held at least 6 monthly depending on individual circumstances. Young people are encouraged to complete their own written report prior to review meeting. The Officer found examples of Having your say report in the files sampled. Young people are encouraged to attend review meetings and confirmed discussion takes place with key workers prior to review. The assessment report includes health, social, cultural, educational needs and arrangements for family contact. Staff members complete monthly care plan audits to keep abreast of progress made and areas which require particular attention. This provides a concise summary of the areas where continued support is needed and of barriers which are preventing care plans goals be reached. This is monitored by external managers. The Officer found clear evidence of care plans being followed through and monitored. Staff members do this by completing a weekly planner and daily routine plan for each young person thus making the care plan a live document. The Officer was particularly impressed by the efforts made by the staff team to meet the cultural and faith needs of young people placed and in the sensitively of work carried out. Key workers also complete monthly reports of significant events, such as educational progress, health issues and family contact. None identified. 5/10
National Care Standard Number 5: Care Homes for Children and Young People - Your Environment The care home was found to be furnished and maintained to a high standard. The house was tidy and clean. Efforts had been made to present the house in a homely way had been successful whilst still meeting statutory requirements for fire signage etc. The best use was made of space available with the living space for the young people taking priory over office accommodation for staff resulting in spacious, comfortable communal areas. The gardens are extremely well kept with attractive plants and shrubs. An area of the garden had been set aside for a young person who was interested in gardening. The patio area was well furnished for sitting and eating out in good weather. All young people had some means of securing property whether this was a key for their bedroom door, a locked bedside cabinet or room safe. The house has a no smoking policy which is reinforced regularly with young people. Two young people were sharing a bedroom at the time of the inspection. This has proved problematic for both young people and whilst both had initially offered to share the situation had deteriorated and was proving a source of stress for both. Ways to overcome this should be explored. (see recommendation 1) The water pressure does not allow the bath to fill within a reasonable timescale, hence, is not used. (see recommendation 2) National Care Standard Number 6: Care Homes for Children and Young People - Feeling Safe and Secure The staffing rota confirms that a minimum of two staff members are on duty throughout the day and night time. However the staffing is often in excess of this. The service has a range of procedures and guidance in place to promote the safety of young people. These include child protection procedures, vulnerable young people procedures for those young people considered to be most at risk. Staff were aware of their responsibility in relation to the safe guarding of the young people.evidence was found of staff members using these procedures appropriately. Records demonstrate that links are established with other specialised agencies should young people need additional support following abuse and ill treatment. 6/10
The house is kept secure with the front door kept closed and a visitor s policy displayed in the hallway. The Officer was asked to identify herself and sign the visitor s book. The book is used on a daily basis. The Officer examined the fire safety log book and confirmed that a fire risk assessment had been carried out on. Fire drills are carried out and regular assessments and maintained is made of the fire alarm system and fire fighting equipment. The service has a child friendly complaints system which allows the young people to raise complaints or issues in a variety of ways and can be made anonymously, written or verbal. The unit has links with the Who Care s representative and children s rights officer. Young people could inform the Officer the names and contact details of theses representatives. A sanctions book is kept which details any punishment given to young people as a result of unacceptable behaviour. The sanction log also detailed rewards given to young people in recognitions of improvement in behaviour and of effort made. The manager signs the sanction log to ensure sanctions are proportionate and in keeping with providers policy. Young people, who spoke with the Officer, could name staff in whom they could confide about situations or issues which was causing them concern. Young people confirmed in discussion with the Officer that staff do not use physical chastisement of any kind. The staff undergo a week long mandatory training to develop skills in managing challenging behaviour, Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI). In addition each young people have a crisis management plan which details the best approach to be used whe you young person is in crisis and whether of not physical restraint can be used and, if so, which type of hold would be permitted. Staff members have a mandatory responsibility to complete a Violent incident form detailing the circumstances surrounding the uses of physical restraint. These forms are then examined by the manager and external manager. The Officer found evidence in staff log books which confirmed that young people are only allowed to view age appropriate DVDs and systems are in place to prevent inappropriate sites being viewed on the internet. The external line management are regular visitors to the home and are known to the young people thus providing additional people for the use people to approach should they be unhappy. From the records kept it was not always clear when sanctions had ended. The paperwork in use should be reviewed to allow for this. The care home has a copy of the Scottish Institute for Residential Child Care (SIRCC) recently published document Holding Safely. As yet this document has not been examined in any detail by the staff team. The Officer suggests that this be formally introduced to the staff team. 7/10
National Care Standard Number 7: Care Homes for Children and Young People - Management and Staffing An audit of the providers safer recruitment policies and procedures had been carried out by the Care Commission and while most aspects were found to be in keeping with safer recruitment practices areas for further development were highlighted A system for re-checking Enhanced Disclosures for staff should be given further consideration. Two references were not found for candidates when they had been internally recruited. (see recommendation 3) National Care Standard Number 10: Care Homes for Children and Young People - Eating Well The young people had been involved in catering classes with trained cooks. The purpose was to raise awareness of healthy food choices and develop cooking skills. This had been well attended and enjoyed by all who participated. Young people s food preferences are known by the staff team and chef. The kitchen was well equipped and was clean and hygienic. Young people are able to access the Kitchen to make snacks. The meals provided are varied and nutritious with all meals cooked meals cooked from fresh produce which is purchased daily. There was a choice of meals which included a non meat alternative on the day of inspection. Young people confirmed this choice is always available. The young people are encouraged to eat with staff members at the table and the table is set in an attractive way. The Looked After Children s nurse is a regular visitor to the home and offers advise to staff and young people on best practice regarding the health needs and dietary needs of a young people. Records confirmed that advice offered has been followed through and young people s diet had improved as a result. junk food discouraged. The kitchen is also used as a dinning room and is used daily for this purpose. The kitchen lacks adequate ventilation and was overly warm on the day of inspection. The Officer was 8/10
advised that this is an ongoing difficulty due to the heat generated from the oven when food is being prepared. ( see recommendation 4) The manager advised that a wipe clean board has been introduced in the kitchen for young people to write down food preferences for the week to provide a basis for menu planning. The Officer welcomes this development. 9/10
Enforcement There is no enforcement action taking place with this service. Other Information No other issues were identifed at this inspection. Requirements There were no requirements made following this inspection. Recommendations Recommendation 1 - Standard 5 - Ways to resolve the negative impact caused to young people by room sharing should be explored. Recommendation 2 Standard 5 -This problem with the water pressure should be resolved to allow young people the choice of a shower or bath. Recommendation 3 - Standard 7 - All staff appointments should be made following receipt of two references on candidates whether or not they have been internally recruited. Recommendation 4 - Standard 10 - Adequate ventilation should be fitted in the kitchen to prevent the room being overly hot. Anne Borland Care Commission Officer 10/10