statement of purpose of purpose 7 the ride, brentford, tw8 9lb telephone: 0208 560 8805 (24hrs) /...

Updated – 26/06/2018 The Statement of Purpose is freely available to:

• Any person who works at the children’s home;

• Any child accommodated in the children’s home; (A summary of this document is available in the “Welcome booklet” which is more young people friendly)

• The parent of any child accommodated in the children’s home

• The placing authority of any child accommodated in the home;

• Any child being considered for accommodation in the home;

• Any other organisation or person involved in the placing of a young person in the home.

Statement of Purpose

Statement of purpose

7 The Ride, Brentford, TW8 9LB Telephone: 0208 560 8805 (24hrs) / 0208 583 6210 / 0208 583 6211

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INDEX

Page No Page No Aims and objectives 3/4

Family Contact Outreach work/staying close

20

Philosophy and values 5/6

CCTV 20

The role of the keyworker 6

Unauthorised absence 21

Who can use the home/ Facilities and services

7/8 Behavioural support 22/23/24

Organisational structure of the home

8/9 Fire and safety precautions 24

Religious/cultural /linguistic needs

9 Health and Safety 24/25

Complaints and representations

9/10/11

The registered provider 25

Child protection and Safeguarding

11/12 Current staffing establishment

25/26/27

Bullying 12 Staff supervision, training and development

28

Consultation with young people

13 Supervision structure 29

Anti-Discriminatory practice/ Children’s rights

13/14 Admission criteria 29/30

Education 14/15/16

Admission to the home 30/31

Hobbies, sport and cultural activities

16/17 Emergency placement procedure

31/32

Health of young people 17/18

Reviews/placement plans 32/33

Medication 18/19

Location of The Ride & Contact details

33



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QUALITY AND PURPOSE OF CARE 1. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES AIMS: The primary aim of the Home is to provide support and individual care packages to young people who have faced significant loss and trauma in their lives. The ultimate aim is to enable looked after young people to make a planned return to their families within a time scale of preferably no more than 3 months. This aim will be pursued after an initial assessment by the social worker which concludes that a planned return home is safe and in the child’s best interests. Staff and managers at the Home will work in close co-operation with young people, parents / carers, social workers and other professionals to achieve this aim.



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Where this is not possible the Home in co-operation with the looked after young person, their family and relevant professionals will assess the young person’s needs and where appropriate plan for their move to a placement with foster carers. It is recognised that matching a young person’s needs with an appropriate foster family can be a lengthy process. However, the young person’s move to a suitable foster placement should take place within as short a time scale as possible and preferably no more than 6 months from admission. To assist this process the young person’s keyworker will provide a detailed profile of the young person for the family placement team. If a placement is identified the staff will support young people during the transition by accompanying them to visits and offer an outreach support package once they are in placement. Where it is not possible for a young person to return home and placement with a foster family is not seen as appropriate, the Home, in co-operation with the young person their parents / carers and relevant professionals, will complete an assessment of the looked after young person’s needs and either recommend that they remain at The Ride until ready to move into semi-independent living or in extreme circumstances recommend a move to a specialised long term residential placement. If the young person is approaching the age of sixteen, and it is deemed to be in the best interests of the young person, the staff, in conjunction with the leaving care team will implement a programme to prepare the young person for semi-independent living. This includes support in budgeting their allowances, cooking, taking responsibility for making and attending appointments, managing routines, cleaning their rooms, completing their laundry and any other tasks identified for each individual.

The home is inspected by Ofsted twice a year; the inspectors are based at –Ofsted Piccadilly Gate, Store Street, Manchester, M1 2WD. Telephone 0300 123123

2. OBJECTIVES:

• To work in partnership with looked after young people, their parents / carers, social workers and other relevant professionals to meet agreed aims.

• To assess and meet the physical, intellectual, development, social and

emotional needs of each young person.

• To build trust and positive relationships with the young people to ensure they feel valued and cared for whilst providing clear and realistic boundaries.

• To provide, in collaboration with the young person, parents and other

professionals, a detailed care plan to meet assessed needs. The care plan



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must include specific roles and responsibilities for those contributing to the plan. It must also state agreed objectives and timescales for work to be completed and services provided. The care plan should also set out clear guidelines for reviewing the plan and detail how changes to the care plan will be incorporated.

• To provide a safe and nurturing environment for young people that promotes

individual well-being and protects from harm.

• To provide high standards of care appropriate to the individual needs of young people as identified in their care plan.

• To help support the young people to explore some family dynamics and help them understand their feelings and difficulties.

• To empower young people to take control and feel more confident in taking

responsibility for their own lives and behaviour.

• To ensure each young person and their family is able to make the best use of the Home’s facilities, the facilities of agencies working in partnership with the Ride and those facilities provided within the wider community.

3. Philosophy and Values

• The Home believes that all young people have the right to experience a family life, preferably within their own family or with carers within their own community.

• The Home believes that all young people have a right to be protected from

abuse, neglect and exploitation. We recognise that many young people we work with are particularly vulnerable.

• The Home believes very strongly in working in partnership with parents and

carers. We consider parents have an essential role to play in any plans made for a looked after young person and we will endeavour to include parents in all aspects of decision-making regarding their child.

• The Home believes very strongly in taking an holistic approach to the care of

young people and to this end aims to work in close partnership with other professionals and organisations including health, education and the voluntary or private sector, recognising the value of alternative perspectives. The Home will aim to work closely with other relevant professionals and aim to include them where possible in looked after reviews and planning meetings.



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• The Home believes looked after young people should have their own views valued and respected particularly as regards key decisions in their future plans. Staff at the Home will strive to ensure the young person’s views are heard and, where necessary, will act as advocates for a young person, or offer advice on independent advocates outside of the home.

• The Home believes in full, open and honest consultation with young people. Providing regular opportunities for residents to voice their feelings on living at the Home and issues in general about being accommodated in care. The Home also takes service user participation seriously and aims to include young people in decision making around all aspects of their daily lives.

The services provided within the home centre on the work undertaken by staff at the home and include facilitating family contact, liaising with other agencies and support where appropriate in all aspects of the child’s life whilst resident at the Home. Once a child has moved on, it is possible for staff to be involved for a short time in planned outreach support where appropriate. The structure of support for a young person at the Home centres on the ‘Keyworker’ system. The role of the Keyworker A ‘keyworker’ is a member of staff who has the task of getting to know the young person and assessing their needs. Preferably before, but as soon as possible following admission the young person will be allocated a ‘keyworker’ and co-keyworker in order to provide consistent support for the young person. The needs of the young person will be taken into account when allocating a keyworker(s) as a positive relationship between a young person and their keyworker is usually pivotal to the success of the placement. A keyworker will provide the following:

• Responsibility for actively progressing the care plan through setting and monitoring goals and ensuring the homes day-to-day care plan for the young person is followed.

• Planned and recorded keyworker sessions of 1-2 hours on a weekly basis,

where issues can be raised and discussed by both parties in private and actions agreed.

• Support through the review process and other important meetings and

appointment for the young person including consultation on review reports / recommendations.

• Detailed records of the young person at the Home including responsibility for

the young person’s case file and sharing appropriate records with them.

• A chance for the young person to raise any issues of bullying, racism or unfair treatment or any concerns or fears around their placement and future plans and for those issues to be taken forward.



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• A chance to deal with any issues regarding the young person’s education,

health, behaviour or any other areas of concern.

• Facilitate and encourage positive family contact and ensure appropriate information is passed on to parents / carers and they are informed of significant events. To co-ordinate contact with the child’s designated social worker and other professionals.

4. Who can use the Home? The Home has six places and accommodates young people placed by the registered provider the London Borough of Hounslow or other Local authorities of either gender between the ages of 12 – 17 on admission. The Home usually offers initial placements of 3 months until the second looked after review, unless agreed at the placement agreement meeting. If appropriate short-term placements can be agreed on the basis of planned respite care, and shared care packages will be considered if assessed as in the best interest of the young person. Placements can be extended beyond 6 months if it is agreed to be in the best interests of the young person. The Home offers short to medium term placements and will not normally admit a young person over the age of seventeen unless there are clear plans and agreements for a short-term placement.

5. Facilities and Services The Home provides a residential child care service for young people 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. All young people have access to normal facilities provided for group living including washing and bathing facilities, a kitchen area, laundry area, a communal lounge / TV room and a room for private meetings with family, social worker or keyworker if required. In addition young people have access to computers during evenings and weekends for education programmes and games. Accommodation The Home is located in a residential street and is not distinctive to other surrounding properties. Management at the home take a positive role in the local community and work to foster good relations with neighbours and the local community, this includes attending neighbourhood ward panel meetings and any other appropriate local meetings or events. The Home provides a service for up to six young people and accommodates males and females. The Registered Manager has a responsibility to ensure there is a balance of gender and individual needs.



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The accommodation comprises two semi-detached houses converted to one large premise containing 8 upstairs bedrooms. Four bedrooms are located on each side of the house accessed by stairways on either side of the property. Upstairs Each side of the house has 3 single bedrooms and one designated staff sleeping-in room, with en-suite bathroom facilities. These do not form part of the communal living area and are located next to Young People’s bedrooms. Young people are not required to share bedrooms and on admission are provided with their own room key and lockable cupboard key subject to conditions. Young people are encouraged to personalise their own rooms and participate in choosing appropriate small bedroom items for their rooms such as posters, ornaments, lamps and pictures. The choice of bedroom for young people is based according to need and availability. A separate upstairs bathroom with toilet, bath and shower facilities are provided for each side of the house. Downstairs Young people have access to communal rooms including kitchen, dining room, utility room, lounge and computer room for homework, hobbies and recreation. Access to the office telephone during school hours is restricted to telephoning family members and professionals involved in their care. All young people have a desk and chair provided in their rooms for private study but can also use the computer room. The staff meeting room / family room can be used by young people in the evening and at weekends to meet privately with visitors as well as on request during office hours. The back garden is used mainly for staff parking but has space for a large garden table and chairs and a punch bag for use by young people.

6. The Organisational Structure of the Home The Ride is open every day and operates on a 24-hour rota with a minimum of 2 staff on duty after 3pm. Usually there are 3 members of staff working at the home in the evening but this may be reduced to 2 according to occupancy levels and the needs of the young people. Staff work a shift system whereby a minimum of two staff sleep in each night. The shift starts at 2.30pm and from 2.30 – 3pm staff on duty receive a verbal and written handover from staff on the previous shift. The late or evening shift ends at 1am, with staff retiring to staff sleeping – in rooms (but are accessible if required during the night). Shifts then begin again at 7:30 am when staff give the on-coming shift a



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handover until 8am before going off duty. This rota pattern is currently being used in line with the European Union Working Time Directives. Residential workers will usually only work 11 hour sleep in shifts, early or evening support shifts with the occasional day shift. Rota’s are available to staff at least one month in advance. Assistant Managers’ hours are made up of a combination of shifts and daytime hours reflecting the dual role as manager and residential practitioner. Each shift has a nominated shift leader, indicated on the rota, with full responsibility for the home during the evening shift. Arrangements are also made at all times i.e. evenings, weekends and holiday periods for the manager or an assistant manager to be available for contact in an emergency.

7. Religious/Cultural/Linguistic needs It is policy of the Home that every young person has the right to follow his or her chosen religion. Every effort will be made to ensure the young person has the opportunity to attend any service or meetings that form part of their religion. Staff will also ensure the young person has an opportunity for quiet contemplation or to pray within one’s daily routine if so required. If a young person’s religion requires a particular diet, clothing or additional resources every effort will be made to ensure that these needs are met. Advice will be sought where necessary from those with appropriate knowledge, including the young person’s family and this should be identified in the care plan. The Home celebrates a range of religious festivals throughout the year with decorations and cultural meals, all young people are encouraged to participate and celebrate the diversity of Hounslow’s community. It is the Home Manager’s responsibility to ensure all staff are made aware of any young person’s religious observance and religious needs, and respect these accordingly in line with the young person’s care plan. Where a young person uses a specific language as part of their cultural heritage this will be acknowledged by staff and respected. The young person will be supported to learn and use this language if they choose to and can remain in the placement if this is in the best interests of the young person. Documents will be translated upon request and an interpreter will be employed to use in any formal meetings if necessary.

8. Complaints and Representations



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The Home views the complaints procedure positively. Staff see it as a means of improving practice and a useful method of feedback about the service provided. If used constructively, the complaints process provides staff, young people and others connected with the service with a valuable means of highlighting and resolving potential areas of conflict. The home follows The London Borough of Hounslow’s complaints procedure. It is the Manager’s responsibility to ensure staff are made aware of the policy and their responsibility to act on complaints, and provide young people, parents and others with further information and details if required. All permanent staff receive training on dealing with complaints and the complaints procedure. On admission young people and their parents or carers are made aware of the complaints procedure. They are provided with a booklet, detailing Hounslow Council’s complaints procedure, how to register a complaint and where to get help in order to register a complaint. Young people are also given contact telephone numbers for an independent advocacy organisation, which can provide free and confidential support and advice. Young people are actively encouraged by staff to comment on the service and care they receive through keywork sessions, residents meetings, and surveys conducted periodically through their placement. Parents and carers are also encouraged to discuss issues about the service they receive in meetings with staff and the unit management and in Young People’s LAC reviews. It is the home manager’s responsibility to monitor complaints and how they are resolved. This is in order to determine any patterns and inform better working practice or identify gaps in service provision or staff training needs. All complaints are recorded and information is held at the home. This information is available for inspection by Regulation 44 inspectors and Ofsted. Within the complaints file the home records any compliments received from other professionals, parents or young people themselves.

Summary of Complaints Procedure

There are three distinct stages through which a complaint may be progressed:

• Stage 1: The problem solving stage This stage provides the opportunity for an informal resolution of the complaint by means of a discussion between the Young Person and the manager of the relevant service.



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All your complaints received should be acknowledged in writing within 5 days. The Corporate time period for resolving complaints (including the response to the complainant) at this stage is within 20 working days.

• Stage 2: The investigation stage Where a Young Person is not satisfied with the proposed resolution at Stage 1, then they may request for the complaint to be investigated by a manager unconnected with the service. In the case of a complaint under the Children Act an Independent Person will be appointed to take part in the consideration of the complaint.

• Stage 3: The review or appeal stage If a young person is not satisfied with the outcome of the Stage 2 investigation they may request for the complaint to be considered by a Review / Appeal Panel.

9. Child Protection and Safeguarding

The Ride follows the London Borough of Hounslow’s Child Protection policy as agreed by the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB). These procedures are based on the London Child Protection Procedures Version 5 and can be accessed online via Tri –X to The Rides online manual. http://www.proceduresonline.com/hounslow/chomes/

There are child protection procedures and training available for staff to ensure children are protected from abuse and an appropriate response can be made to any allegation or suspicion of abuse of children looked after at the Home. The core training is also available via e-learning through the virtual college. http://www.virtual-college.co.uk/e-academies/Safeguarding.aspx

There are policies and procedures in place to safeguard young people resident at the home from abuse. These include detailed guidance on ‘methods of care and control’, ‘permissible sanctions,’ ‘use of restraint,’ ‘regulating visitors’ and ‘medication policy and procedures’. Guidance on staff supervision of young people (residents) at the home also includes – ‘night time supervision’, ‘physical contact with children,’ ‘spending one to one time alone with a child’ and ‘care practices towards children of the opposite sex.’ Other safeguards for young people are also identified in the risk assessment procedures, supervision of staff, missing from care procedures, whistle blowing policy, bullying policy and complaints procedures for looked after children. These too are available to staff online.

http://www.proceduresonline.com/hounslow/chomes/

http://www.virtual-college.co.uk/e-academies/Safeguarding.aspx

http://www.virtual-college.co.uk/e-academies/Safeguarding.aspx



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A copy of the LSCB procedures and The Department of Health’s guidance ‘ Working Together to Safeguard Children 2013 – which includes specific guidance for staff on protecting young people living away from home and young people involved in are kept at the home and made available to all staff. The Manager of the home checks through supervision that all staff are aware of and understand these guidelines and procedures. Guidance for staff on responding to allegations or suspicions of abuse, including allegations against staff, allegations against young people, dealing with disclosure and suspicion of abuse is contained in the ‘Reporting Child Protection Concerns’ procedure. The Home Manager regularly liaises with the LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) and safeguarding advisors to seek advice about local procedures and practice and how these relate to keeping young people safe whilst being looked after. Guidance is available for staff subject to allegations about them, which details the information and support available whilst an investigation takes place. Child Protection training for staff is part of an induction programme and includes safeguards to prevent abuse, dealing with disclosures and suspicions of abuse and the home’s child protection procedures. Staff attend regular refresher training in child protection and a variety of other safeguarding training relating to sexual exploitation; gang related abuse, neglect, FGM, radicalisation, forced marriage etc. Staff maintain routine links with the safeguarding team and the Registered Manager sits on the local MASE panel and subgroup on CSE and Missing and Vulnerable children. Bullying Bullying is not tolerated in the home and staff are expected to work proactively to counter bullying and deal effectively with both the victims and perpetrators of bullying. Any issues or concerns regarding bullying will be addressed in the young person’s care plan and the home’s stance on bullying is made clear for young people in the Young People’s guide. The Home has a bullying policy, which defines different types of bullying, the symptoms and effects of bullying and how staff should work with both the victim and the perpetrator. The policy outlines procedures staff undertake following an allegation or suspicion of bullying of a young person at the Home including recording of incidents, informing or involving other agencies, risk assessments and appropriate responses to counteract bullying.



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The staff at the home will actively support a young person, parents or carers or other professionals to deal with bullying issues outside the home, in school or in the wider community.

VIEWS WISHES AND FEELINGS 10. Consultation with Children Looked After Young People have weekly meetings with their keyworker where they are given the opportunity to discuss issues related to the Home and have the opportunity to contribute to the way the Home is run. Young People also have the opportunity in these sessions to discuss issues related to future plans, their placement at the Home and the care they receive whilst living at the Home. Young people are encouraged to meet regularly in private with their social worker to discuss future plans and any issues they may have. An Assistant Manager or a senior staff member will chair weekly meetings, where residents' views are sought and recorded on decisions that affect their lives, aspects of the running of the home and the care they receive. These views are then fed back to the weekly staff meeting by staff present at the residents meeting. A representative from the young people can then invited to a short slot in the staff meeting to discuss their agenda and any decisions made. Young people resident in the home are given the opportunity to record their views in a number of ways including comments on daily recording, feedback re menus, any sanctions imposed and responses to the recording of any critical incidents. They also receive booklets on the complaints process on admission and guidance on making a formal complaint. All young people have easy access to an independent advocate through Action for Children and are supported to contact them if they need advice or support. The designated advocate is also invited to attend occasional residents meetings.

11. Anti-Discriminatory Practice & Children Rights The Ride adheres to the London Borough of Hounslow’s Equal Opportunities Policy, which identifies the right of service users to receive an appropriate service without



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receiving less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, race, colour, nationality, religion, disability, sexuality or class. The Ride also believes that all children come first and the service provided should be based on respect for the individual, honesty and equality regardless of gender, race, culture, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability or religion. The staff team at The Ride reflects ethnic and cultural diversity and staff are encouraged to discuss cultural issues at team meetings as part of the weekly team meeting agenda. Staff are provided with guidance in addressing anti discriminatory practice through guidelines including the Home policies ‘meeting the care needs of children from minority ethnic groups’ and ‘practices in the Home to combat racism’. Staff are also provided training in anti-discriminatory practice in relation to issues of race, ethnicity, religion and culture. The Home believes that all children looked after have the same rights as any other child in the community which includes access to education, health care and leisure services. Young people’s rights whilst being looked after are detailed in the Young People’s guide provided on admission .The young person’s keyworker has a responsibility to explain these rights to children and advocate for the young person where appropriate. All young people have access to an independent Young People’s rights service, which can provide appropriate advice and support on their rights in care and any issues they may have whilst being looked after. Keyworkers have a responsibility to ensure young people are aware of this service and can access support if required. Young people are also given details of advocacy services as regards complaints or any legal issues they may require support with.

EDUCATION 12. Education The Home is committed to ensuring that every young person receives full time education that is appropriate to his or her needs. Staff, in close liaison with other responsible agencies will actively pursue the young person’s education needs, which are identified in their care plan.



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The Home will support a young person in continuing to attend their local school wherever possible. Being placed in local authority care should not necessarily entail a change of school unless the travel involved is deemed too far to be in the best interests of the young person. Many young people at the Home will have experienced difficulties at school and may be at risk of exclusion or are currently excluded from mainstream education. Exclusion from education is likely to have a significant detrimental effect on the life chances of looked after children. The Home will actively engage with schools and representatives from the education department to maintain a young person’s full time school placement. Where a child is excluded or has no school place, staff will work closely with education professionals to ensure full time schooling is provided as soon as possible and within the minimum statutory timescale of 20 days. Where young people are excluded or have no full time school place, staff will in collaboration with the parents / carers, social worker and other professionals supervise education work set by schools or the P.R.S. Where young people are excluded for more than 5 days an individual education programme will be devised by staff in conjunction with Hounslow’s Virtual School. Young people on reduced timetables at school will be expected to continue to participate in schoolwork within the Home before they leave for school if they are on a restricted timetable e.g. afternoons only. If they only attend school in the morning, then they will be encouraged to do school work on their return to the Home until 3pm unless otherwise agreed in individual Care Plans. Family contact does not normally form part of the school day unless agreed in the young person’s care plan. Where young people are only receiving part time education staff will work closely with the school to increase schooling to full time hours if possible, or seek extra home tuition during unfilled school hours. During the normal school day 9am – 3pm access to leisure facilities in the Home will be restricted unless they form part of an individual education programme. Access to travel passes and travel allowances will also be restricted during these times for non-school attendees. School attendance will be checked daily with local schools and recorded by staff. Young People receive weekly rewards from the Home for regular school attendance. Young people can also receive other individual rewards for sustained improvements in school attendance and performance commensurate with their care plan. Staff will encourage young people to complete homework on their return from school, liaising closely with schools around homework diaries and working to individual education programmes.



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All young people are provided with a desk and suitable chair in their rooms for private study. Young people also have access to reference books and a computer for educational studies if required. All young people are encouraged to join the local library and to access their facilities. No looked after reviews, planning meetings or social worker visits are held during school times unless agreed in the young person’s care plan. Staff will support Young People’s school attendance through assisting with travel to and from school where agreed in the care plan. The Home, in collaboration with the young person’s social worker, will also provide school uniform and education equipment and supplies for young people; as well as funding for school meals, school trips and excursions. Staff will attend PEPs, parent’s evenings and other school meetings where agreed in the care plan and support young people attending after school clubs and appropriate extracurricular activities.

ENJOYMENT AND ACHIEVEMENT 13. Hobbies, Recreational, Sporting and Cultural Activities Staff at the Home will prepare activities together with young people to celebrate birthdays, cultural and religious festivals as identified in individual care plans. A young person’s expressed interest in leisure pursuits and / or membership of local community clubs or groups will be recognised in placement planning and arrangement made for them to continue their interests or attendance of the group or club. All group outings away from the Home will be appropriately risk assessed and adequately supervised by staff before being cleared by the designated senior worker/shift leader on duty. Staff will encourage young people to contribute to the planning of leisure programmes and recreational activities during school holidays. Activities are regularly discussed at weekly residents meetings. Young People at the Home have age appropriate access to leisure facilities including books, magazines, newspapers, board games, music systems, computers, television and videos. Certificate 18 videos and computer games are not allowed in the Home. Young people under 15 are not allowed access to Certificate 15 videos and computer games.



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Young people have access to the Internet through safeguarded connection monitored by The London Borough of Hounslow. The broadband wifi has web filtering that blocks inappropriate sites and notifies the manager if young people attempt to access these sites. Young People are encouraged to invite friends back to the Home outside the normal school day in line with the Home’s visitor’s policy. This provides guidelines on visitors including expectations of behaviour and allows access to the downstairs area of the house. In response to young people’s requests residents are allowed one visitor of the same gender in their bedrooms. These visits are closely monitored by staff on duty. All young people are encouraged to access recreational and leisure activities provided by partnership agencies in the local community which includes activity programmes specifically for looked after children run by youth services. Young people are offered free access to swimming and gym facilities within Hounslow.

HEALTH 14. Individual Health of Young People On admission to the Home all young people will be registered with a GP. If possible they will remain with their local GP but if this is not feasible a local Health Centre is willing to register any of our young people. The individual health needs of the child will be incorporated into the Care Plan and Placement Plan. In combination with the Nurse for looked after children the designated keyworker will be responsible for ensuring the young person receives a full medical assessment as soon as possible after admission. This will include the completion of a health assessment summary profiling the young person’s health needs and identifying an action plan to meet those health needs. A strengths and difficulties questionnaire is also undertaken to assess any emotional needs that may need addressing. The looked after children’s nurse can be called on to attend staff meetings and residents meetings to discuss the needs of individual young people and health issues for all residents. The keyworker will also be responsible for the young person’s ‘Health Assessment Summary’ whilst resident at the Home; where details of any treatment, appointments, medication and health issues addressed in key work sessions are recorded. The Keyworker will also be responsible for ensuring dental and eye checks take place and accurate records of immunisations are kept. The keyworker will be responsible for informing and liaising with parents or carers around health



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issues. This will include shared responsibility for ensuring any health appointments for the young person are attended. This will also include liaising with health professionals including the GP. Health promotion will be addressed both individually with young people through health assessment summaries and in group work with health professionals who provide guidance on contraception, giving up smoking, drugs or alcohol and other health issues affecting young people.

Drugs / Alcohol Smoking is not permitted inside the Home in line with council guidelines. Young people are actively discouraged from smoking. It has been agreed that young people that do smoke can smoke cigarettes in the back garden to avoid congregating in the road and disturbing neighbours. Young people are made aware of the rules regarding drugs, alcohol and smoking at their admission or pre admission meeting and this is made clear in the young person’s guide. The Council has a drugs and alcohol policy for residential Homes which all staff are made aware of as part of their staff induction. The policy includes; Guidance and directions on how to respond to young people using drugs and alcohol or abusing other substances, including how to manage young people returning to the Home under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This may include agreements on staff response made in consultation with parents or carers, the looked after children’s nurse or other professionals. Directions for staff on when to inform the Home Manager, Social Worker, Police and other agencies. Including actions specified in individual care plans. Possible effects of drugs and alcohol use and how to recognise symptoms. Details of how to contact or refer to other agencies, which may assist a young person or carers to deal with drugs or alcohol use or substance abuse. Training for staff and guidance for young people is also available from designated drugs and alcohol workers and offered on a regular basis.

15. Medication The Assistant Manager with support from the BSO takes overall responsibility for the safe and accurate administering of medication, home remedies and ensuring first



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aid kits are replenished. Staff are provided with guidelines and procedures in the Home’s medication policy. This includes:

• Supervision checks on staff to ensure they are competent to administer medication and training for staff on the administering of medication and related issues including consultation with the nurse for looked after children. Guidance on correct procedures when administering medication in line with statutory requirements. This includes guidelines on how and where to administer drugs as well as recording medication refused by young people.

• Guidance on the correct and safe handling and storage of prescribed medication. Identifying use of a locked cabinet for sole use of storage of young people’s medication. Directions regarding procedures for the recording of medication on individual record charts which staff must sign.

• Medication procedure is reviewed annually and medication stocks are

checked weekly. All staff receive first aid at work training as part of their induction programme which is renewed every 3 years to ensure a qualified first aider is available on every shift

On admission the young person’s parent/carer or Social Worker signs a home remedies form to agree which home remedies can be administered. The list of remedies was drawn up in conjunction with a Community Pharmacist and contains the following remedies:-

Paracetamol 500 mg tablets 1 a day allergy relief tablets Ibuprofen 200 mg tablets Hot lemon Sachets Strepsils throat Lozenges 2.4 mg (all flavours) All-In-One Tablets 400 mg Vapour Rub Blue eye-tech Plasters Olbas Oil Benadryl Skin Allergy Cream Eyewash Head Lice Lotion Savlon Antiseptic Cream This list can be supplemented by other specific home remedies to meet the individual needs of the young person but any additions must be specified on the agreement and signed by parent/carer or Social worker.



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POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS 16. Family Contact The Unit has an expectation of parents that there will be a substantial level of contact between the parents and their child. Family contact is viewed as an essential part of the care plan for any young person. Whenever possible family contact will be actively encouraged, and when necessary facilitated by staff at the home. Parents, siblings and extended family will be welcome at the home if requested by the child, in line with the home’s visitor’s policy. Similarly staff at the home will actively support a young person’s visit to family or relatives if agreed in their care plan. Where contact is not possible, due to practical reasons such as where a parent / carer lives abroad or is in hospital, staff will actively promote contact by letter, telephone or any other reasonable means. The only exception to this is where contact has been denied or restricted on a legal basis to protect the child. Young people are also able to invite friends to the home in line with the home’s visitors' policy. This policy ensures young people are encouraged to take responsibility for their visitors and respect other residents’ needs at the home. Young people must first ask staff if visitors can be allowed into the home and are expected to give 24 hours’ notice if they want their friends to stay for a meal. Details of the home’s visitor’s policy are contained in the Young People’s guide. Young people may be allowed in certain circumstances to visit and stay with friends but permission would be needed from parents and Social Worker to ensure this would be in the young person’s best interests and that the young person remains safe. This should be risk assessed and should always be addressed in the young person’s care plan. Outreach work / Staying Close



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All staff work hard to build positive relationships with young people and for some the transition to semi - independent living can be frightening. Outreach support is always offered to young people after they have left the home and they are encouraged to return home and maintain contact with staff if they feel this is beneficial. Although it is not always possible there may be occasions when a young person requests an overnight stay for extra support during a difficult time. If a vacant bed is available this is risk assessed in conjunction with the young person’s social worker and with the agreement of current residents. The home has been actively involved in the planning and opening of a Staying Close property nearby in conjunction with other partners. Staff keep records of each contact made by ex-residents in an outreach book. PROTECTION OF CHILDREN 17. CCTV The home has CCTV Security covering the external grounds of the home, this is to ensure the safety of staff and young people and to assist in the detection of crime. The system is based in the main office and can be monitored on a daily basis if necessary.

18. Unauthorised Absence The London borough of Hounslow follows the Pan London Protocol and has a multi-agency Missing from Care policy with guidance for staff and young people. This includes procedures involved in reporting young people missing, who should be informed, risk assessments of young people, how to respond to a young person’s return and use of an independent person if requested to interview the young person on their return. Staff usually undertake a return discussion on their return or as soon as possible after their return, a police officer also undertakes a police prevention interview with the young person usually within 6 hours of return. All young people are required to inform a member to staff when they wish to leave the Home. No planned activity should require a return time later than 11 pm unless otherwise agreed in the young person’s care plan or agreed by staff on duty... If a young person has not returned to the Home by 11pm (dependant on age and individual care plan) and staff are not aware of any planned agreed overnight stay with family or friends, the staff on duty will contact the young person’s family, friends and known contacts to try and establish their whereabouts. If this is unsuccessful they will be reported missing to the Police using Hounslow’s Grab pack, the Emergency Duty Team and their parents (if applicable). If a young person has not



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arrived at family or friends on a planned overnight visit by this time, staff at the home will also report a young person missing unless otherwise agreed in the young person’s care plan. At the earliest opportunity the young person’s allocated social worker will be informed. A young person may be reported missing to the Police earlier than 12pm depending upon their age and vulnerability and agreements made in their care plan or any risk assessment undertaken by staff. For example a young person may be reported missing if they fail to arrive at school. Young people who break a court-imposed curfew will be reported to the Police as soon as the restrictions of the curfew are broken, as identified in their court order, bail restrictions or care plan. If a young person is missing from the home for more than 24 hours with no contact the Service Manager will be informed as a matter of urgency and a strategy meeting may be convened. A record is kept in the home of all unauthorised absences/missing periods and monitored by the Registered Manager monthly.

19. BEHAVIOURAL SUPPORT We believe control and discipline should be maintained on the basis of good personal relationships between staff and children within a consistent and safe environment. Staff are provided with guidance in this area in the Home’s policy ‘methods of care control’. Individual young people will be risk assessed regarding their behaviour and forms of control and strategies highlighted in individual risk assessments and care plans. It is recognised that young people may demonstrate behaviours that are inappropriate, unwanted and sometimes unsafe. On occasions staff will have to work with young people exhibiting unacceptable behaviour. In this instance staff will endeavour to assist and support the young person to refrain from unacceptable behaviour and seek an alternative, more positive forum for their feelings of anger and/ or frustration. Where possible staff will attempt to diffuse a situation and use de-escalation techniques to calm a young person and prevent a serious incident. These could include offering to take them out on a 1-1basis to talk through the situation or setting up an alternative activity within the home i.e. cooking, art etc.



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Where conflict has arisen between individual young people, staff will attempt to provide the opportunity for children to resolve their differences in an acceptable way. This may be by addressing the issue later on when the atmosphere is calmer and encouraging young people to reflect on the causes of their behaviour, how they may have reacted differently and how they will deal with such conflicts in the future. Where conflict has arisen between the young person and a member of staff, we will similarly attempt to provide an opportunity for the young person and staff member to reconcile differences by use of a third party, if necessary. Where these approaches are unsuccessful and the young person is still presenting unacceptable behaviour then the imposition of a sanction may be an appropriate response to the young person’s negative behaviour. A sanction may also be imposed if the young person repeatedly fails to adhere to the agreed to house rules, which are communicated at the outset of the placement and agreed in the young person’s care plan. This is only enforced where it is made clear to the young person that a sanction will be the consequence of this failure to adhere to house rules. The Home has a ‘sanctions policy’ for staff, which provides guidelines on the appropriate use of sanctions in accordance with Children Act 1989 which includes the following measures which cannot be used:

• Any form of corporal punishment

• Any deprivation of food or drink

• Any restrictions on visits or communication with:

Parents or any person with parental responsibility Relatives Any visitor appointed for the child in accordance with Any Social worker assigned to the child Any Guardian ad Litem acting for the child Any Solicitor acting for the child

• Any requirement that the child wear distinctive or inappropriate clothing

• The use or withholding of medication, medical or dental treatment

• The intentional deprivation of sleep

• The imposition of fines (except by way of reparation)

• Any intimate physical examination of the child or young person. The Quality Standards provides guidelines for staff regarding physical restraint of young people in the ‘physical interventions of staff’ policy. This is available for all staff and details the appropriate use of physical restraint to protect young people or staff from harm and / or avoid serious damage to property. It may also be necessary



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to lock external and internal doors in order to de-escalate a situation or to prevent the young person from causing harm to himself, others or property. Any decision to do so must be agreed by the manager on duty and for a minimum period so as not to restrict the liberty of the young person involved or other residents. All permanent staff receive training and regular re-certification of skills in the Crisis Anger Limitation Management system (C.A.L.M) in de-escalation skills and acceptable forms of physical restraint. Although some staff are unable to be re-accredited in physical restraint training due to back injuries all are trained in de-escalating potentially aggressive behaviours. All young people are risk assessed and guidance is held on the assessment as to what level of intervention staff should impose with physical intervention only being used as a last resort. In most instances the situation can be diffused by staff recognising the warning signs, diversion and occasionally using less restrictive techniques i.e. guiding them away from the situation and focusing on strategies identified for that young person to calm them down. All sanctions, critical incidents and incidents of physical intervention are recorded, signed by a manager and monitored. 20. Fire and Safety Precautions All London Borough of Hounslow premises must meet certain standards identified in the fire risk assessment which is updated annually. A Senior RSW takes responsibility for the effective operation of unit’s fire policy and procedures and the firefighting equipment is inspected annually by Walker Fire. All young people are aware of evacuation procedures and the fire policy is explained to them prior to or on admission. This information is also made available in the Young People’s guide. The Home Fire Policy includes: FIRE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS:

• The staff test the fire alarm system weekly and any faults reported and recorded in the home’s fire book. Staff test all fire call points and some door closures weekly.

• All firefighting equipment is checked monthly by staff and recorded. Named

contractors also check all equipment regularly. Where fire extinguishers are kept behind closed doors, this is risk assessed.

• Fire evacuation drills are undertaken monthly, signed off by a manager and

accurately recorded in the Home’s fire book.

• All permanent staff are informed as part of induction of relevant fire safety procedures and receive training on firefighting / use of extinguishers.



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• A fire risk assessment is undertaken every two years by Walker Fire and any requirements actioned as soon as possible.

21. Health and Safety The Ride works closely with the departments Health and Safety Officer with regard to current legislation and risk assessments. The allocated officer undertakes a rigorous Health and safety audit every 3 years which is reviewed annually by a manager at The Ride. The units handyman also conducts working environment risk assessments 6 monthly to identify any damage to property, repairs needed or areas of concern within the home. All portable electrical equipment is tested annually to ensure it meets regulated standards set out by the London Borough of Hounslow. The use of any toxic cleaning materials is risk assessed, as is any other potentially harmful substance or equipment. There are several contractors employed to undertake regular checks of water, gas, hygiene, equipment etc.

LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT

22. The Registered Provider: The London Borough of Hounslow Children’s, Health and Adult’s Services Civic Centre Lampton Road Hounslow TW3 4DN Responsible Individual: Jacqui McShannon BA Hons in French Language and Literature, CQSW, Masters in Social Work Registered Manager: Sue Standfield



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Sue has over 40 years’ experience in caring for children and young people who are looked after by the Local Authority and has been Registered Manager for The Ride since 2010. NVQ 4 in Health and Social Care. NVQ 4 in Leadership and Management NNEB (National Nursery Examination Board) Current Staffing Establishment

All staff have extensive experience in Residential Childcare. The staff team also reflects a mixture of cultural backgrounds. The team is also well balanced in terms of age and gender. All staff are qualified to a minimum of CACHE Level 3 diploma in CYPWD or equivalent or required to undertake the qualification on appointment to the post.

Name M/F Position Held Full/Part

Time Working hours per week

Qualifications Date commenced employment

Sue Standfield F Registered Manager

Full Time 36 NVQ level 3 and 4

NVQ level 4 Leadership and Management

NNEB

26/07/1993

Damian Worrell M Assistant Manager

Full Time 36 NVQ Level 3

CACHE Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children’s and Young Peoples services.

30/05/2005

Jean Luc Julienne

M Senior RSW

Full Time 36 NVQ Level 3 –Health and Social Care

B Tec National in Business and Finance, Access to Social Work, NVQ level 2 in Fitness and Gym

18/07/2005

Charmaine Matthew

F Senior RSW Part time 32 NVQ Level 3 –Health and Social Care

Level 4 Diploma in therapeutic counselling.

15/06/2005

Eliramson Saro M Senior RSW Full Time 36 NVQ Level 3 –Health and Social Care

ABE in Travel, Tourism and Hospitality.

01/02/2011



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Certificate in Cookery and Bakery and Pastry.

Midas trained

Robert Daniyan M RSW Full Time 36 NVQ Level 3 –Health and Social Care

26/04/2006

Jackie Dance F RSW Part time 28.5 NVQ Level 3 –Health and Social Care

07/09/1987

Helen Paul F RSW Part time 18 NVQ Level 3 –Health and Social Care

Advanced Diploma in Social Care and Supporting Housing.

02/05/2006

Ruchi Ali F RSW Part time 18 NVQ Level 3 –Health and Social Care

28/04/2003

Marilyn Stevens F RSW Part time 30 NVQ Level 3 –Health and Social Care

City and Guilds in Book keeping and Accounts. Certificate in Business and Enterprise (Access course)

01/11/2011

Anu Sehmi F RSW Full Time 36 CACHE Level 3 Diploma in children’s and young people’s workforce

Introduction to Youth Work

01/11/2011

Mike Bhebhe M RSW Full time 36 BS in Social work

09/11/2015

Sara Lopez Ezzahiri

F RSW Full time 36 Degree in Arabic studies

Starting CACHE Level 3 Diploma in July 2018

02/01/2018

Helen Underdown

F Domestic Assistant

Full time 36 01/11/2011

Vacant Cook Part time 20

Matthew Blackmore

M Handy Person Full time 36 – shared with Westbrook

Advanced City and Guilds in Plumbing, heating and health and

19/03/2012



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and Late entry team

safety, ACS in Gas safety, CORGI registered, MIDAS trained. CDM. Qualified PAT tester

Tyrone Carty Williams

M

RSW

0 hours contract

NVQ Level 3 –Health and Social Care

Judy Dickens

F

RSW

0 hours contract

NVQ Level 3 –Health and Social Care

23. Staff Supervision, Training and Development Supervision All full time residential workers receive regular supervision lasting at least one and a half hours every 4 weeks. New staff, during the probationary period, receive supervision every two weeks. Arrangements are made to cover long-term absences of supervisors of over 2 weeks. Training and development needs are addressed as part of the supervision process and supervision notes are recorded and kept on file in line with departmental procedures. Training and Development All permanent staff participate in the employers Staff Development and Appraisal scheme and annual reviews take place. All staff have an individual training profile and are expected to complete mandatory and relevant training courses. All permanent residential staff have undertaken N.V.Q level 3 or 4 in Health and Social Care. New staff will be required to undertake CACHE diploma in Health and Social Care Levels 3 - 5.



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CARE PLANNING 24. Admission Criteria The Home is not able to meet the needs of children with profound physical disabilities, as the building is not suitably adapted. The Home is also not able to meet the needs of children with profound learning disabilities. The Home aims to meet the needs of young people with a range of challenging behaviours, which make it difficult for them to live with their families. Our first priority is the children we serve, therefore we have a duty to protect but we also have a responsibility to the local community of which we are a part. For these reasons we may not be able to meet the needs of children with the following behaviours or conditions.



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• Young people with diagnosed psychiatric problems or obvious assessed

mental health needs requiring specialist care. For example: young people whom seriously self-harm.

• Young people who have a recognised addiction to drugs or alcohol. (As opposed to substance abuse).

• Young people who have a history of sexual offences and / or present with persistent sexually abusive behaviour.

• Young offenders with a recent history of persistent serious offences against property e.g. burglary and car crime.

• Young people with a history of violent offences and or persistent violent behaviours e.g. a record of serious assaults on other young people and or staff.

• Young people with a recorded history of arson or persistent dangerous fire lighting.

• Young People on Remand Any young person with one more of these or similar behaviours will be risk assessed by the Registered Manager. Admission will only be considered if there is no significant identified risk to himself or herself, other young people, staff or the local community.

25. Admission to the Home All Admissions to the home must go through the borough Placement Team. On receipt of any request for accommodation for either emergency or planned admissions, The Placement team will liaise with the Home Manager on duty, who would clarify the suitability of the proposed admission and complete a new referral risk assessment with reference to the Homes’ aims and objectives’ and ‘admission criteria’. Any emergency Admissions will only last for not more than three days before an assessment is undertaken between management and the social worker to determine whether the placement is appropriate to become longer term. (See emergency placement procedure). For planned admissions only, if there is agreement between the Home manager, the Social Worker, the child and their family to proceed, then the Home will follow its admission process which normally takes between 3-5 days, depending on individual cases, from the initial referral. This allows time for the Home to receive relevant accurate and up to date information on the child, including what alternatives to accommodation have been explored and risk assess further if necessary. It also enables the Home:

a) To allocate a keyworker. b) To arrange visits to the Home by the child and their family / carers. c) To organise attendance at a residents meeting and overnight stay. d) For a pre-admission placement agreement meeting to take place.



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This meeting should be attended by the child and their parents / carers, the social worker, the keyworker and if possible other relevant professionals. The meeting will be chaired by the Registered Manager or an Assistant Manager and will address the following:

• The appropriate Looked After Children (LAC) forms will be completed and signed including the Care Plan and Placement Plan.

• The meeting will draw up a Placement Plan for the young person, which will

define roles, responsibilities, the expected outcome and time scale of the placement. This will include a detailed Home day-to-day care plan.

• The first Looked After Review date will be set.

• A time scale of visits to the young person by their allocated social worker will

be drawn up and agreed.

• Arrangements for family contact will be agreed.

• Any outstanding issues and details as regards the health, education of the young person will be addressed including appointments, medication and therapeutic input.

• Arrangements for supporting regular activities/clubs will be agreed.

• Expectations of the young person’s behaviour whilst in placement will be

outlined, including school attendance, boundaries within the Home, and staff responses to unacceptable behaviour and the registered provider’s response to dangerous or disruptive behaviour that causes risk to themselves or others.

• Any individual and cultural needs will be addressed including diet, religious

observance and any other relevant supports for the young person.

26. Emergency Placement Procedure

In the event of a referral for an Emergency Placement, the person receiving / administering the referral should do all that is reasonable to get as much information on the child from the referring agency.

However, any decision to admit a child in these circumstances must be based on an assessment of the available information that the child's needs are likely to be met by the home (if out of hours the on call manager should be consulted prior to accepting the referral).

For emergency admissions, staff should follow the same process as for planned admissions. However, given the time constraints, the risk assessments will be



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carried out from information provided over the phone, e-mail or facsimile. Referral forms need to be completed and received before the young person is admitted despite the time pressures with emergency placements.

As a minimum, the following information will be required at the time of the placement:

• The contact arrangements that may be permitted between the child and their parents, siblings, relatives and friends – no contact may be allowed without the approval of the social worker, in writing (or set out in the child’s Placement Plan;

• A copy of the child’s Health Care Plan or, if this isn’t available, details of any healthcare or medical needs/requirements that the home should be aware of e.g. Home Remedies or Medication that the child may require

• Copies or information relating to any Court Orders that may be required or influence the Child’s placement e.g. if the child is subject to a Remand.

The person administering this process must keep a record of the matters that are not undertaken and pass this to the chair of the Emergency Review, so that they can be followed up.

The Home may also offer no more than one placement at any time to young people charged and being held by the Police overnight until the next available court. This is under the provisions in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1983 to transfer from Police Custody to Local Authority accommodation. It is subject to a risk assessment of the young person and must have the agreement of the Unit Manager. Note: This is not in any way to be considered as a secure placement, nor is it a remand to the Care of the Authority. 27. Reviews / Placement Plans The Home considers Looked After Reviews of young people as an essential requirement of providing an effective service for children and families. Young people’s needs, development and progress in all areas of their life must be formally reviewed and recorded regularly in line with ‘Looked After Children’ and ‘Good Parenting’ guidelines. All young people’s reviews must take place outside normal school hours. The young person’s keyworker and the Manager or Assistant Manager should attend the review. The Home Manager ensures the allocated keyworker prepares a fair and accurate report of the child’s progress in designated areas for the child’s Looked After Review. The young person, before the review meeting must see the completed report and any comments by the young person added to the report. The Registered Manager should also check and sign the review report. The report should include any difficulties for the young person in placement and should specifically highlight the young person’s achievements and any areas of progress.



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Staff are provided with guidance on preparing for a looked after child’s review in the Home’s policy on reviews. The Home’s review procedures also include guidance for staff in assisting the young person to contribute their views fully to the process and the use of an advocate for the young person where appropriate. This also includes guidance for staff on ensuring the young person is given the opportunity to contribute fully to the review process both in the writing of reports and in the review meeting itself. Staff must ensure the young person is given the opportunity to discuss the outcome of the review and any issues arising. The Manager also ensures that staff implement the agreed outcome of reviews as necessary in the day-to-day care of the child. This includes recording the Outcomes of the statutory review and the amendment of the day-to-day care of the young person as necessary. Individuals responsible in the home for pursuing actions arising from review decisions must also be clearly identified. The Registered Manager has a duty to request an emergency statutory review for a young person where no review has been planned. Also where there has been a major change in the plan for a looked after child a review must be called so that all parties can agree a change to the care plan. Any difficulties in arranging a young person’s review within regulation time scales must be documented by the Registered Manager and reported to their line manager. The young person should be given copies of reports and minutes of review meetings and be assisted by the keyworker to understand them and to store them appropriately. Details on the review process are provided in the young people’s guide.

28. Location of The Ride



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29. Contacts For a list of relevant contact details please go to The Rides online manual:- Section 9.5 Organisational Structure and Manager Contacts http://www.proceduresonline.com/hounslow/chomes/

http://www.proceduresonline.com/hounslow/chomes/