Childrens Residential Service - Frequently Asked Questions

Questions

1. What do we do?
2. Who do we work with?
3. How do we maintain our high standards?
4. How do we recruit staff?

Answers

1. Q. What do we do?
   A. We offer residential places for up to 26 children at any one time. Placements range from the provision of emergency overnight accommodation to looking after young people on a planned and longer term basis.  The service comprises 4 homes; each of these homes has a different function. Placements are offered to children and young people aged between 10-19 years. 
   
   These include children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties, children with disabilities and children with complex needs.  We work with children and young people to develop and support relationships, build self-worth and self-awareness, promote educational achievement and encourage and maintain cultural identity.
   
   Key Workers are appointed to oversee the implementation of the young person’s Care Plan.  Each home develops a programme that identifies areas of work to be undertaken whilst the young person is in placement. The programme promotes the health and wellbeing of the young person, develops areas of strength and identifies areas where further support is required.
   
   We have also developed an Outreach programme to support young people who move on from residential placements to independence.
   
   
2. Q. Who do we work with?
   A. Primarily we work with the young person and their family. Partnership working is key in achieving good outcomes and high standards of care for children and young people. Agencies and professionals we work with include social workers, education and health professionals, the youth justice service, advocacy services and community and leisure services.
   
   The Integrated Service for Looked After Children (ISL) is part of the LAAC service and provides specialist and holistic models of support to each home. This support is provided by a range of professionals including educational psychologists, social workers, teachers, community psychiatric nurses, a designated nurse for Looked After Children, behavioural psychologists and experts in specific fields such as community and leisure.
   
   
3. Q. How do we maintain our high standards?
   A. Each home is subject to inspection by Ofsted and is measured against the National Minimum Care Standards (NMS) and the Children’s Homes Regulations. Homes are inspected at least twice a year and these inspections can be unannounced. Ofsted report on the management of the home and services provided for children and young people.
   
   In addition to Ofsted inspections, an independent visitor (Reg. 33) conducts monthly visits. The independent visitor produces a report that ‘audits’ each home against the NMS. Within their Corporate Parenting role, County and District Councillors also undertake regular visits.
   
   The government's Every Child Matters and Care Matters Agenda provide key legislative frameworks for the delivery and continued improvement of our services.
   
   Central to the delivery and development of services is consultation with children, young people, families and key partners. This helps to maintain high standards of practice and ensure a quality residential care service.
   
   
4. Q. How do we recruit staff?
   A. The welfare and safeguarding of the young people we look after is of paramount importance. To this end, the County Council has a stringent recruitment and selection process that responds to the recommendations of the Warner Report 'Choosing with Care'.
   
   This includes a safeguarding interview for all staff employed to work at a home. Staff must have experience of working with children or young people. All appointments will be subject to strict vetting and recruitment policies, including enhanced criminal record checks. Candidates that have lived or worked overseas within the last 5 years will also be required to provide a certificate of good conduct from the relevant authority in the host country.
   
   All staff must also be registered with the Independent Safeguarding Authority, who assess the suitability of adults to work with vulnerable young people.
   
   Prospective Residential Support Workers will either hold an NVQ level 3 in Health and Social Care (or equivalent) or be expected to work towards this Award. This is the minimum required qualification. Staff complete a comprehensive induction and receive support through regular supervision with a manager. Supervision will identify individual training pathways for the support worker and allow progression within the service. There is also an annual process of staff review and development.
   
   Training covers all aspects of corporate parenting and direct work with young people, equipping workers with the necessary skills and understanding of the diverse needs and development of children and young people. Training is divided between three areas; mandatory, core and specialist. There is a comprehensive training and development programme provided by the Learning and Development Centre, as well as courses that are commissioned externally.