Contact: Colin Hardy, 07718 146800, [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 Swanwick Lodge is a 16 bed unit providing secure accommodation for both males and females between the ages of 12 and 17 years. 10 beds are sold under contract to the Youth Justice Board and the remaining places are sold to other local authorities or used by Hampshire to meet the needs of young people who require high levels of care and support. The unit offers education on site and the service includes a psychological support service provided under contract from Portsmouth Primary Care Trust.

1.2 To be able to operate as a secure unit a licence is required and every 3 years a joint inspection is conducted by OfSTED, now incorporating the Commission for Social Care Inspection. The most recent inspection was completed by OfSTED in December 2007 and a licence to operate was granted for 3 years until December 2009.

1.3 The inspection adopted the 5 outcomes framework from Every Child Matters and using a judgement ranking between 1= outstanding and 4=inadequate, the service at Swanwick was rated as `good' (2) in all areas. The inspection report pays particular regard to the education and learning opportunities available to residents and offers the view that the service can develop to become a centre of excellence.

1.4 The inspection report contains a number of recommendations and requirements which are summarised at appendix 1 and the action plan in response is attached at appendix 2

1.5 Following the OfSTED inspection the licence to operate was extended until December 2009 and the service will be subject to further inspections and review. Facilities at the unit are currently being upgraded following agreement on funding from the DfES.

2 Recommendations

That the Executive Member for Children and Families approves the action plan in response to the inspection of Swanwick Lodge.

3 Summary of findings of the inspection.

3.1 OfSTED have provided a report following their inspection and the main findings are summarised below. The report contains a number of recommendations and requirements and the action plan in response is attached at appendix 2

3.2 Summary of man findings - extracts from the inspection report

· Swanwick lodge is a safe and comfortable place in which children could live and the managers are constantly seeking to improve provision

· The regime at the unit is child centred and placement plans are frequently reviewed to ensure young people's best interests are met

· The unit provided a good a nutritious diet and young people were consulted about their choice of menus

· The unit has good systems in place that ensure young people receive appropriate medication and health needs were addressed well on a day to day basis by the staff team.

· The support from specialist therapists is a commendable initiative

· Behaviour management techniques used at the home were extremely well managed and successful

· The unit offers a good standard of education to young people with scope to improve further

· The emphasis placed upon recreation and activities offers a real opportunity for young people to gain in confidence and useful work is being done to give young people insights into their behaviour

· Young people were able to express their views and were consulted throughout their placement

· The unit was well managed and the support given to young people and staff was good

· The unit has improved since the last licensing inspection and the relationship between young people and staff in the management of challenging behaviour has commendably improved

· The unit is improving its resources for vocational training to prepare young people when discharged

· Initiatives are well under way to improve the premises following agreement on funding from the DfES

3.3 Summary of areas where improvements could be made

The following summarises the main areas highlighted by the inspection where improvements could be made

· The units health care plans could be more detailed

· The unit could benefit from the routine support of a qualified nurse to support staff in undertaking assessment and in the delivery of health plans

· The complaints procedure could be better developed and better access by young people to independent advocates could be introduced

· The role care staff play in education activities could be developed

· Training and induction for new staff could be developed

4 Implications and implementation.

4.1 Action has been taken in relation to many of the requirements and recommendations and progress against the action plan will be monitored by the unit manager and through visits by independent managers.

4.2 Some of the recommendations have financial implications, in particular access to outdoor activities space may require better all weather facilities and on site support from a qualified nurse will have cost implications. The advice of the County Council's P&BR service will be sought in relation to outdoor activities and the possibility of on site nursing will be discussed with the PCT. The contract for the psychological support service is due to be re-tendered later this year and the proposals for an on site nurse will be included to explore the likely costs.

4.3 The Youth Justice Board are the largest purchaser and their price and contract arrangements are not sensitive to local issues. In general terms the operating budget for the service is matched by income from contracts and individual purchases and any additional costs will have to be carefully considered as the budget for 2008/9 is developed.

4.4 The proposals in this report are expected to support the County Council's corporate priorities in relation to safer communities and maximising wellbeing.

4.5 The proposals also support the all 5 outcomes of the Children Act by seeking to ensure all young people using the service are supported in reaching their potential in a safe environment.

5 Consultation

5.1 The action plan has been discussed with young people, staff and Hampshire Education and Inclusion managers and contact will be made with the Hampshire Primary Care Trust.

6 Legal implications

6.1 Swanwick lodge secure unit remains licensed to operate until December 2009

7 Financial implications

7.1 In general terms income from contracts and purchasers of the service covers the operating budget and any additional costs arising from implementation of the action plan in 2007/8 will be managed within the existing budget. Any additional financial implications arising from the action plan will be considered as the operating budget and income targets for 2008/9 are developed.

8 Personnel implications

8.1 Should an on site nursing service be developed it is likely this could be incorporated into existing contracts for other health support purchased from the NHS and it is not likely that direct employment would be developed.

9 Impact assessment

9.1 Race and equality impact assessment has been considered in the development of this report and no adverse impact has been identified.

10 Crime prevention issues

10.1 The response to OfSTED requirements and recommendations included within the action plan will support the County Council's obligation under Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to consider the impact it makes on the prevention of crime. Both the care and education programmes at Swanwick contain a focus on offending behaviour.

11 Views of the Local County Councillor

11.1 The views of the local County Councillor have not been sought on this occasion

12 Conclusion

12.1 The report of the OfSTED inspection confirms that Swanwick Lodge secure unit provides good care that meets the needs of vulnerable young people. The report confirms that with attention to those areas of requirement and recommendation the service could become a centre of excellence. The action plan addresses these issues and progress will be monitored to take advantage of all opportunities to improve care and support to young people in the secure unit

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background documents

The following documents discuss facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB: the list excludes

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

None

Summary of recommendations and requirements from the OfSTED inspection of Swanwick Lodge Secure Unit in December 2007

Regulatory Statutory Requirements

· Review guidelines to ensure access to a complaints process

· Ensure access to independent advocates

· Ensure all staff are trained to manage challenging behaviour and in the use of restraint techniques

· Ensure all staff are not disqualified under the Caring for children Regulations 2002

· Clarify the role of care staff supporting teaching and learning

· Introduce a tutorial system to support learning targets

· Improve the links between the education unit and the broader education system in Hampshire

· Develop professional development opportunities for teaching staff

· Ensure risk assessment and risk management arrangements for the use of tools and specialist equipment in classrooms

· Ensure appropriate supervision to all staff including night staff

· Ensure that independent regulation 33visit reports are made available to CSCI

Regulatory Recommendations

· Review the use of plastic cutlery

· Consider better access to an on site qualified nurse to better support staff and residents in assessment, care planning and care programmes

· Consider providing an admissions pack to all young people o admission

· Consider providing open access to freepost complaints forms

· Review the recording of fire and evacuation drills

· Consider how best to engage young people in the recruitment of staff

· Consider extending the quality assurance process to include the views of young people and their parents

· Develop further programmes for preparation for life and independence

· Review induction and training opportunities for staff to respond to the specialist nature of the care task

· Ensure that the performance management and quality assurance information informs practice

· Seek the views of young people, social workers and Youth Justice Workers regularly

· Ensure that regulation 33 reports include reference to young people seen and their views

Licensing approval recommendations

· Develop a health care plan for each young person that goes with them on discharge

· Review the citizenship programme to ensure better access to fresh air and outdoor activities

· Ensure diversity training for staff

CSCI INSPECTION REPORT - 5^TH DECEMBER 2006

SWANWICK LODGE - ACTION PLAN