Filby Hall Children’s Home - Statement of Purpose
Filby Hall Children’s Home
Statement of Purpose
October 2017
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE - CONTENTS
QUALITY AND PURPOSE OF CARE
1.Statement of the needs of the children we provide care and accommodation for.
2.Our ethos, outcomes we seekto achieve and our approach to achieving them.
3.A description of the accommodation offered by Filby Hall including:
a. How accommodation has been adapted to the needs of children.
b. Age range, number and sex of children we provide accommodation for
c. The type of accommodation, including sleeping accommodation.
4.A description of the location of Filby Hall.
5.Arrangements to support the cultural, linguistic and religious needs of children.
6.Details of who to contact if a person has a complaint about Filby Hall and how that person can access our complaints policy.
7.Details of how a person, body or organisation involved in the care or protection of a child can access our child protection policies or the behaviour management policy.
VIEWS, WISHES AND FEELINGS
8.Our approach to consulting children about the quality oftheir care.
9.A description of our policy and approach in relation to:
a.Anti-discriminatory practice in respect of children and their families.
b.Children’s rights.
EDUCATION
10.Details of provision to support children with special educational needs.
11.N/A - we are not registered as a school.
12.As we are not registered as a school, the arrangements for children to attend localschools. The provision we make to promote children’s educational achievement.
ENJOYMENT AND ACHIEVEMENT
13.The arrangements for enabling children to take part in and benefit from a variety of activitiesthat meet their needs and develop and reflect their creative, intellectual, physical and socialinterests and skills.
HEALTH
14.Details of any healthcare or therapy provided, including:
a.Qualifications and professional supervision of the staff involved in providing any healthcare or therapy.
b.The efficacy and the metrics of any healthcare or therapy provided, resulting evidence and how it can be accessed.
POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS
15.Arrangements for promoting contact between children, their families and friends.
PROTECTION OF CHILDREN
16.Our approach to the monitoring and surveillance of children.
17.Our approach to behavioural support, including information about:
- Our approach to restraint in relation to children.
- How staff are trained in restraint and how their competence is assessed.
LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
18.The name and work address of the Registered Provider, the Responsible Individual and the Registered Manager.
19.Details of the experience and qualifications of staff, including any staff commissioned toprovide education or health care.
20.Details of the management and staffing structure of the home, including arrangements forthe professional supervision of staff, including staff that provide education or health care.
21.How we promoteappropriate role models of both sexes.
CARE PLANNING
22. Any criteria used for the admission of children to the home, including any policies and procedures for emergency admission.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
INTRODUCTION
1.This Statement of Purpose (SOP) document outlines the matters set out in Schedule 1 (as listed above) and Regulation 16 of the Children’s Home Regulations 2015. Filby Hall will operate as set out in this document. This SOP will be provided to HMCI (who will also be notified of any revisions within 28 days). This document will also be available for any person who works at the children’s home, any young person that lives there and their parents or any person with parental responsibility, as well as the placing authority of any young person living at the home. A copy of this SOP can be found on Filby Hall’s website which was set up in May 2015.
QUALITY AND PURPOSE OF CARE
2.Range of Needs. Filby Hall provides accommodation and care for up to six young people between the ages of 8-18 years and of either gender. Filby Hall provides care for young people with a wide range of needs, including mild to moderate learning difficulties, and emotional and behavioural difficulties. All young people are treated as individuals; we care for their unique needs and take into account their religion, race, culture, disability, sexual orientation and gender.
3.Ethos and Outcomes. At Filby Hall we believe that the young people we look after should not just be well cared for, but also feel cared about. We believe that expressing authentic warmth and unconditional positive regard is important when helping them to achieve their potential. Our goal is to maintain an environment where young people can feel safe and begin to recover from the difficult experiences and disruption they have experienced in their lives and to help them achieve individual success, thus maximising their life chances. We treat all young people as individuals, recognising their unique needs. We recognise and appreciate that most young people have strong opinions about how they want to be cared for: they want to be heard,so we incorporate their positive ideas into the way we care for them. Our approach follows the Quality Standards (as set out in the Children’s Home Regulations 2015). We ensure that our services are delivered in such a manner that we actively promote each young person’s health, safety and enjoyment. We strive to turn out well balanced adults who can make a positive contribution to society, while enjoying their own lives. Economic well-being, ethnicity and diversity are also promoted. Throughout their stay at Filby Hall, we encourage and support our young people to become as independent as possible, at a pace that is comfortable and realistic for them.
4.Accommodation. Filby Hall is a beautiful, Queen Anne/Georgian Country Manor House, detached and set in tranquil seclusion of eight acres of its own grounds. Filby Hall underwent an extensive refurbishment in 2011 and the following improvements have been completed: window replacements; heating system upgrade; complete redecoration and new carpets.
5.Outside there are eight acres of secluded and enclosed grounds with trees and lawns. Within the gardens, we also have a football area and goal,punch bag, BBQ and sitting area.
6.Filby Hall has been adapted to meet fire safety requirements and to create a safe and warm environment. Each young person’s individual needs are taken into account and any specific adaptations needed to the home environmentare implemented.
7.On the ground floor there are two long landings: one for each wing (West and East). Additional accommodation includes: downstairs cloakroom and WC; a staff room; a staff shower room; a manager’s office; a very large kitchen; a utility room with laundry facilities; a pantry; a very large drawing room and a dining room of the same size. There are numerous entertainment facilities in the communal areas including televisions, DVD players, games consoles, a table tennis table and board games.
8.The first floor has six bedrooms which are all en-suite and two staff sleep-in bedrooms. Bedrooms are well equipped and are appropriately furnished. Young people are encouraged and supported to personalise their bedrooms as well as the general communal areas of the home; they can also have a television in their bedroom if appropriate.
9.Filby Hall can care for up to six young people aged from 8 to 18 years of either gender; sibling groups are also welcome. There may be circumstances where young people remain at Filby Hall beyond their 18th birthday (Ofsted would be consulted).
10.Location. Filby Hall is located in the village of Filby. Filby is in rural Norfolk situated between the small towns of Acle and Caister and is formed mainly along one road. We are on a bus route (which serves the village twice daily) and we are a short drive to local train and bus stations. The village includes a park, shops, restaurants and Filby Broad (suitable for fishing and water sports etc.) We are in close proximity to the Norfolk coast and have easy access to Norwich (which is a busy and historic city). This countryside location with lots of space, fields and wildlife can have a very positive effect on young people, especially those who have been at risk in urban environments. We ensure that any risks relating to the local area are considered and addressed through our Location Risk Assessment which is reviewed on a regular basis.
11. Supporting the Cultural, Linguistic and Religious Needs of Our Children. Before admission we identify all cultural, linguistic and religious needs and ensure that these can be met. We provide comprehensive support to our young people to include dietary needs, special days and time and space to worship. It is important to us that when young people come here, they do not lose touch with their religious heritage. Filby Hall promotes young people’s rights in this regard and, when appropriate, promotes the young person’s faith to other residents. Filby Hall proactively preserves modes of dress, ceremony, diet and customs and provides transport where practicable to places of worship and meeting places. All efforts are made to ensure important aspects of culture and religious heritage are not lost. Filby Hall provides access to sources of information that will encourage the young person’s cultural and religious understanding and beliefs, including developing a small library within the home of information on local facilities. We assist young people to obtain language support as required. Each young person has an individually constructed risk assessment and Daily Management Plan which identifies all of the young person’s specific needs.
12.How to Complain and Complaints Policy. On admission to Filby Hall the complaints procedure is explained to all young people. We promote openness and transparency in all our practices. We welcome, expect and accept feedback from children, their families and social workers. Therefore, we have a written complaints policy and we record and review all feedback. We actively encourage our young people to explore their feelings constructively. Within this context, if young people feel that they have been treated unfairly or disrespectfully, they are made aware of their right to complain. Wherever possible, complaints are discussed on an informal level with the Registered Manager in the hope that they can be resolved swiftly with the minimum of anxiety to the young person. If a visitor, parent or professional wishes to make a complaint, in the first instance speak to the registered manager who will endeavor to resolve the complaint. However, if the matter remains unresolved, the complainant will be issued with a copy of Filby Halls policy which will provide them with details of who they need to contact regarding there complaint.
13.Young people are given names and telephone numbers of organisations who can help them independently if they are dissatisfied with the outcome they receive at Filby Hall, for example: Ofsted; Independent Visitor; Local Authority Complaints Officer; Voice for the Child in Care; and NSPCC. Useful contacts for young people can be found in the Children’s Guide and on the young people’s notice board.
14.If a young person makes a complaint against a member of staff, Filby Hall will inform the Local Area Designated Officer (LADO) within the appropriate time scales. All staff are safeguard-trained so that they know how to avoid situations that could lead to allegations. All staff read and familiarise themselves with all policies and procedures during induction and throughout their tenure of employment. Policies and procedures are discussed and reviewed regularly in staff meetings, and updated annually. Issues such as child protection matters and bullying are discussed with the young people at regular intervals.
15.Child Protection and Behaviour Management Policies. Filby Hall has a comprehensive Safeguarding Policy which has been ratified by the Norfolk Safeguarding Children’s Board (of which we are members). All aspects of safeguarding are included, eg: how we safeguard our young people; how we recruit, train and supervise staff and how we deal with allegations and other specific safeguarding issues.
16.Behaviour Management. Filby Hall has a comprehensive behaviour management policy which includes our approach to bullying. Anti-bullying strategies and guidance for staff on how to monitor, address and record any bullying issues that may arise are addressed.
17.Missing from Care. Filby Hall has a comprehensive Missing from Care policy and clear guidelines for staff on how to respond to any such episodes. We also have an established link to the community police and a coordinated system in place.
VIEWS, WISHES AND FEELINGS
18.Quality of Care – Consulting Our Young People. At Filby Hall we ensure that there are many opportunities for the young people to be consulted about the care provided; they are also involved in decisions about their own care, either on an ad-hoc daily basis or by more formal means. Each young person has a Daily Management Plan (DMP) in place, which is a document that identifies their individual needs and considers their wishes about all areas of their life. DMPs are written in close consultation with each young person: they are asked to sign them, and are given a copy to keep. DMPs are reviewed regularly in keyworker sessions and team meetings.
19.Young people are offered regular keyworker sessions and house meetings. Any issues or requests are fed into the staff meeting and fed back to the young people in a timely manner. At these sessions we encourage our young people to be involved in contributing to the food shopping list as well as various aspects of their personal care (choosing their own toiletries, clothing, bedroom furnishings etc.). Filby Hall have also arranged for the young people to engage with The Norfolk ‘In Care Council’ if they wish to attend. Young people’s views on the Children’s Guide and the Complaints procedure will be sought and taken into account before these documents are revised. Young people have easy access to complaint mechanisms and procedures along with appropriate staff support.
20.Children’s Rights and Anti-Discriminatory Practice. We ensure that we have regard for the culture and diversity of every young person at Filby Hall. We ensure that we have regard to the particular care needs of children from all ethnic groups and ensure that their emotional, physical, religious and cultural needs are met. Clear considerations for each young person’s equality and diversity are illustrated in their DMP. Young people have rights in relation to every aspect of the care they receive at Filby Hall. These rights are protected through policyand the Equality Act 2010. Young people have the right to be heard, to be treated with dignity and worth, and to be kept safe. In addition, they have the unassailable right to appropriate education and leisure
21.Ethnic and Cultural Backgrounds. Filby Hall will seek advice from specialist agencies to assist them in meeting the needs of a young person from a different ethnic or cultural background. For example, staff may need to ensure that food in the home is bought and prepared in a manner which respects the cultural practices of that particular child. We ensure that the children’s home environment e.g. music, books games, toys and pictures, all reflect a multicultural society. We recognize that young people from ethnic groups may attract stigmatism from within the local community; our staff work to address this imbalance. We pay due regard to the training needs of staff on matters of cultural diversity and anti-discriminatory practice.
22.Discrimination. Filby Hall is opposed to discrimination against young people in any form. Any discrimination by young people or adults, no matter how subtle, will be challenged. Should staff witness any discrimination towards any young person by another member of staff they are expected to follow our whistle-blowing procedure.
EDUCATION
23.Special Educational Needs Support. Filby Hall is not a registered education provider at present; however, we provide levels of support based on the young person’s individual needs (as informed by the PEP or pending transition, the new Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan under the new Code of Practice of the Children and Families Act 2014). Such support would include high levels of communication with education providers, transport and homework support.
24.School Setting and Tutors. We have a separate and designated classroom where tuition is provided by qualified tutors in a classroom setting. We provide bespoke educational packages in-houseuntil an appropriate provision has been identified. We also have trained teachers on our staff team who have expertise in coordinating and delivering educational requirements.
25.Arrangements to Attend Local Schools and Promoting Educational Achievement. Filby Hall actively promotes and supports all young people’s educational achievement. We have existing and established links with education professionals in our local area. When a young person arrives at Filby Hall we identify current education arrangements through discussion with relevant professionals and reference to essential documents. In the first instance we try to maintain any existing provision that the young person has in place. Where there is no existing provision we liaise with all relevant professionals in order to make arrangements for appropriate provision as soon as possible. Expedient education is provided by engagement in our in-house programme, which is specifically tailored to individual needs. We provide where appropriate, small monetary rewards and other incentives for young people who attend and engage in their education provision. We will provide support and encouragement to the young people in all different areas (including homework support, help with exam revision and internet research).