Care service inspection report
Full inspection
Falkirk Council - Leaving Care Service
Housing Support Service
Unit 1
St Johns Sawmill Etna Road
Falkirk
Inspection report for Falkirk Council - Leaving Care Service Inspection completed on 30 May 2016
Service provider number: SP2004006884 Care service number: CS2004079277
Inspection Visit Type: Announced (Short Notice)
Care services in Scotland cannot operate unless they are registered with the Care Inspectorate. We inspect, award grades and set out improvements that must be made. We also investigate complaints about care services and take action when things aren't good enough.
Please get in touch with us if you would like more information or have any concerns about a care service.
Contact Us Care Inspectorate Compass House 11 Riverside Drive Dundee DD1 4NY [email protected] 0345 600 9527 www.careinspectorate.com @careinspect
Summary
This report and grades represent our assessment of the quality of the areas of performance which were examined during this inspection.
Grades for this care service may change after this inspection following other regulatory activity. For example, if we have to take enforcement action to make the service improve, or if we investigate and agree with a complaint someone makes about the service.
We gave the service these grades
Quality of care and support 6 Excellent Quality of staffing 6 Excellent Quality of management and leadership N/A
What the service does well
Falkirk Council - Leaving Care Service provides an excellent support service to young people leaving care. Young people told us they felt safe and protected and that staff took time to listen and get to know them well.
What the service could do better
We did not identify any areas for improvement at this inspection. The service should continue to identify any areas for development through their effective use of self-evaluation and quality assurance procedures which they have in place.
What the service has done since the last inspection
The service has recently moved to new premises. They outlined their plans to continue to hold open days for the young people to show off the new building as well as ask young people how they want to use the space. Open days for professionals and carers will also be scheduled and young people will be involved in these, explaining the work of the team.
Overall we found the dedication, commitment and persistence of the staff team meant that the young people who were entitled to support received it in a person centred and consistent way. The outcomes for young people were far-reaching and young people were keen to tell us about their initial involvement, the ongoing support they have received and how they can re-engage with the service quickly when things are not so good.
1 About the service we inspected
The Care Inspectorate regulates care services in Scotland. Information about all care services is available on our website at www.careinspectorate.com.
This service was previously registered with the Care Commission and transferred its registration to the Care Inspectorate on 1 April 2011.
Through care is the process by which the local authority plans and prepares for young people leaving care, and aftercare is the provision of advice, guidance and assistance for young people who are no longer looked after. Falkirk Council provide through care and aftercare by providing a service called "The Leaving Care Service". The service is provided by a team of specialist resource workers. The service provides help to young people preparing to leave the "care" system and move into adulthood. They provide support and guidance to young people during the changes and difficulties they may experience. The service is based in a warm, friendly environment with quiet and private areas available if
preferred.
Recommendations
A recommendation is a statement that sets out actions that a care service provider should take to improve or develop the quality of the service, but where failure to do so would not directly result in enforcement.
Recommendations are based on the National Care Standards, SSSC codes of practice and recognised good practice. These must also be outcomes-based and if the provider meets the recommendation this would improve outcomes for people receiving the service.
Requirements
A requirement is a statement which sets out what a care service must do to improve outcomes for people who use services and must be linked to a breach in the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (the "Act"), its regulations, or orders made under the Act, or a condition of registration. Requirements are enforceable in law.
We make requirements where (a) there is evidence of poor outcomes for people using the service or (b) there is the potential for poor outcomes which would affect people's health, safety or welfare.
Based on the findings of this inspection this service has been awarded the following grades:
Quality of care and support - Grade 6 - Excellent Quality of staffing - Grade 6 - Excellent
Quality of management and leadership - N/A
This report and grades represent our assessment of the quality of the areas of performance which were examined during this inspection.
Grades for this care service may change following other regulatory activity. You can find the most up-to-date grades for this service by visiting our website www.careinspectorate.com or by calling us on 0345 600 9527 or visiting one of our offices.
2 How we inspected this service
The level of inspection we carried out
In this service we carried out a low intensity inspection. We carry out these inspections when we are satisfied that services are working hard to provide consistently high standards of care.
What we did during the inspection
We wrote this report following an unannounced inspection. This was carried out by a Care Inspectorate inspector. The inspection took place on 28 April 2016 from 12.00pm to 3.00pm. We also visited on 30 May 2016 from 10.00am to 6.30pm. We gave feedback to the manager and the senior practitioner at the end of the second visit.
As part of the inspection, we took account of the completed annual return and self-assessment forms that we asked the provider to submit to us. We also asked the service to distribute questionnaires to young people and staff prior to the inspection visit. Fourteen young people and seven staff responded to our questionnaires.
During this inspection process, we gathered evidence from various sources, including the following:
• information on how the organisation will involve people who use the service and how they can have their say
• individual support plans and information recorded about the young people including risk assessments
• evidence of meetings with outside health professionals • accident and incident records
• suggestions and comments
• minutes of meetings including young people, staff and management • staff training, development and supervision records
• information on focus groups and events involving young people
We spoke with:
• six young people • two parents • the manager
• the senior practitioner • five staff
• seven external professionals:
- TC&AC Nurse
- Who cares? Scotland - Review Co-ordinator - Barnardos Axis worker
- Housing Support Co-ordinator - Senior Housing Support Officer
- Policy and Community Planning Team Leader
We spent time within the service during the day and visited a separate flat where the Peer Mentoring Service for Care Leavers takes place.
We took all of the above evidence into consideration when writing this report. We also took into account the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 and its associated statutory instruments, the National Care Standards and the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) Codes of Practice for Social Service Workers and Employers.
Grading the service against quality themes and statements
We inspect and grade elements of care that we call 'quality themes'. For example, one of the quality themes we might look at is 'Quality of care and support'. Under each quality theme are 'quality statements' which describe what a service should be doing well for that theme. We grade how the service performs against the quality themes and statements.
Details of what we found are in Section 3: The inspection
Inspection Focus Areas (IFAs)
In any year we may decide on specific aspects of care to focus on during our inspections. These are extra checks we make on top of all the normal ones we make during inspection. We do this to gather information about the quality of these aspects of care on a national basis. Where we have examined an
inspection focus area we will clearly identify it under the relevant quality statement.
Fire safety issues
We do not regulate fire safety. Local fire and rescue services are responsible for checking services. However, where significant fire safety issues become
apparent, we will alert the relevant fire and rescue services so they may consider what action to take. You can find out more about care services' responsibilities for fire safety at www.firescotland.gov.uk
The annual return
Every year all care services must complete an 'annual return' form to make sure the information we hold is up to date. We also use annual returns to decide how we will inspect the service.
Annual Return Received: Yes - Electronic
Comments on Self Assessment
Every year all care services must complete a 'self assessment' form telling us how their service is performing. We check to make sure this assessment is accurate.
The Care Inspectorate received a completed self-assessment document from the provider. We were satisfied with the way the provider completed this and with the relevant information included for each heading that we grade services under.
The provider identified what it thought the service did well, some areas for development and any changes it had planned. The provider told us how the people who used the care service had taken part in the self-assessment process.
Taking the views of people using the care service into account
We spoke with six young people during the inspection visit and we received fourteen Care Standards Questionnaires from the young people during this inspection. Young people's views were extremely positive. Whilst we refer to these throughout the report we have noted a range of these below:
"They have helped me with a lot over the years that I could not do on my own". "They get me money to help me live independently because I can't stay at home. I meet with my worker once a week and can contact the office between Monday and Friday 9-5 for support if needed".
"I feel as if the service always has my best interests at heart and I feel confident in the fact that I am always listened to. Thank You!".
"Always have my best interests at heart".
"[Staff] helps and supports me through hard times and I am thankful for this". "I now volunteer for the Peer Mentoring Service as I'd like to give something back".
"I am a previous client whose case was closed when I was 19 ½. I recently asked to have my case re-opened as I am now 21 and have just had my second daughter and I am a single mum and wanted support both emotionally and to get help re my benefits".
"I have had ongoing support to help me get a house and furniture. I can always phone if I need support and someone will help".
"They [staff] have helped me through everything even got me out the jail". All young people 'strongly agreed' with the question 'staff have enough time for me'.
Taking carers' views into account
We met with two parents during our inspection visits. The parents we spoke to commented on how well their daughter had been supported by staff. They told us the communication was excellent and that staff support was consistent and visits were regular.
3 The inspection
We looked at how the service performs against the following quality themes and statements. Here are the details of what we found.
Quality Theme 1: Quality of Care and Support
Grade awarded for this theme: 6 - Excellent
Statement 3
“We ensure that service users' health and wellbeing needs are
met.”
Service Strengths
We reviewed this statement as the Care Inspectorate is looking in detail at the level of knowledge and activity related to child sexual exploitation (CSE) across care services for children and young people. The information we gather will help us understand the current situation in Scotland and allow us to identify where improvements in knowledge and skills are needed.
We concluded that the service achieved an excellent standard in this area, demonstrating major strengths. Young people told us they felt safe and protected and that staff took time to listen and get to know them well.
The provider had a policy and supporting guidance on child sexual exploitation (CSE) and staff we spoke to were all familiar with the framework of practice that sets out responsibilities in relation to managing risks and concerns. All staff had received training in this area and could comprehensively detail the vulnerability indicators that could increase concerns. Staff told us about
examples of when concerns had been raised and we saw how these had been managed effectively with a high level of sensitivity and care. A child sexual exploitation (CSE) data monitoring assessment was completed where there were any concerns and this formed the basis of further action.
We saw that relevant information was contained within the young
people's plans and all the young people we spoke with told us that staff supported them in managing their health and wellbeing needs effectively.
Young people were encouraged to take responsibility for their own
appointments, but said they could always rely on staff to support them when they needed it.
Staff were advocating for the young people exceptionally well and young people told us they could always contact staff when things got difficult. We spoke with the Who Cares? Scotland Worker who told us she was actively involved with young people from the service and that staff invited her along to all relevant meetings and events. She told us how the level of contact and support offered to the young people by the staff at Falkirk Council - Leaving Care Service was one of the best she had seen.
We saw staff helped young people consistently in a full range of
comprehensive, creative and innovative ways. Young people said the support they received from staff helped them to build the confidence and engage in new or difficult things. One young person told us that the support they received had enabled them to make a success of their new tenancy. Without staff support she said she knows she would have lost her flat. "Staff have showed me how to survive on my own".
We saw that the service recognised the importance of family support for the young people to strengthen their relationships with significant others. Staff supported young people to explore the impact of past experiences as a way of improving their emotional wellbeing. Young people told us they valued this level of support.
The service had continued to develop effective ways of obtaining young people's views and involving them in decision-making in the day-to-day life and developments of the service and in their own plans and reviews. This was evident in methods such as meetings, informal discussions and regular
consultation on areas such as the quality of service and key documents such as aims and objectives.
had given their views on a wide range of consultations with regards to through care and after care provision. They had been involved with focus groups in relation to new legislation affecting young people leaving care. The young people we spoke to were passionate about sharing their positive experiences so professionals continue to get it right for young people who need this support. We met with one young person who had been instrumental in the development of the recently established Peer Mentioning Service for Care Leavers that Falkirk Council - Leaving Care has set up. The aim of this service is to lessen social isolation. The young persons involvement began at the funding application stage and they are now part of the peer mentoring team who will support other young people. They told us of the outstanding benefits of sharing concerns with people who have experienced similar situations in their life.
The service worked in proactive and meaningful partnerships with all the services that young people would need. These partnerships all brought very significant benefits for the young people's individual support and outcomes. The young people we met told us how they felt access to these services helped them to during times of change and difficulties they may experience.
Areas for improvement
We did not identify any areas for improvement at this inspection. The service should continue to identify any areas for development through their effective use of self-evaluation and quality assurance procedures which they have in place.
Grade
6 - Excellent
Number of requirements - 0 Number of recommendations - 0
Statement 6
“People who use, or would like to use the service, and those
who are ceasing the service, are fully informed as to what the
service provides.”
Service Strengths
We reviewed this statement as we are looking at how young people move in to and out of services. We concluded that the service achieved an excellent
standard in this area, demonstrating major strengths in relation to young
people's transitions. Young people told us they felt extremely well supported by the service at every step of the way.
We found that when young people were identified as requiring a service, this was acknowledged at the earliest possible stage. Effective partnership working between statutory services, health and other agencies meant that young people were known to the service in advance of being allocated a key member of staff. We spoke to the through care and after care nurse who described how her
remit meant that young people who were looked after and accommodated were offered continuity in their health assessments throughout the care journey. Allocations and referrals were led by the manager in consultation with the staff team to ensure effective oversight. The manager also attended planning
meetings to provide a coordinated approach to meeting the young people's needs. Visits by and to young people before they started allowed them to meet staff and attend groups so they could become familiar with what the service had to offer.
Young people told us they were provided with a range of written information about the service at the point of referral and once a worker had been allocated they made contact with them quickly. Young people told us that from the very start the communication was always very good. One young person said: "staff are very persistent in encouraging you to meet with them. I am so glad they kept trying to get a hold of me as it has been the best thing for me. It's been great".
placements with a view to support being well established prior to their return home to the local area. This included young people who were placed out of area, some distance away.
Advocacy and practical support for young people leaving care and transitions were well-planned and showed effective partnership with other agencies. Strong links with housing, benefits, education and social work services meant that young people experienced transitions that were well planned and
coordinated.
Outcomes Star framework was used when assessing young people's housing needs, this covered a range of areas for assessment that supported effective transitions. We saw how the information recorded supported staff and young people to make realistic judgements as to if and when they were ready for their own tenancy.
Overall we found the dedication, commitment and persistence of the staff team meant that the young people who were entitled to support received it in a person centred and consistent way. The outcomes for young people were far-reaching and young people were keen to tell us about their initial involvement, the ongoing support they have received and how they can re-engage with the service quickly when things are not so good.
Areas for improvement
We did not identify any areas for improvement at this inspection. The service has recently moved to new premises. They outlined their plans to continue to hold open days for the young people to show off the new building as well as ask young people how they want to use the space. Open days for professionals and carers will also be scheduled and young people will be involved in these, explaining the work of the team.
Grade
6 - Excellent
Number of requirements - 0 Number of recommendations - 0
Quality Theme 3: Quality of Staffing
Grade awarded for this theme: 6 - Excellent
Statement 3
“We have a professional, trained and motivated workforce
which operates to National Care Standards, legislation and best
practice.”
Service Strengths
We concluded that the service achieved an excellent standard in this area, demonstrating major strengths. Young people told us they felt supported by staff who were professional, well-trained and motivated within the areas outlined in the National Care Standards, legislation and best practice.
The manager was appropriately registered with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and there was a plan in place for all staff that were due for
registration to be registered within the set timescales. The service was proactive in preparing staff for registration and staff were already working towards the relevant qualifications.
The service has introduced a performance assessment system based on the Scottish Social Service Council's Continuous Learning Framework. This provided a consistent way of assessing the performance of staff and setting
improvement targets in relation to their roles and responsibilities.
We spoke individually with some members of staff and informally with others. We found that they were clear and passionate about their roles in providing support for the young people at Falkirk Council - Leaving Care Service. In
discussions, they were able to demonstrate a professional understanding of the range of needs of the young people and we observed positive interactions between the staff and young people during our visit.
We found that individual members of staff were committed and dedicated to the work they were engaged in and worked hard to help the young people
achieve their aspirations. Young people told us how staff were always accessible and helped them with things from day-to-day activities and routines to
managing bigger events in their lives. The young people told us they valued this.
Staff told us that they could access a range of appropriate training and were encouraged to expand their knowledge and skills. Formal supervision sessions were used to ensure that members of the staff team were able to achieve their potential as well as following individual interests.
The range of training undertaken was directly related to young people's needs and current issues and we saw young people regularly attended a range of training, local and national forums and events alongside staff. Young people we spoke with had a real knowledge and understanding of current issues,
legislation changes and their entitlements. This meant they had a greater understanding of the supports available to them and to other young people. Annual appraisals enabled ongoing discussion of development and training needs which are informed by the member of staff reflecting on their own work and information gathered through their supervisor and manager.
Team meetings took place with regular meetings for senior managers. Meeting minutes viewed evidenced a commitment to encourage staff to continually develop their knowledge and skills. We saw how staff had additional
responsibilities, taking forward areas of best practice and new initiatives and could develop areas of particular interest, one being the Peer Mentoring Service for Care Leavers.
Areas for improvement
We did not identify any areas for improvement at this inspection. In accordance with the SSSC workforce register the service should continue with their plan to have all staff registered within the required timescale.
Grade
6 - Excellent
Number of requirements - 0 Number of recommendations - 0
Statement 4
“We ensure that everyone working in the service has an ethos
of respect towards service users and each other.”
Service Strengths
This statement was examined based on our observations of staff working with young people, speaking with staff and reviewing young people's records and relevant policies and procedures.
We concluded that the service achieved an excellent standard in this area, demonstrating major strengths. Young people told us they felt treated with dignity and respect and always felt welcomed within the service.
When communicating with young people, staff used a calm and encouraging tone of voice. They used techniques aimed at motivating young people and we could see how getting the best for young people was their main priority. The language used in written records was respectful and we saw how young people's opinions were noted in daily communications records.
We saw staff used a process of negotiation with young people to get positive outcomes. Staff were as discrete as they could be when talking in the presence of young people and managed silent communications well. There were effective arrangements for keeping personal information confidential, including paper and electronic documents.
Staff respected young people's privacy, for example, staff met young people where it was most suitable for them. They helped arrange transport and met young people in places where they felt most comfortable.
The staff had undertaken training on rights and responsibilities, sexual health training and other areas relating to the rights of the child. This level of training helped young people to feel confident and secure with the level of skills workers showed when meeting with staff. Staff had a good knowledge of legislation and used this to guide practice which help young people to learn and grow.
We spoke to young people who told us things like: "Nothing is ever too much trouble".
"Staff go above and beyond to help me".
"I wish everyone who needs it gets this chance". "Staff always respect my views, they are thoughtful".
Areas for improvement
We did not identify any areas for improvement at this inspection. The service should continue to identify any areas for development through their effective use of self-evaluation and quality assurance procedures which they have in place.
Grade
6 - Excellent
Number of requirements - 0 Number of recommendations - 0
Quality Theme 4: Quality of Management and
Leadership
Quality theme not assessed
4 What the service has done to meet any
requirements we made at our last inspection
Previous requirements
There are no outstanding requirements.
5 What the service has done to meet any
recommendations we made at our last
inspection
Previous recommendations
There are no outstanding recommendations.
6 Complaints
7 Enforcements
We have taken no enforcement action against this care service since the last inspection.
8 Additional Information
There is no additional information.
9 Inspection and grading history
Date Type Gradings
23 Sep 2013 Unannounced Care and support 6 - Excellent Environment Not Assessed Staffing 6 - Excellent Management and Leadership 6 - Excellent 20 Jul 2011 Unannounced Care and support 6 - Excellent Environment Not Assessed Staffing 6 - Excellent Management and Leadership 5 - Very Good 10 Feb 2009 Announced Care and support 6 - Excellent
Environment Not Assessed Staffing 6 - Excellent Management and Leadership 5 - Very Good
To find out more
This inspection report is published by the Care Inspectorate. You can download this report and others from our website.
You can also read more about our work online.
Contact Us Care Inspectorate Compass House 11 Riverside Drive Dundee DD1 4NY [email protected] 0345 600 9527 www.careinspectorate.com @careinspect
Other languages and formats
This report is available in other languages and formats on request.
Tha am foillseachadh seo ri fhaighinn ann an cruthannan is c?nain eile ma nithear iarrtas.
