1.7.2 Monitoring Quality

Contents

1. Regulation 32/33 Visits
2. Regulation 33/34 Reviews

1. Regulation 32/33 Visits

The company will arrange for all of its homes to receive monthly visits from an Independent Person. These visits are an on-going process that identifies where you are at any given point in time and provides a potential basis in moving forwards. This is only a small element of this process the allocated Independent Regulation 32/33 visitor will undertake the visits. This individual is independent of both the Home and Clifford House. They therefore have no involvement with organisational or operational matters in any other capacity.

This individual is supervised/managed by the Quality Assurance Manager.

The visits should usually be unannounced but can be announced if it is necessary to arrange to meet a particular person.

The visit will be for a minimum of one hour. The person should complete the Regulation 32/33 Record.

The person undertaking the visits may undertake specific checks and have access to what records s/he sees fit. This will also focus on particular themes or issues including the following:

1. Meet and talk to children and staff of the home to ascertain their views, comments and any complaints about the running of the home.
2. Read the Daily Log, records of Restraints, Incidents, Notification of Significant Events and Sanctions of the home and note trends and areas of good and unacceptable practice. The person should also check that Behaviour Agreements are in place for each child.
3. Read the records of Comments, Representations and Complaints (including Child Protection Complaints) held by the manager, commenting on the frequency and type made and whether they appear to have been dealt with adequately.
4. Read and comment on the record of Residents' and Staff Meetings, or other methods used by the manager to consult the children and staff, held in the home. The person should also check that staff supervision have taken place as required.
5. Check on the physical condition and decoration of the home, including the children's bedrooms. The person undertaking the visit will write a Regulation 32/33 Record, which will include recommendations for action. This is handed directly to the Partners, unedited. Whatever information is documented is then forwarded to the Registered Manager of each resource who should record what actions have been taken in response to the Regulation 32/33 Visitors findings.  These reports should be displayed in the resource and made available to the Placing Authority if requested.

Following completion of the action required the Registered Manager/Operations Manager copy the report and it is directed to the Quality Assurance Manager and held centrally at the main office.

All information raised will then be discussed and any themes or patterns are identified.

A copy of this report is sent to OFSTED/CSSIW prior to any amendments or action being taken. It is the responsibility of the Quality Assurance Manager to ensure all Regulation 32/33 Records are sent to the Commission on a monthly basis.

2. Regulation 33/34 Reviews

The Clifford House Quality Assurance manager monitors the performance of all resources in addition to individual monitoring by the Registered Manager and the Operations Manager in the following way:

• Improvement Board reports
• Questionnaires to staff, young people, Placing Authorities, reviewing officers, schools and colleges, GP's and dentist etc.
• Staff exit interviews / questionnaires
• Internal audits
• Reviewing Regulatory Authority/ inspection reports and action plans
• Monthly Review of Quality of Care meetings
• Project management
• Specific investigation

This performance indicator monitoring is evaluated via internal reports that will be used to identify themes and patterns within the service that are or are not meeting National Minimum Standards/Children's Homes Regulations as well as Clifford House's standards, young people's needs and the expectations of Placing Authorities.

These reports are produced for the Directors of Clifford House and will in most circumstances be accessible to staff, the Placing Authority, young people and Parents.

2.1 Monthly Monitoring Schedule 6 (Form 13112)

The Operations Manager and or the Registered Manager will every month monitor the performance of the home against the requirements of the monthly monitoring sheet.

In order to evidence how performance is monitored the forms should be completed and signed off by the Operations Manager. A copy of this form will be held centrally and will be monitored by the Quality Assurance Manager who will identify any themes or patterns emerging.

The findings of any monitoring by the Registered Manager will feature as a regular agenda in the resource staff meeting.

In addition to the Schedule 6 monitoring the Operations Manager will produce quarterly a Regulation 33/34 report. This report will be submitted to an Improvement Board who will provide further Quality Assurance monitoring of all the resources within the organisation. The Quality Assurance Manager will produce an overview report of the collective performance findings for all the resources. The findings will be used for two purposes namely to monitor the performance of the home on specific matters relating to childcare practice and the performance of the Operations Manager / Registered Manager / staff and the resource in meeting desired outcomes for the unit and young people as set by the National Minimum Standards and the individual Care Plans. These reports should be made available to parents, young people, the Placing Authority and staff etc.

The Registered Manager will ensure that systems are in place to monitor the performance of the home against its Statement of Purpose, and for regular reviewing of the Statement, and the registered provider ensures that performance is monitored in accordance with the Children's Homes Regulations (England) 2001 - (Wales: 2002).

The Registered Manager will monitor and sign the home's records at least once a month, to identify any patterns or issues requiring action. They will take action to improve or adjust provisions where necessary.

Where action is taken in relation to any concentration, trend or pattern in recorded issues or events to improve the safeguarding and promotion of the welfare of children and the quality of care in the home, the Registered Manager will ensure that staff and residents are informed.

The Registered Manager will consider the reasons for any high incidence of police involvement with children from the home, high proportion of children not at school or suspended or excluded from school, or high staff turnover. Any consequential action necessary is carried out.

The Registered Manager will demonstrate that the home is operating in accordance with its Statement of Purpose, that the range of needs to be met under the Statement of Purpose is not excessive in the light of the home's current functioning, and that the home only admits children whose assessed needs can be met within the purpose of the home.

The registered person has a written development plan, reviewed annually, for the future of the home, either identifying any planned changes in the operation or resources of the home, or confirming the continuation of the home's current operation and resourcing.

Copies of inspection reports by the Regulatory Authority will be prominently displayed within the home and made available by the registered person to all members of staff, to children resident at the home, to parents, and on request to the Placing Authority of existing children or those considering placing a child.

On a 6 monthly basis the Regulation 33/34 form will be completed and signed by the Registered Manager and then presented to the Designated Director and Managers before being sent to the Regulatory Authority.

The Operations Manager of each area will produce a written report on a quarterly basis to the Improvement Board. The conclusion of the Improvement Board findings will be included in the performance indicator monitoring process.

The whole process will link to the Clifford House annual Development Plan.

End