Archived: Belhaven

Belhaven is a children’s home providing treatment of disease, disorder or injury to up to six people. The service provides support to children and young people aged between 16 and 18 years who have difficulties with emotional wellbeing and mental health. At the time of our inspection there were three young people using the service.

This service is also registered with Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission. Ofsted are the lead regulator as this is a children’s home.

The published date on this report is the date that the report was republished due to changes that needed to be made. There are no changes to the narrative of the report which still reflects CQCs findings at the time of inspection.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

There were effective systems in place to identify and manage potential risks. These were updated on a regular basis and risk assessments were seen to be up-to-date and in line with current best practice and published legislation. Records examined demonstrated that risk assessments were routinely followed and checked as being both relevant and up-to-date.

Safeguarding vulnerable children was taken seriously by staff and managers alike. Staff were trained in both safeguarding children and adults according to national guidance and staff supervision was seen to include discussions pertaining to safeguarding issues raised both locally and nationally.

Young people using the service we spoke with told us that they felt safe, part of a family and that their views were listened to by staff and acted upon.

Incidents of self-harm had been investigated in a way which minimised the risk of similar incidents recurring, meaning that young people using services at the home had been protected from the possible risk of further harm.

There were effective systems in place for monitoring the services provided. For example, making sure that important daily, weekly and monthly checks had been completed.

An effective system had been used to make sure that all policies were up-to-date. This included the most up-to-date best practice and legislation, and that they contained information that reflected current best practice processes, including taking into account rapidly changing legislation during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Staff had received relevant training to keep young people safe and to undertake their roles effectively. Safeguarding was taken seriously and timely actions to protect young people had been taken when needed.

Young people spoke highly of staff, telling us that they were respectful, kind and that they felt comfortable raising concerns when needed. They also told us that they felt like they had been included when making decisions about the care that they had received.

Young people were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in the best interests of those young people; policies and systems seen to be in place supported this practice.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

The service was able to demonstrate how they would meet the underpinning principles of right support, right care, right culture:

Right support: The model of care and setting maximised people’s choice, control and Independence; Right care: Care was person-centred and promoted people’s dignity, privacy and human rights; Right culture: Ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of leaders and care staff ensured people using services lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

This service was registered with us on 02 October 2015.

Why we inspected

The last inspection of Belhaven children’s home was on 08 March 2017. Monitoring of the service during the Pandemic resulted in no concerns being raised.

There was no evidence that the provider needs to make any improvements following on from this inspection.

Enforcement and Recommendations

There were no recommendations or enforcement action taken in relation to this inspection.

Follow up

There were no follow up actions for the provider to take following on from this inspection.

There were five young people using the service when we inspected on 8 March 2017. This was an unannounced inspection. This was the service’s first CQC inspection since registration.

The published date on this report is the date that the report was republished due to changes that needed to be made. There are no changes to the narrative of the report which still reflects CQCs findings at the time of inspection.

There was a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons.’ Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

There were systems in place to reduce the risks to young people in their daily living and from abuse and bullying.

Recruitment of staff was robust to ensure that young people were supported and cared for by staff who were suitable to work in the service. There were sufficient numbers of staff to meet the needs of young people. Staff were trained and supported to meet young people’s needs effectively. Staff understood why it was important to respect young people and provide a caring environment.

Medicines were stored and managed safely. Young people received their medicines as prescribed.

Young people were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Young people’s care and treatment plans were up to date and provided staff with guidance on how their needs were met.

Young people were supported to see, when needed, health and social care professionals to make sure they received appropriate care and treatment. Young people’s nutritional needs were assessed and met.

There was a system in place to manage complaints and these were used to improve the service. The service’s quality assurance processes were used to identify shortfalls and address them. This meant that the service continued to improve.