Admission Procedures

Wherever possible admissions are planned and the child/young person should be properly prepared before taking up residence. (See separate section for emergency admissions) We always welcome informal discussions on the suitability of a placement, either by telephone or a visit.

In accordance with the fact that the placing authority has the case responsibility, and the Children Act 1989 places greater emphasis on "Parental responsibility", we are very much aware that we are caring on behalf of others. It is our policy therefore to have a clear contractual agreement which reflects this partnership and which contains the following elements:

1. At the first Planning Meeting which must be held within one week of placement, each child will have a written Individual Care Plan. A further meeting will be held four weeks later to review the last four weeks, then the next meeting will be in three months and then every six months from then on, in accordance with the 1989 Children's Act.
2. It is the Individual Care Plan that constitutes the contractual agreement, and to which the relevant parties (i.e. Child, Parents, Local Authority, Social Worker, Lynstead Children's Services) will be signatories.
3. Lynstead Children's Services give a commitment to keep you informed of all relevant events in the child’s progress and, where appropriate this will be in writing.
4. We will ensure that your departments child protection and complaints procedures are carried out in both spirit and letter.
5. We will give you a clear statement of what services we provide and at what cost.

PROCEDURE FOR PLANNED ADMISSIONS

1. Social workers, the child and parents, are encouraged to make an informal visit to the unit prior to the placement.
2. Applications should be made in writing by completing the 'Client Information Sheet' (a copy is enclosed). It is useful, though not essential at this stage, to attach any relevant reports.
3. If the unit of your choice is considered suitable, a formal planning meeting will be set up at which the Individual Care Plan will be drawn up. Lynstead Children's Services will be responsible for drawing up and distributing the plan to the relevant parties. At this meeting a date will be set for admission.
4. At the time of admission the social worker will ensure that Lynstead Children's Services receives copies of any relevant reports and a copy of any Court Order/s.
5. The placement will be reviewed after one calendar month, at three months, and thereafter six monthly in accordance with the 1989 Children's Act and if necessary, amendments will be made to the Individual Care Plan.
6. The placement will be reviewed at intervals of not longer than one calendar month (internal management), and then six monthly with the social worker who will be expected to attend.
7. Upon arrival on the day of admission, the child and accompanying social worker or family will be shown the child’s bedroom, and the child’s belongings put into the room.
8. The child and escort will be given some light refreshments and an opportunity to relax in a sitting room.
9. The escort will then depart, and the child will be introduced to and welcomed by all the staff on duty at that time, and all of the children who live there.
10. A member of staff will then take the child up to his/her bedroom to help the child unpack, and then take the child to join in with whatever appropriate activities are going on at that time.

EMERGENCY ADMISSIONS

We realise that there are occasions when you will need to place a child at very short notice, and the senior on duty in charge has the authority to accept an emergency admission. Due to our flexible approach we are often able to help with an emergency admission subject to the following conditions.

PROCEDURE FOR EMERGENCY ADMISSIONS

The social worker must ensure the following is done:-

1. Relevant reports are made available to the senior on duty giving an indication of the child’s background and areas of special difficulty and needs. This information can be given verbally in the first instance, but should be followed by written reports as quickly as possible.
2. The social worker should complete the Client Information Sheet* and Checklist to ensure that we have all relevant information e.g. next of kin, medication, special diet, and contact arrangements, out of hours duty telephone number.
3. The social worker will be expected to attend a planning meeting within SEVEN WORKING DAYS of the date of admission to confirm the placement, and develop an Individual Care Plan.
4. Thereafter the Individual Care Plan will be reviewed at the normal six monthly intervals.

With our flexible approach, we are frequently able to take sibling groups as either planned or emergency admissions, and have many successful placements of this nature.

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Staffing Policies

STAFF GROUP

Lynstead Children's Services is staffed by a General Manager who has overall control of the whole organisation and a Head of Homes who has overall responsibility for the Residential Care Services. Each Unit has a Unit Manager or Deputy Unit Manager with Senior Residential Social Workers and Residential Social Workers.

The exact number of staff on duty at any given time may vary from unit to unit and the needs of the client group within each unit at the time. There will always be a minimum of two/three staff for daytime duties, and two overnight staff, one male and one female, will be sleeping in, in addition to this there are always extra staff on stand-by in case of emergencies.

Staff selection has always been high on our agenda we are currently using the Warner guidelines in the recruitment of staff, any placing agency, can on request, see a copy of our staff recruitment and selection procedures.

STAFF TRAINING

We have a policy of ongoing staff training at Lynstead Children's Services, with all staff attending courses to keep abreast of progress and development in the caring profession. We expect and encourage our staff to keep up to date to ensure that we are always able to provide the best of care.

We both create our own training courses, and buy in training and guidance from expert sources, thus giving us maximum ability to address the specific requirements to provide standards of excellence in meeting our clients needs.

We are committed to maintaining the investors in people award that we have achieved.

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Health, Welfare & Medication

Our children are registered with a local general practitioner, who will also complete the six monthly in care medical examinations for the children at Lynstead Children's Services. The client children are also registered with and checked six monthly by a local dentist and optician for any treatment that may be needed.

Every effort is taken to ensure the proper handling of drugs and medications. Where appropriate older children are encouraged to administer their own medication, providing this does not present a danger to the other residents. Naturally staff unobtrusively keep a watch on these situations.

The use of drugs and medication within Lynstead Children's Services will only be allowed if prescribed by the child’s General Practitioner, and the social worker will be informed.

If the prescribed drugs are for the purpose of controlling a behavioural or emotional problem, the drugs will not be given until Lynstead Children's Services has received written permission from the Director of Social Services responsible for the child.

It is important that a comprehensive medical history is given on the appropriate part of the Client Information Sheet to enable us to ensure that any medication or treatment is maintained, and to advise the G.P. of a child’s medical background in the event of sickness.

A blank copy of our Client Information Sheet is enclosed at the back of the brochure to enable you to ensure that the necessary information is available.

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Client Group

Over many years we have cared for children presenting a wide range of behavioural problems usually as a result of emotional, physical or sexual abuse. Here at Lynstead Children's Services we can provide help and care for most children and we are able to consider referrals for children exhibiting a wide range of complex needs and behaviour.

We do not however consider Lynstead Children's Services to be suitable for the child showing severe symptoms of psychotic illness e.g. schizophrenia; or for the child who is frequently violent to other children or staff. The child who is occasionally violent is accepted. We are unable to accept children with an history of arson, drug abuse, or persistent self life-threats, either verbal or by deed.

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Religion & Cultural Awareness

We do not have a separate place of worship in our home's, although if a child wishes, we do encourage praying in the privacy of his/her bedroom. Children can attend Sunday School if they wish, but are not compelled to do so. We are able to take a child to an outside place of worship if desirable.

We also encourage a child to be aware of his/her cultural background by reading, watching videos and the provision of literature and ethnic food.

Holidays

In keeping with our normal family life, all children living with Lynstead Children's Services at holiday time will be taken on holiday. There will be no extra charge for this and the only children who might be excluded from such an arrangement will be any with us for a short respite visit. We usually have more than one house family holiday so that the groups are not too large, and to ensure that Lynstead Children's Services is always open and functioning for children in need of our care.

Children are encouraged to participate in the holidays and camps of any activity groups they may belong to, such as Scouts or Guides, the cost of which is normally borne by us.

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Education

Lynstead Children's Services has good working relations with a number of school. Whenever possible our children attend these local schools. This is in keeping with our policy of providing the child with as near a normal life as possible, and every endeavour is made to enrol the children as quickly as possible to avoid disruptive gaps in their education

We are also able to provide education in Lynstead Children's Services own school - The Brewood Education Centre a Middle school for children with Moderate Learning Difficulties and Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties* for children who for varying reasons cannot attend mainstream school. It is situated in Deal a short distance from Lynstead House and Cygnet House, but still gives the child the experience of going out for their education ('like ordinary children'). Children are taught in small groups no larger than five at any one time and if necessary individually, with a pupil to staff ratio of 10 staff to 18 pupils. It is always our aim to work towards integration into mainstream school (where appropriate).

Within the grounds of Lynstead House we have our own Nursery school (registered for up to 24 children) for children up to the age of 5 years. It is a teaching Nursery school and encourages constructive play.

* We will be pleased to send the Brewood Education Centre brochure upon your request.

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Access & Family Contact

In keeping with the Children Act 1989, we at Lynstead Children's Services both welcome and actively encourage parental and extended family contact whenever appropriate, provided the child’s safety and well-being is in no way threatened. We are able, in conjunction with the social worker to make arrangements on behalf of the child for such visits, and both escort and supervise contact visits if needed, the parameters of contact should be stated in the care plan.

Research has shown "Patterns & Outcomes in Child Placement" (Department of Health) that where contact between parents and extended family is promoted (where appropriate) that fewer breakdowns of placement occur and children and young people benefit from these experiences.

Contact should be viewed not only as face to face meetings but by telephone calls, letters etc.

We have comfortable sitting rooms which are used for the child and guests, who are made welcome, and provided with light refreshments. We are conveniently close to local railway Stations, and can arrange hotel or guest house accommodation for visitors who may wish to stay overnight.

We are also able to offer supervised contact at The Brewood Centre, in Deal for occasions when it is felt inappropriate for contact to take place in the child's own "Safe Space", or at a local family centre if an entirely neutral venue is needed.

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Discipline

We believe our methods of discipline are very fair, but firm, it is our aim to gain the children's confidence and respect. The children/young people are encouraged to be caring towards each other and to develop self-esteem.

We set boundaries which we expect the children/young people to observe, although knowing that at times they will be broken. At such times, discipline is administered in the form of talking the children through their problems. Counselling them in an effort to unravel the cause of the problem, and occasionally using reparation or curtailment of privileges if needed.

We always try to overcome problems by counselling, however if sanctions become necessary we pursue the following code of practice:-

1. Any sanction must have a positive outcome.
2. Any disapproval should be of the behaviour and not the child/young person.
3. No use of corporal punishment will be tolerated.
4. The child's bedroom may only be used as a sanction if the child is given early nights. Early nights must be no more than 30 minutes earlier than normal bedtime for the child.
5. Pocket money deductions can only be used in reparations, usually for items damaged or stolen.
6. Extra household duties and the non giving of special outings is acceptable.

APPROVED SANCTIONS

The following are the Kent County Council approved sanctions:-

* Withholding pocket money;

* Restitution;

* Reparation;

* Increased supervision and restrictions;

* The curtailment of leisure activities;

* Early bedtimes;

* Time Out;

* Physical Restraint

THE FOLLOWING MUST NOT BE USED AS A SANCTION UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES AND WILL LEAD TO A DISMISSAL IF USED

1. No child to be held or locked in any room.
2. No form of corporal punishment to be used under any circumstances.
3. Cancellation of visits to their home or family/friend visits to the children.
4. Cancellation of planned visits or outings.
5. The children must never be asked to wear special clothing.
6. The children must not be made to eat any special foods or miss any planned meal times.

We always allow a 'cooling off period' before placing a sanction, never

acting on impulse, and always aim for a positive outcome.

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Independent Living

When we feel the time is nearing for the young person to leave Lynstead Children's Services (usually about 6 months before their contract ends) we prepare a semi-independence care plan which is specially drawn up to suit the individual. During this time we encourage the young person to use the kitchen to cook, wash and iron for themselves and learning to budget. It would be expected during this period that suitable accommodation be found for the young person, with the young person being encouraged in taking an active part in selecting such accommodation.

When the young person has moved into independence, we can offer help and support if the placing authority want to put together an outreach package. i.e. budgeting skills, paying bills etc. and this continues until all parties are happy that the young person can cope independently.

INDEPENDENT LIVING UNIT

We can provide a place in our independent living unit for a child who is over the age of sixteen, who has first been assessed at Lynstead Children's Services for a short period. We provide training and support together with help in finding work or work programmes this can include attending local colleges of further education. Individual programmes will be drawn up and supported by regular direct work.

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Health & Safety

Every effort is made to ensure that Lynstead Children's Services and the practices within conform to the Health and Safety Regulations. Staff are informed of their obligations under this legislation as part of their induction training.

Lynstead Children's Services is properly insured for third party liability to an amount of £2,000,000 as recommended by our registration authority.

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Philospophy of Care - STATEMENT OF POLICY

This policy is universal within the Lynstead Children's Services Group and will apply to all staff whilst employed.

Standard - There is a written philosophy of care which sets out the means for achieving the most appropriate emotional climate in life at the establishment.

This policy has been written by Lynstead Children's Services to meet the criteria set by Kent County Council Inspection and Registration Unit, it will be applied 24 hours a day by all staff working for Lynstead Children's Services.

Our aims are to create as nearly as possible a happy family life for the children in our care, to help them to come to terms with past experiences, and develop a positive outlook for their future, find a personal direction, help them to achieve personal goals and develop their potential to the full.

Privacy

See Separate policy on "Privacy and Confidentiality"

Dignity

• Treat others the way you wish to be treated
• Build up Self Confidence
• Personal conversations held in private
• Respect each individual as unique
• Using restraint as the last resort
• Lots of encouragement and praise - reward system
• Be discreet
• Encourage the child with their personal hygiene and general appearance
• Appropriate supervision at personal time i.e. bathing/showering
• Respect personal religious cultural beliefs
• Private areas
• Encourage appropriate behaviour

Self Fulfilment

• Praise their achievements - educational progress
• Stimulate their senses
• Focus on the positive
• Refer to past successes
• Believe in them and their abilities
• Build trust - Not be judgmental
• Allow the opportunity to experience life skills and events
• Encourage a sense of achievement
• Develop talents
• Enable Young People to fulfil personal goals and aspirations
• Give praise, Build trust
• Incentive charts - Positive encouragement
• Develop Young people to their full potential

Independence

See Separate policy on "Preparation for Adulthood and through Care Support"

• Encourage to make decisions and accept consequences
• Foster co-operation and responsibility
• Constant support and encouragement in a safe and reassuring environment
• By teaching Life Skills
• By making informed choices re, meals, clothes, outings and furnishing their rooms
• Encourage them to learn from mistakes and make better choices next time

Choice

• Make available a wide range of resources
• Include in decision making
• Asked to contribute to the management of the home
• Consulted with re: mission statement and policies
• A chance to express their personal opinions and preferences
• Involved in choosing activities
• Choice of menus, decor and visitors
• Matched with a keyworker
• Encourage them to decide on consequences for inappropriate behaviour
• Encourage them to take responsibility for their choices
• Discuss with Young People the range of options and making the best decision.

Rights

• Given handbook explaining rights
• During school lessons P.S.H.E.
• Promote equal opportunities
• Complaints book
• Guidelines book
• Supplying external literature K.C.C. charter, booklets, "Up Front", information
• Discuss review process etc.
• Advocate for the child/young person
• Inform the child/young person of their rights
• Right to receive and impart information and ideas

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Privacy - STATEMENT OF POLICY

This policy is universal within the Lynstead Children's Services Group and will apply to all staff whilst employed.

Standard - Staff respect a child or young person's wish for privacy and confidentiality as is consistent with good parenting and the need to protect the child or young person.

See K.C.C. Document "Assuring the Quality of Residential Care for Children and Young People" - Page 29 - Privacy and Confidentiality.

Residential care aims to provide an environment within which children and young people can develop and mature. As part of this process they will learn to show respect for, and sensitivity to, the needs of others and of themselves. To assist this learning process it is vital that they experience respect and sensitivity from everyone involved in providing for their care. Practical demonstration is often the most powerful method of creating a culture within which personal dignity and respect may develop.

The need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people in residential care means that staff have to be especially vigilant that the children and young people's dignity, privacy, confidentiality and safety are not compromised.

• Children and young people should feel confident that any information that is held on their files is treated with respect and is held in confidence.
• Children and young people have personal space in which they can be assured that their personal belongings and valuables are kept safely this should also extend to medicines where it is appropriate and reasonable for the age of the individual child a risk assessment should be made every time this is to happen.
• We provide rooms and facilities for children and young people to meet privately with parents where this is part of the care plan, and so they can meet with their friends and other like social workers and other professionals.
• Bedtimes should be handled in a sensitive matter respecting the privacy of the child/young person whilst getting dressed/changed dependent on the age and ability of the individual. No child must be made to undress in front of a member of staff - Remember Dignity and Privacy.
• Waking residents up in the morning should be something that is negotiated how they liked to be woken if in deed they need to be woken at all. It should be done in a caring and sensitive manner and not by pulling off bedclothes - Remember Dignity and Privacy.
• Each child and young person should feel confident that they can bath or shower with dignity in private - there are going to be some situations where for residents that suffer from epilepsy they need to be monitored when bathing or shower but this should be part of the care plan that they need monitoring from a safety point of view. Personal hygiene such as the provision of sanitary towels should be handled in a sensitive manner suitable for each individual young person’s ability, but they should never have to ask in such a way as to cause embarrassment.
• Staff should respect each child or young person as an individual and as such should seek permission to enter their bedrooms by knocking and waiting for an answer. There may be times when we will need to enter a room of a child because they could be self-harming but you should always announce what you are going to do.
• Staff must not encroach on a child or young person "space" without seeking their approval first.

Visitors

                    See access policy

Telephone Calls

Privacy will be respected when children and young people make telephone calls. Telephone calls can be made to Social Workers and to the immediate family members free of charge, calls can last up to 10 minutes but must be made at least one hour before bedtime. Calls to friends can be made by making a donation of 10p towards the cost for a call of up to 10 minutes.

The only exception to the above is when under instructions from either the placing authority or by the court instructing that telephone conversations must be monitored.

Medical Needs

Privacy must be respected at all times when dealing with any medical needs the children or young people may have. Appointments will be made through the care and welfare co-ordinator except when the office is closed and an emergency appointment will be made and then the office will be notified at the first opportunity. When dealing with very sensitive issues regarding going to the doctor the children/young people should be consulted as to the preference for a male or female doctor. Children/young people under the age of sixteen and sometimes over sixteen taken to the doctors by the keyworker or another member of staff.

Mail and Post

Children and young people have the right to have their post as quickly as possible and without intervention of staff.

The only exception to the above is when under instructions from either the placing authority or by the court instructing that mail must be monitored.

Searches

Bedroom - will only be searched if we think there are serious grounds for believing that either matches, lighters, offensive weapons or drugs are hidden within the room. The child or young person must be present whilst the room is being searched.

Body - we will not conduct personal body searches but reserve the right to ask children/young people to empty their pockets etc. if we believe that they are concealing matches, lighters, offensive weapons or drugs about their person. This will always be conducted with two members of the appropriate gender present.

Complaints

                    See what to do if you have a complaint - Young person’s                          handbook.

Access to records

Anti-Bulling Policy - (Children)

It is our duty to provide a safe and secure environment at Lynstead Children's Services to ensure all our children live in a non threatening atmosphere. If bullying does occur you must feel able to tell and know you will be supported.

Bullying is not tolerated at Lynstead Children's Services and is firmly dealt with, this can include telling your key worker, social worker and family.

WHAT IS BULLYING

Bullying is behaviour that intentionally causes hurt to another. This hurt can be both physical or psychological; from threats, hitting, taking money to name calling, nasty stories or social exclusion. Sexual and racial harassment are also forms of bullying.

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Equal Opportunities

Lynstead Children's Services sees itself as a Childcare provider, providing child care services to a multi-racial society. As such, we view society as being made up of people of many different ethnic groups, racial origins, different religions, affiliations, cultural traditions (including language) and sexual orientation. The provision of all services provided by Lynstead Children's Services through each and every staff member, at all times calls for awareness, sensitivity and understanding of the basic principles of Equal Opportunities; and equally as important understanding of the effects of prejudice, discrimination and denial of Equal Opportunities to all persons.

Lynstead Children's Services have a comprehensive Equal Opportunities Policy to be found in every staff members handbook, a copy can be supplied for inspection on request.

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Quality Assurance

As part of the Lynstead Children's Services group we are constantly looking at our practise and procedures to ensure that we always offer the best care.

The nursery is inspected annually by the K.C.C. Inspection and Registration Unit, and a detailed inspection report can be read at any reasonable time by asking the Nursery Manager or Deputy.

Lynstead Children's Services have proven their quality assurance by undertaking and gaining their I.S.O. 9002 Classification.

On the 5th January 2000 Lynstead Children’s Services were assessed by an external assessor from Investor’s in People and were accredited as having proved how we train, develop and support our staff.

The Nursery was inspected on the 19th January 2000 by OFSTED and on the 12th December 2000 by Kent County Council Under 8’s Team.

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Confidentiality

Working with children and families will sometimes bring us into contact with confidential information.

To ensure that all those using and working can do so with confidence, we will respect confidentially in the following ways:

• Parents will have ready access to files and records of their own children but will not have access to information about any other child.
• Staff will not discuss individual children other than for purposes of curriculum planning/group management, with people other than the parents/carers of that child.
• Information given by parents/carers to the Managers or keyworker will not be passed on to other adults without permission.
• Issues to do with the employment of staff, whether paid or unpaid, will remain confidential to the people directly involved with making personnel decisions.
• Any anxieties/evidence relating to a child’s personal safety will be kept in a confidential file and will not be shared within the group except with the child’s keyworker and the Centre Manager.
• Students on pre-school Learning Alliance or other recognised courses observing in the Nursery will be advised of our confidentiality policy and required to respect it.

All the undertakings above are subject to the paramount commitment of the Nursery, which is to the safety, and well-being of the child. Please see also our policy on Child Protection

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Child Protection

In accordance with the children’s act of 1989 the children’s needs and welfare are paramount to all staff. We are constantly working in accordance with the 1989 Children’s Act.

Senior staff are child protection trained

We may discuss any concerns with parents and treat all information in accordance with the nursery’s confidentiality policy.

Prior injuries must be explained by parent/Carer logged in prior injury book and signed by Parent/Carer and senior nursery staff.

If we suspect any child protection concerns we will take the appropriate action. We follow the Kent County Council policy “Working together to safeguard the child”

We respect each child’s privacy when they are visiting the toilet and promote self help/reliance skills

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Terms & Conditions

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