Children's Home run by Reflexion Care Group Limited in Shropshire

SC366107 Unique reference number 30 July 2009 Inspection date Dawn Taylor Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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15 September 2008 Date of last inspection .

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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You can obtain copies of The Children Act 2004, Every Child Matters and The National Minimum Standards for Children's Services from: The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Cripins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcome for children set out in the Children Act 2004 and relevant National Minimum Standards for the establishment.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is strong Good: this aspect of the provision is sound Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is not good enough Inadequate: 3 of 7 Inspection Report: SC366107

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Brief description of the service

The children's home provides a service for older young people who are preparing for future independent living and is registered to accommodate three young people.

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Brief description of the service

It is a detached property set in its own grounds on the rural outskirts of a large town. The home provides a spacious living environment for the young people it accommodates. Young people have access to service's registered education facility.

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Summary

This inspection was an key inspection visit. The outcome groups relating to Being Healthy, Staying Safe, Enjoying and Achieving, Positive Contribution, Economic Wellbeing and Organisation were assessed.

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Summary

The overall quality rating remains good. The outcome groups relating to Being Healthy, Staying Safe, Enjoying and Achieving, Positive Contribution, Economic Wellbeing and Organisation were all assessed as good. Young people continue to receive a good standard of care that meets their needs and is provided by a professional and consistent staff team. The overall quality rating is good. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, there were no actions or recommendations set.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people are well supported to lead healthy lives. The service meets its objective to encourage young people to have a holistic overview of their lifestyles and understand the impact risky behaviours may have on long-term health.

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Helping children to be healthy

Staff help educate young people about the principles of leading a healthy lifestyle and encourage young people to establish good habits. They support young people to attend appointments with their doctor, dentist and optician, where appropriate. All young people are provided with a clear health plan that assesses and evaluates risks for their current and future health.

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Helping children to be healthy

Staff practice is in line with a range of established policies, procedures and guidance that detail the procedures for the safe handling, administration and storage of medicines, promoting healthy lifestyles and ensuring health education. All young people who attend school undertake Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) lessons. Outside of school staff provide good guidance, advice and support on health and personal issues appropriate to the needs and wishes of each young person through day-to-day discussions and key worker sessions.

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Helping children to be healthy

Moving towards independence is promoted in every aspect of a young person's life at this home, including Being Healthy. For example, through a process of education and assessment a young person can be supported to manage their own medication. Staff also help to educate young people about good eating habits. Through the independent living programme used at 4 of 7 Inspection Report: SC366107 the home, young people are developing the confidence, skills and understanding to make healthy choices, manage a weekly budget and prepare and cook their own meals.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The homes continue to provide a safe and secure environment for young people. Young peoples' safety and wellbeing is being well managed by a professional, well informed team of staff. There are clear strategies in place that promote independence whilst demonstrating a balance between taking risks and safeguarding. Privacy is respected and both staff and young people understand and are able to use the complaints system effectively. There have been no complaints since the last inspection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All organisational policies and procedures including child protection, anti bullying, unauthorised absence, complaints and behaviour management are in place and inform a well established programme of induction and staff training. This means that staff are well informed, which helps to further promote young people's safety and protection. All historical and current knowledge with regard to each young person is used to inform detailed risk assessments and placement plans. These in turn inform the staff teams actions, which ensures consistent practice and support for the young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people who are absent from the home without permission are reported correctly to external agencies and where appropriate family members. Staff do their best to locate young people and promote the importance of young people always remaining in contact. Staff maintain open productive communication with the local police and clear records are maintained of all action taken to locate and find young people. Staff ensure that safe and well checks take place when young people return to the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The health and safety procedures are robust and individual and environmental risk assessments are conducted and regularly reviewed. Fire evacuation drills are being conducted on a regular basis including night time drills.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Records relating to staff recruitment and selection were checked at the company's headquarters in early May 2009. The company's recruitment and selection process is robust and the procedure aspires to undertake checks over and above those required in the children's homes regulations.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Staff work hard to build positive relationships with young people and provide individual tailored support as they approach the age to leave care. Young people feel safe and cared for with the support and encouragement made by the staff. Staff are making sure that young people get a head start and are given frequent and regular opportunities to discuss the goals that they have set themselves. All yp have regular key worker sessions. that are well recorded. This home does not have residents house meeting because the young people currently living in the home choose not to. The staff do, however, sit down with them on a regular basis over breakfast or in the evenings and discuss a range of subjects. Any significant conversations are recorded onto the young peoples files. 5 of 7 Inspection Report: SC366107 The home meets its aim, given the age of the young people at to home, to ensure young people

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

complete their statutory education and then, guide and support them to enter further education or employment dependant on their wishes and needs. The home uses its knowledge of the local community to access additional support via such agencies as Connexions and local business’s to empower young people through informed choices regarding career prospects.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Young people's assessed needs are being met because their progress is being monitored and reviewed. All young people have detailed placement plans that are in line with their placing authority care plans and pathway plans. These are regularly reviewed and updated by the home and at statutory review meetings. Detailed daily, monthly and six monthly reports are written with regard to each young person to ensure the home is meeting their needs and placing authorities are kept informed of progress. Reports are shared and discussed with young people. Staff use key worker sessions to ensure young people are prepared and to think about what areas they might want to discuss at statutory review meetings.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The home has in place formal and informal mechanisms to consult with young people. Young people are consulted about areas that are important to them. Key worker meetings or discussions take place on a regular basis to ensure that staff seek and take account of the feelings and wishes of the young people.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff are committed to supporting contact with family and significant others and believe it to be of vital importance that the family remain central to the young persons life. Staff are also aware of the importance of developing peer relationships in the local community and the importance of promoting these whilst safeguarding the young person. Young people's contact arrangements are clearly agreed and recorded so that all staff are clear about the circumstances where contact can take place. Staff work consistently with the placing authority and clearly adhere to all the arrangements. Staff recognise the importance that positive constructive contact has to play with young people's sense of wellbeing and the longer terms benefits.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There are established procedures for supporting young people to move into and leave the home. These provide staff with clear guidance and practical options that ensure the most appropriate and sensitive approach can be implemented for each individual young person depending upon their circumstance.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. There are clear policies, procedures and staff guidance that provide the home with a range of tools that promote independence. Young people are provided with good practical training to ensure that they have the help that they need. This includes life skills training and support. Young people have opportunities to put into practice their skills for budgeting, paying bills, cooking and managing their laundry. The placement plans in place contribute effectively to the placing authority's pathway plan. Staff ensure that young people are made fully aware of issues relating to accommodation, school, college, employment and Connexions and the different types of financial support they might require. The staff team is meeting its aim to provide support, advice and guidance so that young people have the education and information that they need to progress into adulthood. 6 of 7 Inspection Report: SC366107

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home continues to be furnished, decorated and maintained to a good standard. It is a warm and welcoming environment that the staff team and young people work hard to maintain and continue to want to improve. The company have recently employed the services of an external maintenance team, this demonstrates their commitment to develop and maintain high standards of accommodation for young people.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The home continues to be well managed and organised. There is a current Statement of Purpose and young people receive information that is user-friendly and explains how the home operates and what support they can expect.

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Organisation

The young people benefit from an established and consistent staff team who know the young people well. The strong standard of care is further enhanced by the specific knowledge and experience the staff are continuing to develop in supporting young people to live in a semi independent setting and moving towards leaving care.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Staff receive training that helps them to understand the company's policies. This is linked to the legislation relating to equality and diversity and helps staff to develop professionally. The company continues to place a high priority on staff training. There is a designated training coordinator who organises regular training events. For example, child development, drug awareness, working with young people who self-injure, autism and aspergers syndrome and promoting children's rights. All staff are qualified to National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 3 and higher.

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Organisation

Practice and records are continually monitored by the home's registered manager through Regulation 34 reports and by the Regulation 33 visitor's reports. Both are completed to a high standard and ensure the responsible individuals are aware of the quality of practice in the home.

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Organisation

Young peoples' case files are maintain to a good standard by the staff team and their key workers, and monitored by the home's registered manager and Regulation 33 visitor.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions, which must be taken so that the registered person meets the Care Standards Act 2000, The Childrens Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The Registered Provider must comply with the given timescales.

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Recommendations

There are no recommendations. 7 of 7 Inspection Report: SC366107

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