Children's Home run by Fairways Care (UK) Limited in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

SC391708 Unique reference number 15 September 2009 Inspection date Stephanie Omosevwerha Inspector Key Type of 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 9 Inspection Report: SC391708

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Brief description of the service

The provision is a children's home, which is owned by private company. It is registered for up to two young people of either gender from 11 years to under 18 years of age. Young people may exhibit emotional or behavioural difficulties. The home is situated in a residential area of local town. It is easily accessible by car and public transport. Placements will usually be for more than three months and are designed to offer young people a period of stabilisation and intensive work with the aim of them moving on to foster care, back to the family or into independence. The current service is specifically set up to meet the complex needs, including health and behavioural issues, of one young person. The intention is that the service will be able to accommodate more than one young person in the future. The home is a detached chalet bungalow with off-road parking in front and gardens to the rear.

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Brief description of the service

There was one young person accommodated in the home at this inspection.

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Summary

This was the first full inspection of the home since registration. The inspection was unannounced and covered all the key national minimum standards.

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Summary

The home is providing a good service with some outstanding areas of practice particularly linked to the outcomes for the young person. The home has a well-trained staff team who work consistently with the young person. This has contributed to the excellent progress made in a number of areas including health, education and social skills. The young person has benefited from a highly individualised service and was extremely happy and thriving in a caring and nurturing environment. Very effective communication strategies enable the young person to contribute to the running of the home and have a direct impact on shaping how the service evolves.

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Summary

Some shortfalls were identified during this inspection, however, in the main these were organisational issues and did not directly impact on the young person's welfare or care. However, restrictions on contact arrangements should be clearly noted on the young person's file to avoid any potential misunderstandings that could compromise the young person's safety. Areas for development include: ensuring written parental consents for emergency aid are available; ensuring information about Local Safeguarding Children's Boards is correct; ensuring the restraint book complies with the relevant standard; having written behaviour strategies agreed with professionals especially where they differ from usual practices; recording outcomes of statutory reviews; frequency of staff supervision; and keeping a record of staff training in the home. 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

This was the first inspection of the home since registering in April 2009.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. 4 of 9 Inspection Report: SC391708 The young person living in the home is able to take an active part in planning and preparing meals. Staff emphasise the importance of healthy eating and are able to cater for special dietary needs. Staff are currently exploring ways to introduce different food types into the menu to promote a more varied choice of diet. Staff are also very effective at encouraging independence at the table and there have been significant improvements in the young person's skills, for example eating without the aid of a plate guard. Meals are eaten in a homely environment round the table affording the opportunity to promote good social skills at the table.

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Helping children to be healthy

The young person's health has got considerably better and exceeded health care professionals' expectations who commented on the 'unprecedented improvement' achieved. The combination of comprehensive information and guidance for staff and specific health-led training undertaken has equipped staff with the skills and competencies needed to monitor and promote the young person's well-being. Excellent liaison with health care services has ensured regular appointments are attended and any changes or advice can be promptly incorporated into the health care plan.

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Helping children to be healthy

There is good provision for the management and administration of medication. Medication is stored securely and accurate records are kept of all prescribed medication, treatment and first aid given to young people. Written parental consent for administering medication and emergency first aid is not available on the young person's file.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Staff have an excellent awareness of balancing the needs privacy whilst ensuring the protection of the young person at all times as is consistent with good parenting. Staff are sensitive to the need to promote personal space and encourage the young person to develop their sense of independence. The home provides a locked office ensuring records are kept completely confidential. Staff are always available to the young person, who is confident in raising issues and concerns with staff before they become major problems. The open culture enables healthy dialogue to take place which means it has been unnecessary to use the more formal complaints procedures that are in place.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The young person is properly safeguarded in the home. Staff are well-trained and given clear guidance how to respond to any allegations, although written procedures do not contain the address and contact number of the Local Safeguarding Children's Board. Staff are aware of the local reporting processes so this omission does not have any impact on the young person's welfare should any issues arise. The service is offering a single placement so bullying is not a concern, however, staff are aware of the need to monitor activities outside the home, such as school and clubs. The young person is not at risk from going absent without authority due to the high levels of staffing provided both in the home and out in the community. Appropriate procedures are in place in the unlikely event this was to occur.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home's approach to behaviour management has had a positive impact on the young person's behaviour. Staff provide a caring and nurturing environment with the emphasis on building positive relationships which has been key in managing behaviour issues. Some of the existing strategies used to manage behaviour are not in keeping with current accepted practices, for example, restricting access to the young person's bedroom and the use of food as an incentive. Whilst these are long established practices agreed in previous placements by supporting professionals, there is currently no written evidence to endorse this in the young person's file. Excellent communication between the staff team ensure a consistent approach in applying 5 of 9 Inspection Report: SC391708 boundaries, which has been successful in reducing the number of violent incidents in the home. Accurate records of physical interventions are kept, but the format of the restraint book does

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

not currently comply with national minimum standard.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home provides a safe environment for the young person and there is excellent provision for the management of risk. This includes assessing risks associated with the premises and activities undertaken by the young person, linked to their individual risk assessment. Regular checks and servicing of facilities and equipment ensures that the home is well-maintained and hazard free.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The young person is properly safeguarded by thorough recruitment practices, which ensure comprehensive background checks are carried out to validate the suitability of each potential employee.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. The service offered by the home is highly individualised and tailored to meet specific requirements including personal, health and social needs. Staff are aware of developing the young people's identity and promote interests that are linked to their family background, for example, supporting their home town's football team. Staff have identified specialist external service necessary for supporting specific needs, such health care and recreation activities.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff foster extremely good relationships with the young person's school. There are plenty of opportunities to meet to provide verbal handovers and exchange written information that promotes a high level of consistency between school and home. This has a positive impact on achieving full time education hours and integration into the classroom, which was not previously possible.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. A comprehensive care plan is in place, detailing the young person's support needs in all areas and identifying how these will be met. The young person has the opportunity to contribute to the plan, which helps to identify areas to progress and develop giving the young person some achievable goals to work towards. The staff team are fully aware of the plan and the goals that have been set and work closely with the young person to accomplish these. The plan is regularly reviewed and updated to ensure it is still relevant. There was some evidence that statutory reviews are being undertaken, although dates of reviews and reports were not available on the young person's case records and there were no notes taken during the review of any key points or recommendations made.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Family contact is always encouraged and staff support regular visits to family members. Family and friends are also very welcome to visit the home and staff actively promote visits to increase the social life of the home. A phone is available to the young person both in the lounge and the kitchen so private calls can be made. Restrictions to contact are not currently clearly recorded.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Clear guidance regarding admissions and leaving the home is in place, although as the home is a relatively new service there has not been much opportunity to test out the procedures. 6 of 9 Inspection Report: SC391708 Admission to the home has been handled sensitively with a positive introduction, which included opportunities for visits and a helpful booklet designed in an attractive and friendly format giving useful information about the home.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The young person has ample opportunity to express views and opinions both formally and informally. Staff have developed effective strategies for listening to and incorporating the young person's views into the running of the service. This includes encouraging the young person to write ideas in a Thoughts Book and regular participation in staff handovers.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. Staff are skilful in helping to promote the ability to self help to increase the young person's independence. There are ample opportunities to explore daily living skills, although no formalised plans are in place as yet for preparation towards leaving care as the current plan is for a long term placement.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home provides accommodation and facilities that are decorated, furnished and maintained to a high standard. The young person is accommodated in a single bedroom that has been personalised according to individual tastes and needs. There is a good range of indoor and outdoor communal space providing space for private activities, play and recreational pursuits. The home is well-located in relation to transport links and community facilities.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. A well-written statement of purpose is available to all relevant parties who wish to have up-to-date information about the home and the way it operates. A children's guide is available for young people and staff take time to go through the information with them and explain anything they do not understand.

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Organisation

The home benefits from a mixed staff team, with a good range of skills and experience. They are well- supported by a suitably qualified manager, although formal supervision sessions are not yet taking place at the recommended frequency. There is, however, additional group supervision sessions that give the team time to explore practice issues as a whole. Staff receive thorough induction training prior to commencing work to ensure they have the competencies needed and feel confident about working with young people. There are further opportunities for training, including professional qualifications and additional courses aimed at specific needs, such as communication, attachment and identity.

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Organisation

The home provides a high staffing ratio that affords the young person with excellent levels of care an interaction and ensures all operational needs of the home can be met. The young person benefits from good levels of continuity within the staff team providing a sense of stability and consistency of care. This has achieved a positive impact on both the young person's emotional and physical well-being with evidence of improvements to the young person's health and behaviour.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Highly individualised care plans are in place with the emphasis placed on the young person achieving a sense of identity linked to their own family background. Staff encourage the young person to develop their own style and tastes, 7 of 9 Inspection Report: SC391708 for example, choice of clothes, hairstyle and décor of their bedroom. The young person is encouraged to develop independence skills and has opportunities to undertake activities and be part of the local community. Staff are provided with relevant training encouraging them to explore issues of equality and diversity and develop their understanding of related issues. Policies and procedures reflect sound values and ensure equal opportunities are incorporated into working practices.

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Organisation

There are good systems in place to monitor the young person's progress in the home. Effective communication between the staff team, including daily handovers and staff meetings, ensures information is passed on and actioned. The manager regularly reviews the service and identifies any areas for improvement. Monthly monitoring visits take into account young people's and staff's views and provide additional feedback on how the service is performing.

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Organisation

Individual case files are confidentially stored and provide an accurate account of young people's needs, developments and progress during the time they are accommodated in the home.

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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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Due date Action Standard

30 October 2009 maintain a record in respect of each child accommodated ensuring that all information in Schedule 3 is available, specifically arrangements for, including any restrictions on, contact between the child, his parents, and any other person. (Regulation 28 (1))

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • retain on file written permission from a person with parental responsibility for the administration of first aid and appropriate non-prescription medication. (NMS 13.4) • ensure child protection procedures are consistent with local policies and procedures including correct information of the local safeguarding children's board relevant to the geographical area where the home is situated. (NMS 17.4) • record the use of restraint on a child by an adult in a separate dedicated bound and numbered book that includes all headings as set out in the standard. (NMS 22.9) • ensure measures taken to respond to unacceptable behaviour are appropriate to the age, understanding and individual needs of the child, particularly with methods that are contrary to current recognised practices. (NMS 22.5)

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Recommendations

• record the outcome of all statutory reviews on the young person's file and any actions arising from the reviews are clearly identified. (NMS 3.4) 8 of 9 Inspection Report: SC391708 • provide all staff working in the home with at least one and a half hours of one to one supervision fro a senior member of staff each month. (NMS 28.2) • maintain a written record of all training for all staff in the home. (NMS 31.4) 9 of 9 Inspection Report: SC391708

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