Children's Home run by My Choice Children’s Homes Limited in West Sussex

SC390785 Unique reference number 5 October 2009 Inspection date Liz Driver 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: SC390785

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Brief description of the service

A private company owns and operates this children's home. It is registered to accommodate three children of either sex from 10 years to 17 years at any one time who have emotional and or behavioural difficulties.

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Brief description of the service

The setting is a detached house. Located on the ground floor is the lounge, kitchen, dining room and staff office. There are three bedrooms for young people and one ensuite staff sleeping in room on the first floor. Toilets are located on the ground and first floors with a bathroom on the first floor. On the second floor there are two staff sleeping in rooms. The garden is a good size with a grassed area and BBQ.

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Summary

This full inspection was unannounced and took place on a weekday. This was the setting's first inspection since registration so could not be judged more than good in accordance with Ofsted guidance. All key national minimum standards were assessed during this inspection.

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Summary

The home provides young people with very good care and support. Robust policies and procedures support the day to day practice that is of a high standard. The manager has settled in well and is having a positive impact on the home and young people. She is fully supported by senior management. The staffing team is now settled and of a good age and gender mix. Staff training is organised and very well structured. Health care needs are robustly identified and met. Medication procedures are robust. Clear boundaries are in place for behaviour management that young people respect and have resulted in improved outcomes. Young people feel safe at the setting and fully protected by staff. Each young person's voice is important and numerous avenues exist to enable them to voice their opinions. The setting is currently undergoing some redecoration and is, in general, respected by the young people. All aspects

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Summary

of the home are robustly monitored at very regular intervals. Staff work hard to gain the trust of young people and this has seen improved outcomes for young people. Staff ability to form relationships with young people has enabled them to see positive improvements in individual behaviour. 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 setting's first inspection since registration in April 2009.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people are provided with fresh and nutritious food. They are asked about what they like to eat, and meals provided strike a good balance between their nutritional needs and personal favourites. Young people are encouraged to shop and cook their own food as part of their independence programme. They are given much support in achieving this.

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Helping children to be healthy

The home provides a healthy environment for the young people who live there. Up to date records are kept that identify their individual physical, emotional and health needs. The manager 4 of 9 Inspection Report: SC390785 and staff work hard to ensure that the young people have access to local medical, dental and other health services, and provide individual support and guidance where necessary. They also liaise closely with any specialist health services that are involved in the care of the young people. The home's procedures and the competence of the staff team ensures that good health is promoted and the welfare of residents is safeguarded at all times.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people benefit from the home having comprehensive policies and procedures in place for the administration of medication. Consents for the administration of medication and first aid provide protection for young people. Staff receive training in medication administration to enhance their competency. All medicines are kept safely and securely. Current practice of storage, recording and stock control is of a high standard.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Overall, procedures at the home ensure that young people's welfare is promoted. Staff always respect young people's privacy and confidentiality, and written information is securely stored in the home's office.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are given a copy of the home's complaints procedure and feel confident in using it. The manager responds to any complaint in a timely and professional manner and good records are kept. Procedures are in place for investigation of external complaints and whistle blowing. Ofsted have dealt with two complaints since registration, around staffing and behaviour management, that the setting dealt with proactively and with good outcomes.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has very clear procedures for responding to child protection and safeguarding concerns. Staff work in accordance with the company's own policy that works alongside the local child protection and safeguarding policy. Child protection training is provided to staff who are very well informed of their responsibilities. The practice in the setting is underpinned by the senior members of staff in the organisation providing support to the manager to ensure that all young people who are cared for are protected. The commitment, communication and awareness showed by the organisation in protecting young people is excellent.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Bullying is taken seriously with behaviour management plans in place that provide clear guidance for staff. The response and approach to bullying is made clear to young people on admission and during key worker sessions and house meetings. Staff are very aware of group dynamics in the home and manage young people's interactions very well.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Each young person has written information for staff to follow if they go missing or leave the home without permission. There is clear guidance as to whether it is an authorised or unauthorised absence. The home works closely with the local police to implement missing children protocols. Incidents of young people absent without authority are rigorously monitored.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has complied without fail to notify all those persons and appropriate authorities, listed in schedule 5 of Regulation 30 of The Children's Homes Regulations, of all significant events that have occurred. The number of these incidents is low.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Each young person has a behaviour management plan in place. These outline what support they need in achieving positive behaviour, what may distress them and what agreed reward and sanctions are in place. Records of sanctions and physical interventions are recorded to a 5 of 9 Inspection Report: SC390785 high standard. The manager closely monitors practice and records relating to sanctions and physical interventions, both are low in occurrence. Recording systems identify the need for young people to have the opportunity to comment following a restraint. Staff practice in dealing with challenging behaviour and conflict resolution is of a high standard with excellent feedback from placing authorities about the improvement seen in individual young people's behaviour. Staff work hard to gain positive relationships with young people and provide a warm and caring environment where they feel at ease to express themselves with the knowledge that staff are

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home's health and safety procedures are robust, and protect all who live and work the setting. Regular checks are carried out of the fittings and equipment used in the home and the premises are well maintained. Records of fire drills show that young people and staff know the emergency evacuation procedure for the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The organisation has a thorough recruitment process that ensures all necessary checks are completed prior to a member of staff starting work. Young people are actively involved in the recruitment process and are encouraged to give feedback to the recruitment panel carrying out the formal interviews, after they have met the potential members of staff. The vetting of visitors is robust with records kept.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Care plans for young people address how support will be provided. Each young person has a key worker who meets with them on a regular basis to discuss their care plan, weekly plans and overall behaviour and progress. High standard weekly reports are forwarded onto the organisation's head office and placing social workers. Staff clearly recognise and respect the individual needs of the each young person and work hard to ensure that their wishes and feelings are taken into account in all planning that takes place. The home works very closely with the other agencies involved in the young people's lives in order to provide consistent support for the young people and to achieve good outcomes.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Education is clearly valued by the home and young people are given good levels of support to maintain their placements at educational establishments. Attendance levels are in the main good. Daily school or college attendance is a an established part of the daily life at the home. The organisation has an experienced head teacher who oversees the education of all young people placed in the organisation's registered homes. Each young person has a personal education plan. These are up to date and include strategies and plans to help young people develop their education and life skills. Feedback from placing authorities is very impressive regarding the staff's ability to engage young people in education, some attending education for the first time in many years.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people are encouraged to take part in leisure activities in house and in the local community. Staff work hard to ensure they can access activities of their choice and enjoy the experience.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. 6 of 9 Inspection Report: SC390785 Young people have their needs assessed effectively and comprehensively. Each young person has a detailed and comprehensive care plan in place, which cover short and long term plan. All looked after children's paperwork is kept on file. Young people are encouraged to take part in their reviews and do so proactively. Weekly reports written by key workers ensure progress is monitored and that any issues can be shared with the team, social workers, families if appropriate or external professionals.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Contact arrangements for each young person are clearly outlined in each young person's care plan. Staff are very supportive of young people in facilitating visits. Strategies are put in place in order to ensure young people receive high levels of support during and after contacts. Any restrictions on contact are also known and recorded. Young people are able to visit friends and family and they are welcome to visit the home. Written records are maintained of any contacts.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people have numerous opportunities to discuss the running of the home and how they are being cared for. It is clear that young people's views and opinions are valued. Young people's meetings take place regularly where they can discuss areas such as menu planning, activities, changes in the home and any other areas they bring to the meeting. Key worker sessions are held regularly and provide the opportunity for young people to express their views and wishes. The manager is highly visible and approachable and senior management visit regularly and seek the views of the young people who happily voice their opinions. The young people are confident in expressing their views and this is encouraged by the staff team. Advocates are pro-actively sought for young people.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Relationships between staff and young people are warm and respectful. Staff are clear of the boundaries and behavioural expectations and provide support for young people to be aware of these expectations. Staff are professional and competent in carrying out their roles, and always put the needs of the young people first. They are sensitive and supportive even during challenging times.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. Staff work hard to ensure young people develop life skills according to their needs so they can move into adulthood confidently. Liaison with social workers and other related professionals enable young people to gain as many skills as they need to live an independent life when they leave care. Transitional planning is implemented as early as possible with input from social workers, the young person and the home.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The opportunities provided for young people to buy their own clothing and toiletries give them the experience in expressing their individual preferences and develop skills such as budgeting that will be essential throughout their lives. Young people are able to spend their monies freely unless they have been found to be spending it inappropriately.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people benefit from living in a house that is a good size with a garden. The house is currently being redecorated. It is well maintained and young people are in general respectful of their surroundings. The company's designated maintenance team respond quickly to any request submitted. Furnishings and fittings are of a high quality. Young people are able to have a say in the choice of furnishings and fittings and are able to personalise their own bedrooms. Toilets and bathrooms are of a good standard and sufficient in number. The home has a car for staff to utilise to transport young people. 7 of 9 Inspection Report: SC390785

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The promotion of equality and diversity is outstanding. Young people are given equal access to all aspects of provision and care. Staff have undertaken training on equality and diversity and monthly regulation 33 reports now have a designated section covering equality and diversity and is an agenda item at all meetings, from staff meetings to managers meetings to individual supervision sessions. Multi cultural days are arranged which the young people enjoy.

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Organisation

The home has a Statement of Purpose and Children's Guide that gives a comprehensive description of what the home can offer and achieve. The Children's Guide is of a particularly high standard giving a wealth of information to young people. The guide makes it clear what rights and responsibilities the young people have and what they can expect from the home. It includes useful telephone numbers of external agencies to whom the young people can approach for advice or to complain to.

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Organisation

There are clear lines of accountability within the organisation. The home has a Registered Manager who is supported by a strong senior management team, including the directors of the organisation. The manager provides a stable and calming influence in the home. After some staffing difficulties when first opened the home now has a settled staff team with a mix of gender, age and experience. Staffing levels are maintained on a basis of one to one giving the young people enough adults available to have access to high levels of support. Young people are well informed of which staff are on duty. The on call system enables staff to access support and advice from senior managers within the organisation. There is a very thorough organisational training programme on offer to all staff. Expectations are high for staff to access appropriate training and a closely monitored system ensures all staff are up to date with training. Training

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Organisation

includes areas such as first aid, child protection, food hygiene, physical interventions, behaviour management, complaints and whistle blowing, fire safety and the value of education. New staff commence an induction programme followed by enrolment on a National Vocational Qualification course in childcare. New staff have reviews on a monthly basis carried out by the manager. All staff receive regular supervision that is of a high standard. Staff meetings are held regularly, with the acting manager attending weekly meetings with other managers in the organisation.

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Organisation

Monitoring of the home and its practices is of a high standard. The manager is supported by a senior manager in the organisation who visits very regularly to offer support and guidance. The Regulation 33 visitor provides excellent reports with actions and recommendations for the manager to address. These visits include consultation with the young people living in the home and feedback from placing social workers and families of the young people.

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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. 9 of 9 Inspection Report: SC390785

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