Children's Home run by Anderida Adolescent Care Ltd in East Sussex

SC028536 Unique reference number 3 November 2009 Inspection date Liz Driver Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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9 December 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 8 Inspection Report: SC028536

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Brief description of the service

The setting is registered to accommodate two young people, of either sex, over 11 years of age with emotional or behavioural difficulties. It is owned by a private company. The accommodation consists of a lounge, dining room and kitchen on the ground floor. The first floor has a sleeping in room/office, the young people's bathroom and a young person's bedroom. The second floor comprises a sleeping in room, a meeting room and a young person's bedroom. There is a small garden at the rear of the premises.

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Summary

This was a full, unannounced inspection.

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Summary

Since the last inspection there has been a change in manager. The new manager has settled in well and has a clear understanding of her role and responsibilities. Staff are fully supportive of her. Young people are cared for by staff who are well trained, experienced and sensitive to their needs. Health issues that require sensitivity are dealt with very well. The food provision is good with consideration given to recycling and ethical purchases. Staff are aware of child protection and safe guarding concerns and work very hard to ensure young people are aware of the dangers they put themselves in when missing from the home. Behaviour management, although challenging at times, is consistent. There are numerous avenues in place for each young person to voice their views and opinions of the running of the home and of their future lives. The home is well managed and well maintained. All necessary health and safety checks

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Summary

are carried out although not all young people have experienced a fire drill. It provides a safe and homely environment for young people who present challenging 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

At the last inspection the setting was asked to ensure that all information required under Schedule 3 is in the young people's case files. This has been actioned and all case files are up to date with all required information. The setting was also asked to ensure all staff are up to date with child protection and safeguarding training. All staff have received the appropriate training. A tour of the home evidenced no health and safety issues that were noted in the last inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Recommendations were made that the setting have taken on board where records are now endorsed and checked by the manager. The setting has implemented a good record of training for staff that is easily accessible and gives clear information about individual training attendance.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people's dietary needs are fully assessed with a nutritious and varied diet provided. Young people have the opportunity to choose and help prepare meals. Requests for unusual foods are actively sought and successfully located. The young people in the home are encouraged to eat a healthy and balanced diet and are given advice from the staff as to what constitutes healthy eating. They are able to prepare snacks when they wish and have access to fresh fruit. 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC028536 Young people are able to taste foods from different cultures as part of the setting's new world food project.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people receive a good level of health care provision. Each young person's health needs are fully assessed and reviewed at regular intervals. Physical, emotional and medical health needs are contained within individualised health care plans with placement objectives that are regularly reviewed and extended where necessary. Complex health issues that require staff to be sensitive are fully taken on board and delivered appropriately. Young people are registered with a local dentist, doctor and optician and all routine medical appointments are made for them, although this can be difficult for staff if the young people refuse to attend. The manager will discuss issues directly with the general practitioner if this is the case. Any specialist medical appointments are arranged by the home and young people encouraged to meet with health professionals for specific advice. The setting engages with health professionals relevant to

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Helping children to be healthy

existing and newly presenting health needs. The promotion of a healthy life style is clear with information provided about issues such as smoking, drug and alcohol misuse and sexual health. Young people are cared for by staff who are trained to administer first aid.

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Helping children to be healthy

There are good procedures in place that ensure the storage, stock control and administration of medicines is safe and secure. Young people have medicines administered by appropriately trained staff. Consents for the administration of medicines, first aid and emergency treatment are obtained prior to admission.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people's privacy is well respected by staff. Staff knock on doors before entering a young person's room. There is a policy in place with regards to searching a young person's room and a record is kept if this occurs. Any confidential information kept on the young people is securely stored in locked cabinets in a secure office.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The right of a young person to complain about their care in the home is made clear to them on their admission to the home. The young person's handbook gives clear guidance to the young people about who they can complain to and their contact details. Staff receive training in complaints and whistle blowing as part of their induction process. Recording systems for complaints are in place with clear outcomes. Numbers of complaints dealt with by the manager are very low.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are cared for by staff who receive appropriate training in child protection and safeguarding, including the home's and local authority's protocols in identifying and responding to child protection concerns or incidents. Staff are aware of what they need to do in the event that they have concerns about a young person's welfare. Procedural guidance for staff clearly demonstrates the systems required in order to protect children and minimise the risk of abuse whilst young people are living in the home. Staff are very well informed of the setting's whistle blowing policy.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a very clear policy in place with regards to managing bullying that is currently being reviewed. Any admissions to the home are assessed to ensure that stability is maintained in the home and that the chances of bullying are minimised. Behavioural expectations are made clear to the young people when they are admitted to the home and the policy emphasises that 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC028536 there is no tolerance of bullying behaviour. There are clear guidelines for staff on how to manage potential bullying behaviour and how to support young people and staff.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a clear policy in place for the staff to follow in the event that a young person goes missing. Each young person's care plan clearly records what course of action will be pursued should the young person leave the home without permission or not return to the home at the agreed time. This strategy is also explained to the young people so that they are clear as to what the consequences are if they are missing. The home works very closely with other agencies, including the police, to ensure they have an in-depth understanding of each young person's difficulties and vulnerabilities. Much work is carried out by staff to make young people aware of safety issues if they go missing.

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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 which outlines what support they need to achieve positive behaviour. Triggers for distressed or challenging behaviour are recorded in each young person's behaviour management plan. These plans include comprehensive and complex behavioural management strategies. All members of staff receive training in the method of restraint chosen by the organisation which owns the home. There are low numbers of recorded physical interventions despite the high level of behaviour difficulties presented by young people. Sanctions are recorded and endorsed by the manager as part of the monitoring process. An incentive scheme is promoted by staff and works well for young people with good outcomes seen. Staff and young people are clear about behavioural boundaries, expectations and consequences of poor behaviour.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The manager ensures that any risk assessments related to the premises, activities or young people are updated and reviewed regularly. The home has up to date checks carried out on electric, gas and fire safety systems. Additionally, there are regular fire drills although records show that not all young people have experienced fire drill practices so may not know what action to take in case of a fire.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The organisation operates a robust recruitment process which ensures that all members of staff have the correct checks made on them before commencing work. Files evidenced staff have enhanced criminal record bureau checks and the standards for safe recruitment are met. All visitors are vetted, supervised if appropriate and asked to sign the visitor's book.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The individual needs of young people are seen as paramount. Staff provide very good levels of individual support and are positive about the outcomes this enables them to achieve. Care plans clearly highlight the individual needs of each young person. The religious and cultural needs of young people are established prior to arrival and where necessary actions are implemented to ensure these are met. A key working process is in place to ensure young people have regular opportunities to discuss their care plans and voice their wishes, concerns and aspirations. The setting is excellent at encouraging young people to have a voice and provide them with the tools to raise issues about their present and future lives with the home's staff, their social workers or other relevant professionals if necessary.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The staff work very hard to ensure that each young person has the opportunity to attend an appropriate educational placement. Staff liaise with local authority education departments and arrange meetings to prepare individual education plans (IEP) and personal education plans 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC028536 (PEP). Young people can also access education at the organisations' registered school. The staff assist young people in attending their education placement and will incorporate rewards into their behaviour management plan and targets to give an incentive for the young people to attend. The home has an ethos where education is highly valued and young people are encouraged to take advantage of the support and opportunities given to them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Young people have a robust assessment of their needs and placement plans that identify how their needs will be met. A structured review process continually assesses young people's needs throughout the placement to ensure positive outcomes are achievable. Excellent avenues are in place for young people to have a positive contribution about their present needs, the way the home is run and their future. Regular reviews of care placement objectives occur where young people are encouraged to attend. Where necessary specialist advice is sought to address particular issues young people may have and incorporated into care plans.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Contact is fully promoted for young people and their families and friends; any restrictions are for valid reasons that are fully understood by young people and staff. Good records are kept of each contact.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are given a range of avenues to express how they feel. They have high levels of access to adults caring for them. There are regular key work sessions, house meetings, formal reviews and the young people are able to voice their views on an informal basis constantly.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The way the home functions enhances every young person's independence and opportunities to make every day choices in a safe way. The staff approach ensures that the young people feel valued and listened to.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. Good procedures are in place for young people as they approach adulthood. This includes liaising with social workers and contributing to pathway plans or leaving care plans.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home provides a good standard of accommodation throughout. It is well lit, heated and ventilated. Some areas are in need of repainting and plans are in place for this to be addressed in the near future. Suitable toilet and bathing facilities are provided. The young people choose the décor in their rooms and are able to personalise them with posters and pictures. There is separate sleeping in accommodation for the staff. The garden is small and in good order. The home has enough space for the young people to meet visitors in private.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The promotion of equality and diversity is good. The individual needs of young people at the home are properly considered in relation to religion and cultural needs together with health and dietary needs. Recruitment procedures ensure staff are recruited fairly and without discrimination. 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC028536 The setting provides suitable information regarding the facilities and services available for young people. The statement of purpose, updated in 2009, highlights all areas of care provision and identifies the aims and objectives of the service. Young people are given a children's guide that is comprehensive and clearly states what they can expect and what is expected of them.

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Organisation

Young people benefit from a strong staff team consisting of experienced staff who are all fully supported by the manager and other senior staff in the organisation. A change in management since the last inspection has been implemented smoothly. The new manager has settled in well and has the full support of the staff team. An extensive induction programme is offered to newly recruited staff with continued training after this period, including National Vocational Qualifications. Staff receive regular and a good standard of supervision and feel well supported. Sickness and holidays are covered by bank staff. A good staff to young people ratio is in place to ensure high levels of support and individual attention for young people. Staff attend regular team meetings to discuss the running of the home and the young people's behaviour and progress. All members of staff have clear job descriptions which outline their duties and

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Organisation

responsibilities. The staff have access to a number of written policies and procedures which are kept in the staff office.

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Organisation

The home has regular visits undertaken by an external manager from within the organisation. These are the subject of reports which ensure that key areas in the home are monitored. They are also submitted to Ofsted on a monthly basis.

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Organisation

All required records are accurate and up to date and clearly reflect the needs and progress of young people living at the home.

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Organisation

The management of the home and systems operated therein, ensure that the staff are well trained and supported. This in turn ensures that the young people are cared for to a good standard and that their needs are promoted and their wellbeing protected and developed.

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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 November 2009 ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that children accommdated at the home are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire. ( Regulation 32(1) (e) )

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Recommendations

There are no recommendations. 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC028536

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