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

SC359832 Unique reference number 9 December 2009 Inspection date Liz Driver Inspector Random 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 7 Inspection Report: SC359832

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Brief description of the service

This setting is registered to accommodate three young people from 10 years to under 18 years with emotional or behavioural difficulties. The setting is a large, family sized building. It is owned by a private organisation. On the ground floor is a large kitchen/dining room, lounge, education room, toilet and staff office. On the first floor there are three young people's bedrooms and two staff sleeping-in rooms, a bathroom with toilet and a separate staff shower/toilet. There are extensive gardens surrounding the setting.

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Summary

This unannounced interim inspection was carried out on a weekday.

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Summary

The last inspection resulted in no actions or recommendations so no follow up was needed. At this inspection all key standards for staying safe were covered, plus other national minimum standards relating to being healthy, enjoying and achieving, economic wellbeing and organisation. Positive contribution has not been commented on. One recommendations has been made as a result of this inspection; relating to the referral procedures for the newly introduced Independent Safeguarding Authority.

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Summary

This is an excellent service providing stability and consistency to young people. The home is managed by an extremely effective and competent manager who is supported by senior managers in the organisation. Young people's health needs are addressed to a very high standard. Young people are protected from harm and abuse by the setting's robust polices and procedures and staff practice. Any malpractice is quickly and robustly addressed. The house is in excellent condition and provides a homely environment where young people feel at ease. Monitoring of the home is excellent with sound systems in place. There is clear evidence of very positive changes for young people accommodated at the home, evidence of the work carried out by the manager and the staff team.

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Summary

There is a clear commitment to exceeding the national minimum standards and a strong focus on continual improvement. The overall quality rating is outstanding. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

No actions or recommendations were made at the last inspection.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Young people receive excellent dietary provision. Staff consult with young people about their food preferences and encourage them to take an active part in shopping, preparation and cooking meals. This also forms part of their independence and life skills packages. Young people confirm staff are supportive in these areas. Menus are varied, healthy and reflect the young people's wishes and choices. Staff are trained in food hygiene and have a very good awareness of what each young person's specific dietary needs are. Comprehensive care plans identify dietary needs. 4 of 7 Inspection Report: SC359832 Young people have individual health care plans for staff to work with and identify, in depth, all health needs. Plans are of a very high standard and are subject to review by key workers, the manager and the regulation 33 visitor. Involvement of specialist health related professionals

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Helping children to be healthy

is gained, and supported by multi-professional meetings and reviews. Young people receive care from staff who are trained in first aid and who are competent in responding to self harming. Risk assessments are comprehensive covering a wide range of health needs plus risky behaviours that may affect their health. Young people have a good insight into their health needs and are comfortable in discussing any concerns with staff. All health records are very well maintained with comprehensive recording. Monitoring of records is very good, both internally by the manager and externally by the senior managers and regulation 33 visitor. Staff work hard to enable positive changes to risky behaviours; outcomes for young people clearly evidence this.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Young people are cared for by staff who show a high regard to privacy and maintaining levels of confidentiality. Individual files are stored securely in locked cabinets.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people benefit from having access to a robust complaints procedure. The right of a young person to complain about their care in the home is made clear to them on admission. The young person's handbook gives clear guidance about who they can complain to and their contact details. Staff receive training in complaints and whistle blowing during the induction process. There have been no complaints made to the home since the last inspection and none received by Ofsted.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home works very closely with other agencies relating to child protection and safeguarding issues. All records are of a high standard and very well maintained. Regular training is provided to staff. The practice in the setting is underpinned by the senior members of staff in the organisation providing support to the managers and staff team. The registered manager and service managers have a wealth of experience in child protection and safeguarding. The commitment, communication and awareness shown by the manager and organisation in protecting and safeguarding young people continues to be excellent. Young people say they feel safe at the home and staff protect them.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Issues relating to misconduct and dismissals are addressed with the organisations human resource department in close liaison with the registered manager, who is not yet fully conversant with the recommendations of the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) in relation to referrals, if appropriate.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are made aware of the setting's zero tolerance to bullying on arrival and at regular key worker sessions. Staff take any bullying incident seriously, with behaviour management plans in place that provide clear guidance for staff. Individual triggers are noted and staff work well to lessen the risk of bullying, with very good results.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The incidence of young people absconding has decreased significantly since the last inspection as a result of the hard work staff have put into each young person's behaviour management plan. Records relating to behaviour management are of a high standard with staff working closely with other agencies if a young person does go missing. There are very clear guidelines for staff to follow if this occurs. 5 of 7 Inspection Report: SC359832 Each young person has a comprehensive behaviour management plan in place that outlines 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 high standard and are very low in number. The manager closely monitors practice and records relating to sanctions and physical interventions. Young people do present with challenging behaviour at times but the staff team work very well together and provide a

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

consistent approach to dealing with any difficult behaviour. Staff work hard to build positive relationships and provide a warm and caring environment where young people feel at ease to express themselves with the knowledge that staff are supportive.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has updated risk assessments on all areas of health and safety, including fire. All staff and young people practise fire drills so are well informed of what action to take if a fire occurred. All fire fighting equipment is checked very regularly. Records kept of all checks are excellent.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The organisation has a very robust recruitment procedure that ensures all necessary checks take place prior to a new member of staff commencing work. The vetting of visitors is robust with records kept of all visitors to the home.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Education is a clear priority for young people at the setting. There is a registered school on site that has been registered by Ofsted since the last inspection. A full time teacher is in place who works very closely with staff to ensure consistency for young people. Staff work hard to ensure the correct education placement is sought for each individual young person and are supportive in individual choices. The organisation has an experienced head teacher who oversees the education of all young people placed at the home and provides support to the teacher at the setting. Daily school or college attendance is an established part of the daily life at the home with excellent attendance records.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is outstanding. Young people benefit from living in a house that is large with extensive gardens. The house is homely and very well maintained and young people are respectful of their surroundings. 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 high standard and sufficient in number.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. The home is managed by an extremely effective and competent registered manager. She has a wealth of experience in working with young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties and provides a stable and calming influence in the home. She is extremely supportive of her staff team. The staff team are of a good gender and age mix. Staffing levels continue to be 6 of 7 Inspection Report: SC359832 maintained on a one to one basis or two to one basis if identified and agreed with placing authorities.. There are clear lines of accountability within the organisation. The manager is supported by a strong senior management team, including directors of the organisation.

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Organisation

Monitoring of the home and its practices is of a high standard. The registered manager closely monitors records and practices on weekly basis. She is supported by a senior manager in the organisation who visits regularly to offer support and guidance. The Regulation 33 visitor provides excellent reports following her visits 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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Organisation

The young people's case files are very well organised, regularly reviewed and updated. They are subject to thorough checks by key workers, the manager, and senior managers within the organisation. Individual case files are stored securely and safely and arranged in a manner that makes them readily useable by staff. All records are maintained to an extremely high standard.

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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

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • ensure procedures for the referral of staff to the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) are known (NMS 17). 7 of 7 Inspection Report: SC359832

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