Children's Home run by Hillcrest Children’s Services Ltd in Hampshire

SC012001 Unique reference number 10 December 2009 Inspection date David Coulter Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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23 February 2009 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: SC012001

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Brief description of the service

Ashley children's home is one of two homes run by RAAC Care Ltd. The home can accommodate up to six young people of either sex who are between the ages of 8 and 16 years on admission. The home specialises in providing therapeutic care for children who have suffered trauma in their lives, such as physical, sexual or emotional abuse, or neglect and display a variety of behavioural problems. The home is a spacious two storey detached building within a residential area, with access to local amenities, shops and public transport.

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Summary

The interim announced inspection focused on three key areas, being healthy, staying safe and organisation. During the visit a tour of the building was undertaken, a range of records and documents examined and staff and three young people spoken with.

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Summary

From the information obtained it was evident that the home's residents are encouraged to adopt healthy lifestyles by, amongst other things, eating healthily and taking regular exercise. Staff regularly check to make sure young people remain healthy and are supported to attend medical appointments if they are unwell. Staff have established good systems to ensure that medicines are dispensed correctly and stored safely.

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Summary

Observations indicated that good relationships have been established between staff and young people. Young people clearly felt comfortable in approaching any of the staff for attention. Staff regularly seek out the views of young people on all aspects of their lives within the home.

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Summary

Young people were generally positive about the home's environment and its facilities, all are provided with their own rooms that are designated as their 'own space'. Young people reported that staff respect their privacy. Rooms are decorated to reflect each individual's personal taste. Young people confirmed they had access to a range of leisure equipment. While the home's current residents live full and active lives two are not presently accessing educational placements. This situation is disadvantaging them as well as creating additional strain on the daily operation of the home.

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Summary

Evidence indicates the home is well managed and operates with a group of enthusiastic and well qualified staff. The needs of each young person are clearly identified and plans have been developed to ensure they are appropriately met. Young people say they enjoy living in the home and special mention was made of the food, the activities and the support received from staff. Recommendations arising from the previous inspection have been appropriately addressed. There is one recommendation arising from this inspection that relates to a lack of appropriate educational placements. 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

The manager has now completed the registration process. The number of incidents of young people absconding has dropped significantly. Staff have completed training on the storage and dispensing of medication. A new behaviour management strategy has been developed and is in the process of being implemented. 4 of 7 Inspection Report: SC012001

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The home has developed a range of policies, procedures and working practices to ensure the health and wellbeing of each young person is appropriately met during their placement. The specific health needs of each young person are identified on admission. Each young person has a health plan that identifies medical, dental, hearing or optical needs and provides guidance for staff on how they should be met. The home has its own therapist who provides specialist support. Consents are obtained from social workers and parents for all forms of medical interventions. The health of each young person is monitored on an on-going basis and all receive an annual health check. There are well developed policies and procedures for the storage and administration of medication. Staff provide guidance and support in relation to health and social issues, including alcohol and substance misuse, sexual health, smoking, sex and relationship

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people are encouraged to develop healthy lifestyles by eating wisely and taking regular exercise. All meals are produced by staff on the premises using fresh produce. Menu plans incorporate the dietary needs and preferences of each individual. Young people talked in positive terms about both the quality and quantity of food on offer. Positive comments were also made in regard to the range of leisure and recreational activities available.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

While the home operates as a communal unit, each young person is treated as an individual with their own specific physical, social and emotional needs. Staff operate a key-worker system to ensure the specific needs of each young person are clearly identified and continually monitored. Young people are accommodated in their own rooms that can be personalised. Both staff and young people are expected to respect each other's personal space. Confidential information relating to each young person is kept in a secure facility and all personal issues are discussed in private. Young people are afforded privacy when making and receiving personal phone calls.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff have developed a good range of policies, procedures and working practices to ensure that young people reside in a safe and secure environment. Staff are clearly aware of the vulnerability of the young people in their care and use risk assessments to identify areas of potential concern in the home and the local community.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are made aware of the potential risks they could face if they leave the home without the knowledge or permission of staff. Staff have established a system for the recording and reporting of incidents, including those of young people being absent without authority. Staff have been very successful in breaking these patterns of behaviour. Appropriate staffing levels, close supervision and detailed behaviour management plans are used to minimise risk.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home operates a policy of zero tolerance towards bullying and all young people are made aware of it on admission. Staff are aware of the propensity for vulnerable young people to bully or be bullied. Staff aim to minimise the opportunities for bullying to occur and have developed strategies in respect of each young person. Records indicate that all incidents of bullying are taken seriously and the young people concerned are supported in resolving their difficulties. 5 of 7 Inspection Report: SC012001 Both staff and young people confirmed that bullying was not currently an issue within the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff receive training on child protection issues and are aware of their individual responsibilities in reporting concerns to the appropriate authorities. All staff are introduced to the home's policy on child protection during their induction. All serious incidents are reported appropriately in accordance with regulations and prompt investigation involving interested parties such as placing authorities. Any recommendations arising from investigations are incorporated into the home's policies and procedures. Good lines of communication have been established with the Local Safeguarding Children Board and joint training is planned in the near future.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Through communal living and the development of social and life skills, young people are encouraged to develop socially acceptable behaviour. A new behaviour management strategy for intervention has been introduced. This approach encourages staff to reinforce positive behaviour by offering praise and rewards rather than using sanctions for misdemeanours. Within this strategy individual behaviour management plans are used to provide clear guidance for staff on how each individual's behaviour should be managed. Staff are continuing to develop and refine their approach to managing situations of challenging behaviour and use a range of diversionary techniques. While all staff have undertaken training in the use of physical interventions, they are only used if a young person is putting themselves or others at risk.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people spoken with confirmed their views are regularly sought about all aspects of their lives within the home. Issues raised at young people's meetings and through informal discussions are taken forward for consideration at staff meetings. This approach has proved successful in addressing the concerns of individual's before they develop into complaints.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home recruits staff through a well-established recruitment process. This process requires all prospective staff to undertake a criminal records bureau check, provide references and undertake an interview. All new employees have to successfully complete a probationary period before assuming their full responsibilities. Staffing levels are adjusted in response to the needs of individual young people. All staff are provided with job descriptions that detail their roles and responsibilities.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The home has produced a Statement of Purpose that details the number of staff, the facilities and the nature of the care on offer. A young person's guide has also been produced. Young people are supplied with a guide as part of the admission process. 6 of 7 Inspection Report: SC012001 The home operates with a well motivated group of full and part-time staff. There are good systems in place to ensure that any shortfalls are covered by bank staff, all of who are conversant with the operation of the home. Members of the staff team work across both residential units. The staff team consists of both males and females of different ages from a cross-section of the local community. Staff have job descriptions that detail their role and responsibilities. There are clear lines of accountability within the staff structure. The home has developed a comprehensive range of policies and procedures that provide clear guidance for staff. Staff are

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Organisation

involved in many aspects of the development of the home and contribute to staff meetings by submitting agenda items.

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Organisation

There is a culture of training and professional development within the staff team and an expectation that individual's will regularly access the training opportunities on offer. Members of the staff team have sufficient skills, qualifications and experience to meet the needs of all the young people being accommodated. Staff receive regular supervision and an annual appraisal.

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Organisation

Through discussions with staff it is clear that having two young people in the home throughout the day is causing major difficulties. Efforts to find appropriate educational placements are still ongoing. Staffing levels are subject to regular review to ensure that the care needs of each young person can be met. Young people talked positively about their lives within the home. The interaction between young people and staff was observed to be both spontaneous and warm.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good and staff actively promote the concept of self-respect and respect for others.

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Organisation

There are well-established recording and reporting systems and effective lines of communication between staff on different shifts. Records examined contained recent and relevant information. The manager and company directors monitor the operation of the home on an ongoing basis.

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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 that young people have access to appropriate educational placements (NMS 14). 7 of 7 Inspection Report: SC012001

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