Children's Home run by Little Acorns London Beach Farm Limited in Kent

SC023651 Unique reference number 26 January 2010 Inspection date Angela Gunning 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 6 Inspection Report: SC023651

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Brief description of the service

This service is a small children's home and independent residential school. Care and education is provided for up to seven children, aged between four and 15 and under the age of 10 on admission. The service operates from two classrooms and an outdoor classroom within the grounds of the home. The provider of this service also operates another children's home and other provision for adults.

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Brief description of the service

The home is a detached property in a rural setting, within easy reach of the shops and leisure facilities of the nearest town. It is set in eight acres of land, consisting of lawns, hard play area, play park, a vegetable garden and fields. The ground floor of the children's home has two lounges, a dining room and a kitchen with a dining area. Bedrooms are single occupancy.

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Summary

This was the second of the two statutory inspections required of children's homes. The inspection was announced and was undertaken alongside an inspection of the education provision which was inspected three years previously. At the time of this inspection there were six young people being educated and living in this home.

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Summary

The primary focus of this social care inspection was to assess whether the children are effectively safeguarded. The outcomes for being healthy, enjoying and achieving and positive contribution were not assessed at this inspection. The requirements and recommendations made at the previous inspection have been complied with. Three recommendations have been made at this inspection.

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Summary

The home has been going through a transition period over the past year due to new ownership and new management arrangements. The new manager is currently going through the registration process with Ofsted. The high turnover of staff last year has been addressed and a new staff team is working effectively. They are providing good and consistent care to the children. The home's health and safety measures continue to protect the children's health, safety and welfare. 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

It was asked that all staff are fully aware of each child's contact arrangements. Contact arrangements are recorded in each child's care plan. Any issues in relation to individual contact arrangements are discussed at team meetings.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The home was asked to maintain an up to date copy of the local child protection and safeguarding procedures in the home. This is now in place and staff have sound knowledge and skills in safeguarding children.

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Improvements since the last inspection

It was also asked that the home's behaviour management policy is updated in line with the new behaviour management system that has been implemented. Policies procedures and practice on behaviour management are currently being reviewed and developed. 4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC023651

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The home's health and safety measures continue to protect the children's health, safety and welfare.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The children have risk assessments that are responsive to changes in their needs and situations. Staff support the children to take calculated risks to develop their independence and social skills. They are also proactive in maintaining the children's safety. Personal risk and safety hazards are explained to the children on a regular basis. The children also have safety talks from the police and fire service to help them learn about safety. The new manager is developing the home's risk assessment arrangements, threading them through all aspects of care. The children's safety also continues to be protected by robust recruitment procedures and good missing persons procedures.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A detailed emergency evacuation policy and procedure and fire risk assessment are in place, although these are not dated and signed to fully demonstrate they are regularly reviewed and up to date. Weekly fire safety checks are carried out on the emergency lighting, fire call points, fire alarms, self closing fire doors and escape routes. Records show that fire fighting equipment is tested regularly and staff receive fire safety training. Fire drills are carried out to ensure the children and staff know the evacuation procedures, although these are not carried out as frequently as recommended.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is a clear complaints policy and procedure and the children know how to make a complaint. The complaints policy and procedure is being reviewed so that is more accessible to the children. The new manager has developed and implemented a system to enable the children to raise concerns and complaints in a more child friendly way. For example, the children can complete a child friendly complaints/comments/ suggestions sheet known as a 'talk to Mike' form or record these on a dictaphone. Concerns and complaints are monitored and appropriate action is taken so the children know they are listened to.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There continues to be good measures in place to respect the children's privacy. Staff demonstrate a good awareness of respecting the children's privacy and confidentiality. New staff are made aware of the policy during their induction training. All information about a child is handled appropriately and confidentially.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are good at helping the children with their emotional and behavioural development. Policies procedures and practice on behaviour management are being reviewed and developed. Staff say 'this is to enable the children and staff to operate within a positive behaviour reward system', for example a token economy reward system has recently been introduced. In this system the children earn points for meeting agreed behaviour targets. These points are exchanged for money which the children can spend in the 'house shop' or outside shops. The children say they 'like the new system' and 'it works'. All behaviour incidents are recorded appropriately and monitored by the manager and deputy manager to identify issues, trend or themes for each child. The home employ a psycho-terapist to work therapeutically with some 5 of 6 Inspection Report: SC023651 of the children who are engaging well in this process. The children's social workers say that

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

'staff are open to any approaches to help improve the children's behaviour'.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are effective arrangements in place to counter bullying. The children say that bullying is dealt with well and they are treated fairly. They say 'we have a community meeting and in it we take further action such as grounding' or we 'write sorry cards'. A new policy has been developed which needs to be made available and known to staff and children to ensure they are fully informed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The children's safety and welfare continues to be protected through robust policy and procedures for child protection and safeguarding. There is a child protection officer and all information pertaining to child protection investigations are appropriately recorded and stored. Staff are well trained in safeguarding children and have sound knowledge and skills in following required procedures.

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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 the policy on countering bulling is made known to staff and children (NMS 18.1) • ensure the fire risk assessment and emergency evacuation policy and procedures are dated and signed to fully demonstrate they are regularly reviewed and up to date. (NMS 26) • carry out at least four fire drills in a twelve month period, including evacuation of staff and children from the house at different times of the day and night. (NMS 26) 6 of 6 Inspection Report: SC023651

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