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

SC359832 Unique reference number 6 May 2010 Inspection date Liz Driver Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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9 December 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 9 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 there 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 and toilet. There are extensive gardens surrounding the setting.

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Summary

This was an unannounced key inspection looking at all the key minimum standards for children's homes.

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Summary

All three of the current young people placed at the setting participated in the inspection.

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Summary

Overall the setting provides outstanding provision and this can be seen by the excellent outcomes achieved for the current young people. A change in management has not had a negative impact on the young people or the consistency of care provided. This change has been handled very sensitively and to a high standard.

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Summary

Young people receive excellent health care with input from numerous health related professionals if needed. Staff work hard to ensure young people are safe and that they make safe life style decisions with some excellent outcomes for current young people. The education provision is very good with excellent attendance levels. Young people are encouraged to voice their wishes and concerns and any complaint is taken seriously and responded to quickly and professionally. The setting is very well maintained with an organised and comprehensive maintenance programme in place. Staffing is solid, with well trained and competent staff who have excellent relationships with the young people. The management continues to be of a high standard with robust monitoring of the home to ensure it maintains its excellent practices.

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Summary

No actions or recommendations resulted from this inspection. 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

There were no actions or recommendations made at the last inspection to address at this inspection.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Young people receive excellent dietary provision. They are consulted in their choices of food and are given much guidance in shopping, preparing and cooking for themselves in line with their independence plans. Young people confirm staff are supportive in all areas of healthy eating. Menus are varied, healthy and reflect the young people's wishes and choices. Very specific dietary needs are catered for to a high standard. Specialist food shops are visited to purchase the correct foods suitable for specific diets. Staff are trained in food hygiene and 4 of 9 Inspection Report: SC359832 have a very good awareness of what each young person's dietary needs are. Each young person's care plan is comprehensive and up to date with specific dietary needs so staff are able to encourage and provide the correct diets.

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Helping children to be healthy

Each young person has an individual health care plan 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, and very specific health related professionals, is gained and supported by multi-professional meetings and reviews. Young people are very happy with the level of support and engagement of other health related professionals. Staff receive training about health issues, for example, first aid in response to self harming. Staff demonstrate a sensitive and confident approach to individual health issues young people have. Risk assessments are comprehensive with young people actively encouraged in the drawing up of some risk assessments. Young people have an excellent insight into their health needs and feel free to discuss any concerns with staff. Young people are very

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Helping children to be healthy

praising of the support and guidance staff give them in relation to specific health needs. 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. This ensures consistency and maintenance of the high standard of practice throughout the setting.

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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. There is a system whereby young people are assessed as to their competency in administering and keeping their own medication. Monitoring systems are of a very high standard ensuring the high standard of practice continues. 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 very high standard.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Young people's privacy is fully respected and all confidential information is handled sensitively. Files are stored securely in locked cabinets. The home has a clear policy on young people's rights to access their records.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people, staff and others have their complaints addressed to a high standard in accordance with the company's complaints policy. All complaints are taken seriously with very good records kept. 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. Young people confirm they feel comfortable in voicing their opinions or issues and are able to voice these concerns at house meetings, key worker sessions or more formally through the complaints procedure. Staff receive training in complaints and whistleblowing during the induction process.

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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. The home's child protection policy is up to date and records show that staff are very well informed of their responsibilities to protect young people. Appropriate and up to date training is provided to all staff. The practice in the setting is underpinned by the senior members of staff in the organisation providing 5 of 9 Inspection Report: SC359832 support to the managers and staff team. 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 that staff protect them.

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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. Individual triggers are identified that assist staff in lessening the risk of bullying, with very good outcomes. The response and approach to bullying is made clear to young people on admission, key worker sessions and house meetings. Staff are very aware of group dynamics in the home and manage young people's interactions extremely 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 a young person goes missing or leaves the home without permission. There is clear guidance as to whether it is an authorised or unauthorised absence. Close communication with the local police and consistency of staff practice enable the whereabouts of young people to be identified. Incidents of absconding are rigorously monitored. The number of incidents has decreased hugely over the last year and as a result the local police are currently keen to listen to the strategies the setting has implemented to gain this outcome.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are given clear information and guidance about appropriate behaviour and the support the setting can offer to enable them to change any negative behaviours. Each young person has a behaviour management plan 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. The manager closely monitors practice and records relating to sanctions and physical interventions. Young people have the opportunity to comment following a physical intervention taking place. Staff are suitably trained to carry out physical interventions. Records show very low numbers of physical interventions taking place.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff practice in dealing with challenging behaviour is of a high standard. Staff base their behaviour management on active encouragement and acceptable behaviour. Young people confirm that standards of acceptable behaviour are clearly known to them. 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 fully supportive.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people live in a home that is robustly checked in all areas relating to health and safety. The home has comprehensive and updated risk assessments for all aspects of safety of the premises and grounds including fire and activities. The home has up to date checks carried out on the electrics and fire safety systems. Internal checks are carried out on a weekly basis by members of staff to check the fire alarms, smoke detectors, emergency lighting and fire extinguishers. All young people and staff are given fire safety instruction with regular fire drills being carried out. As a result both young people and staff are very well informed of what action to take if a fire broke out. All records relating to checks are of a high standard. There is also an environmental policy in place that both staff and young people are informed of.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are cared for by staff who are recruited via a robust recruitment procedure. Visitors are also robustly checked with records kept. 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 member of staff. 6 of 9 Inspection Report: SC359832

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Young people receive a wealth of support from staff and other related professionals. Extremely comprehensive care plans for young people address how identified support will be provided. The emphasis is clearly on the individual needs of each young person. 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 to keep them up to date with the young person's development. The home has excellent links with a wide range of agencies that support the needs of the young people. Staff ratios are high so there is always a member of staff young people can turn to for extra support.

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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 high levels of support to maintain their placements at educational establishments. Current attendance levels are excellent with staff working hard to ensure all young people have access to appropriate educational establishments that will meet their needs. Daily school attendance is an established part of daily life at the home. The setting is registered as a school with Ofsted and has a designated teacher who is managed by a competent and experienced head teacher. The head teacher oversees the education of all young people placed in the organisation's registered homes.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people have personal education plans. These are up to date and include strategies and plans to help young people develop their education and life skills.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Young people are appropriately placed at the home. Their needs are assessed effectively and comprehensively. No young person is admitted to the home unless the home is confident it can meet the young person's needs. Each young person has an extremely detailed and comprehensive care plan in place, which covers short and long term plans. These plans are reviewed regularly, some being brought forward if necessary. All looked after children's paperwork is kept on file. Young people are encouraged to take part in their reviews and do so pro-actively. They are encouraged to complete a questionnaire prior to a review and if they do not want to participate in their review are happy for their key worker to voice their opinions and wishes. 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

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Helping children make a positive contribution

professionals. The setting maintains good relationships with placing authorities and chase up reviews if necessary.

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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. Young people are given appropriate support to maintain contact with family, friends and others. 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. Written records are maintained of any contacts and recording is of a high standard.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people experience smooth transitions on admission and departure. Staff work extremely hard to ensure correct placements are sought on leaving care. 7 of 9 Inspection Report: SC359832 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 they 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

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Relationships between staff and young people are warm and respectful. Young people are happy at the home and complimentary about the staff. Staff are clear about the boundaries and behavioural expectations and provide support so young people are 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 outstanding. Young people are fully supported in helping them prepare for adult life. Very specific needs are fully embraced and addressed to a high standard. Staff work closely with all professionals to ensure young people gain the skills necessary for adult life and facilitate smooth transitions into semi or independent living accommodation. The opportunities provided for young people to buy their own clothing and toiletries give them the experience in expressing their individual preferences and developing 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 spending it inappropriately. Records of monies for each young person are very well maintained.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people benefit from living in a large house 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 promotion of equality and diversity is outstanding. The setting works hard to ensure all young people have equal access to education and the care needs they are assessed as requiring. The provision of appropriate individual activities, special interests, access to culturally acceptable food, places of worship plus social occasions around cultural needs are all encouraged.

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Organisation

The home has a Statement of Purpose and children's guide. These documents provide 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 which the young people can approach for advice or to complain to. 8 of 9 Inspection Report: SC359832 There are clear lines of accountability within the organisation. There has been a change in management at the setting since the last inspection. This has been handled smoothly with no negative impact on the young people. The manager is supported by a strong senior management team, including the directors of the organisation. Young people state the change in manager has been fine. The staff team has seen some changes since the last inspection, mainly through

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Organisation

staff development, and currently is of a good mix of gender, age and experience. Staffing levels are maintained on a basis of one-to-one, or two-to-one if agreed by the placing authority, giving the young people enough adults available to access high levels of support. Young people are well informed about which staff are on duty. There is a clear process for cover when the manager is absent from the home. 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. New staff complete a Children's Work Development Council induction programme before going onto to take national vocational qualifications. Staff receive regular supervision that is of a high standard. Staff

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Organisation

meetings are held regularly and the manager attends 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 closely monitors records and practices on weekly basis. Since commencing at the setting the new manager has been fully supported by a senior manager in the organisation on a daily basis. 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. The quality of these reports is excellent. There is an annual development plan for the home that covers all areas; this plan is updated yearly.

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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

There are no recommendations. 9 of 9 Inspection Report: SC359832

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