Children's Home run by Reflexion Care Group Limited in Shropshire

SC389830 Unique reference number 18 June 2010 Inspection date Dawn Taylor Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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10 November 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: SC389830

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Brief description of the service

This children’s home is registered to accommodate one young person, male or female, with an age range from 10 up until their 18 birthday.

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Brief description of the service

The home is rurally situated on the outskirts of a village a few miles from a large town. The detached house is set back from a main road and has been upgraded and refurbished for its current purpose. The home is set in its own enclosed garden.

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Brief description of the service

The home is intended to provide a high degree of personalised care for one young person presenting challenging behaviour who cannot be placed with peers. It operates a permanent two-to-one staffing ratio.

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Summary

This inspection was a key, unannounced inspection visit. The outcome groups relating to being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, positive contribution, economic well-being and organisation were assessed.

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Summary

The young person were present and participated in the inspection process.

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Summary

The overall outcome judgement is outstanding. Being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, positive contribution, economic well-being and organisation were all judged to be outstanding.

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Summary

This company has established policies and procedures, which are underpinned by a comprehensive framework of staff training. This ensures high quality practice, which is sustained and results in robust and outstanding outcomes for young person. It is the view of the young people living at the home that this is an outstanding service. Their successes and achievements are nurtured and supported by a dedicated professional staff team. They promote a safe, homely environment where meaningful, respectful relationships are developed and celebrated. 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 recommendations or actions made at the last inspection.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Health care and the promotion of healthy living is outstanding in this home. A young person stated 'in my view the staff team are outstanding and I have made a lot of improvements when it comes to leading and living a healthy life'. Positive role modelling by the staff team is resulting in young people wanting to participate in a range of physical activities and eat healthily. Young people are encouraged to participate in and learn about everyday life and independence skills and this develops their confidence, abilities and understanding to make healthy choices.

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Helping children to be healthy

This outstanding practice is further enhanced by the company's therapy team who undertake direct work with young people and also attend all house meetings to facilitate discussions with 4 of 7 Inspection Report: SC389830 the staff team. The company also has established links with a local authority health care agency, which provides guidance and training to staff and young people, as well as direct confidential support to all young people with regard to relationships, sexuality and sexual health.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Safeguarding is a priority for this staff team. They are effective at assessing risk whilst enabling young people to achieve their right to growing independence. They work with the young people so that they have a greater understanding of risk and how changing their behaviours can reduce risk. One young person stated 'they let me go on free time so they must think I am safe. When it comes to serious talks they will tell me I’m out of order, which I think is fair.' This is a very positive and enabling staff team who have developed mutually respectful relationships with the young people. This enables young people to understand and address their emotions and how these effect their behaviour and interaction with others.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All staff have robust training that covers all safeguarding issues. In addition, all Registered Managers have achieved their local authority's level 2 safeguarding training. This year the company are focusing on all seniors achieving their local authority's level 2 safeguarding training. There are two Registered Managers within the company who have qualified with the local authority to deliver this training and the company are working in partnership with the local authority to deliver safeguarding training to all the local authority's childcare services.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's safety is promoted by an established health and safety policy, which ensures risks are identified and appropriate action is taken to manage and reduce them. Young people and staff are involved in fire drills and there are regular checks on all fire and electrical equipment to ensure it is in good working order. All staff are appropriately trained in health and safety matters including first aid and fire awareness.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Records relating to staff recruitment and selection were checked at the company's headquarters in June 2010. The company's recruitment and selection process is robust and the procedure includes checks over and above those required in the Children Home's Regulations.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Young people receive excellent support that means their individual needs are effectively met. For example, young people have a key worker but can also talk to any member of the staff team including the Registered Manager.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people feel that staff are 'open and transparent' creating a safe environment to make mistakes and try again. Young people at this home are proud of their achievements, which are celebrated by the staff team and the young people. For example, staff and the young people discuss and record achievements in a 'five key outcomes' files, which reminds everyone of successes and progress.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Educational opportunities are outstanding and take into account each young person's current needs, as well as their potential. Young people receive excellent support and encouragement with their educational attainment. The company operates its own registered school, as well as an outdoor education department. The service will also support young people to attend 5 of 7 Inspection Report: SC389830 mainstream schools or colleges or those who are employed or in work experience. Where appropriate the home's staff will support young people in their educational establishment. There is outstanding dialogue between the home and the company's school. The staff team are in daily communication with education staff. Young people at this home feel the support they receive with their education is excellent. One young person stated 'staff always ask if I need help and they are always supportive. Like today they said good luck with your tests, and

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

with this job interview they supported me and were well pleased when I got it. They are alright to be fair'.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Young people are making outstanding positive contributions to their placement through key worker sessions, placement plans and review meetings. Young people at this home feel that they are making 'excellent' progress with the support of a 'brilliant' staff team. They are supported to engage with education, reflect on their behaviour and develop coping strategies, foster relationships with their families and make plans and have aspirations for their future.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There are established procedures for supporting young people to move into and leave the home. These provide staff with clear guidance and practical options that ensure the most appropriate and sensitive approach can be implemented for each individual young person depending upon their circumstance. Prior to arriving at a home detailed information is gathered from the placing authority and previous placements. This information is used by staff to establish initial strong boundaries that ensure young people feel and are kept safe. These are regularly reviewed and modified through the constant review of young people's progress in relation to their placement plans.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is outstanding. Young people are receiving excellent support to develop the skills they will require when they eventually leave the home or leave care. Staff are able to tailor support depending upon the interest, age and abilities of the young people. Young people are not put on programmes to learn independence skills, instead it is the ethos of the home to involve and nurture them towards gaining the skills alongside strong staff role models. Staff are expert at getting the balance right between letting young people undertake jobs on their own and providing company to make them fun and enjoyable.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

This is a small, welcoming and comfortable home. It is furnished and maintained to a high standard and the company continues to develop and invest money in the property and garden. Young people state that it meets their needs and that they have everything they need to live there. One young person stated 'overall it is outstanding. It is just a nice house to live in. I will keep in touch with the staff when I move on'.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. This home provides an outstanding service to young people. The values and ethos of the home are clearly set out in the Statement of Purpose and young people's guide. These documents reflect established policies and procedures, which underpin an excellent programme of training. 6 of 7 Inspection Report: SC389830 This includes a thorough induction programme that starts before new members of staff take up their post in the home. All staff undertake a six month probationary period at the beginning of employment and this is reviewed at three monthly intervals. The probationary period can be extended if necessary. Continuing training is available and staff are fully supported to make use of these opportunities. Specific training is identified for individual staff through supervision and regular appraisal meetings. Up-to-date individual training records are kept for all staff.

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Organisation

Key strengths of this home are the Registered Manager and the very competent staff team. When asked about the home's key strengths one young person stated 'it is the staff support and the confidence I have gained from it’.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is outstanding. There are comprehensive policies and procedural guidance for staff on anti-bullying, anti-oppressive and anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities.

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Organisation

This service has substantial strengths and where areas for improvement emerge the Registered Manager recognises and manages them well. Monthly monitoring visits are carried out without fail and young people's views are included. Reports are used to inform the quality assurance system of the home which is reviewed each month. There are very clear lines of management and communication. Regulation 34 visits are well established and valued by staff and management. This internal monitoring and regulation ensures praise and acknowledgement of effective practice but also addresses shortfalls with an appropriate measure of rigor. The systems in place are centred firmly around the experiences of young people and whether the home is fully able to meet their needs.

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Organisation

Young people individual case files are reviewed regularly and kept up to date by the staff team and their key workers, and monitored by the home's Registered Manager and Regulation 33 visitor. They are confidentially stored and are arranged in a manner that makes them readily useable by staff and yet accessible to young people. Young people are fully aware that they can have access to their records and confirm that staff support them to look at their files and making comments on daily records.

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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. 7 of 7 Inspection Report: SC389830

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