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

SC364812 Unique reference number 29 June 2010 Inspection date Paul Taylor Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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28 January 2010 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: SC364812

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Brief description of the service

This home is a three bedroom detached property in a residential area. The ground floor consists of an entrance foyer, a large and comfortably furnished lounge and a large conservatory which is the staff office. There is also a kitchen, dining room and shower and toilet on the ground floor. The first floor consists of two bedrooms and a shower/bathroom and toilet. The third bedroom is used by staff as a sleeping-in room.

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Brief description of the service

The home offers accommodation for up to two young people between the ages of 8 and 18.

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Summary

At this unannounced inspection all the key standards were assessed. The home provides a good standard of care to the young people. The staff team value and promote the input of the young people in the running of the home. Staff also provide opportunities for young people to voice their feelings about their care. The staff team know the strengths and vulnerabilities of the young people and ensure that planning for them ensures their safety and well being.

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Summary

Health care planning, individual support and the embedded culture of valuing the young people's opinions are particular strengths of the home.

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Summary

The level of monitoring provided by external managers combined with well organised systems, ensures that the standard of care is consistently appraised and that outcomes for the young people are good.

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Summary

Two recommendations were made as a result of this inspection. One relates to ensuring that all members of staff are trained in the same form of restraint. The other is related to training at least 80% of the staff team to National Vocational Qualification Level 3 in the Caring for Children and Young People or an equivalent qualification. 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

At the last inspection an action was made requiring the home to ensure that records of restraint included all the details required. This has been achieved and records are now of a good standard.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. The staff know each young person's dietary needs and preferences. This includes having a detailed knowledge of whether the needs are based on cultural or medical issues. The young people are offered a varied and healthy diet. They are also able to prepare snacks and meals. This enables young people to develop their life and independence skills, commensurate with their understanding and ability.

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Helping children to be healthy

Each health care plan identifies in detail, all aspects of each young persons physical, medical and emotional care needs and how these should be met by staff. Health care plans clearly highlight the dates when medical appointments such as the dentist and optician are due and 4 of 9 Inspection Report: SC364812 when they have been kept. The young people are registered at a nearby health centre. Consent for the giving of first aid, medicines and emergency treatment are kept on file. The staff encourage the young people to lead healthy lifestyles and take regular exercise. This contributes to the positive approach of the home in ensuring the young people's health is promoted to an excellent standard.

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Helping children to be healthy

There is a rigorous system for ensuring that the administration of medication is closely monitored and regularly audited by the member of staff responsible.

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Helping children to be healthy

The promotion of the young people's physical and emotional well-being is achieved to an excellent standard.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Privacy is valued and respected by the staff team and sensitive information is stored securely. Telephone calls to social workers, family and friends can be made in private. Additionally, the young people are able to receive credit on their mobile telephones. Sensitive support which protects the young people's dignity, is provided with regards to assistance with personal care and promotion of hygiene.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are given clear details of how to make a complaint should they wish. Information is further contained in the young person's guide, which also includes details of external agencies to whom they can complain. Young people are aware of how to complain and to whom. No formal complaints have been made at the home, the young people being confident that they can resolve issues through discussion and negotiation.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All members of staff receive child protection training and are up to date with child protection procedures. Additionally they have access to local safeguarding procedures. They are clear as to their obligations in the event that they have concerns about a young person's well-being. Detailed records are maintained on any child protection concerns and how they have been pursued and resolved. The home's approach with regards to ensuring that any child protection matters are addressed, is rigorous and involves close liaison with all agencies.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people who show signs of bullying or intimidating behaviour have any incidents addressed swiftly. The setting has a zero tolerance approach to bullying. Staff are very sensitive to dynamics in the home and whether young people are displaying behaviour which may impinge upon each other.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a clear policy in place for the staff to follow in the event that a young person goes missing. Care plans clearly state what course of action will be pursued should young people leave the home without permission or not return to the home at the agreed time. The staff team gave implemented strategies to support the young people in reducing their periods of unauthorised absence. These strategies have had a significant and effective impact.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people have their challenging and risky behaviours assessed, planned for and reviewed. Comprehensive behaviour management plans and risk assessments are compiled which highlight all possible concerns. Each young person has their particular issues identified with strategies for support incorporated into specific plans. The plans clearly guide staff in how to respond to each young person and thus provide a consistent approach. Rewards for positive behaviour are 5 of 9 Inspection Report: SC364812 tailored to meet each young person's specific needs. Members of staff know what motivates the young people and this knowledge is used to develop rewards and incentives.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Incidents of restraint are recorded well and checked by a senior manager to ensure that they are appropriate. While members of staff have worked well together to ensure restraints are carried out safely, not all members of staff are trained in the same method of restraint. This can mean that two different methods of restraint could be used on one young person at the same time.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Sanctions are recorded and are checked and endorsed by a senior manager. All sanctions are appropriate and the young people agree that they are fair.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Thorough risk assessments are made with regards to the premises and activities in which the young people partake. They are regularly reviewed and updated. The approach to risk management means that young people are able to take part in activities and outings with the support they need. All safety checks such as fire drills are kept up to date and regularly reviewed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a comprehensive, thorough and diligent recruitment process. No members of staff work with the young people until all the necessary checks and references have been confirmed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The young people's safety and well-being are promoted to a very good standard.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Each young person's individual needs are planned for and met in a detailed and thorough manner. External specialist input, such as advice from a psychologist, is accessed by the staff team where needed. Where appropriate, the home will also work with young people's families to ensure a continuity of approach and support. The support offered to the young people ensures that all their needs can be met to a very high standard.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Education is valued and promoted in the home. Each young person has an educational placement. Support given to the young people to attend college or school is of an excellent standard. The home maintains close liaison with each young person's education setting and this ensures a consistent and supportive approach. The approach towards education by the staff team has enabled young people to experience excellent levels of achievement, despite often having had negative educational experiences prior to coming to live at the home. The home has an on-site school and this enables close liaison with the teacher and seamless support for the young person if it is needed.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people benefit from living in a home where activities occur routinely. Staff display a high level of motivation and enthusiasm which in turn encourages young people to participate in the things they enjoy or are interested in. Examples of activities include fishing, trips to places of local interest such as museums and an airport as well as a day trip on an aeroplane.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The support, combined with the staff attitude and commitment to enrich the young people's experiences and promote their education, ensures excellent outcomes. 6 of 9 Inspection Report: SC364812

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Rigorous assessments are made on all relevant and available information regarding the physical, social, behavioural and emotional needs of the individual young person. The assessments are incorporated into care plans which highlight the individual needs of the young people. They clearly guide staff in caring for young people and are regularly reviewed and updated. The quality of the plans enables the staff to provide an excellent standard of care with clear and detailed guidelines in place for them to follow.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Placements are carefully planned and include a robust assessment of each individual's needs and what impact an admission will have for the other young person living in the home. This careful approach enables the team to achieve consistency.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Reviews occur on a regular basis and include progress reports written by members of staff. These reports give a good picture of how each young person is progressing and developing while living at the home. Young people are encouraged to attend reviews and to take an active part in planning for their own care. Additionally to planned statutory reviews, the young people's needs are regularly discussed and evaluated at team meetings, with care plans being amended if necessary.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The particulars of any agreed contact arrangements are recorded in detail and are clearly known by staff and the young person concerned. Where relevant staff facilitate contact arrangements and go out of their way to ensure meetings occur. Staff also ensure that support is readily available to the young person and parents if it is needed.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are given every possible opportunity to express their views and to contribute to the day-to-day running of the home. House meetings take place on a regular basis and these enable young people to voice their opinions on how the home is being run. Comments made at these meetings are taken forward to be discussed at staff meetings. Apart from house meetings, the young people are able to meet with key-workers, and senior members of staff. This approach ensures that the young people feel listened to and that their opinions are valued and acknowledged.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The atmosphere within the setting is open and relaxed with young people clearly feeling comfortable to say what they feel. The views of the young people are highly valued and seen as a central element of the function of the home.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is outstanding. Procedures are in place to support young people as they approach adulthood. The care planning process ensures that each young person's independence skills are known and support given to them to develop key areas, such as independent travel and cooking. The approach to nurturing independence skills has been very carefully planned and delivered. It has led to excellent outcomes for the young people and developed their confidence and ability where previously there had been vulnerability and a lack of awareness.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home is very comfortable and well maintained. Each young person is able to personalise their room with posters and pictures. The young people are also involved in the upkeep of the 7 of 9 Inspection Report: SC364812 garden and are involved in growing vegetables for the home. This leads to the young people having an investment in the home and environment and enables them to be actively involved in ensuring their home is being run for their benefit.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The home has produced a Statement of Purpose that details the nature of the service. The statement is regularly reviewed to reflect changes. The home has also produced a children's guide that details the nature of the home including its routines, activities, facilities and behavioural expectations. These documents provide a good picture of how the home runs and what service it intends to provide.

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Organisation

The home has sufficient members of staff to meet the needs of the young people living there to a very good standard. The staffing levels maintain a one-to-one ratio for the young people and this ensures support is readily available. There are very good relationships within the home and the staff team engage sensitively and positively with the young people.

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Organisation

Supervision is provided on a regular basis and all members of staff are subject to annual reviews of their performance and these inform their training needs. There is a rolling programme to ensure that all members of staff obtain the National Vocational Qualification Level 3 in the Caring for Children and Young People. The ratio of 80% of the staff team to achieve the qualification has yet to be achieved. There are also rolling programmes of training in key areas such as child protection, behaviour management and first aid. However, not all members of staff have been trained in the same type of restraint.

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Organisation

There is effective monitoring of the operation of the home, both externally and internally. The external monthly monitoring visits are taking place on a regular basis. The reports are of an excellent standard and include all the relevant details. A senior manager for the organisation is managing the home as an interim measure until the ongoing process of recruiting a manager for the home has been completed. She is supported by a very experienced assistant manager. Management of the home in the meantime is of a very good standard.

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Organisation

Individual case files maintained on each young person are well organised and ensure that key issues and progress are recorded in a clear and consistent manner. All confidential files are stored securely. The regular assessment and auditing of the files ensures that members of staff have up to date and relevant information when they are working with the young people.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is outstanding. Each young person's individual needs are known and met to a very high standard. How the home approaches equality and diversity is commented upon in reports made after monthly monitoring visits. Diversity is seen as an opportunity to learn from each other and to be enjoyed and celebrated.

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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. 8 of 9 Inspection Report: SC364812

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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 all members of staff are trained in the method of restraint approved by the organisation which runs the home (NMS 22.8) • ensure that 80% of all care staff complete the National Vocational Qualification award at Level 3 in the Caring for Children and Young People. (NMS 29) 9 of 9 Inspection Report: SC364812

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