Children's Home run by Keys Nhcc Ltd in Shropshire

SC020607 Unique reference number 5 July 2010 Inspection date Trevor Hall Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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20 October 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 10 Inspection Report: SC020607

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Brief description of the service

This is a children’s home providing care and accommodation for three young persons. The home is owned by a private childcare provider.

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Brief description of the service

The home is located in a small village, in a semi rural location. Accommodation is provided in a domestic scale well-appointed detached family house allowing the young people individual bedrooms and ample communal space.

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Brief description of the service

The home's close proximity to a small market town facilitates access to local recreational and social activities.

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Brief description of the service

A satellite unit to this home provides care and accommodation for one young person. This home is a family house located in the nearby market town. This home is located to take advantage of all the town's local facilities. It is relatively near to the parent home from where it draws its staffing and support. Both homes have shared policies and procedures but have separate Statements of Purpose and routines.

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Brief description of the service

Three young people currently live at the main house and one young person was living at the satellite home at the time of this inspection.

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Summary

This was a full unannounced inspection that concentrated on all key national minimum standards (NMS). The inspection took place over two days.

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Summary

The home provides a good standard of care and support that helps young people in their education, personal, social and emotional development. The home's Registered Manager provides effective leadership which results in staff being clearly focused on meeting the needs of the young people. Staff relationships with young people are both caring and very supportive. Young people benefit from living in a home that is well managed and organised to achieve good outcomes. 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

Since the home's last inspection the recording of medication has improved, with young people's refusal to take prescribed medication being appropriately recorded.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people are involved in all aspects of menu planning, food purchase and preparation at the home. Staff help inform the young people's understanding of what constitutes healthy eating and promote a balanced diet as a component of their healthy lifestyle.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people receive a varied and well-balanced diet based on their individual needs. Young people are consulted about the menus which reflect specific likes and cultural dietary needs. Records are kept of meals provided which enable staff to monitor young people's diet. Young 4 of 10 Inspection Report: SC020607 people are encouraged and expected to participate in the cooking of meals in preparation for adulthood. Theme nights are held to enable young people to experience different cultural meals. For these, they are expected to research different cultures, and make the meals with support from staff.

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Helping children to be healthy

Staff promote positive links with local health care professionals and readily seek advice for any health related issues that may concern the young people being looked after. Staff working in the home are provided with clear policies on health promotion. Examples include drugs, alcohol, smoking and diet. Young people are actively encouraged to make responsible decisions about keeping themselves healthy and safe.

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Helping children to be healthy

Good procedures are in place to ensure that medicines are appropriately handled and stored to safeguard young people’s welfare. Records of medication administered and disposed of are kept. Practices and records are checked regularly by the Registered Manager which helps to safeguard young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people live in a safe and secure environment. Staff are committed to enabling young people to develop the necessary skills to keep themselves safe and to take responsibility for their actions in preparation for their adult lives. Effective and robust systems and practices enable young people to take controlled risks in a supportive environment. This helps young people develop their self-confidence and keep themselves safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people understand how to make a complaint if they have any concerns about their care. Details about the home's complaints process are outlined in the children’s guide. Staff provide information and additional support if young people require this. The home's records confirm that young people have been able to access the complaints process. As a result, all complaints have been appropriately investigated, recorded and resolutions shared with the young people, who are afforded the opportunity to sign the record; refusal to sign is also recorded. The Registered Manager of the home monitors the complaints record to ensure young people's rights are upheld, and that the process is effective.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Safeguarding is promoted by using the registered provider's formal policies and procedures that have been developed to comply with regulatory requirements and promote good practice. These include areas of child protection, countering bullying, behaviour management and dealing with unauthorised absence. Staff are aware of and have access to the Local Safeguarding Children Board's procedures, describing how to recognise signs of abuse and indicating ways in which young people can put themselves at risk.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff receive a variety of training which enables them to meet young people's needs including: safeguarding; behaviour management; and working with children who exhibit self-harming behaviour. Staff use statutory reporting systems to notify relevant authorities about significant events such as unauthorised absences or police involvement in the home. By reviewing its safeguarding practice staff can effectively respond to changing needs and keep young people safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Respecting young people's privacy and dignity is at the forefront of practice at the home while at the same time ensuring they are safeguarded. Young people confirmed that staff knock on 5 of 10 Inspection Report: SC020607 their bedroom doors and wait to be asked in unless there is a concern about a young person's safety. Young people are aware that their bedroom may be searched if safeguarding concerns arise. Where searches are undertaken, clear records are kept which the young person is given the opportunity to sign.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are clearly informed of the home's expectations of them and any action that will be taken if behaviour is unacceptable. This promotes young people's welfare as they are encouraged to behave appropriately and they receive consistent messages from staff as to how to behave. The emphasis of the home is to promote consistent, improving behaviour that can be praised and rewarded.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is a written policy and staff guidance on the actions that should be taken if a young person is absent from the home without consent. The procedures and guidance follow a regional joint protocol, which has been developed to ensure young people's safety is promoted. The protocol also ensures that reporting processes are followed according to individual risks and circumstances. Staff work with young people to minimise and prevent instances of going missing from the home, so that young people are kept safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The recording of physical interventions and sanctions used within the home is good and meet all of the national minimum standards requirements for these records. Young people are routinely invited to make comment if either of these interventions are applied.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All of the home's current residents, including the young person living off the main site at the home's satellite unit, display degrees of self-harming behaviours. These behaviours have resulted in numerous trips to the hospital accident and emergency departments of local hospitals. The home has good environmental risk assessments in place, which make appropriate reference to the young people's specific problems and the home's existing environment.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff working within this home have received additional training in dealing with self-harming behaviours. The home has, almost by default, become a specialist home dealing exclusively with vulnerable young people who regularly behave in ways that put themselves at risk of harm. Every day objects expected to be in the home, to promote the good care and life experience of the young people, including furnishings and fittings are frequently misused by the young people. This is in attempt to cause significant harm to themselves. The home has put into place appropriate individual supports to the young people, either through their own therapeutic provision or through accessing local psychological or mental health provisions.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The management of health and safety is good which helps to protect young people and staff from the risk of harm and injury. Servicing of installations and equipment is carried out as required. Fire safety procedures are good: fire alarm tests are carried out weekly; regular fire drills take place; and the fire evacuation procedure is explained to young people on admission. General risk assessments are in place as well as individual risk assessments. Staff are responsive to changing needs of young people and newly identified risks for which they take prompt and appropriate action.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Safe and effective recruitment practices and the vetting of visitors help to protect young people from the risk of harm and abuse. 6 of 10 Inspection Report: SC020607

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Staff working at this home have developed positive relationships and a sound knowledge of the young people they look after. Care is based on individual assessed needs which takes into account their gender, religious, racial, cultural, disability and linguistic needs. All young people are given a high level of support and guidance from a skilled and committed staff team who have an in-depth knowledge of young people's needs. Staff have a positive attitude towards education and take a keen and active interest in young people's development and learning. Young people are living in a home where they are consistently encouraged to enjoy and achieve.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people are helped to plan their weekly activities and use their free time constructively. They can engage in a range of recreational, social and leisure pursuits inside and outside of the home. Some activities are linked to educational needs, others to reintegrating into the wider community and developing self help and independence skills. Risk assessments are in place for trips and outside activities.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The home's transport is used for access to education at the registered provider's schools. In this setting young people respond cooperatively to bespoke lessons and examinations that can assist their transition to further studies in a community setting. Each education placement is formalised by the construction of personal education plans and individual education plans by the headteacher and the placing authority social worker. Staff practically support young people in preparing for a college placement.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Young people are fully supported to make a positive contribution to their placement and future plans while living at this home. Staff demonstrate that they value the views and opinions of young people. They are involved in all aspects of their care and are given every opportunity to contribute to their own care planning and arrangements. Staff actively and formally seek the views of young people at an individual and group level and respond in a way that values their opinions. Seeking young people's opinions and helping them make decisions about matters that affect them is fully integrated into the care practices of the home.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

All young people have individual files which are based on the Every Child Matters five outcomes. These files also contain looked after children documents, placement plans and associated action plans, risk assessments and case records. Care records give comprehensive details of individual needs and how to meet the needs. Young people's records demonstrate that staff are flexible and innovative in their approaches to managing young people's behaviours and in trying to promoting positive outcomes. Records are of a very good standard and are regularly reviewed by staff in consultation with young people. Review meetings are held as required for which staff produce progress reports, and minutes of these meetings are kept on file. Young people are actively encouraged to attend their review meetings which helps them contribute to their future plans.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are aware of what the house rules and behavioural expectations are. These expectations are minimal, reasonable and reflect age and levels of understanding. Staff receive training in providing positive care and control to ensure that young people are safe from all forms of harm. 7 of 10 Inspection Report: SC020607 Contact arrangements are clearly recorded to ensure that staff understand each young person's situation with regards to meeting with their family. Staff work hard to support young people to maintain valued relationships with family through appropriate contact arrangements.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are given good support when they arrive and leave the home and these routines are based around individual needs and circumstances. Staff understand that moving home can be very difficult for some young people and this awareness is used to provide support and reassurance in these circumstances. Young people are encouraged to bring their own possessions into the home so they can personalise their own bedrooms.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff use a range of ways to consult with young people in the home. Young people have the opportunity to express their views and opinions in young people's meetings as well as through individual sessions with their key worker. Young people regularly meet with the Registered Manager as part of the consultation processes. This ensures that the manager of the home is directly informed about young people's views and opinions. Staff are good at consulting with young people about the routines and daily living arrangements of the home. Young people state that staff are good at listening and taking on board their feedback. Staff are active in ensuring that young people are aware that they can speak to independent agencies and professionals outside of the home.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. Young people are actively encouraged and supported to develop daily living and life skills, in preparation for adulthood. This is based on individual needs, taking into account a young person’s age, abilities and previous experiences. The home maintains good records of what tasks young people have worked on and what they have achieved. This helps to monitor young people's progress in preparing for their adult lives and increases young people's self-confidence.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people are supported to maintain their individuality and personal preferences in terms of clothing and personal requisites which takes into account any cultural and religious needs. There are clear systems for accessing pocket money and other allowances for clothing and toiletries which enable young people's needs to be met.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

This registration covers two separate properties, the main house, which offers accommodation for three young people and a single bedded satellite home. The main house is a detached dormer-bungalow set in its own grounds. This home's location is within easy reach of a small market town which provides access to many leisure and entertainment amenities, while being discretely situated sufficiently far away from neighbouring properties to afford privacy. The main house offers adequate homely accommodation in a five bedroom property. The home includes a lounge, large kitchen, dining room, bathroom and staff office-sleep in room. It is decorated and furnished to a good standard and provides young people with space for relaxation and recreation. There is ample garden space and safe off road parking for vehicles.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The satellite house, a detached property with three bedrooms is located in the suburbs of the local market town. It is conveniently located to access all local facilities and is decorated and maintained to a good standard.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. 8 of 10 Inspection Report: SC020607 The home's Statement of Purpose contains all the information required in Schedule 1 of the Children's Homes Regulations 2001. This informs young people, their families and placing authorities about the services provided by the home. The Statement of Purpose accurately reflects the practice and registration conditions of this home. The young people's welcome booklet is given to all young people either prior to or on admission to the home. The booklet informs young people about life at the home, what they can expect and what is expected of them and local facilities.

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Organisation

Young people receive a very good standard of care based on their assessed needs from a committed, skilled and competent staff team. Staff are well supported by the Registered Manager who provides clear and strong leadership and direction. Staff say they work well together as a team which ensures young people receive consistent care. Staff receive regular supervision, and staff meetings are held.

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Organisation

A range of training is provided to staff which enables them carry out their roles and responsibilities and, therefore, meet the needs of young people. This includes mandatory training and training relevant to understanding and meeting the individual needs of young people. The induction process takes place during the six month probationary period. Due to changes in the current staff team, the home no longer has 80% of the staff group holding a National Vocational Qualification in working with children and young people at level three or above. All staff, however, have completed their core training and all staff, that have completed their probationary employment, are either attending or registered on an appropriate training course.

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Organisation

Staffing based on the needs of young people, provide appropriate levels of supervision for young people to ensure they are safe and that their needs are met. Staffing levels are flexible and responsive to the changing needs of young people.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. The particular level of detail contained within the young people's plans, case files and daily recording documents confirm that all staff are fully aware of young people's particular differences and difficulties. Company policies actively acknowledge diversity. Using this information staff have developed practice that fully supports individual developmental and identity needs and promotes positive outcomes.

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Organisation

The Registered Manager has established effective internal monitoring systems which ensure young people's needs are being met and that any shortfalls are addressed promptly. The commitment of the staff team ensures that they are constantly striving to improve the quality of services provided to young people. The Registered Manager regularly checks and signs records and produces a monthly report as required. The Regulation 33 reports support the internal quality assurance systems within the home. Visits are carried out monthly and reports sent to Ofsted as required. The Regulation 33 reports are robust and help to ensure young people are protected from the risk of harm and ensure individual needs are being met.

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Organisation

Young people’s care files are very well organised to include all of the information detailed in Schedule 3 of the Children's Homes Regulations 2001. Confidential or third party information is kept in a separate section of the care file to enable the home to respond, in a timely manner, to any request made by a young person to read their care file. 9 of 10 Inspection Report: SC020607

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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 as soon as possible that 80% of the staff deployed to the home have completed an NVQ Level 3 in the Caring for Children and Young People or equivalent qualification in childcare. (NMS 29.5) 10 of 10 Inspection Report: SC020607

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