Children's Home run by Island Choices Ltd in Isle of Wight

SC399866 Unique reference number 20 July 2010 Inspection date David Coulter Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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21 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 8 Inspection Report: SC399866

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Brief description of the service

Island Choices Ltd is a children's home registered for up to four young people, including those with learning difficulties. The home is situated in a coastal location on the Isle of Wight. The home is within walking distance of a range of amenities including shops, sports and leisure facilities. The aim of the service is to provide individualised care, within a homely environment. During their placements young people are helped to develop a range of social and life skills. All young people are provided with their own rooms and can access a number of communal areas. The home has a secure garden at the rear of the property.

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Summary

This unannounced key inspection aimed to determine how the identified care needs of the current residents are being met. The home is currently providing care and accommodation to three vulnerable young people who experience learning difficulties. Two of the residents are permanent and the third has recently arrived as an emergency placement. Evidence indicates that staff are being pro-active in advocating on this young person's behalf in an effort to establish a longer term plan for his future.

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Summary

The home operates within a well established risk management framework that keeps young people and staff safe. The care needs of each young person are clearly identified and strategies developed to ensure they are effectively met. The new staffing structure is working well and the experienced and well motivated staff team are being ably led by the new registered manager. There are effective quality assurance systems to ensure that systems and working practices support the provision of high quality care. Outcomes for young people within the home are excellent and both of the permanent residents have made considerable progress in their development during their placements. Young people are provided with every opportunity to live full and active lives within a safe and supportive environment.

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Summary

There are no actions or recommendations arising from this inspection. 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

The home is now subject to regular water safety tests.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Staff promote the concept of healthy living and staff encourage young people to eat healthily and take regular exercise. Staff closely monitor the nutritional input of each young person and their weight is regularly checked. All food is produced fresh on the premises and the preferences of each individual are incorporated into menu plans. Fruit and healthy snacks are available in between meals. Meals are social occasions and young people and staff eat together in a dedicated dining room. Staff provide regular opportunities for young people to experience the cuisine of different cultures. 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC399866 The health needs of each individual are identified on admission and plans developed to ensure they can be appropriately met. Consents for medical interventions are obtained from parents and when appropriate social workers. Staff ensure young people have access to appropriate

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Helping children to be healthy

health checks from doctors, dentists and opticians. Arrangements for the storage and administration of medication are good. Medication is stored in a purpose built locked facility and dispensed by staff who have completed specific training. Staff are made aware of the possible side-effects of the medications prescribed to young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. There are effective policies, procedures and working practices to keep young people safe in both the home and local community. The home operates within a risk management framework and is subject to regular health and safety checks. Risk assessments are widely used to identify any areas of potential concern in the home and local community. All risk assessments are updated in response to changing circumstances. Staff have developed individual 'key information folders' on each young person that can be relayed to police in the unlikely event of them going missing. A child protection policy provides clear guidelines for staff on the reporting of any concerns to the area safeguarding team. Staff are clearly aware of their personal responsibilities in regard to reporting any worries or concerns.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Individuals are accommodated in their own rooms that are furnished and decorated to meet their own specific care needs. Staff respect each individual's right to privacy and aim to strike an appropriate level of supervision. Any personal care tasks are carried out with respect. Confidential information relating to each young person is stored in an appropriately locked facility within the home's office.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home operates with a stable staff team who are committed to working with vulnerable young people. Staff are recruited via a well developed recruitment process. No new staff have been appointed since the last inspection. The concept of safeguarding and the identification of best practice forms part of all induction training. Staff receive regular refresher training on safeguarding issues. New staff have to demonstrate their competence before assuming their full responsibilities.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home provides a nurturing environment with clear boundaries that are consistently maintained. Staff promote the concept of respect and there is an expectation that young people will develop respect for people, places and things. Young people are made aware of the homes expectations on admission. Behaviour management plans provide guidance for staff on how positive outcomes can be achieved for each individual. Staff reinforce positive behaviour and young people are regularly reminded by staff of what is socially acceptable. Sanctions are not widely used and often consist of a withdrawal of privilege. The home operates a non-restraint policy and challenging behaviour is normally met by the deployment of diversionary techniques. Bullying is not an issue amongst the current residents and appropriate staffing levels minimise opportunities for incidents to occur.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a written complaints policy and all young people, their parents and placing social workers are made aware of it on admission. No complaints have been made since the last inspection. 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC399866

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Being a small home, staff are conversant with the specific care needs of all residents. Each individual's physical, social and emotional needs are clearly identified within their placement plans. During the course of the inspection all three young people were met and spoken with. All talked positively about their lives within the home. Young people are at ease in their surroundings and the company of staff. Staff try to ensure that young people's religious and cultural needs can be met.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

There are effective systems in place to ensure that young people have access to appropriate education and training. All the current residents have educational placements. Staff regularly liaise with education staff to ensure that key information is appropriately shared and that a consistency in approach is being achieved in relation to such things as behaviour management and communication.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people live full and active lives and are provided with access to a range of social and recreational activities both within the home and local community. Staff have identified specific activities that are enjoyed by each individual. Although young people can exercise choice over their social and recreational activities, staff encourage them to experience new activities. Young people have been involved in a carnival club and have recently participated in a multi-cultural carnival. The home has its own transport that is used to support social and recreational activities. Young people access holidays annually.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. The home has a well developed admission process that aims to ensure that prospective residents will benefit from the care on offer. Compatibility with existing residents is always considered. Staff work with placing authorities to develop effective transition plans that will allow young people to familiarise themselves with the home before moving in. Transition plans are also developed for young people moving on to adult provision.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Placement plans are developed in respect of each new resident and are developed in conjunction with the young person, their parents/guardians, teachers, medical staff and placing social workers. Placement plans are closely monitored and reviewed in line with looked after children guidance. Placement plans make clear all contact arrangements. Any recommendations arising out of reviews are incorporated into the care planning process. Placement plans are comprehensive, accessible and written in clear unambiguous language.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff employ both formal and informal methods for seeking out the views of young people, formally through regular residents' meetings and informally through discussions at mealtimes. Staff and young people eat together and meals provide regular opportunities to discuss issues of common interest such as menu and activity planning. Young people confirm that they would have no difficulty in raising personal worries or concerns with any of the staff.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC399866 Staff are pro-active in encouraging young people to develop a range of life skills. However, they are all aware that appropriate support is often needed to make significant gains. Staff are extremely patient and work at a pace appropriate to the individual. Young people have made considerable progress in areas such as personal care, communication and social interaction. Staff are clearly aware of the vulnerabilities of each individual and risk assess all activities.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home's location, design and size are in keeping with its purpose and function as a small group living home. It is situated in a good location and is accessible to a range of the towns facilities. The home offers good quality accommodation in a domestic setting. It is structurally sound and in good decorative order. It is subject to regular maintenance and an on-going development programme that is upgrading facilities. An enclosed rear garden provides a safe recreation area and includes a trampoline. There is dedicated sleeping accommodation for staff. The home is subject to regular health and safety risk assessments.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The home has a comprehensive Statement of Purpose that clearly reflects the nature of the provision. The Statement of Purpose is made available to parents and placing social workers as part of the admission process. A young person's guide has also been produced and is provided to young people prior to admission.

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Organisation

The home operates with a stable team of permanent staff who have the skills, qualifications and experience to meet the needs of the young people presently accommodated. No new staff have been appointed since the last inspection. Appropriate numbers of staff are deployed on each shift to ensure that the care needs of young people can be met. All shifts are managed by an experienced member of staff.

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Organisation

There is a culture of training and professional development within the home and an expectation that staff will increase their knowledge and skills on an on-going basis. Staff are provided with training opportunities both within the home and via external training courses. The introduction of computer-based training has also provided additional learning opportunities. The manager closely monitors training records to ensure that staff meet mandatory training requirements. All staff, including the manager, receive regular supervision. Staff guidance is provided by a comprehensive range of policies and procedures that have been recently reviewed and updated. There are regular staff meetings and minutes taken.

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Organisation

The manager provides effective leadership to a group of well motivated staff who are intent in providing high quality care to a group of vulnerable young people. Young people are provided with support and encouragement to live full and active lives. The home is subject to monthly monitoring visits, undertaken by a company director. The promotion of equality and diversity is good and staff regularly provide opportunities for young people to experience a range of cultural experiences. Records contain recent and relevant information and are kept in an appropriately locked facility. 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC399866

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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. 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC399866

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