Children's Home run by Anderida Adolescent Care Ltd in East Sussex

SC028536 Unique reference number 25 August 2010 Inspection date Liz Driver Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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11 February 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: SC028536

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Brief description of the service

The setting is registered to accommodate two young people, of either sex, over 11 years of age with emotional or behavioural difficulties. It is owned by a private company. The accommodation consists of a lounge, dining room and kitchen on the ground floor. The first floor has a sleeping-in room/office, the young people's bathroom and a young person's bedroom. The second floor comprises a sleeping-in room, a meeting room and a young person's bedroom. There is a small garden at the rear of the premises.

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Summary

This was a full, very short notice inspection. One young person currently accommodated returned a written questionnaire prior to the inspection but was unable to be present on the day of inspection due to work experience and holiday.

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Summary

The setting provides an outstanding level of care for young people with staff committing to listening to young people and promoting their rights. The manager has a clear understanding of her role and responsibilities and has had a positive impact on the home in the one year she has been there. Staff are fully supportive of her. Young people are cared for by staff who are well trained, experienced and sensitive to their needs. Staff have worked very hard to ensure young people engage in all aspects of their health with very positive outcomes. The food provision is very good with consideration given to recycling and ethical purchases. Staff are aware of child protection and safeguarding concerns and work very hard to ensure young people are aware of the dangers they put themselves in when missing from the home. Behaviour management is consistent with clear boundaries. Staff training is of a high standard with a real

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Summary

commitment to ensuring appropriate training is provided. Staff recruitment is robust with high levels of staff retention. There are numerous avenues in place for each young person to voice their views and opinions about the running of the home. The home is well managed and well maintained. All necessary health and safety checks are carried out to a very good standard ensuring maximum safety. 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.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. The young people receive a nutritious and varied diet that includes different cultural foods from around the world. Individual dietary needs are fully assessed and included in their health care plans. Young people have the opportunity to choose and help prepare meals as part of their life skills package. Mealtimes are a sociable occasion where staff and young people eat together. The young people in the home are encouraged to eat a healthy and balanced diet and are given advice from the staff as to what constitutes healthy eating. There is a healthy eating food policy in place to guide staff. Young people are able to prepare snacks when they wish and have access to fresh fruit. The setting strictly follows the company's ethical policy which identifies recycling and product awareness. 4 of 9 Inspection Report: SC028536 Young people receive an excellent level of health care provision. Each young person's health

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Helping children to be healthy

needs are fully assessed and reviewed at regular intervals. Physical, emotional and medical health needs are contained within individualised health care plans with placement objectives that are regularly reviewed and extended where necessary. Young people are registered with a local dentist, doctor and optician and all routine medical appointments are made for them, although this can be difficult for staff if the young people refuse to attend. Recent outcomes for young people in accessing a range of health professionals have been excellent, especially as previously they had refused to attend appointments. This has resulted in improved health for young people and better awareness of the importance of health areas such as immunisations. The staff engage with health professionals relevant to existing and newly presenting health need as they arise, as well as for long term good health. The promotion of a healthy life style

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Helping children to be healthy

is clear with information provided about issues such as smoking, drug and alcohol misuse and sexual health. A huge amount of support is given to young people who wish to stop smoking with excellent outcomes seen for existing young people, where they have given up smoking as a result. Young people are cared for by staff who are trained to administer first aid.

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Helping children to be healthy

There are very good procedures in place that ensure the storage, stock control and administration of medicines is safe and secure. Young people have medicines administered by appropriately trained staff. Consents for the administration of medicines, first aid and emergency treatment are obtained prior to admission.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Young people's privacy is well respected by staff. There is a policy in place with regards to searching a young person's room and a record is kept if this occurs. Any confidential information kept on the young people is securely stored in locked cabinets in a secure office. All toilet and washing faculties have locks that can be overridden in the case of an emergency.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people, parents, staff and others are provided with information about how to make a complaint or raise a concern. The manager responds to issues raised in a very timely manner with very good records kept. The manager will also raise concerns and make a complaint to other agencies if she feels the young people are not receiving appropriate care or support. The home assists young people to raise their own complaints to external agencies if they require support with advocates sought if necessary. The young person's handbook gives clear guidance to the young people about who they can complain to and their contact details. Staff receive training in complaints and whistle blowing as part of their induction process. Numbers of complaints dealt with by the manager are very low.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has very clear procedures to responding to child protection and safeguarding issues. All members of staff have attended training in child protection and safeguarding and are aware of what they need to do in the event that they have concerns about a young person's welfare. The staff work very hard to ensure that any child protection issues are resolved and maintain excellent levels of contact with other professionals to ensure that the young people are kept up to date with any developments. Staff provide young people with advice, guidance and support to keep themselves safe outside the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a very clear policy in place, that is available to both staff and young people, stating the expectations of behaviour in relation to bullying. The management and staff create an atmosphere where bullying is known to be unacceptable. Any admissions to the home are 5 of 9 Inspection Report: SC028536 assessed to ensure that stability is maintained in the home and that the chances of bullying are minimised.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has missing persons guidelines and policies in place for the staff to follow in the event that a young person goes missing. Each young person's care plan clearly records what course of action will be pursued should the young person leave the home without permission or not return to the home at the agreed time. This strategy is also explained to the young people so that they are clear as to what the consequences are if they are missing. The home works very closely with other agencies, including the police, to ensure they have an in-depth understanding of each young person's difficulties and vulnerabilities. Much work is carried out by staff to make young people aware of safety issues if they go missing.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Each young person has an extremely comprehensive behaviour management plan in place which outlines what support they need to achieve positive behaviour. Triggers for distressed or challenging behaviour are recorded in each young person's behaviour management plan. All members of staff receive training in the method of restraint chosen by the organisation which owns the home. There are low numbers of recorded physical interventions. Sanctions are recorded and endorsed by the manager as part of the monitoring process. An incentive scheme is promoted by staff and works well for young people. Staff and young people are clear about behavioural boundaries, expectations and consequences of poor behaviour. Staff work hard to build positive relationships and provide a warm and caring environment where young people feel at ease to express themselves with the knowledge that staff are supportive. Staff work extremely hard to gain each young person's trust with excellent outcomes.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The manager ensures that any risk assessments related to the premises, activities or young people are updated and reviewed regularly. They are also forwarded onto relevant placing social workers if appropriate. The home has up-to-date checks carried out on electric, gas and fire safety systems. Additionally, there are regular fire drills so that young people and staff know what action to take in the event of a fire.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The organisation operates a robust recruitment process which ensures that all members of staff have the correct checks made on them before commencing work. Files evidenced that staff have enhanced Criminal Record Bureau checks and the standards for safe recruitment are met. All visitors are vetted, supervised if appropriate and asked to sign the visitor's book.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Young people have extremely comprehensive care plans that address how support will be provided with much emphasis placed on their individual needs. Each young person has a key worker who meets with them on a regular basis to discuss their care plans and weekly targets. The monthly reports include comments on areas such as diet, behaviour, activities, education, health, and contacts. The detailed care planning enables the staff to ensure that the young people receive high levels of support and that specialist support from external professionals is available when needed. The thorough planning and sensitive support offered to the young people is of a high standard.

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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 commitment and support to maintain their placements at educational establishments. Current outcomes for educational achievement is outstanding with young people successfully achieving qualifications 6 of 9 Inspection Report: SC028536 and work experience that enable them to fulfil their chosen careers. Daily school or college attendance is an established part of life at the home, which staff promote with commitment. The company has a registered school that young people can attend where tuition is on a one-to-one basis. Young people are assessed on their ability and educational needs to ensure a package is implemented which takes into account each individual's ability.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Each young person's preference relating to leisure and activities are known to staff. The young people have numerous opportunities to participate in a good variety of activities that they enjoy. Written feedback from young people and staff was very positive about individual support, education and activities provided.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Young people have a robust assessment of their needs and placement plans that identify how their needs will be met. A structured review process continually assesses young people's needs throughout the placement to ensure positive outcomes are achievable. Numerous avenues are in place for young people to have a positive contribution about their present needs, the way the home is run and their future. Regular reviews of care placement objectives occur where young people are encouraged to attend. Where necessary specialist advice is sought to address particular issues young people may have and incorporated into care plans.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Contact is fully promoted for young people and their families and friends; any restrictions are for valid reasons that are fully understood by young people and staff. Good records are kept of each contact.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The staff promote a smooth moving in process that enables the young people to visit the house or be visited by staff prior to their admission date. The setting's leaving care process has been affected by local authorities practices and procedures that has resulted in some young people not experiencing a smooth transition. The manager is currently pro-actively discussing this with local authorities to ensure a smoother transition for young people in the future.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The way the home functions enhances every young person's independence and opportunities to make every day choices in a safe way. The staff approach ensures that the young people feel valued and listened to.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. Good procedures are in place for young people as they approach adulthood. This includes liaising with social workers and contributing to pathway plans or leaving care plans.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home provides a good standard of accommodation throughout. It is well lit, heated and ventilated. Some areas are still in need of repainting and plans are in place for this to be addressed in the near future, as part of the annual service plan. Staff confirmed that the appearance of the home has improved since the last inspection. Suitable toilet and bathing facilities are provided. The young people choose the décor in their rooms and are able to personalise them with posters and pictures. There is separate sleeping in accommodation for the staff. The garden is small and in good order with young people enjoying the experience of 7 of 9 Inspection Report: SC028536 growing vegetables. The home has enough space for the young people to meet visitors in private.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. The promotion of equality and diversity is outstanding. The individual needs of young people at the home are properly considered in relation to religion and cultural needs together with health and dietary needs. Each individual young person is cared for without discrimination or prejudice and achieve their potential with individual guidance and support from staff. Recruitment procedures ensure staff are recruited fairly and without discrimination. Equality and diversity is now a set item on the company’s annual general meeting agenda and also part of the staff training programme.

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Organisation

The setting provides information regarding the facilities and services available for young people. The Statement of Purpose, updated in 2010, highlights all areas of care provision and identifies the aims and objectives of the service. Young people are given a children's guide that is comprehensive and clearly states what they can expect and what is expected of them. There is also a guide specifically for parents that gives a wealth of information they may require whilst their child is in care.

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Organisation

Young people benefit from a stable and strong staff team consisting of experienced staff who are all fully supported by the manager and other senior staff in the organisation. Staff retention is excellent. The Registered Manager has been in role for one year and has had a positive impact on the home, the staff and young people. An extensive induction programme is offered to newly recruited staff with continued training after this period, including National Vocational Qualifications or equivalent. Staff receive regular supervision of a high standard, and they feel well supported. Sickness and holidays are covered by bank staff. A two to one ratio of staff to young people is in place that ensures young people have high levels of support and individual attention at all times. Staff attend regular team meetings to discuss the running of the home and the young people's behaviour and progress. All members of staff have clear job descriptions

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Organisation

which outline their duties and responsibilities. The staff have access to a number of well written policies and procedures which are kept in the staff office.

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Organisation

The home has regular visits undertaken by an external manager from within the organisation. These are the subject of reports which ensure that key areas in the home are monitored. The Registered Manager responds to any areas identified in the reports. They are also submitted to Ofsted on a monthly basis without fail. The setting has recently introduced a visitors questionnaire that helps the manager to assess how the home is meeting its aims.

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Organisation

All required records are accurate and up to date and clearly reflect the needs and progress of young people living at the home.

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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: SC028536

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Recommendations

There are no recommendations. 9 of 9 Inspection Report: SC028536

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