Children's Home run by Little Acorns London Beach Farm Limited in Kent

Unique reference number SC023651 Inspection date 01/09/2010 Inspector John Chivers Type of inspection Key

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Date of last inspection 26/01/2010 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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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 Crispins, 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.

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About this inspection

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 outcomes for children set out in the Children Act 2004 and the relevant National Minimum Standards for the service.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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Brief description of the service

This service is a small children's home and independent residential school. Care and education is provided for up to seven children, aged between four and 15 and under the age of 10 on admission. The service operates from two classrooms and an outdoor classroom within the grounds of the home. The provider of this service also operates another children's home and other provision for adults.

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Brief description of the service

The home is a detached property in a rural setting, within easy reach of the shops and leisure facilities of the nearest town. It is set in eight acres of land, consisting of lawns, hard play area, play park, a vegetable garden and fields. The ground floor of the children's home has two lounges, a dining room and a kitchen with a dining area. Bedrooms are single occupancy. The home caters for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties who have a wide range of needs.

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Summary

The overall quality rating is outstanding.

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Summary

This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Summary

The inspection was a full inspection and unannounced. All of the 'key' standards in the sections being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, positive contribution, economic well-being and organisation of the national minimum standards for children's homes were assessed at this inspection. The three recommendations made at the last inspection were found to be met in full and only one recommendation is made as a result of this inspection. The home is managed to a high professional standard and affords an equally high standard of care to the resident children. Seven children were resident at the time of the inspection and all took part in the inspection process via interviews, discussion and by observation.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the registered manager was asked to ensure the policy on countering bullying is made known to staff and children; ensure the fire risk assessment and emergency evacuation policy and procedures are dated and signed to fully demonstrate they are regularly reviewed and up to date and carry out at least four fire drills in a twelve month period, including evacuation of staff and children from the house at different times of the day and night.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The anti-bullying policy is now known to all staff which provides them with clearer information regarding the procedures and helps promote a bullying free environment for the children. The fire risk assessment and fire procedures are now dated, signed and reviewed which ensures they are all up to date and enhance the home's health and safety arrangements. Fire evacuation drills are now held quarterly which further enhances the home's fire safety arrangements.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a balanced and healthy diet prepared by staff who are trained in food hygiene and the home's catering arrangements have been awarded the highest accolade by the local environmental health department. Special cultural and preferential diets are catered for and cultural theme nights and cooking projects are held. Children help with the preparation of meals which helps equip them with important domestic skills for later life. Provisions are safely and correctly stored and refrigerator and freezer temperatures are taken and recorded. Children said they enjoy the meals provided. Meal times are a well ordered social occasion.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit from being encouraged to live healthy and active life styles from a range of pursuits which helps develop their co-ordination, confidence and keeps them physically fit. Staff are familiar with children's health and medical histories and each child has a detailed health care plan which is monitored and reviewed on a regular basis. A local general practice is available to the home and signed parental or placing authority consent is held regarding emergency medical treatment. Children said staff look after their health and advise them about living healthy life styles and keeping fit.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children receive safe and diligent medication treatment from staff who are appropriately trained in medication administration and first aid and carry out their duties in a caring and sensitive way. There are clear medication administration records and medication is audited on a weekly basis. Medication is securely held in a locked cabinet which has additional secure provision for controlled drugs. Old or discarded medication is safely disposed via the local pharmacy and a record is kept.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Confidential information is securely held in locked cabinets within a locked office and staff are aware of the importance of confidentiality. Children enjoy sufficient privacy and staff treat them with dignity and respect and attend to their personal care needs in a caring and sensitive manner. Children have access to a telephone without reference to staff and are able to meet appropriate visitors in private. Toilet and bathing facilities afford privacy; however the locks on the toilet and bathroom doors are not of the type required by the national minimum standards for children's home's

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are aware of the home's complaints procedure and know how to make a complaint and who to complain to and that any complaint would be taken seriously. Staff receive training in complaints at induction and the procedure is reinforced periodically at team meetings. Complaints are clearly recorded and children said they have no current complaints or concerns about the home or the way staff treat them. Some children said the home is 'great' and another said 'its perfect for children with difficulties'.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's behaviour is very well managed by staff who are trained in behaviour management and who have established and maintained excellent working relationships with children. There is a high level of communication, interaction and engagement between staff and children who respond positively to staff approaches and inputs. Children's behaviour is closely monitored and recorded on their individual behaviour management plans which are reviewed on a regular basis. Any sanctions and restraint used is clearly recorded and appears appropriate and necessary in the circumstances described in the records. Children are able to verbalise about their behavioural issues and recognise and appreciate staff inputs that help them come to terms with such difficulties. Children said the standard of discipline is fair and that they feel safe and secure in the home. No significant issues regarding behaviour management and control are evident.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are protected from harm and abuse by a caring and diligent staff team who are aware and alert to child protection and safeguarding issues. Children learn about their personal safety via the school's curriculum and this is reinforced by the home's staff in one to one discussions or children's meetings and by talks given by the local community police officer. Children are closely supervised and risk assessments for all children are in place. Any child protection or safeguarding issues are clearly recorded and appropriate notification made.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children live in a bullying free environment and children said there are no significant issues in this area and that staff are quick to challenge and deal with such conduct in the event. No bullying or intimidating behaviour among the children is evident and the warm, accepting and cohesive atmosphere at the home helps to reduce the likelihood of bullying becoming a significant issue. The home has a missing persons policy and procedure; however no unauthorised absences have occurred.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children live in a safe and diligently monitored environment and the home takes active steps to keep children, staff and visitors safe from the inherent risks for fire and other potential safety hazards. Standards of cleanliness and hygiene are high throughout the home and no safety hazards are evident in the areas of the premises accessed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home's staff recruitment and vetting arrangements are robust and staff personnel files hold all required information, including a minimum of two written references and checks via the Criminal Records Bureau at enhanced level. The home's recruitment arrangements helps to ensure that only suitable staff are appointed to look after the children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children benefit from receiving a high level of care and support from a committed and professional staff team who deal with issues in a caring and sensitive way. Children have key workers who take lead responsibility for a range of duties specific to individual children and the group and liaise with a range of relevant professionals regarding their holistic care. There are short term and long term care plans in place which are monitored and reviewed on a regular basis. Children said staff give them a lot of care, support and attention and help them with a range of issues and help them to come to terms with past behaviours and encourage and assist them to improve their conduct.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children attend school on the premises and benefit from a wide range of education and learning activates in out of school hours. Children have personal education plans and school reports are held. There is excellent communication between teaching and care staff and handovers and meetings are held daily where children's progress and issues are fully discussed and strategies planned. Staff encourage children to complete homework and children have reading sessions each night. Learning activities include both sedentary and active pursuits and the opportunity to develop nurturing skills and interests in animal welfare. Noticeable and commendable achievements include deep sea diving certificates and attendance on a junior zoo keeper's course at a local zoo park. Children benefit from equality and diversity learning at school assembly's and citizenship courses. Children said the fully enjoy the range of education and learning activities provided and all enjoy the opportunity

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children have comprehensive placement and care plans in place which are written to an excellent and of which all staff are familiar. There are short term and long term plans and a simplified version for individual children. Children said they are aware of their future plans and are generally in agreement with them. The care plans are closely monitored and reviewed by staff and updated as appropriate. Children also benefit from having their parents and other professionals contribute to the care planning process.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from having their statutory reviews held within the prescribed time scales and are able to attend and make a verbal or written contribution to the meetings. Parents and other professionals may attend the meetings as appropriate and contribute to the proceedings. Key workers write the home's contribution to the review report to a high standard which fully informs parents, relevant professions and children of progress, issues and future aims and goals. Any contact children have with their parents and significant others is clearly recorded. The home has a clear admissions criteria and process which helps to ensure only suitable children are admitted to the home who will gain optimum benefit from the service provided. Children are prepared to leave the home in a planned way and are properly prepared for any move. There are pathway plans and independence training programmes in place which help to equip children with the necessary skills for later

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Helping children make a positive contribution

life. Children commence independence training and social skills learning at an early age and children said they enjoy the opportunity to learn and acquire such skills.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are consulted regarding day to day matters that affect them and they benefit from having the opportunity to contribute via a range of forums including one to one discussion with staff and via community meetings which are held each morning. Consultation papers are used to secure parents views and children confirm their views are listened to and acted upon by staff if appropriate.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home does not usually prepare children to leave care. However it does prepare children to move on in a planned way following agreed pathway plans and independence training programmes which help to equip them with useful skills for later life.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Children receive pocket money, a clothing allowance and have access to personal requisites such as toiletries.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Children live in a safe and well maintained environment which has ample communal and private space and is homely and comfortable. Communal areas are decorated and furnished to a very good standard and well equipped with fixtures, fittings and play equipment and materials. Children's bedrooms are of a good standard and are highly personalised by their occupants, having a variety of pictures, posters and toys. Toilet and bathing facilities afford privacy, however the door locks to these facilities are not of the type required by the national minimum standards for children's homes. The garden area is extensive and well equipped with play apparatus, a den, swimming pool, outdoor stage and a BMX bicycle track. Children said they enjoy living in the accommodation and enjoy the facilities provided and most said they 'really like it here', 'its fantastic'.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is outstanding with the home having full regard for individual differences and backgrounds. The home is managed to a high professional standard and facilitates an excellent standard of care to the children.

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Organisation

Children and their parents are given sufficient information about the home via the comprehensive Statement of Purpose and children's guide. The Statement if Purpose is reviewed annually and accurately describes the service and facilities provided by the home.

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Organisation

Children benefit from receiving a high level of care and support from a well trained, supervised and appraised staff team. They have sufficient skills, experience and competence to meet the needs of the children and enable the home to achieve it's aims and objectives. Staff work in a committed and professional manner and are avidly supportive of the home's management and ethos, clearly appreciating the new manager's inputs and management approachability. Staff confirm the home's supervision and training arrangements and commitment to equal opportunities, equality and diversity issues and that no discriminatory attitudes or practices exist within the service.

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Organisation

The sound internal quality assurance systems ensure close monitoring and scrutiny of the home's conduct and securing of the high standards of care and support afforded to the resident children. The home has a current insurance liability certificate which complies with the home's responsibilities as an employer.

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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):

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Recommendations

 ensure the locks on the toilet and bathroom doors are of the type required by the national minimum standards for children's homes. (NMS 25.6)

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