Children's Home run by Friends Therapeutic Community Trust in Cambridgeshire

Unique reference number SC025733 Inspection date 10/11/2010 Inspector Deirdra Keating / Kristen Judd Type of inspection Key

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Date of last inspection 19/03/2010 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

The home provides a therapeutic programme, designed to assess and offer treatment for young men who engage in a structured programme that is clearly detailed within the Statement of Purpose.

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Brief description of the service

The ground floor has a large dining room linked to a communal area with a pool table and juke box. There is a separate longue with a television, a kitchen and laundry facilities. There are two staff offices on the ground floor, storage areas and toilet facilities. The first floor houses single occupancy bedrooms some with bedsit facilities, bathrooms, a gaming room and a finance office.

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Brief description of the service

The grounds and extra facilities include; a large theatre, vocational workshop, maintenance workshop, vehicle workshop and indoor games room. There is also a car track used for learning to drive and go- karting. The garden is large and houses a purpose built education area with an adjoining art room and practical workshop. Additionally the grounds have an all-weather surfaced area for sports activities and a grassed area for football. There are vegetable allotments, green houses and poly tunnels for horticultural activities.

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Brief description of the service

Fourteen young people currently live in this home all of whom were present during the inspection.

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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

At this unannounced inspection, all key standards were inspected. This is an outstanding service with many aspects that are of an exceptionally high quality. The welfare of young people is considerably enhanced by the trusting relationships that exist between young people, their peers and the skilled staff team. Healthy food is strongly encouraged and young people take regular exercise in the extensive grounds. Young people are consistently encouraged to develop skills to support their independence into adulthood. The home works extremely well with outside agencies to fully meet the range of young people's needs. Staff are strongly supported by the professional manager who has an unquestionable commitment to the service.

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Improvements since the last inspection

There were no recommendations raised at the last inspection.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people enjoy hot, nutritious meals served by kitchen staff in the middle of the day. These are freshly prepared and smell delicious as they cook promoting a homely feel where young people and staff eagerly anticipate their lunch. The record of menus is displayed and complied in conjunction with the young people to include their favourite foods where possible. A wide choice is offered daily and freshly prepared salads and vegetables are always on the menu helping young people make healthy choices about what to eat. Young people also plan and prepare food at activity clubs where themed cuisines are prepared with the support of staff. Friday night special evenings are also enjoyed by the young people who challenge themselves to shop on a budget and prepare a meal. These regular clubs provide many opportunities each week for young people to develop their practical cooking skills and learn about healthy food choices.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people's health needs are clearly identified in individual treatment plans which show a clear chronology of appointments and positive outcomes from seeing health professionals. For example, staff ensure that young people can attend a smoking cessation clinic. Young people are registered with the local surgery and visit the optician and orthodontist when required. Young people's individual health needs are clearly detailed and discussed at individual treatment plan meetings with key staff.

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Helping children to be healthy

Medication is administered safely and in accordance with prescribing guidelines. Written permission is sought to ensure emergency medical treatment and advice can be given. This safeguards young people's general welfare in the event of an accident or emergency. Staff take a holistic approach to young people's health and do not encourage medicines that are not prescribed, for example, by offering water in the first instance of headache symptoms. Accidents are recorded and signed off by staff. The promotion of being healthy is proactively supported by staff who have invited a nurse to come and work with young people. This is to raise the importance of good health and provide specific information regarding issues that may affect adolescents.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people live within a community that has an ethos based on trust and respect. The young people and staff meet as a large group three times a day and this provides a safe and open arena for any issues to be resolved. Young people are strongly encouraged to voice their views within the respectful boundaries of the community meeting. This consistent structure to the day helps maintain open communication and promote a safe nurturing environment where there are very few incidents of bullying. Overall the therapeutic approach results in excellent behaviour and attitudes. Staff work extremely hard to promote socially acceptable and safe behaviour, helping young people consider their conduct with care and consideration. Young people conduct themselves in an exemplary manner and are polite and considerate to staff and visitors. Occasional incidents are addressed with the young person at the centre of any sanction at the community meeting. This gives real

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

meaning to sanctions as young people are encouraged to reflect on the consequence of their behaviour and agree to subsequent proposed measures. All incidents and physical restraints are recorded as required, although restraints are seldom used. Young people rarely go missing from the home. However, in the event of this happening the correct protocols are carried out to ensure the safety and well-being of the young person.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home provides good security and safety including the monitoring of both visitors and staff. The staff turnover is exceptionally low, however, when new staff are recruited they undertake rigorous checks prior to employment. This is recorded in staff files that are audited to ensure checking is consistently carried out. While this audit of files is good practice, shortfalls highlighted are not addressed in a timely manner. Young people are kept safe and secure whilst participating fully in a varied and exciting programme of activities both in and out of the home. Intensive planning by staff ensures that any risks are assessed and adaptations made to individual treatment plans. The home is checked for hazards and maintained regularly to ensure that fire prevention equipment is working properly and appliances are annually tested.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The information about the home details how the service holds sensitive information and affords privacy to each young person. There is a well sited house phone that enables young people to make private calls and keys are provided for bedrooms. A procedure for making complaints is detailed in the guide for young people, although, there have been no complaints made about the home.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people receive individualised support that reflects their unique needs extremely well. Excellent planning and support in conjunction with young people leads to remarkable achievements for individuals some of whom have experienced significant disruption to their education. The education at the home known as the "Ed shed" is based on attraction rather than promotion or compulsory attendance. This has resulted in self-motivated and enthusiastic young people who want to attend and go on to achieve nationally recognised qualifications that are both vocational and academic. Education is highly valued at the home whilst allowing each young person to follow a tailored and individual path at their own pace. Young people who leave the home gain a considerable list of achievements. Staff have high expectations in supporting young people to recognise and reach their potential areas of personal strength and talent. Young people undertake horticultural studies, music

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

and drama. There is a well equipped art room where many projects support various events held by the house. This gives purpose and meaning to developing individual talent, building on young people's self-esteem and confidence. In addition practical work experiences are sought locally and work very well. These give young people a valuable insight into the workplace and help them develop their knowledge, skills and commitment in preparation for eventual reintegration into life.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people truly benefit from an individual therapeutic programme which is adjusted and updated with the utmost detail and care. Staff work collaboratively with young people and outside professionals to discuss each person's diverse needs and set realistic and achievable goals. The individual treatment plans are comprehensive and outline how needs will be met. The information is clear, detailed and achievable goals are set for young people. They include guidance for staff on how to support young people in achieving these goals. Staff have an excellent knowledge of the individual needs of the young people and are aware of how those needs should be met. Staff complete daily records which include information about the care and support given to a young person. This approach comprehensively covers all aspects of care encompassing health appointments, family contacts, academic achievements and special trips out with staff. Young people are central to individual treatment plan

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Helping children make a positive contribution

meetings reading reports complied by key staff and reflecting on feedback that is both positive and reflective of their progress. The meetings take place regularly and bring together a jigsaw of superb care that each young person receives at the home. This ensures that communication between staff is good and plans are efficiently facilitated through working together in a cohesive manner.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Family contact is supported and facilitated according to the individual needs and circumstances of each young person. Staff recognise the difficulties this presents to young people and do their utmost to provide sensitive emotional support whilst also addressing core issues. A highly qualified team of clinical staff provide therapy and interventions to support each person's journey through therapy. The community work together as a whole to provide support to each individual. Young people have developed strong relationships with staff and peers based on trust and respect promoting an extended family atmosphere. Young people speak very highly about the staff, from which emanates a united consensus of encouragement, nurture and support.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people have a voice at the home and are actively able to make their views known. Community meetings bring the community together three times a day and address all aspects of the community on the agenda. Young people are instrumental in the running of the community and take responsible and active roles. For example, attending meetings and chairing the community meetings. This is undertaken by a resident chairman of the community. There is an overall atmosphere of trust and respect, all who attend are equally valued and asked to voice their activities for the day. This provides a safe arena for young people to voice their opinions, in addition young people have access to and use an independent advocate to make their views known.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Admissions are planned with meticulous care to give new admissions the optimum chances of engaging positively in the community. The equilibrium of the group is not compromised to make way for new admissions. Consequently, the community is established and settled as young people work extremely hard to reach shared goals.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people receive exceptional care to help them prepare for adulthood. The site also houses two smaller bungalows for independent living and preparation for leaving the community. Young people develop many skills such as; cooking, budgeting, shopping, cleaning and maintenance as they prepare to leave. Staff work very well with outside agencies to actively plan for young peoples' progression to living more independently. Young people have a certain amount of money which can be topped up by helping with chores around the house and grounds. Young people contribute significantly to the running of the home by taking part in these tasks with focus and enthusiasm. They learn about budgeting through practical activities such as the Friday night special evenings where providing a meal and getting best value for money is the theme.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home is spacious, bedrooms are highly personalised, comfortable and furnished to a very good standard. The house is clean, staff and young people work very well together to keep the environment maintained to a high standard of cleanliness on a daily basis. This promotes a warm, homely atmosphere where all aspects of the house are cared for and maintained well. The home has many popular facilities including a theatre, large indoor games room, outside vocational workshop and car track. In addition young people can learn how to drive using the dual controlled car and learn about vehicle maintenance in the workshop.

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Organisation

The Statement of Purpose and young people's guide to the home meets fully with the regulatory requirements and clearly sets out the terms on which admissions are arranged. This is due to the therapeutic nature of the programme provided and the need for young people to engage fully and willingly in a reciprocal arrangement. Expectations are clearly set out in formats that are both concise and provide clear detail of the programme that young people undertake.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is outstanding. Staff fully acknowledge the individuality of young people and comprehensively address each person's unique needs through extremely individualised treatment planning. Staff strongly promote difference and actively tackle cohesion within the group during daily community meetings. The length of the programme allows staff time to get to know each person extremely well. In addition staff are long serving and fully committed to promoting equality of opportunity for each person at the home. Staff are highly knowledgeable about the work and complexities within the area of specific needs that they address. Support is provided by the manager who has developed a clear supervision structure for the service. Subsequently, all staff are given guidance and supervision on a regular basis. Staff are made up of a multi-disciplinary team most of who are long serving and very well qualified. Together they form a focused and motivated team

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Organisation

who build on past success extremely well to shape and mould aspects of the programme and ensure it continues to meet the needs of the young people. This is carefully monitored both externally and internally within the required timescales and is an area into which the manager is hoping to develop more fully. Internal reporting meets all requirements and ensures that the quality of the service is checked and reported on regularly.

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Organisation

Professional development is supported and training is provided to ensure that staff are competent to carry out their roles. Staff are extremely committed and dedicated building relationships with young people that are professional and caring. Whilst staffs' care and clinical practice is unquestionably good, at times young people may observe staff smoking in the designated smoking area at the front of the building. This does not provide healthy role models to young people.

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Organisation

Staff are ample in number and there are effective systems in place to ensure good ratios are maintained. The competence of the staff helps them work within a potentially difficult group of young people with great success.

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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 that staff do not smoke in the presence of young people accommodated in the home (NMS 31.6)  ensure that reasonable steps are taken to chase outstanding information. (NMS 27.5)

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