Children's Home run by Horizon Care Limited in Staffordshire

Unique reference number SC062406 Inspection date 22/11/2010 Inspector Nicola McEvinney Type of inspection Key

p.1

Date of last inspection 16/03/2010 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

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.

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.3

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.

p.3

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

p.3

Brief description of the service

This is a children's home operated by a private company. It is a large detached property located in a rural area on the outskirts of a town. The home specialises in offering a service for young people who are placing themselves or others at risk of harm. Both emergency and planned placements are permitted.

p.4

Brief description of the service

The home has an open-plan lounge and dining room, a kitchen and education room equipped with a computer and computer games. Bedrooms are sited on the first floor along with a bathroom. There are also toilet facilities on the ground floor. There are spacious gardens and the home has its own car to transport young people.

p.4

Summary

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

p.4

Summary

The purpose of this unannounced key inspection was to check that the home is meeting the national minimum standards. This is a good home employing competent staff who are clearly committed to caring for the young people accommodated. When young people go missing the home takes appropriate action to endeavour to safeguard these individuals.

p.4

Summary

The home is extremely well maintained, decorated and furnished to a high standard creating a homely environment for the young people. Requirements and recommendations made relate to ensuring the home notify Ofsted of significant events and ensuring placement plans are in sufficient detail to show how identified needs are to be met.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

There were no requirements or recommendations made at the last inspection.

p.4

Helping children to be healthy

Young people are provided with healthy and nutritious meals; they are involved in devising the menus and are encouraged to participate in meal preparation. The home has engaged in a change for life programme; areas where young people need support are identified and staff and young people work towards improving this area to ensure that healthy life style habits are adopted. For example, staff and young people have worked towards reducing the amount of sugary snacks consumed and taking part in more exercise. Fruit is readily available and the home records what young people actually eat to ensure that they are eating a healthy diet. Mealtimes are social occasions with staff and young people eating around the dining table.

p.4

Helping children to be healthy

Young people's health needs are identified with guidance to staff to ensure that these needs are met. All the young people are registered with a doctor, dentist and optician and all appointments are recorded. The looked after children nurse visits the home and offers support on a range of issues. Staff are vigilant in discouraging young people from smoking.

p.5

Helping children to be healthy

Medication records are in good order, all staff have attended medication training. Young people prescribed topical creams are able to self-medicate.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff have a good awareness of ensuring young people's privacy is respected, for example, staff will always knock and wait to be invited in to a young person's bedroom. Young people's files are kept securely to ensure confidentiality and staff are mindful of not having conversation about young people within earshot of visitors to the home.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a 'we are listening' form available for young people to make representation. A number of these have been completed by the young people who have been unhappy about their care or treatment. These have been responded to by the Registered Manager to the satisfaction of the young person.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff have received safeguarding training and have a good awareness of safeguarding issues. In particular, the exploitation of some very vulnerable young people. Whenever possible staff undertake key work sessions with the some young people to endeavour to raise their awareness of this issue. Staff work with young people on keeping themselves safe, they are vigilant in monitoring internet access to ensure young people do not make inappropriate contact.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Bullying is an agenda item at resident meetings and young people are challenged if they behave or make a remark that may make other people uncomfortable.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The propensity of some young people to go missing has caused a great deal of concern. The staff are vigilant and have made contact with the police and other agencies to try and address this. The fact that some individuals have been missing for some months has led to a number of police forces being involved. The home is proactive in trying to make contact with these individuals, numerous telephone calls are made to young people's mobile phones. All contact is recorded. The home has clear guidance in place for each young person if they fail to return to the home when expected. However the home has failed to notify Ofsted of all significant incidents.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Each young person has an incentive reward chart, a number of targets are identified which young people strive to meet. This approach has been effective with the young people who have bought into the scheme. These targets are regularly reviewed with the young person. Relationships between staff and young people are warm and nurturing; the young people are responsive to the care and attention given. There were no restraints recorded and very few sanctions metered out; these were appropriate.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Risk assessments are in place for each individual the premises and activities, identifying the risk with strategies in place to minimise this risk. There are good fire procedures in place, all staff and young people are involved in evacuation procedures. Fire drills are held during the night shift to ensure that everyone knows what action to take in the event of a fire occurring at this time. Electrical appliances are tested annually and the building has an up-to-date gas certificate.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are robust recruitment systems in place to ensure that only suitable people are employed in the home. The identity of all visitors is checked to ensure only suitable people have access to the young people.

p.6

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The home has access to a clinical psychologist who offers guidance and support to the staff team to enable them to manage and offer support to the young people. The psychologist will also undertake direct work sessions with young people. The home accesses other services to help meet the needs of the young people, for example, an organisation that supports young people explore their sexuality, and the looked after children nurse. There are good key work arrangements in place to support individuals.

p.6

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people are well supported by the home for their education. The majority of the young people attend their place of education and are doing well. Educational targets are in place to ensure that the home knows what is expected. Statements of Educational Need are in place as appropriate and staff produce a detailed report and attend reviews of the statement.

p.6

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Each young person has a activity plan for the week and with staff they decide what activities they want to engage in. This may be the cinema or laser quest, eating out and some attend a youth club appropriate to their needs. This plan also includes contact visits and activities young people wish to engage in in the home. A placing authority awards an personal education allowance. With this allowance some individuals have bought bikes and these young people, once satisfactorily completing the cycling proficiency test ,are able to cycle around the surrounding countryside.

p.6

Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people's needs are set out in the original placement plan and at the child care review this is updated in the form of placement objectives. Although these set out the needs of the young people with strategies in place to meet these needs there is not the detail that clearly shows how the young people are to be cared for on a day- to-day basis.

p.7

Helping children make a positive contribution

Statutory child care reviews are held as appropriate; young people are encouraged to attend with their key worker who are good advocates for them. Contemporaneous notes are taken at the review to ensure decisions taken may be promptly implemented.

p.7

Helping children make a positive contribution

Contact arrangements are set out in young people's files. Staff are proactive in ensuring young people are having contact with significant others, they frequently facilitate and transport young people. Recent admissions to the home have been planned following introductions. Care is taken to ensure compatibility with young people placed. However, the home may admit young people in an emergency

p.7

Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people confirm that staff listen to them. There are regular house meetings where young people are able to have their say. At these meetings young people decide what they wish to be engaged in the following week and they plan the week's menus.

p.7

Achieving economic wellbeing

The older young people work through a competency programme for their independent skills; this assesses where support and guidance is needed to help to develop these skills. There is a transparent arrangement for the allocation of monies, young people are encouraged to save but are also able to spend their own money with guidance from staff.

p.7

Achieving economic wellbeing

All areas of the home are extremely well maintained, decorated and furnished to a high standard creating a homely environment for the young people. There is plenty of communal space where young people can either engage in activities together or enjoy an activity on their own with staff. Young people's bedrooms are very pleasant and they are encouraged to personalise them.

p.7

Organisation

There is a comprehensive Statement of Purpose in place informing all interested parties what the home has to offer. The children's guide explains to young people what they can expect when they come to live in the home.

p.7

Organisation

The promotion of equalities and diversity is good. Young people are given individual support according to their needs. They are proactive in supporting young people to explore their sexuality in a safe supportive environment.

p.8

Organisation

This is an experienced and qualified staff team who are well able to meet the needs of the young people. All staff have attained National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People or equivalent or are registered on this qualification. There are good training opportunities in place. For example, staff have attended training in, physical intervention, safeguarding, cognitive behaviour, nutrition and healthy eating, culture, diversity and equality and supporting young people recovering from childhood traumas. New staff undergo a good induction ensuring that they have the basic skills to support young people. Staff receive regular supervision and appraisals are undertaken annually. There are adequate numbers of staff to meet the needs of the young people.

p.8

Organisation

The Registered Manager is also the Registered Manager at a second home about 45 minutes away. The assistant manager of the second home was also the assistant manger of this home. The inspector queried this arrangement with the responsible individual and the Head of Care. This management arrangement has been reviewed and there are now robust deputising arrangements in each of the homes. There are good monitoring systems in place ensuring that the home runs efficiently.

p.8

Organisation

Young people's files contain all the required information.

p.8

Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions, which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The Registered Provider(s) must comply with the given timescales.

p.8

Std. Action Due date

20 ensure Ofsted is informed of all significant events, in particular, involvement or suspected involvement of a child accommodated at the home in prostitution; any serious incident necessitating calling the police to the home and instigation and outcome of any child protection enquiry involving a child accommodated at the home. (Regulation 30 (1) Schedule 5) 01/12/2010

p.8

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s):

p.9

Recommendations

 ensure placement plans clearly set out how young people's needs are to be met on a day-to-day basis.(NMS 2.1)

p.9