Children's Home run by Channels and Choices Limited in Kent

Unique reference number SC408584 Inspection date 24/11/2010 Inspector Diane Thackrah Type of inspection Key

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Date of last inspection 03/06/2010 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 is a small, three bedded children's home in Kent. It is registered to provide care to up the three young people between the ages of eight and under 18 who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Brief description of the service

The ground floor has a lounge with satellite television, a dining room, large conservatory, office, shower room and kitchen. There is a large garden. There is a further bathroom, and four bedrooms on the first floor.

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Brief description of the service

Two young people currently live in the home and both were met with and contributed their views to this inspection.

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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 full inspection, all key standards were inspected. This is a good service with some outstanding features.

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Summary

Young people's welfare is enhanced by the good relationships that exist between staff and young people. Young people are treated as individuals and have their individual needs met. Young people have their health needs well promoted as staff receive excellent support and training to help them understand these needs. The home works closely with a range of health care professionals to ensure that health needs are well addressed. There are good opportunities for exercise and for enjoying a nutritious diet. Good measures are in place to ensure that young people are safe. These include safety checks on the building and safe staff recruitment, however, some staff recruitment procedures have not fully met requirements.

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Summary

There are good arrangements for ensuring that young people have a positive experience of moving into, and on from the home. There is strong management and staff are well trained and supported to do their jobs well. However, the arrangements for ensuring that staff receive formal supervision are not in line with the national minimum standards.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Not applicable. This was the first inspection since registration.

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Helping children to be healthy

There are excellent arrangement in place for promoting the health and well-being of young people. These include ensuring that young people have access to health care professionals in line with both their physical and emotional health needs. Comprehensive health care plans are in place which help to ensure that staff are clear about young people's health needs. The wide range of training that staff receive regarding health issues, and the access they have to professional consultation with the company's physiotherapist also helps to ensure that staff are well able to promote young people's health needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

Excellent arrangements also exist for ensuring that young people enjoy a healthy and varied diet. All menus are assessed by a nutritionist in order to ensure that young people benefit from a nutritious diet. A young person said 'They buy lots of fruit and vegetable, I am always well and healthy.' Meals are social occasions taken in a pleasant and homely dining room. The manager said 'We try to encourage young people to sit together with staff at every mealtime'. Young people have good opportunities to learn about food preparation as they are encouraged to help with the weekly shopping and cooking. Young people have good opportunities for exercise. They have membership to the local gymnasium and enjoy activities such as horse riding and swimming.

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Helping children to be healthy

There are strong arrangements in place regarding first aid and the handling of medication that help to protect young people. These include clear policies and procedures that are understood by staff. Staff are trained in the safe handling of medication during their induction and the majority of the staff team have first aid qualification. This helps to ensure that young people's welfare is promoted and protected.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff respect young people's privacy and are clear about the home's policy on confidentiality. One young person said 'Staff knock before they come into my bedroom'. Clear guidelines are in place regarding room searches and this ensures that young people are kept safe and have their rights upheld. Young people are given a key for their bedroom and also have somewhere that they can keep things private. There are good arrangements for handling complaints which help to ensure that young people can raise any concerns they have and that these will be taken seriously. Information about making a complaint is made available to young people and stakeholders and regular house meetings are used to promote young people's right to make a complaint. No complaints have been made since the home has opened.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Child protection is taken seriously and all staff are trained in this area. A young person said that the home was good at keeping them safe. Care plans address the safety of young people and their relationships with adults. Bullying is not an issue in this home. Staff talk to young people about bullying in order to help keep them safe. Clear written guidelines are in place regarding young people going missing and this helps to ensure that staff understand their responsibilities for protecting young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are strong arrangements in place for helping young people to develop positive behaviour. Reward charts are in place to help reinforce and reward positive behaviour and attitude. One young person was recently able to buy music equipment as a result of their good behaviour. There are appropriate and consistent responses to negative behaviour. Sanctions are fair and physical restraint is used rarely and as a last resort. Young people are clear about what is expected of them.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people live in a safe and secure environment. There are good arrangements for ensuring that regular safety checks are made around the home. These include checks on the fire equipment and electrical appliances. Young people are clear about the procedures for fire drills and this helps to keep them safe. A thorough health and safety audit is carried out monthly in the home and this helps to protect young people. In the main, there are good staff recruitment policies and procedures that help to ensure that young people's welfare is protected. All staff members have an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check. However, two staff files are missing a second written reference and this practice is not in line with safe recruitment. The registered manager is clear that it is not the current practice to only obtain one written reference and said that a new human resources employee is now in place to ensure that all relevant information is obtained for staff members prior to them

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

commencing work in the home. All other staff recruitment files seen contained all required information.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people are treated as individuals and have their individual needs well met. Risk assessments are carried out and made known to staff and this helps to ensure that staff have clear guidelines available detailing how they can reduce any identified risks. Care plans detail any cultural and religious needs that young people have and detail how staff will promote these. Care plans also detail how staff pay close attention to young people's individuality and work towards helping young people to develop self confidence and identity. Regular key work ensures that there is good monitoring of young people's needs and well-being.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Strong arrangements are in place for ensuring that young people benefit from receiving education that meets their needs. Clear education plans are in place for young people that are understood by staff and this helps to ensure that young people benefit from good education. Young people receive one-to-one support from home tutors and care staff which helps to ensure that they make good educational progress. The company runs a school and plans are in place to integrate young people into this school to further promote their education.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There are excellent arrangements in place for ensuring that young people are placed appropriately in the home in order to ensure that there needs are met. Young people have their needs assessed effectively and detailed in a comprehensive placement plan. From this, detailed 24 hour behaviour management plans and care plans have been put in place and these help to ensure that staff are able provide good support to young people. The high staffing ratios contribute to promoting young people's well-being. There is an effective key worker system in place which helps to ensure the implementation and monitoring of the placement plan. Statutory looked after reviews occur as required, to which staff from the home contribute effectively to. Young people are supported to make their views known at these reviews. This helps to ensure that young people feel that their views are listened to and taken seriously.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There are excellent arrangements in place for ensuring that young people move into, and on from the home in a positive way. Staff are available to reassure young people when they move into the home. Young people are able to be involved in the decoration of their bedrooms to help them settle in. Young people are encouraged to build networks in the community by being involved in local clubs and this goes some way to giving them support when they leave the home. The home saves for young people and provides them with a substantial financial payment when they leave the home in order to help them move on. Outreach support is also offered to leavers. Sound arrangements exist for ensuring that young people are able to maintain constructive contact with their family members. Staff support these arrangements.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people's opinions are respected and actively sought. The positive relationships that exist between young people and staff help to ensure that young people are able to share their views on a day to day basis. Weekly house meeting provide a formal opportunity for young people to share their opinions. Staff respond positively to young people's suggestions. The menu, décor in the home and activities reflect young people's requests.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people receive support that helps to prepare them for adulthood. Care plans detail how staff will support young people to develop skills for independence such as doing chores and helping with the weekly shopping. Current young people are not at an age for pathway plans to be in place.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people benefit from living in a homely and well-maintained environment. The home is well furnished, decorated and maintained. Young people are happy with their bedrooms and say that they are able to personalise them. Current young people have been able to choose items of furniture and their bedding.

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Organisation

The home has a Statement of Purpose and guide that provides information about its ethos and rules and routines. This ensures that young people and stakeholders have the information they need. There is a competent staff team and clear arrangements for staff to deputise in the Registered Manager's absence. The home does not yet have a minimum ratio of care staff who are qualified at National Vocational Qualification level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People, however, staff are training for this and the home is on track for ensuring that all staff will soon have this qualification. Time is allocated for staff handovers and this helps to ensure the smooth running of the home and good consistency in care for young people. Generally, good arrangements exist for ensuring that staff receive formal supervision, however, this does not currently occur on a monthly basis for all staff, with records held. There are high staffing levels in this home which ensures that young people

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Organisation

benefit from one-to-one care from staff.

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Organisation

There are good arrangements for staff training and induction which helps to provide staff with the skills and knowledge to care for young people well. One staff member said 'I have done training in attachment theory'. Another staff member said 'Training opportunities are good in this organisation'. There is generally good monitoring of quality in the home which helps to promote young people's well-being.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity good. Young people are treated as individuals and staff help them to understand their cultural backgrounds. Staff are sensitive to the individual needs of young people and this helps to promote their well-being. Young people's needs, development and progress are well recorded in a secure record.

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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.

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Std. Action Due date

27 enaure that information as listed in Schedule 2 is in place for all staff who work in the home. (Regulation 26 (3) Schedule 2) 01/12/2010

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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 all care staff receive supervision at least once a month with records kept. (NMS 28.2)

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