Children's Home run by Child First Limited in West Sussex

Unique reference number SC044259 Inspection date 08/12/2010 Inspector Paul Taylor Type of inspection Key

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Date of last inspection 10/05/2010 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 an established children's home which can accommodate up to five young people aged between eight and 17-years-old of both genders. The home's ethos is based on providing a caring and consistent environment, in which young people feel safe and secure. The home is a large detached house based in a residential area.

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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 the key standards were assessed. At the time of the inspection two young people were living at the home. One young person took part in the inspection by meeting with the inspector.

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Summary

The home provides a good standard of care to the young people. It is clear that the staff team values the opinions of the young people and that opportunities for them to voice their feelings about their care are readily available. The young people themselves feel that the staff treat them with respect and fairness and are willing to listen to them.

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Summary

All members of staff receive good levels of support from the acting manager and members of staff report that morale in the home is good.

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Summary

Two actions were made as a result of this inspection. They relate to ensuring that all areas of the home are maintained to a good standard and requiring that the acting manager applies to Ofsted to become the Registered Manager.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection and at a subsequent monitoring visit three actions were made. These have all been addressed.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The home was required to ensure that all sanctions imposed are recorded. This has been achieved. The home was also required to ensure that any hazards identified in the home were the subject of risk assessments and measures put in place to manage the risks. There are regular reviews of risk assessments which outline plans of action to reduce hazards.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At a monitoring visit in May this year a fire exit was found to be locked. This situation no longer occurs, all fire exits are easily accessible and can be opened by staff and young people alike.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people are provided with a varied diet. They are involved in the planning of meals and their individual likes and dislikes are incorporated into menu plans. Arrangements are put in place to ensure that specific dietary requirements can be met. Young people can access snacks and fresh fruit in between meals. They are also provided with opportunities to assist staff in the preparation of meals and are encouraged to prepare their own meals if they are on a programme which is preparing them for independence.

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Helping children to be healthy

Each young person has a health plan that covers their medical history, health interventions, allergies, dental, hearing and optical needs. The plan also identifies any emotional and mental health needs and appointments with health specialists, such as counsellors or psychiatrists. Young people receive annual medicals from a looked after children nurse. Records relating to the health of each young person are good and contain, amongst other things, a record of all medical interventions, immunisations and consents for medical treatments.

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Helping children to be healthy

The home has a procedure for monitoring and recording the administration of medication. Records maintained are accurate and the manager audits the amounts in stock on a monthly basis.

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Helping children to be healthy

The health planning for the young people is of a good standard and the young people are encouraged to establish healthy lifestyles and a healthy diet. This approach leads to good outcomes.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Privacy is valued and respected by the staff team and sensitive information is stored securely. The young people are also made aware of the circumstances when room searches may occur. A record is made should this happen.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a written complaints policy and young people are made aware of it on admission. If any complainant is unhappy with the outcome of their complaint the home's policy provides redress to senior managers within the organisation. Records of complaints and how they have been resolved are clear and show that they are responded to promptly. Young people are confident that their complaints are taken seriously.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are sound systems in place to promote the safety and welfare of the young people. The local authority safeguarding procedures are available and training is provided to all staff in child protection on a rolling programme. All members of staff know what to do and who to inform if they have concerns about a young person's well-being. Young people report that bullying is not tolerated in the home and it is not a concern for them. The staff team are very aware of group dynamics and relationships and will address issues both in house meetings as well as in individual sessions. The staff team also discuss dynamics during their meetings and will put in place strategies to manage areas of concern.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a policy and procedure for reporting young people who are absent without authority. Risk assessments are used to determine a young person's ability to maintain their own safety whilst in the community. All young people are made aware that to leave the home without staff permission can result in them being reported missing to the police. Staff have developed pen pictures and physical descriptions of each young person that can be relayed to police in the event of a young person going absent without authority. Good records are maintained which include the young person's comments and opinions when they have returned from a period of being missing.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Individual behaviour management plans and risk assessments are compiled which highlight possible concerns about challenging or risky behaviour which some of the young people may display. Each young person has their particular issues identified in a Positive Handling Plan and this includes strategies of how to de-escalate challenging behaviour and what methods of physical intervention are appropriate. The plans, which are regularly reviewed, guide staff in how to respond to each young person and thus provide a consistent approach.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All members of staff have attended training in the method of physical restraint used in the home. A record is kept of any incidents which have required the use of physical restraint.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A record is kept of sanctions when they have been imposed. The young people have the opportunity to sign the record to show that they acknowledge the sanction and understand why it has been given. Young people report that sanctions given are fair.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are aware of what the behavioural expectations of the home are. They can earn extra rewards such as trips out and extra spending money if they behave well.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The health and safety of young people and staff alike is taken seriously. Fire fighting equipment is routinely serviced and tested and fire drills occur on a regular basis. Risk assessments are carried out on the environment as well as activities and behaviours which the young people may display. The risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a comprehensive recruitment process. No members of staff work with the young people until all the necessary checks and references have been confirmed.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people are provided with individual support from key workers who monitor their progress and provide them with regular opportunities to spend one-to-one time with them. Although the home operates a key worker system, there is an expectation that all staff are conversant with the specific needs of each young person. This ensures that a good standard of support is available to each young person. Religious and cultural needs are assessed prior to a young person's admission so that the home can ensure that they will meet them.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Each young person has a personal education plan that clearly defines the type of programme they should be receiving. Members of staff liaise closely with the young people's educational placements and are kept up to date with any ongoing issues which may affect the young person's education. The value of education is promoted to the young people and good support is given to them to enable and encourage them to attend school.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people can access a range of leisure and recreational activities in both the home and local community. Individuals are supported in pursuing their own particular interests, such as ice skating and fishing. Activities offered include swimming, bowling, cinema, football and drives in the car. Young people are also able to meet friends in the community.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people benefit from good levels of individual support which enables them to attend education and partake in positive activities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Wherever possible, all placements are planned in advance, although the assessment process means that young people can be accommodated at short notice. Young people are admitted into the home once the comprehensive assessment of their care needs has been completed.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Good quality assessments are made on all relevant and available information regarding the physical, social, behavioural and emotional needs of the individual young person. Such assessments are incorporated into plans of care which highlight the individual needs of each young person in line with looked after children placement planning. Care plans clearly guide staff in meeting the individual needs of each young person to a good standard.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Regular reviews of care ensure that care plans match the current needs of each young person in an individualised fashion. The whole staff team contribute to routine meetings where any change to each young person's circumstance, behaviour or emotional well-being are considered fully. Good quality monthly reviews of care ensure that care plans are up to date and relevant. Similar reports are provided for statutory reviews with young people being supported to attend and participate.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are encouraged, when appropriate, to maintain regular contact with their family, friends and significant others. Any restrictions regarding access are made clear to all parties. Young people can maintain contact by phone and staff can accompany them on home visits to support them if needed. The staff are very sensitive to the fact that some young people may find contact with families and loved ones a stressful experience. They offer good levels of support during these times.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

While no young people are preparing to move on at the moment, the home has a process in place to ensure that appropriate levels of support are in place should this happen. The process includes accompanying the young people to their new placements and encouraging carers to visit the young people at the home. Staff are sensitive that transition can be an anxious time for the young people and endeavour to pace this at a speed with which they can cope.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are given opportunities to express their views and to contribute to the day-to-day running of the home. House meetings take place weekly and these enable young people to voice their opinions on how the home is being run. Apart from house meetings, the young people are able to meet with key workers, the manager and visiting directors. Clear details of advocacy services are displayed in the telephone room should young people choose to contact more independent agencies. Young people report that they feel the staff do listen to them and take their points of view seriously. 'They do respect my point of view' was a comment made by one young person.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Interaction between the staff and the young people is relaxed, good humoured and warm. The staff work hard to ensure that the young people feel listened to and that their views and feelings are valued and important.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The approach of the manager and staff ensures that the young people are empowered to have the right to comment on how they are being cared for and how they feel the home is being run.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

While no young people are currently preparing to live independently, procedures are in place to support young people as they approach adulthood. The care planning process ensures that each young person's independence skills are assessed and support given to them to develop key areas, such as budgeting and cooking. The staff team liaise with placing authorities and staff from the young person's next placement to ensure that the young person's skills and needs are known. This liaison also ensures that the transition can be managed at a pace with which the young person can cope. Most of the home is comfortable and well maintained. Young people are able to choose décor in their bedrooms and can personalise them with pictures and posters. Carpets in some of the rooms are marked with scorch marks and stains. The ongoing refurbishment process has not yet addressed these issues.

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Organisation

The home has produced a Statement of Purpose that details the nature of the service. The statement is regularly reviewed to reflect changes. The home has also produced a children's guide that details the nature of the home including its routines, activities, facilities and behavioural expectations. Young people are supplied with a copy on admission.

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Organisation

The staff team is diverse in terms of age, gender and experience. There are appropriate staffing levels, which ensure that members of staff offer good levels of support to the young people.

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Organisation

Members of staff report that they are well supported by colleagues and the manager. All members of staff receive regular supervision and appraisals. Additionally there are regular team meetings to discuss the running of the home and the young people's behaviour and progress.

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Organisation

There are rolling programmes of training in key areas such as child protection, restraint, first aid and National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People. This ensures that members of staff are up to date with the skills and knowledge they need to ensure the well-being of the young people.

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Organisation

The acting manager has been in role for four months and has not yet applied to Ofsted to become the Registered Manager.

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Organisation

There are well established processes to ensure that the operation of the home is appropriately monitored. The home is monitored internally by the manager and externally by visiting managers within the organisation who are responsible for quality assurance. The quality of the reports written as a result of these visits is good. Monitoring by the acting manager, of key records such as accidents, restraints and complaints, is also of a good quality and achieved on a monthly basis.

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Organisation

Individual case files maintained on each young person are well organised and ensure that key issues and progress are recorded in a clear and consistent manner. All confidential files are stored securely.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Each young person's individual needs are known and met to a good standard. It is clear that the differing backgrounds of the young people and staff are valued and acknowledged and seen as an opportunity to learn from each other.

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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

24 continue with the refurbishment programme to ensure that all parts of the home used by the children are kept clean and reasonably decorated and maintained (Regulation 31 (2) (e)) 31/01/2011

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Std. Action Due date

34 ensure that a manager is appointed to manage the home. (Regulation 8 (1)) 31/01/2011

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