Children's Home run by Anderida Adolescent Care Ltd in East Sussex

Unique reference number SC028526 Inspection date 08/02/2011 Inspector Liz Driver Type of inspection Random

p.1

Date of last inspection 03/08/2010 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 setting is registered to accommodate two young people aged between 11 and 17 years of age with emotional or behavioural difficulties.

p.4

Brief description of the service

This service is housed in two terraced houses that have been joined together. The ground floor has two separate front doors allowing young people who live in the home to have their own entrance. Both of the terraced houses have three bedrooms situated on the first floors, a lounge, kitchen, bathroom and dining area. There is a large shared garden at the back of the houses.

p.4

Brief description of the service

One young person currently lives at the setting and was present for short period during this inspection. The young person spoke with the inspector.

p.4

Summary

The overall quality rating is outstanding.

p.4

Summary

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

p.4

Summary

This interim inspection looked at staying safe only. Being healthy, enjoying and achieving, positive contribution, economic wellbeing and organisation were not looked at. There were no actions or recommendations made at the last inspection to revisit.

p.4

Summary

The setting continues to develop its practices and procedures in light of new legislation and as a result of close monitoring by managers. Young people are protected by robust polices, procedures and staff practices. Child protection and safeguarding training is of a high standard. Staff work hard to help young people keep themselves safe when out in the community. Behaviour management strategies and close communication with other agencies has resulted in a significant decrease in the incidents of missing young people and also in the number of sanctions and physical interventions applied. Health and safety measures are robustly checked with recommendations made as a result of a recent visit from the local fire and rescue service addressed appropriately.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

No actions or recommendations were made at the last inspection.

p.4

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has suitable policies and procedures in place relating to confidentiality. All confidential information is kept securely in the office. There are no incidents of staff discussing confidential information inappropriately. There are clear procedures for searching young people's rooms. Young people are offered privacy and are able to lock their own bedrooms.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people, staff or others are able to access a robust complaints procedure. In addition to the complaints process there are other avenues for the young people to access, to voice their opinions about the way they are treated and how they think the home is run. Any complaint made is acknowledged and a record kept on how it is resolved. All complaints have been dealt with quickly and in accordance with the company's policy. Staff receive training in handling complaints and whistle blowing during their induction process. Young people are encouraged to participate in restorative justice processes.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has very clear procedures for responding to child protection and safeguarding issues. Staff have attended training in child protection and safeguarding and are aware of what they need to do in the event that they have concerns about a young person's welfare. Staff feedback is that the training they receive is of a high standard. The staff work very hard to ensure that any child protection issues are resolved and maintain excellent levels of contact with other professionals to ensure that the young people are kept up-to-date with any developments. There are clear and detailed strategies for staff to follow relating to individual young people's areas of risk. Staff provide young people with advice, guidance and support to keep themselves safe outside the home.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a clear policy in place with regards to bullying. Young people are made aware of this when they come to the home and any incidents between young people are discussed with them and at key worker sessions. Staff work with young people to raise awareness of anti-bullying. Currently there are no concerns around bullying behaviour at the home.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a very clear policy in place with regards to young people who go missing. Individualised protocols ensure that the correct agencies are informed. The setting works very closely with the local police around management of missing young people which has resulted in a huge reduction in incidents. The home's monitoring and response to individual young people is excellent. Overall there have been very low levels of young people going missing since the last inspection with evidence of significantly improved outcomes for young people.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people have extremely comprehensive behaviour management plans in place that covers what support they need and what may trigger distressed and challenging behaviour. They also identify support needed to achieve positive outcomes in changing negative behaviours. Sanctions given are permissible and in accordance with company policy. They are low in number, clearly recorded and appropriate. The manager endorses the record to verify its accuracy and to ensure that the sanctions imposed are appropriate. Staff receive training in the method of restraint used by the organisation which operates the home. The number of physical interventions is extremely low with clear recording of de-escalation techniques used prior to a physical intervention taking place. Staff work hard to build positive relationships and provide a warm and caring environment where young people feel at ease to express themselves with the knowledge that staff are supportive. Staff work extremely hard

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

to gain each young person's trust with excellent outcomes. Young people's behaviour can at times have a negative impact on the neighbours; the manager and staff team work hard to ensure they maintain close contact and that neighbours feel confident in reporting any concerns directly to the home so they may be addressed immediately with good outcomes.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has updated risk assessments for all aspects of safety of the premises including fire and activities. There are regular fire drills carried out in the home that staff and young people participate in. Any deficiencies identified during a fire evacuation are noted and acted on. Internal health and safety checks are carried out on a weekly, monthly or three monthly basis. The local fire and rescue service carried out a visit in October 2010 and made recommendations which have all been addressed.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The organisation, which owns the home, has a robust recruitment process that ensures all members of staff have the necessary checks carried out on them prior to commencing employment. This includes a Criminal Records Bureau check. The service has taken on board the newly implemented equalities act in relation to recruitment and has made adjustments to its recruitment procedures accordingly.

p.6