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

Unique reference number SC028536 Inspection date 10/01/2011 Inspector Liz Driver Type of inspection Random

p.1

Date of last inspection 25/08/2010 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

The setting is registered to accommodate two young people, of either sex, between 11 and 17 years of age with emotional or behavioural difficulties. It is owned by a private company. The ground floor has a lounge, dining room and kitchen. The first floor has a sleeping-in room/office, bathroom and a bedroom. The second floor comprises a sleeping-in room, a meeting room and a bedroom. There is a small garden at the rear of the premises.

p.4

Brief description of the service

Two young people currently live at the setting neither of whom were present during the inspection as both are in full-time education.

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 very short notice announced interim inspection assessed the key standards for staying safe and some of the key standards for economic wellbeing. Being healthy, enjoying and achieving, positive contribution and organisation were not looked at during the inspection.

p.4

Summary

This is an outstanding service with an effective manager who promotes high standards. Young people are cared for by staff who are well trained, experienced and sensitive to their needs. Young people's welfare is enhanced by the excellent relationships that exist between staff and young people. Staff are aware of child protection and safeguarding concerns and work very hard to ensure young people are aware of the dangers they might put themselves in, when out in the community. The home is well managed and well maintained with all necessary health and safety checks being carried out. It provides a safe and homely environment for young people who present challenging behaviour.

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

Young people's privacy is respected well by staff. There is a policy in place with regards to searching a young person's room and a record is kept if this occurs. Any confidential information kept about the young people is securely stored in locked cabinets in a secure office. Staff handle confidential information sensitively.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are informed of their right to make a complaint on admission to the home. The staff respect the voice of the child in being able to raise concerns internally and externally to the setting. The young person's handbook gives clear guidance to the young people about who they can complain to and their contact details. Staff receive training in complaints and whistleblowing as part of their induction process. There have been no complaints since the last inspection.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are protected from abuse by a staff team who receive appropriate training in child protection and safeguarding, including how to use the home's and the local authority's protocols to identify and respond to child protection concerns or incidents. Staff are aware of what they need to do in the event that they have concerns about a young person's welfare and are very well informed of the home's whistleblowing policy. Records show no referrals or incidents of whistleblowing since the last inspection.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a zero tolerance policy in place with regards to bullying. Young people are informed of the setting's expectations in relation to bullying on admission and throughout their stay via key-worker sessions and young people's meetings. There are clear guidelines for staff on how to manage potential bullying behaviour and how to support young people and staff. Currently there are no concerns around bullying at the setting.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a clear policy in place for the staff to follow in the event that a young person goes missing. Each young person's care plan clearly records what course of action will be pursued should the young person leave the home without permission or do not return to the home at the agreed time. This strategy is also explained to the young people so that they are clear as to what the consequences are if they are missing. The home works very closely with other agencies, including the police, to ensure they have an in-depth understanding of each young person's difficulties and vulnerabilities. Much work is carried out by staff to make young people aware of safety issues if they go missing.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Each young person has a behaviour management plan in place which outlines what support they need to achieve positive behaviour. Triggers for distressed or challenging behaviour are recorded in each young person's behaviour management plan. Staff are well informed of individual behaviours and how best to address them. Behaviour management plans include comprehensive, imaginative and complex behavioural management strategies. All members of staff receive training in the method of restraint adopted by the organisation. There have been no physical interventions carried out since the last inspection. Sanctions are fair and appropriate, recorded and endorsed by the manager as part of the monitoring process and very low in number.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has up-to-date checks carried out on electric, gas and fire safety systems. Additionally, there are regular fire drills that staff and young people participate in.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Although no staff recruitment records were viewed at this inspection the organisation continues to operate a robust recruitment process which ensures that all members of staff have the correct checks made on them before commencing work. The recent introduction of the new Equalities Act, has been addressed by the organisation in relation to its recruitment processes. All visitors are vetted, supervised if appropriate and asked to sign the visitor's book.

p.6

Achieving economic wellbeing

The home provides a good standard of accommodation throughout. There is clear evidence that the home is well maintained and presents as a bright and homely environment. Suitable toilet and bathing facilities are provided. The young people choose the décor in their bedrooms and are able to personalise them with posters and pictures. There is separate sleeping-in accommodation for the staff. The garden is small and in good order with plans to improve it further. The home has enough space for the young people to meet visitors in private.

p.6