Children's Home run by The Drive Care Homes Ltd in Kent

Unique reference number SC063689 Inspection date 01/02/2011 Inspector Caroline Wilson Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 11/10/2010 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

The home is situated in a suburban area. It is a large detached property which has a garden area to the rear. The children have access to local buses, a mainline train station and a company car by arrangement to enable them to use the local leisure facilities. The home is registered to provide care for up to six children aged between 10 and 18 years, who have learning and/or physical disabilities.

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Summary

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

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Summary

This interim unannounced inspection focused on how well young people are kept safe whilst living at this home, as well as whether the actions set at the previous inspection are met. Since there has been a change in the home's management, there have been positive developments. The home is more calm, staff appear happier and are more confident in their abilities.

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Summary

Young people experience good outcomes. They are treated as individuals, and staff encouraged them to take risks in line with good parenting. Risk assessments are in place and staff have a greater understanding of the young people that they care for. Young people are aware of the behaviour that is expected of them, which has lead to a significant decrease in the number of restraints that have been used since the last inspection.

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Summary

Young people's safety is promoted by a range of systems within the home which ensures that young people's welfare is paramount. Staff are knowledgeable and have a good understanding of the policies and procedures that are in place and how these relate to practice. This includes areas such as safeguarding, being alert to the signs of bullying and ensuring that young people know how to make a complaint.

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Improvements since the last inspection

An action was set at the last inspection that the home must ensure that handovers are incorporated into shift patterns so that staff can pass on information about the way that the home has been run, without compromising the overall care of young people. This action has been met.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff promote young people’s dignity and they respect young people's individual needs for privacy, which is consistent with good parenting and the need to protect young people. Young people's rooms are only entered where they give permission or in emergency situations. Information about young people is managed confidentially and held securely in the office.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff give protecting young people from harm a high priority. The manager takes time to ensure that staff have a good understanding of safeguarding policies and how to respond to concerns about young people's safety. They know how to work effectively with safeguarding agencies to protect young people by sharing information and putting safeguarding plans into practice.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people know how to complain and any concerns raised are taken seriously and addressed. Young people are provided with information in communication materials that are suitable to their individual needs on who they can make a complaint to, including external agencies. The home also has regular discussions with significant people in the young people's lives to ensure that the home meets the individual needs of young people placed. There are systems in place for recording positive feedback, in order that the home knows what they are doing well and to make further improvements to the service that it provides.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff ensure that young people are protected from bullying by providing a good level of suitable supervision and good levels of staffing. Risk assessments are in place to ensure that any risks relating to bullying are identified and minimised. Staff work effectively with young people and lead by example in developing positive relationships and helping them understand the impact that their behaviour may have on other people. Staff help young people to develop clear expectations of how they treat, and should be treated by, their friends and families.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are very aware of young people’s vulnerability and the risks they face in the community. The home has detailed individual risk assessments and plans for what staff should do if young people go missing, in accordance with relevant guidelines and procedures.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are very good at encouraging young people to develop socially acceptable behaviour and challenge difficult behaviour constructively. Staff ensure that young people know what standards of behaviour are expected and the possible consequences of any poor behaviour. Staff view young people in a positive light and encourage acceptable behaviour by praising and rewarding them. Staff are trained in the use of restraint and use this in instances where there is likely injury to the young person, others around them and property.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people live in a safe environment. Staff put into practice a comprehensive range of detailed health and safety procedures and risk assessments to protect young people. For example, staff carry out regular health and safety checks, including fire drills, in line with the regulations to ensure the premises are safe and secure.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has suitable systems in place to ensure that visitors to the home are suitably checked and supervised to protect young people.

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