Children's Home run by Friends Therapeutic Community Trust in Cambridgeshire

Unique reference number SC025733 Inspection date 17/03/2011 Inspector Kristen Judd Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 10/11/2010 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 provides a therapeutic programme, designed to assess and offer treatment for young men who engage in a structured programme that is clearly detailed within the Statement of Purpose.

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Brief description of the service

The ground floor has a large dining room linked to a communal area with a pool table and juke box. There is a separate longue with a television, a kitchen and laundry facilities. There are two staff offices on the ground floor, storage areas and toilet facilities. The first floor houses single occupancy bedrooms some with bedsit facilities, bathrooms, a gaming room and a finance office.

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Brief description of the service

The grounds and extra facilities include; a large theatre, vocational workshop, maintenance workshop, vehicle workshop and indoor games room. There is also a car track used for learning to drive and go- karting. The garden is large and houses a purpose built education area with an adjoining art room and practical workshop. Additionally the grounds have an all-weather surfaced area for sports activities and a grassed area for football. There are vegetable allotments, green houses and poly tunnels for horticultural activities.

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Brief description of the service

Twelve young people currently live in this home. Several spoke with the inspector during the inspection.

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Summary

The overall quality rating is outstanding.

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Summary

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

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Summary

This was an unannounced interim inspection to assess the home's compliance with the key national minimum standards in the Every Child Matters outcome area of staying safe, and in addition to review the progress on the recommendations made at the previous inspection.

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Summary

The findings from this interim inspection are underpinned by the evidence from the full inspection undertaken in November 2010. The judgements under outcome areas being healthy, enjoying and achieving, positive contribution, economic well-being and organisation were previously rated as outstanding. As a result of this inspection the individual judgement for staying safe is outstanding and the overall judgement remains outstanding.

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Summary

Young people live within a community that has an ethos based on trust and respect. The therapeutic approach continues to result in excellent behaviour and attitudes. This is a well organised service with successful areas that result in excellent outcomes for young people. One recommendation has been made in relation to formally recording all strategies in place to manage individual behaviour. This shortfall does not impact on the care that young people receive.

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Improvements since the last inspection

During the inspection conducted on 10 November 2010 a recommendation was made to address the minor shortfalls in records for staff as highlighted by the internal audit. Recruitment files are extremely well organised and contain all the relevant documentation. A further recommendation was made in relation to guidance for staff and young people who smoke. The guidance has been appropriately updated. There are separate designated smoking areas that are known to staff and young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's privacy is respected and information about them is confidentially handled. Young people have single bedrooms and have times for personal space whilst also successfully managing risk in relation to behaviour. The ethos of the home focuses on respecting each individual’s rights. Young people's personal records are securely stored and staff have a good awareness of their responsibilities in this area. The home has a clear complaints procedure and information about this is available to young people. Staff encourage and support the young people to voice any concerns or issues that they have during the regular community meetings that are held three times a day. Issues are talked about openly and outcomes are resolved through discussion and negotiation within the group. There have been no formal complaints made about the service.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Bullying is proactively and effectively addressed within the community. Records demonstrate that any incidents of bullying are reflected back to the young people and taken to the community meeting for discussion. The whereabouts of all young people are well known to staff and young people are responsible for planning their days and communicating this in community meetings. There is a clear process in place if young people do go missing which involves calling statutory agencies immediately. There have been no episodes of missing from home for some time. The home has a clear procedure for reporting and responding to child protection concerns. Staff receive training in child protection that is regularly updated and are clear about their role in safeguarding the young people in the home. The work undertaken by management to keep young people safe is excellent. There are detailed records used for identifying and responding to safeguarding matters. Young

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

people's safety and protection are clearly a key priority for staff. Behaviour management techniques are outstanding. Young people are provided with excellent support and actively engage in the community's therapeutic programme. They have individual treatment plans that include their emotional and behavioural needs in line with the programme. The community meetings encourage young people to be accountable for their own behaviour. They are provided with the opportunity for their views to be openly discussed and any issues to be resolved. Young people are expected to look at their behaviours and the effect and impact on themselves and others. Staff put in clear strategies to deal with specific behaviours that are not part of the therapeutic programme, however, this is not formally recorded. Known risks are comprehensively assessed to ensure young people enjoy an extremely active life whilst receiving intensive support to reduce risks associated

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

with their behaviour. Consequences for negative behaviour include being grounded or increased supervision where risks have been identified following negative or potentially harmful behaviour. All incidents and physical restraints are recorded as required, although restraints are seldom used. Young people are observed enjoying excellent relationships with staff. They are supported to engage and interact effectively with others in the home and the wider community, building their self- esteem and confidence. There is a positive atmosphere in the home which feels calm and relaxed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Positive steps are taken to ensure that the young people and staff are safe from the risk of fire and other hazards. For example, checks are undertaken on fire equipment and health and safety certificates are valid. Fire drills are regularly undertaken in particular when there new staff members or young people which ensures they are familiar with the evacuation procedures. Records pertaining to health and safety continue to be well maintained. There is careful selection and vetting of staff prior to them working in the home. These practices reduce potential risks to the welfare of young people living at the home. Recruitment files are very well maintained.

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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 any specific interventions for behaviour that falls outside the therapeutic programme are recorded. (NMS 22.1)

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