Children's Home run by Tulip Care One Limited t/as TulipCare in Kent

Unique reference number SC361090 Inspection date 23/03/2011 Inspector Jim Palmer Type of inspection Key

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Date of last inspection 26/10/2010 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 children's home provides residential care and support for up to five boys aged between eight and 16 years old on admission. The home adjoins an independent school, registered for seven male pupils aged between eight and 16 years old. The school is included in the resources available to young people placed at the home.

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Brief description of the service

The home is situated in a semi-rural location. It is a detached property with no near neighbours. There is a plot of land to the side of the house and gardens to the front and rear, both of which are available for recreational purposes.

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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 full inspection, carried out as part of the annual inspection programme. Four young people were living in the home, three of whom contributed to the inspection.

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Summary

The staff have a strong commitment to meeting the needs of young people through the use of highly individualised placement plans. Staff remain committed to achieving positive outcomes for young people and attempt to create positive working relationships despite facing some significant challenges. The manager provides clear leadership and direction. Staff are well supported.

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Summary

The service has been judged as good, however a number of areas for improvement have been identified. These include securing appropriate educational programmes for all young people, making sure that the timing of new placements considers the impact on other young people living in the home, making sure that evidence of a healthy balanced diet is held by home, and the home is kept well maintained and decorated.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the manager was asked to ensure that a risk assessment was put in place to ensure that any risk posed to young people arising from accommodating a young adult over 18 in the home could be safely managed. That was undertaken and safely managed, however no young adults are currently living in the home.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people are supported in eating a balanced, healthy diet; most young people say that the meals are of sufficient size, however some say that portions can be small. Individual preferences, cultural and dietary needs are reflected in the menu planning. Meals actually eaten by young people are recorded and monitored in a food diary. This lacks specific detail to accurately record any patterns or trends. Most main meals are eaten in the dining room, and special events are celebrated as a social occasion. Snacks are available throughout the day and may be eaten in front of the television. Dietary advice has been provided for staff, particularly the link between diet and behaviour.

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Helping children to be healthy

All young people are registered with doctors, dentists and opticians. Specialist health services, such as child and adolescent mental health services and speech therapy are available to young people if required. All young people have detailed personal health plans within the placement plan ensuring that any identified health needs are met. Consent for medical treatment and first aid is held ensuring there are no delays in gaining treatment if required. Young people are encouraged to participate in physical activities, such as athletics, gym and boxing in order to promote good health.

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Helping children to be healthy

There are safe systems for the storage and administration of medicines; staff regularly receive training in the administration of medicines. The records are clear and well recorded and monitored by the staff and manager. Stocks held accord with the records and any unused medicines are returned to the pharmacy and a receipt obtained.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's safety is promoted by a range of policies and established safeguarding practices, which are known to and followed by staff. Young people confirm that their privacy and confidentiality is respected by staff at all times. Staff receive training in information holding and sharing. New standards and guidance are currently being issued to staff. Young people are able to access telephones and electronic communications without consulting with staff in the home. Staff are very aware that any restriction placed on young person's access to communications needs to be clearly identified in the young person's care plan and placement plan.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are now given information, through the young person's guide, on how to make a complaint. Young people say they know how to raise a complaint if they need to. The complaint record is detailed and well recorded, however no complaints are recorded since the last inspection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All new staff receive training in child protection awareness and are aware of what to do if they have any child protection concerns. A newly revised safeguarding policy is in place since January 2011 and accords with the local safeguarding children board (LSCB) guidelines. A copy of the LSCB handbook is held in the home and is available to all staff. There are no safeguarding referrals recorded since the last inspection, however one referral made prior to the admission of a young person is on-going. Incidents of bullying have reduced since the previous inspection; however, staff remain aware of the risks particularly when new placements are made and an anti- bullying strategy is in place. Bullying awareness is a regular agenda item for team meetings and staff liaise with local schools to reduce the incidence of bullying.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Any unauthorised absences from the home by young people are well managed. Young people are protected from the risk of unauthorised absence by the development a new policy which follows national guidance on absence and adheres to local protocols developed with the police. All young people are given the opportunity to talk about any reasons they had for leaving the home and speak with anyone they wish about their absence. No young people have required reporting as a missing person; however there are some instances of unauthorised absence. There are good systems for notifying appropriate agencies of any significant events.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are encouraged to develop positive behaviours through the use of a new behaviour management policy that is still in the process of being developed. This relies on clear boundaries and targets that are negotiated between young people and staff, and a therapeutic approach to behaviour management linked to relationships between young people and adults. This also provides a clear framework for the use of rewards and sanctions by staff. There is good evidence of significant success with some young people by using these methods; however, some young people take some time to adjust to this model of behaviour management. Staff are trained in the use of diffusion techniques and physical intervention. The use of any sanction or restraint is well recorded and monitored. The record of the use of restraint provides evidence of young people being given the opportunity to discuss their feelings after the event. There are two restraints and seven sanctions recorded

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The physical safety of young people and staff is promoted by the extensive use of risk assessments for individuals, equipment, activities and fire safety. The home has been awarded an award for its health and safety practice. The regularity of fire drills, now meets the required standard. There are robust systems in place for ensuring that no staff start working until all required checks are satisfactorily completed.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people are provided with individual support and guidance through the regular use of key worker meetings in which any concerns are able to be addressed. The home has good links with external specialist agencies such as the child and adolescent mental health services, the youth offending team and substance misuse services. Case management notes are regularly monitored by managers and liaison with placing authorities is good. Each young person has an individual education plan; however these are not always fully implemented. Some young people attend local schools and staff liaise closely with schools to maintain those placements. Other young people attend the small school, operated by the company in a building adjacent to the home; this provision also takes day students. As a result of differing ages and needs, young people living in the home regularly collect work from school and undertake their school work in

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

the home, supported by residential staff. Some young people say that if they attended an external school, their motivation would increase.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

There is a range of leisure activities within the home and in the local community that young people are supported in enjoying. These include for example: athletics, gym, shopping excursions, socialising with friends, cycling, football and table tennis.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

All young people have placement plans drawn up shortly after admission. These detail each young person's needs and how the staff will work to meet them on a day to day basis. The staff and manager try to seek sufficient information from placing authorities in order to draw up adequate plans. Sometimes this information is slow in being produced however there is evidence that the manager and staff are pro-active in seeking this information as quickly as possible. Young people are invited to visit the home prior to admission and all admissions are generally well planned. However the impact of one placement on other placements in the home is not always fully considered when considering the timing in making placement changes.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The home supports contact between young people and their families in accordance with the placing authority plan for the care of the child. Sometimes this information is not provided at the time the placement is made. Young people are encouraged to attend their placement reviews and to participate in planning for their futures and the day to day running of the home.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people are supported in developing independence skills through an informal programme linked to the Asdan scheme. They are encouraged to take greater responsibility for opening bank accounts, making or changing appointments. For example young people are able to choose whether they wish to have staff accompany them to medical appointments or not. Not all young people have Pathway plans in place; however the staff and manager are very aware of current good practice and the need to support young people in the transition to adulthood.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

All young people receive a regular clothing allowance with which they are able to buy their own clothes. They are able to choose their own toiletries from the house keeping budget.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home is located in a semi-rural location, within easy reach of the local town and amenities. There are good public transport links. The home is able to meet the needs of the young people who live there. There is a small fenced parking area to the front of the house, a screened garden and separate locked garden area suitable for playing football, growing plants and general recreation. A small self contained school is situated close to the home in the garden area. Each young person has their own bedroom which they are able to lock and personalise. There are two living rooms, a dining room, kitchen and bedrooms and bathrooms on three floors and the home is satisfactorily furnished. Despite a regular maintenance and redecoration programme, the home shows signs of regular damage and heavy use.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. The individual needs of young people are recognised and staff are committed to meeting those individual needs. The staff team is culturally diverse and young people are encouraged to share culturally diverse experiences. Staff share their own personal beliefs with young people and will challenge inappropriate behaviours based on race, religion and culture, with a view to widening awareness and tolerance.

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Organisation

The Statement of Purpose accurately reflects the service and is regularly reviewed; a document control system is in use in the home. The young people's guide provides up to date information for young people when they are admitted to the home.

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Organisation

There are sufficient staff to meet the needs of young people. Staff turnover has been high although is now reduced, and staff retention measures are now in place in order to create greater stability and continuity of care for young people. The target for suitably qualified staff is not met as a result of circumstances beyond the company’s control. The manager is currently exploring alternative training that will meet the incoming standard. All staff receive an internal induction programme and complete the Children's Development Workforce Council induction programme. The home is well managed and the manager provides clear leadership for the staff team. The introduction of a regular practice forum for staff, using an external consultant in residential work is a positive development. All staff receive regular supervision and team meetings. Staff receive regular training in key areas such as child protection,

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Organisation

managing challenging behaviours, fire safety and first aid.

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Organisation

The service is regularly monitored by a visiting director and a new format is being used. This provides evidence of very good levels of consultation with young people, their families and social workers. The manager is developing a strategic review of the quality of the service at regular intervals.

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Organisation

Young people's case records are well maintained and structured. They hold most of the key information to enable the staff to meet the needs of young people. Any gaps in background are pursued by the manager and staff team. A staff register is now held in the home.

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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

14 maintain close liaison with each child's placing authority with a view to obtaining appropriate educational arrangements for the child. (Reg 18 (1)) 30/04/2011

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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 the record of menus (as served) provides evidence of a suitable and varied diet (NMS 10.4)  ensure that both the needs of the child concerned and the likely effects of his/her admission upon the existing group of residents are taken into account, and recorded in decisions on admissions to the home (NMS 5.7)  ensure that the interior of the home is kept in a good state of structural and decorative repair throughout. (NMS 24.3).

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