Children's Home run by Oracle Care Limited in Central Bedfordshire

Unique reference number SC421531 Inspection date 03/05/2011 Inspector Natalie Burton Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 15/11/2010 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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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 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the Inspections of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011) and the evaluation schedule for children's homes.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service that exceeds minimum requirements Satisfactory : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

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Brief description of the service

The home provides accommodation and care for up to three young people of either gender, aged 10 to 17 years old, who have experienced emotional and behavioural difficulties. A private company owns and operates this setting.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

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Overall effectiveness

Young people make good progress in relation to their starting points and thrive in a supportive, nurturing environment with consistent boundaries. Young people receive support from a stable experienced staff team. The manager understands the strengths and areas for further development of the home. There is a good emphasis on young people developing educationally, with positive links with the schools young people attend. Staff are motivated and demonstrate a continued interest in the welfare of individuals, which helps young people to feel comfortable while in their care. Young people enjoy being at the home and take an active role in their own care planning. A safe environment is provided for young people with good health and safety control measures. Behaviour management strategies have clarity and effective management monitoring to ensure that they are appropriate to the needs of the young people. Leadership and management of the home promote a culture of high

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Overall effectiveness

aspirations that positively impact on the young people. Monitoring of the service is of a good standard and contributes towards improving practice, staff present as motivated and competent. Young people say they feel safe living at this home. There is one statutory requirement and one recommendation made as a result of this inspection. Not all young people have a placement plan. Those that were in place were of a good quality. The homes procedure for young people missing from care is compatible with regard to the local authority, however, the home's protocols and procedures do not have liaison to the local police protocol.

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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 person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

12A (2001) ensure that all young people have a placement plan, and the registered person co-operates with the child's placing authority 10/06/2011 in agreeing and signing the plan for the child's placement prepared in accordance with the provisions in regulation 9 of the Care Planning Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010. (Regulation 12A.(1))

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure the homes procedures for children missing from care are compatible with and have regard to the Runaway and Missing from Home and Care protocol and procedures maintained and managed by the police. (NMS5.6)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are good .

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Outcomes for children and young people

The home provides young people with positive opportunities to develop and reach their potential. Young people have identified key workers and have access to the manager on a daily basis. Young people benefit from one-to-one support which helps them to grow in confidence. The key worker system enables young people to focus on their goals, and regular key worker meetings occur both planned and spontaneously for young people to discuss their feelings. Staff are aware of young people’s strengths and help to nurture their talents and interests. Young people benefit from a staff group who have a well developed understanding and sensitive approach to their individual needs. Care is provided with a high regard for each young person’s potential, promotes their identity and carefully considers their specific needs. Young people receive support to take pride in themselves and develop a positive identity.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are supported to maintain the educational placement agreed with placing authorities as appropriate to their needs. Some young people may attend the school operated locally by the owner organisation. There are strong links between the home and schools, and young people enjoy consistent support throughout the school and extended day, as care staff are deployed to work alongside young people throughout these times. The home works well to capture progress and achievement, which promotes young people’s motivation to achieve further their educational potential.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff support young people to maintain positive and healthy relationships with family members, friends and other people important to them if appropriate to do so. Contact with friends and other associates are controlled when it is necessary to maintain safety levels. Young people fully contribute to the decisions about this, and are helped to understand why it may not be possible to act upon their wishers in all cases. The home is suitable for young people to meet with their family privately.

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Outcomes for children and young people

There is a good approach to promoting the physical and emotional well-being of young people. The organisation has their own therapists, who young people are able to access. Young people are registered at the doctors, dentist and opticians. An assessment of need informs individual health care planning. Young people live in a healthy environment, and are able to access the services to meet their health needs.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people learn and receive consistent support to develop their independent living skills at their own pace. This might include assisting in meal preparation, household chores or budgeting skills for example. Additionally young people complete a life skills pack, and a reward system which has independence skills incorporated within it. This helps prepare them for a successful transition to independence and adult life.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is good . Young people benefit from the consistent relationships that are in place between them and their key workers. Staff demonstrate motivation and continued interest in the welfare of individuals. Staff treat young people respectfully and a reciprocal respect is promoted between the group. There is an awareness of the dynamics of relationships and the need to maintain professional boundaries. Young people state that ‘they get on well with mostly all the staff’ and they have not had to make a complaint. Young people are making good progress and are generally happy.

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Quality of care

Young people feel extremely positive about their home and staff. This starts with their admissions, which can involve young people visiting the home first, and staying overnight, before being admitted. Young people benefit from a competent and able staff team who are able to meet their needs and support them throughout their placement. Relationships between staff and young people are friendly, positive and good natured.

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Quality of care

Therapeutic support provides young people with opportunities to talk about their feelings in a safe and secure way. Such support is an integral part of each placement, and is in line with their placement plans. The homes arrangements for the storage and administration of medication are safe and effective, which means that young people receive their medication in line with their prescription. Staff promote a healthy lifestyle. Young people are learning to understand the nutritional value of eating a good diet.

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Quality of care

Young people are fully consulted and are told about their progress and invited to their review meetings. Placement plans reflect current assessment of need which young people comment on. Plans include the culture, race, religion and gender of young people. This means that the individuality of young people is fully acknowledged. Review of arrangements for placements take place within timescales and include the wishes and feelings of young people. Young people thrive within a nurturing and supportive environment. Consistent monitoring enables staff to evaluate young people’s progress on a monthly basis. This process positively contributes to statutory reviews. There is a suitable level of detail within most young people’s placement plans, and the information is known and implemented by staff. However, not all young people have a placement plan.

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Quality of care

In general activities and outings are consistently available, with consideration given to young people's individual risk assessments. Staff plan with young people in advance the activities possible when coming home from school each day. A stimulating environment is created in which young people make constructive use of their leisure time. Staff understand and plan well for each young person’s need.

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Quality of care

Consultation between young people and staff is good. Young people are able to express their personal views about plans for them. For example, young people choose and plan what meals they would like to eat, activities they want to do and education courses they are interested in. Weekly house meetings address the views and aspirations of the young people. This also includes discussion on any concerns regarding bullying and complaints. Young people’s files provide a good record of staff intervention. Staff empower young people through their open and transparent ways of working. Young people regularly have the opportunity to comment on the information written about them. There is a culture of promoting young people’s rights.

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Quality of care

The accommodation provides a pleasant, warm and comfortable home that young people enjoy living in. Furnishings and décor are to a good standard and there is a pleasant atmosphere in the home. Staff ensure they apply a good level of privacy, and personal information is stored securely.

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Quality of care

Young people live in a quiet residential area. The property blends into the neighbourhood and resembles a family home. Young people have their own bedroom, some with en-suite bathrooms, which they are able to personalise to their own taste. Their bedrooms reflect their interests and contain meaningful photographs, posters and other mementoes. Young people are also able to keep their own pets.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is good at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe. There are good arrangements to safeguard young people, and their general welfare is promoted by the care arrangements provided by the home. Management appropriately respond to suspicions of harm through strategy meetings, professional meetings and implementation of a behaviour strategy agreement. Young people acknowledge that they feel safe living at this home. Staff receive safeguarding training and are aware of reporting procedures in the event of a child protection incident or disclosure. Placement plans include an assessment of risk of actual or potential areas of concerns. Such plans are regularly reviewed by the Registered Manager to ensure they are up to date.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There has been a reduction in the number of recorded incidences of young people going missing from the home. The home's and local authority policy is implemented when young people go missing. However, the home's procedure does not have regard to a local police protocol to support effective action being taken when young people go missing. Individual risk assessments reflect the level of concern that staff follow. Procedures include ensuring young people are provided with an opportunity to talk about the reasons why they left the home when they return. This is completed by a professional, independent of the home.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home has clear individual crisis management plans for young people to guide staff around their responses to different situations that a young person may present. For example, staff play down negative behaviour and create and maintain a relaxed environment. This aids staff to support positive behaviour, de-escalate conflict and supports staff to manage their responses and feelings. Additionally staff are trained in de-escalation techniques and the level of restraints within the home is not high.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young peoples files are well organised. There is close attention to their individual plans, for example, regarding remaining safe and family contact. Care plans clearly evidence what are the arrangements for contact and how the young person is to be supported. Individual needs arising from personal issues or the need for protection are addressed thoroughly. This means that young people are made aware of the concerns of the responsible adults and learn suitable strategies to keep themselves safe. Young people feel that staff are good at safeguarding.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home maintains good checks on prospective staff. There are safe recruitment practices within this organisation and new staff are suitably vetted and rigorous checks completed to safeguard young people, before they start working at the home. This means that young people are cared for by suitably cleared staff. The ongoing suitability of staff is well monitored and the home is fully aware of their responsibilities with the Independent Safeguarding Authority. The home is looking to involve young people in an active role in future recruitment.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The homes health and safety control measures provide a safe environment for young people, staff and visitors. Health and safety maintenance and checks on appliances are all up to date. Staff appropriately monitor any visitors to the home and maintain a visitors book. The home has a robust risk management system. Risk assessments are available which address the general building and fire safety. Young people’s individual guidelines highlight behavioural management issues. Risk assessments are available which compliment this documentation. Staff address the particular vulnerabilities relating to each young person. Staff acknowledge the need to regularly review risk assessments and endeavour to minimise risks and provide a safe environment.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff actively discourage bullying and are clear about the potential harmful impact such behaviour has on young people. Information is available to young people. Young people are protected from bullying and have the support of staff of there are any concerns.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff actively encourage and promote positive behaviour. Young people learn to take responsibility for their actions, and the reward system succeeds in helping young people develop and maintain socially acceptable behaviour. Sanctions are fair and generally restorative, and there is good evidence of positive behaviour being promoted within the home.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are good . The provider meets the aims and objectives in their Statement of Purpose. Staff are successful in providing a stable and structured environment for young people. Care practices help young people to develop self discipline and contribute towards their personal growth. Young people benefit from high staffing rations enabling then to have the necessary individual attention.

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Leadership and management

There is one member of staff per young person, which means that personal attention is always available. Individual needs are addressed thoroughly and with extensive liaison with external agencies. Equality and diversity training is provided for staff. Staff understand young people’s individual strengths and needs. There are consistent working practices which focus on enhancing young people’s quality of life. Young people receive encouragement to fulfil their potential.

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Leadership and management

The staff provide a good level of care, ensuring they themselves have the necessary training and support to work effectively. The organisation demonstrates a commitment for staff to undertake training on a variety of topics which address the diverse needs of young people. Training programmes include all mandatory training with new staff completing an induction, supported by a mentor during their probationary period. Young people live in a home which is well managed and resourced to meet their needs. Staff are positive about the management arrangements and feel they are given scope to care for and nurture young people. Formal regular supervision provides opportunities to discuss professional development and plan actions to meet the needs of the young people.

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Leadership and management

Young people benefit from effective management. There are various systems to monitor the quality of care. This includes monthly visits by a designated person, in accordance with the regulations. These reports focus on the homes strengths and highlights areas of improvement. The Registered Manager understands the strengths and weaknesses of the home, and completes internal monitoring checks monthly. Young people and stakeholders provide positive feedback about the care young people receiveThis means that the leadership team is using some available data to assess the quality of care and capturing the personal experiences of young people.

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Leadership and management

The core staff are experienced and appropriately trained to support both services and individual needs. Rotas demonstrate high staffing levels are in place during the day and night to meet the needs of the young people. Young people benefit from the services of permanent staff within the organisation, to whom they are well known and this provides a consistency of care. Staff benefit from regular appraisal, which identifies, reviews and addresses their strengths and training needs. Regular training in safeguarding and physical intervention, ensures staff are suitably trained in areas that match the needs of young people. The care of individuals is informed by these update sessions.

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Leadership and management

Young people records are organised well. These records include most of the historical documents and their current documents, which help their carers to provide a suitable level of care.

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Leadership and management

Information relating to significant events affecting young people’s safety is notified to relevant agencies, this includes Ofsted and the safeguarding teams from the local and home authority. This ensures concerns about young people’s safety are shared by the home to help protect individuals from abuse.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is good .

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