Children's Home run by Broadlands Hall Limited in Suffolk

Unique reference number SC060936 Inspection date 06/06/2011 Inspector Pat Stanton Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 14/01/2011 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 children's home provides care, accommodation and education for 11 young people with learning, emotional and behavioural difficulties, aged between 11 and 18 years.

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Brief description of the service

The home is a large detached property with extensive grounds. It is situated in a rural village within reach of a nearby town and local amenities. Each young person has their own bedroom or bedsit with en-suite bathroom facilities. A number of communal areas provide a variety of recreational activities. Separate facilities are provided for staff, together with office space.

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Brief description of the service

The ground floor comprises of two separate lounges, a large dining room, two kitchens and games room. The first floor comprises of bedrooms, bathrooms, staff office and overnight sleep room. The second floor comprises of bedsitting rooms, with separate kitchen facilities.

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Brief description of the service

There is a large education building in the grounds of the home inspected by Ofsted which is equipped with a snooker room, computer access and fitness equipment for young people.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

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Overall effectiveness

The service has improved outcomes for young people since the last inspection. These include equipping young people with new bedding and furniture suitable to meet their needs, redecoration of the home, removing unnecessary environmental risk to young people and improving records of care and restraint.

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Overall effectiveness

The registered manager has increased levels of supervision to staff and is given more autonomy, to exercise effective leadership of the home's staff and operation. This has improved outcomes for young people.

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Overall effectiveness

The home provides caring and consistent planned care, which means that the outcomes for young people are very good. Staff recognise and celebrate progress and achievement and young people say they are happy in their placement, and feel that staff support them. Young people benefit from good relationships with staff and feel staff care about their welfare. Sound safeguarding practices promotes the safety of young people who say they feel safe.

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Overall effectiveness

Areas for development include to ensure young people have adequate facilities and seating for a range of activities in the garden that promote development, and fire records to include names of all persons involved in evacuations. The service also needs to ensure all staff are trained to keep young people safe, ensure that risks to young people are minimised, offensive smells are dealt with in the home and stained toilets and that worn or damaged curtains in the home are replaced. There also needs to be more choice at meal times for young people who do not wish to eat the main meal. Young people need to be given the opportunity to discuss incidents they have been involved in, after the event with staff to help them understand how future incidents can be avoided and allowing young people the opportunity to be examined by a registered nurse or medical practitioner following a restraint.

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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

(2001) ensure all parts of the home to which young people have access to are free from hazards to their health and safety. This refers to exposed electrical light switches and plugs (Regulation 23 (a)) 30/06/2011

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure all staff working in the home and as far as practicable, young people accommodated there, are all aware of the procedure to be followed in the even of a fire. This refers to recording names of all persons involved in evacuations to check all staff are included in fire drills. (Regulation 32 (e)) 30/06/2011

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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 young people exercise more choice in the food they eat; this relates to food offered as an alternative option at dinner time (NMS 2.4)  ensure young people are given the opportunity to discuss incidents they have been involved in, witnessed or been affected by, with staff to help them understand how incidents can be avoided in future and all young people are given the opportunity to be examined by a registered nurse or medical practitioner (NMS 3.16, 3.17)  ensure young people live in a well designed, safe and pleasant home, for example, with adequate facilities and seating for a range of activities in the garden that will promote their development (NMS 10.2)  ensure the home promotes young people's health, safety and well-being and avoids factors such as offensive smells in the bathroom, torn curtains in the lounge and stained toilets. (NMS 10.2)

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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

Young people develop their own identities and staff support them to access their personal interests in the community. Young people enjoy a balanced diet and active lifestyles, which keeps them healthy. Young people access suitable medical and mental health services, which include confidential appointments with their own doctor and other health care providers. This means they receive personalised and age-appropriate healthcare. Young people enjoy keeping fit with staff and are encouraged to use the home’s grounds for walks and bike rides.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from a school on site inspected by Ofsted, and staff support young people who travel to college to continue their education. Young people make good progress in education and their positive achievements are recognised. Young people are encouraged to be involved in further educational opportunities. Records and young people confirm they successfully pass exams, which help them progress into their chosen college or profession. This demonstrates the home's commitment to continuing education and preparation for employment for the young people in adulthood.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are well informed and consulted over their own placement plans and included in decisions about changes that may affect their future. Young people attend meetings with their parents and contribute to planned care and future education. This promotes a collaborative culture within the home, which gives young people a good degree of control over their life. Young people make good use of opportunities to practise and develop life skills, at their own personal pace. For example, individuals are supported to manage their own money and complete domestic chores, which help them prepare for adulthood.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make good use of accompanied access to community. Staff take young people to visit family and access activities including annual holidays and various days out. Young people benefit from consistent and well facilitated contact with friends and significant others in their lives. Planned meetings are enjoyed by individuals and telephone calls are received in private. Individual plans contain information regarding contact and details of family who may visit the home. Risk assessments help identify any contacts which need supervision. This helps keep young people safe.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is good . Young people enjoy good relationships with staff based on honesty and mutual respect and benefit from individualised support in line with their needs and wishes. Young people say the staff are ‘alright’. Staff encourage young people to develop skills linked to their ability which are highlighted in care plans. Young people complete tasks they are interested in to achieve their goals and aspirations. Examples include young people participating in community football, roller skating and eating out. Young people are able to pursue their particular interests, develop confidence in their skills and are supported by staff to engage in leisure activities independently. Young people say they enjoy going out with staff and playing games in the home’s garden. Young people confirm they attend community football, art classes and have climbed Snowden. Staff are able to communicate very well with

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Quality of care

young people. Consequently young people enjoy positive and trusting relationships with staff. Young people have access to transport provided by staff, which enables young people to access activities in the community and visit family.

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Quality of care

Young people in the home are appropriately placed there. Young people's needs are assessed and care plans outline how these needs are met. Care plans are good and contain all relevant information regarding young people's care. These include key working sessions, young people’s behaviour, psychological health, contact, relationships, hygiene, exercise and independent living skills. These plans are updated regularly and identify all information regarding young people’s needs. Monthly reports monitor young people’s progress and include information about care, diet and support.

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Quality of care

Young people’s needs and development are reviewed regularly in the light of their care and progress at the home. Staff and young people contribute effectively to a young person's review. This ensures that any decisions are implemented into the daily care plan. The report provides up-to-date information and records confirm young people’s individual needs and wishes are sought and taken into account. Young people are encouraged and supported to make decisions about their lives in line with their individual needs. Staff support young people to enable them to respond successfully, making their needs known. As a result young people are helped to make decisions about their lives and influence the way in which the home is run.

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Quality of care

There are procedures in place to be followed which indicate that any complaint is addressed without delay and procedures observed at inspection evidenced young people know how to make a complaint and feel confident appropriate action will be taken. There is one complaint recorded against this service since the last inspection.

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Quality of care

Young people in placement are well presented and have appropriate clothing and belongings to meet their needs. They receive pocket money and appropriate allowance to help purchase clothing and food while accommodated. Young people's clothing and personal requisites are fully met.

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Quality of care

Young people live in a large bright, home which provides sufficient space to meet their needs. Most parts of the home are decorated to a good standard and young people now have good quality furniture in their bedrooms and ample storage for personal clothes and belongings. Overall the home is spacious, clean and more homely, however some toilets are not particularly clean and some curtains are worn or damaged. New pictures, plants and wall hangings are installed to improve the interior. There a very large garden for young people to enjoy although, this has limited recreational facilities and insufficient seating for the number of young people accommodated.

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Quality of care

Young people enjoy healthy, nutritious meals that meet their dietary needs. They help prepare meals with the support of staff in preparation for independent living. Young people say they enjoy baking cakes. Young people’s dietary cultural needs are met, for example, the home provides alternative meals for one young person who has limited likes and dislikes. However, only one choice of food available if young people prefer not to eat the main meal. Young people are allowed in the dining area to help themselves to drinks, fresh fruit and snacks during the day. The home employs a cook who has limited knowledge of young people’s likes and dislikes.

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Quality of care

Young people live in a healthy environment where their health needs are identified and services provided to meet them. Files contain health information and details of the child's General Practitioner, dentist and optician. Staff support and encourage young people to access external health professional in line with their individual needs. Examples include staff taking young people to hospital and counselling services. Records of appointments with health professionals are clearly maintained ensuring the physical, emotional and mental health needs of young people are met. Staff encourage young people to engage in a healthy life style to help prepare them for a healthy adult life.

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Quality of care

Young people’s health is safeguarded by the home’s policies and procedures for administering medicines and providing treatment. Medication is securely stored within the home and designated staff are trained to administer medication safely. Regular audits are now completed to help keep young people safe. Clear records are maintained for the administration of medication and staff are vigilant in checking medication dispensed, ensuring accurate and up-to-date records are maintained. Files contain drug information but no signatures of staff qualified to dispense medication or photograph of the young person to help identify them. The home has an approved list of homely remedies for young people in the home.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is satisfactory at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe. Young people confirm that they feel safe and protected within the home. They can openly talk to their carers over their worries and concerns, and feel that the staff listen well and care about their welfare. The staff group is proficient at recognising and managing risk taking behaviour and risk assessments are in place to help keep young people safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are protected from bullying. Staff are vigilant with regard to relationships within the home and good supervision levels mean that there are limited opportunities for bullying or inappropriate relationships to develop. Files confirm young people discuss inappropriate relationships with staff and any issues are recognised and addressed.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people's records are stored appropriately in a locked office to protect their confidentiality and staff understand the importance of confidentiality. Young people's privacy is respected when washing. Young people say they get enough privacy and use their bedrooms to have time away when required.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are assisted to develop socially acceptable behaviour through encouragement. There is guidance in place for staff to adhere to when working with individual young people. Staff have a good training in restraint to help them meet all needs of young people. The number of restraints and sanctions have been dramatically reduced since the last inspection indicating a more settled environment for young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people live in a home that provides physical safety and security. There are now no major hazards to compromise welfare, although some electrical plug and switch covers are not securely fitted in parts of the home. Fire safety checks are carried out at the required intervals and evacuation records evidence response times but do not include names of people involved in fire evacuation. All maintenance work and testing happens on a regular basis.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff are clear about their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding young people's welfare and staff are encouraged to keep their knowledge up to date by attending appropriate training. Staff attend team meetings but minutes do not evidence staff input and follow-up action. Staff are clear about the action to take following any child protection incidents. This ensures that young people are protected from abuse. Child protection incidents at the home are dealt with appropriately and all professionals notified within appropriate timescales.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people's health and safety is protected by careful vetting of visitors to the home to prevent young people being exposed to potential abusers. No member of staff is allowed to work in the home until full checks are completed and records confirm all visitors’ sign in and out of the building. Young people are also protected through systems that are in place that prevent absence without authority. This ensures their safety. There are systems in place to notify the appropriate authorities of any significant events. The home is to seek information with local police and local authority regarding the new procedures for children that are missing from home. This helps keep young people and the community safe.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are good .

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Leadership and management

The home is managed and organised well by a registered manager who is very respected by the home's staff and has worked hard to improve outcomes for young people in the home. This helps to keep young people safe and secure. Staff have access to regular training programmes and a copy of the latest Ofsted inspection report, national minimum standards and regulations for children's homes, to help them meet the needs of young people accommodated.

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Leadership and management

Young people are guided through and now know what services they can expect from the home, how they will be cared for and who they are likely to share with. A clear statement of how the home operates is updated and available for parents and others needing this information. The home's Statement of Purpose covers matters as outlined in Schedule 1 of The Children's Homes Regulations and is currently being updated in line with the new national minimum standards.

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Leadership and management

Young people receive care and support from competent staff. They receive mandatory training which includes child protection, health and safety and first aid. Not all staff in the home have completed National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People. However, most staff are either qualified or completing the course.

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Leadership and management

Staff are sufficient in number to meet the needs of the young people. Young people receive individual support reflected in the good staffing levels. As a result young people benefit from good support to meet their individual needs.

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Leadership and management

Regulation 33 visits are completed regularly to help evaluate the service and records evidence how staff are to improve outcomes for young people. Recommendations for improvement are acted on by the home.

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Leadership and management

Young people enjoy the stability of an efficiently run home with a stable staff team and experienced registered manager.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is good .

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