Children's Home run by The Caldecott Foundation Limited in Kent

Unique reference number SC037309 Inspection date 23/05/2011 Inspector Helen Lee Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 25/01/2011 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 home is a purpose-built house registered as a children's home to provide care and accommodation for seven children aged between eight and 17 years. The home is located within rural grounds. The children either attend the home's school, within the grounds, or a local mainstream school. A garden surrounds the home providing recreational space for the children.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

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Overall effectiveness

This is a good service in most respects with some outstanding features. Young people’s welfare is enhanced by the good relationships that exist between staff and young people. The home provides consistent and well planned care, which means that young people's outcomes are good. Individual care plans are consistently well implemented by informed and caring staff. This means that a good quality of care is received by young people, that recognises their strengths and addresses their needs. Young people are encouraged to eat healthily and take regular exercise.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people have positive views about the quality of their care in the home and their relationships with staff. Staff in the home demonstrate a good understanding of safe working practice to meet individual young people's needs. This robust safeguarding practice promotes the safety of young people, and they feel safe within the home.

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Overall effectiveness

Areas for improvement have led to one requirement being made at this inspection which is for the home to ensure its record of restraints incorporates all the necessary data. Further areas which resulted in recommendations being made at this inspection were around the placement plans including young people's assessed cultural needs and achievements as well as an evaluation of all the progress made at the home. There is also a recommendation regarding the provision of training to meet the developing needs of the young people.

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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

17A (2001) ensure that there is a written record made in a volume kept for the purpose which includes all the matters listed in Regulation 17A (3) and (4) specifically (3G) a description of any injury and (4B) details of any method used to avoid the need to use that measure. (Regulation 17A (3) (4)). 29/06/2011

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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 that children's individual needs as set out in their placement plans include their cultural needs as well as their progress (NMS 2.3)  ensure that staff are equipped with the skills required to meet the needs of the children and purpose of the setting. (NMS 18.1).

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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 benefit from care planning which clearly outlines their assessed and agreed needs, however, the care plans do not sufficiently highlight young people's progress or cultural needs. Although staff are very knowledgeable the record of young people's histories is not being maintained or developed to fully support their personal identity.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff have given considerable support to young people and this has effectively enabled them to make appropriate and healthy lifestyle choices. Young people have good attendance at school and make good use of their learning opportunities. These opportunities are well supported by additional support within school, and care staff help young people to prepare for school and to relax afterwards. Young people make good progress within these educational programmes, and their positive achievements are clearly captured and recognised. Vocational training is also provided bringing opportunities for young people to learn a wide range of subjects including horticulture. Young people are confident in their potential educationally.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Where appropriate staff actively facilitate contact with families and friends. Young people can meet with others at the home, in a mutual setting or spend time at their own family home. Young people are becoming prepared for a successful transition to adult life including the younger children. Pathway planning and programmes for developing life skills and self care skills are in place for older young people.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding . Young people state 'it is really fun here due to the staff'. Young people have established successful, mutually respectful relationships with staff. The warm, caring atmosphere provides a relaxing and consistent environment for young people. Young people appreciate the guidance, encouragement and help they receive from staff. All young people are encouraged to express their views and take responsibility for their behaviour. Staff use their thorough knowledge of the young person and their skills in care and control to promote improvement. Young people are helped to develop and practice skills which enable them to build and maintain positive relationships and to resolve conflicts positively.

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Quality of care

There is frequent one-to-one work with all of the young people to seek their views and feedback, as well as children's meetings. The young people are secure in the ability of staff to act on their views and wishes. Staff encourage young people to express their individual and diverse needs and support them in appropriately articulating themselves.

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Quality of care

If young people are dissatisfied they are proactively encouraged to make representation or make a complaint. Staff also actively advocate on behalf of the young people to the home or any other organisation when appropriate. All complaints are treated seriously and young people believe that staff will address matters effectively. Young people are kept informed of all complaints and the records of complaints are appropriately monitored and quality assured. Young people are confident that their views and opinions are valued. The management team have an 'open door' policy, which enables young people to easily approach staff with any concerns.

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Quality of care

All young people are supported in their education by well managed school attendance. The organisation has an on site school which staff attend to offer support throughout the day. Young people are well supported to achieve their educational potential and to have aspirations above this. The home celebrates the young people's work and effort and young people take pride in the value placed in their work. Activities are arranged for the young people and the home encourages young people to identify a personal activity or special interest. Staff ensure that both the financial and practical support is provided to enable any chosen activities. Young people enjoy cooking and preparing meals as well as snacks. Especially the nights whereby they budget, shop and cook their own meal.

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Quality of care

The home is well maintained and appropriately decorated and furnished to meet the choices of the young people. Young people are encouraged to take ownership of the home and treat the home with respect and care. Young people have their own bedroom, which is significantly personalised to reflect their individuality. Young people can relax in the communal lounge, the games area, activity room or the rear garden. All young people are consulted about any improvements, or changes they may have regarding the home and this has resulted in young people taking a pride in the home's appearance and facilities. For example, the refurbishment of the bathrooms, including individualised storage.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is good at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people confirm they feel safe and there are no issues with bullying. There are very good arrangements for safeguarding young people. A dedicated safeguarding co-coordinator is employed by the home and this individual has many years of experience. Staff receive ongoing training and the induction for new staff covers child protection and safeguarding. When young people have gone missing from the home, staff have used a range of effective measures to search, report and then return the young person to the home. All young people are risk assessed as to their individual needs and areas where they may be more vulnerable when absent from the home. The organisation has consulted formally with the local police and established agreed protocols for missing children.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people reside in a home which is physically safe and appropriately secure. Health and safety certificates verify the safety of the environment. Risk assessments comprehensively identify different areas of risk. The home carries out regular fire evacuation drills, alarm tests and health and safety risk assessments. The health and safety of the young people and the safety of the building is robustly managed with regular review and oversight by the manager.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There has been a gradual reduction in the number of restraints due to staff and management planning. All incidents are sensitively and appropriately followed up and reflected upon by staff and the young person. This includes looking at alternative strategies available to all as part of an overall reduction plan. However, the home's log does not comply with the regulations regarding what should be recorded, although this information was accessible through the reports for each incident.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are protected as a result of the effective procedures in place, for example, all visitors to the building are strictly monitored and they must identify themselves and sign in and out of the home. No general visitor is permitted to have unsupervised access to the young person or the home. All staff are employed through well managed and formal interview and recruitment panels. All statutory and reference checks are carried out to ensure that staff do not work with the young people until all appropriate references are obtained.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are good . Young people’s needs are met within a well managed and maintained home. The staff members all undertake mandatory training in both key areas of practice and additional areas. However, more specific training has not been provided to meet the emerging needs of the young people. All staff are well managed and understand their duties, roles and the expectations upon them. Staff are motivated and enthusiastic in their role and this is evident in their relationships with the young people. Young people receive support from a sufficient number of staff. Staff are working towards the necessary care qualifications. Young people receive care from a very stable staff and management team.

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Leadership and management

All staff receive appropriate supervision to ensure that they have the opportunity to develop their skills and their practice. Supervision is highly regarded by the manager and the staff and all understand the benefit of this support and guidance. All supervision sessions are planned and well managed. Staff meetings are well managed, organised and used by all and provide a good opportunity for staff to look at practice and share views and important topics. Young people are specifically looked at in detail during each meeting and this ensure that the unique and diverse needs of the young people are clearly understood. The registered manager manages two children's homes owned by the organisation. Therefore the home's team leader plays an instrumental role within this home. Staff state that the management is 'very supportive' and that staff are now 'more accountable for what we do, more aware of what responsible for, and so we have raised our game, and can see the impact of

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Leadership and management

Staffing levels are appropriate and the home can deploy extra staff should more support be needed through out-of-hours and on-call services. The care and support of the young people is effectively managed. The staff as a team, promote well organised shifts, with consistent and appropriate expectations of the young people. Staff state they 'love being here' and 'enjoy the work'.

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Leadership and management

The manager carries out effective quality assurance of the home and this is largely articulated through Regulation 34 monitoring. If undesirable patterns of behaviour or shortfalls become apparent the manager takes prompt action to address matters.

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Leadership and management

In addition the home is visited monthly by the head of care who undertakes Regulation 33 visits to look at the functions of the home. A comprehensive and detailed report is published following each visit and the manager and staff take the necessary action to address any areas needing review. Quality assurance is formal, detailed and effective in ensuring that the practice is beneficial to the young people accommodated. Management is strong, consistent and effective.

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Leadership and management

There was one requirement made at the last inspection. This was met regarding maintaining a system for improving the quality of care. There were six recommendations made at the last inspection. All have been efficiently addressed. There is a commitment to providing a high quality service. All staff are vigorously working towards improving outcomes. The management team consistently communicate high expectations to young people and staff. Equality and diversity practice is good .

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