Children's Home run by Frances House Ltd in Lancashire

Unique reference number SC403462 Inspection date 06/05/2011 Inspector Monica Farrimond Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 19/08/2010 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 is operated by a private organisation and is registered to care for up to five young people, of both genders, between the ages of 11 and 17 years. The home cares for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The house is situated in a small town, close to all amenities and is easily accessible by motorway. The house is a large end of terrace property, comprising of large communal areas, two kitchens and single bedrooms for the young people accommodated. The home is furnished and decorated to a high standard.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be outstanding .

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Overall effectiveness

Young people make outstanding progress in relation to their starting points, both socially and educationally. They excel during their placement in this home. They thrive in a nurturing, supportive environment, with clear structures and boundaries in place. Highly individualised care enables young people to progress well; they develop a strong sense of how to keep themselves safe, and are enabled to take controlled risks, which enhance their maturity and confidence. The staff team, led by an inspirational manager, focus on the needs of the young people and strive to make the home a happy, safe place to live. The young people are included, wherever possible, in the running of the home, and this includes their participation in the interviews for new staff. This encourages the young people to feel that their opinions matter and encourages 'ownership' of the home. The staff are fair but firm; the young people benefit from an experienced, cohesive, staff team, who see the

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Overall effectiveness

importance of celebrating diversity and encouraging young people to feel special. Feedback from quality assurance questionnaires is overwhelmingly positive; professionals, parents/carers and young people are very happy with the care provided at the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are outstanding . The outcomes for young people living at the home are outstanding. Placement plans, behaviour management plans and risk assessments are sound, thorough documents that clearly set out how the young people will be cared for on a day to day basis. There is good evidence in these documents of equality and diversity being used to celebrate and promote each young person's individuality. Opportunities are provided for all young people to reach their potential based on their individual and diverse needs. Young people talk confidently about their achievements and show a good understanding of the progress they have made. All staff interviewed are aware of the contents of the plans; this ensures consistency of care for the young people.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people's health needs are very well managed. Young people live in a healthy environment; they eat well and their health needs are well met. They receive the individual support they require. Staff encourage young people to take responsibility for looking after their own physical and emotional health, appropriate to their age and understanding. Young people choose to eat a healthy and balanced diet, which is a valuable learning experience for the young people who will be moving on to semi-independence. Staff provide young people with excellent guidance on a range of health and social issues including the dangers of smoking, sexual health and alcohol and substance misuse. Medication is stored safely, and records are maintained on the administration of medication, including, prescribed and non- prescribed medication. All staff receive suitable training to support health and well- being and this improves the quality of care being provided.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Many of the young people living at the home have had some past difficulties relating to education. The educational outcomes for young people based on their starting points when first admitted, are outstanding. Young people make exceptional progress in attaining educational achievements. There is a dynamic commitment by staff to provide young people with the tools to succeed (confidence, education, self esteem and practical skills), and this is reflected in the staff's approach when encouraging young people to take part in education and preparation for moving on to adulthood. Self-esteem is consciously promoted in the form of verbal support, rewards and praise; staff show genuine interest in young people's lives and motivate young people through positive reinforcement of good behaviour.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The manager, staff and young people work hard to form good links with the local neighbourhood; it is a mainly Muslim community and the neighbours are proactive in being helpful to the staff and young people. This helps to promote knowledge of other cultures and is underpinned by the home's positive approach to equality and diversity.

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Outcomes for children and young people

All young people have contact with family, friends and other appropriate adults. Staff appreciate the importance of these contacts and do everything they can to promote and sustain these vital links. They are skilled in helping to support young people when difficulties, problems and rejection arise. Practical and financial support is offered to improve the outcomes of sustained contact.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people's pathway plans are implemented very well and placement experiences provided by staff at the home allow young people to gain life skills to support them into adulthood. The home has developed their own life skills programme, which further enhances the successful transition to adulthood. The quality of experience provided in-house means young people gain many competencies suited to their preparation for independence.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding . Staff have consistently high aspirations for all children and young people in the home. Individual needs, which include identity, religious and cultural are clearly identified to form the basis of the homes extensive and regularly-updated care planning documentation. Staff are skilled in engaging young people positively and this promotes mutual respect. A supportive environment allows good relationships to be formed between staff and the young people. The young people commented that they value staff's support and guidance; this ensures that positive behaviour patterns are established. Good planning reinforces more socially-acceptable behaviour and the impact of this can be seen in less antisocial and challenging behaviour and improved school attendance.

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Quality of care

Staff encourage young people to express their views and contribute to the running of the home; this makes the young people think that what they say is important, and encourages self-esteem and confidence. If young people are concerned or dissatisfied they talk to staff. Young people know how to complain but said they 'don't need to' because 'staff listen'. Staff have an open, transparent way of working with young people, which enhances their relationships. Young people are consulted about important events in their lives, promoting self-esteem and building a knowledge base of their rights. Young people's meetings are held regularly and each young person has a key worker who they can talk to about their worries or private problems. Parents and social workers are consulted and kept up to date about how young people are looked after and their views are also sought about the home's operation.

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Quality of care

Staff are skilled in engaging young people positively; this means that young people thrive in a supportive and nurturing environment. Staff encourage young people to plan their recreation time positively and engage in purposeful and enjoyable leisure activities. Young people are offered a range of activities to occupy their recreation time. Staff encourage young people to develop their confidence and talents by pursuing personal interests and establishing relationships outside the home. Individual needs are clearly identified to form the basis of the comprehensive care planning systems that are in place. This includes identity, religious and cultural needs. Consistent monitoring and the updating of plans and strategies takes place regularly, with evidence available to show that staff, young people, their social worker and, where appropriate, parents are aware of and agree with the changes made. This process has the benefit of keeping people informed, involved and

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Quality of care

contributes positively towards statutory reviews.

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Quality of care

Staff promote healthy lifestyles with young people; young people live in a healthy environment that actively promotes their physical and emotional well-being. They benefit from having a comprehensive healthcare plan that details historic, current and any known future healthcare interventions; these include physical, emotional and psychological health needs. All young people are registered with a local general practitioner, dentist and optician. Staff have a good understanding of young people's individual health needs and ensure they are met on a daily basis.

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Quality of care

The home is located in a small, busy town, close to all amenities. The home is well maintained, appropriately decorated and furnished to meet the needs of the young people. Young people are encouraged to take ownership of the home and treat the building with respect. Young people said they 'like living at the home'. Young people have personalised their bedrooms and are encouraged to decorate their bedrooms in a colour of their choice. The home is made more homely by pictures of young people and staff displayed around the home. Artwork, done by the young people, also decorates the home and enhances its appearance. The home provides suitable facilities for young people to study, with sufficient learning materials available to them, and room to invite friends or family to visit.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is outstanding at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe. Outstanding systems are in place to safeguard and protect young people. Staff receive regular training to update their knowledge and have a full understanding of safeguarding policies, procedures and actions they should take, if an incident arises. Policy and procedural guidance has been established that is consistent with local safeguarding team protocols. Young people confirm that they are safe and happy living at the home. They learn to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative and understand how they contribute to the home's operation.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff are quick to intervene should a bullying situation arise, and issues relating to bullying are handled well, ensuring young people feel safe. Good staffing levels ensure that young people are well supervised. Individual risk assessments and placement plans allow staff to manage any concerns that might arise between young people. There is a clear protocol for staff to follow in the event of a young person going missing from the home, which ensures that young people are properly protected. There are very few incidents of young people going missing from the home; the incidents have minimised significantly since the last inspection. The welfare of the young people is paramount and staff use initiative and local knowledge to ensure young people in their care are kept safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The young people accommodated at the home are encouraged to develop socially- acceptable behaviour through sound relationships with the staff and positive reinforcement of good behaviour. Staff meetings give the staff a chance to share information about each young person, and careful consideration is given to the handling of negative issues and promoting acceptable behaviour. This ensures that there is a consistent approach to any issues arising with the young people's behaviour. Examples of this are seen when the young people are eating; good table manners are encouraged and the staff speak to the young people with respect at all times, and appropriate 'banter' between staff and young people takes place. There are very few sanctions given by staff and there have been no incidents of physical restraint since the last inspection. The behaviour and attitude of the young people is outstanding.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home's procedures for the recruitment and selection of staff are robust. All staff are thoroughly vetted before they are appointed to ensure that they are safe to work with vulnerable children and young people.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are outstanding . The home is effectively and efficiently managed. The manager of the home is experienced and appropriately qualified. Staff are provided with a good range of training, including mandatory courses in safeguarding, first aid and the administration of medication. The manager of the home ensures that time is available for all staff to attend training and they are encouraged to apply for all relevant training; this ensures that staff are able to take advantage of the knowledge obtained on the training courses to further promote the welfare of the young people. All staff working at the home have a qualification in caring for children and young people, or are working towards this qualification. Staff at the home feel supported and valued, and this is cascaded throughout the home: this is reflected in the exemplary behaviour by the young people.

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Leadership and management

The manager has a comprehensive development plan in place, which identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the home. The plan clearly targets areas for improvement; the development and further training of the workforce being a main priority. This ensures that young people are cared for by staff who are continually striving to improve their knowledge and understanding of their role.

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Leadership and management

Staffing levels are good, which ensure that young people are properly supervised and they are able to take part in activities. Rotas allow staff sufficient time to undertake individual work with young people, to attend regular team meetings and to complete necessary paperwork. All staff have regular supervision sessions with their line manager; this ensures that staff development and training needs are identified and promoted. Staff demonstrate a clear determination to promote inclusion for young people and to encourage them to develop their skills. The manager and staff also demonstrate a strong commitment to reviewing and improving the service that is offered to young people and their families. Team meetings are used to look at practice issues and the needs of the young people. This ensures that all staff are aware of any issues relating to young people's behaviour and approach these issues in a consistent manner. There is regular consultation with parents, young people and

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Leadership and management

professionals from other agencies about the care that young people are given and there are robust systems in place, to monitor the quality of care that is given to the young people.

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Leadership and management

The home has monthly Regulation 33 inspections by a person independent of the home to inspect the quality of care provided, and to which the manager responds. The manager undertakes monthly Regulation 34 monitoring and uses these as part of the quality assurance for the improvement of the home.

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Leadership and management

Information that is held on young people is thorough, so that their needs can be met. All information that is sensitive is securely stored, so that confidentiality is maintained. Information is easily accessible to all staff, which helps to ensure that care is consistent and in line with the young person's care plan.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is outstanding .

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