Children's Home run by Castle Homes Limited in Bromley

Unique reference number SC419334 Inspection date 03/06/2011 Inspector Muhammed Harunur Rashid Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 09/03/2011 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 is run by a limited company which provides residential care for up to four young people aged between eight and 17 years old, on a medium- to long- term basis. The home has a registered school on site and if, the young people are not attending mainstream school or equivalent, they are educated at the home. The home has a living area, fitted kitchen, dining/reception area and an education room. Each young person has their own bedroom. There is also a good size rear garden available for recreation and leisure pursuits. The home is in urban location providing access to community amenities and resources.

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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 their lives and thrive in a nurturing, supportive environment with consistent boundaries. Young people talk positively about their experiences at the home. They commented on how safe they feel living in the home. Young people take an active part in their own care planning. Staff support them in developing children's guide. Young people receive support from a stable staff team. There is a good emphasis on young people developing both socially and educationally. Young people benefiting from having an onsite school. Young people have wide ranging life experiences to support their progress and transition into adulthood. One recommendation is made following this inspection with regard to ensuring the complaints, sanctions and restraint log books are signed and dated during Regulation 33 visits.

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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 the designated person who carries out Regulation 33 visits signs and dates the complaints, sanctions and restraints logs each month. (NMS 21)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are good . Young people have opportunities to develop and fulfil their potentials. They benefit from good levels of support and guidance to achieve best possible outcomes. Individual care plans have been developed that recognise young people's individuality and encourage the celebration of difference. The home actively acknowledges racial, religious, gender and other differences and encourages open discussion and learning on such issues. Staff encourage and support young people to engage more with the wider community and even get involved internationally. For example, the home and young people sponsor an eight year girl in Africa and pays their contributions towards the education and welfare of the child. Young people also raise funds for various charities in this country.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people live in a healthy environment. There are good arrangements for promoting the health needs of young people. They are all registered with a local doctor, dentist and optician. Working in partnership with young people, health and social services, the home contributes to identifying, monitoring and meeting young people's health needs. There is a clear audit trail of medication entering and leaving the home and all medication administered to young people. Staff have attended training relating to medication administration and first aid. Young people are provided with healthy and nutritious meals. They are well supported to become involved in choosing and preparing their own food as they move towards independence. Young people enjoy a variety of dishes that reflect their diversity and preferences.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff are positive in their approach to education and in promoting the educational attainment of young people. They are benefiting from having an onsite school. The 24 hour curriculum aims to bring learning opportunities to young people in all they experience, throughout the whole day. Young people have planned after school activities. Staff encourage and support young people to attend formal education and to sit GCSE examinations. The home provides a quiet room for young people to study. Staff support young people with homework. The home provides computers for young people to use for recreational and educational purposes.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff encourage young people to carry out a variety of tasks independently or with support. These include personal hygiene, cooking, shopping and cleaning. Each young person’s placement plan clearly identifies independence work that young people are encouraged to carry out. Staff provide a consistent and committed approach, often taking the lead role, to enable young people’s successful transition into adulthood.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff encourage young people to maintain relationships with their family and friends. Young people have opportunities to receive visitors in private. Staff welcome parents to visit young people at home. Key workers liaise with parents and professionals involved and pass significant information to them where appropriate. Young people confirm that they can meet with their families and friends at the home and in the community. The home provides support for this by offering supervised contact sessions, transporting young people to different venues.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is good . Young people’s care needs are effectively and comprehensively assessed. Each young person has an individual care plan. Guidelines are in place about individual aspects of care for each young person; this ensures that staff have a consistent approach in providing care. Consistent monitoring enables staff to evaluate young people's progress on a monthly basis. This process positively contributes to statutory reviews.

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Quality of care

Staff work in partnership with the school to ensure consistency of practice and to enhance the quality of care provided. Education is promoted and good links are in place between the home and with onsite school. Staff further support young people by attending educational reviews.

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Quality of care

Young people live in a healthy environment where their health care needs are consistently identified and promoted. Working in partnership with young people, health and social services, the home contributes to identifying, monitoring and meeting young people's health needs. The service ensures that young people’s dietary requirements are met in accordance with their religious, cultural and health needs.

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Quality of care

Young people are supported in line with their needs and wishes. Interaction between staff and young people is genuinely warm and relationships are valued. The home recognises the importance of involving young people in the day-to-day running of the home and in the decision making process. Young people are consulted during weekly house meetings. Staff also consult with young people’s families and the placing authorities in order to improve the service they offer.

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Quality of care

An appropriate complaint policy and procedure is in place and the procedure is made accessible by being displayed in the home. Young people know what to do should they have a complaint and follow agreed procedures. Complaints are appropriately recorded and managed according to the home’s procedures.

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Quality of care

The home provides a variety of activities for young people including trips out to local places of interest, the cinema and theatre. They also have various activities within the home, such as games, books and DVDs. The extensive garden provides a safe and secure space for young people to run around as well as high quality play equipment, such as trampolines. All activities are planned, risk assessed and carried out to ensure that young people are able to enjoy the activity safely. Young people are able to pursue their particular interests, develop confidence in their skills and are supported by competent staff to engage in leisure and educational activities.

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Quality of care

The home’s location, design and size are in keeping with its purpose and function. The home serves the needs of young people. The premises are well decorated, furnished and maintained to a high standard. Staff encourage young people to personalise their bedrooms in accordance with their wishes. Young people’s bedrooms are decorated and they are able to choose carpets and other household items.

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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

There are good arrangements to safeguard young people. Young people live in a stable and safe environment. Young people completed Ofsted surveys and informed the inspector that they feel safe living in the home. Members of staff receive regular recorded training in child protection and behaviour management. Young people's welfare is protected through the application of the home's safeguarding policy, risk assessments and reporting procedures by members of staff. All of the staff demonstrate a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities in keeping young people safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff actively encourage and promote positive behaviour. Staff are provided with guidance and training to improve young people’s socially-acceptable behaviour. Young people’s socially-acceptable behaviour is appropriately rewarded. There are agreed measures by which to deal with unacceptable behaviour, such as the use of appropriate forms of sanctions which young people think are fair. Staff have a good knowledge of safeguarding issues and training in the use of restraint is provided.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff have sound knowledge and skills to deal with bullying if it is suspected. Young people have good relationships with the staff team and other young people living in the home. Young people rarely go missing from care and, if they do, they return home quickly. An appropriate policy and procedure is in place for dealing with unauthorised absence from care and staff adhere to this. Staff record the date and time in the missing from care log book and report to the relevant professionals.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home has a thorough recruitment policy and procedure in place to protect young people. The service ensures that all necessary information is obtained prior to the appointments of staff. Staff files include photocopies of their passports, two written reference letters and a Criminal Records Bureau disclosure.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff have attended health and safety training. They take appropriate steps to keep young people, visitors and themselves safe from the risk of fire and other hazards. A risk assessment of the premises is in place. Staff carry out regular fire alarm testing and fire drills. Current gas and electric test certificates are available.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are good . The home's Statement of Purpose clearly highlights their aims and objectives. There is a great respect for young people and commitment to creating a supportive and enabling environment where young people can happily learn and develop confidence. Staff supported young people to develop the children's guide in a child-friendly format with using various symbols and the picture of the house.

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Leadership and management

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. There is consistent commitment to improving equality and diversity in practice. The home provides a service tailored to meet the specific individual needs of young people that considers all aspects of diversity. Staff support young people to make personal choices and to access community resources. Staff have attended equality and diversity training and have a good understanding of young people’s dietary, religious and cultural needs.

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Leadership and management

Young people benefit from effective management. The registered manager is qualified with a number of years management experience. Young people have a particularly strong, trusting relationship with the manager. The management structure is strengthened by a deputy manager and senior residential support workers who provide clear accountability and leadership. The onsite school is run by a qualified teacher.

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Leadership and management

There are various systems to monitor the quality of care. These include monthly visits by a designated person. However, the designated person does not always sign and date the complaints, sanctions and restraint logs. These reports focus on the home's strengths and highlights areas for improvement. The registered manager monitors and signs the home’s records and takes appropriate steps on issues requiring actions. Sufficient numbers of staff are on duty at all times. The registered manager reviews staffing levels in accordance with the assessed needs of young people. Each young person has a permanent, private and secure record of their history, development and progress throughout their childhood. There were no previous actions or recommendations from the previous inspection report.

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Leadership and management

The home has a commitment for the professional development of their staff. Staff attend various in-house and external training, such as child protection, health and safety, administration of medication, first aid, food hygiene and challenging behaviour. Sufficient numbers of staff have completed their National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People. All staff receive regular supervision and annual appraisals from their line manager. Regular staff meetings are held which promote communication between the staff team.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is good .

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