Children's Home run by Island Choices Ltd in Isle of Wight

Unique reference number SC399866 Inspection date 10/06/2011 Inspector David Coulter Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 21/12/2010 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

Island Choices Ltd is a children's home registered for up to four young people, including those with learning difficulties. The aim of the service is to provide individualised care, within a homely environment. The home is owned by a private limited company.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be outstanding .

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Overall effectiveness

The home is providing high quality individualised care and support to a group of extremely vulnerable young people with complex needs. Young people have made considerable progress in all aspects of their lives during their placements. Destructive patterns of behaviour, such as regular absconding, have been broken and young people are engaging in all aspects of life within the home. All three residents are participating fully in their educational placements and are making significant progress. Young people are involved in the home’s decision making progress and feel their views are valued. Relationships between young people and staff are sound and based on mutual respect. Young people speak highly of all staff and appreciate the support they are receiving. Staff reflect on their practice on an on-going basis and regularly seek out training opportunities to further their knowledge and skills. There are no recommendations or requirements arising from this inspection.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are outstanding . On admission the health needs of each young person are identified and arrangements made to address them. Staff work alongside young people and develop strategies to ensure that any heath related issues are appropriately addressed. With the agreement of young people, referrals are made to access specialist services such as sexual and mental health. The health and general well- being of the current residents has greatly improved during their placements. Young people said that staff are non-judgemental and offer advice and support sensitively and in confidence. In an effort to reduce any possible adverse long-term effects, the drug regimes of young people in receipt of regular medication are reviewed at regular intervals. Young people keep physically active and participate in a wide range of recreational activities including cycling, walking and ice-skating.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The home provides a safe environment and stability for vulnerable young people who have often suffered a crisis in their lives. Two of the young people said that on admission they felt both angry and confused. However, they felt staff understood their feelings and went out of their way to help them settle in. Staff lay great emphasis on the importance of personal relationships and importance of self-respect and respect for others. Young people are treated as young adults with the ability to make decisions and choices over many aspects of their lives. They are also helped understand the likely consequences of their actions. Rather than impose strict behavioural boundaries staff negotiate with young people and arrive at mutually agreed decisions. For example, staff will negotiate return times if young people are socialising at weekends. This approach has proved extremely fruitful and previous patterns of absconding behaviour have been broken.

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Outcomes for children and young people

After a difficult start, the current resident group has settled down and are peacefully co-existing. Young people now resolve difficulties in their relationships through discussion. Young people were observed enjoying each other's company. Sanctions are not widely used and staff provide young people with clear expectations in regard to behaviour and trust they will respond positively. Each young person is encouraged to develop a positive self-image and staff continually reinforce positive behaviour with praise and encouragement. Staff deploy diversionary techniques if confronted with challenging behaviour. Staff do not use physical restraints.

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Outcomes for children and young people

All three young people are taking the educational and training opportunities available to them and are participating fully in their placements. Reports indicate that in spite of the difficulties they have experienced they are all are making considerable progress. Young people are clearly aware of the competitiveness that exists within the job market and all said they wished to continue their education at college before looking for work. They are, however, keen to gain some work experience and two are currently seeking part-time jobs for the summer holidays. As the majority of individuals' will move on to independent or semi-independent living placements all are using the opportunities being provided by the home to acquire a range of domestic skills including cooking and washing.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are, when appropriate, encouraged to maintain contact with family and friends. Staff will help facilitate contact by providing transport. They will also help arrange accommodation for the families of young people who wish to visit from the mainland.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

The home's management are clear about the care it can offer and the type of young person it is particularly successful in helping. The care needs of each young person are identified prior to admission and risk assessments are used to identify any areas of potential concern associated with a young person's behaviour. Every effort is made to make new resident's feel welcome. An effective care planning system provides clear guidance for staff on how the needs of each individual can be met. Staff closely monitor the progress of each young person and modify individual's placement plans in response to changing needs.

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Quality of care

Young people have established good relationships with all the staff. Young people said they like the relaxed 'family' atmosphere that exists within the home and enjoy the company of all the staff, a number of whom are related. Social interaction is spontaneous and young people interact freely with each other and staff. Relationships are based on mutual respect and many of the conversations between the young people and staff were punctuated with playful banter. Even though the home operates a key-worker system young people indicate that they would have no difficulty in relaying worries or concerns to any of the staff.

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Quality of care

Young people really appreciate the fact that staff treat them in an adult fashion and offer advice and support rather than impose a set of house rules. Young people can exercise choice over many aspects of their lives and contribute to much of the planning within the home including the development of menu and activity plans. Each young person has their own room that is designated as 'their own personal space'. There is an expectation that young people will peacefully co-exist and learn to tolerate the niggles that often arise through communal living. Staff confront discriminatory and bullying behaviour and young people are expected to resolve personal difficulties through discussion.

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Quality of care

Young people appreciate the home’s central location which provides ready access to the town centre, beach and transport links. The property is structurally sound and in good decorative order. Communal areas are appropriately furnished. Young people appreciate being able to personalise their rooms by introducing their own posters and pictures. The home’s heating and hot water system are effective. The property and its equipment is subject to regular health and safety checks. Full fire evacuations are carried out at regular intervals.

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Quality of care

Young people live full and active lives and all currently regularly access education and training. All contribute to daily life within the home and can obtain rewards for undertaking additional domestic tasks. Young people said they appreciated the wide range of social and recreational activities they have been able to access on both the island and mainland.

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Safeguarding children and young people

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

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Safeguarding children and young people

Risk assessments are used to identify the particular risks and vulnerabilities associated with each young person. Young people are helped to recognise situations and behaviours that put them at risk and staff work with them to develop effective strategies to manage the risks. Young people are encouraged to keep physically and socially active by participating in activities within the local community. However, due to their vulnerabilities, staff always ascertain where young people are going and the company they will be keeping. If necessary staff will discourage young people from entering into relationships with individuals who could exploit them. Young people are aware of the need to keep staff informed of their movements and use their mobile phones to keep them updated. There are well established procedures to report young people who go missing.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people who display destructive or dangerous patterns of behaviour, such as substance abuse or absconding are helped to address them. Young people indicate that staff deal with such issues sensitively. The significant decrease in absconding and self-destructive behaviour on the part of young people indicates the home’s approach to risk is working. One young person indicated that they had changed their behaviour because, 'the staff care and I don't want to let them down after all the progress I have made'. Young people confirm they feel safe.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are outstanding . The home benefits from having an experienced manager who is focused on providing high quality care to vulnerable young people. The manager is involved in all aspects of the home and is conversant with the specific care needs of each young person. She manages a highly motivated staff team all of whom subscribe to the home’s 'child centred' ethos. Staff are clear about their roles and responsibilities. The staff team functions effectively and there is consistency in the delivery of care. Communication between staff on different shifts is good. A comprehensive range of policies and procedures has been translated into effective working practices. Staff keep abreast of developments within the chid care field and regularly access training opportunities. Staff receive regular supervision and an annual appraisal. There are appropriate arrangements in place to ensure management cover in the manager’s

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Leadership and management

The home is appropriately financed and benefits from good staffing levels. Evidence indicates there are sufficient funds available to operate the home in the best interests of the young people currently accommodated. The home’s records contain recent and relevant information and are kept in appropriately locked facilities. The home is subject to regular monitoring visits and copies of the reports were available in the home. There were no requirements or recommendations arising out of the last inspection.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is good .

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