Children's Home run by Hillcrest Children's Services (2) Limited in Telford and Wrekin

Unique reference number SC398386 Inspection date 07/06/2011 Inspector Trevor Hall Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 10/11/2010 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

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.

p.2

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.

p.3

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.

p.3

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

p.3

Brief description of the service

This home is part of part of a range of children's services within a private care organisation. It is registered to accommodate three young people. The home provides care and accommodation to young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

p.4

Brief description of the service

The home is a large detached property providing each young person with their own individual bedroom. The home has a main lounge, a smaller lounge, large kitchen and separate dining area. The home has a large enclosed garden and ample off road car parking. The home is near local shops and is within easy travelling distance of local leisure facilities and local amenities.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be outstanding .

p.4

Overall effectiveness

The supportive environment provided by this home enables young people to make outstanding progress. Detailed care planning supported by excellent staff involvement ensures that young people receive the individual care they need. Young people are encouraged to take an active role in their own care and enjoy living at the home. The home is outstanding in ensuring that young people are not only kept safe, but also develop the knowledge and confidence to keep themselves safe. Very good liaison with external agencies ensures that young people receive high levels of support in all aspects of their lives. Good links have been developed between the home and the educational establishments attended by young people. Young people are taught to respect others and to strive to fulfil their individual potential both in their educational and their personal development. Young people are given opportunities to experience new activities and learn new skills and are encouraged to

p.4

Overall effectiveness

challenge previously held attitudes; this enables them to grow as individuals and develop their self-esteem. The manager has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of this home and uses feedback from young people external professionals and senior colleagues through their quality assurance procedures to shape the home's future development. Staff are highly committed to supporting and enabling young people to develop their skills and socially acceptable behaviour. This is actively recognised by the young people who consider the home to be a good one that keeps them safe and meets their needs.

p.4

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

p.5

Recommendations

 ensure that children are supported and encouraged to maintain and develop family contacts and friendships, subject to any limitations or provisions set out in their care plan, placement plan or court order. (NMS.9.1)

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are outstanding . Young people are supported in their placements by a committed and dedicated staff team, which encourages them to achieve outstanding outcomes. Young people living in this home are activity encouraged to make positive choices and to use every opportunity to develop and reach their individual potential. 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. Young people are assisted to develop a healthy sense of self and to recognise the rights and feelings of others. This enables them to more easily engage with the wider community. The home offers young people a wide range of activities and encourages them to pursue their own particular interests. This gives the young people the

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people

opportunity to have new experiences and learn new skills.

p.7

Outcomes for children and young people

Staff guide and encourage young people in their educational pursuits, with good results. Strong links have been forged between the home, the proprietors own education unit and local colleges and schools. Young people are rightly proud of the achievements they have made in their education and they acknowledge that staff encourage not only their regular attendance, but also offer practical support, helping with homework for example.

p.7

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people resident in the home are encouraged to take appropriate responsibility for their own health needs and are taught how to make informed decisions about their life style. Staff are actively involved in engaging with young people about a range of health-related issues, which results in consistent improvements to health and fitness. Young people's good health and well-being is successfully promoted because staff are knowledgeable and aware of each individual young person's needs. Every young person has a fully completed health care plan that includes all of the required information as part of their wider placement plan.

p.7

Outcomes for children and young people

All young people have been provided with an appropriate educational provision whilst living at the home and all have made significant progress.

p.7

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people confirmed that preparation to moving into adulthood and being independent is an integral part of their individual care plans. Young people are supported to gain experience in cooking, shopping and budgeting. This has met with varied success, however, young people generally acknowledge that they are encouraged to learn basic life skills as they move closer to their anticipated leaving dates. Pathway plans have been formulated with the placing authorities and young people confirm that they have been encouraged to play a central role in the decisions taken about their future. The home has accessed external agencies, when appropriate, to provide young people with additional support and advice in their employment, training and education.

p.7

Outcomes for children and young people

Relationships between staff and young people are good and young people were keen to relate that they felt respected, valued and well cared for. Young people stated that they had confidence in the staff team who look after them. They knew how to access the formal complaints procedures, but stated that more often than not, they would speak directly to staff on duty, who they believed would appropriately deal with most situations.

p.7

Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding . Young people living in this home are provided with an outstanding level of care. Staff and managers are warm and supportive to them and encourage them to make the most of their individual abilities, which has led to them experiencing extremely good outcomes.

p.8

Quality of care

Young people resident in the home are encouraged to make a positive contribution to their placement and the running of the home. They confirm that they are involved in all aspects of their care and that they are given every opportunity to contribute to their own care planning arrangements. Staff actively seek their views at both an individual and group level and respond in a way that makes the young people believe that their opinions are valued. The home actively promotes a culture which recognises and respects young people's rights. Young people speak positively about how staff support them and how this makes them feel valued and respected.

p.9

Quality of care

Young people benefit from comprehensive support which encourages them to develop a positive approach to diet and how to improve their health. Meals provided are varied and young people are encouraged to contribute to the menu planning process on a weekly basis to ensure that their personal preferences are accommodated. Meal times are social occasions in which all staff and young people sit together to eat. The benefit of this is that young people experience routine in a social environment that many have not previously had. Young people have choice over the type of meals they like to eat with staff suggesting healthier options if required to do so. Records detail both the menus as planned and the actual food eaten by each young person. This enables staff to be aware of any nutritional or eating issues that the young people may display.

p.9

Quality of care

There is a strong focus on promoting young people's physical and emotional well- being. Staff proactively encourage young people to recognise the importance of visiting the dentist regularly and/or having annual health checks. Every young person has a fully completed health care plan that includes all of the required information as part of their wider placement plan. Appropriate support from medical professionals is provided and a high level of liaison takes place between staff and these professionals to ensure young people's health needs are fully met. All staff have up-to-date training in basic first aid, administration of medication and food hygiene. The home has appropriate consents in place that allow for emergency treatment if needed.

p.9

Quality of care

The home, where appropriate, operates an independence programme, giving young people increasing control of their finances and increasing responsibility for budgeting and self care. The staff work closely with placing authorities in determining how this will be implemented and are actively involved with young people and their placing social workers in compiling young people's pathway plans.

p.9

Quality of care

Encouraging young people's educational and personal development is recognised as being central to the life of the home. Education attendance is good and high attainment is encouraged. Young people are encouraged to value their education and their progress is recognised and celebrated, as such, they are enabled to grow as individuals. Staff support young people to develop their knowledge, skills and independence by offering appropriate advice, encouragement and good role models. The home, which is a normal residential family home, is located on the fringes of a small market town. The setting provides a re-assuring degree of privacy and security, but remains within easy reach of local transport links and amenities. Young people have their own bedrooms, which they are encouraged to personalise. Their bedrooms reflect their interests and contain meaningful poster and significant personal items.

p.9

Safeguarding children and young people

The service is good at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe. The systems in place to promote the safety and welfare of young people are good. Young people are kept safe at this setting through robust polices and procedures, competent and highly trained staff and a secure well maintained environment. Clear individualised risk assessments and staff procedures help to keep young people safe, whilst enabling them to take appropriate and reasonable risks. This enables young people to develop their own self-esteem and develop as well rounded individuals.

p.10

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people confirmed that they felt safe within their home and that the staff understand potential risks. Young people appreciate the steps taken to promote their safety. They welcome the fact that the home acknowledges their growth and progress and that assessments of risk are regularly reviewed to ensure that they do not unreasonably impact on their developing independence and maturity. Staff have access to clear information, support, guidance and advice about child protection and safeguarding requirements. Staff understand their responsibility to protect young people and are able to demonstrate what actions they would take to keep young people safe. Staff are confident about their responsibilities and know what to do if an allegation is made about the home's manager.

p.11

Safeguarding children and young people

Overall unauthorised absence from the home has reduced over time and one independent reviewing officer high-lighted the work done by staff in this area as a strength of the home. Young people are appropriately supported to maintain good links with their families and friends and staff are suitably knowledgeable about these arrangements. Recording of changes to leave arrangements, however, have not always kept pace with developments, which has impacted on the home's ability to review these arrangements when potential safeguarding concerns have arisen.

p.11

Safeguarding children and young people

There is an open approach to complaints from all sources, and staff successfully support young people to use these processes to make their views known. As part of this process staff skilfully enable young people to understand the views of others. Staff work hard to protect young people from the impact of bullying, anti-social or intimidating behaviour and young people are clear about their right to feel safe from this.

p.11

Safeguarding children and young people

The quality of relationships between staff and young people are outstanding and reinforce the very caring atmosphere that exists throughout the home. Young people are encouraged to behave well, to establish, achieve and maintain levels of behaviour that are socially acceptable and that will sustain them in the wider community. The home's records not only detail sanctions used for poor behaviour but also positive consequences and rewards for behaviour that deserves congratulation and praise. Staff are very comfortable with their role of setting clear understood boundaries whilst maintaining a high quality of relationship between themselves and young people.

p.11

Safeguarding children and young people

The home has in place established systems and structures to maintain safe practices and fulfil health and safety obligations. Young people express confidence in the safety and security of the home. Environmental risk assessments are in place and these ensure the home is fully informed of potential hazards in order to reduce risks. Fire safety is given appropriate importance and fire drills are carried out routinely. This means that young people and staff know what to do in the event of an emergency.

p.11

Safeguarding children and young people

There are safe recruitment procedures within the home. New staff are suitably vetted and are unable to commence working with young people until all of their checks are back. The home has a robust recruitment policy and practice. This outlines the need to employ suitable staff, who compliment the existing staff team. All visitors to the home are monitored and sign in and out of the visitor's book.

p.12

Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are outstanding . The excellent management of this home contributes significantly to the outstanding outcomes enjoyed by the current residents. The manager has a clear commitment to providing the young people in her care with the highest level of care and support available. Staff report receiving excellent support and guidance through a clear management structure. This fosters appropriate social awareness and mutual respect within the home and encourages young people to safely explore their wider community. Good communication is a feature of the home, which enables staff to be well informed about daily events, routines and the progress of each young person.

p.12

Leadership and management

There is a clear staffing structure with clear lines of accountability in the home and in providing a stable and structured environment for young people. Staff are well supported and have regular staff meetings. These are well recorded and cover a good range of information, including the development of the young people and general staff notices. Staff consider that the manager involves them in decision making and they feel that their opinions are valued and that they are encouraged to speak out if they have concerns, particularly in respect of young people's care or welfare. This means that young people experience a consistent approach that is personalised to meet their individual needs. Staff receive regular training that covers all required areas and staff hold the required qualifications.

p.13

Leadership and management

The provider meets all of the aims and objectives in the home's Statement of Purpose. There is an appropriate young person's guide. Staff duty rotas and the manner in which staff are deployed confirm that the home keeps sufficient staff on the duty rota at all times.

p.13

Leadership and management

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. Staff understand young people's individual strengths and needs. The home's Statement of Purpose comprehensively addresses equality and diversity and there is a strong commitment to anti- discriminatory practice. The home has a history of promoting young people's cultural identities and ensuring that their needs are met. There are consistent working practices, which focus on enhancing young people's quality of life. Young people receive support to take pride in themselves and develop a positive identity.

p.13

Leadership and management

Staff know and understand the stated aims and objectives of the service which is consistent with the home's Statement of Purpose. The commitment from staff is a strength and most absences are covered from the existing team, or cover staff, who are already known by the young people to ensure their continuity of care. Young people are well informed about what the home does because staff take time to explain and describe the services and how they can be influenced to suit individual needs.

p.13

Leadership and management

There is good leadership and management support because the registered manager is qualified, skilled and experienced and provides effective leadership to the staff team and young people. The registered manager is actively involved in the day-to- day operation of the home and has clear expectations that the staff team will achieve the best possible outcomes for all young people in their care.

p.13

Leadership and management

Good systems are in place to monitor the service and daily lives of young people currently living in the home. The organisation has established a pattern of management monitoring and reporting procedures, which is effectively implemented by the home's registered manager. These monthly inspections look at welfare issues within their homes and findings are reported back to the company and shared with the inspection service. Records seen demonstrate that the content of these reports reflect an accurate picture of life for young people resident in the home.

p.13

Leadership and management

The registered manager actively monitors and evaluates the practice standards of staff and the quality of services being provided and the impact the home is having on the care of young people. The manager has access to feedback from placing authorities, parents and young people, all of which help to inform his assessments. Areas for improvement are quickly identified or anticipated and positive steps are agreed and implemented to overcome any difficulties and to carefully plan the development of the service.

p.14

Leadership and management

Young people enjoy a good strong and trusting relationship with the home's staff and the manager. The home's coherent philosophy, clear shared values and strong management combine to ensure that each young person is valued and nurtured. The detailed planning of each young person's care combined with the effective use, when appropriate, of external professional support ensures that each young person, not only have their identified needs met, but are encouraged to achieve their full potential.

p.14

Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is good .

p.14