Children's Home run by Anna House Limited in Havering

Unique reference number SC058603 Inspection date 21/06/2011 Inspector Jackie Graves Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 21/01/2011 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

This home is a short break care unit for up to five children and young people with physical and learning disabilities. Children and young people can stay for short or longer periods of time. Two young people were receiving care on the days of the inspection.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

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Overall effectiveness

Families value this service. They appreciate the nurturing relationships between staff and children, the home's ability to keep children safe and the activities on offer. There is a focus on working with parents to ensure children receive continuity of care in their lives.

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Overall effectiveness

Children make good progress in the home. They benefit from being looked after by a stable, experienced staff team. They are supported to make choices and very much respected as individuals. Recording is generally good but not always up to date. Monitoring of the quality of the service is also good but not yet appropriately reported.

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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

(2001) ensure that records in respect of each child are kept up to date (Regulation 28 (1) (b)) 31/07/2011

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) supply to the HMCI a report in respect of any review conducted, at least twice each year. (Regulation 34 (2)) 31/08/2011

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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 children know how to contact the Children's Rights Director (NMS 1.5)  ensure references include, where possible, a statement from each referee as to their opinion of the person's suitability to work with children (NMS 16)  make sure staff are equipped with the skills required to meet the needs of the children and purpose of the setting, in particular, developing communication skills, for example, in Makaton. (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

Staff work hard to ensure that children have a positive experience during their stay in the home. They help children develop confidence in staying away from their families.

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Outcomes for children and young people

There is evidence of progress and positive outcomes for children, for example, in their improving behaviour and health and communication skills. Children look forward to their stay in the home and for many it is regarded as a 'second home'.

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Outcomes for children and young people

All young people have the opportunity to positively engage with the wider community, for example, through regular trips to places of interest. The home gives children the opportunity to try new activities and experiences, for example, trips to the cinema and to theme parks.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Good relationships are fostered with neighbours for the benefit of children using the service. Regular attendance at school is supported with staff making sure children are well presented and ready for their school day.

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Outcomes for children and young people

While they are on a short break, children are able to maintain contact with family and friends. Families are reassured by being kept fully informed of their child's well being. Supervised contact is facilitated so children may meet with family in familiar surroundings with staff they know.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is good . Staff create a very positive, nurturing and caring environment where children are respected as individuals. Staff are consistently concerned with children's welfare. They work in partnership with families so that children receive continuity of care during their short break. Staff help them to make good progress with aspects of their emotional and behavioural development. They understand children's needs very well and make sure they are consulted about all aspects of life in the home, for example, in choosing a meal or an activity.

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Quality of care

Written plans are detailed and care is tailored very much to each child's individual requirements, including their cultural and religious needs. Some children's records are not reviewed frequently enough although this does not appear to impact on children, or the quality of care, as staff are aware of children's current needs.

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Quality of care

Arrangements for dealing with medication are safe. Monitoring of ongoing health needs is effective as well as the management of any periods of ill health while children are at the home. Staff are given training to deal with specific health or feeding needs. They are also trained to provide first aid. This ensures children's health and medical needs can be met in the home.

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Quality of care

The home has an accessible complaints policy, which is reproduced in a suitable format for children, although many would be reliant on families making a complaint on their behalf. No complaints have been received since the last inspection.

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Quality of care

Children engage in a wide range of activities both in the home and local community. Trips out to places of interest, for example, the seaside, are also organised. Families appreciate joining with staff and children for some activities. They are made to feel welcome and part of the home. There is an adequate range of toys for children to chose from, both in the home and the garden, although some parents feel access to a laptop would be useful.

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Quality of care

Children who live long term in the home, plus those who visit very frequently for short breaks, benefit from having their own bedrooms. This helps them recognise the service as a 'home-from-home'. They are able to personalise their rooms with photos and toys to further identify 'their' room. Children are comfortable in the home and move about as they wish.

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Quality of care

As this is a short break service, parents remain responsible for their children's education. However, there is effective communication between the home, schools and families, so all are aware of children's needs and progress.

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Quality of care

There are suitable adaptations to the building to meet children's individual needs, for example, with the provision of hoists in bedrooms and ramps to access the building. The home is currently being redecorated. Good standards of cleanliness and hygiene and regular maintenance ensure that the building is a pleasant and homely place for children to live.

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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 effective arrangements to keep children safe. High staffing ratios ensure children are closely supervised at all times. There have been no incidents of children going absent without authority.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Due to the children's needs, bullying is not an issue in the home. However, staff are sensitive to how one child's behaviour may impact on another's and take this into consideration when planning the intake of children. They are also sensitive to children's need for personal space and understand that they may wish to spend time in their own bedrooms occasionally. Staff use appropriate techniques to help manage children's behaviour and help them make progress, for example, by distracting them with another activity. Records show that restraint and sanctions have not been used since the last inspection.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There is a robust recruitment process to ensure that all staff are carefully selected and vetted in order to prevent unsuitable people from having access to children. This includes checking references directly and obtaining clearance from the Criminal Records Bureau. Reference requests do advise that the applicant will be working in a children's home but do not specifically ask for comments on the person's suitability to work with children. Visitors are checked and carefully monitored while in the home in order to ensure that children are protected.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff promote a safe environment. There are frequent checks of fire safety equipment. Children participate in regular fire drills so that they can become familiar with how to evacuate the building in an emergency.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff have been trained in safeguarding both vulnerable adults and children. They have a strong understanding of their duty to report any concerns, or allegations, in line with the home's safeguarding policy.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are good . Children live in a home which has good management arrangements. Staff appreciate the open culture of this home. They are confident in approaching management to report any concerns or make any suggestions to develop the service children receive. Staff and management work well as a team to provide a good service for children and their families.

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Leadership and management

The home employs a sufficient number of staff. They are confident in the management support they receive. This includes regular supervision and the opportunity to meet as a team. The staff and management team are well regarded and demonstrate extensive knowledge of children's needs.

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Leadership and management

Development processes are sound and communicated well to the staff team. For example, staff are aware of the home's key policies and procedures and relate these to their work. Opportunities for training are frequent and good. This ensures staff develop both the general and specialist skills they require to meet children's needs. Communication between children and staff is effective but some staff understanding of Makaton is limited.

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Leadership and management

The Statement of Purpose has been reviewed to reflect the current service provided, for example, longer periods of residence. The children's guide is provided in suitable formats to help children understand what the home is about. The home has improved procedures to monitor the quality of the service. This includes monthly visits in line with Regulation 33. The Registered Manager also monitors the quality of records and other aspects of the service. However, they do not yet compile a report of this monitoring and supply a copy to the regulator.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is good .

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