Children's Home run by Isle of Wight Council in Isle of Wight

Unique reference number SC395944 Inspection date 17/06/2011 Inspector David Coulter Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 22/02/2011 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 children's home is a purpose-built facility owned and operated by the local council. It is registered to take up to 10 young people with learning difficulties and/or physical disabilities between the ages of 8 and 17 years. The accommodation is specifically designed to meet the needs of young people with multiple disabilities; it is equipped with appropriate lifting equipment including overhead hoists. All young people are provided with their own rooms. The home is on one level and has a safe enclosed garden accessible to the young people.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be outstanding .

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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 the garden area to the rear of the property receives regular maintenance (NMS 10.3  increase the safe storage of medication by introducing another lockable storage area within the medication cupboard (NMS 6.13).  ensure that the written reports of all physical interventions and restraints make explicit the staff involved. (NMS 3.14)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are outstanding . Young people receive high quality medical and social care during their visits. The homes nursing staff ensure they have detailed medical information on each young person prior to any placement. Clear guidance is produced for staff on how the health needs of each person can be met. Specialist medical interventions are carried out by staff who have completed additional training and demonstrated their competence. The home has a wide range of specialist equipment, including overhead hoists, that assist staff to complete personal care tasks safely. Although there are good facilities and arrangements for the dispensing of medication, the storage of controlled medicines could be further improved by the installation of an additional lockable unit within the existing cabinet.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are encouraged to eat healthily. The culinary preferences and special dietary needs of each young person are taken into consideration when meals are planned. Young people's views are incorporated into the planning and preparation of food. Meals are produced freshly on the premises using local produce. Young people were observed enjoying an evening meal which looked nutritious and was well presented. Meals are social occasions and there are facilities to eat together in the homes dining room. The home’s staff liaise with the local school to avoid the possibility of duplicating similar meals on the same day.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The home, a purpose built facility, provides extremely good quality spacious accommodation. It is structurally sound and in good decorative order. Staff have made the environment 'child friendly' by adorning the walls with picture boards and photographs of young people undertaking activities. Regular maintenance ensures the home is well maintained. The home is supported by a 'Friends of Beaulieu' group that provides additional resources for social and recreational activities. Young people are now benefitting from the creation of a new purpose built play area that has become operational since the last inspection. While this is an excellent facility, the surrounding grounds are somewhat overgrown and would benefit from more regular maintenance.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are supported in maintaining their educational placements and transport is provided to and from school. Staff at the home provide many opportunities for young people to develop their social and life skills during their visits. The home has a range of equipment including educational toys for the use of young people.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff are clearly aware of the difficulties many of the young people experience in processing information. While staff promote positive behaviour they are aware of the involuntary nature of many of the behaviours young people exhibit. Each young person is encouraged to develop a positive self-image and staff continually reinforce positive behaviour with praise and encouragement. Young people are helped to make the link between actions and possible consequences. Negative behaviour is never punished or sanctioned. Challenging behaviour is normally managed by the deployment of diversionary techniques. Young people who self-harm are kept safe by being managed within a soft play area. Staff work closely with parents and teaching staff to ensure young peoples behaviour is addressed in a consistent manner. Most of the young people only spend a few nights a month in the home. During their stays they normally do not have much contact with their parents. However, many

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Outcomes for children and young people

parents accompany young people on their early visits until they are settled.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding . The home provides an important role in supporting families caring for young people with complex disabilities. All referrals come via the local authority's children's panel who determine the nature of the short break support to be provided. Support can range from after school visits to longer term residential placements. The majority of young people access regular overnight stays. Admissions are carefully planned and staff work at the pace of each individual. Young people are introduced to the home via short visits that can include staying for a meal. There are facilities to accommodate parents to help young people settle during their initial overnight stays. All young people, including those who do not undertake overnight stays, are allocated their own room. Young people and their families are provided with detailed information on the nature of the service prior to any admission. Pictorial guides are

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Quality of care

available for young people who experience communication difficulties. The guides explain how to raise concerns or register a complaint.

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Quality of care

The care needs of each young person are identified prior to admission and risk assessments are used to identify any areas of potential concern relating to their health or behaviour. 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 placement plans in response to changing needs.

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Quality of care

Due to the complex care needs of young people staff normally work with them on a one-to-one basis. The views of young people are always considered when staff are being allocated. Young people and staff are carefully matched to ensure compatibility. Staff are extremely attentive to the needs of specific young people in their care and have clearly established good relationships. Staff deploy a range of communication techniques to ascertain the views and wishes of young people and are extremely adept at reading the non-verbal cues of those with communication difficulties. It is clear the young people enjoy the care and attention they receive. Social interaction was observed to be spontaneous and warm. Well established working practices ensure young people are treated with respect and dignity and all activities associated with medical interventions and personal care are dealt with sensitively.

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Quality of care

Young people are encouraged to exercise choice during their visits and are consulted over the activities they wish to participate in. Staff aim to ensure that each young person's visit will be both stimulating and fun. Young people are provided with access to a wide range of social and recreational activities in both the home and local community. Records indicate that recent activities have included visits trips to local parks, beaches leisure centres and the Isle of Wight Festival. Activities in the local community are well planned, appropriately staffed and organised around the needs of the young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is outstanding at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe. Due to their complex disabilities the young people accessing the home are particularly vulnerable. Staff use assessments to identify the particular risks associated with each young person. From the information received strategies are developed to keep individuals safe. All staff have completed child protection training and are aware of their responsibilities to report concerns.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff are not risk averse and during their visits young people are encouraged to participate in activities both within the home and local community. Young people who have a tendency to wander from staff are accompanied by two staff. Staff carry personal detail cards that can be relayed to police in the unlikely event of a young person going missing.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home provides good quality care and accommodation within a safe environment. Access to the home and grounds is limited and entry can only be achieved via the front entrance. All visitors have to introduce themselves to staff and sign in. The home and its equipment are subject to regular health and safety checks. There is clear guidance for staff to follow in the event of a fire. The fire alarm system is tested weekly and full evacuations carried out at regular intervals.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff aim to ensure that young people and their parents are happy with the care they are receiving during their visits. All young people have a designated link worker who liaises regularly with their parents, teachers and social workers. Any concerns raised are addressed before they develop into major difficulties. All parents and young people are, on admission, made aware of how to complain. No complaints have been received since the last inspection.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are outstanding . The home operates with a team of dedicated staff who have sufficient skills, qualifications and experience to meet the needs of the young people accommodated. Staff are recruited via a detailed recruitment process and have to complete an induction programme and demonstrate their competence before assuming their full responsibilities. Staff are provided with strong leadership from the home's experienced manager. The manager is involved in all aspects of the home and is conversant with the specific care needs of each young person. There are suitable arrangements in place to cover the management of the home in the manager's absence. The home has a comprehensive range of policies and procedures that have been translated by staff into highly effective, 'child centred' working practices.

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Leadership and management

All shifts are managed by experienced senior staff who plan activities around the needs and interests of the young people being accommodated. Staff have access to appropriate resources including transport. All external activities are subject to a risk assessment process to ensure adequate staff are deployed. Hand-over meetings ensure that important information is shared with staff on different shifts.

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Leadership and management

There is a culture of training and professional development within the staff team. Staff keep abreast of developments within the chid care field and regularly access training opportunities. Staff receive regular supervision and an annual appraisal. Staff engage in reflective practice and continually look at new ways to develop the service they offer. The success of recent outreach work has highlighted the value of offering support to parents as well as young people. The manager is aware of the need to reflect all new developments in the homes statement of purpose.

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Leadership and management

The home has a comprehensive recording system. Records contain recent and relevant information and they are kept in appropriately locked facilities. The home is subject to regular monitoring visits and copies of the reports were available in the home.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is good .

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