Children's Home run by Keys ACE Limited in Bury

Unique reference number SC420388 Inspection date 26/05/2011 Inspector Julia Toller Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 22/12/2010 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

The setting is a large detached property in its own grounds, providing accommodation for up to three young people who have experienced emotional and behavioural difficulties. A private company owns and operates the setting. The house has on the ground floor a staff office, kitchen/diner area, toilet, lounge area and games room. Bedrooms and bathroom are located on the first floor. There are extensive grounds around the property.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

p.4

Overall effectiveness

Young people live in a warm and safe environment that enables them to have positive outcomes in many areas of their lives. The home has created an atmosphere where young people and staff work together to make sure they are safe, solve problems, lead healthy lifestyles, enjoy learning and achieve, and are well prepared for adult life. Young people are viewed positively by staff and are seen as individuals with different needs, tastes and interests. Their specific needs are clearly identified in written plans that comprehensively outline how their needs will be met on a daily basis.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

Young people say that they are listened to and feel safe within the home. There are regular young people's meetings and young people have key members of staff with whom can they talk to on a one-to-one basis if they are worried or upset. Young people enjoy good relationships with staff based on honesty and respect. Staff are helpful and enjoy spending time with young people. They have clear professional and personal boundaries with young people, consistent with good child care.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

Social Workers who have placed young people within the home are very complimentary about the care that their young person received. They say that the "home works in partnership with the local authority" and that the management and staff of the home are "very helpful and co-operative".

p.4

Overall effectiveness

Placements are usually planned to ensure that the home is the right place for individual young people and is able to help them with their needs.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

There are a couple of shortfalls for improving. These relate to record keeping and window restrictors.

p.4

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.

p.5

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that parts of the home has avoidable hazards removed as reasonably practicable, to ensure young people’s safety. This specifically relates to window restrictors being fitted to the ground floor windows. (Regulation 23 (a)) 04/07/2011

p.5

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 all records kept by the home are monitored to ensure compliance with the homes policies, to identify any concerns about specific incidents and to identify patterns and trends. (NMS 21.2)

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are good .

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people enjoy healthy and nutritious meals, reflecting a range of different cultural tastes that meet their dietary needs. Staff work alongside young people to develop healthy eating within the home. This is aimed at increasing their knowledge of basic nutrition and sets out plans for a balanced diet. Meals served are varied to enhance young people’s health and physical well-being.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people’s health needs are actively promoted; they are registered with a doctor, dentist, optician and other specialist services as required. Young people have detailed plans set out in an accessible and meaningful way identifying their assessed health needs and how they are being met. Young people are monitored to make sure they are healthy by encouraging them to attend routine health checks and by ensuring they get medical treatment when they are unwell. The home has good links with health and advisory services to make sure that young people get suitable support with specific health issues, such as sexual health. Staff deal with health issues sensitively. They make sure young people get appropriate support and advice, including developing their personal care skills, to promote healthy lifestyles.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people

The home plans placements well with the placing authority and relevant agencies to ensure that the home can meet the needs of young people before they are admitted to the home. Time and effort is taken to gather knowledge about young people before they move in to ensure that the home is able to meet their needs and make sure it is the best possible move for them. Whenever possible, young people's introduction to the home is carefully and sensitively planned to address the family and young people's anxieties. Although no young people have as yet left the home, staff are clear about what they need to do to prepare young people for this transition and develop their daily living skills in line with their age and understanding.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are encouraged to make decisions about their lives and to influence the way the home is run. They are involved in decisions about what food they eat and what they do in their spare time. The provider and staff actively seek young people’s views about how well they feel they are looked after. Young people have regular access to an independent advocate to enable them to express their views effectively.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are actively encouraged, where appropriate, to have regular contact with their families to help them maintain and build positive relationships. Staff have completed some very good work in this area to achieve positive outcomes for young people in their care, young people’s social workers are also pleased about the level of support that young people have been given in this area. Staff can provide support for contact arrangements to promote and safeguard young people’s welfare if necessary.

p.6

Quality of care

The quality of the care is good . Young people say that they are consulted about the way in which the home is run and their care. They know about meetings that are to take place, what they are about and how they might affect their lives.

p.6

Quality of care

Young people say that they feel listened to and that their views matter. For example, staff have worked hard with young people to seek their views about their future care and contact arrangements with family. Young people also say that staff talk to them about things like activities, decorating the house and the menus. Good relationships exist between staff and young people. This means that the young people are respectful in their attitude towards staff and that staff are caring in their discussion and approach of young people.

p.8

Quality of care

Whilst there are already good behaviour management arrangements at the home to promote young people's welfare and help them to develop positive behaviour, they are currently under review in line with the age of the young people living at the home at present to prepare them for adult life. Staff believe that it is important for young people to understand the consequences of their behaviour and use appropriate systems to promote this. Good behaviour is rewarded and young people like this.

p.8

Quality of care

Although young people and other stakeholders are provided with the information they need to be able to make a complaint, including making a complaint to outside agencies, recording systems do not always reflect the actions taken to investigate complaints at the home. This does not fully safeguard young people.

p.8

Quality of care

The planning documentation produced by the home is good. It is made up of a number of documents that are monitored regularly to ensure that the needs of young people continue to be met. Staff are provided with guidance from a psychologist to support behaviour management plans. Young people confirm that their views are taken into account and that they are supported to attend their own review. If they do not wish to attend, staff are happy to present their views.

p.8

Quality of care

Young people's health needs are identified and this helps to promote their good health. Health needs are recorded in health plans and these are reviewed to ensure that changing health needs are met. Young people are registered with General Practitioners and other relevant health professionals. Specialist health services are resourced where this is appropriate and staff liaise with these services in order to promote young people's well-being. Information about health promotion is made available to young people in the home. Staff also promote healthy lifestyle choices by talking to young people about these issues. For example, staff are currently developing an ‘information board’ about sexual health as this is something that young people have said they need more information about.

p.8

Quality of care

Young people's health needs are met through good policies and procedures for handling medication and dealing with first aid. Overall medication is well handled.

p.8

Quality of care

Young people's educational needs are also well supported and education is viewed as important. All young people are currently involved in formal education. Staff make good efforts to ensure that young people attend education and do well when they are there. There is good communication between the home and the educational establishments that the young people attend and this supports consistency in care. Facilities within the home are conducive to study.

p.8

Quality of care

Equality and diversity issues are positively addressed in both daily living and care planning. There are well developed strategies within the home for the involvement of young people in their placement plans and daily choices. Young people are actively encouraged, enabled and supported by all staff within the home, to contribute towards their daily care and to reflect on their placement progress. There is consistent written and observational evidence of young people exercising their independent self-help skills and making choices regarding the completion of activities with staff or on their own. Young people are encouraged to exercise a safe degree of self-control over their daily lives.

p.9

Quality of care

The service provides a good standard of accommodation for young people. It is homely, decorated and furnished in accordance with the young people's needs. The home enables young people to have privacy and provides appropriate areas for education work and meetings with for example, friends and family.

p.9

Safeguarding children and young people

The service is good at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe. The home has systems in place to deal with unauthorised absences, which are underpinned by policy, procedure and staff guidance. When young people are missing from care staff do their best to find the young people or to keep in touch with them using mobile phones to ensure they are safe. The home has developed good links with the local police and follows agreed local protocols regarding young people missing from care. Incidents are recorded appropriately and show that for most young people these incidents have reduced significantly since moving to the home. This is something that social workers also praise staff at the home for. Risk assessments are in place detailing individual needs and agreed strategies to support and protect young people.

p.9

Safeguarding children and young people

There has been some level of bullying at the home, but young people say it is not an issue at present. Staff are clear that it will not be tolerated and are aware of their roles and responsibilities should this happen again in the future. Detailed risk assessments are in place about bullying and other risks relevant to individual young people.

p.10

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people respond well to the supporting environment provided and learn through positive relationships and active encouragement to develop socially acceptable behaviour. Young people say that they get on well with most staff and are aware of those they would go to if they had any concerns or complaints about their care at the home. Physical interventions and sanctions are minimal. Staff are currently reviewing their behaviour management system in line with the young people’s ages and understanding.

p.10

Safeguarding children and young people

The safety and rights of young people and staff are protected. Any potential issues of a safeguarding nature are referred to appropriate external agencies for investigation but recording around these issues is not always clear. The home has its own safeguarding procedures which staff are familiar with. All staff are trained in safeguarding as part of their initial induction training package, and this is also part of the ongoing core staff training programme.

p.10

Safeguarding children and young people

General health and safety issues are addressed with a range of risk assessments covering general hazards in and away from the home. However, window restrictors are not in place on the first floor windows, this poses a risk to young people. Service contracts are in place for fire, gas and electrical equipment.

p.10

Safeguarding children and young people

The systems for recruiting and clearing staff, meet with regulatory requirement, with appropriate evidence being retained on site. This provides further safeguards for the young people placed at the home.

p.10

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people's views are taken into account and acted upon. Young people's rights are respected and young people feel confident that they can have their say if they have any issues. Young people are treated with respect and staff help them to achieve good outcomes and experiences in a safe way.

p.10

Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are good . The home is managed by an experienced, qualified and competent manager, who has recently submitted their application to be the Registered Manager of the home to Ofsted. This will provide the service with an effective leader. The organisation has a business plan in place which includes an improvement agenda. This means that they want to continue to improve their service and the outcomes of young people in their care. Staff say that they are supported by the manager and have a clear understanding of their role and responsibilities which helps to ensure that young people are cared for appropriately. They confirm that when they need support and guidance the manager is always available and helpful. Staff are well supported on a daily basis and they receive regular one-to-one supervision, which they find beneficial in their development. This is to monitor their performance,

p.11

Leadership and management

accountability and identify their individual development needs.

p.12

Leadership and management

This was the first inspection of the home and as such there were no requirements or recommendations to be met.

p.12

Leadership and management

Young people are looked after by a staff team who have a range of skills and experience. The skills within the team match the needs of young people living in the home well, and ensures that the care needs of young people are met. The staff team reflects the cultural backgrounds of the young people living in the home and provides both positive male and female role models for young people. The numbers of staff on duty meets the needs of young people. This includes the support they need for activities, visits and appointments.

p.12

Leadership and management

Staff have access to suitable training and further training is planned to meet any highlighted gaps. The training programme covers the needs of the young people and helps to provide staff with the skills and knowledge to effectively do their jobs. Staff understand the individual needs of young people and take appropriate action to meet their cultural and diverse needs. Young people are encouraged to do well in all aspects of their life by staff who act as positive role models. The home promotes the cultural needs of young people well and young people take pride in themselves.

p.12

Leadership and management

The home has a clear Statement of Purpose and this sets out the aims of the home and how it will operate. Young people also receive a children's guide to the home and this gives them useful information including advice about how to seek external support if necessary, for example through the Children's Rights Officer at Ofsted.

p.12

Leadership and management

The home has systems in place to review the quality of care provided. The manager consistently monitors the running of the home every month. They identify areas for improvement and take action to ensure that the home meets young people’s needs and promotes their welfare. A representative on behalf of the owner of the organisation also visits the home every month to monitor how well young people are being cared for. There are systems in place to notify Ofsted of any significant issues that may occur within the home or with regards to the young person placed.

p.12

Leadership and management

With the exception of some minor shortfalls around the recording of complaints and serious incidents at the home, written records provide a clear picture of individual young people’s needs, development and progress. Young people’s records are organised and contain up to date information about them including the relevant documents from placing authorities.

p.12

Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is good .

p.13