Children's Home run by 4d Care Ltd in Cambridgeshire

Unique reference number SC064557 Inspection date 13/07/2011 Inspector Deirdra Keating Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 21/03/2011 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

The home is privately owned. It is registered to look after a maximum of six young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. There are education facilities within the grounds of the home.

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Brief description of the service

The home works flexibly to meet the needs of young people's placement plans as identified by local authorities. The home supports young people to achieve positive moves to independence, supported accommodation or alternative placements.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

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Overall effectiveness

The service provides personalised, well planned care with good success resulting in positive outcomes for young people. Young people report that the quality of care in the home is very good and by far the best they have received. This is a result of the strong established attachments between staff and young people. These relationships and good staff practice help young people feel safe and secure.

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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

17B (2001) ensure that within 24 hours of the use of any measure of control or discipline a written record is kept which shall include a description of the measure, the effectiveness and any consequence of the use of the measure, this is in particular reference to imposing financial sanctions. (Regulation 17 (3)(c)(f)) 27/07/2011

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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

 provide a record of supervision detailing the time, date and length of each supervision held for each member of staff, ensure that the record is signed by the supervisor and the member of staff (NMS 19.5)  ensure that all existing care staff have attained a minimum level 3 qualification. (NMS 18.5)

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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

Young people make significant progress, they are settled and know staff very well. These relationships have helped them develop emotional security and confidence in their abilities and skills. Young people are a credit to themselves, they are polite, helpful and insightful, providing their views of the service to inform the inspection. Additionally they help with household chores, keep the garden and vegetable patch tidy and actively take part in decisions made in the house. Young people are active and adventurous, they take part in a wide range of outdoor and physical activities that have given them many memorable experiences and build on their self- confidence.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people's health needs are carefully addressed. They attend professional health appointments locally with staff who persistently promote attendance. Missed appointments are regularly re-booked and young people are strongly encouraged to attend to ensure their physical health needs are met. The home employs a psychologist to help young people understand the complexity of their diverse background experiences and subsequent emotions. Young people know their families are valued by staff. They have contact with important adults and family as agreed in placement plans. Young people report that flexible and on-hand support from staff helps them build relationships with their families because they feel safe and supported by staff while on contact visits.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people reaching the stage of independent living are given careful consideration and time to ensure that the right support is in place to help them make a transition towards adult life. Young people explore local work and public transport options to help them work towards independence. They also help with household chores including cooking, shopping, gardening and personal laundry and these contribute towards adult life skills.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people have made significant progress in their participation in education. All young people attend education in mainstream school, on-site education or college placements. In relation to their past educational experiences this is a great success. Young people have daily incentives for attendance through a point system that they understand which adds to their weekly pocket money.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The home is situated in a rural village close to towns and amenities. Young people have established themselves in the local vicinity and meet up with their friends in the town. There are annual celebrations held at the home to which local people, staff and families are invited. Young people also benefit from attending local events, festivals and celebrations. This encourages young people to try new outdoor pursuits and get to know the local area. These events are revisited yearly and are eagerly anticipated by the young people and staff.

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Quality of care

Staff at the home are warm, tactile, energetic and fun. There are a wide range of activities that staff undertake with young people to broaden their experiences and take on new challenges. Young people report that staff are there for them and that they could always approach them with a concern. Staff provide clear boundaries and this helps young people understand how to behave in a socially acceptable way. The staff team are diverse in age, culture and race and this provides different role models and support benefitting all young people. Young people report that staff are extremely helpful, know them very well and they would share any worries with them.

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Quality of care

There is a well publicised complaint process that young people are aware of but have had no reason to use. Staff seek young people's views in a spontaneous and natural way and these shape activities, menus, outings and décor in the home. Staffs' good knowledge of each young person's unique characteristics means that all young people are able to contribute their views towards the running of the home. This in- depth knowledge and understanding of each young person is recorded well in placement plans. Clear and concise action plans set targets for each young person to achieve with staff. This has resulted in a holistic approach that is geared to staff actively promoting positive outcomes for young people in all areas of their lives. The unique family backgrounds and cultural identity of each young person are fully understood by staff, positively addressed and recorded well. This helps staff to understand each young person as an individual and provide them with differing

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Quality of care

strategies and incentives that are tailored specifically for them. Sanctions are used to help young people adhere to house rules, build good morals and encourage personal safety. Some of these include small weekly contributions towards breakages and damage to the house. These, however, are not currently recorded as sanctions.

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Quality of care

The home is an old property of character situated in the heart of a rural village. There are amenities close by that young people use such as the shop and park. The décor and furnishings of the house are in keeping with its style. This has resulted in a welcoming and cosy country-style house which young people say that they really like. Bedrooms are spacious and represent the individual tastes and preferences of young people. Staff keep the house and garden well maintained and clean.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is good at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe. Young people are relaxed around the home and say that they feel safe and know their belongings are generally safe. There are some instances where items go missing but staff are quick to take action in response. Young people are given keys to their rooms and can enjoy private space away from the rest of the house. Young people are always encouraged to let staff know where they are. The service provides young people with mobile phone contracts in order that they can make private calls and staff can contact them when they are out. Young people socialise locally and are given freedom to spend time with friends out in the community. There are some incidences when young people go missing from the home and these are clearly documented. In addition individual protocols have been drawn up with the police and social workers to ensure appropriate safety plans reflect each young person's

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Safeguarding children and young people

Risk assessment plans are part of each placement plan and identify risks and triggers for individuals. There are also risk assessments for all activities some of which present physical risk and challenge. These are planned carefully, necessary equipment is sought and staff meet to make plans and consider all safety aspects.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Positive behaviour is encouraged by all staff who have high expectations and aspirations for young people. Staff expect young people to help around the home and contribute to daily chores. There are times when restraints are used by staff who are trained in the use of safe and appropriate intervention. Young people report that at these times on reflection staff have acted with fairness placing the safety of all in the house first to justify the intervention.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The staff team are long serving and there are few new recruits. Staff files show that all staff undertake robust checks to ensure they are suitable and experienced to work with vulnerable young people. Careful selection of staff has resulted in a multi-skilled and well-qualified team who's strengths complement one another well. Agency staff unknown to the manager are not used, this helps young people feel safe and secure. There have been no allegations or suspicions of harm, although staff receive regular training and know what to do in the event of a child protection incident.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are good . The home offers care and accommodation for young people in line with its statement of purpose which is shared with local commissioners. The registered manager and responsible person work closely to oversee the running of the home. There is genuine interest and attachment to young people. The home has made improvements over the last year and can identify strengths and weakness. Recommendations raised previously have been acted upon and there is a clear development plan to address some environmental issues.

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Leadership and management

The registered person monitors the home closely and also uses monthly reports complied by an independent visitor. These are clear, detailed and require actions to be followed up after visit's. This helps staff reflect and improve their practice. Staff receive support from the registered manager who in turn is supervised by the registered person. While staff feel they have the support that they need, supervision records are not up to date and lack the required detail.

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Leadership and management

The staff team are experienced and motivated. Staff are generally qualified for the post, although not all staff have a level 3 qualification despite being in post for some time. Staff are sufficient in number and work an intense shift pattern which promotes very good continuity of care for young people as staff are on site for several days at a time. Staff shifts are replaced one at a time, this helps promote consistency and follow up of any events and incidences. All significant events are reported appropriately and records show good reporting. Documentation is stored securely and staff maintain sensitivity and confidentiality regarding young people's personal records.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is good .

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