Children's Home run by Adecyn Children’s Homes Limited in Birmingham

Unique reference number SC423617 Inspection date 19/07/2011 Inspector Linda Brown Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 08/04/2011 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 provides three placements for young people of both sexes between the ages of 13 years to 17 years. It aims to provide a nurturing environment in which to develop and prepare young people for a return to family; foster care or independent living.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be inadequate .

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Overall effectiveness

The home provides an inadequate quality of care to the young people accommodated at the home. The Statement of Purpose, young people's guide, policies and procedures provide detailed information regarding the care that is to be provided. However, these procedures are not being implemented into the day-to-day running of the home. This report identifies significant weakness in all outcome areas with particular regard to behaviour management, safeguarding and the overall leadership and management of the home.

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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 the children's home is conducted so as to make proper provision for the care, education, supervision and where appropriate, treatment of children accommodated there, with particular regard to the matching process (Regulation 11 (1)(b)) 29/08/2011

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the promotion of the contact of each child with their parents, relatives and friends is in accordance with the arrangements set out in their placement plan (Regulation 15 (1)(a)) 29/08/2011

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that a procedure is followed when a child accommodated in a children's home is absent without permission which has regard to any relevant local authority or police protocols on missing children (Regulation 16 (4)(b)) 29/08/2011

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Reg. Requirement Due date

17B ensure that the registered person shall prepare and implement 29/08/2011 (2001) a written policy (in this regulation referred to as the “behaviour management policy”) which sets out the means whereby appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the home, with particular regard to its implementation (Regulation 17B (1)(b)) 17B (2001) ensure that within 24 hours of the use of any measure of control, restraint or discipline in a children’s home, a written record is made in a volume kept for the purpose (Regulation 17B (3)) 29/08/2011

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the promotion of the educational achievement of children accommodated in the children’s home and the routine of the home is organised so as to further children’s participation in education if of compulsory school age or regular attendance at college where appropriate (Regulation 18 (1)(b)) 29/08/2011

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that children accommodated in the home are encouraged to develop and pursue appropriate leisure interests (Regulation 18 (2)(a)) 29/08/2011

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that suitable arrangements are made for the recording, handling, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of any medicines received into the children's home (Regulation 21 (1)) 29/08/2011

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that there are a sufficient number of suitably qualified, competent and experienced persons working at the home (Regulation 25 (1)) 29/08/2011

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that full and satisfactory information is available in relation to each member of staff in respect of the matters specified in Schedule 2, with particular regard to written references and Criminal Record Bureau checks (Regulation 26 (3)(d)) 29/08/2011

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that staff receive appropriate supervision and appraisal (Regulation 27 (4)(a)) 29/08/2011

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that staff receive appropriate training with particular regard to safeguarding, behaviour management and restraint, first aid, medication, health and safety and basic food hygiene (Regulation 27 (4)(a)) 29/08/2011

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the registered provider shall visit the home and interview with consent the children accommodated there, their parents and relatives and persons working at the home in order to form an opinion of the standard of care provided at the home and prepare a written report, with particular regard to the content and accuracy of these reports (Regulation 33 (4)(a)) 29/08/2011

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the registered person shall establish and maintain a system for improving the quality of care provided in the children’s home (Regulation 34 (1)(b)) 29/08/2011

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Reg. Requirement Due date

12A (2001) ensure that children are cared for in line with their individual placement/care plan. (Regulation 12A) 29/08/2011

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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 that sanctions and rewards for behaviour are clear, reasonable and fair and are understood by all staff and children (NMS 3.8)  ensure that the home's approach to care minimises the need for police involvement to deal with challenging behaviour and avoids criminalising children unnecessarily. The home follows procedures and guidance on police involvement in the home, which have been agreed with the local police (NMS 3.22)  ensure that the registered person regularly reviews incidents of challenging behaviour and examines trends or issues emerging from this to enable staff to reflect and learn to inform future practice (NMS 3.21)  ensure that there are systems in place, with particular regard to the records maintained of key worker sessions and young people's meetings, to ensure that children's opinions are sought over key decisions that affect their daily lives and future (NMS 1.1)  ensure that risk assessments are carried out to identify any potential sources of

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Recommendations

harm to the children and are recorded in writing and regularly reviewed (NMS 10.8)  ensure that no child is admitted in an emergency unless explicitly included as a function of the home and that the home is, at the time of admission, able to provide a bedroom and appropriate facilities, with particular regard to adequate staffing (NMS 11.7)  ensure that a review is initiated no more than 72 hours after any emergency admission to consider whether the child should remain at the home or if it is in that child's interests to move to a different placement (NMS 11.7)  ensure that the home contributes to the development of each child's care plan, including the pathway plan for 'eligible' care leavers and works collaboratively with the young person's social worker or personal advisor in implementing the plan (NMS 12.2)  ensure that children are supported to develop practical skills, including shopping, buying, cooking and keeping food, washing clothes, personal care, and

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Recommendations

understanding and taking responsibility for personal healthcare (NMS 12.1(e))  ensure that all new staff engaged from commencement of the National Minimum Standards (April 2011) are to hold the level 3 Children and Young People's Workforce Diploma which must include mandatory social care units; or be working towards the Diploma within 6 months of confirmation of employment (NMS 18.5)  ensure that new staff undertake the Children's Workforce Development Councils induction standard, commencing within 7 working days of starting their employment and being completed within 6 months (NMS 18.3)  ensure that suitable arrangements exist for professional supervision of the registered person of the agency (NMS 19.3)  ensure that all staff’s work is consistent with these Regulations and National Minimum Standards and the home's policies and procedures (NMS 21.3)  ensure that each child’s placement plan is monitored by a key worker within the

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Recommendations

home who ensures that the requirements of the plan are implemented in the day-to-day care of the child (NMS 25.2)  ensure that children are assisted to obtain the support of an independent advocate to help them in providing their views, wishes and feelings to statutory reviews (NMS 25.7)  ensure that children's health is promoted in accordance with their placement plans and staff are clear about their responsibilities. (NMS 6.5)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are inadequate .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Health plans address the health needs of young people and identify the resources available to meet their individual needs. However, not all young people living at the home have health plans in place. Young people's choices at times makes it difficult to engage them in pursuing professional advice. Staff do not provide incentives or support to encourage young people to have their health needs addressed. The inconsistency in practice and support means that several issues regarding the health needs of young people remain unresolved.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people living at the home are outside the legal school age and, therefore, are looking at college placements or employment. Discussion with young people confirmed that although they may be aware of some plans for their future placements, timescales are unclear and this has created issues when considering applying for college placements. As a result no applications are being made to local or distant colleges. While awaiting decisions and future placements the staff do not consistently provide young people with structure or activities during the day. Some young people will engage with staff and participate in activities, however, others spend time watching television or leaving the unit to socialize with friends. The lack of placement planning and structure to the day has resulted in a shortfall of education provision being provided to the young people living at the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Rooms are made available for young people to meet with their visitors in private. There are examples of detailed contact arrangements in young people's placement plans that are facilitated well, however, these plans and contact details are not in place for all of the young people living at the home. This means that practice is not consistent and the lack of formal arrangements could compromise the welfare of young people if inappropriate contact is permitted.

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Outcomes for children and young people

One young person confirmed that they are working towards independence and is able to give examples of some of the tasks. For example, shopping, preparing and cooking food keeping their room tidy and washing. Staff support this view, however, there is no structure to developing a young person's independence skills or monitoring the progress being made. This practice makes it difficult to accurately assess a young person’s progress for a successful transition into adult hood.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is inadequate . There has been significant changes to the staffing at the home which has resulted in inconsistent practice in the management of behaviour. Guidance is provided to young people at the time of their admission regarding the expectations of the home and the rules of the house. The behaviour management policy is ineffective as staff and young people are unclear what systems are in place. For example, young people's files contain copies of letters sent to young people clearly explaining the consequences of certain actions but these are not followed through. One file contains a very detailed and informative behaviour management plan, however, staff are unaware of its contents and are permitting behaviours and activities that are clearly identified in the plans as unacceptable.

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Quality of care

One young person is able to demonstrate a good understanding of how a reward system should work and felt strongly aggrieved that there was not an effective system in place to recognise the progress being made and provide encouragement for the areas to improve. The newly appointed acting manager has identified many of the shortfalls and is able to demonstrate the need for improvement and consistency in several areas, for example, behaviour management plans, reward systems, the use of police at the home and staff training. She is working closely with the provider and staff team to make changes and address the concerns, however, these changes are not yet implemented into practice. This means that young people are not supported to behave appropriately as they are not provided with clear boundaries or encouraged to take responsibility for their actions.

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Quality of care

Staff spend time with young people who confirm that they do have the opportunity to discuss their views and wishes. Records show evidence of limited discussions, however, young people feel confident that their views and wishes are listened to even if they can not always be met. Young people also have a good understanding of the complaints system and are certain that their concerns will be taken seriously. Staff and young people are unsure of the availability of an independent advocacy service. Young people show a good understanding of the systems and understand that finances are not always readily available for more costly changes. Young people speak positively of the home and the staff saying that it is the best place they have been. Despite the poor planning, staff shortage and inconsistencies, young people feel that they are cared for by staff. One young person explained how they had been treated when they had arrived at the home. They stated that staff were welcoming,

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Quality of care

caring and considerate. Staff took time to explain about the home and provide a meal before taking the young person shopping to ensure that they had the necessary clothing and toiletries.

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Quality of care

Placement plans are completed covering a range of areas. Although detailed in places, plans are either not being followed or are not available for all of the young people living at the home. One placing social worker confirmed that pathway plans and life skills folders have been provided, however, pathway plans could not be located and management and staff are unaware of there content. The home receives minimal information regarding emergency placements made at the home; there are no risk assessments in place or 72 hour placement meetings planned. The home's care planning is inconsistent, inadequate and out of date in some areas and this means that young people, staff, carers and families are unclear regarding young people’s care objectives.

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Quality of care

Medication is appropriately stored. Systems are in place for administering medication, however, when the medication administration sheets received from the chemist run out there is no contingency plan for recording medication administration. This results in poor records being maintained. Not all of the staff are trained in first aid or medication administration. The acting manager has identified this shortfall and is in the process of resourcing training. There have been no incidents regarding the administration of medication, however, the potential for errors to be made is increased if accurate records and staff training are not maintained.

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from being cared for by a multicultural staff team. Staff are able to demonstrate an understanding of the need to cater for individual needs in terms of race, culture, religion and gender. Young people confirmed that personal items, special hair and skin care products are readily available and additional funding is provided if any specialist products or needs are identified. Staff are aware of the resources available to access if additional information or guidance is required in a specific area.

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Quality of care

The home is a domestic style property in keeping with the local community. The home is clean and tidy and in a good state of repair. Young people confirm that they have the opportunity to personalise their rooms and give their ideas and suggestions about the decor in communal areas. There is a large garden but with limited equipment. The young people and staff state that this is an area which they would like to develop with a garden table, chairs and a barbeque.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is inadequate at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe. Discussion with staff confirmed that several of the staff are not trained in safeguarding. However, they are confident that they would report any concern or disclosure to the manager who would then report it to the appropriate people. The manager stated that due to the recent changes in the staff team many of the recently trained staff have moved on, therefore, safeguarding training is being planned as a matter of urgency. Young people stated that they feel safe at the home and there have been no incidents of bullying.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There are no clear risk assessments or guidance for staff to follow in the event of young people going missing. Records are maintained in this event, however, time scales for reporting a young person are unclear. Contact has been made with the local police officer but there is no formal process in place and the acting manager is not aware of the Runaway and Missing from Home and Care (RMFHC) protocol and procedures maintained and managed by the police or local authority. This practice may compromise the safety of the young people if they are not reported missing within the appropriate timescales and procedures are not followed in line with the RMFHC protocol.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There are several issues regarding behaviour management; young people do not benefit from positive incentive systems or reward charts. Plans are not monitored or reviewed and sanction records are not appropriately maintained. Errors picked up during Regulation 33 monitoring do not accurately show how the situation is resolved. Although there have been no physical interventions, several members of the staff team are new and have not completed their training. Staff do have a good understanding of the need to defuse situations to reduce any potential risk, however, staff stated that even after the training they do not feel confident and are, therefore, very reluctant to become involved in a physical intervention situation. This has resulted in police being called to the home to manage situations. Young people also commented regarding this practice and felt unhappy about the police being called to the home when they are misbehaving.

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Safeguarding children and young people

A dedicated senior staff member is responsible for the health and safety at the home. Information supplied by the manager during the inspection shows that all health and safety and fire checks are completed regularly. Some issues have been identified regarding young people refusing to participate in fire drills, however, risk assessments are not updated to reflect these changes and this could pose a potential risk to young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The recruitment and selection process does not adequately protect young people. Staff are taking up positions at the home before all the appropriate checks have taken place. Possible candidates are being given trial days at the home and working with young people without the appropriate, checks, risk assessment and supervision in place. Discussion with the responsible individual and acting manager confirmed that this practice will stop with immediate effect and appropriately qualified and vetted agency staff will be employed to cover the shortfalls.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are inadequate .

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Leadership and management

This is the first inspection since the home's registration in April 2011. During this time there have been significant changes to the staff team employed at the home. The Registered Manager is currently away from work and an acting manager has very recently taken up post. The acting manager is experienced; she is supported by the responsible individual and recently appointed senior staff. Since her appointment she has identified several of the concerns raised in this report; although action is being taken to address them, they are not yet implemented into practice.

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Leadership and management

Five members of staff have left since the home opened resulting in the home being left very short staffed. There is a high ratio of inexperienced and unqualified staff, many of which have not completed their mandatory training in several areas, such as, safeguarding, physical intervention, first aid, medication and basic food hygiene. The acting manager has identified the training needs, some training is already booked and she is currently planning and resourcing training to address the shortfalls.

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Leadership and management

Staff are not following an planned induction programme or receiving any formal supervision; some staff are working long hours to ensure that the rotas are adequately covered. Recruitment is currently taking place and the acting manager and responsible individual are keen to balance the staff team with some experienced and qualified staff. Young people speak positively of the relationship they have with staff, however, without the appropriate training and support, young people are being cared for by staff that do not have the knowledge and skills to meet their individual care needs.

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Leadership and management

The Statement of Purpose sets out the aims and objectives for the home and provides young people, families, carers and professional’s with detailed information about the home. The Statement of Purpose does not clearly define their role with regard to emergency admissions. This lack of clarity has created some issues for the management and staff when emergency placements are made. Impact risk assessments do not take place. The lack of information, matching and planning could impact significantly on other young people living the home.

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Leadership and management

Although the responsible individual completes Regulation 33 visits, detailed monitoring is not taking place. There is no evidence that concerns identified during the visits are appropriately dealt with and managed. The manager is aware of the need to complete Regulation 34 monitoring, however, this is not yet implemented. Management and staff are not fully aware of the new inspection framework and changes to the national minimum standards and, therefore, have not implemented them into their day-to-day practice. This practice indicates that the home is not being effectively monitored or efficiently managed.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is inadequate .

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