Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Birmingham

Unique reference number SC396463 Inspection date 31/08/2011 Inspector Linda Brown Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 24/03/2011 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 service provides short to long-term care for two young people aged between 11 years and 17 years. It has close links with two other nearby homes operated by the same organisation.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be outstanding .

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Overall effectiveness

This home provides an outstanding quality of care to the young people it accommodates. Young people benefit from a well managed, committed, enthusiastic and well trained staff team. Staff encourage and support the young people in a caring, safe and healthy environment to achieve excellent outcomes in all aspects of their lives. A strength of the home is the excellent working relationships they have with other professionals, providing a holistic package of care tailored to the individual needs of the young people. There are good systems in place for preparing young people for independence. Education is fully supported and achievements are celebrated. Young people are encouraged to develop positive relationships with their families and significant adults in their lives. Young people confirm that they take an active role in decisions being made about their futures and in the day-to-day living at the home. The management team make good use of the robust monitoring system in

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Overall effectiveness

place to continually develop and improve the care provided to the young people. No requirements or recommendations are made as a result of this inspection.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are outstanding .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Excellent care and support is provided to address a young person’s physical, emotional and psychological needs. Links are established with a range of health professionals who work in partnership with staff and young people. As a result of this practice young people are making exceptional progress to develop a positive self- view, emotional resilience and knowledge and understanding of their backgrounds.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people speak positively regarding their school placements and take pride when talking about their awards and certificates that are displayed in the home. They have a desk in their bedrooms or are able to use the dining room if they need to complete any homework or study. Taking into account the starting point at the time of their placement, young people are making exceptional progress and are now working towards achieving academic exams relevant to their age. Young people are able to demonstrate a clear understanding of the contact arrangements in place for family and friends. Staff work closely with families in line with placement plans, likewise, any restrictions are clearly noted. Young people speak positively of the support they are given by staff to ensure that contact goes ahead. For example, staff arrange transport for families to visit the home, or transport is provided for young people in order to facilitate their contact. Feedback

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Outcomes for children and young people

from one parent commented about their visit 'very welcoming I felt very relaxed'. This ensures that young people are provided with the support to establish positive relationships with significant people in their lives.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Excellent systems are in place to provide young people with a gradual and individual transition into adulthood. Although young people are currently not old enough to be on full independence programmes, independence tasks are completed by all young people. This provides a gradual progression into planning for moving on to a semi- independent programme. Pathway plans are then completed with young people who are approaching adulthood. This enables young people to develop the skills required to make a successful transition into adulthood.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

The atmosphere at the home is relaxed and calm and it is evident that staff form strong and positive relationships with young people who thrive within this caring and supportive environment. Staff place the young people’s well-being at the heart of their work and are able to demonstrate an excellent understanding of the individual needs and moods of the young people. They are able to adapt their care practice to accommodate these needs and tailor the service around the needs of the young people. Excellent plans and guidance are available for staff that clearly identify the young people's individual needs. This includes their, gender, sexual orientation, cultural, religious and dietary needs. Social workers work in partnership with the staff, one social worker commented, 'I am very happy with the standard of care the young person is receiving in this happy, relaxed, friendly, informative residential

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Quality of care

home. Like a home from home always a cup of tea on offer'.

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Quality of care

Detailed and robust behaviour management plans and risk assessments provide staff with the guidance to manage individual behaviours in a calm, supported and consistent way. Regular training is provided for staff with regard to diffusion and physical restraint. Young people speak with enthusiasm regarding the very positive relationships they have with staff. Young people state that staff understand them and are able to give examples of how staff react to different situations. Such as, ‘staff know when to give me space, but are there when I want to talk’ and 'staff help me to understand my behaviour and encourage and support me to achieve my rewards'.

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Quality of care

The management and staff positively encourage young people to take an active role in decisions being made about their lives. Young people state that they attend their meetings where plans are discussed and reviewed. They explain that they have several opportunities to discuss their views and wishes, for example, through key worker sessions, young people’s meetings and in regular conversations with the Registered Manager and staff. Young people are able to give examples of some of involvement they have and the choices they make regarding the day-to-day living at the home. This includes personalising their individual bedrooms, discussing colour schemes and ideas for the lounge area, choosing outings, activities, clothing, personal items and menu choices. Young people are aware of the role of the independent advocacy service and contact details are displayed in the home however, young people stated that they do not feel the need to access this service at

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Quality of care

There is an effective and robust complaints system in place. Young people state that they feel safe at the home, and that they are confident that staff will resolve any concerns they may have. They are also aware of the role of the advocacy service and their social worker if they feel they need to take a complaint further. Young people confirmed that there are no issues at the home with regard to bullying. Information is available for young people who feel confident that they would tell staff if they had any concerns.

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Quality of care

A strength of the home is the excellent working relationships the management and staff have formed with a range of professionals, such as the youth offending team (YOT), police, education and health workers. However, some exceptional work takes place with the child and adolescent mental health service (CHAMS). Staff work in close partnership with this service and all decisions, risk assessments and plans regarding young people are discussed with the service. Also, strategies are developed to ensure that appropriate action is taken to address and support young people through some very difficult periods of their lives. As a result of this excellent working practice young people are cared for by staff who have the skills to provide young people with coping mechanisms and methods to help them to deal with and understand their own behaviours. Robust systems are in place for the administration and storage of medication. Staff are trained in first aid and medication

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Quality of care

administration. This means that children and young people benefit from staff that are committed to promoting and addressing their health needs.

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Quality of care

The management and staff ensure that young people are provided with suitable education provision to meet their individual needs. They work closely with the looked after children education service (LACES) and schools to ensure that young people participate fully and any barriers are effectively challenged. Staff are enthusiastic and proud of the educational achievements of the young people. Certificates and awards are displayed around the home and staff encourage and support young people to achieve their individual goals. Positive feedback received from LACES' staff states 'very individualised care, relaxed and comfortable atmosphere' Young people speak highly about their schools and are proud of their personal achievements. One young person stated ‘I can’t wait to go back after the holidays, I love school’. This practice ensures that young people are supported to reach their full academic potential.

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from taking part in a range of purposeful and enjoyable activities. Young people are encouraged to complete weekly activity planners with staff, which show a variety of planned activities. Pictures are displayed around the home of young people undertaking both in-house and external activities, such as rock climbing, skiing, theme parks, beauty courses and themed events held at the home. Young people speak with enthusiasm and pleasure about the photographs and the memories of the activities and the fun they have. Themed nights are held regularly and identify a country. Information is then resourced and a display is made showing details about the country, culture and menu. A meal is then prepared with young people for this event. Although fun, many of these evenings are educational, for example, quizzes are held and information is shared. As in all areas of the care provided to young people activities are tailored to

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Quality of care

Young people are provided with a home that is appropriately located, designed and maintained. The home is a domestic style property in keeping with the local community. The home is located in a busy cosmopolitan, multi-cultural and ethnically diverse area, within easy access to a city. This allows the young people to access a range of cultural and recreational facilities, such as parks, libraries, sport and leisure centres, a medical centre, schools, shops, various places of worship and public transport. The atmosphere at the home is warm and welcoming. The home is well maintained, clean, homely and comfortable. Staff are imaginative and work with young people to resolve any issues, for example, a large chalk board is in place in one young person bedroom so they can write on the board and avoid writing on walls. Young people felt this was a really good idea. Young people's bedrooms are personalised, one young person retuned from shopping during the inspection having

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is outstanding at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There are excellent systems in place to ensure that young people feel safe and are safe. Staff receive regular training and are able to demonstrate an excellent understanding of the safeguarding procedures and process for reporting an incident.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff actively encourage young people to keep themselves safe and have worked closely with other professional services, such as, CAMHS, YOT, social workers and the police. As a result, some outstanding work regarding protecting young people is taking place. Excellent risk assessments are regularly monitored and reviewed to enable young people to develop and take age appropriate risks but in a planned and safe way. Young people also comment that they feel safe at the home. They speak openly about the systems in place to keep them safe and are proud of the progress they are making to reduce behaviours which cause concern. This means that young people live in an environment that encourages and supports them to keep themselves safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people state that they are happy at the home and therefore do not feel the need to go missing. However, in the unlikely event of this happening staff are fully aware of the systems in place for reporting, searching for and responding to young people on their return. Staff are able to demonstrate an excellent understanding of the young people and therefore would take immediate action if this situation arose. Procedures are kept up to date and are in line with the new runaway and missing from home and care protocols (RMFHC). This practice ensures that young people are protected as far as possible and are responded to appropriately on their return.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Behaviour is managed very well, reward systems are in place and young people are encouraged and supported to respond positively. Excellent guidance is available in young people plans to ensure that staff have the appropriate guidance to manage difficult and challenging behaviours. Minimal sanctions are used and physical interventions are only ever used as a last resort when all other diffusion techniques have failed and young people are at risk. If this occurs the Registered Manager spends time with the staff involved looking at the situation, the build up and staff reactions to see if the situation could have been handled in a different way. If necessary additional training is provided. Time is also spent with the young person involved to ensure that they have the opportunity to discuss their views and feelings. This excellent practice ensures that positive behaviour is promoted and restraint is only used in strict accordance with the legislative framework.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people's protection is further supported by good health and safety routines and robust recruitment practice. Recruitment is completed in line with the organisation’s recruitment and selection process. The Registered Manager is able to explain the process involved. Ofsted have planned to complete a full inspection of recruitment records in September 2011. Visitors sign in and are checked on arrival and briefed on fire evacuation procedures. There is a designated member of staff responsible for health and safety, risk assessment fire checks and equipment checks are all maintained and up to date. Scenarios are staged for fire drills to ensure that young people are aware of exit routes. This practice means that young people are protected and cared for by staff who are appropriately vetted and checked.

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Leadership and management

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

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Leadership and management

Young people benefit from living in a home that is exceptionally well managed. The newly appointed Registered Manager has a range of experience and is motivated and committed to delivering an outstanding service for young people.

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Leadership and management

The manager continually monitors the progress at the home and continues to develop the service through this monitoring. There were no requirements or recommendations set at the previous inspection. However, Regulation 33 reports identify the continued improvements being made at the home with regard to behaviour management, record keeping and ensuring all documentation is up to date. Plans are in place for further developments which will be assessed at the next inspection. The responsible individual ensures that both management and staff are aware of any changes in legislation, for example the new inspection framework, National Minimum Standards and RMFHC protocols. The Registered Manager and staff speak highly of the training opportunities they are given and staff feel valued by the provided who is committed to developing their knowledge and skills. Staff are able to list a range of training they have completed in

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Leadership and management

addition to planned training for the future. One staff member praised the organisation for investing in them and enabling them to complete both specialist training and their National Vocational Qualification award. Staff receive regular supervision and any shortfalls in their knowledge or practice is discussed and appropriate training is identified. Staff feel confident to approach the management and discuss any concerns that they may have, they feel well supported and state that advice and support is available at any time of the day or night. Newly appointed staff complete their mandatory training prior to starting work with the young people and then move on to complete the Children's Workforce Development Council induction programme. This ensures that young people are cared for by staff that have the knowledge and skills to meet their individual needs and are kept up to date with professional and legal developments.

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Leadership and management

The staff team provides a good balance in terms of age, gender and ethnicity. Staff speak highly of their colleagues and the strength and stability of the staff team. Staff are motivated and enthusiastic and committed to delivering an excellent service to the young people in their care. Team meetings are held regularly which enables them to share their ideas and concerns in an open and professional way. It also allows them to develop their practice to provide a consistent and effective service to young people.

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Leadership and management

The home’s Statement of Purpose and young people’s guide clearly describe the service to be provided to young people. This means that young people, carers, families and placing authorities are clear about the service provided and the support available to meet individual needs.

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Leadership and management

Good systems ensure that significant events are notified to the relevant professionals. All records maintained on children are stored securely at the home and provide clear up-to-date information. This ensures that appropriate action is taken regarding incidents and young people are provided with relevant and up-to-date information about their lives.

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Leadership and management

Robust and detailed systems are in place for the monitoring and development of the home. Regulation 33 visits take place monthly and provide an excellent monitoring tool for the Registered Manager who responds immediately to any concerns or actions raised from the visit. In addition, the manager completes his own monitoring. Records show several entries where the manager has made changes or comments and where necessary booked additional training if areas of weakness are identified.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is outstanding .

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