Children's Home run by Leicester City Council in Leicester

Unique reference number SC039056 Inspection date 20/09/2011 Inspector Joanne Vyas / Pete Hylton Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 26/03/2011 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

This local authority owned children's home is registered to provide short break for up to nine children and young people. The home caters for children with learning difficulties, physical disabilities, complex health needs and challenging behaviours allied to their learning difficulties.

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Brief description of the service

The home is registered to care for up to five children under short break arrangements and up to four children under other arrangements.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be outstanding .

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Overall effectiveness

This is an outstanding home with clear strengths. The staff team are committed to helping all children to progress and are led by an experienced, capable and passionate manager. Children enjoy living at the home and make excellent progress in all areas of their lives.

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Overall effectiveness

There are some identified areas where improvement can be made. These relate to the physical environment, the use of monitoring equipment and the use of beds that prevent children leaving their bed, therefore, restricting their freedom of movement. While carefully planned, documented and agreed with all relevant parties, these need to be considered in line with the Children’s Homes Regulations 2001 and the national minimum standards. However, children’s health and well-being have not suffered as a result of these measures.

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Overall effectiveness

Children's health has significantly improved as a result of staying at this home. The safety of children is paramount and a well-trained, highly qualified and committed staff team work hard to keep children safe and happy. Children enjoy staying at the home and this is reflected in the comments from parents. Children are happy, relaxed and enjoy the activities on offer. The recent improvements to facilities have resulted in children enjoying an improved outdoor play area, soft play and sensory rooms.

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Overall effectiveness

There are excellent links between the home and school. Children benefit from well- trained and committed staff. Staff are well supported by a competent and highly skilled management team. Care planning is of a high standard and ensures the individual needs of all children are thoroughly met and reviewed. Parents are extremely happy with the home. A parent commented 'just keep up the work and we thank them for all the help and support they have given.'

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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 electronic measuring devices used for the surveillance of children are not used in a children's home, except for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned and are no more restrictive than necessary, having regard to the child's need for privacy (Regulation 22 (1)(d)) 28/10/2011

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure all parts of the children's home used by children are kept clean and reasonably decorated and maintained (Regulation 31 (2)(e)) 28/10/2011

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure all parts of the home to which children have access are so far as reasonably practicable free from hazards to their health or safety (Regulation 23 (a)) 28/10/2011

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that adequate means of escape is provided in the event of fire (Regulation 32 (1)(b)) 28/10/2011

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Reg. Requirement Due date

17A (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 and that the only reasons for use of restraint are as detailed in Regulation 17A. (Regulation 17A & 17B) 28/10/2011

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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 the home does not restrict liberty of any child as a matter of routine or provides any form of secure accommodation unless that home is an approved secure children's home (NMS 3:19)  ensure that the overall number and deployment of staff, both as a staff group and on individual shifts, can fulfil the home's Statement of Purpose and meet the individual needs of all children resident in the home (NMS 17:1)  ensure that physical restrictions on normal movement within or from the home are not used unless this is necessary to safeguard children and promote their welfare and development. Such measures are only used where agreed with the responsible authority and, if appropriate, the parents. Such restrictions for one child do not impose similar restrictions on other children. (NMS 10.4)

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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

Children make phenomenal progress at this home. For example, children with limited mobility are now able to move around the home unaided and children are communicating where they were not before. Children are engaged by staff in a variety of fun and educational activities. These include soft play, sensory activities and games.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff work closely with parents to ensure consistent and effective care is provided for children to enable them to develop into healthy children who are as independent as they can be. A social worker said about children developing a 'better diet as staff have worked with families to promote healthy eating.’

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Outcomes for children and young people

Children benefit from regular and supported attendance in education. Positive links between school and the home means that children's progress and achievements are shared and celebrated. Children's health is well managed and there are robust systems in place to ensure that children are healthy and happy. Concerns are dealt with swiftly and appropriately by the manager. Complaints are extremely rare and staff ensure children and parents have access to advocacy and support services where necessary.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Parents appreciate the detailed progress reports about their child. One parent said in relation to the reports and outcomes for their child 'reports are always detailed, he has improved his communication no end and I know when I take him there he is fine'.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Children benefit from clear routines and excellent relationships with staff. They are actively engaged in making informed choices about aspects of their own care. For example, the use of symbols helps children to prepare for activities and choice is fully promoted. Children's cultural needs are met through detailed planning and consultation.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

Children benefit from excellent relationships with staff. There is a caring atmosphere in the home and children enjoy being there. Staff work hard to provide a caring, stable and supportive environment for the children. The needs of children are carefully identified and rigorously addressed through good care planning. Staff work exceptionally well with parents and carers. A parent commented that 'they value my child and have a positive attitude. They meet his physical needs well and ensure that he has an interesting and varied time with them. We are treated as equals and are responsive to any queries, issues etc. We have peace of mind when he is there. Their written reports are very good and informative.' Other parents talked about how staff spend time with them, reassuring and explaining healthcare procedures, enabling them to make difficult decisions to ensure their child makes substantial progress in

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Quality of care

Children's education is actively promoted. The use of home/school diaries mean that information is quickly and appropriately passed between teachers and carers. Staff regularly meet with the children's teachers and reviews are held at appropriate intervals. Staff work hard to support children at school and the home's routines are designed to facilitate full attendance.

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Quality of care

Staff support children to access a wide range of leisure activities. A nearby park is regularly used and the improved outside play area is well designed and appropriate to the needs of the children. There are vehicles available to transport children and there are regular trips out. During the summer, staff voluntarily change shift patterns to accommodate full day trips to the seaside. This enables children to access a broad and varied programme of activities. A parent said 'he enjoys respite, it's fun for him. They have lots of activities and days out.'

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Quality of care

The home environment is comfortable and homely, although carpets are heavily stained despite regular cleaning. Children's rooms are, on the whole, suitably furnished and personalised where appropriate. Children are comfortable in their surroundings and are relaxed. They are supported with developing their cultural awareness through regular themed events. For example a recent Caribbean evening was enjoyed by the children.

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Quality of care

Children have varying and complex health needs. Staff meet these well through the provision of planned and carefully administered medication procedures. Personal care is planned in detailed care plans and children are comfortable with staff. A social worker commented on the personal care 'little touches like doing her nails, her hair, they treat her like a teenager which is really important.'

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Safeguarding children and young people

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

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Safeguarding children and young people

Children feel safe and there are a range of measures in place to protect them from harm. Physical intervention is rarely used. However, the central log for recording physical intervention, while fully updated, is not suitable for the purpose of recording. Staff are able to record reasons for restraint that are not appropriate. No recording of this nature has taken place nor has any inappropriate restraint occurred.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There are innovative and creative behaviour management strategies in place. For example, a bespoke protective screen has been fitted to a television which is in keeping with the homely environment. Risk assessments for the children are regularly reviewed and the identified actions followed. This allows children to take part in activities that are carefully managed thus reducing the likelihood of harm.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Children benefit from an experienced and capable staff team. They form positive relationships with key staff. A parent commented that their child 'knows staff by name, is safe and settled and happy'. The home is specifically adapted to meet the needs of the children. Staff receive regular training in the safe use of specialist equipment for assisting the children. The kitchen areas in two of the house areas require attention as food is prepared in these areas. This means that food may be prepared in areas which are not totally hygienic. Children often play on the floor of the home and some carpets are heavily stained, despite regular cleaning.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Children's safety is a priority for the staff team. There are a range of creative strategies in place to safeguard children and support with the identified needs of care plans. However, there are measures used to protect children from harm which do not meet the national minimum standards or regulations. For example, the use of video monitoring devices overnight, in children’s bedrooms are intrusive to a child's privacy and an enclosed bed is restrictive as the enclosure prevents the child leaving the bed. While children are clearly kept safe, privacy and liberty is compromised.

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Safeguarding children and young people

These measures do not adversely impact on the outcomes for children and have led to improvements in health and well-being. Staff clearly evidence the reasons why such measures are used and parents and professionals are fully involved in all aspects of their child’s care. Additionally, the free movement of children around communal areas is highly restricted by the use of double handled doors, locks and electronic locking devices. Again, this is to safeguard children but has not been reviewed in light of the needs of individual children. Furthermore, a number of fire doors are propped open using wedges or furniture to ensure appropriate supervision of children and to ensure they can move easily between rooms.

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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

Children benefit from a committed, enthusiastic and highly motivated staff team. Staff are rigorously trained and are confident in meeting the diverse and often complex needs of the children. The Registered Manager is clearly committed to the children and the staff team. There is a sense of collective responsibility for all staff as the manager states that 'responsibility for caring for children runs throughout the team from myself to the domestic staff.'

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Leadership and management

The development plan for the home sets out realistic but challenging goals. Parents are regularly consulted and their views are taken into account. The needs of the children are paramount to the development of the service and this reflects in the manager's plans for progression. Parents are happy with the home although some parents feel that it could be bigger. One parent said 'it's a bit squashed sometimes, needs more space.'

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Leadership and management

Staffing rotas are organised in advance and take account of the children's needs. There have been some recent shortages in permanent staffing levels. The use of familiar and suitable agency staff has meant that there has been little impact on the children. Waking night staff ensure that the needs of the children are monitored throughout the night. However, there are occasions when electronic monitors are used in place of waking night staff in one area of the home. However, there are occasions where the number of night staff have been insufficient to effectively cover all three areas of the home. Visual electronic monitors have been used to ensure that children are safe. Additionally, most children are visually checked every half hour during the night dependent on their assessed needs. This ensures that they are well monitored and safe. The occasional reduction in night staff has not had any negative impact on children.

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Leadership and management

The progress of children is regularly and thoroughly checked by the manager. This is then discussed with senior managers in the organisation and also with children's key staff through regular and planned support. Staff are well supported by a confident and competent management team. One staff member said that 'we're a really supportive team and the manager has an open door policy.' The manager delegates key monitoring tasks to her senior staff but retains an excellent overview. Staff who are directly caring for the children also monitor the working of the home and this drives improvements for the children.

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Leadership and management

The home meets its Statement of Purpose. The manager is working hard to secure more appropriate long term accommodation for children not using the service for short breaks. Close partnership working ensures that all possible efforts are being made to secure this provision. The home is responsive to the needs of the children. Where emergency placements are necessary, the home is able to adapt to meet the individual needs of the children.

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Leadership and management

Staff and managers are able to recognise areas for development. There is a tenacious and pragmatic approach to solving problems and children clearly benefit from the improvements taking place. Children are able to make use of the various soft play, sensory and play equipment on offer and the recent change to the outdoor play environment is exceptional.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is outstanding .

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