Children's Home run by My Choice Children’s Homes Limited in West Sussex

Unique reference number SC359832 Inspection date 13/10/2011 Inspector Keith Riley / Janet Hunnam Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 27/01/2011 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 setting is registered to accommodate three young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties. The home is managed by a private organisation.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

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Overall effectiveness

Young people make good progress in education and enjoy varied opportunities to engage in hobbies and interests. As a result young people improve their social skills and are growing in confidence.

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Overall effectiveness

Good engagement with other professionals means that young people's health is promoted to a high standard. Young people enjoy good relationships with the staff team and mostly with each other. However, there have been some recent incidents between young people requiring staff intervention. Although these are monitored this is not always to an optimum level and the relevant authority is not always informed within 24 hours.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people report they generally feel safe and know staff are concerned for their welfare. Good personalised care plans and risk assessments show staff how best to support each young person's individual needs. Young people's views are regularly sought and they contribute to their care plans and the running of the home.

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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 all records kept by the home are monitored to identify any concerns about specific incidents and immediate action is taken to address any issues raised by this monitoring (NMS 21.2)  ensure there is a system to notify within 24 hours the persons and appropriate authorities of the occurrence of significant events in accordance with Regulation 30. The system includes what to do where notifiable event arises at weekends. (NMS 24.1)

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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 benefit from individualised support which helps them grow in confidence. They access a range of support services and have a good understanding of their behaviours requiring support and intervention. They are confident that staff will meet their physical, emotional and psychological individual needs as detailed in the care plan. Close support from key workers enables them to concentrate on how they can improve their life chances and develop independence skills. Staff work effectively with other professionals to support young people to deal with their emotions they find difficult to manage.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people receive guidance, advice and support about a range of health and social issues. They take responsibility for the management of their personal health, with appropriate support from staff where necessary. Staff work sensitively with young people and respect their choices. This means that individual needs arising from personal issues are addressed thoroughly with dignity and respect.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from an understanding of healthy eating; they gain practical and social skills through staff support in choosing the menu and shopping. They benefit from a healthy lifestyle by taking part in positive activities in the community such as swimming and football. Their confidence and self esteem is increasing as they are encouraged to independence, for example shopping for items on their own. Young people are developing other independence skills, such as preparing meals and undertaking basic household chores, such as tidying.

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Outcomes for children and young people

There is frequent contact with people who are significant in the young person’s life. Young people are able to maintain their sense of identity. Contact with friends and other associates is controlled when it is necessary to maintain safety levels.

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Outcomes for children and young people

All young people are in education with good attendance. They benefit from routines which enable them to make the most of educational opportunities and be prepared for the school day. This means that achievements are comparable to their peers.

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Quality of care

Good individualised care plans inform the staff of the needs of the young people including cultural and religious needs. Young people contribute to reviews of these plans. Such plans include the educational achievement of young people and how well the targets are being met. There is good knowledge of the care plans unique to each individual including the positive behaviour strategies to be used. This means there is a consistent approach to the particular needs of each young person.

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Quality of care

Relationships between young people and staff are amiable and constructive. Young people have the opportunity to discuss their views at their regular key-work sessions or young people meetings. There is also a formal complaints procedure that young people understand how to use. They benefit from staff that take their concerns seriously and actively address them. The number of complaints is low.

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Quality of care

Staff endeavour to support young people to develop socially acceptable behaviour. There is an awareness of the dynamics of relationships and staff are on hand to diffuse situations as they arise. Some young people say they are not happy with other young people placed in the home. There has been a recent increase in the incidents requiring physical intervention. Young people’s files provide a good record of staff intervention. However, not all records coincide with each other. There is a risk that future practice is not thoroughly informed.

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from consistent monitoring and evaluation of their progress on a monthly basis. This process positively contributes to statutory reviews. There are arrangements in place to encourage young people to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Young people, who are struggling with their diet, are supported by staff to make good decisions when producing their individual menu.

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Quality of care

Young people are registered at the doctor, dentist, optician or other specialist service. Staff are trained in medication handling and there is a clear policy in place. This ensures their health needs are met. Young people have their privacy and dignity respected by staff. Issues around sexual health are dealt with sensitively and with respect in consultation with other professionals.

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Quality of care

Clear expectations are placed on young people with regard to education. Staff fully support young people to access education in the home, school or college. Staff have good communication with education professionals and are pro-active in foreseeing and resolving any issues. Young people display with pride their certificates of achievement.

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Quality of care

Young people are able to follow their interests and have a range of activities that they participate in. Young people are encouraged to use their time creatively in the home, such as doing jigsaws or making cardboard models.

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Quality of care

Young people's bedrooms are effectively decorated and furnished. They can personalise them to their own taste, which helps them recognise their own space. They contain meaningful personal items and mementoes that help give a sense of identity.

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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

Safeguarding practices and procedures within the home are well understood and are effectively monitored to ensure that young people are safe. Staff regularly receive training and have a thorough understanding of safeguarding procedures in order that they can appropriately respond to any signs or allegations of abuse. Staff receive regular supervision and appraisals, which helps ensure that they are able to effectively safeguard and promote young people’s welfare. Young people say they feel safe and could not be placed in a better home. Staff are trained in the organisation's agreed restraint procedure and show good knowledge of the methods to be used. There is a good system for recording any physical interventions. There is a culture of de-escalation and distraction. However, there has been a recent change in the type of physical intervention that is required. Although the number of incidents is low, this means that, on occasion, young people

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Safeguarding children and young people

are subject to high-risk physical intervention.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are assessed as to the risk of going missing and strategies are in place. The number of incidents when young people go missing is diminishing with a good procedure that is followed when the occasion arises. Staff report they have a good relationship with the police. They work in partnership to ensure young people are as safe as possible without restricting them unnecessarily. Clear records are maintained of incidents where young people have been missing and include how the young person was supported on return to the home. Members of staff regularly contact young people when they are away from the home without permission. This not only ensures that the young people's welfare is being checked upon but also shows the young people that the staff are concerned about their welfare and want them to return home.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Thorough risk assessments guide staff as to how to protect young people. These are regularly reviewed and updated where appropriate to ensure they continue to promote the most up-to-date needs of young people. Staff and visitors and well monitored with new staff subject to all the recruitment checks required by regulation to keep young people safe. Young people live in a safe and well maintained environment.

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Leadership and management

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

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Leadership and management

Young people benefit from good staffing ratios and effective management enabling them to have the necessary individual attention. Young people receive support to take pride in themselves and develop a positive identity. Their records are secure and up to date. This means that confidentiality is maintained and there is up-to-date information about the current needs of each individual.

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Leadership and management

There are various systems to monitor the quality of care. This includes monthly visits by a designated person, in accordance with the regulations. These reports focus on the home’s strengths and highlights areas for improvement. The Registered Manager checks and signs various records including those involving physical restraint. Although staff employ distraction techniques and low level intervention initially, recent events prompting the need for a specific type of high-risk physical restraint are not meticulously recorded. Recording does not make clear, for example, the duration of the restraint or how injuries occur. Although the frequency of this type of event is very low, they are not monitored to an exceptional standard. Some significant events are not being notified accurately to the relevant authority within 24 hours. This places young people at risk of further high-risk physical intervention.

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Leadership and management

The organisation demonstrates a commitment to national vocational qualification training. Staff also undertake training on a variety of topics which address the diverse needs of young people. This ensures staff possess the competence needed to undertake their role.

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Leadership and management

The Statement of Purpose is kept up to date and gives good information as to the service that is provided. It includes a good approach to equality and diversity with young people supported to make important decisions, such as about their religion or diet. There is a commitment to anti-discriminatory practice within a multi-cultural environment. Individuals have access to a young people's guide and a variety of information to help them make informed choices.

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Leadership and management

The home is resourced well to ensure young people have good staffing ratios, access to purposeful activities and leisure interests, and a very pleasant homely environment equipped with modern appliances and furniture. The Registered Manager has clear plans to develop the home to further enhance the service that is provided.

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Leadership and management

There were no actions or recommendations from the previous inspection.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is good .

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