Children's Home run by Strode Park Foundation for People with Disabilities in Kent

Unique reference number SC425786 Inspection date 12/10/2011 Inspector Kenneth Smith Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 30/03/2011 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 children's home accommodates up to nine children who have physical disabilities or learning disabilities. Children may be accommodated for short-break care or on a longer term basis. It is operated by a local charitable foundation. This is the first inspection since this charity has operated the children's home following its merger with the previous charitable foundation.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

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Overall effectiveness

This home gives children with complex disabilities consistently good care tailored precisely to their needs and taking on board their wishes and feelings. The management give clear guidance to the staff team, who demonstrate both skill and affection in caring for children. The relationships between children and staff are always warm, and staff purposefully seek the best possible outcomes for children; they have been particularly successful at engaging children with diverse activities and meeting their complex health and personal care needs.

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Overall effectiveness

Children are safe in the home and benefit from a varied and stimulating experience. Alongside the professional intervention, the staff are always keen to make children's time here fun, and this is consistently achieved.

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Overall effectiveness

Three areas for improvement have been identified through this inspection; these relate to staff training and updating the children’s guide, and are well within the home’s capacity to take on board. The link between schools and the home is effective in the management of children's care, but more could be done to ensure activity in school is understood and reinforced in 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 staff complete training at level 3 (NVQ or Children and Young People's Workforce Diploma) (NMS 18.5)  tell children how they may contact the Children's Rights Director, independent advocacy services and their independent reviewing officers within the children's guide (NMS 13.5)  build closer links with the educational establishments used by children who undertake long stays in the home; in particular consider how to contribute to their educational development and attainment in the home. (NMS 8.7)

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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

Children are making progress in all areas of their lives. They enjoy good health, aided by the determination of staff to find the best health interventions to keep children comfortable while enjoying a wide range of childhood activities. It is a real strength of this home that children, including those with complex disabilities, lead active lives or enjoy stimulating short breaks. Some children have complicated mobility and dietary needs, but these are met within relaxed and enjoyable routines. High levels of healthcare training among staff enable children to enjoy a wide range of accompanied activities no matter who is on duty. Children can rely on staff to meet all their medical needs through good organisation and knowledgeable staff.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Children’s school attendance is good and staff make links with schools to ensure a continuity of care between the two settings. Staff are aware of how children have been during their time in school and will bring things from the school day into the early evening routine, for example, a story book from school. Staff have periodically attended schools with children, but rely primarily on formal routes such as personal education plan reviews to keep them informed about progress within the educational setting. The capacity to reinforce learning from school is therefore limited.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The support given to children is, in all cases, integral to support given to their family. The liaison between the home and families is a great strength, ensuring families have confidence in them. The home shares information with families on a very regular basis, and family members are always welcomed into the home, and given helpful and open responses to contact by telephone. Some children spend a lot of time in the home but the wishes of their parents and their own identity with their family are reinforced thoughtfully within this setting. Short-break care is planned flexibly and the home demonstrates a great willingness to put the needs of families first.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Children enjoy being the most significant players in the life of the home. Although many children have limited communication skills, methods are deployed to ensure they have a say in as many aspects of their lives as possible, ranging from meals and activities to the décor of the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people

When children leave the home, whether to move into adult services or to use alternative children's provision, they are supported thoroughly and effectively through the transition. Managers in the home have found time and resources to make complex transitions as smooth as possible.

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Quality of care

Children are looked after lovingly and benefit from the knowledge and commitment of staff who deliver a high standard of nurturing care. Young people were observed to be consistently relaxed and at ease, enjoying the company of staff. Staff take a detailed interest in all aspects of children's lives and show warmth and positive regard for them at all times. Children's likes and dislikes and their wishes and feelings are considered and used in planning and providing for them across their daily lives. Staff communicate thoroughly and consistently with children, drawing on a range of techniques to achieve this purposefully for all. As a result, children with limited communication skills are genuinely involved in planning their lives.

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Quality of care

Children's care and support are given in the manner determined within their individual written plan. These plans are read, discussed and updated frequently, with the involvement of all care staff and the oversight of managers and key workers. This results in children receiving consistent and high quality care.

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Quality of care

The health of children is maintained through effective systems and the vigilance and care of the staff team. Access to specialist support is gained through good working relationships and the determined advocacy of senior staff members. Children with complex health needs have these met to a consistently high standard. The organisation of medicines is clear and concise. Staff engaging in invasive procedures are always thoroughly trained prior to undertaking them.

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Quality of care

Children are provided with a wide range of activities by enthusiastic and energetic staff. This is particularly notable, resulting in children with significant disabilities enjoying a range of physical play and stimulating activity both at the home and in the wider community.

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Quality of care

Children enjoy the child-friendly environment provided. The home is decorated throughout in bright colours with many points of interest for them. Two themed bedrooms are particularly popular with some children who stay for short breaks. Children who live here on a longer term basis are able to participate in choosing the décor of their rooms. Bathrooms are adapted well so that children can comfortably and practically be bathed. At the time of this inspection major redecoration (of the main lounge) was underway to maintain and improve this high standard. The home also has lots of outdoor space made safe and including play equipment. Children are able to spend time playing outdoors with supervision at the level needed.

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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 are kept safe at this setting. Staff are trained in child protection and know how to report any concerns. During their stay at the home the one-to-one staffing level ensures children are kept safe at all times. Staff share knowledge of how to safely care for children and this is effective. Some children require frequent manual handling and this may result in marks, for example, from hoists. These are regularly examined and the home is aware of the source of any bruising. The vigilance with which this is monitored is now extremely high, including regular body mapping of all marks. This is necessary for some children, provided it is linked to a probability of bruising and its corresponding need for explanation.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Children with complex needs enjoy full active lives because the managers and staff closely consider all aspects of their safety and meet those safety needs across a wide range of activities. There are risk assessments in place for all activities undertaken, alongside a can-do attitude among staff which ensures all sorts of activities are undertaken, but with proportionate care.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Recruitment of staff is well managed including the systematic take up of all checks to ensure staff are suitable people for this role.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Behavioural management is not usually overly complicated or challenging. The home follows clear procedures should the need for physical intervention or sanctions occur, but for the vast majority of children staying here, behaviour is supported through clear boundaries and gentle persuasion.

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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

Since the last inspection this service is under new management through the merger of the previous charitable organisation with a larger local foundation. This has brought effective and secure business management to the home and resulted in demonstrable improvement to the financial footing of the organisation. This change has been seamless for children, with genuine continuity in both the staffing levels and the majority of the individual staff working with young people. The refurbishment and high staffing levels in the home, and clarity from senior management, evidence a financially sound and viable home. The challenges are real because the children accommodated always require substantial support, and the number of children staying for short-break care varies widely. The management have sought to rationalise the operation where practical, but this has been favourably received by staff, who understand the situation and see that the needs of children

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Leadership and management

The manager of the home uses her skills and experience to good effect, leading a team of staff who are united in their purpose. She understands the strengths and areas for development, and plans carefully to ensure continuing progress. The make up of the staff team is thoughtfully chosen, and the staff consistently have the energy, patience and commitment to go the extra mile for children to ensure they lead fulfilling lives or enjoy their short stay in the home.

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Leadership and management

The manager has overseen the implementation of issues arising from the last inspection: supervision now occurs in a timely way; all children's personal files include a record of meals as eaten; sanctions given (which related only to one short stay) are always relevant; and, as described above, recruitment records are consistently complete. The capacity to understand and improve upon the service currently provided is strong, both within the home and through the support of the company's senior management.

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Leadership and management

The home liaises effectively with external stakeholders, for example, placing social workers, ensuring that they are informed about progress of children placed. The reporting of significant events is maintained, evidencing transparency and openness in the management of the home.

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Leadership and management

Staff are effectively supported. All staff spoken with were appreciative of how they are supported both individually and as part of a team. Supervision is of a good standard with constant informal support from senior staff complementing this. Staff training is given both through a programme of mandatory training and the pursuit of individual training needs. However, the implementation of National Vocational Qualifications (at level 3) and of the new Children's Workforce Diploma has not yet delivered a fully qualified staff team; there is a plan in place to achieve this.

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Leadership and management

The records maintained in the home are completed to a high standard. The Statement of Purpose is clear. The children's guide is produced in a child-friendly format and explained to children. There are some minor details (how to contact the Children's Rights Director, Independent Reviewing Officer and independent advocate) that are currently omitted from this. As this information is available elsewhere in the home, it does not impact on children.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is good .

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