Children's Home, Residential special school run by Hopscotch Solutions Limited in Rutland

Unique reference number SC065071 Inspection date 11/10/2011 Inspector Joanne Vyas / Susan Southey Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 24/02/2011 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

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.

p.2

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.

p.3

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.

p.3

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

p.3

Brief description of the service

This is a privately owned residential special school that provides care an education to young people diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder. The service cares for children for more than 295 days each year, therefore has been registered as a children’s home. The home can accommodate up to 11 young people.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be outstanding .

p.4

Overall effectiveness

The ethos and practice of this home is centred around the individual needs and aspirations of the young people in residence. Young people make exceptional progress in their health, education, behaviour and life skills to help them develop to their full potential ensuring a successful transition into adulthood. Young people are happy, relaxed and enjoy the activities provided for them.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

There are some identified minor shortfalls which are for isolated incidents and have no impact on the positive outcomes for children. These include ensuring physical intervention is not carried out to ensure attendance at medical appointments unless agreed by a medical professional; young people do not currently receive a personal allowance although they are very well catered for and records of physical intervention and sanctions are not comprehensive. Additionally, the home does not currently have an agreed protocol in place with the police for young people who go missing

p.4

Overall effectiveness

A parent said; ‘The home is a small intimate school that is very much part of the community. It is clear that the environment and philosophy of the school is meeting the needs of my son and it is clear that he responds to the excellent support, care and schooling that he receives there.’

p.4

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.

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(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 of which shall include all the elements stated within this regulation. 31/10/2011 (Regulation 17B)

p.4

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

p.5

Recommendations

 ensure restraint is not used to force compliance with instructions where significant harm or serious damage to property are not otherwise likely (NMS 3.14)  ensure the home's procedures are compliant with and have regard to Runaway and Missing from Home and Care (RMFHC) protocols and procedures maintained by the police or by the local authority for the area where the home is located (NMS 5.6)  ensure children receive a personal allowance appropriate to their age and understanding that is consistent with their placement plan. (NMS 2.7)

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are outstanding .

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are happy living in this home and make exceptional progress, in particular with regards to their education, health, behaviour management and independence. For example, young people who have not attended a school for some time are now attending everyday. Others who had a poor diet upon admission are now eating a variety of food and helping to prepare their own meals. Young people who exhibit challenging behaviour are understood by staff and staff effectively use communication systems which reduces behaviour that challenges.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from appropriate contact with parents. Parents say they feel welcomed by staff when they visit. Staff and parents work in partnership to ensure young people are enabled to develop to their full potential. A parent said, ‘The children are always treated with great dignity and respect. Parents are always encouraged to be involved in all aspects of school life.’ Another said, ‘All staff are so dedicated and passionate about what they do – its truly inspiring.’ Social workers agreed with parents when discussing the staff, ‘The staff are always friendly and very welcoming.’

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from having a school on site therefore education is an integral part of the home. Young people are fully supported throughout the school day by care staff. They benefit from highly structured routine and clear boundaries which enable them to focus on their education, life skills and building friendships. The progress young people make is shared and celebrated.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people’s health is highly promoted. They have access to a full range of healthcare professionals such as a speech and language therapist, occupational therapist, a psychologist and a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist said that a useful tool for him was when staff videoed a young person on an activity so he could see him when he was relaxed and happy. This was a creative way of enabling the psychiatrist to have an insight into the young person’s life.

p.5

Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

p.6

Quality of care

Staff have positive and constructive relationships with young people. A parent said, ‘They are one big happy family.’ Staff know the young people very well and are provided with extensive planning documentation such as the home’s own assessments and care planning documents. Additionally, this information is summarised for each individual young person on small laminated sheets that staff can carry around with them when they are working with the young people. This provides them with instant access to key strategies and interventions, likes and dislikes for the young person they are working with. Primary carers meet regularly with teaching staff and managers to ensure consistent and effective approaches for all young people across care and education. Reviews are well attended and young people are taking a more active role in these. A social worker said, ‘I have always found that any communication with the home is responded to promptly and

p.6

Quality of care

appropriately. Reviews are well attended with up to date information.’

p.6

Quality of care

Staff actively seek the opinions of young people and respond positively to their views and wishes. For example, a young person struggling with the noise during a meal was taken to another quieter place to eat. Young people are enabled to make choices and decisions involving their care and also helped to understand when it is not possible to act upon their wishes in every case. Furthermore, staff are competent in their knowledge of a variety of communication aids, including signs and symbols to ensure they can effectively communicate with young people. A parent said, ‘All the staff are very caring and have the children’s best interest at heart. I could not wish for my child to be in a better place and feel confident that staff will always do their best for him.’

p.6

Quality of care

Young people participate in a full range of leisure and educational activities inside the home and in the local and extended community. The home is well resourced with books, games and other educational equipment. Young people also have access to a number of spacious safe outdoor play areas including a sensory garden, play equipment and grassed areas. Young people visit local beauty spots, swim at the local pool and attend colleges to, for example, carry out horticultural activities which they seem to enjoy. Other activities include horse riding, sailing and bowling.

p.6

Quality of care

Young people are well dressed and provided for, for example they are provided with good quality clothing and money to purchase personal items such as sweets and DVDs. The Registered Manager stated that young people generally have access to funds that exceed their allowances. However, this money comes from a pool of money and therefore is not a personal allowance which young people can either save or take with them when they leave if they have any money left.

p.6

Quality of care

Young people’s wishes relating to their cultural background and personal identity are highly respected. For example, young people who wish to practice a particular faith are fully supported to do so. Furthermore, specific dietary needs are catered for. Young people also enjoy visits to a variety of religious and cultural buildings and celebrate and attend various festivals throughout the year. Additionally, people from different faiths and cultures are invited into the school to provide young people with a variety of experiences. Young people are at the centre of practice in this home ensuring they receive an individualised service. A parent said, ‘The home offer a comprehensive and flexible care package to meet the individual needs of my son and he is very well cared for.’

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

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

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are safe and feel safe living in this home. Staff have a good understanding of how to keep young people safe and what makes them feel safe.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people have never gone missing from this home and there are good procedures in place which are clearly understood by staff. However, the home does not have the Runaway and Missing from Home and Care (RMFHC) protocols and procedures maintained by the police or by the local authority for the area where the home is located.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Positive behaviour is actively promoted and staff are competent at managing challenging situations. Staff are trained in restraint and de-escalation techniques but restraint is usually used as a last resort. The use of physical intervention to ensure attendance at medical appointments is not always underpinned by the agreement of a medical professional. However, it is clear that such measures are only employed to ensure the safety of the young people. Additionally, the central log for recording restraints does not state the type of restraint used, it states what the restraint is called but there is no definition for this. The effectiveness and consequences of using the intervention is not recorded either. Furthermore, the central record of sanctions does not record what sanction has been given or the effectiveness and consequence of the sanction. However, it is clear staff only give sanctions where appropriate and

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people have a number of restrictions placed upon them such as high fences and locked internal and external doors. These are all appropriately risk assessed in accordance with keeping young people safe. Staff have access to comprehensive risk assessments which are informative and enable staff to reduce risks. These enable staff to keep young people safe. Furthermore, young people are supported to take appropriate risks to promote healthy growth and development.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

New staff are subject to a good vetting system before they start working with young people. Staff have a Criminal Records Bureau check completed at enhanced level, their identification checked and references sought. The home is physically safe and appropriately secure, ensuring young people are safe.

p.7

Leadership and management

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

p.8

Leadership and management

Young people are cared for by an enthusiastic, highly motivated and dynamic staff team who are qualified, experienced and caring. They are well supported by each other and the management team. A parent said of the staff, ‘Highly professional, yet very approachable and considerate.’ There is a stable staff team who clearly have the interests of the young people at heart. Staff are well trained in all mandatory areas and in areas that are important to young people, such as autism.

p.8

Leadership and management

The Registered Manager can effectively demonstrate a consistent and continuing capacity for improvement, communicating high expectations to staff and challenging weaknesses. A parent said, ‘I feel they are totally dedicated to doing their very best for the children in their care.’

p.8

Leadership and management

The Registered Manager makes good use of a range of monitoring activities such as regulation 33 and 34 reports to ensure the home operates to a high standard within its Statement of Purpose. Additionally, the Registered Manager makes good use of statistical information to monitor the effectiveness of the service. It is clear that the Registered Manager actively keeps up to date with new legislation and practice developments to improve the quality of the service provided. The Registered Manager effectively and efficiently manages the home.

p.8

Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is outstanding .

p.8