Children's Home run by Benjamin UK Ltd in Buckinghamshire

Unique reference number SC062317 Inspection date 14/10/2011 Inspector Jennie Christopher Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 09/02/2011 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 private children's home registered to take up to four young people aged between 12 and 17 years of age with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

p.4

Overall effectiveness

The home has very high aspirations for the young people in its care. Individualised placement plans clearly demonstrate how the young people’s social, emotional and health needs are met. Young people receive excellent support from a stable and committed staff team that enables them to build confidence and self esteem. Young people have appropriate relationships with the staff and feel that they support them and encourage them to keep safe. They state they feel listened to and that staff invest time and energy in supporting their progress. Consistency of staff approach to young people ensures clear messages and appropriate boundaries are strived towards.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

Young people’s views are actively sought and considered with regards to the running of and any changes to the home. Young people currently struggle with this aspect of consultation, but staff are continually encouraging them to feel part of the home and community. Those leaving care are prepared for independent living with a comprehensive and practical moving on programme.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

Social workers commented positively about the service and dedicated staff support.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

Further development is recommended in submission of notifications, risk assessments regarding the use of locks and duration of restraint recording.

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

17B (2001) ensure the duration of restraint in recorded. (17B 4a) 04/11/2011

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that descisions about the use of locks should be based on a careful risk assessment taht allows children as much freedom as possible, consistent with the need to keep them 04/11/2011 safe. (Children Act 1989, Volume 5, 2.108)

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 that a system is in place to notify within 24 hours the persons and appropriate authorities of the occurrence of significant events in accordance with Regulation 30. this system includes what to do where notifiable event arises at weekends. (NMS 24.1)

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 make significant progress in most aspects of their lives and receive highly individualised support, enabling them to have improved confidence, self esteem and have a better understanding of their abilities. Support from staff enables young people to take positive steps to manage their issues. All young people are valued and respected as individuals.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

All aspects of physical and emotional health are promoted. Young people have a good awareness of the importance of good health and healthy lifestyles. Young people are encouraged to access various health resources and have gained in confidence to do this independently where appropriate. Young people are generally healthy and there is limited use of prescribed medication.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Attendance at the on site school is increasing in small steps in line with individual placement plans and targets. Young people are supported to access educational placements in the community when appropriate. Those who have moved on have done so successfully into college and placements.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are encouraged to maintain appropriate friendships in the community independently or with staff support as appropriate. Staff facilitate family contact and one social worker commented that the home ‘always keep in contact with the family.’

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Within the home young people develop a wide range of practical skills for independent living. Young people help with daily chores and budget for, and cook meals alongside learning self care skills. A robust and comprehensive independent living plan has supported young people who have moved on to independence.

p.5

Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding . Young people enjoy excellent and constructive relationships with staff who are concerned for all aspects of their welfare. Young people are supported to build on these relationships and those in the community. A social worker commented that she was ‘really impressed with the level of care.’ Young people are listened to and are supported to express themselves. This was demonstrated where staff actively supported a young person to make cakes and give thank you cards for members of the community who had helped her. Young people are routinely consulted on aspects of their daily living, such as what targets they need to meet for the day and what activities they would like as rewards for meeting targets. Home meetings and individual work is used to ensure young people understand when their wishes cannot be met and the reasons for this.

p.5

Quality of care

Staff consistently have high aspirations for the young people and support their educational placements with good communication between home and school staff, including school staff joining young people for meals in the home to build links and be part of the target setting process. Those who have moved on from the home have been supported to attend further education and have remained in contact with the home to keep them informed of their progress. A wide variety of support from outside agencies is accessed to meet individual educational, social and emotional needs as well as targeted work through key work sessions.

p.6

Quality of care

Young people are central to the placement planning process and the comprehensive and thoughtful plans demonstrate this. Young people know how they will be cared for and what the plan is for them. Successes are celebrated creatively by certificates and rewards. Plans are continually monitored and updated to reflect the changing needs of the young person. This is done in consultation with the young person, social workers, parents and other significant people.

p.6

Quality of care

Young people are consulted on menus with the emphasis on young people making home cooked foods. Healthy eating is promoted through discussion and a good range of fresh foods being available in the home. Young people experience a range of foods from different cultures and the healthy eating theme continues to active lifestyles with an emphasis on physical and emotional health. Medication is stored appropriately and there is a robust system to ensure safety when administering. In case of emergency, there are qualified first aiders on site at all times.

p.6

Quality of care

The home is well resourced and located, with bedrooms reflecting the individual interests and tastes of young people.

p.6

Quality of care

Young people know how to make complaints and these are well documented and responded to fairly and in a timely manner. There are excellent anti bullying procedures in place with a restorative approach to managing incidents.

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

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

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people say they feel safe in the home and that staff do all they can to keep them safe. Staff take positive steps to prevent young people going missing from care and have a robust missing from care policy, which is supported by the local authority and police. There are a significant number of incidences of young people missing from care, which has reduced from the numbers at the start of placement. There is significant support in place to prevent the young person feeling they need to leave without permission again, including work on safety and keeping safe in conjunction with the police and specialist agencies. Risk assessments and placement plans are amended to reflect this and is evidenced in comprehensive key work session records.

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

Positive behaviour is promoted and rewarded with small successes celebrated with certificates or treats. Young people are encouraged to reflect on their behaviour and consider how it impacts on others in the home and what strategies can be put in place to prevent it happening in the future. Sanctions are rarely used. The home implements a Diversion Programme to promote positive behaviour through daily points earned which young people respond well to. Staff are trained in positive behaviour management strategies with an emphasis on de-escalation and diversion. Incidents of restraint are recorded clearly although do not detail the duration of restraint.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

The welfare of young people is fully promoted and they are protected as far as possible from abuse or harm. Staff are aware of the homes child protection procedures and have an excellent understanding of their role in responding to concerns or disclosures. Incidents recorded have been managed sensitively and appropriately and have been thoroughly investigated, whilst support has been provided for those involved. The company’s recruitment policy ensures that young people are protected from harm by robust personnel checks.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Positive steps are taken to ensure that young people are generally safe from fire and other hazards and risk assessments are robust and thoughtful to ensure young people are able to enjoy age appropriate activities. However, there are currently no risk assessments in place in relation to the use of internal locks.

p.7

Leadership and management

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

p.7

Leadership and management

The provider meets the aims and objectives that are set out in the Statement of Purpose. Staff have access to this and understand the main functions and ethos of the home. The young people’s guide provides clear information in a friendly and appropriate format that can be adapted depending on individual needs.

p.7

Leadership and management

The home is effectively run by a committed and experienced manager who is continually striving to improve. Young people benefit from being cared for by a consistent and enthusiastic staff team who receive high quality training. This is on a continuous cycle for staff to ensure all have the continued skills they require for the changing needs of the young people. Staff receive quality and evaluative regular supervision. The manager has an excellent understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home through effective and evaluative monthly monitoring of the home and records. All notifiable events are thoroughly recorded but need to be forwarded to HMCI promptly. The manager actively seeks the views of young people, their families and other stakeholders via questionnaires to consider new ways of improving the provision. Recommendations from the previous inspection have all been acted upon and any changes implemented.

p.7

Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is outstanding .

p.8