Children's Home run by Capstone Care Provider Limited in Nottinghamshire

Unique reference number SC392712 Inspection date 29/11/2011 Inspector Judith Longden Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 11/01/2011 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 privately owned home provides care for up to three young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties. There are three self-contained flats providing training and support for young people leaving care.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be satisfactory .

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are making satisfactory progress in achieving positive outcomes in their further education, training and employment. They are developing skills in living independently and in taking responsibility for their own health. Young people do not participate in activities, leisure pursuits or engage with the community. Staff do however provide a number of opportunities for young people to engage and develop new skills. The quality of care is good, well planned and based on individual need. Young people are involved in their care and the running of the home. Staff provide good support for young people to develop healthy lifestyles. They provide varied opportunities for young people to develop their educational potential and economic well-being. Staff and young people have good relationships and young people generally behave well though there are incidents of damage to the home. Young people are kept safe with good policies and procedures. Young people are supported

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Overall effectiveness

by a good staff team who receive good training and supervision. Young people did not wish to comment during inspection. There are some shortfalls in the way the service is monitored and reported on. Three requirements are made in relation to monitoring and reporting. Three recommendations are made in relation to young people's behaviour, access to an independent visitor when young people have been missing and engagement in leisure activities.

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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) notify without delay the persons indicated in respect of a notifiable event (Regulation 30 (1)) 31/12/2011

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that visits made in respect of Regulation 33 are carried out at least once a month (Regulation 33 (3)) 31/12/2011

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Reg. Requirement Due date

34 supply to the HMCI a report in respect of any review conducted 31/12/2011 (2001) for the purposes of monitoring the matters set out in Schedule 6. (Regulation 34 (2))

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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 young people interact positively with others and behave appropriately (NMS 3)  ensure the home's procedures for young people missing are compatible with local authority protocols in respect of offering a return interview with an independent visitor (NMS 5.6)  encourage young people to pursue individual interests and hobbies and take part in a range of activities to develop confidence in their skills. (NMS 7.2)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are satisfactory .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make steady progress in developing their confidence and self esteem. They are helped to understand their background, their family make-up and why they are in care. A culture and environment of respect and individuality supports young people to develop self awareness and emotional resilience.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are involved in developing a menu that provides a healthy balanced diet. Young people on independence training plan their own meals and are encouraged to do their own shopping. They prepare and cook their own meals with guidance from staff. Young people learn food hygiene and safe storage and handling of food. This means they benefit from a healthy diet whilst developing skills and confidence. Young people are supported to understand their health needs and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Their health is further promoted by the implementation of daily personal hygiene routines.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people do not often engage in activities or leisure pursuits in the home or wider community. Staff discuss activities with young people in key work sessions and residents meetings and provide information but young people are not interested in participating. As a result they do not develop confidence in their skills or experience new challenges.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are making reasonable progress in their further education, training and employment. Staff proactively encourage and support a range of opportunities but young people's attendance is inconsistent. When young people do attend they make steady improvements in developing their potential.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from appropriate contact with their parents, family and friends. Where contact is not appropriate or arrangements are changed this is explained to young people.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are provided with a good independence training programme. Young people are learning how to budget, care for themselves and maintain a home. They are supported to understand their community and their role in it as well as developing an awareness of environmental issues. They are given the opportunity to explore their own culture and religion and to understand the faiths, beliefs and culture of others. As a result young people are developing skills to prepare them for adult life. However, they still rely on the support and intervention of staff and do not always fully engage in the programme. As a result they lack the confidence and skills to be fully independent from staff.

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Quality of care

Young people participate in regular house meetings where they have the opportunity to discuss menus, plans for the home and any concerns they have. As a result young people are actively engaged in how the home operates.

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Quality of care

Young people are involved in their care planning and are encouraged to attend statutory review meetings. Staff work with young people after reviews to discuss the decisions made. Good placement plans are in place for young people that identify the individual needs of the young person and how these can best be met. Good residential care plans indicate how the young person is cared for, their needs, actions required to address these needs, behaviours and how to minimise risks. Care plans are reviewed with young people and their key worker compiles a monthly report on their progress in relation to the aims in their plans. As a result the day-to-day care of the young people reflects the individual requirements of their placement plan. A social worker said 'staff know the young people's needs and act accordingly'. Young people make good use of key work sessions where they discuss their care, individual needs and choices. As a result young people are able to express their feelings, share

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Quality of care

their views and voice their opinions in all aspects of their care.

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Quality of care

Young people are aware of how to complain and are supported in making their complaint heard. Complaints are promptly addressed demonstrating that young people are listened to and their concerns are taken seriously. This enables young people to gain confidence and skills in communicating their opinions and views.

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from good relationships with staff and firm and consistent boundaries which provide a foundation for the promotion of positive behaviour. Young people generally behave well and their behaviour in the community has improved significantly. However there are incidents of damage caused to the home following temper outbursts. This means that young people do not always behave appropriately. A social worker stated that there are 'very good relationships between staff and young people. Feedback on the placement is always balanced with reports on the positive aspects as well as any negatives.' Young people benefit from good health care plans that focus on meeting their holistic health needs. These are reviewed to ensure young people's health needs are met. Young people have access to various medical professionals including sexual health nurses, mental health services, and drug and alcohol specialists. Staff support young

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Quality of care

people to attend appointments. Staff are trained in first aid and in administration of medication. A social worker said 'this is the best placement for ensuring the young persons medication is consistent.' Young people are encouraged to eat healthily and exercise. As a result the physical, emotional and psychological health of young people is promoted.

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Quality of care

Staff maintain good links with various providers of education, training, work experience and employment opportunities for young people. Staff are supported to look creatively at how young people can benefit from these opportunities. This means young people have a variety of options to help them achieve their educational and employment potential.

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Quality of care

Young people live in a home that is safe but also provides a supportive environment where they can learn to be independent. Young people have space to be on their own as well as areas where they can socialise. The home is close to local amenities and leisure facilities providing a range of opportunities for young people.

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Quality of care

Staff encourage young people to take part in a variety of activities and provide information on a range of events and leisure pursuits. This means staff promote the opportunity for young people to experience new activities and develop new skills.

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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

Staff have been trained in positive behaviour management and appropriate use of restraint and work closely with young people to consolidate ways of managing behaviour in a positive way. As a result the use of restraint has reduced substantially. All incidents and events in the home are recorded and this includes positive events as well as incidents of aggression, sexualised behaviour, damage or absence from the home. The circumstances leading up to the event, a description of the event and consequences are all well detailed. Young people are consulted and give their views on the incident.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Sanctions are fair and mostly relate to repayment in respect of misuse of fares or damage to property. The manager is working with staff and young people to develop sanctions that are focused on reparation rather than financial. This means young people are developing an understanding of their behaviour and learning the consequences of their actions. The manager reviews all incidents in order to identify trends and patterns in behaviour.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Bullying has been an issue in the past but in resident meetings young people say it is not now an issue. Staff have managed incidents well and involved young people in discussing the effects of bullying. Staff have been supported by the local police who have talked to young people about bullying and aggressive behaviour. There is a good anti bullying policy and good risk assessments are undertaken in relation to bullying in the home. As a result young people are protected from bullying.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home has a broad range of policies and procedures for safeguarding practices in respect of child protection, handling allegations, young people missing or absent without authority and recruitment. Staff are trained in safeguarding, clear on their role and responsibilities and competent in implementing procedures in order to safeguard young people. This protects young people from potential hazards and harm.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home has a good missing from home and absent without authority procedure. There is good recording of incidents when young people are absent or go missing. Young people are responded to positively on return and are offered a return interview to discuss reasons why they have been absent and discuss their safety. This means there is work being undertaken to reduce the likelihood of repeat incidents and young people are protected as far as possible. However this interview is not with an independent person and as a result is not consistent with the local authority protocol.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are protected from unsuitable visitors to the home by good monitoring and checking of visitors. There have been no staff changes since the last inspection. The recruitment process is sound and all the required information in relation to recruitment checks is available to the home. As a result young people are protected from unsuitable persons in the home.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Regular fire drills are held and fire alarm systems are checked as required. There is a good fire risk assessment and health and safety assessment for the building and equipment. Regular maintenance checks are performed. This ensures the building is safe and appropriately secure. The home has a broad range of risk assessments for the building and activities as well as individual risk assessments for young people in relation to their behaviour, health and any activities they may undertake. These are proportionate in their management of risk and as a result enable young people to develop.

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Leadership and management

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

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Leadership and management

The home has a history of meeting previous requirements and recommendations and as a result the service for young people has improved and young people are safe. The home operates in a manner that is consistent with its Statement of Purpose. This document is clear on the aims and ethos of the home and as a result staff and placing authorities are clear on the service the home provides. The home undertakes regular fire drills in various scenarios including night time. Fire evacuation procedures are also discussed with young people at resident meetings to ensure young people are aware of what to do in an emergency. There are three requirements and three recommendations made as a result of this inspection.

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Leadership and management

The home provides care for young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties and supports them to learn to live independently. Young people benefit from a sound admissions procedure and planned introductions. Young people are provided with a guide and information about the home. As a result young people feel valued and welcomed into the home. Young people are encouraged to take an active role in all aspects of their care including plans for moving on. The home works closely with the local authority to ensure any placement changes are well planned and involve consultation with young people. This ensures young people feel involved in their placement and leave the home in an appropriate manner.

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Leadership and management

The home is provided and managed by suitable personnel who are qualified and experienced. The organisation's directors and operational managers are in consultation with staff over changes to the provision. This is due to no current referrals and numbers of young people in placement reducing. As a result staff face redeployment or possible redundancy. The organisation has plans in place to ensure any change or transition is as smooth as possible and causes minimal disruption for young people and staff.

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Leadership and management

The staff team consists of people from diverse cultures with varied beliefs and traditions. Staff have a variety of skills and experience and bring different strengths to the service. The staff rota ensures young people's needs are met through the provision of sufficient staffing.

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Leadership and management

Staff benefit from a sound induction process and are able to continue to develop their knowledge and skills through a variety of training opportunities to improve their competency and ensure young people's needs are met. Staff receive good quality regular supervision. Annual appraisals have recently been introduced. There is a good staff handover process that ensures shifts are planned and communication is maintained between staff. As a result staff feel supported to continue to provide a quality service for young people.

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Leadership and management

The home is inconsistent in implementing procedures for monitoring the quality of the service provided and the welfare of the young people. The manager has developed a thorough quality assurance routine and monitoring process to monitor records and identify trends and patterns. The manager also carries out reviews in respect of all information required in the regulations. However, the report of these reviews is not submitted to Ofsted as required.

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Leadership and management

The registered provider undertakes visits to the home and carries out checks to ensure the welfare of young people is monitored. The registered provider consults with young people to identify any areas for development to improve the quality of care provided. The registered provider often visits the home to discuss matters informally with young people. However the formal visits are not carried out monthly as required by the regulations. As a result the welfare of young people and the quality of service provided is not reported on as required. Records are stored securely and information sharing is in accordance with data protection. All significant events relating to the protection of young people in the home are notified though there are some delays in the notifications being received which is in breach of regulations.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is good .

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