Children's Home run by Surrey County Council in Surrey

Unique reference number SC040638 Inspection date 16/11/2011 Inspector Lucy Ansell Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 16/02/2011 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

The home is one of eight local authority children's homes and caters for six young people of either gender from 12 to 17 years of age. The home supports children and young people who present emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

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Overall effectiveness

The overall outcomes for the home are good. There is good consistent progress being made in relation to all aspects of the young people's welfare and development. There are clear placement plans in place to address identified needs which are promoting good outcomes. The staff team is established and motivated in providing a good service, while being clear on their roles and responsibilities. They are receiving appropriate training that helps provide a personalised and supportive service that meets the needs of the young people. The manager of the home understands the strengths and weaknesses and has development places in place. The young people’s welfare is safeguarded by good secure practice.

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Overall effectiveness

The service was asked to improve the overall quality assurance around their monitoring which would help develop the quality of care. The manager also needs to improve the quality of supervision and training records to further develop the staff team. To help the development of the service the young people’s files need to be clear and concise and enhance the upstairs surroundings for the young people.

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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) establish and maintain a system for improving the quality of care provided in the children's home (Regulation 34 (1) (b)) 30/03/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that all persons employed by him receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisals. (Regulation 27(4)(a)) 30/12/2011

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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 the home provides a comfortable and homely environment and is well maintained and decorated (NMS 10.3)  ensure the home has and implements a written policy that clarifies the purpose, format and content of information kept on the children's files. (NMS 22.1)

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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 the home's supportive stable environment which offers security, consistency and clear boundaries. Many of the young people are placed at the home because they have had multiple unplanned placement breakdowns due to their high risk taking and crisis behaviours. The home provides an emergency response and the length of placement for each individual child depends on their placement plan. Staff work with young people in significantly reducing risk taking behaviours and provide a supportive placement that will not break down. Young people benefit from individualised support and encouragement which helps them to develop a positive self-view and grow in self-confidence. This enables young people to think about moving on to independent living or returning home with their parents. The key worker system is valued by the young people and is used as an outlet for them to discuss all their concerns. Young people benefit from the ongoing support

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Outcomes for children and young people

and their relationships with staff which has resulted in meaningful work being able to be completed.

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Outcomes for children and young people

A range of purposeful and enjoyable activities are available for the young people to try. The young people enjoy the organised trips but are equally happy to socialise in their own peer groups within their own communities. Staff work hard in nurturing and supporting interests and hobbies. This helps young people to find new activities they might enjoy, which are not associated with their past experiences and lifestyles.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people's health needs are well promoted, including emotional and psychological health needs. Young people benefit from having access to a range of health professionals and specialist services. Individual health plans clearly identify any needs and consent forms are in place. The home can also use key working sessions to address any health issues or to complete any preventative work. This includes: discussions around reducing drugs and alcohol abuse, or health and care needs during pregnancy.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The young people benefit from accessing a form of education and attendance is good. Prior to coming to the home none of the young people were accessing education or alternative educational support. All staff at the home actively promote educational attainment and help support young people to attend regularly with lots of positive incentives. The young people staying at the home are encouraged to sit exams or continue pursuing alternative work experiences or college courses. Staff are proactive in working with the leaving care teams to ensure pathway plans are in place and young people are learning skills which will be useful when preparing for independence. For example budgeting and food planning, followed by shopping and cooking skills.

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Outcomes for children and young people

One of the home's strength is the amount of work staff do for ensuring that appropriate contact is maintained with family and friends. This includes the family being invited to all meetings and contact at the home, and being fully involved as is appropriate. Young people respond to the consistent approach to their care adopted by staff, family and their social workers. As a result, there has been a reduction in risk taking and returning to their family area.

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from significant and positive relationships with staff that helps them explore and discuss issues pertinent to them. Young people said they like all the staff but particularly their key workers and find that staff are fair to them. Young people stated that their views are actively sought through weekly house meetings, although sometimes they do not turn up for these meetings. Young people feel that they do influence the way the house is run and their wishes are taken into account for meals and activities.

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Quality of care

Information is available on how to make a complaint and how to access an independent advocate. This is available within the children's guide and is frequently spoken about in meetings and key working sessions. The young people are equally clear that they are happy to speak to a manager or staff member and they would sort any complaints out. Staff hold frank discussions with the young people so they fully understand and are clear why staff can not always act upon their wishes.

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Quality of care

The young people's files provide a record of staff intervention and contain comprehensive care and placement plans. Although, the files hold all the required information, they are not easy to navigate and it is not always clear which is the most current working document. The key worker takes responsibility for ensuring the placement plans and risk assessments are up to date and the requirements of the plan are implemented. Team meetings are child focused and the needs of each young person and how best to meet these are discussed. The young people's needs relating to cultural background, identity, faith or gender are positively addressed so they can be supported during day-to-day practice.

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Quality of care

The emotional well-being of the young people is at the centre of the home's practice. Staff have regular contact with the child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) to understand and manage the young people's behaviour; and to help raise their self-esteem and awareness. Staff from CAMHS also attend the child focused team meetings and can also be accessed through a fast track referral to give additional advice and support.

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Quality of care

Staff promote a healthy lifestyle. Young people benefit from staff who cook home- made, wholesome and delicious food which is greatly enjoyed by everyone. The young people as part of preparation for independence help with meal preparation and with planning and shopping. The menu supports an appreciation of different cuisines from differing cultures. Staff receive training on medication and first aid. This ensures safe practices are in place around the storage and administration of medications and maintaining the health of the young people. The young people reflect on their own lifestyles through key worker meetings and make choices on how to be healthier and safer.

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Quality of care

The home is situated within a quiet residential area. This is a purpose built building and as such, the look and layout is quite institutionalised. The lounge and games room have been transformed into very homely accommodation, which is spacious, comfortable and welcoming. The large kitchen and separate dinning room allow staff and young people to socialise and eat together. The upstairs corridors, many bathrooms and bedrooms are not of the same homely standard. There is some degree of damage to walls and furniture and the bedrooms. Although bedrooms are personalised to young people’s individual tastes and provide a safe space for them, these rooms are not very homely. The many bathrooms and toilets are cold and clinical. Wash products and personal items are left in the bathrooms, which presents a health and safety risk.

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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

Appropriate arrangements are in place for safeguarding young people. Young people said they feel safe in relation to bullying and have people to talk to about safeguarding issues. Currently, there are no issues with bullying. All staff are clear on the home’s policy and procedures to follow should this become an issue. Staff have received safeguarding training and are clear on their roles and responsibilities to protect the young people in their care. The home has a clear safeguarding policy. Appropriate systems are in place for recording and reporting if young people are missing without consent. Due to the age of the young people and their own lack of perceived risks about keeping themselves safe; staff do as much as they are practically able to, to ensure the young people's safety. This includes: excellent working relations with the community police team, working in partnership with the young person's social worker and family members, and continually reviewing

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people benefit from staff who actively encourage and praise all positive behaviour. The home encourages the young people to take responsibility for their own actions along with dealing with any consequences. They do this through encouraging and rewarding good behaviour, actively ignoring poor behaviour and discussing behaviours and consequences. Sanctions are reparative in nature. Sanctions and physical restraint are monitored on a frequent basis and overall remain at a fairly low occurrence in the home. All staff are trained in the use of physical restraint techniques. All incidents and physical restraints are recorded comprehensively and records include the young person's view and if there is a need for medical intervention.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people benefit from living in a home which provides physical safety and security. Fire safety checks are up to date, and regular fire drills are carried out. Risk assessments are in place for the building. Electrical and gas appliances are regularly checked and maintained. Young people live in a safe and secure environment with appropriate risk assessments in place.

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Safeguarding children and young people

A careful vetting and selection process is jointly undertaken by the local authority’s personnel department and the home's manager. All staff selected to work in the home have undertaken rigorous checks and vetting processes to ensure the safety of the young people. The staff personnel files contain all the required information. Any visitors to the home are closely supervised to further ensure the young people's safety.

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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

The home's Statement of Purpose accurately reflects the services that the home offers. The aims and objectives of the service are child focused and show how the service aims to improve the outcomes for the young people. This is updated regularly to ensure all information is correct. The children's guide is appropriate for the young people who will be accessing it and it contains all the required information.

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Leadership and management

Staff are extremely proactive in promoting equality and diversity. The staff fully understand young people’s strengths and needs and work towards building on these. Young people are fulfilling their potential, developing their self-esteem and have a positive self-image. This is being achieved through full integration into the community and by reflecting on which direction they want their life to go in. There is a commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and all staff have received appropriate training in equality and diversity.

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Leadership and management

Young people receive care from a motivated, caring and supportive team. The staff team is experienced and established, providing a secure base and a good service. The local authority provides mandatory training and has a commitment for all staff to undertake National Vocational Qualifications and completing the Children's Workforce Development Council training. While regular supervision is occurring for all staff, good record keeping is not consistent. This includes the quality of records on staff files such as supervision notes and keeping staff training records up to date.

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Leadership and management

The acting manager is competent in maintaining the quality of the service and meeting young people’s needs in the absence of the Registered Manager. The service manager is also helping to provide clear accountability and further management support. Regulation 33 visit reports involve young people. However, these reports do not reflect on practice or strengthen the home’s quality assurance practices. The manager does not evidence in practice how they are reviewing the progress of the young people or the how the quality of the monitoring process is adding any benefit to the service. The home uses the local authority’s development plan to show how the service will continue to meet its stated aims and best meet the needs of the young people. The home's budget ensures they are well resourced and that the service is financially viable and cost effective.

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Leadership and management

The recommendation made at the last inspection was met, and the standard of education records has improved so all young people have their recent education reports on file. The home ensures that all notifications, accidents or safeguarding incidents are reported to the correct authorising body within a timely fashion.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is good .

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