Children's Home run by Lincolnshire County Council in Lincolnshire

Unique reference number SC042950 Inspection date 09/11/2011 Inspector Mark Ryder / Robin Whistlecraft Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 15/03/2011 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 publicat ion 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 a six-bedded children's home run by the local authority. It caters for young people aged between 10 and 17 years of age who present emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be outstanding .

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Overall effectiveness

This is a home in which young people thrive. Their needs are met by experienced, trained and highly competent staff who understand young people well. Care planning is an active and participatory process in which the young people themselves play a central role. There is an open culture within this setting that enables young people to do well and reach their goals. There has been numerous successes for young people from having placements at this home which have impacted on their future life choices. Young people express very positive views about the high standard of care staff provide to them. Young people acknowledge that they are living in a safe environment.

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Overall effectiveness

There is a robust and effective quality assurance process that the home actively employs to continuously develop practice. The strength of this home is its close associations with a number of local support agencies that help young people to be safe. Staff are innovative and flexible, providing young people with a stimulating and enjoyable placement. Social workers recognise that this is a home that not only cares for young people well but equips them with the necessary life skills to succeed after placement. There are no recommendations or statutory requirements as a result of this inspection.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are outstanding .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make exceptional progress in a home which maximises their future education and employment opportunities. For example, staff assist and encourage young people to try for further education or vocational training courses. Others are being supported to make choices in order to reduce the risks and develop the skills they need in order to return to their carers or move into independence. Young people’s achievements include attaining specific awards for demonstrating independence skills, succeeding on external horticultural training and winning a place on a further education course in performing arts. Young people's attendance at school and college is high, demonstrating the home's strong commitment to education. Staff work with young people who have experienced significant stigma and lack of opportunities throughout their life. However, staff continuously keep their focus on the needs of the young people by establishing boundaries, identifying needs,

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Outcomes for children and young people

providing committed support and then finding the means or external agencies through which young people can succeed. Young people’s achievements, no matter how gradual, are celebrated. A young person wrote 'this home is the best thing that has even happened to me'.

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Outcomes for children and young people

There are good outcomes for young people to live a healthy lifestyle in reference to their physical, emotional and psychological health. Young people take responsibility for their own health and understand the value of, for example, healthy eating. Young people gain from psychological support from local child and adolescent mental health services who work with both the staff as well as individually with young people.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The staff work effectively with young people demonstrating their commitment in trying to make a positive difference to the young people’s lives both during and after placement. This means that support is available to young people after leaving the home through outreach work and close liaison with other supporting agencies. A social worker commented that 'the staff understand the young people very well and have tremendous success in moving them on into adulthood'.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people recognise the journey they are making, and explain how they have been helped to settle and move forward. One young person wrote ‘I truly believe that if I didn't live here I wouldn't recognise my passion for the subject and I wouldn’t have the confidence or belief in myself to do well’.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

This home provides a high quality of care and support to young people with complex emotional and behavioural needs. They work with young people in a progressive and enabling way through positive role modelling, consistent and fair boundaries and an honest approach to problem solving. Young people say they find the staff 'kind' and 'supportive'.

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Quality of care

Placement plans reflect the assessed needs of young people taking into consideration their culture, religion, gender and sexuality. Information is current and regularly reviewed. For example, contact arrangements are up to date and reflect the wishes and feelings of young people. Young people are familiar with their own plans, understand the reasons behind them and are able to read and amend where necessary. Reviews of the plans also involve young people who play an active and central role in determining their own future. A young person said 'I go to all my reviews because they are about me'.

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Quality of care

Staff treat young people with a high degree of respect which, in turn, is reciprocated. Young people with varied and different backgrounds to the majority of other residents are supported to live their lives how they wish to. For example, young people who express their sexuality or who wish to dress in alternative ways are accepted. Staff have worked hard as a team to ensure that they all have the understanding and empathy to help young people with diverse needs. This means that young people live in a culture where they can honest about themselves and gain from the support and care of a well informed staff team.

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Quality of care

All young people attend education and are encouraged to fully contribute towards their educational targets and goals. The home has strong links with local schools and colleges which enables regular communication to take place. Staff have high aspirations for the young people which influences how young people view education. Meetings to review educational plans are timely and involve young people, keyworkers and teachers.

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Quality of care

Young people are fully involved with the running of the home. They are involved through their own meetings, through discussions with their key workers and in informal interactions with staff. Their wishes and views are used to influence the choice of décor, the leisure activities chosen, and when group dynamics need to be addressed. Young people have access to advocates who visit regularly. Here they can discuss any issues away from staff which gives young people further opportunities to express any issues or concerns. This means they are able to see that they are respected and are central to the life of the home. As one young person said ‘they listen’.

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Quality of care

Young people make healthy life choices with regards to their diet, exercise and psychological support. Menus are balanced, nutritious and reflect personal choice from young people. Young people expressed positive comments with regards to the quality of food served at the home. Young people are further encouraged to assist in the preparation of meals and feel this is a worthwhile skill to learn. There is regular attendance at all planned health appointments. This means that young people get the best opportunities to live a healthy lifestyle.

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Quality of care

The home is furnished and decorated to a very high standard. Bedrooms reflect the individuality of each young person who are able to personalise to their own taste. Young people said they liked living at this home. A parent wrote 'seems to have a very homely atmosphere every time I visit'

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Safeguarding children and young people

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

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff excel in safeguarding complex, and vulnerable young people who acknowledge that they feel safe living at this home. They begin this work through detailed risk assessments that are regularly and routinely reviewed. These consider the risks that the young people may pose to others or themselves, including sexual risks to staff. Staff routinely discuss strategies to reduce risks, both with each other and with the young people. This means that young people are able to experience their placements in a safe way with the support and guidance of staff.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The use of restraint is very infrequent and is a testament to the exceptional quality of relationships between the staff and young people. A young person wrote 'they hardly ever restrain'. This means that young people are being successfully diverted from behaviour that requires staff to physically intervene to prevent serious harm to people or property. Sanctions are proportionate, reasonable and accepted as fair by young people. A young person wrote 'house rules are followed to keep people safe'. Young people are encouraged to record their views after any sanction or restraint. This is an improvement since the last inspection.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The potential to bully or be bullied is identified before placements start and is regularly discussed with the young people. Young people said that they all get on well and that bullying is not a concern at this home. Staff are aware of the impact of bullying and work hard with the young people to respect one another. For example, staff recognise and manage the risks associated with diverse young people in an open, sensitive and supportive way that engages all the young people. Name calling is not tolerated at this home and is responded to promptly.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Safeguarding of young people is central to the work of this home. For example, the service is actively involved in local support groups to strategically work with vulnerable young people at risk of sexual exploitation. This work has had a considerable impact on reducing the number of young people who are at risk of harm. This includes the frequency of young people missing or absent from the home. Staff are fully aware of their responsibilities in informing relevant authorities of incidents in which young people are missing. There is a high level of care and support for young people when they return to the home. Discussions regarding the reasons for missing identify any triggers or concerns.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Health and safety checks are carried out regularly as well as maintenance of electrical and gas equipment. Therefore young people live in a building which is safely checked. Fire safety is strongly promoted with regular fire drills taking place, including one during the evening, to help and inform young people how to evacuate when required. This is an improvement since the last inspection.

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Safeguarding children and young people

An open and supportive atmosphere is positively encouraged at this home. Young people said that they felt safe in the home and that this was a really good home they were happy to bring friends back to see. Visitors, including parents, are welcomed to the home. Social workers say they can and do drop in unannounced.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are outstanding . This is a highly organised and efficiently run home that provides young people with a stimulating and safe environment to live. Staff respond to a dynamic management team and are motivated and skilled in working with young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Staff reflect that they feel professionally challenged and engaged with supporting young people from diverse backgrounds. Young people respond to this approach.

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Leadership and management

Staff work effectively and creatively to get the best out of young people often using research from training to enhance their practice. For example, recent training on attachment issues has helped staff understand some of the young people's presenting behaviours. Team meetings are held regularly and include changes to legislation, equality and diversity issues and strategies in getting young people involved in the running of the home.

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Leadership and management

Previous recommendations made at the last inspection have all been suitably addressed. There is a robust and challenging monitoring process within this home that continuously strives to improve the care for young people. For example, files are regularly monitored to ensure that all necessary information is available within placement plans. This prompts staff to work hard in maintaining the file and ensuring that information about young people is accurate and reflects their assessed needs.

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Leadership and management

The home's Statement of Purpose is accessible and reflects the aims and objectives of the service. Staff provide young people with a user friendly guide which explains all aspects of living at the home. Young people acknowledge that they have received and staff have gone through it with them. Staff are currently working with young people in designing a DVD of the statement which is accompanied by music while a young person narrates the contents. This example illustrates how young people are fully involved in the operation of the home.

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Leadership and management

The development plan provides realistic and challenging targets. Young people are fully consulted through a quality assurance process which helps to further contribute to the plan. The plan reflects changes to standards and legislation and how the service should adapt to this. The plans link in with the regular monitoring processes that ensure the home is operating to a high standard. Social workers expressed very positive comments about this home and it's contribution to young people's lives. A social worker said ' I am very pleased with the care provided which is excellent. I am updated about events all the time including changes of key worker. The home is really supportive of the young people whose behaviour has improved whilst living here'.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is outstanding .

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