Children's Home run by Benjamin UK Ltd in Milton Keynes

Unique reference number SC391379 Inspection date 06/12/2011 Inspector Pippa Greed Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 03/03/2011 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 between 12 and 18 years of age with emotional or behaviour difficulties. The home is owned by a private organisation.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

p.4

Overall effectiveness

Young people are supported by a strong manager, dedicated deputy and staff team who work hard to ensure positive outcomes for all of the young people in their care. This is achieved through a consistent approach to managing behaviour and encouraging young people to be aware of, and learn from, the consequences of their actions and behaviour.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

Young people are given every encouragement to engage with education and have received support to choose the school or college they wish to attend and continue to receive support on dealing with changes.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

Young people generally like living at the home and feel safe. Young people said they really liked the manager and staff.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

Placing authorities were extremely positive about the home and commented that the service is strong on communication and provides regular updates. A social worker stated that the service works hard to adapt to changing needs or trends in behaviour. One social worker commented that the service provision is, 'first class' and that 'communication is exceptional'.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

The manager has worked extremely proactively to focus on young people's outcomes. There is a strong commitment to improving and evaluating the quality of care given to young people. One requirement has been made relating to registration application for the new manager. Recommendations have been made to clarify and enhance certain standards or procedures. These are detailed below.

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) submit a registration application for the new manager. (Care Standards Act 2000 Section 11 (1)) 23/01/2012

p.5

Recommendations

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

p.5

Recommendations

 review and update the generic risk assessments (NMS 10.8)  review and update the Statement of Purpose to reflect the change of manager and deputy. Also, include Ofsted's contact address within the complaint arrangement (NMS 13.5)  implement a development plan specific to the home outlining actions and incorporate young people's views into the plan (NMS 15.2)  ensure all staff mandatory training are recorded and up-to-date (NMS 18.1)  ensure regular staff supervision are recorded formally in line with NMS (NMS 19.5)  introduce a staff appraisal system. (NMS 19.6)

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 benefit from a nurturing environment that helps them develop and thrive. They are supported by a caring staff team. Young people have said, 'I love it here' and 'the staff are good and I get on with all of them'.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people have the advantage of individualised support that helps them to grow in confidence and make significant progress from their starting point. The key-worker system helps young people to focus on their goals and discuss any concerns that they may have. Staff are aware of young people's abilities and interests and help to nurture these. Constructive use is made of leisure time. Young people take part in a number of activities such as bowling, shopping, sports centre, cinema, internet café, pool, go-karting and trips to theme park and seaside.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people enjoy good health and the home ensures that young people's health care needs are met, including matters relating to emotional and psychological needs. The organisation uses regular support from outside agencies to provide professional guidance. The home also provides regular therapeutic sessions.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are supported to attend local schools and colleges. For example, young people have been consulted as to which course is most suitable for them and supported to attend as much as possible. Staff encourage young people to do their homework and the home provides in-house tuition. Teachers visit the home to arrange education support to fit in around the young person's needs. Young people's placement plans demonstrate active education input. Young people have said they feel settled and enjoy attending their education setting.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are supported to maintain contact with their family, friends and significant others. This means that young people have links that are meaningful to them. Parents have stated that, 'as well as being highly professional, the staff have been very caring'. Parents have confirmed that the placement has been extremely successful and meets their child's needs very well. Young people's views are actively sought in relation to the day-to-day running of the home and young people felt that staff value their views and opinions.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people

Staff encourage all young people to be as independent as possible in their daily living tasks and take responsibility for their actions. The home has a system that records planned activities and outcomes which provides the young person with a sense of direction.

p.6

Quality of care

Young people thrive in a nurturing and supportive environment. Young people's care plans clearly identify their care needs and how the staff are to meet them. Key- working sessions enable the young person to reflect and this forms the basis of the care provided. Constant and consistent monitoring enables staff to evaluate the progress of young people on a monthly basis. Young people are fully involved in this process and contribute to reviews. This process helps them to take responsibility for their behaviour and progress, and consequently this raises their self esteem and feeling of self worth. Cultural and ethnicity needs are taken into account in the care planning process. This means that young people feel valued and cared for regardless of their cultural or ethnic background and their needs are fully met.

p.6

Quality of care

Young people's files provide a very good record of staff intervention. Staff empower young people through their open and transparent ways of working. Young people said that the staff listen to them and encourage them to take responsibility for their own behaviour. There is a culture of promoting young people’s rights and consultation with young people about all daily living activities in the home. For example, young people are fully involved in residents meetings, activity planning, the use of token system and menu planning.

p.6

Quality of care

Young people are supported to keep in contact with their family, friends and significant others. Some young people have their own laptop and personal mobile phone. They can also access the home computer and telephone.

p.6

Quality of care

Young people live in a quiet residential area and have easy access to a nearby large town. Young people said they enjoy living at the home and take advantage of accessing local amenities. Personal and communal spaces have been decorated and personalised to reflect their tastes. Young people can relax in the lounge, watch television or play music.

p.6

Quality of care

Young people have access to a large garden which comprises of a large lawn, patio area and summer house. The home has a pet which lends to a feel of belonging.

p.7

Quality of care

Staff promote a healthy lifestyle. Young people are encouraged to plan healthy menus and eat healthy snacks. Young people's cultural backgrounds are promoted. For example, one young person plays an active role in cooking meals reflecting their cultural background and interests.

p.7

Quality of care

Young people's health care needs are well met. Staff have a good knowledge of individual health care needs that are documented in health care files. The home has appropriate systems for the management of medicines. This ensures that young people get their medication at the appropriate times. Emotional health care needs are fully assessed and a plan is put in place to meet these, with referrals to appropriate health care professionals and therapists. This ensures that the young people obtain the help that they need to achieve positive outcomes.

p.7

Quality of care

Young people are consulted on a range of activities in the home and also encouraged to attend peer group meetings with other homes run by this organisation. For example, going to sport and leisure facilities, clothes shopping, table tennis, bowling, internet café, cinema, and visits to the seaside or theme park. One young person has been supported to join rugby training. These opportunities ensure that young people's energies are channelled in a positive ways and help them to build their self esteem through learning new skills.

p.7

Quality of care

Relationships between young people and staff are highly valued and constructive. Young people confirmed that they get on well with staff. Staff work quickly to counter any bullying within the home. Young people know how to make a complaint and their complaints when made have been handled appropriately and largely resolved to their satisfaction.

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

There are good arrangements in place at the home to keep young people safe. Young people have been frequently absent without authority but staff are well trained in managing missing from home procedures and young people are often returned home safely in a short space of time; staff work hard to minimise these events. Staff receive regular training to ensure that they are able to fully safeguard the young people in their care and are fully aware of the procedures they should take if there are any safeguarding concerns.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Staff actively encourage and promote positive behaviour. Staff maintain a token system in line with the home's policy and this encourages positive behaviour. Occasionally staff sanction young people for inappropriate behaviour. Young people fully understand why they have been sanctioned and think that this is fair. Sanctions are recorded as being fully discussed and recorded in the file. Staff are fully trained in safe restraint. The restraint log is detailed and comprehensive and includes comments from young people. The manager provides opportunities for both young people and staff to reflect through debriefing. This is supported by documents that provides analysis of what happened and how best to prevent it reoccurring. Staff are clear that it would only ever be used as a last resort to ensure the safety of staff or the young person.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

The service is aware of the need to have a robust risk management system. Risk assessments are in place for individual young people. However, generic risk assessments will need to be reviewed.

p.8

Safeguarding children and young people

There are regular checks of the fire alarm and staff and young people take part in fire drills. There are procedures and checks in place to ensure the health and safety of young people in the home.

p.8

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people benefit from a stable core staff team. The home has a robust recruitment policy that will ensure the safety of the young people. Visitors to the home are monitored by staff and a visitors book is maintained to help ensure only appropriate people gain entry.

p.8

Leadership and management

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

p.8

Leadership and management

The home meets the overall aims and objectives in the Statement of Purpose. Staff succeed in providing a stable and structured environment for the young people. However, the statement does not reflect the change in management.

p.8

Leadership and management

There is a strong commitment to anti-discriminatory practice at the home. Staff strive to promote high aspirations for young people and staff encourage them to fulfil their potential. The staff are encouraged by the manager to find out young people's talents or interests and then action is taken to realise these, for example, business management studies, child care studies and football or rugby training. The home utilises each person's skills of both young people and staff such as cooking, playing the guitar and writing songs.

p.8

Leadership and management

The staff team are very well supported by the organisation, the manager and deputy. Staff receive supervision as well as a range of training. Training given reflects the diverse needs of the young people they work with. This organisation promotes a therapeutic approach. Staff to share knowledge and learning and in turn stimulate interest and motivation with young people. However, the manager needs to ensure supervision are provided more formally and introduce a system of appraisal.

p.8

Leadership and management

The manager ensures that there are an appropriate number of staff on duty at all times to meet the needs of the young people. Staffing ratios mean that diverse individual care needs are able to be met at all times. If required due to sickness or annual leave, staff are available from the organisation's other homes to ensure continuity and consistency for the young people.

p.8

Leadership and management

Young people benefit from very effective management. There are various systems to monitor the quality of care. This includes monthly monitoring visits by a designated person, in accordance with the regulations. Compliance with previous inspection requirement and recommendations has been largely met.

p.9

Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is good .

p.9