Children's Home run by Reflexion Care Group Limited in Shropshire

Unique reference number SC366090 Inspection date 07/12/2011 Inspector Pete Hylton Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 01/02/2011 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

This privately owned children's home can accommodate up to two young people.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

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Overall effectiveness

This is a good children's home with some outstanding features.

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Overall effectiveness

This is a good children's home with some outstanding features.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people make good progress in education and in developing their interests outside of the home. Activities are enjoyed by the young people. Where young people do not attend school, the home works hard with educational providers to support their education.

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Overall effectiveness

The Registered Manager is currently absent and the vacancy is being covered. The organisation has identified areas to develop through its own quality checking. The acting manager is working hard to sustain and improve the service.

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Overall effectiveness

The home is not regularly reviewing its service in line with the regulations. In addition, supervision of staff has not always been regularly held although the covering manager is working hard to ensure staff are appropriately supervised.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are kept safe in a caring and supportive home. Staff ensure that young people are protected from harm. Excellent risk assessment ensures that activities are well planned and appropriate to the individual needs of the young people.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are safe at this home and clearly benefit from an outstanding quality of care. They are cared for by an excellent staff team for whom safety is a key priority.

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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 monitoring the matters set out in Schedule 6 at appropriate intervals. (Regulation 34(1)(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 that children's guide includes a summary of what the home sets out to do for children, how they can find out their rights, how child can contact their Independent Reviewing Officer, the Children's Rights Director, Ofsted if they wish to raise a concern with inspectors, and how to secure access to an independent advocate (NMS 13.5)  ensure that there is a written development plan, reviewed annually, for the future of the home, either identifying any planned changes in the operation or resources of the service, or confirming the continuation of the home's current operation and resource (NMS 15.2)  ensure that staff have access to support and advice, and are provided with regular supervision by appropriately qualified and experienced staff. (NMS 19.4)

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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 make good progress at the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Educational achievement is generally good at the home. Where young people do not regularly attend school or educational provision, they are supported in alternative education and make good progress. Where young people demonstrate prior experiences or skills in a subject area, this is recognised and reflected by the home and education providers. For example, where young people have skills in languages. This further contributes to supporting young people to raise their self esteem. A young person commented about education, ‘staff help me with school work. They help me understand different ways of looking at things. I am making progress.'

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are able to maintain contact with family and friends where appropriate to do so. Close support from staff enables young people to further understand their emotions and feelings. Young people are encouraged to explore their identities and their backgrounds. This means that young people develop good emotional resilience. A young person commented that they were, 'really happy with the staff helping me to follow my beliefs.'

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Outcomes for children and young people

A range of activities are on offer at the home and young people make good progress in taking part in age appropriate activities. This also helps them to access the local community and form positive relationships with peers. Young people are actively encouraged to engage in positive activities and make good progress.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The home enables young people to develop the necessary skills for independent living. Young people are supported to develop independence skills and make good progress in this regard.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from an experienced and caring staff team. Relationships between the staff and young people are very positive.

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Quality of care

Care plans for young people are well written and regularly reviewed. This ensures that young people receive the most appropriate care. Young people are fully involved in their care planning and their views actively sought. Care plans are regularly reviewed and excellent key working ensures young people are able to speak to staff about all matters concerning their care at the home.

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Quality of care

Healthy eating is promoted and young people are able to choose and prepare their own meals. Meals are planned in advance and take account of specific needs, for example, Halal diets. Young people are encouraged to be healthy and staff support young people in accessing local gyms and fitness classes. This has enhanced the lives of young people as they are more conscious of their health needs and are actively encouraged to take responsibility for their own health.

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from a staff team who ensure that their health needs are fully met. The home has clear procedures for administering and storing medication. All medication is accurately recorded and closely monitored by the acting manager. Health needs for young people are closely monitored and supported. Where young people need access to medical services or health professionals, this is swiftly arranged. The staff maintain the dignity and privacy of young people at all times.

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Quality of care

Where it is agreed that young people do not attend educational establishments, the home works in partnership with schools and education providers to complete any set work. This ensures that young people are educated in line with their personal education plans. Staff work with young people to support their education and excellent links with social workers and parents ensure that all relevant matters are clearly communicated. Where young people experience difficulties in maintaining educational placements, the home works closely with all appropriate agencies to support young people's participation and regular attendance.

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from access to age appropriate activities. They are encouraged to develop interests outside of the home, for example, exercise classes and music lessons. Staff ensure that young people are able to access these regularly and progress is carefully recorded on the daily recording sheets. This ensures that young people's progress is closely monitored and regular reviews with young people mean that activities are enjoyed and changed where necessary. The home works well to support young people's independence and the home effectively advocates for young people to ensure that their wishes and needs are met. Young people are encouraged to develop age appropriate independence skills such as cooking, cleaning and following a budget. This further equips them for their future lives and ensures that young people make positive transitions to their next placement.

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Quality of care

Excellent communication with parents, placing authorities and other professionals ensures that young people receive a continuity of care. A youth offending worker commented that a young person was, 'fully supported by the home.'

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from a homely and warm environment. The home is well decorated and exceptionally well maintained. Young people are actively involved in the day to day running of the home. For example, the inspector observed young people helping staff to choose the Christmas decorations and working with staff to decorate the home. The acting manager aims to ‘make it feel like a home so that young people can be comfortable and have positive relationships.'

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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

Young people are safe and feel safe at the home. Excellent risk management ensures that even the most vulnerable young people are safe. There have been very few episodes of young people going missing from the home and staff benefit from exceptionally clear and robust procedures in the event of young people being reported as missing. There are clear arrangements with the local police and the home benefits from a positive relationship with local officers.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Restraint is only used in exceptional circumstances and is effective. Excellent recording systems and the use of a dedicated debriefing sheet with young people ensures that they are fully supported in discussing their feelings following incidents. Staff are also encouraged to share their views and feelings. All recording is accurate, objective and thorough. All incidents are sent to the senior management within the organisation. This ensures that any concerns are acted upon and all incidents are robustly monitored.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The use of sanctions helps young people to develop an understanding of appropriate boundaries and behaviours. The use of rewards also supports young people to develop positive behaviour. Young people are actively encouraged to discuss their feelings and their views are considered.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are encouraged to take part in a range of age appropriate activities which are all carefully assessed and managed. The staff team are able to identify potential risks to young people and implement measures to manage these, while enabling young people to engage in appropriate activities and events. Robust and thorough employment checks ensure that only suitable adults work with the young people. This further adds to the excellent practices of the home in keeping young people safe. The home environment is safe and secure without being restrictive. Young people benefit from a home environment which is well monitored and maintained.

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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 absence of the registered manager has been well managed by an experienced and capable acting manager.

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Leadership and management

The home has some plans for development and these are being implemented by the acting manager. Although some developments are clear to all staff, for example the distribution of key projects and responsibilities, there is no written development plan. This is not having a negative impact on the outcomes for young people.

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Leadership and management

Monitoring visits to the home are regularly undertaken by the organisation. This ensures that the acting manager has regular feedback on the matters listed in the regulations. While this has led to improvements, the home's own monitoring under Regulation 34 is not undertaken regularly. However, this does not impact unduly on the care young people receive.

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Leadership and management

The home is working to its Statement of Purpose and the temporary change in the management of the home is reflected in this document. This ensures that placing authorities, parents and young people are aware of the arrangements in the absence of the permanent Registered Manager. The young person's guide is clear, well written and informative. However, the telephone numbers for Ofsted and the Children's Rights Director are missing from this document.

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Leadership and management

Young people benefit from a staff team who are well trained. There are systems in place to ensure that staff receive regular and appropriate training. Vetting of prospective employees is rigorous and thorough. Good quality supervision is offered to all staff. However, some supervision is not held regularly enough due to the transition between managers in the home.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is good .

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