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

Unique reference number SC366107 Inspection date 15/12/2011 Inspector Pete Hylton Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 23/03/2011 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 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 provides care and accommodation for up to three young people.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be outstanding .

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Overall effectiveness

This is an outstanding children's home. The home has many strengths and young people benefit from an excellent standard of care.

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Overall effectiveness

The home is relaxing, well equipped and exceptionally well presented. Young people's views are central to how the home operates. They are encouraged to voice their opinions on all matters and their wishes are acted upon where appropriate.

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Overall effectiveness

Highly individualised care planning ensures that young people's needs are fully met. The home benefits from excellent relationships with families, social workers and other professionals. The manager leads a staff team who are highly motivated and dedicated to keeping young people safe. Behaviour is well managed in the home and the use of restraint is only used in exceptional circumstances.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff are well supported by the manager. Regular team meetings give everybody the opportunity to discuss issues and further improve practice in the home. The manager has a well written and closely monitored development plan. Young people and staff are both enthusiastic and involved in improving the home.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people benefit from a home which is sensitive to their individual needs. Cultural needs are fully met and young people are able to express their opinions and beliefs in a caring and nurturing environment. A social worker commented that 'staff are always welcoming and very supportive'.

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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 where specific measures, including electronic devices, are used to monitor children, there is a written policy that sets out how they should be used, how they promote the welfare of children, how children will be informed of their use, how legitimate privacy of children will be protected and how children will be protected from potential abuse of such measures. (NMS 10.5)

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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 excellent progress while living at the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are actively encouraged to attend school and excellent progress has been made in this regard. A pastoral worker commented that a young person was, 'making really good progress, achieving and doing well.' The achievements of young people are closely monitored and young people are actively encouraged to celebrate their achievements. For example, young people's achievement certificates are displayed throughout the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are encouraged to engage in positive activities within the local community. The home has made links with a local charitable organisation and this has enabled young people to engage in voluntary work. This has contributed to the progress that young people make at the home. A social worker commented that a young person had, 'made lots of progress since he has been there.'

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are encouraged to share their feelings and are treated with dignity and respect. This ensures that they are able to discuss matters sensitive to them in a supportive and caring atmosphere. Young people make excellent progress in understanding their backgrounds. Where appropriate to do so, young people are actively encouraged to develop and sustain relationships with their families. Furthermore, the home ensures that young people are further supported through regular visits from an advocate and the organisation's therapist. This further enhances the progress young people make in developing their self-esteem and emotional resilience.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are supported with developing appropriate skills for adulthood. They are able to plan and shop for their own meals. Furthermore, independence is further promoted through young people having their own cupboard space in the kitchen for their food items. Young people make good progress to develop their independence. They enjoy successful transitions to adulthood when leaving the home.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

Young people are cared for by an enthusiastic, committed and caring staff team. Relationships between staff and young people are highly positive and contribute to a relaxed atmosphere in the home.

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Quality of care

The home has clear routines and high expectations of young people. Behaviour is positively managed through a range of reward systems which are closely monitored and followed by young people and staff. This ensures that young people are clear on expected standards of behaviour. Excellent communication between young people and staff ensures that behaviour is positively managed and sensitively addressed. Young people feel cared for by the staff team. A young person said that 'staff are always on my side, they support me.'

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Quality of care

Staff have consistently high aspirations for young people and they are supported in reaching their goals. Young people are fully supported in their education. Excellent relationships between home and school ensure that all relevant matters are shared and the progress of young people carefully monitored. The home has developed excellent links with educational pastoral staff. A pastoral worker commented that the staff 'are very interested in him and his progress.'

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Quality of care

Equality and diversity is well considered by the home and is a particular strength. Young people are treated as individuals and their beliefs are fully supported. Young people who have specific needs are supported by a knowledgeable and sensitive staff team. Where young people celebrate religious occasions the staff team adapt the routines of the home to facilitate this. For example, during Ramadan, staff provided meals at different times of the day and supported young people through the night. Furthermore, young people are encouraged to respect the beliefs and wishes of others. A young person commented that 'the staff totally respect my religion.'

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Quality of care

Care planning is highly personalised and ensures young people receive an outstanding level of care. Excellent key working sessions ensure that the views of young people are central to the care planning process. Young people are actively encouraged to voice and record their opinions. A young person commented that 'we get to have a say on how the home works and we can put things on the staff meeting agenda and our own meetings.'

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Quality of care

A range of purposeful and enjoyable activities are offered to young people in the home. The home benefits from large communal areas which have been designed to create areas for young people to engage in various activities. Young people benefit from completing their own activity plans with staff support. This ensures that their views, wishes and feelings are reflected in their activities.

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Quality of care

The views of young people are central to meals in the home. Young people who are completing planned independence activities choose and plan their meals with minimal staff support. Where young people are not choosing healthy options, this is positively addressed in direct work with young people. Staff ensure that the meals provided for young people are varied, balanced and nutritious. All young people are encouraged to lead healthy lifestyles and well written health plans ensure that these are followed.

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Quality of care

The home is exceptionally well presented and is warm, comfortable and relaxing. Young people are actively involved in the current plans for redecorating the home. A young person commented that 'it doesn't look like a kid's home; it looks like a normal home with your family.'

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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 benefit from a safety conscious staff team. They feel safe and are safe at the home. Detailed and clear risk assessment ensures that all activities for young people are appropriately managed and risks are reduced. Highly individualised care planning ensures that all known risk factors are thoroughly identified and planned for. Young people are able to take risks appropriate to their age and understanding. For example, young people enjoy going into town to shop for their own meals. Staff ensure the safety of young people through discrete and agreed contact when they are completing independent tasks.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff recruitment is thorough and ensures that all prospective employees are checked for their suitability. The manager keeps clear and accurate records relating to all of her staff. Staff records are regularly scrutinised and updated where necessary. Excellent support from the manager ensures that staff can discuss their concerns regarding young people. Close monitoring of the home's records, for example restraint and sanctions, ensures that the manager has an excellent overview of events in the home and can intervene to further improve practice.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are kept safe by a vigilant staff team. Clear arrangements are in place for staff to sleep at the home and the use of movement sensors in communal areas ensures young people are supported if they get up during the night. Although young people and placing authorities are aware of the use of this method, there is no specific written policy in place about its use.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Where sanctions are used, young people are fully encouraged to record their views and feelings in records kept by the home. Excellent communication between young people and staff ensures that there is a culture of openness and respect. Staff fully support young people in expressing their views. Young people know how to complain and they are fully supported in doing so.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home enjoys a good relationship with the local police and regular informal visits from officers have strengthened relationships. This enables young people to be further educated about their safety. The home environment is appropriately safe and secure. Thorough health and safety checks are regularly completed by staff and where concerns are identified, these are swiftly and robustly acted upon.

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Leadership and management

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

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Leadership and management

Young people benefit from a home which is exceptionally well managed.

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Leadership and management

The use of creative and innovative strategies ensures the home meets the needs of the young people. For example, the manager seeks advice from specialists to help her staff reflect on their handling of incidents. This excellent and creative practice further adds to a caring and well supported environment.

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Leadership and management

Staff benefit from regular and high quality supervision meetings with the manager. This enables staff to develop their practice and discuss areas for development. This in turn ensures that the manager has an excellent overview of the events in the home.

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Leadership and management

Training for staff is high quality and beneficial to the sustained improvement of the home. A closely monitored training plan ensures that staff receive appropriate and regular training. Staff are very well supported in delivering high standards of care. They are enthusiastic and passionate about their work. The manager ensures that the enthusiasm of the staff is recognised and rewarded. Staff are actively involved in making improvements and are encouraged to develop their own careers.

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Leadership and management

Communication amongst the staff group is a key strength of the home. The manager ensures that regular team meetings focus on the needs of the young people and how to further drive the home's development. Regular and highly effective monitoring of the home is conducted by the organisation and the manager. This further drives improvements in the home.

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Leadership and management

The manager's development plan focuses on the needs and wishes of the young people. A recent redecoration of the home was funded through the manager identifying financial savings. These savings did not have a negative impact on outcomes for young people. For example, reducing takeaway meals and encouraging staff and young people to walk to the local town has improved young people's health and fitness.

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Leadership and management

Monitoring and quality assurance of the home is rigorous and effective. The manager uses her own regular monitoring to further drive improvement and sustain an excellent standard of care. Questionnaires are given to young people to further drive improvement. Regular consultations with young people ensure that the manager is able to seek their views and opinions on all matters relating to how the home is run.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is outstanding .

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