Children's Home run by Headway Adolescent Resources Limited in Bristol

Unique reference number SC066250 Inspection date 15/11/2011 Inspector Peter Harrell / Michelle Oxley Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 18/05/2011 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 service is a three bedded children’s home for young people of either gender. It is owned by a private organisation who also operate two more children's homes in the surrounding area. The home provides medium to long term care for young people who are looked after.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be satisfactory .

p.4

Overall effectiveness

This home is managed by an experienced manager and staff group who have developed sound relationships with young people in the home. There has been some progress in taking account of the individual and cultural needs of young people. However, there are only a few examples of explicit plans regarding how the service meets the diverse needs of young people. The promotion of equality and diversity is satisfactory. Young people report that they feel safe and procedures are in place to make them safe. Young people’s views are taken in to account and records are kept and maintained. The lack of pathway planning for young people is a cause for concern and the physical conditions of the home require improvement. There is no development plan in place. There are six recommendations relating to these areas for improvement.

p.4

Recommendations

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

p.4

Recommendations

 ensure that the home implements a proportionate approach to any risk assessment and all identified risks are recorded in a written risk assessment (NMS 4.4)  ensure that the home provides a comfortable and homely environment and is well maintained and decorated with young people having sufficient leisure equipment in order to meet their leisure needs (NMS 10.3)  ensure that the Statement of Purpose is reviewed so that it is up to date and reflects the service provided (NMS 13.1)  ensure that the registered person has a written development plan, written 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 visits carried out under Regulation 33 are linked to efficient monitoring of the service and all relevant information is contained in these reports (NMS 21.7)

p.4

Recommendations

 ensure that the home liaises with the child's responsible authority about the progress of the child's readiness to move to future accommodation where they would expect to take on greater responsibility and independence and ensure a plan is in place for this to happen. (NMS 12.4)

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are satisfactory .

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

The relationship between staff and the young people is positive. Young people say the staff team are available to them. Young people have regular keywork sessions and staff listen to their views. Staff have sufficient knowledge about the young people they work with and are committed to their work.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are supported in developing skills to prepare them for being self- sufficient. The young people are involved in independence programmes including budgeting, menu planning and basic practical household skills. Staff encourage young people to undertake training and look for suitable work. Staff have made attempts to obtain pathway plans for young people from the placing authority. Without a plan in place, young people are not able to be fully supported to plan for their future and move onto independence.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are encouraged to move toward a greater level of independence. They regularly put forward their views and ideas to their keyworkers and the Registered Manager. Young people said they do not always have the reasons why things are changed explained to them. Young people said that they were uncertain about what was going to happen to them in the future and the impact of having no pathway plan for transition to adulthood added to this uncertainty.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are encouraged to take part in activities both within the home and in the local community. Staff do not provide opportunities for young people which are equal to their peer group. The home has very limited resources available for young people, for example, damaged and missing items such as the DVD player, computer and TV in the communal room have not been replaced. The result of this is that young people have limited opportunities for leisure activities which they enjoy. A young person said, 'Overall it is a nice care home but it needs more stuff to do.’

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

All young people are supported in maintaining contact with their family members. Young people comment that the support received has been helpful. Young people are supported by the staff team in attending reviews and other meetings. Young people have their own mobile phones, which the home has provided, but can also use the office phone at the home to contact their families. The home provides young people with an environment where appropriate care is taken to arrange routine health appointments and keep records of illnesses, accidents, injuries and medication administered. Staff take appropriate opportunities with individual young people to talk about health issues, such as the effects of drug or alcohol misuse, relationships, sexual health and healthy lifestyles and there are supporting leaflets available.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people speak with confidence about their acquired skills, knowledge and the courses completed. Young people have definite career and training aspirations which they are encouraged to pursue. The staff work in a culturally sensitive way with young people to identify relevant and meaningful courses of education and training. There are links with the local Connexions service, however young people say they feel this is of limited use and they wish to make their own arrangements supported by the staff team.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people say they enjoy cooking meals for staff. Food at the home is varied. Young people on semi independence programmes have input to the menus and are involved in shopping for and preparing meals. The staff promote healthy eating through menu planning and this encourages young people to maintain a nutritious diet.

p.6

Quality of care

The quality of the care is satisfactory .

p.6

Quality of care

Young people receive individualised support and their views are actively sought. All young people have a keyworker and co-keyworker who arrange help and support for each young person. Keyworkers meet with young people on a weekly basis and their placement plans are reviewed and needs relating to their background are addressed where appropriate. However, the cultural needs of young people are not addressed routinely as part of this process. The home also has working links with a therapy service who are involved in carrying out training and development of the staff team.

p.6

Quality of care

Events and activities undertaken by each young person are summarised each week including details of achievements, incidents, health, education and any visits from other professionals. This information is presented at formal reviews and then sent to placing social workers. All young people are having their reviews at the required intervals and attend their meetings. This means they can fully participate in any decisions made about their care.

p.6

Quality of care

Young people know how to make a complaint and also how to contact Childline. Information on how to make a complaint is in the current young person’s guide. Records of complaints demonstrate that they are dealt with effectively. There has been one complaint since the last inspection from a neighbour. Young people relate well with staff and feel listened to by the Registered Manager and are given reasons why certain actions cannot be taken immediately. This level of consultation ensures young people are involved. The property and grounds have not been sufficiently maintained and a programme for redecoration or repairs is lacking.

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

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

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people report that they are safe at the home and feel able to report any concerns to staff. The staff are knowledgeable about safeguarding procedures. The manager knows when to report matters or to seek advice from professionals outside the home. There have been three notifications since the last inspection, one of which was a child protection incident. This incident was dealt with and managed appropriately. Professionals outside the home were involved and there is a clear record of meetings and actions taken.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

There are sound procedures in place for young people who go missing, which are linked to young people’s individual risk assessments and behaviour plans. These documents have been recently reviewed and updated to reflect the new protocols for working with young people who go missing. Records kept of these incidents are clear. Since the last inspection there have been nine incidents of young people going missing. These incidents occurred over short periods of time and were responded to appropriately. The consistent approach from the staff team supports young people minimising missing incidents. The home has developed a good working relationship with the police, which includes young people being ‘flagged’ due to their vulnerability and early reporting ensuring a robust response.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

The main focus of the home’s behaviour management approach is through the use of rewards and sanctions. The home has an appropriate policy and procedure for the use of restraint which the records reflect. There have been no incidents of restraint since the last inspection and young people state that they have not been restrained. Staff receive regular update training on restraint and behaviour management which ensures that young people are managed safely.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Employment records show that the provider has in place a sound procedure to employ new staff following safer recruitment practices. Staff supervision is regular and new staff have a detailed induction programme. Staff say their induction is helpful and this ensures they are able to meet the care needs of the young people.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people know what they should do in the event of a fire at the home. Records confirm that the alarm systems are tested regularly and other procedures are in place to ensure maintenance of equipment and installations. Risk assessments are used to identify and reduce risks from hazards around the building, grounds and activities by young people. However, not all identified risks are recorded in the written risk assessments, for example young people smoking.

p.7

Leadership and management

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

p.8

Leadership and management

The home is staffed by a competent staff group, sufficient in number to meet young people's needs. A diverse range of experiences, gender and ethnicity are reflected in the staff team. Staff training has a high profile in the home and staff have completed training courses relevant to their work, which makes them more prepared and responsive to young peoples needs. The staffing rota ensures that there are a sufficient number of staff to deliver care and attend to administrative tasks. This ensures the young people can regularly meet with, and feel supported by staff.

p.8

Leadership and management

There is no development plan in place at the home so future plans for the service cannot be ascertained. The Statement of Purpose is not up to date and lacks detail. This means information about the home for parents and placing authorities about the home and the services it provides is lacking.

p.8

Leadership and management

Systems are in place to monitor the performance of the home. The Regulation 33 visits happen as required and are unannounced. The monitoring of this home has not been reflected sufficiently in the records. These shortfalls in monitoring have do not have a direct impact on the care provided to young people. Young people's files are securely stored and contain all the required information. Young people are involved in recording development and progress whilst they are staying at the home and this helps with their understanding of their time in placement.

p.8

Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is satisfactory .

p.8