Children's Home run by Knossington Grange School Limited in Lincolnshire

Unique reference number SC436386 Inspection date 11/01/2012 Inspector Caroline Oldham Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 16/09/2011 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 home provides care and accommodation for up to four young people and will usually take boys. The home caters for young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. This home is owned by an independent provider with a school site nearby; young people may also attend this school.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be satisfactory .

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Overall effectiveness

This is the first inspection of this home. Young people have only recently started living in the home and therefore the evidence in some areas is limited. Care plans are personalised to reflect each young person's individual needs. The staff work closely with social workers and are imaginative in their approach, adjusting care strategies to help the young people. Young people are actively involved in their care plans and, as far as they are able, know the plans for their future. Staff are enthusiastic and committed to achieving the best outcomes for the young people in their care. Consequently, young people are making sound progress in the brief time they have been in the home.

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Overall effectiveness

The young people say that they like the staff and demonstrate respect for them, for example, keeping them informed of their whereabouts. They complain that they cannot just do what they want, but are proud of not breaking the rules. Young people are actively involved in the running of the home through discussions with staff, and more recently house meetings.

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Overall effectiveness

Senior management and the manager have thorough monitoring processes and developmental plans. Staff speak highly of the manager and his support. There is an excellent training programme, following on from a comprehensive induction package. Staff say that their views are recognised and valued and they are enthusiastic and committed to improving the lives of the young people. Consequently, young people feel secure and supported and their behaviour has significantly improved.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are kept safe through good working practices and comprehensive risk assessments covering the individual, activities and potential dangers within the home. Staff confirm that staffing levels keep young people safe both during the day and night. Young people's behaviour demonstrates that they feel safe in the home; incidents of physical restraint or young people going missing are extremely rare.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are satisfactory . Young people are settling into the home and are enjoying the time and support that they receive from the staff. All the young people have very complex backgrounds and they benefit from staff support to repair damaged relationships, build positive futures and attain well in their education. Examples were shared of re-establishing contact with relatives, stopping offending behaviour and committing 100 per cent to home tuition. Consequently, although the young people have only been in the home for a short period, significant progress is being made in some areas of their lives.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are making progress in their physical and emotional development. They are actively involved in the day-to-day running of the home, usually through regular discussions with staff and more recently through house meetings. Young people enjoy a healthy environment, through eating a balanced diet with freshly cooked meals, and plenty of activities such as ice skating, swimming, visiting the gymnasium and walking. Where young people lack skills, some staff have a specialism to provide tuition, such as learning to swim. This enables young people to grow in self-confidence. Young people are encouraged to seek support from specialists for dealing with problems such as addictions.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from staff actively supporting them in attending their educational placements. Young people recognise the importance of education; their attendance is generally good and they are making progress. For example, young people who have struggled with engaging in academic work are enjoying reading and doing craft activities.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from appropriate contact with family, friends and other people who are important to them. Staff work hard to help young people rekindle difficult relationships. They closely monitor those which are inappropriate and as a consequence are rebuilding what were previously difficult relationships.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people's independence skills are increasing, through learning to keep their rooms clean and tidy, opening their own bank accounts and travelling alone on public transport. These skills will assist their transition to independence.

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Quality of care

The new staff team are bonding and working well together. They speak enthusiastically and try hard to engage the young people in activities that interest them. This common ground builds relationships and clear boundaries build respect. Consequently, young people are quickly developing positive and constructive relationships with the staff team and with each other.

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Quality of care

Young people influence many aspects of the home through ongoing discussions with staff. They are listened to and where possible their views accommodated; for example, they choose menus and activities. Young people are aware and confident about the procedure for making a complaint through the young person's guide, which they are given when they arrive. They confirm that know how to make a complaint, although they have had no cause to do so. Staff are very skilled at helping young people to understand why it may not be possible to act upon their wishes and in setting clear boundaries. Examples shared are very varied and include young people being discouraged from going to a nearby city, restrictions on contact and not eating too many chips.

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Quality of care

Detailed placement and care plans are in place for all the young people. These include any issues of culture and identity. The plans focus on the specific, individual needs of each young person. Social workers, young people and others actively involved in the care, are all consulted to ensure the young person's needs are met.

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Quality of care

Staff consider all aspects of the young people's health. When a young person is admitted, they are registered with the local health professionals and encouraged to attend appointments. Medication is well managed and monitored. Additional support is provided and careful consideration is given to ensure that specialists such as therapists are well matched to the young people. Young people are encouraged to be active and learn new skills such as swimming, going to the gymnasium, cycling and ice skating.

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Quality of care

The home has close links with the organisation’s school and young people normally attend this school. Staff provide transport and they liaise closely with education professionals to ensure good communication. Individual plans ensure that each young person has an educational package that meets their needs. Where young people are not in school, tuition is provided within the home for five days per week both morning and afternoon. This structure is a good introduction to establishing the routines required for school attendance. The staff team's imaginative approach to engage young people in education and work experience allows young people to have opportunities to capture their interests and skills.

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Quality of care

The home is spacious, beautifully decorated and very well maintained. The rural location gives young people space, but they are not far from shops and public transport. Young people are actively encouraged to personalise their bedrooms through soft furnishings and posters. They clean their own rooms and manage their laundry according to their individual ability.

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Safeguarding children and young people

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

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people say that they feel safe. Their behaviour shows that they like being in the home and in the company of staff. For example, they chat easily to staff and are enthusiastic about activities, both educational and recreational.

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Safeguarding children and young people

All staff receive training in child protection procedures. There are comprehensive individual risk assessments for each young person, generic risk assessments for the home and the activities undertaken, which are regularly updated. Staff confirm that staffing levels and the use of waking nights in addition to sleep-in staff, ensure that young people are kept safe. Young people very rarely go missing and there are good strategies in place to check on their whereabouts. All these strategies help to keep young people safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people say that the rules of the home are fair and they are proud that they do not break the rules often. Staff work well together to provide consistent boundaries and have realistic expectations. They reward good behaviour and give praise regularly. Most behaviour is managed through negotiation and physical restraint is very rare; it is only used to keep young people safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The staff recruitment and selection process is rigorous and comprehensive checks are made to ensure that young people are always cared for by appropriately experienced staff. The manager is actively involved in all recruitment and has built up a good team with varying abilities and skills. They work well together and complement each other. All staff are suitable to work with young people who keep them safe from harm.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The environment is very well-maintained and kept safe through a comprehensive system of weekly and monthly internal safety checks and risk assessments. In addition, services such as electricity, electrical appliances and fire fighting equipment are regularly checked by the appropriate professional companies. Fire drills are carried out regularly and particularly when a new young person is admitted. Visitors to the home have their identification checked and are supervised.

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Leadership and management

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

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Leadership and management

The home is well managed by the Registered Manager who is enthusiastic and keen to develop the skills of his staff team. He is currently formulating a development plan for the coming year. Staff are clear about their roles and confirm that they are well- supported and valued by the manager. They are actively involved in developments such as revising documentation to provide succinct information with sufficient detail. Their specialist skills enhance the care of young people; for example, one young person is learning to swim with a member of staff. There have been no significant events since the home opened; however, reporting systems are in place should the need arise. The registered person carries out comprehensive monthly monitoring visits and the manager also has a comprehensive system of internal audits. This strategic overview ensures that staff maintain high standards and any minor omissions are quickly identified and rectified.

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Leadership and management

There is a clear, well written Statement of Purpose, which explains the aims and objectives of the home. Placing authorities are clear about the aims and objectives of the home and the services and facilities it provides. Social workers say that placements are well planned and that staff visit previous placements to gather relevant information. They say that staff are good at keeping in touch and open to different ways of working. Records demonstrate that there is good communication between the school and, where appropriate, family. The young people are clear about the purpose of their placement in the home and future plans. Although a relatively new staff team, they are working well together. Staff pick up discrete cues from one another and, although the building is large, they are well tuned in to what is happening at any one time. For example, a staff member was aware that a young person had gone up to their room and suggested that another

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Leadership and management

member of staff go to help them prepare for the evening activity and also ensure they had company. Staffing levels are good both day and night to keep young people safe and staff confirm this. All staff are suitably qualified and currently receive ongoing training on a weekly basis. Staff also receive regular, good quality supervision and say that they are able to seek advice and support when necessary. The manager confirms that he is well supported and that the home is financially well- resourced. This ensures a confident staff group who are able to meet the objectives of the care plans of the young people.

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Leadership and management

Care planning documents are currently under review to provide a good working format with sufficient detail that is easy to use. All senior staff are involved in this process. All documentation is kept in a locked filing cupboard within a lockable office.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is satisfactory .

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