Children's Home run by Bramley Care Limited in Surrey

Unique reference number SC028505 Inspection date 18/01/2012 Inspector Angus Mackay Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 22/06/2011 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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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 progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011).

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

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Brief description of the service

The home is registered to accommodate no more than four young males. The home is privately owned and is one of three children’s homes owned by the service providers. The home provides a service to young men who may display emotional and behavioural difficulties and whose assessed needs include sexually inappropriate behaviour. All young people see a therapist weekly and attend therapeutic groups as part of the homes assessment and treatment programme. Young people go to the organisation's school if they are not in college or work experience.

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Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making good progress.

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Progress

The inspection judgement was outstanding at the last full inspection on 22 June 2011, with no recommendations or requirements being set. The home has made good progress in improving standards of care for young people and in successfully engaging young people in the managing of the home.

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Progress

The young people engaged very positively during the inspection, expressing their enthusiasm for the home and the changes which they and staff had implemented since the last inspection. Young people showed new furniture and resources which they said improved the homeliness of the building and also improved their leisure resources. One young person said that the home is, ‘peaceful and quiet,’ and the calm atmosphere helps support the more mature attitudes of other residents.

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Progress

Young people highlighted the increased trust which they experience in this home saying, ‘the level of supervision here is different giving us more trust; it is more independent like a family and helps us build up our internal boundaries.’ To increase their responsibility for managing the home, young people now plan the allocation of daily tasks in the home with one of them doing this each day. Young people say the system works well and encourages them to negotiate, learn to compromise and take responsibility for their environment. They work closely with staff to plan meals, shop for food and now take it in turn to cook the evening meal. All of the young people stated that they enjoy this responsibility and cook a range of meals including meals from their differing cultural backgrounds. They are proud of their ability to bake as well as prepare main meals and say they enjoy doing this with staff. The young

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Progress

people are now aware of healthy eating and say staff aid in setting the menu to help them achieve a healthy balance while still having some indulgent meals. Staff have enrolled all of the young people in a local gymnasium and help them to take part in a wide range of physical activities. The young people say that they enjoy each other’s company and get on well with staff enjoying shared activities such as fishing and bike rides. Young people explained the comprehensive fire training, which they have agreed with staff, to ensure they remain safe in the house. They explained the way they earn use of individual mobile telephones to ensure their safety both in the home and in the community. They approve of the current system where they have to pay for the credit on the telephone. They discussed other options including the home providing some free credit each week to allow contact with external bodies but

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Progress

rejected this as unrealistic given their desire to move to more control and independence. Young people explained the new work which they were doing with staff in the home providing them with excellent sex education. They explained that the work had helped them to gain a better understanding of relationships as well as safe sex and removing fears and negative views they held.

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Progress

Staff say that the manager has altered shift patterns to ensure that experienced staff from this home lead each shift and provide a consistent approach to work with the young people. They have changed some recording systems to ensure they meet new national minimum standards. Although young people are unaffected by the changes, these ensure their safe care. Staff are fully aware of both internal and external monitoring of the service by the managers of the home and discussed this during the inspection showing good understanding of the purpose of this to maintain or improve standards for young people. The manager has not yet sent the internal monitoring reports to Ofsted.

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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 an evaluation of the monthly monitoring of matters set out in Schedule 6 is sent to HMCI at six monthly intervals (Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations Volume 5 Children's Homes 3.14)

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