Children's Home run by Suffolk County Council in Suffolk

Unique reference number SC430022 Inspection date 01/02/2012 Inspector Dorrit Andrews Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 02/06/2011 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 home provides medium and long-term placements for up to six young people who have emotional and or behavioural difficulties. The home is owned and operated by a local authority.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

p.4

Overall effectiveness

Young people are provided with highly personalised care which focuses on their individual needs. They enjoy good relationships with staff and benefit greatly from the individual support and attention they receive. Positive working partnerships with other professionals support the home's work with individual young people and contribute effectively to their emotional well-being and progress. Young people report they feel safe and can keep their belongings safe.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

The views of young people are highly valued and regularly sought in relation to their day-to-day care, future planning and experiences within the home. Young people report they are listened to, things change as a result where possible and they receive an explanation when their ideas and suggestions are not taken up.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

Education is valued and staff are committed to supporting young people with their education to enable them to achieve and fulfil their potential. Positive relations between young people are nurtured and participation in a range of activities is actively encouraged and supported to promote young people's overall well-being.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

Social workers and visiting professionals praise the work of the home and acknowledge the recent improvements made to the standard of accommodation and level of care provided. Staff are described as 'flexible', 'very supportive' and 'very good' at facilitating contact. In addition, the home is considered to be a 'very safe space' where 'individual needs are recognised and met'. These practices support the maintenance of individual placements to best effect.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

This is the home's first inspection since its registration in June 2011. There is good management of the home and a strong commitment to its continuous improvement. Effective systems are in place to monitor the home's performance and the care of young people. The management team understand the strengths and areas of further development for the home.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

Areas identified for improvement relate to the children's guide, discussions with social workers about young people's occasional restricted access to areas of the home, the development of the home in a written plan and submission of completed quality review reports. These shortfalls have minimal or no direct impact on the outcomes for young people.

p.4

Recommendations

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

p.5

Recommendations

 ensure the reason for administering pain-relief to young people is also centrally recorded in medication records (NMS 6.15)  ensure the practice of occasionally restricting access to areas of the home to promote young people's welfare is only used where agreed with the responsible authority and if appropriate, the parents (NMS 10.4)  ensure the children's guide includes full details of how a child can contact their Independent Reviewing Officer and the Children's Rights Director (NMS 13.5)  ensure the children's guide is available through child friendly methods of communication for the stated age range of the home (NMS 13.6)  compile a written development plan, reviewed annually, for the future of the home (NMS 15.2)  ensure copies of Regulation 34 reports are sent to HMCI at six monthly intervals (Children Act Guidance and Regulations, Volume 5: Children's Homes, statutory guidance, paragraph 3.14).

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are good .

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people's emotional needs are effectively supported and they make good progress in understanding their background and circumstances as a result. Regular key worker sessions provide positive opportunities for young people to discuss their wishes and feelings with staff and contribute to planning for their future. Individual health needs are well met and young people are supported to understand the importance of regular health checks and a healthy lifestyle. Young people also benefit from the home's increasingly positive links with the child and adolescent mental health services and visiting looked after children nurse.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people's education is actively promoted by the home and they receive consistent support to help them attend their education provision. Individual effort and achievements are praised and recognised and support the raising of young people's self-esteem and confidence.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are encouraged to make positive contributions to the home to promote their sense of belonging and the nurturing of positive relationships. They regularly contribute ideas and suggestions in relation to the daily running of the home. Recent requests for coat hangers, storage boxes and the staff duty list to be displayed have all been positively responded to. Valuing and responding to the suggestions of young people in this way empowers them and increases their confidence and self-worth.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are supported to maintain contact with their families, friends and significant others in their lives to best effect. Arrangements are negotiated and agreed through placing social workers in consultation with young people and sensitively managed.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people

The daily routine of the home provides opportunities for young people to acquire practical skills to support their self-care and develop their independence. Opportunities include preparing drinks and snacks, cooking, helping to clear away after meals and getting organised for school.

p.6

Quality of care

Young people enjoy and benefit from good relationships with staff that provide good levels of care. Clear and consistent expectations and reflective discussions support young people to develop appropriate behaviour. Daily dialogue between staff and young people provides opportunities for the raising of individual issues or ideas about the running of the home. Time is regularly set aside to discuss menu planning and activity suggestions. Young people are aware of other ways they can raise issues or concerns. These include talking to the manager, their social worker, the Children's Rights Officer and use of 'I want you to know' forms.

p.6

Quality of care

Staff encourage young people to be fully involved in discussions about their care and planning for their future. Equality and diversity matters are explored and addressed in consultation with individuals, and young people are supported to attend placement meetings and reviews. Their wishes and views are actively sought and staff help them understand when it may not be possible to fully meet their wishes. Of particular note is the compiling of 'How my month has been' reports with young people in consultation with their key workers. These sessions provide opportunities to reflect, assess progress and set measurable individual incentives/goals. Completed reports are communicated to social workers and independent reviewing officers to keep them informed of young people's progress.

p.6

Quality of care

Established links are in place with local health professionals and referrals are sought to address young people's individual needs. Personal hygiene matters are sensitively managed and staff are open to discussing a range of health and relationship issues with individuals. Good records are maintained of health checks and treatment. Medication and first aid training is provided to staff and refresher courses accessed as necessary. Records of prescribed medication and household remedies are generally well kept. However, the medication records do not show the reason that non-prescribed pain relief has been given to young people. Young people are provided with a healthy and varied diet. Meal times are organised social occasions. The home's cook is very much part of the team and welcomes the involvement of individual young people in preparing their own snacks and cooking meals. These opportunities are used to broaden young people's skills and food

p.6

Quality of care

preferences as well as boost their confidence and the building of positive relationships. Effective communication across the team ensures all staff, including the cook, are informed of behaviour strategies being applied to support individuals. These practices, together with the vigilance of staff, enable all young people to be offered equal access to the kitchen and opportunities to be involved in cooking.

p.7

Quality of care

Effective links are maintained with education establishments and associated professionals to promote young people's attendance and progress. Staff attend school related events, support home learning and consistently promote attendance. Young people have access to home computers, study facilities and art and craft materials to support them with homework. Involvement in a range of leisure activities, both in and outside of the home, is encouraged to promote young people's overall well-being and develop their social skills. Participation may be as a group, as an individual or gender specific depending on young people's choice. Staff are increasingly involved in supporting activities both in and outside the home. This promotes positive role modelling and good relations within the community of the home.

p.7

Quality of care

The home's location promotes good access to a range of local amenities, activities and transport links. Accommodation is purpose built, clean and of a very high standard. Each young person has their own bedroom which they are encouraged to personalise and keep tidy with the support of staff. En suite shower and toilet facilities are also provided to promote young people's privacy and dignity. Separate facilities are provided for staff and visitors. There are occasions when access to some facilities and areas of the home, such as the computer room, has been restricted in order to promote the welfare of young people. Such measures have not always been discussed with placing social workers. The manager takes community relations seriously and endeavours to maintain positive relationships with neighbours.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

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

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are well cared for and they feel safe at the home. Staff recognise the particular vulnerabilities of the young people placed in their care and regularly talk to them about keeping safe both within and outside the home. Individual risk assessments are regularly updated in light of changing needs and circumstances. These, together with behaviour management strategies, contribute to the positive management of known risk taking behaviour and are regularly discussed with young people to enable them to understand the potential impact of their actions. All staff are regularly trained in the positive management of behaviour, including de- escalation and physical intervention. Restorative approaches are also used to enable young people to develop self-control and socially acceptable behaviour. Bullying is not tolerated and is not reported as an issue at the home. Few sanctions are used and the use of physical intervention is low. Good records of these incidents are

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

maintained and effectively monitored. Opportunities are provided for young people to discuss incidents and have their comments recorded.

p.8

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people who are absent from the home without permission are protected as far as possible through robust procedures and locally agreed protocols with police. The relevant people, such as social workers and parents others are kept informed when young people are missing. Staff respond positively to young people on their return.

p.8

Safeguarding children and young people

Effective systems support the maintenance of a safe environment for young people, staff and visitors. The building and outdoor areas are well maintained and kept free of hazards. Regular checks are undertaken of fire safety equipment and young people are familiar with fire evacuation procedures. A recent visit to the local fire station for young people with staff has further raised their awareness of fire safety. Staff receive training in relation to health and safety matters. The home's risk assessments in relation to the home and associated activities are currently under review. Visitors are monitored and appropriate records maintained. Recruitment practices have recently been reviewed to ensure sound practices are in place to safeguard young people.

p.8

Leadership and management

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

p.8

Leadership and management

The manager provides good leadership and the home is effectively and efficiently run. There is a strong commitment to the home's continuous improvement. Many members of the staff team have worked together before prior to the re-building of the home and the appointment of a new manager. A great deal of work has been undertaken to develop and re-focus the team to ensure individuals are clear about their roles, responsibilities and the aims and objectives of the new home. The subsequent improvements are acknowledged and praised by professionals coming into contact with the home.

p.8

Leadership and management

A Statement of Purpose provides clear and comprehensive information about the home's aims and objectives, services and facilities provided. A separate guide is provided to young people and those spoken with confirmed that staff talk through the contents with them. However, the young person's guide is not fully presented in language appropriate to the age range of young people accommodated. In addition, details are not included of how a young person can contact their independent reviewing officer and the Children's Rights Director.

p.8

Leadership and management

Young people receive the care they need from staff who are sufficient in number, experience and training to meet their needs. Specific areas of responsibility are being designated across the team to support the development of staff and ensure the smooth running of the home in the absence of the manager. Cover arrangements are in place for when staff are absent or on holiday and back up support is always available through the home's on-call system. Staff report they are receiving 'very good' management support, including regular supervision and annual performance appraisal to guide in them in their work. A rolling programme of mandatory and refresher training is provided to ensure care practices are kept up to date. Specialist training is also undertaken, including pedagogic principles, and arrangements are made to ensure the knowledge gained is cascaded across the team.

p.8

Leadership and management

The management team maintains effective oversight of staff practices and the care provided. Schedule 6 monitoring reports and comprehensive Regulation 33 visitor reports are completed monthly and made available for inspection. Matters raised are acted upon and used as areas for discussion to strengthen good practice and drive improvement forward. Regulation 33 visitor reports are regular received by Ofsted. Monitoring reports compiled in relation to Regulation 34 have not been submitted to date. The home's management team have a clear focus on those areas being developed within the home and a strategic plan is in place for the development of the organisation’s residential provision. However, there is no written development plan for the home to measure its annual progress. Records are well maintained overall and contribute to an understanding of a young person's life.

p.9

Leadership and management

Young people's views are valued and sought through a variety of ways. Key worker sessions and Regulation 33 visits offer regular formal opportunities to consult with young people about their care, progress and wider issues in relation to the running of the home. Residents' meetings, daily contact with staff and mealtimes are also used.

p.9

Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is good .

p.9