Children's Home run by Surrey County Council in Surrey

Unique reference number SC370703 Inspection date 09/02/2012 Inspector Keith Riley Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 29/07/2011 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 a detached purpose-built service which offers short breaks for children and young people. The service is currently registered to accommodate twenty children and young people.

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Brief description of the service

The service is designed for young people with a learning disability and specifically for those on the autistic spectrum.

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Progress

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

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Progress

At the last inspection in July 2011 the home was judged as outstanding for overall effectiveness. There were two recommendations made and these have both been met.

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Progress

The home has comprehensively addressed the balance of safeguarding young people versus restricting their liberty. This includes meticulous consideration of the safeguarding needs of individual young people and the mix of young people accommodated at any one time. This means that restrictions necessary to safeguard one young person will not impose similar restrictions on other young people. Detailed individual support plans are drawn up in consultation with others, such as parents and other professionals. Young people have the freedom to access those parts of the facility they need or want while being kept safe.

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Progress

Robust and effective systems are in place to ensure that medication is correctly stored and administered. Recent changes have made the procedure more efficient. This means that staff are able to spend more time with young people and less time, for example, following up on administration errors. Written records verify that young people receive the medication that is prescribed for them.

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Progress

Young people are supported by a highly motivated staff team who receive specialist training to meet the individual needs of each young person. Staff are supportive of each other and receive good leadership from the management team. Detailed discussions about how to meet the ongoing and developing needs of young people occur regularly. These are innovative and ensure the best possible outcomes for young people such as, being able to access the community, make appointments and use public transport.

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Progress

Young people are making good progress in communicating with others in the home and the community; for example, asking shop staff for help. Young people make good progress in their independence such as, cooking or attending to their personal care. With staff support young people are able to extend their diets and manage their portion control by planning and developing their own recipe books.

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Progress

Staff go to considerable lengths to consult with young people with communication difficulties. Young people have their voices heard through staff who are attuned to their particular method of communication such as expressions, gestures or using picture communication systems. As a result, young people are able to develop their self management competencies. Young people are able to communicate with staff and be supported to keep their anxieties low. This means that events do not develop into significant incidences. There has been one incident requiring physical intervention since the last inspection. This was of short duration and a low-level intervention.

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Progress

Young people live in a warm and homely environment that is generally well maintained. However, some bathrooms are not suitably adapted to meet the ongoing needs of young people on the autistic spectrum and are in poor condition. Although there are clear plans to refurbish one of the bathrooms, this had not been completed at inspection and did not include all of the bathrooms that are in need of attention. A recently installed electronic gate for vehicle access is not risk assessed.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that all parts of the children's home used by children are equipped with what is reasonably necessary, and adapted as necessary, in order to meet the needs arising from the disability of any disabled child accommodated in the home so as to enable him to live as normal life as possible, in particular the upstairs bathrooms. (Regulation 31 (2)(c)) 29/06/2012

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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

 conduct risk assessments of the whole children's home environment to identify any potential sources of harm to the children, in particular the new electronic gate. (NMS 10.8)

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