Children's Home run by Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited in Kent

Unique reference number SC023746 Inspection date 21/02/2012 Inspector Janet Hunnam Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 10/08/2011 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This is a children's home for three young people. It is operated by a private organisation. The home provides a service to children with a wide range of behavioural or educational needs, clearly explained in its Statement of Purpose.

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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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Progress

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

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Progress

At the previous inspection, which was carried out in August 2011, the home’s overall effectiveness was judged to be good, and one requirement and one recommendation were made. These have both been appropriately addressed. The home’s physical intervention records now include details of a young person’s behaviour leading to the restraint and what actions the staff have taken to avoid the need for the measure. The records also show discussion with the young person after the event. The home has clear records recording a young person’s educational progress and school attendance record.

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Progress

The home is maintaining and improving on the good standards of care. Each young person has a comprehensive health plan and the home is effective in meeting the individual health needs of young people with the support of the organisation’s qualified nurse and healthcare advisor. The system for the administration of medication is robust. Additional resources are in place to provide further support for young people’s health needs when necessary.

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Progress

Young people have a positive experience living at the home. They feel safe and benefit from constructive interactions with staff. These enable them to develop beneficial relationships which impact on improvements in their behaviour. They are encouraged to make choices and their views are actively sought. Staff fully support young people who are going through difficult times, helping them to address their difficulties and to move forward. The stable, committed staff team, led by an effective manager, provide consistency of care and good behaviour management, enabling young people to make gradual but significant progress.

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Progress

Liaison between the home and school has improved significantly. Staff provide detailed information for the school each morning and the school inform the home daily of the young person’s time at school. This ensures that young people are fully and sensitively supported to engage in their education. Alternative education provision is accessed when young people refuse to attend school.

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Progress

The home is effective in managing young people’s challenging behaviour. Physical intervention is rare and staff are skilled in de-escalating situations. This helps young people develop trusting relationships and positive engagement with staff resulting in improvements in their behaviour. Young people with a history of unauthorised absence from the home are showing gradual improvements in this area as a result of the impact of staff engagement with them. Staff are proactive in managing any unauthorised absence, demonstrating to young people that they are valued and their safety is important.

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Progress

Training for staff is continuously monitored, well managed and is provided to meet the individual needs of young people as required. Supervision of staff has a high priority and plans are in place to improve the quality of this supervision. The Registered Manager has thorough and regular monitoring systems in place, ensuring that a high quality of care is maintained.

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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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