Children's home run by Bettercare Keys Ltd in Belfast

Unique reference number SC063890 Inspection date 15/03/2012 Inspector Ann-Marie Born Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 29/11/2011 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 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

This service is a children's home owned by a private company. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five children and young people of either gender between the ages of 13 years and 17 years. The home aims to support children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Progress

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

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Progress

This interim inspection has focused on the progress made by the home since their last full inspection in November 2011, at which they were judged to be satisfactory. Three requirements and 10 recommendations were raised. All of the requirements and seven of the recommendations have been met. However, three of the recommendations have not been fully addressed and are repeated as a result of this inspection.

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Progress

Young people report that they feel happier and benefit from the much improved fabric of the home. Young people were fully involved in the planning for a comprehensive repair and redecoration programme which incorporated their wishes and feelings. Young people chose colours, pictures and furniture for communal areas and their bedrooms as well as the equipment for the games room. A cleaning rota has been established where young people take shared responsibility for keeping their home and room clean. A photographic record has been kept of the continued improvements and detail young people's involvement, for example painting a door or sweeping the pool table. This effectively increases young people's self-esteem leading to an improvement in behaviours as they invest in their home and feel valued.

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Progress

Young people's sense of well-being and security is increased by the improved stability of the staff team. The Registered Manager is back in post after a lengthy period of sick leave and absence levels among staff members due to illness have markedly decreased. Increased morale amongst staff members has contributed to positive outcomes for the young people in their care. The Registered Manager has worked very hard to achieve these improvements and to establish a core pool of relief workers, who are known to the young people, to cover shifts. As a result, agency workers are not being used in the way they were and young people receive continuity of care. Young people report they feel much safer in the home and like all the staff members. They particularly appreciate knowing who will be coming to care for them and not having to get to know strangers in their home. This enhances young people's feelings of belonging and enables the development of attachments.

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Progress

A comprehensive referral process ensures that young people are not admitted to the home unless their assessed needs can be met. This includes an 'Impact Risk Assessment Tool' which allows for the impact an incoming young person may have on young people already in residence. Following the last inspection, the Registered Provider took the positive decision not to admit any new young people to the home until all of the necessary repairs and improvements had been met. This allowed the existing resident group to consolidate their relationships and form attachments and bonds.

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Progress

The home's Statement of Purpose has been updated to contain relevant staff information. Young people, their parents and placing authorities benefit from knowing that staff employed are suitably experienced and qualified to meet the needs of the young people in their care. The children's guide is bright and colourful and an audio version has been developed. However, it is not available in any other languages and there are no details of any independent advocates, including the Children's Rights Director. It is not, therefore, inclusive and young people are not being provided with the opportunity to gain advice and support from outside agencies if they so wish.

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Progress

Young people do not report bullying as a problem within the home. Comprehensive strategies, known to and implemented by all staff members, are in place to ensure that any episodes of bullying are identified and dealt with immediately. Young people are effectively safeguarded by these measures.

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Progress

Young people's care plans include strategies to prevent bullying, build self-esteem and to promote positive behaviours. However, young people have not signed to say they have seen, understood and know what is in their care plans. Nor is it evident that key workers are reviewing and implementing these plans in the day-to-day care of young people. These omissions could have a detrimental effect on young people's behaviours, feelings of self-worth and their investment in the home.

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Progress

Staff are well trained in the use of any physical interventions. Restraint is rarely used and only as a last resort to protect the young person. However, details of measures taken to de-escalate matters and prevent the use of restraint are not recorded. Young people are not being fully safeguarded as processes to monitor interventions are not available. Improved sanctions and the use of positive rewards are used effectively to identity alternative ways of engaging with young people and improve behaviours. Nevertheless, young people's views are not always recorded following any episode of restraint or receipt of a sanction; therefore, opportunities to capture their wishes and feelings are being missed.

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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

17B (2001) ensure that where a measure of restraint is used on a child records kept detail any methods used to avoid the need to use that measure and to de-escalate the situation. (Regulation 17B (4b)) 29/04/2012

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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

 ensure that where any sanctions, disciplinary measures including room searches or restraint are used, young people are encouraged to have their views recorded in the records kept in the home (NMS 3.18)  ensure that, where a young person requires it, the children’s guide is available when appropriate through suitable alternative methods of communication, for example different languages (NMS 13.6)  ensure that the children's guide sets out how a child can contact their independent reviewing officer, the Children's Rights Director or Ofsted if they wish to raise a concern with inspectors, and how to secure access to an independent advocate (NMS 13.5)  ensure that young people understand, within their level of understanding, the purpose and content of their plan and the reasoning behind any decisions about their care (NMS 25.1)  ensure that each child's placement plan is monitored by a key worker who

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Recommendations

ensures that the requirements of the plan are implemented in the day-to-day care of the child. (NMS 25.2)

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