Children's Home run by Amicus Residential Care Ltd in Reading

Unique reference number SC059221 Inspection date 27/03/2012 Inspector Anna Williams Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 16/08/2011 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 privately run and provides emergency as well as long-term placements for up to three young people with emotional and/or 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

The last full inspection of this children’s home was in August 2011 and the overall judgement was satisfactory. The home has addressed all of the requirements and recommendations which were set at the last inspection. The home has maintained an adequate quality of care for young people.

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Progress

The children's guide has been updated to ensure that young people have full and complete information about how to contact an independent advocate, the Children's Right's Director or their independent reviewing officer. The Statement of Purpose now states that emergency admissions are accepted by the home. This ensures that placing authorities, parents and young people are all clear about the aims and objectives of the home.

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Progress

A development plan is now in place for the home which focuses on improving outcomes for young people. Staff are now fully aware of the home's room search policy, although none have occurred since the last inspection.

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Progress

New staff now undertake the Children's Workforce Development Council's induction standards. This ensures staff are suitably supported through their probationary period to learn relevant skills in order to meet the needs of young people. Staff within the team either hold or are working towards gaining recognised childcare qualifications. This ensures that young people are looked after by suitably trained and competent staff.

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Progress

The Registered Manager now monitors house records on a monthly basis to ensure compliance with the home's policies and procedures. This ensures that patterns and trends or any concerns are regularly highlighted and acted upon.

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Progress

Young people benefit from staff who have received physical intervention and behaviour management training. This ensures a consistent approach from staff who are equipped with the necessary skills to care for the young people within the home. However, individual behaviour management plans do not give staff clear direction on how to manage challenging situations with young people who have significant health conditions in order to keep them safe during a physical restraint. This compromises the well-being of young people within the home. Sanction and restraint logs are kept in line with regulatory requirements. Positively, there have not been any physical interventions used within the home since the last inspection. However, the sanction log contains records of young people who have now left the home and this compromises data protection. Young people do not have an opportunity to record their views on sanctions within the home's records. This

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Progress

means that young people's views on sanctions are not captured.

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Progress

Young people's care plans are now monitored on a monthly basis by key workers. This ensures effective monitoring of their implementation on a day-to-day basis in the lives of young people. However, care plans do not consistently outline how the mental health needs of young people will be met, and recommendations from psychological reports have not been appropriately followed up. This does not promote young people's emotional health.

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Progress

Risk assessments in place are now proportionate. However, young people are self- administering medication without appropriate safeguards in place. This means young people are not supported to take responsibility in a safe manner to self-medicate.

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Progress

Young people say they feel safe living in the home and speak positively about the staff team.

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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 or restraint are used, children are encouraged to have their views recorded in the records kept by the home (NMS 3.18)  ensure the home has good links with health agencies, including specialist services where appropriate, such as CAMHS and sexual health services. The availability of such services is taken into account when deciding on admissions (NMS 6.9)  ensure that children who are able and wish to keep and take their own medication, can do so safely (NMS 6.14)  ensure risk assessments are carried out to identify any potential sources of harm to the children, are recorded in writing and regularly reviewed, with specific reference to the use of physical interventions with children with significant health needs (NMS 10.8)  ensure that information about individual children is kept confidential and only shared with those who have a legitimate need to know the information. (NMS

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