Children's Home run by Laurel Leaf Homes Ltd in Newham

Unique reference number SC060545 Inspection date 01/05/2012 Inspector Jackie Graves Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 17/01/2012 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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Brief description of the service

The home is privately run. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for eight children with learning disabilities or emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service that exceeds minimum requirements Adequate : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be adequate .

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Overall effectiveness

The service benefits from a solid, experienced management team. They are respected by professionals for the positive changes they have made; for example improvements to the appearance of the home and the ability to establish effective communication regarding young people's care. There has been considerable improvement to the building which is now well maintained and comfortable, although a few areas appear less homely than others.

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Overall effectiveness

There has been a considerable turnover of staff. Recruiting new, suitable and experienced staff has been a challenge for the management team and a priority for the home. For a time, the home decided not to accept any new placements until sufficient staff were employed. Recruitment to the staff team is now almost complete. There has been investment in staff training to equip staff with most of the skills and knowledge they need.

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Overall effectiveness

This has been a difficult time for the Registered Manager who has covered shifts to ensure there is sufficient staff and continuity of care for young people. This has taken her away from some of her management duties for a short time. However, staff are effectively supported and supervised and starting to develop as a team. Some warm, positive relationships exist between some staff and young people, although young people feel some staff care more than others.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff are creative in their ideas for helping young people improve their chances of being accepted onto suitable training or apprenticeships. They ensure young people are engaged in educational activities when they are not attending school, for example, when they are excluded. Some young people benefit from participating in activities in the community, for example, playing an instrument and taking part in the performing arts. However, for their own reasons, some choose not to. Young people benefit from the ‘diversity days’ when they and staff plans menus and eat foods which reflect their own and different cultures.

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Overall effectiveness

Levels of young people going missing from the home are currently high, although this had reduced for some young people over a sustained period. Staff are very concerned about this and resourceful at trying to stay in touch with young people when they are missing. There has been progress in some young people remaining in touch with staff to let them know they are well. However, the reasons for them going missing are not explored when they return to the home.

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Overall effectiveness

The areas for improvement concern the records of restraint; the number of episodes when children are missing; staff employment references; the appearance of some areas of the building; how young people exit the premises; activities in the home; and staff training.

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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 within 24 hours of the use of any measure of control, restraint or discipline, a written record is made in a volume kept for the purpose and includes the information listed in sections (a) to (h) of the regulation (Regulation 17 B (3) (a- h)) 08/06/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) obtain, where a person has previously worked with children or vulnerable adults, so far as reasonably practicable, verification of the reason why the employment or position ended. (Regulation 26 Schedule 2 (4)) 08/06/2012

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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

 ensure that where restraint is used, children are encouraged to have their views recorded in the records kept by the home (NMS 3.18)  ensure the children's home does not provide any form of secure accommodation unless the home is an approved secure children's home (NMS 3.19)  make sure that written records kept by the home when a child goes missing detail action taken by staff, the circumstances of the child's return, any reasons given by the child for running away from the home, and any action taken in the light of those reasons (NMS 5.10)  ensure children have access to a range of educational resources to support their learning and have opportunities beyond the school day to engage in activities which promote learning (NMS 8.2)  ensure the home provides a comfortable and homely environment, and risk reduction does not lead to an institutional feel (NMS 10.3)  make sure that references include a statement from each referee as to their

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Recommendations

opinion of the person's suitability to work with children (NMS 16.3 (d))  ensure all staff understand what they must do if they receive an allegation or have suspicions of a child protection nature. (NMS 20.1)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are adequate .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people enjoy positive, warm and trusting relationships with some staff who they feel really care about them and are concerned for their welfare. Staff ensure that young people are not labelled or discriminated against because of their status or backgrounds, for example, when accessing leisure activities or educational opportunities.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff provide good support to help young people maintain contact with families unless this contravenes their care plan. Staff monitor meetings with families sensitively so that young people can benefit from positive contact with relatives. Some experience improved relationships with family members. Young people are comfortable about bringing their friends to the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Although young people are encouraged to attend educational placements, and some have experienced periods of improved attendance since moving into the home, most are not currently attending. This impacts on the potential to improve their skills and knowledge and achieve qualifications. However, staff work hard to try to find alternative educational provision, for example, practical apprenticeships, which may better suit the young people’s interests and needs.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are encouraged to make a positive contribution to the home. There is a reluctance to attend formal residents' meetings. However, young people are given opportunities to contribute their views, wishes and feelings through individual meetings with staff. There is some positive engagement with the local community, for example through playing instruments in band and attending a local gym. Staff encourage young people to participate in other local activities, for example, youth clubs, but few wish to get involved. However, they really enjoy trips out, for example to the cinema or theme parks and the annual vacation at a holiday park. Young people are taking more responsibility for their own health. They are supported to understand key health risks; some young people better understand the risks associated with smoking and drug use and in some instances have reduced these risk-taking behaviours.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Most young people enjoy reasonable basic health with the support of health services, for example, sexual heath and dental. However, not all young people are willing to engage with all health services. Staff try to encourage their participation in creative ways, for example, by inviting health professionals to meet young people in the home rather than at a clinic. However, some young people remain reluctant to engage and the outcomes for their health may be compromised.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are helped to gain practical and life skills which may help them in their adult lives, for example, keeping their rooms clean, helping to prepare meals and learning how to take messages. They are encouraged to participate in the home's independence programme. This has helped young people gain greater accessibility to such things as bank accounts and passports. As a result, young people develop increased independence, for example in managing their own money and allowances and accumulating savings for special items.

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Quality of care

Young people are cared for in line with their individual care plans. A placing social worker commented: 'Staff are flexible in their work but keep in touch with the care plan.' Any diversity or equality matters are identified in care planning and addressed by staff, for example regarding their religious and dietary needs. Staff work very sensitively to help young people to improve their self-view and develop a more positive view of their ethnic and cultural identity; for example, to be proud of their skin colour and their family background.

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Quality of care

Staff engage creatively with schools to encourage young people's attendance, although this is not good at this time following some incidents where young people have been excluded. Staff work with schools to try to negotiate young people’s return, but this is often non-negotiable. They then work with social workers to secure alternative education placements, for example, vocational apprenticeships. When young people refuse to attend, staff talk to them about the implications of their non- attendance, liaise with schools and make clear that the day should be devoted to educational-type activities. Placing social workers find there is 'good communication' between staff and schools which helps in managing absences and incidents.

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from a robust complaints system. Management ensures a prompt investigation and clear response so that young people know that any complaints are taken seriously. Through this effective system, management has taken seriously some concerns where young people feel they may be treated differently to other young people who are not looked after. For example, the home reviewed its safeguarding policy to allow young people to take friends into their bedrooms, subject to conditions which ensure everyone’s safety.

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Quality of care

Young people mostly enjoy sound relationships with each other, although a recent incident has affected the dynamics of their relationships. Staff do set boundaries so that young people know what is acceptable behaviour. Reasonable sanctions are used when necessary, for example, helping repair damage they have caused or losing television time. Young people describe the sanctions used as 'fair' and these are effective in helping young people learn to change or better manage their behaviour.

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Quality of care

Although currently no medication is prescribed, sound arrangements are in place to manage this. This includes a system of assessing risk to ensure young people are able to manage their own medication, wherever possible, to encourage their independence skills.

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Quality of care

Some activities are available in the home; for example, a few books, board games and there is a games room. Young people mostly use electronic activities; for example games, television and a computer. However, young people would benefit from further activities and hobbies for their own sake, but also to encourage young people to remain on site and to support their education.

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Quality of care

The building is in a reasonable condition. Professionals visiting the home appreciate the considerable improvements made since the appointment of the Registered Manager and deputy manager. However, they and some young people find the building slightly 'institutional' in places, for example the lounge and corridors are relatively stark in appearance. Some young people do not like the location of the home. Some young people have been involved in decorating their bedrooms and most are content with how these now look. However, some would like additional furnishings and this has been agreed by the home. Although the front door is kept locked with the best of intentions to keep young people safe, this may be viewed as a restriction of liberty because young people are unable to freely exit without asking staff to unlock this door.

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Safeguarding children and young people

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

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Safeguarding children and young people

A mostly robust recruitment system ensures that prospective staff are vetted before starting work in the home, for example, by taking and verifying references and obtaining Criminal Records Bureau checks. However, the last employer is not asked for the reason why the employment position ended and referees are not asked about the applicant's suitability to work with young people. Finding out this information would further clarify the applicants’ suitability to work with the young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people live in a safe environment. Checks for the physical safety of the home are undertaken and risk assessments are conducted, for example, checking fridge temperatures and water safety. Fire equipment is checked and regular fire drills take place to promote staff and young people's safety. Although some young people refuse to participate regularly, drills are sufficiently frequent to ensure they all understand what to do in the event of a fire. .

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Safeguarding children and young people

Bullying has been an issue recently. Staff have taken strong action to follow-up incidents, reassure young people that bullying is not acceptable and protect them for future incidents.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Incidents of young people going missing have reduced for some young people but recently increased for others. The staff take reasonable steps to bring about their safe return to the home, for example, by reporting their absence to the appropriate authorities and by trying to locate the young person through their most likely contacts and friendship groups. When young people return, staff talk to them to ensure they are safe and well. However, this process does not specifically address their reasons, if any, for their going missing or record any subsequent action taken by staff.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There have been incidents of very challenging behaviour. Not all of the new staff team have been trained in managing challenging behaviour, although planned training is imminent. Incidents are managed reasonably well but there is some recourse to police involvement which young people do not like. Arrangements have been made for staff to work with a psychologist to develop strategies to help individual young people manage aspects of their behaviour. Use of restraint is very low, with only one low-level restraint recorded since the last inspection. However, the restraint log does not include all required information and records do not facilitate including young people's views.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Management has responded effectively to any investigations or allegations ensuring appropriate protection for those involved. Staff training has been provided to give all staff guidance on safeguarding and protecting young people. However, a small minority of new staff do not have a clear understanding of the reporting procedures to follow should they suspect that a child may be at risk.

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Leadership and management

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

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Leadership and management

Professionals involved in the care of young people, for example social workers and independent reviewing officers, have confidence in the strength of the management team. The home has demonstrated its capacity to improve by meeting the requirements set at the last inspection. Windows are now appropriately restricted so that the building is more secure for those living there. All parts of the building are now in good structural repair.

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Leadership and management

The young people benefit from an improved management hierarchy. There is now an established management team so that management tasks may be effectively delegated and staff more appropriately supervised to ensure they are working appropriately with young people. The Registered Manager, deputy and team leader bring extensive, suitable experience and are appropriately qualified to lead and manage the home. All staff are trained in first aid so there is someone available to provide emergency treatment to young people in an emergency at all times. Those staff who do not have an appropriate vocational qualification are enrolled to achieve this soon after joining the team. This will ensure staff have suitable qualifications for working with young people.

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Leadership and management

There is effective external monitoring of the home. This process ensures that young people's views are represented in suggestions to improve the quality of care. The Registered Manager's own monitoring has been temporarily affected by her deployment on shifts to cover staff vacancies. However, she has maintained an overview of the service, is aware of its strengths, is effective in identifying and tackling weaknesses and has plans for its development.

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Leadership and management

Management have established positive relationships with other agencies, for example the police and health services, working in partnership with them for the benefit of young people. For example, police are invited into the home to build positive relationships with the young people and staff and talk to them about aspects of keeping themselves safe. Placing authorities find that staff communicate very well with them, keeping them regularly updated with good, detailed reports on young people's care and well-being.

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Leadership and management

Young people benefit from being looked after by a staff team from diverse backgrounds and consisting of both genders. This provides young people with positive role models who they can identify with. Although not all staff have previous experience of working with young people, some are very skilled at developing nurturing relationships with young people and helping them feel that they matter.

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Leadership and management

Clear, accessible information is available about the service. The Statement of Purpose and children's guide makes clear what services and facilities are provided.

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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 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.

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