Children's Home run by Thunderbolt Mobile Limited in Lancashire

Unique reference number SC055153 Inspection date 21/05/2012 Inspector Graham Robinson Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 15/02/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

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.

p.2

Brief description of the service

This service is owned by a private organisation. It provides activity-based intervention for young people who are experiencing a period of difficulty or crisis. Up to three individual placements for young people are provided. Placements are usually short term and are activity based.

p.3

Brief description of the service

A planned yet flexible programme designed to meet a young person's individual needs and circumstances is agreed with placing authorities. Young people are cared for at various locations around the United Kingdom in accommodation that includes bunkhouses, youth hostels, campsites, narrow boat and an ocean-going yacht.

p.3

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

p.3

Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Young people are making good progress in relation to their starting points both socially and educationally. They are accepting of the clear boundaries and daily routines put into place and as a result, current placements are stable. Should young people overstep those boundaries, they are supported rather than automatically sanctioned. This helps young people to recognise the high levels of support afforded to them and helps them to take some responsibility for their own actions. Young people’s individual needs are identified with plans and strategies in place to address them.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Young people are cared for by staff who work positively and energetically to meet their needs in a non-punitive way. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of safe working practices, linked to young people's individual needs and circumstances. As a result, young people’s welfare is promoted positively.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

The management and organisation of the service is good. Since the previous inspection there has been some staff turnover, although this has not impacted negatively on young people. Placements have remained stable and measurable progress by young people has continued. Under current management, the service steadily progressed up to the previous inspection. However, due in the main to the changes of staff and need to direct resources towards direct work with young people, development and progression of the service temporarily stalled. This has not impacted on the standard of care provided. The strengths and weaknesses of the service are assessed and suitable plans are in place designed to generate future improvement and development.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Staff and young people enjoy excellent relationships with each other and this enhances the progress made by young people.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

Both the formal internal and external monitoring of the service meets with regulatory requirement, although the evaluation and quality assurance of the service is not fully reflected in monitoring reports. Ofsted have yet to receive an internal monitoring report covering the latest six months. Missing from home records do not fully evidence what steps are taken for young people to see someone from either their own authority or independent of the service upon their return.

p.4

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

p.4

Recommendations

 ensure that missing from home records reflect the action taken for young people to see someone from either their own authority or independent of the service, on their return (NMS 5.9)  improve the evaluative and quality assurance content of internal and external monitoring reports (Volume 5, statutory guidance, paragraphs 3.12, 3.13 and 3.14)  ensure Ofsted receives internal monitoring reports at six monthly intervals. (Volume 5, statutory guidance, paragraph 3.14)

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are good .

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are achieving positive outcomes in all respects. They receive high levels of support, allowing them to stabilise their lifestyle with a view to going on to prosper socially and educationally. Placements are stable. The ethos and practices of the service support and encourages young people towards setting and achieving personal goals. Young people’s individual needs are identified and reflected in the plans and strategies in place for them.

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from contact with family, friends and other appropriate adults. Although contact arrangements can be complex, young people confirm they are well supported by staff who encourage and support them to maintain appropriate contacts, whatever their location. As a result, young people’s needs are well met. Young people's educational needs are well met, with the organisation operating its own educational facilities that are flexible to meet individual need. All young people accommodated by the service are receiving a full education package ranging from attending the organisations own school to tutors from the school visiting young people at their location. Young people with histories of non-school attendance have re-engaged with their education and attendance and participation is generally good. Based on their starting points, young people's educational outcomes are good.

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people enjoy good health and their health needs are positively promoted. Specific health plans to ensure individual needs are assessed and met, are in place. Young people can access community-based health services whatever their location. The service has links with more specialised services, which are available for young people when required. Young people are encouraged to improve their lifestyles through diet and exercise. They are provided with information and given every encouragement and practical support to modify certain aspects of their lifestyle, such as tobacco, drugs and alcohol. As a result, young people enjoy improvements in their general health and fitness levels.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people actively contribute to certain aspects of the services daily operation. This is facilitated through good levels of communication with staff underpinned by excellent relationships. This and more targeted areas of work and development such as key worker sessions, promote young people towards taking more responsibility for their own actions and move towards a more independent lifestyle.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

The service uses well established locations giving young people a range of community experiences which actively encourages them to take full advantage of the resources available. For example, participation in community activities and where appropriate, clubs. Young people speak well about the range of activities and new experiences they are introduced to. One young person made the observation that they did not know such facilities and positive experiences existed, which has given them a new outlook and perception about the way they conducted their life previously.

p.5

Quality of care

Staff are skilled at developing and maintaining positive relationships with young people, encouraging them to settle and develop trust. The excellent relationships and positive attachments formed between staff and young people are used positively as a tool to reduce anxiety and unrest. As a result, serious behaviour management incidents are minimal. Staff also use a range of planned strategies to support young people rather than use sanctions. This results in reducing the number of stressful experiences for young people.

p.5

Quality of care

Young people confirm their views, wishes and feelings are actively sought by staff, with young people influencing certain aspects of day to day routines. High levels of communication and consultation provide young people with a feeling of worth and a sense that their opinions and views do matter.

p.5

Quality of care

Young people recognise the clearly defined boundaries in place for them. Good levels of communication with staff allows young people to recognise why it is not always possible to act upon their wishes. This encourages and supports them towards making appropriate and more informed decisions about themselves and their future, as well as providing them with a sense of perspective and reality.

p.6

Quality of care

Young people benefit and thrive in a supportive environment. Their individual needs are clearly identified in a range of planning documentation and individual risk assessments. This includes identity, religious and cultural needs. Regular reviewing of the plans and strategies ensure young people’s needs are current and well met. Young people demonstrate good insight into their own plans, confirming they have input into them. This gives them a sense of direction along with agreed and achievable targets to aim for.

p.6

Quality of care

Young people benefit from the positive relationships they have with staff, who work openly, transparently and communicate positively. As a result, young people live in relaxing environments and receive care in a trusting atmosphere which allows them to develop greater confidence in themselves, take stock and look to the future with some positivity. Young people speak well of staff demonstrating a full appreciation of the high levels of support they receive.

p.6

Quality of care

The locations where young people stay are well kept with good standards of repair, equipment, fixtures, furnishings and décor. Wherever they are, young people have their own bedroom, which can be personalised to suit the taste of the occupant.

p.6

Quality of care

Staff promote healthy lifestyles in a variety of ways. Young people actively engage in daily activities, based on their own interests as well as being introduced to new experiences. All are community-based. These are reflected in the activity planners that are completed weekly. Young people benefit from being encouraged to expand their culinary taste and look towards eating more healthily. This is tied into them being given opportunities to try unfamiliar foods and appreciate different cultures and international cuisine.

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

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

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people say they feel safe living in the service. Staff understand their role and responsibilities should a safeguarding situation arise, which results in prompt referral to external agencies. This ensures young people are appropriately protected. Good links are in place with external agencies who report good levels of communication between themselves and the service. All staff have undertaken initial safeguarding training, with regular refresher courses forming part of the ongoing staff core training programme. Overall safeguarding awareness and practice keeps young people safe. Young people say that bullying is not an area for concern and is not a live issue. They confirm staff would quickly intervene should an incident occur and that bullying in any form is not tolerated. This gives young people a feeling of security and general safety.

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

Whilst incidents are few in number, staff know how to respond should a young person go missing. They are aware of local protocols and practices in place to protect young people. They work closely and cohesively with external agencies when incidents occur. Any vulnerability a young person may have is risk assessed, with well - practiced routines implemented to keep them safe. Young people are cared for on their return, rather than automatically sanctioned. This adds to the practices in place designed to keep young people safe. The missing from home records whilst up to date, do not reflect the steps taken for a young person to see either someone from their placing authority or someone independent of the service.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are supported to work positively through challenges and difficulties. Reward systems for good behaviour are in place and young people say that rewards outweigh the number of sanctions imposed. Staff are skilled at diffusing difficult and potentially challenging situations, often with humour when appropriate. Staff and young people recognise that physical intervention only take place as a last resort, with records showing that no incidents have occurred since the previous inspection. Good monitoring of incidents ensures young people’s individual strategies are kept under review and adapted as required. As a result, serious behaviour management incidents within the service are rare.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Although some changes to the staff team have occurred recently, this has not had any noticeable, major impact on young people. Experienced staff, many known to young people have been seconded to the service from other residential provision operated by the organisation. Appropriate recruitment policies, procedures and practice ensure all new staff are suitably cleared prior to taking up their posts. This ensures only suitably checked people have contact with young people.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are protected with a range of risk assessments. They also participate in regular safety procedures such as fire drills at the locations where they live. Safety checks to maintain a safe environment are regularly undertaken. Individual risk assessments, coupled with coping strategies, promote a safe environment for all young people, with strategies reviewed and updated regularly in light of young people’s identified risks and progress.

p.7

Leadership and management

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

p.7

Leadership and management

The service is well organised and managed. The manager is child focused and has a clear vision of how the service should develop and progress. The staff team work cooperatively together, are child centred and understand their role and responsibilities. They work effectively with the support of management to address young people’s needs.

p.7

Leadership and management

Staff receive regular supervision and appraisal to improve their knowledge and working practices. All permanent staff have either completed, or are undertaking appropriate professional qualifications. Staff regularly participate in core training events to update their knowledge and skills. This ensures they possess the competences and skills to effectively meet young people’s diverse and individual needs.

p.8

Leadership and management

Both the internal and external monitoring of the service are taking place regularly and meets with regulatory requirement. However, there is little evaluative and quality assurance contained in reports. Whilst internal monitoring by the manager is being completed monthly, a monitoring report covering the latest six months has yet to be received by Ofsted.

p.8

Leadership and management

The manager is well supported and has a good understanding of the strengths of the service and areas in need of improvement. The service has a good record of compliance and has successfully addressed the requirement carried over from the previous inspection. This has resulted in external monitoring taking place with greater frequency, within the required timescale.

p.8

Leadership and management

Young people benefit from living in a service that is flexible and designed to meet their needs. It gives them a period of time out from their previous lifestyle, where they can reflect and make plans for the future in a supportive environment that keeps them safe. Young people recognise that staff have a genuine commitment to support them through troubled times, which helps them to become more resilient and look to their future with some positivity.

p.8

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.

p.9

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.

p.9