Children's Home run by Mulberry House Care Homes Limited in Staffordshire

Unique reference number SC060554 Inspection date 23/05/2012 Inspector Amanda Ellis Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 13/03/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This children's home provides care and accommodation for up to two young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a private organisation.

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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

This home provides an adequate quality of care delivered by a dedicated management and staff team. Social care professionals comment on how staff provide a consistent quality of care for young people. Safeguarding practices are sound and young people learn how to keep themselves safe. The home provides clear, individualised, well-planned care, taking into account the specific needs of young people, and overall promotes positive outcomes.

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Overall effectiveness

Some young people benefit from a staff team that fully promotes their educational, health and social needs. However, not all young people engage in these key areas.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people feel listened to and their views sought, although this is not well recorded. Young people have positive views about their care, the staff and the home. However, young people are not able to use a telephone without reference to staff. The recording, monitoring and quality of record keeping is also an area requiring improvement.

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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

(2001) ensure the registered person makes suitable arrangements for the recording, handling, safekeeping and safe administration of any medicines received into the children's home (Regulation 21 (1)) 25/06/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that children are provided with a telephone on which to make and receive calls in private. (Regulation 15 (4) (a)) 25/06/2012

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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 all children communicate their views on all aspects of their care and support. This is with regard to ensuring it is recorded accurately (NMS 1.3)  ensure where children no longer receive compulsory full-time education, where appropriate the home supports them to participate in further education, training or employment (NMS 8.9)  ensure that all staff have sufficient training on health and hygiene issues and first aid (NMS 6.7)  ensure all children take part in a range of activities, including leisure activities and trips (NMS 7.2)  ensure staff support and encourage the child to reflect on and understand their history, according to their age and understanding, and to keep appropriate memorabilia of their time in the placement. Staff record and help children make a record of (subject to age and understanding), significant life events (NMS 22.6)  ensure the manager regularly monitors, in line with regulations, all records kept

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Recommendations

by the home to ensure compliance with the home's policies, to identify any concerns about specific incidences and to identify patterns and trends. Immediate action is taken to address any issues raised by this monitoring, with specific regard to omissions in records (NMS 21.2)  ensure clear arrangements are in place to ensure appropriate management of the home when the Registered Manager is absent. (NMS 21.5)

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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 progress to develop a positive self-view and emotional resilience. They are able to develop trusting relationships with staff and feel the home is a secure place. Outcomes for young people improve because they receive sound care.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Where young people regularly attend school, they make good progress. Staff support young people to attend education and achieve positive outcomes. Some young people are beyond compulsory school age and resistant to engage in formal training or education. There is inconsistency in structure and routine to support them in engaging with work, training or educational opportunities. This means that the young people are not able to fully explore their potential.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from improved health and are encouraged to have a healthy lifestyle. Outcomes for young people’s future health are improved due to them accessing health care. Some young people are difficult to engage with having their health needs met. However, they benefit from advice and guidance.

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Outcomes for children and young people

A particular strength of the home is the effort offered to maintain contact with family and people who are important to the young people they care for. Young people are encouraged to develop strategies in order to manage their own behaviour. This enables them to cultivate new friendships and sustain important relationships.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are encouraged to develop the skills for leaving care. Independence skills form part of the daily routine of the home. Although there are formal independence planning systems in place, the records do not allow for adequate assessment of a young person's ability during the assessment. This means young people's independence skills and abilities are unknown when moving on into independence.

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from a child-centred and committed staff team. There are positive relationships between the staff and young people which enable young people to feel valued. Young people stated that they liked living there and that the staff are ‘great’. Staff monitor and supervise peer relationships and any negative behaviour is challenged appropriately.

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Quality of care

Staff engage in regular consultation with young people to take into account their wishes and feelings. Staff help young people understand why their wishes cannot always be acted upon. Young people often accept these decisions due to positive relationships with staff. There are formal systems of consultation between the young people and the responsible individual, although there is no written evidence of this consultation.

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Quality of care

Young people receive a children’s guide which contains information on their care, advocacy, contacts and the details for Ofsted. They understand what to expect in the care they receive. Young people expressed that they know how to make a complaint to staff. The complaints procedure is on the notice board in an appropriate format. However, young people do not have access to their own telephone to make private calls and this compromises their ability to express any concerns they may have independently of the staff team.

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Quality of care

Staff have a clear understanding of each individual’s needs. Risk assessments and behaviour management plans reflect the young people's individuality. Although young people are aware of their care plan, they are not routinely consulted with regards to its content. Young people do not express this as being a problem. Young people confirm that they discuss their personal needs and preferences with staff. This means that while the home does not formally record these issues, young people are receiving adequate support in this area.

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Quality of care

Young people receive care from a staff team who are knowledgeable and resilient in working with challenging behaviours. There are effective frameworks for care, and behaviour management. Young people’s challenging behaviours improve due to staff implementing clear expectations and boundaries.

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Quality of care

Where young people do attend education provision regularly, staff provide support to ensure young people progress and maintain good attendance levels. However, where young people do not regularly attend, the home does not ensure that routines support educational attendance and achievement. Therefore the home is not wholly effective in promoting the education of young people.

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Quality of care

Young people do not consistently engage with social activities either within or outside of the home. Young people are encouraged to identify activities to engage with; however, some young people can be reluctant to participate in structured activities. Young people are encouraged to develop friendships within the local community and their schools.

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Quality of care

There is information available about advocacy which young people can access. Young people are encouraged to participate in Children’s Rights groups and attend consultation meetings. The home has developed good links with the local police, youth offending teams and Connexions service in order to meet young people's needs.

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Quality of care

The staff register young people with local health agencies upon admission and staff arrange and support young people in statutory health appointments. However, there is no system in place to promote health or meet health needs when young people refuse to attend appointments.

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Quality of care

The system to record the administration and disposal of medication is not sufficiently robust due to using unbound log sheets and the lack of clear records relating to the disposal of medicines. Clear procedures are in place to ensure medication is locked away in an appropriate cabinet.

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Quality of care

The maintenance and the décor of the home are of a generally good standard. There were some areas of improvement which need attention, mainly superficial decoration and carpet cleaning. The home is comfortable and endeavours to ensure a homely and non-institutionalised environment. Young people’s bedrooms are individualised and young people choose how they want their room decorated.

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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

Young people are safe and generally say they feel safe. A skilled staff team ensure that young people are safe and learn to keep themselves safe. The home has good systems in place to ensure that young people's safety is promoted and protected.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Visitors to the home are closely monitored and checked. The home is physically safe and appropriately secure to take into account the needs of young people. Detailed risk assessments and fire safety checks are undertaken to promote the safety and well-being of young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There have been no reported incidents of young people going missing from the home since the last inspection. The home has clear procedures in place to notify the relevant bodies. A joint protocol for children missing from care is in place and used in the event of a young person being missing from care. Staff have a satisfactory understanding of the relevant policies and procedures and implement them if necessary.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The use of physical restraint in the home is minimal, with no restraints since the last inspection. Staff who undertake any restraints are suitably trained. Staff promote positive behaviour for young people at all times. Staff demonstrate a sound understanding of the young people's individual needs. Each young person has an individualised risk assessment which identifies risk factors in specific areas. There are clear strategies in place to address these risks and prevent harm to young people. Young people learn to manage their behaviours and develop more positive ways of coping.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There has been one allegation from a young person made since the last inspection. The records relating to this incident were incomplete, thereby failing to provide a comprehensive account of the action taken. While the issue was successfully resolved and all agencies notified, the lack of information in the young person’s records fails to adequately record safeguarding processes. Young people received support and guidance during the period of the investigation. A social worker commented that they were satisfied with the handling of the allegation and that, ‘they demonstrated a good response and communication in regards to contacting the family and professionals.’

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Safeguarding children and young people

There have been no complaints since the last inspection. Young people report no incidents of bullying within the home.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Health and safety are managed well in the home. The manager ensures that all checks are completed and action taken where necessary. For example, following a recent fire, the manager has taken steps to improve the safety of the home for young people by implementing robust fire safety strategies, which include employing an additional staff member for night duties. Staff are conscientious in their duties with regards to the safety of young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are safe because the home has good systems in place for the recruitment and vetting of all new staff. Staff are aware of internal safeguarding procedures and understand the company whistle-blowing policy.

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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

Since the last inspection a new Registered Manager is in post. The manager understands the strengths and weaknesses of the service. The manager has been managing two children's homes for the provider and acknowledges that there has been a reduction in management time, auditing files and records. The home has recruited an assistant manager who will support the management role and enable this area to improve. A development plan is in place for this home; while pragmatic in planning for improvements, it is lacking sufficient detail as to how the service evaluates in relation to improving upon outcomes for children.

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Leadership and management

The home’s Statement of Purpose is comprehensive and accurately reflects the aims, ethos and facilities offered to young people and their parents and carers. Young people also have a clear and understandable guide to enable them to understand the quality of care they should expect to receive. This contains the address and telephone number of Ofsted.

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Leadership and management

Staff receive regular supervision which helps them to provide effective care to young people. Staff benefit from annual appraisals which support individual staff to develop professionally. Regular team meetings further ensure that the staff team feel supported and the quality of care is reviewed. Staff participate in regular training, however, there has been a lapse in first aid training for some staff.

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Leadership and management

The provider ensures that regulatory quality assurance checks are conducted on a monthly basis to monitor the quality of care. A report about these visits is sent regularly to Ofsted. These reports are effective and have identified a number of shortfalls in the standard of care and monitoring of the home.

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Leadership and management

Information relating to young people is stored both electronically and in paper files. Placement paperwork for some young people is current and on file, with good quality records of the young people's care planning. However, records for some young people are incomplete, lacking information on the work the home undertakes. Despite this, feedback during this visit from one stakeholder stated that there is good professional communication with the home through regular updates, and well-written weekly reports. Young people’s confidential information is stored in a secure and safe environment, with pertinent information updated on a continual basis.

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Leadership and management

All significant events relating to the protection of young people in the home are notified as appropriate and actions taken as required.

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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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