Children's Home run by Aspris Children’s Services Limited in Herefordshire

Unique reference number SC402426 Inspection date 13/06/2012 Inspector Suzanne Young Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 18/01/2012 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

This service accommodates up to five young people of either gender with behavioural and/ or emotional difficulties. The home is owned by a private company. It is one of three homes centred around the company's own school which young people usually access.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service of high quality 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

Young people are making adequate progress and are achieving some improving outcomes. The current mix of young people in the home has resulted in the home recently becoming more unsettled which can compromise outcomes. Some young people have formed very positive relationships with staff. Other young people are still at the early stages of forming effective relationships with trusted adults. The manager and staff team demonstrate a genuine interest and affection for young people and are committed to achieving positive outcomes.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff provide good personalised care in line with young people’s individual placement plans. These takes full account of the individual needs of each young person, including their cultural background and personal identity.

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Overall effectiveness

The wishes and feelings of young people are taken into account in the running of the home. Their views of are sought through the young people’s meetings and through individual key work sessions.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people feel safe living in the home. Staff work with young people to try to develop positive behaviour through encouragement and rewards.

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Overall effectiveness

The Registered Manager understands the strengths and weakness of the home and has a development plan in place which is evaluative and measures outcomes demonstrating capacity for continuing improvement. As a result of this visit, there are three recommendations relating to obtaining medical consent, training new members of staff and improving record keeping relating to restraints.

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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 medical consent is obtained for all young people (NMS 6.5)  ensure all staff are trained in the use of physical restraint techniques (NMS 3.15)  ensure all young people are able to discuss incidents of restraints they have been involved in and they are given the opportunity to be examined by a registered nurse or medical practitioner. (NMS 3.16)

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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 living in the home are generally experiencing positive outcomes in terms of their health, education and self-esteem. The current mix of young people in the home has resulted in the home becoming more unsettled which can compromise outcomes. Despite this, young people are developing in self-confidence and are beginning to build positive attachments. Young people commented that staff in the home are ‘sound’.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people's outcomes with regard to their physical, emotional and psychological health are being addressed. They are attending health appointments and are beginning to take responsibility for their own health. For example, young people are trying to stop smoking and reduce their use of medication. Young people say they are encouraged to participate in a variety of activities according to their interests, such as swimming, attending trampoline club and air cadets. There is, however, some reluctance from a few young people to fully engage in activities which means that they are not fully able to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Consent for medical treatment has not been obtained for all young people. This could result in delays in obtaining the appropriate medical help and treatment and compromise outcomes in terms of their health. Young people are able to access the in-house psychologist team who provide therapy to help young people move forward with their lives and develop

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Outcomes for children and young people

positive outcomes. One social worker commented that a young person 'has been having art therapy which has been going very well’.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Some young people have good school attendance and are achieving very well. Other young people, who on admission have a history of non-school attendance, are beginning to attend school and engage with teachers. The home admits young people who have a history of non-school attendance and who often continue to display similar behaviour for a period of time following admission.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are encouraged to make a positive contribution to their home. They participate in the home’s meetings and are able to express views about the running of the home, such as in food and activity choices.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from appropriate contact with people who are important to them and staff are effective in facilitating and promoting positive contact with their families. As a result young people are aware and able to uphold their identity.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are developing independence skills appropriate to their age and abilities. Staff encourage them to get involved in day-to-day tasks such as tidying their bedrooms.

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Quality of care

Young people generally interact well with staff and feel that staff are concerned for their welfare. One external professional commented that: 'The quality of care is really good. Staff want to instil basics and also try to develop relationships.' There have been no complaints made to the home, although young people know and understand how to make a complaint. The wishes and feelings of young people are taken into account. Young people are able to influence the running of the home and the delivery of care. They have regular group meetings where they discuss ways to help improve behaviour and are able to contribute to their individual care plans through regular key worker sessions.

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Quality of care

The home provides young person with personalised care. Individual placement plans are of a good quality and tailored to meet the specific needs of each young person. Staff understand the placement plans and ensure they are put into practice. As a result young people get suitable support to meet their diverse needs.

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Quality of care

Staff actively work with young people to help develop positive behaviour and to develop a structured environment in which young people can begin to trust adults. Staff use individualised positive behaviour strategies to support young people to develop skills in managing their behaviour and anger. Staff have a clear understanding of young people’s needs and provide good support to help young people manage their individual issues and to develop positive relationships. One professional external to the home commented that the ‘staff display a good level of warmth towards the young people’.

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Quality of care

Staff are proactive and consistent in supporting the educational achievement of young people and promoting their attendance at school. Staff constantly challenge barriers to education by working with young people on an individual basis and emphasising the importance of attending school.

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Quality of care

Staff encourage young people to engage in purposeful and enjoyable leisure activities, such as, swimming and trampolining. They support young people to complete a weekly activity chart. The home also has a recreational games room with a games console, pool table and a variety of books and board games.

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Quality of care

Young people are living in a home that is warm and comfortable. The home is appropriately located, designed and maintained to a good standard. All young people have their own bedrooms which are fully en suite and which they are able to personalise to their own taste.

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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 say they feel safe living in the home. Staff work with young people to help them understand how to protect themselves from harm and do all that they can to make sure that young people are safe and feel comfortable in the home. Staff promote positive behaviour whenever possible through encouragement and rewards. They treat young people with respect and are able with time to develop good relationships with them.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff do not tolerate bullying and when this occurs there is a strong and proactive response by staff and managers. Staff receive regular safeguarding training and the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures are accessible to staff. This ensures staff have a good understanding of the action to take should they have any concerns about a young person's safety or well-being. There have been no allegations or suspicions of harm reported.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There has, very recently, been an increase in young people running away for short periods of time. The home, however, does not have high levels of young people who go missing. If they do, they generally return quickly. When young people do go missing staff update risk assessments accordingly. Staff are working closely with other professionals to help reduce the vulnerability of young people and to stabilise their behaviour.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The use of restraint within the home is generally low. There has been an increase over the last month primarily due to difficult behaviour by a couple of young people. All staff receive training in restraint which is updated on a regular basis. New staff receive training in the use of restraint early on in their induction period. On one occasion, however, a new member of staff did not receive this training before becoming involved in restraining a young person. This can compromise the safety and wellbeing of both staff and young people involved. All incidents regarding the use of restraint are accurately recorded. However, these do not detail any discussion and reflection with the young person following an incident occurring or that they are given the opportunity to be examined by a registered nurse or medical practitioner.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people live in a physical environment that is safe and takes account of their needs. All health and safety checks, environmental risk assessments and fire checks are completed appropriately. There are clear and robust procedures for the recruitment and selection of staff which prevents unsuitable people from being recruited and having the opportunity to harm young people or place them at risk.

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Leadership and management

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

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Leadership and management

The home has a long-standing and experienced Registered Manager in place. The manager and staff team demonstrate a genuine interest and affection for young people and are committed to achieving positive outcomes. One social worker commented that 'On the whole the home is excellent. The manager keeps me updated and staff have good understanding of young people's needs.' Although, over the last month the home has become more unsettled management and staff are supporting young people well and are proactive in developing strategies to manage their behaviour.

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Leadership and management

There is a development plan and good systems to monitor the quality of care provided to young people. These are evaluative and measures outcomes which demonstrate capacity for continuing improvement. The manager is fully aware of recent shortfalls and weaknesses and has put measures in place to ensure these are not repeated. There is now tight oversight of duty rotas to ensure that all new staff have adequate back-up from experienced and fully trained staff. The home has an up-to-date Statement of Purpose and a young people’s guide which is clear and accessible to all. The manager has developed good relationships with the home’s neighbours and with the local community.

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Leadership and management

The home employs a sufficient number of staff to meet the needs of the young people. The home has a permanent staff team and also uses regular bank staff within the organisation to provide cover when needed. Staff are well supported as the manager provides them with a clear sense of direction and regular and supervision which is of a good quality. She also keeps up-to-date with recent practice developments and shares these with staff during team meetings.

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Leadership and management

Staff’s individual training needs are met as they receive training which enhances their individual skills and keeps them up-to-date with professional and legal developments. All staff are required to complete the company's foundation for growth training programme. Many have obtained the National Vocational Qualification level 3 in health and social care and staff now undertake the Children and Young Peoples Workforce Diploma. Team leaders are also able to undertake the Children and Young Peoples Workforce Diploma at level 5 to enhance their professional development and develop their management skills.

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Leadership and management

Young people’s needs, development and progress are well recorded and contribute to an understanding of the young person’s life. These are stored securely and are updated on a regular basis.

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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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