Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Birmingham

Unique reference number SC396463 Inspection date 26/06/2012 Inspector Jo Stephenson Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 10/01/2012 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 service provides short- to long-term care for two young people aged between 11 years and 17 years. It has close links with two other nearby homes operated by the same organisation.

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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 outstanding .

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Overall effectiveness

The home provides an extremely nurturing environment that clearly references the individual needs of young people. The service delivers dynamic and detailed personalised care plans that inspire young people to succeed in all aspects of their development. The staff are exceptional well motivated and have high aspirations for young people. Young people are actively involved in the running of the home and their opinions are central to the operation of the provision. They are consistently encouraged to communicate their views on all aspects of their care. Promoting positive outcomes is pivotal to the ethos of the home.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people enjoy positive relationships with staff and benefit from the relaxed atmosphere in the home. They are helped to recognise their aspirations and ambitions, and stimulated to achieve these. The home accesses a range of specialist services and professional agencies that complement their work and encourage young people to reflect on their behaviour. As a result, young people experience improved self-confidence and make considerable progress in their development Staff continually encourage young people to pursue personal interests and hobbies and these are included in individualised placement plans.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff are well trained and effectively supported in their role by an enthusiastic management team. Rigorous monitoring systems are in place to review outcomes for young people and the quality of care provided by the service. The Registered Manager has devised innovative systems to identify patterns and trends that may impact on outcomes for young people. The home seeks regular feedback from young people, placing authorities and other professionals to shape the development of the home and recognise strengths and areas for improvement.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people say that they feel safe and are protected from harm. They say they are fully involved in plans for their care and recognise that house rules are in place to safeguard them.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are outstanding .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make exceptional progress in all areas of their lives. Staff actively endorse the achievements of young people and therefore they develop a positive self-view and emotional resilience. Staff have very high expectations of young people and instigate progress through personalised incentives and verbal motivation. Consequently, young people respond to staff instructions and start to shape relationships based on mutual respect. Staff continually support young people to understand their family background through partnership working and tailored care planning. This means that young people are able to make sense of their past and identify their future plans.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people attend full-time education and staff are proactive at securing future learning opportunities. Young people speak positively regarding their education and recognise the efforts of staff to sustain their placements. Attendance levels are high and young people have made remarkable progress with their education since living at the home.. Staff have established close links with allocated schools and this means that young people benefit from cohesive education plans that reflect their needs and abilities.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff encourage young people to participate in social activities within the local community. Although there is some resistance to these efforts, staff continue to persevere and provide young people with an extensive range of activity options and experiences. The home has established links with local leisure clubs and this means young people are provided with the opportunity to socialise with others in the community. As a result, young people are able expand their social circle and enhance their self-confidence. Staff are resourceful at encouraging young people to express their views on the care they receive and the running of the home. Staff use interactive young people’s meetings and tailored questionnaires to encourage young people to reflect on the care they receive, and raise any suggestions for improvements. Young people’s views are also sort on the development of the home, by managers and independent visitors. Subsequently, young people feel they are

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are looked after in a caring and warm environment. Staff ensure clear boundaries are in place to provide necessary structure. The home has a detailed and competent approach to promoting the physical, emotional and psychological health of young people. Staff are skilled in ascertaining the specific health needs of young people and support placing authorities to access specialist services to address these needs. As a result, young people are assisted to make positive choices regarding their health and life style.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff work with families in line with placement plans and are sensitive to any restrictions imposed by placing authorities. Young people say they are supported by staff to consider means of maintaining contact with their families. The home welcomes the involvement of parents in the care of young people and the review of placement plans when appropriate. Consequently, young people feel encouraged to preserve relationships with their families and others significant to them.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people have personalised and detailed independence plan that reflect their ability and aspirations. They are assisted to gain experience of cooking, budgeting and completing household chores and staff measure progress, set targets and review achievements in line with pathway plans. Staff complete comprehensive sessions with young people to consider future accommodation options and take account of the emotional impact of independent living. Consequently, young people learn essential practical and emotional skills that support their transition.

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Quality of care

Young people enjoy generally positive relationships with staff. The home provides a calm and relaxed atmosphere that young people flourish in. Staff display a detailed knowledge of the individual needs of young people and are able to ascertain antecedents to changes in mood. Subsequently, young people are the focus of the home and staff are learning to adapt their practice to ensure consistent support. As a result, young people are helped to realise their potential and begin to address any behaviour issues.

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Quality of care

The home practices effective consultation with young people in all aspects of their care. Key work sessions are frequent and address a range of topics relevant to individual young people and their progress. In addition, a synopsis of placement plan review sessions is completed each month. Young people comment on these reports and this means they have the opportunity to reflect on their achievements and the impact of any negative behaviour. All incidents of negative behaviour are followed by comprehensive debrief sessions with young people. Subsequently, young people are able to contemplate the impact of their actions on themselves and others. Young people say they feel listened to and understand why it is not always possible to act on their wishes.

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Quality of care

Young people participate in regular young people’s meetings and discuss a varied range of topics, including the complaints policy. They show confidence and assertion in expressing their views and say they know how to make a compliant. Young people receive verbal and written feedback on any issues they raise. Complaints from young people are rare, but are taken seriously and investigated fully in appropriate time scales. This means that young people feel assured that their concerns will be addressed and resolved. Young people benefit from placement and pathway plans that clearly identify their individual needs. Plans detail strategies to access tailored support when necessary, and review the impact these strategies have on outcomes for young people. As a result, young people gain from an integrated approach to their care. Young people are encouraged to participate in the review of their plans and associated risk

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Quality of care

assessments. They are supported to embrace changes and consider possible positive and negative affects. This means that young people feel involved in decisions about their care. As a result, young people and placing authorities have a sound understanding of the aims and objectives of the placement.

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Quality of care

Education is important to the structure of the home and high attendance is consistently promoted. All young people were disengaged from education prior to admission and have demonstrated noteworthy progress. Young people recognise the support they receive from staff in achieving their ambitions and have been encouraged to continue their education during their transition into adulthood.

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Quality of care

The home has established effective links with general and specialist health services and staff proactively promote the emotion, psychological and physical health needs of young people. Interventions provided by other agencies are supported by staff through effectual liaison and professional partnerships. This means that young people gain from a holistic approach to meeting their health needs. Health monitoring systems are robust and encourage young people to administer their own medication. This advocates the health and welfare of young people.

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Quality of care

Staff work with young people to promote a range of interesting activities. These are incorporated in the daily routines of the home and individualised activity plans for young people. Young people can be reluctant to participate in arranged activities, although staff continue to preserve in this area. These opportunities mean that young people develop a positive self-image and experience success.

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Quality of care

Young people are supported to appreciate their culture and personal identity. Staff are able to recognise their own limitations and draw on additional support to provide young people with comprehensive information and activities. For example, the home will seek to identify staff within the organisation that can be utilised to enhance the work of the staff team regarding the preparation of cultural foods. This means that young people develop an understanding of their backgrounds

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Quality of care

The home is very well maintained and suitable located for access to local facilities and activities. Young people are involved in the decoration and furnishing of the home and are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is outstanding 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, and present as relaxed in the home. Staff ensure that detailed and extensive risk assessments are in place to protect young people from harm and promote their well-being and safety. Risk assessments are continually reviewed and staff work closely with placing authorities and other professionals to identify the vulnerabilities of young people. Inclusive strategies are incorporated to reduce known risks. Young people are involved in this process and are assisted to recognise risks. As a result, young people are encouraged to take responsibility for adhering to the contents of their plans and do not engage in risk taking behaviours.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff receive advanced training in child protection and safeguarding. This includes information sessions with the area LADO to supplement their knowledge. The home has personalised protocols in place with regional police forces regarding young people who go missing from the home. In addition, the manager has forged close links with neighbourhood police services to enhance these protocols and provide further support to young people. Local police say they visit the home on a regular basis to spend time with the staff and young people and build sustainable relationships. These relationships have resulted in exceptional safeguarding practice’s being established. For example, police support officers regularly discuss community specific risks with young people. Local police speak positively of the impact the home has on the young people. Staff are able to identify behaviours and circumstances that cause incidents of missing from home. These issues are addressed with young

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Safeguarding children and young people

people during individual sessions. Subsequently, young people are supported to make decisions that keep them safe and incidents of missing from home are rare.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff formulate comprehensive behaviour and risk management plans that highlight triggers to unacceptable behaviour. These provide staff with strategies for consistent interventions and de-escalation techniques. Young people benefit from continual verbal praise from staff and a non-confrontational approach to addressing negative behaviour. As a result, the use of sanctions is minimal. This means that young people are encouraged to consider the impact of their behaviour on others. Physical restraint is rare and only ever used as a last resort and associated records are appropriately completed.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home adheres to stringent organisational recruitment and selection procedures and do not use staff from external agencies. Staff working in the home are subject to strict vetting and monitoring systems to ensure the safety of young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff maintain health and safety records to a high standard. The manager has ensured monitoring systems are in place to compliment statutory requirements. Young people regularly participate in fire tests and drills and understand the fire procedures in place.

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Leadership and management

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

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Leadership and management

The home is effectively and efficiently run by an experienced, enthusiastic and permanent manager. Young people and placing authorities are clear about the support the home provides, and the home meets the aims and objectives detailed in the Statement of Purpose. Young people are provided with a comprehensive guide to the home on admission. The manager and staff are devoted to improving outcomes for young people. The home conveys a bespoke service that meets the individual needs of young people in placement. The staff have a vast range of skills and a sound knowledge base. They are passionate in the delivery of quality care programmes for young people, channelled by dedication of the Register Manager. Staff are competent at identifying the welfare and care requirements of young people. This is endorsed by the remarkable progress young people make. As a result, young people work with staff that are able to meet their needs.

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Leadership and management

Young people and staff benefit from vibrant leadership. The manager is central to the daily running of the home and retains a clear overview regarding young people’s progress. Staff and managers are able to recognise the strengths and weaknesses of the provision and regularly identify means to improve services. The manager combines qualitative and quantitative data to assess the performance of the home and sets challenging and realistic objectives to promote continually development. The Registered Manager ensures that the home is well resourced and structured to provide stability and consistency for young people.

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Leadership and management

Staff complete mandatory training that effectively supports their role. In addition, the manager organises and delivers supplementary training and information sessions that reflects the more specific needs of young people. Staff say they feel empowered and involved in the progress of the home and applaud the devotion of the manager. They say they receive regular and valuable supervision, and confidently participate in staff meetings. The manager is proactive at addressing any issues raised by young people and provides timely feedback on any concerns. As a result, young people are assured that issues they raise will be taken seriously and appropriately addressed.

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Leadership and management

The manager has established excellent multi-agency working with other professionals and placing authorities. The home completes progress reports prior to statutory reviews and external agencies say that communication with the home is exceptional and informative. Young people attend their review meetings and propose any changes they want to be included in their care plans. As a result, young people say they feel involved in decisions about their future.

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Leadership and management

The manager ensures various rigorous systems are in place to monitor the quality of care and outcomes for young people. These systems combine to identify patterns or trends that impact on outcomes for young people and the quality of care delivered by the home. As a result, the manager is able to review and amend practice when necessary. The Registered Manager has devised a comprehensive development plan for the home. Staff and managers review this plan monthly and identify strengths and areas for improvement. Young people are regularly consulted on the running of the home and managers take account of their suggestions. As a result, young people feel involved in the development of the home.

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Leadership and management

The home is maintained to a very high standard and young people say they are consulted in decisions regarding furnishings. The manager ensures financial resources are available to address any decoration and maintenance needs. All records are clear and securely stored. Case file records are exceptionally detailed and regularly reviewed. This means that they contribute to an understanding of young people’s backgrounds, experiences, progress and future plans. Consequently, young people benefit from working with a well-informed staff team.

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Leadership and management

Young people develop in an environment where boundaries and expectations are clear and staff practice is generally consistent. Subsequently, the home has a positive impact on young people and improves their life chances though encouragement, dedication and care.

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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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