Children's Home run by Reflexion Care Group Limited in Shropshire

Unique reference number SC366090 Inspection date 13/06/2012 Inspector Susan Mullin Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 19/03/2012 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 privately owned children’s home may accommodate up to two young people, of the same gender, who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

p.3

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

p.3

Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

p.3

Overall effectiveness

This is a good home that is well managed. Young people, residential staff and a social worker were very complimentary about how the home is being managed, with the introduction of a new manager in March this year. Young people have a meaningful relationship with staff.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Young people progress well as they receive personalised and well planned care, which promotes good behaviour, health, education, social and safeguarding needs. One young person said, 'The staff always ask me about the care I am receiving and I am included in all the decisions about my future'. Young people say they feel safe and secure in the home. They develop a good understanding of how to keep themselves safe and improve behaviour. Key strengths of this home are maintaining positive relationships between young people and staff and positively engaging young people in education. As a result the safety and welfare needs of young people are significantly improved.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

The home provides an environment where young people are encouraged to express their individuality. The opportunities provided by staff allow young people to recognise their own identity, this means young people can grow with confidence and self-esteem.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Leaders and managers understand the strengths and areas for development of the home and have plans in place. One requirement has been raised by this visit. This is in the respect of the Statement of Purpose not clearly specifying children’s special needs.

p.3

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.

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the Statement of Purpose includes the following particulars: whether it is intended to accommodate children who are disabled, have special needs or any other special characteristics (Regulation 4 (1), Schedule 1 (8) (b)) 13/07/2012

p.4

Recommendations

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

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 making good progress at this home. They have a greater understanding of their background, reasons for coming to live at the home and some of their risk-taking behaviours. Young people feel good about themselves because they have improved behaviour, including not going missing from care, finding better ways to stay safe and developing clarity regarding family circumstances.

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people have good attendance at school and they are proud of their achievements. Young people are currently looking at applying to college to extend their education in terms of their preferred employment. Young people are supported by staff to reach their potential. They are supported to prepare for independent living and receive good practical guidance. Young people are very confident and proud of their abilities to budget and cook. One young person said, 'I like cooking meals for the staff, they say I cook really well and I have learnt a lot since I have been in the home.’

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people enjoy good health. They have a good awareness of their own health needs and take positive responsibility for their own healthcare and appointments. They understand how lifestyle choices can impact on their health. Young people also understand how to access a variety of health agencies that will support their medical needs and give advice about lifestyle choices. One young person said, 'I only smoke six cigarettes a day which is good, because I used to smoke over twenty a day.’ Young people are supported to see family and friends in line with their care plans. As a result young people learn to form and sustain relationships, with people who are important to them. Young people are more confident and have improved emotional resilience as they are given opportunities to make sense of their backgrounds, experiences and their behaviours.

p.4

Quality of care

Young people have good relationships with staff. They are relaxed and engage in conversation with staff about life in the home, school, friends, family and activities. A social worker commented, ‘My young person is very happy and settled at the home. Staff are very approachable and there is always a very friendly atmosphere in the home.’ Young people also have the opportunity to speak to advocates independent of the home as well as the home's therapists.

p.5

Quality of care

Young people make significant contributions towards decisions made about their own care. Young people understand and participate in the running of the house and feel included. They are able to attend house meetings where they discuss what has been happening and plan for the future. Staff have a good understanding about the strengths and needs of the young people. Care plans are comprehensive, up to date and reviewed regularly. A social worker said, ‘Staff maintain regular contact with me keeping me up to date on issues with the young person and ensuring that her changing support needs are identified and responded to.’

p.5

Quality of care

Staff encourage young people to take part in the planning of their care through key worker sessions and weekly residents meetings. Young people say they feel listened to. As a result, young people influence the running of the home. Staff have a clear understanding of each young person’s unique personality, this means young people benefit from fair and equal opportunities regardless of their differences.

p.5

Quality of care

Young people are provided with a range of activities that enhance learning opportunities and develop independence skills and self-confidence. Staff provide individual plans for young people that reflect their interests and supports their aspirations. The home also encourages group activities for young people, which subsequently supports them in building sustainable relationships with others.

p.5

Quality of care

Equality and diversity are established within the culture and ethos of the home and the most recently recruited staff are undergoing training in this regard. As a result, young people feel respected and confident. Staff recognise individual needs and consequently internal placement plans and key work sessions reflect the personal identity and cultural background of young people.

p.5

Quality of care

Young people’s health and well-being are a primary focus to the delivery of care for young people. Staff promote good role modelling to discourage taking drugs or drinking alcohol. Staff provide a good balance of healthy eating by giving young people the opportunity to plan, shop and prepare their own meals. Where additional support is necessary, the staff liaise with external partners to maximise the best outcome for young people. Staff ensure that young people take the medication necessary for their health. Staff safely receive, administer and dispose of medication. As a result, young people maintain good health and well-being.

p.5

Quality of care

Staff facilitate attendance at school for young people. They support and encourage young people to complete their homework. They attend meetings and communicate effectively with schools on behalf of the young people in their care. Staff are proactive and consistent in supporting the educational achievement of young people.

p.6

Quality of care

Young people like their home and say,' This is a lovely home and I like my bedroom.' Young people value the caring and stable environment they live in. They grow in maturity because they are treated with respect and enjoy friendly and caring relationships with staff.

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

The staff team are effective in promoting positive behaviour through appropriate use of incentives and occasional use of sanctions. The use of restraint has reduced since the last inspection and all staff receive regular training in how to respond to challenging behaviour, including the use of physical intervention. The home has a written procedure based on government guidance, which the staff follow if a young person goes missing. However, there have been no incidents of young people going missing since the last inspection. A social worker said, 'Risk taking behaviour has reduced dramatically. The young person really likes living here and wants to live in the home indefinitely. I think the staff here are working wonders with the young person.’ A young person stated, 'I feel very safe here I have never been so happy. The staff mean everything to me, they are always there when I need them.' The staff are pro-active in protecting young people from harm and implement individual

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

risk assessments on any hazards that may affect them. They review these on a regular basis or when issues arise and clearly understand how to respond accordingly in order to minimise such risks. As a result young people are kept safe.

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

Effective recruitment procedures are in place and the manager ensures that no staff work at the home until all checks required by legislation have taken place and are clear. All new staff work supernumerary at first until they are deemed competent to become a shift member.

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

The premises are maintained in a safe condition. Professional technicians regularly service the electrical equipment, gas appliances and equipment for preventing, detecting and extinguishing fires. The staff conduct regular fire drills with the young people. As a result, staff and young people are kept safe whilst working or living in the home.

p.6

Leadership and management

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

p.7

Leadership and management

The newly Registered Manager and senior staff are working hard together to provide more effective leadership to the staff team. The manager is aware of the importance of monitoring the progress of young people towards achieving good outcomes and is developing more robust systems to enhance this. As a result, staff can build on existing good practice and further improve outcomes for young people.

p.7

Leadership and management

One requirement and three recommendations from the previous inspection have been addressed: the system for monitoring matters set out in Schedule 6 now relates to any incident when a young person goes missing; the Statement of Purpose includes reference to staff support and supervision; a development plan has now been implemented and the home has a record of the recruitment and vetting checks. These improvements mean that the safety and welfare of young people has improved.

p.7

Leadership and management

The Statement of Purpose is a comprehensive document, which describes well how it looks after young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties. However, it does not give clear guidance on the facilities and services provided for young people with learning disabilities, in line with their conditions of registration. Young people and placing authorities may not fully understand the purpose of the home and the outcomes it aspires to achieve. Young people confirmed that they are provided with a copy of the children’s guide to the home on admission.

p.7

Leadership and management

Staff say they feel better supported by the new manager, who through formal supervision sessions is identifying their individual development needs. The staff team have a variety of skills and experience and bring different strengths to the service. There is always an adequate number of staff on each shift to provide care for young people. However, extra shifts have been provided from other homes within the organisation. The service has acknowledged a high turn over of staff over the last few months and a period of unsettled time, when there was no Registered Manager in place. Staff spoken to confirmed that they now have a full complement of staff, which provides greater consistency of support for the young people. One young person said, 'I love the staff here, they support me so well. I have had some issues in the past with staff but I get on well with everyone now.'

p.7

Leadership and management

Staff receive training in a number of areas. New staff undertake the Children’s Workforce Development Council’s induction programme, which is commenced within seven working days of starting their employment.

p.7

Leadership and management

Staff and managers work with placing authorities to ensure that statutory requirements for reviews, visits and placement plans are met. Staff explained how they encourage young people to participate in their review meetings and spend time preparing them for the process. A placement review took place during the inspection and the young person involved said, 'That review was really good. Two staff sat either side of me and supported me. They told me if I became upset I only had to touch them and they would stop the meeting and let me go outside for a while. I did not need to come out of the meeting and I was helped to take part and express myself.’

p.7

Leadership and management

The manager regularly monitors the work of staff in updating placement plans and other documentation. This ensures that plans have a consistent level of quality and reflect changing circumstances in a young person’s life. The manager ensures that all significant events are recorded in the home and detail any actions taken.

p.8

Leadership and management

The Registered Manager demonstrates a capacity for continued improvement and knows well the home’s strengths and weaknesses. Records are comprehensive, accurate and up to date. Records are clearly cross referenced to case files and internal placements plans and this contributes to the understanding of a young person’s life. As a result, young people have the opportunity to review their behaviour and the progress they have made at the home.

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