Children's Home run by Five Rivers Child Care Limited in Wiltshire

Unique reference number SC059717 Inspection date 26/06/2012 Inspector Wendy Anderson Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 07/03/2012 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 home is one of four settings in the area owned and managed by a national childcare agency. There are operational links with the organisation's fostering service and school. The home currently accommodates girls only, and provides short-term and long-term placements. The home is registered to care for six young people.

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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 receive an adequate standard of care at this home. The home provides young people with a nurturing, supportive environment with consistent boundaries. This has been enhanced with the employment and allocation of staff to the home which increases the staff to young person ratio and allows for more one to one work. Young people make excellent progress with their education in relation to their starting point and are fully supported by staff in this area.

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Overall effectiveness

There is an issue with the medication records which could potentially place young people at risk of not receiving the medication they need. Although the records on fire related matters has improved there is still not a consistent comprehensive record of fire drills held.

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Overall effectiveness

Formal staff supervision and appraisal has dramatically improved but the supervision of new staff is not in line with the company’s policy. In addition there is a lack of evidence of staff receiving updates to their safeguarding training.

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Overall effectiveness

The home’s Statement of Purpose has been updated but it does not contain a list of the current staff team. The young person’s guide has not been up dated to fully meet requirements.

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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 a written Statement of Purpose is in place and contains a statement to the matters listed in Schedule 1. In particular a list of current staff and an up-to-date young person guide (Regulation 4 (1)) 31/08/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure adequate precautions against the risk of fire. In particular comprehensive records of fire drills (Regulation 32 (1) (a) (b)) 31/08/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure suitable arrangements are in place for the recording, handling, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of any medicines received into the children's home (Regulation 21 (1) (2) (a)) 31/07/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that all person employed receive appropriate training. In particular training on safeguarding and ensure a clear record with supporting evidence is maintained. (Regulation 27 (4) (a)) 30/09/2012

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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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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are good .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people continue to have very good relationships with the staff who care for them and are very positive about the home. They benefit from individualised support which helps them to develop a positive self-view. Staff are proactive at encouraging young people to develop a knowledge and understanding of their background and provide them with robust support through what can be a very difficult process. The link worker system is key to this work, providing a forum for the young people to focus on their goals and achievements. This linked with the well-developed staff knowledge and understanding of young people’s individual needs enables them to make significant progress. This work has been further enhanced by the recruitment of new staff and staff allocated from some of the providers other homes. This provides for increased consistency of care. The young people commented that it was nice not to have so many different people looking after them. The staff team are also

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Outcomes for children and young people

able to seek guidance and assistance with their work from the organisation’s own therapists. Young people are actively supported in their education whether this is at the organisation’s own school facility or in mainstream school. Young people have a high attendance rate at school and the staff team have developed good working relationships with the teachers of the young people. Staff are able to support young people both in school, with their homework and will attend all school functions. Staff actively promote the importance of education and how this can enhance the young people’s future. A number of young people are taking exams and stated that staff help them. Educational outcomes for the young people are excellent in comparison to their starting point.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The staff team promote the physical health of young people by providing and engaging them in physical activities through clubs and events. The attendance at local clubs not only enhances the young people’s health but also empowers their social skills. Involvement in the local and wider community is facilitated by the staff team with the level of support depending on the needs of the young people. This also links with the young people moving towards independence. The home enables the young people to develop their independence skills by taking part in the creation of menus, shopping for and the preparation of meals. They also work with the young people on budgeting and money management

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Outcomes for children and young people

The staff at the home support young people to maintain contact with their family and friends wherever possible. Any restrictions on contact are clearly noted in the young person’s files.

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Quality of care

Young people remain very positive about the staff who care for them saying that, ‘they are brilliant, always there for us no matter what we do’. Young people said that staff respect their need for space and privacy but they also enjoy spending time with staff whether this be in the home or out on activities or trips. Young people said there is always enough staff on duty to be able to have lots of one-to-one time with staff. Young people said that their link workers are very important to them and have some input into who they might be. During the one to one sessions whether these is with their link worker other staff or one of the company’s therapists the young people spend time looking at the events and issues which brought them to the home. Comprehensive records are maintained of these sessions. The home also enables young people to access any required support service where a need has been identified to ensure the young people’s physical, emotional and psychological needs

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Quality of care

Consultation remains a central part of the day-to-day life at the home. Young people are encouraged and supported to make decisions about their lives and to influence the way the home is run. This is achieved through various avenues including mealtimes and the weekly house meeting. These forums cover all aspects of life within the home including menus, activities, decorating, holidays and new purchases for the home. Young people comment that these forums are general conversations with staff, work well and they feel it is their home. Link worker sessions offer another avenue for young people to express their views. Young people said that where it is not possible for staff to act on their ideas or wishes the staff take time to explain why things cannot happen. They said they may not like the explanation but the staff help them to understand it.

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Quality of care

The home has an appropriate complaints process of which the young people are well aware. Young people said that they would use their link worker to support them if they decided to make a complaint. Clear records are maintained of complaints made.

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Quality of care

The staff team have in-depth knowledge of the young people they care for. Young people's individual needs are identified and met by their care plan. Young people's care plans clearly set out the objectives of the placement and how they are to be met by the home. These plans are compiled with the full involvement of the young people. As well as the main care plan each young person has individual crisis management plan, behaviour plan, risk assessment and absent without authority plan. These plans provide an holistic approach to the care the young people receive. However not all the young people had pathway plans. Within the files of these young people there was comprehensive evidence of the home frequently requesting these to no avail. Young people are enabled to take part in their statutory reviews. Link workers are responsible for writing and when possible presenting reports to annual reviews. The reports are shared with the young people before being presented. After

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Quality of care

these reviews care plans are amended. The home carries out its own programme with young people around life skills such as budgeting, menu planning, cooking, domestic duties, and management of their personal allowances.

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Quality of care

The home provides young people with healthy and nutritious meals. Young people are regularly consulted about what foods they like and dislike and what they want included in the weekly menus. These show a good variety, and that occasional themed meals and special treats take place. The young people have the opportunity to shop for food with the staff and also help to prepare meals. Meals are prepared in a well-equipped domestic style kitchen by a member of the care team. Training on food hygiene and nutrition is provided for all staff.

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Quality of care

Young people's health care needs are well assessed. This work is supported by clear policies, procedures and training on medical matters. Strong links with health services are maintained with young people being registered with local practitioners. When a particular health need is identified the involvement of specialist health workers such as the community mental health service are sought. Young people are actively encouraged to take an interest in their personal health and supported to attend planned appointments. The storage of medication is appropriate however; records of medication are not robust. A number of gaps where found in the individual records of medication administered and discrepancies in the running totals of some medication. These errors applied to some prescribed and non-prescribed medicines, and impacts on the care of young people. Any treatment or first aid given to young people is well documented. Records show, prior to admission written permission is

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Quality of care

obtained from the person with parental responsibility for each young person for the administration of first aid and appropriate non prescribed medication.

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Quality of care

Young people's education is promoted very well within the home and they are supported to achieve to the best of their ability. Work is also undertaken with the young people so that they understand the importance of a good education and the benefit this will provide them with in their future. Currently young people are either attending the organisation’s own school provision or mainstream schools. Each young person has a specific education file and their education targets are cross referenced in their care plans. There is very effective liaison with schools and care staff will support the young people at school and with their homework. Young people spoken with confirm staff talk to them about the importance of education and encourage them to do their best. A number of the young people are currently undertaking GCSEs and said that staff have been, ‘awesome’ in supporting them through a stressful time. This area is one in which the home excel and young people make

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Quality of care

excellent progress from their educational starting point.

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Quality of care

Young people become involved in the community and access sport and leisure facilities in the community. Staff support young people in the pursuit of their interests and hobbies. The home also provides group activities and holidays, which the young people enjoy.

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Quality of care

The home is decorated and furnished to a standard, which creates a pleasant domestic environment. Young people said they are involved in the choice of décor and show pride in their bedrooms by personalising them with possessions and posters. There is a good maintenance and repair programme for the building. The organisation employs its own maintenance staff to ensure faults are rectified as soon as possible.

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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 said they feel very safe at the home and they could all identify a number of staff who they would feel happy to go to if they had any concerns. This included senior staff within the company. Staff demonstrated a clear understanding of procedures designed to protect young people and are able to implement them effectively. However, there is a lack of robust evidence of these being supported by regular training updates. The home has developed good working links with the local safeguarding children officer. Staff have an in-depth knowledge of the young people in their care and their individual vulnerabilities. Each young person is treated as an individual and staff work with them to put in place safeguarding arrangements which meet their individual needs. This includes the development of individual risk assessments which are regularly reviewed and updated. This approach enables staff to work consistently with young people

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff adhere to the robust policies and procedure that are in place for young people who may go missing from the home. These are linked to the young people’s individual risk assessments. The home has developed a good working relationship with the police and they are involved in young people’s individual plans on the occasions that they may be missing from the home.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Behaviour management strategies and clear effective policies underpin staff practice. Young people are supported and encouraged to develop positive behaviours by the use of individualised rewards and incentives rather than sanctions. Young people said that when they are used sanctions are fair and staff explain why they are in place. Any concerns young people may raise are treated seriously and dealt with sensitively. Staff encourage young people to show respect for each other's well- being. Management and staff create an atmosphere where bullying is known to be unacceptable. There is a policy on countering bullying, including cyber bullying, which is known to all and is effective in practice. Young people confirm that bullying seldom happens within the home and that staff act immediately upon any information that bullying is taking place. Anti-bullying appears as a set item for discussion on the staff meeting and house meeting agendas.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Written records of incidents of physical intervention are appropriate and physical intervention is only used as a last resort. All staff are trained in the provider’s identified method of behaviour management which is mainly focused on the identification of triggers, strategies for dealing with these and diffusion.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are appropriately safeguarded by the organisation's robust recruitment procedures. The staff files contain all the required information. All visitors are monitored and sign the visitors' book. To further safeguard young people the home has appropriate and current risk assessments in place.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The system for checking the fire equipment is appropriate and adhered too. However there is a lack of consistency in the recording of fire drills at the home, this potentially places young people at risk.

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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

The current Statement of Purpose accurately reflects the work being undertaken at the home. However, the list of staff working at the home does not reflect the current staff team. The young person’s guide is still in need of updating and does not fully meet requirements; this was raised at the last inspection.

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Leadership and management

Young people benefit from living in a home that currently has a Registered Manager, however they have recently handed in their resignation but are currently still in post. The home has also been receiving additional support for a manager from one of the company’s other homes. This action was taken by the company after the interim inspection found they had made inadequate progress from their full inspection. At the interim inspection seven requirements and one recommendation was made, five of the requirements and one recommendation has been met.

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Leadership and management

Staff and young people are very positive about the home’s manager. Staff said the manager is very supportive of them making time whenever they need it to discuss any concerns they have. As well as continuing to provide the staff team with a lot of informal support and formal support in the form of supervision and performance appraisals. The revised performance/appraisal system includes a mid-year review to further monitor and improve staff development. The team also meet on a regular basis and discuss all aspects of the home’s work. The minutes of these can vary in quality from adequate to comprehensive.

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Leadership and management

The home has benefited from some additional staff including the support from one of the company’s other managers. This means there is a good staff to young people ratio enabling a lot of individual work to take place and consistency in the work undertaken has improved. The staff team comprises of a good gender and age balance, this provides young people with positive role models. The home has sessional workers allocated to them by the organisation; these staff cover any short falls in the rota. This helps minimise the use of agency staff and thus provides better continuity of care for the young people.

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Leadership and management

The staff, especially the manager, have been proactive at addressing complaints from neighbours. This includes holding meetings with the neighbours and involving the police to address their perceptions of the home as well as addressing any issues. Records of these complaints are held both at the home and in the company’s main office.

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Leadership and management

Staff said the organisation makes good provision for their training and development. All staff undergo a comprehensive induction programme and foundation training that equips them with the setting's particular approaches in caring for young people. Staff are actively encouraged to access the organisation's on-going in-service training, staff development programmes and external professional courses. However, the record of staff training does not provide robust evidence of training and subsequent refresher training undertaken by the team especially relating to safeguarding.

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Leadership and management

The home has undertaken work on reviewing the work they do, identifying strengths and weakness and developing action plans to address the shortfalls. These have been done by the manager and the operations manager. There is a process of monitoring the home’s operation through Regulation 33 visits and reports, and the manager’s Regulation 34 reports. These are undertaken at the required intervals and reports produced. Following Regulation 33 reports an action plan is produced by the manager, however there is a lack of evidence of these actions being taken and monitored at the subsequent Regulation 33 visit.

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Leadership and management

Records and policies confirm the setting provides a service tailored to meet the specific individual needs of young people. It promotes a holistic approach in working with young people that considers all aspects of diversity. Young people's individual case files are stored in a secure cabinet and are arranged in a manner that makes them readily useable by staff and accessible to young people. These have recently been audited and are now much easier to navigate.

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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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