Children's Home run by Platinum Services for Children (Residential Care) Ltd in Staffordshire

Unique reference number SC378187 Inspection date 10/07/2012 Inspector Louise Redfern Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 10/02/2012 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 children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for two young people of either gender with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is privately owned.

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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

The overall effectiveness is judged to be adequate.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people enjoy positive relationships with the staff team and with each other. They report they are safe in the home and know staff are concerned for their welfare. One young person commented, ‘it good living here and its safe in the house.’ However, there are some recent shortfalls in safeguarding practice which in some ways hold back the quality of the work being done with young people. Nevertheless, young people receive personalised, well-planned care, which takes into account their individual needs. Their placement plans show the progress and achievements that they are making.

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Overall effectiveness

The home is managed by a committed manager, working to improve outcomes for young people. However, shortfalls identified during the inspection show some weaknesses in the home. These are having an impact on how the manager can drive the home forward and improve the care and outcomes for young people. Requirements and recommendations, as listed below, have been set to address the shortfalls identified.

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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

17B (2001) ensure that a written record of the use of any restraint includes the location of the restraint and the effectiveness and any consequence of the use of the measure (Regulation 17B (3)(d)(f)) 01/08/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the Registered Manager makes suitable arrangements for the recording, handling, safe keeping, safe administration of any medicines received into the children's home with regards to homely remedies (Regulation 21 (1)) 01/08/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the system for monitoring and improving the home provides for consultation with young people, their parents and placing authorities. (Regulation 34 (3)) 01/08/2012

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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 where sanctions are used, that they are clear, reasonable and fair. In particular, that sanctions are proportionate and relates to the behaviour (NMS 3.8)  ensure where there has been a physical restraint, children are given the opportunity to be examined by a registered nurse or medical practitioner (NMS 3.16)  ensure that the registered manager follows the local RMFHC protocol, in relation to ensuring appropriate strategy meetings are arranged (NMS 5.6)  ensure that all staff and children have practised the emergency escape plan so they know what to do in an emergency (NMS 10.9)  ensure the children's guide includes how a child can contact their independent reviewing officer, the Children Rights Director, Ofsted and how to secure access to an independent advocate (NMS 13.5)  ensure all staff have their performance individually and formally appraised at least annually and this appraisal takes into account any views of the young

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Recommendations

people for whom the service is providing. (NMS 19.6)

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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 are making some progress in the home, because of individualised support from the staff team. As a result, young people are starting to form attachments with staff and making some progress in developing emotional resilience. One young person commented, ‘my behaviour has calmed down, people around me have helped me to calm down.’ Staff accept young people for who they are and are non-judgemental in their practice. This acceptance promotes an understanding of individual heritage, culture and identity. Strong relationships with families and friends maintain important ties for young people and they enjoy contact with people important to them.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people take pride in their appearance and look forward to clothes shopping. As a result, their self-esteem is developing. Young people benefit from routine health appointments to maintain their general health and respond to minor ailments. However, young people refuse support from specialist services, such as smoking cessation.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people have the opportunity to engage in meaningful activities in the local and wider community. However, they choose instead to spend all their time with their friends in the local community. This means that opportunities for young people to develop their social skills, positive peer interaction and self-esteem are missed.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Some young people have completed their formal education and have secured part- time employment. This represents significant progress from their starting point of disengagement from education. However, some young people choose not to regularly attend education, which impedes their educational progress and learning.

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Quality of care

Young people enjoy good relationships with each other and staff. They interact positively with one another and have built up positive friendships. There have been no complaints recorded, but young people state they understand how to make a complaint and would be confident to do so. Young people have a say in how the home is run; for example, preparing menus for the home. Where requests are not appropriate or possible, young people receive explanations to help them understand why. Staff respond positively to young people when they return after being missing from care. This helps to maintain trusting relationships between staff and young people. One young person commented, ‘the staff here are alright.’ Staff work proactively and positively with parents to try to promote positive outcomes for young people. One parent commented, ‘the home is doing everything that they can do, the staff are polite and do not judge anyone.’

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Quality of care

Some young people have difficulty in progressing educationally, as they do not regularly attend their education placements. Staff talk to young people about the benefits of education to help them understand the importance of it for their future prospects and social interaction. Staff also try to engage young people in meaningful activities. However, young people still choose not to engage.

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Quality of care

Young people have access to a range of health promotion information in the home. Staff work hard to support young people to access health services, such as general practitioners, dentist and opticians. However, some young people choose not to access all health services. For example, young people are continuing to smoke, despite support around smoking cessation being available. As a result, their potential to lead full and healthy lifestyles is not optimised. There are also shortfalls in the monitoring of homely medication in the home. At this time there is no direct impact on young people, but there is significant potential for harm if this is not addressed.

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Quality of care

Individual placement plans and behaviour management plans are in place which effectively guide staff in the management of young people’s behaviours. Young people’s progress is well charted and outlined in reports and reviews. As a result, these plans ensure care and support is individually tailored for young people depending on their need.

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Quality of care

Young people live in a well-decorated and well-maintained home, which promotes a homely environment. They have been involved in choosing some of the décor and furnishings. Young people have individual bedrooms, which they can personalise.

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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 report that they usually feel safe and can talk to an adult when they are concerned. Staff recruitment is robust and a clear vetting process is in place, which helps to prevent unsuitable people being employed. Staff undertake safeguarding and health and safety training as part of their induction which contributes to keeping young people safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Ongoing unauthorised absences and missing from care episodes mean that young people are not always safe. When young people do go missing, staff comprehensively search for them and actively encourage their quick return home. Managers and staff also work closely with the police and follow safeguarding procedures to minimise risks to young people. However, no strategy meetings have taken place. As a result, young people have continued to go missing and to be at risk of harm.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are encouraged to behave positively and achieve rewards to support them to behave positively. However, when sanctions are used these are not consistent or reflective of the presenting behaviour. As a result, young people are not supported to best effect in managing their behaviours. The manager has made some improvements, such as ensuring young people now have the opportunity to comment on any imposed sanctions. There has been one incident requiring a young person to be restrained. However, following the restraint there was no evidence that the young person was offered medical assistance. Recording of the restraint did not include the location of the restraint nor the effectiveness and consequence of the action taken.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Robust health and safety checks ensure a safe and well-maintained environment for young people to live in. However, at the time of inspection not all young people had practised the emergency escape plan to ensure they knew what to do in an emergency. The manager rectified this during the inspection.

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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

A suitable Statement of Purpose outlines the aims and objectives of the service. The home operates in line with the statement and the principles in it are understood by interested parties, including young people. A minor shortfall in the young person’s guide was identified, as it does not include the details of the young people’s Independent Reviewing Officer, Children’s Rights Director or Ofsted’s to enable them to raise any concerns.

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Leadership and management

The staff team’s performance is improving with regular team meetings, effective handovers between shifts and regular supervisions. However, the manager does not have an up-to-date appraisal, which takes into account the views of young people. As a result, she lacks this opportunity to review and improve her practice with senior managers, drive forward the home and improve outcomes for young people.

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Leadership and management

The manager has satisfactorily met the previous requirement and recommendation. Impact risk assessments are now used for all new placements. This helps ensure that the welfare of young people already accommodated in the home is taken into account when new placements are being considered for the home. Young people also now have the opportunity to share their views on sanctions imposed.

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Leadership and management

The home has a development plan in place. Regular monitoring activities review the quality of care and young people’s views are sought as part of Regulation 33 visits. The manager has an action plan to demonstrate areas of improvement needed, which includes action taken to enhance provision of care to young people. However, the manager’s monitoring system does not provide for regular consultation with young people, their parents and placing authority. This is a missed opportunity to gather views on the strengths and weaknesses of the service, in order to drive the service forward.

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Leadership and management

Records are maintained confidentially and stored correctly and contribute to the understanding of the young person’s life.

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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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