Children's Home run by Teen-Works Care Limited in Sefton

Unique reference number SC423460 Inspection date 05/07/2012 Inspector Nick Veysey Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 16/03/2012 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 private children's home provides care and accommodation for up to three young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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 outstanding .

p.3

Overall effectiveness

The children’s home is making a positive difference to young people’s lives and provides them with the opportunities to achieve positive outcomes. Young people are thriving living in an exceptionally caring and supportive home environment that enables them to make excellent progress. Young people enjoy extremely strong and trusting relationships with staff. They have a strong sense of safety and are protected from significant harm. Young people, social workers, teachers, the police and health workers are exceptionally happy with the quality of care and the support their young people receive from the staff.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Staff are highly committed and show a high level of skill, understanding and knowledge in meeting young people’s complex needs on a daily basis. Staff have high aspirations for all young people and work strenuously to promote young people’s personal growth, and social and emotional development. Young people’s needs and views are central to the running of the home. Staff actively encourage all young people to become more involved in making choices and enjoy a full range of social opportunities and experiences. All aspects of care planning and practice are highly personalised. It is tailored to comprehensively meet the individual needs of each young person and take into account their characters and backgrounds. Staff actively work in a coordinated way with young people, their family, social workers, health professionals, schools and the police. This ensures that young people continue to get the right help, guidance and advice.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

The manager provides strong leadership and works hard to improve the quality of care and support. She fully understands the strengths of the service and effectively uses the quality assurance systems to develop the service further. There is a strong emphasis on providing a very high standard of professionalism and childcare practice. Although the record keeping is generally of a high standard, the medication and sanction records do not always include all the relevant detail.

p.3

Recommendations

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

p.4

Recommendations

 ensure that written records of sanctions clearly show how long each measure should last (NMS 3)  ensure that the written record of medication clearly shows the dose and strength of the medication given. (NMS 6.15)

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are outstanding .

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are making exceptional progress in all areas of their lives. They are making significant and continuous improvements in their education, health, emotional development, relationships and personal safety. They are growing in confidence, self-esteem and self-respect. They are friendly and sociable and take pride in their appearance and achievements. They have strong and trusting relationships with staff and feel secure enough to express their wishes, feelings and worries in constructive ways. They are mature, responsible, empathetic and understanding when other people are having a hard time and try to help. They make positive choices not to take part in serious risk taking behaviour. Like any other teenager, occasionally they challenge their boundaries, such as coming in times. They are willing to learn from their experiences and mistakes, and accept guidance and advice from the adults caring for them.

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Social workers are very positive about the progress young people have made. One said, '(Young person) is much more settled in her self, her appearance and social presentation have improved, and she is more confident in her social skills.'

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are healthier and happier than when they first moved in. Their emotional and physical health has improved significantly and they enjoy healthy lifestyles, healthier diets and take part in physical activities, including swimming and horse riding. They are taking more responsibility for their own health; for example, asking for help to get fitter. They are developing an excellent understanding of key health risks and are choosing not to take part in behaviour that impacts negatively on their health. They have easy access to community health services and receive excellent support and advice with the full range of health and social issues, including diet, exercise, drugs, alcohol, smoking, sexual health and relationships. Young people are well motivated to attend school and do well. They have settled in really well to new schools, made friends and take part in every aspect of school life, including go to the school prom. Their level of participation in education has

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

improved significantly and their attendance is now exceptional. They are making excellent progress in developing their knowledge and skills and working really hard to gain qualifications. Young people leaving school this year have secured college places in subjects they are interested in, including hair and beauty. One young person has a paid work placement for the summer holidays, which is helping them develop the confidence and skills they will need for their college course.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are effectively prepared for adult life. They are making the most of the opportunities they have to: establish positive and appropriate social relationships; develop positive self-esteem; prepare for the world of work; attend and succeed in education; develop practical skills, including shopping, buying, cooking and keeping food, washing clothes, personal self-care; understand and take responsibility for personal healthcare; and develop financial skills. They are able to express their views in an open, assertive and appropriate manner. They play an active role in the running of the home and take part in the decisions about their lives, including what they have for tea, what they do in their spare time, where to go on holiday, choosing schools and colleges and their future plans.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from regular and appropriate contact with their families and friends. This is enabling them to maintain and develop relationships with the people who are important in their lives. They look forward to seeing their family and spending time with them. Staff work really hard to ensure that young people find seeing their families a safe, positive and enjoyable experience. Staff are very aware that young people and their families sometimes may find seeing each other stressful and make sure they are suitably and sensitively supported. Young people also have the same social experiences as other young people of their age; this includes spending time seeing their friends, friends visiting and staying for tea, and staying overnight at friends’ houses.

p.5

Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

p.5

Quality of care

Young people receive an exceptional quality of care that is making a positive difference to their lives. They are thriving while living in a very stable, caring and supportive environment. Staff provide them with consistency; as a result, young people feel very settled and have a strong sense of belonging. A young person said, ‘I feel loved, cared for and supported.’ Social workers said, ‘the home is very welcoming to young people. When (young person) moved in they made a fuss of her, they were pleased to see her, and this made it easy for her to settle in.’

p.5

Quality of care

Staff always place the well-being of individual young people at the centre of their practice. They have an excellent knowledge of the young people they work with, ensuring that young people receive exceptional individual support and guidance. Staff are very interested in young people’s lives. They have consistently high aspirations for young people and are fully committed to enabling young people to lead happy and fulfilling lives. Young people have strong and trusting relationships with staff, are valued and accepted as individuals. Staff engage with young people appropriately to provide the support and reassurance they need to reduce any anxieties or worries they may have. A health worker said, ‘Staff are thoughtful, fully aware of (young person’s) needs, background and experiences; manage to help her with her problems. She feels very well supported.’

p.5

Quality of care

Young people’s placement plans provide a comprehensive picture of all their personal needs and the support they require. Staff put young people’s plans into practice effectively to ensure young people’s specific needs are met on a day-to-day basis. Care planning and staff’s routine practice recognises young people as individuals with different needs, backgrounds, interests and views. Staff ensure that young people receive an individual service designed to meet their personal needs, cultural background and identity. Staff work exceptionally well in partnership with parents, social workers, school and health and education professionals to promote young people's welfare.

p.6

Quality of care

Young people live in a healthy environment that actively promotes their physical health and emotional well-being. They are fully supported to develop healthy lifestyles. Staff have an excellent understanding of young people’s specific health needs and have received relevant training to ensure young people’s needs are met. They closely monitor young people to make sure they are healthy, encouraging them to attend routine health checks. Staff effectively plan for any health treatment young people need to reduce young people’s anxieties and prevent them from becoming distressed. For example, staff have enabled young people with a fear of the dentist to have regular check-ups and treatment. They also ensure young people get suitable medical advice and treatment when they are feeling unwell or showing signs of distress. Staff have established strong links with the specialist health services supporting young people. The arrangements for dealing with medication are safe and

p.6

Quality of care

effective. Young people are encouraged, where appropriate, to take responsibility for their own medication. However, the medication records do not always show the dose and strength of the medication taken.

p.6

Quality of care

Staff have created a stimulating environment that promotes young people’s education. Staff ensure that the daily routine supports young people’s participation in education and school attendance. Staff provide transport for young people who have to travel longer distances to go to school. Young people have easy access to books, computers, art materials, games and other educational resources. Staff actively support young people’s learning and development and promote better outcomes; for example, they provided a tutor to help young people to catch up in mathematics. Young people said that they get all the help they need with their education. Staff have established very strong links with schools. They work effectively with teachers to challenge and overcome any barriers to young people’s full participation in education. For example, staff were proactive in helping young people find a suitable new school; they take young people to see a number of school to enable them to

p.6

Quality of care

make an informed choice about which one would be the best for them. A teacher said that, ‘staff are always very supportive, always attend parents’ evening and school events and do a lot more than some parents do to support (young person) in school.’

p.6

Quality of care

Staff encourage young people to take part in an excellent range of activities and follow their individual interests and develop their talents. Young people have every opportunity to fully develop their emotional, intellectual, social, creative and physical skills. Young people said that there is always plenty to do. Staff make every effort to ensure that young people have the same social opportunities as other young people of the same age and have new experiences. This includes going to the theatre, horse riding, going on a summer holiday and sightseeing trips to London.

p.7

Quality of care

Young people live in a suitably-designed and very comfortable family house in a quiet residential neighbourhood. It is handy for the shops, public transport, schools and community amenities. The house is very clean, well maintained, and decorated and furnished to an exceptionally high standard. Young people have very comfortable bedrooms, which they have personalised to reflect their interests and tastes.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

The service is outstanding at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people feel safe and are protected from harm. They all feel able to talk to any member of staff if they are worried. Staff give young people’s safety the highest priority and they are well trained in safeguarding. They are able to recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse, including issues in relation to young people’s personal circumstances and know exactly what they need to do to protect young people. Staff work effectively with young people and the safeguarding agencies to promote young people’s safety. Young people’s individual care plans clearly identify any risks they may face and outline strategies to ensure their welfare is protected. Staff ensure plans for young people’s safety are consistently put into practice and fully address young people’s needs.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

The number of times young people have been missing has reduced significantly following their move into the home. On the rare occasions that young people have gone missing, staff have been proactive and creative in trying to find them. Staff have used young people’s social media sites, contacted young people and their friends by phone, and have gone out to search for them. Staff work very effectively with the police, who have been impressed by staff’s efforts to find young people. The quality of information that staff have provided to the police has enabled them to narrow down the search and ensure young people return home quickly. Staff will always collect young people when they call and ensure they get a warm welcome home and any support they may need.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Staff have a very clear understanding of young people’s particular vulnerabilities relating to their level of understanding and emotional maturity. This enables them to ensure young people are safe at home and in the community. Staff effectively balance the need for protection with enabling young people to take reasonable risks as part of their growth and development. Staff are fully aware that one of the factors that has led young people to go missing is they want to stay out with friends, and have taken effective action to reduce the risk. Staff encourage young people to be open about their friendships and not feel that they need to hide their friends. Staff let young people know that they would like to meet their friends, encourage young people to talk about their relationships, encourage their friends to spend time at the house and, where appropriate, arrange overnight stays with their friends.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people enjoy good relationships, interact positively with each other and behave appropriately. Young people are developing good social and negotiation skills, and any disagreements are calmly and amicably sorted out. Staff place a strong emphasis on promoting positive behaviour through praise and talking through any problems in a constructive way. Young people said they feel they are treated fairly and are able to talk to staff about their feelings. They are benefiting from a nurturing and consistent environment where they know what is expected of them and the consequences of any unacceptable behaviour. The approach has been effective in helping young people to feel safe and emotionally secure, and to reduce their anxieties and frustrations. As a result, young people’s behaviour is exceptionally good and staff do not have to impose sanctions very often. Although staff keep detailed records of the sanction, the records do not clearly show how long

p.8

Safeguarding children and young people

each measure should last. This information is useful to help the manager review the appropriateness and effectiveness of the measures used to promote positive behaviour.

p.8

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people live in a physically safe environment. They are protected from any hazards by effective health and safety procedures being put into practice. Staff carry out regular health and safety checks to ensure the premises are safe. In addition, staff ensure that young people know what to do in case of an emergency through regular fire drills and using questionnaires to test their knowledge about the fire safety procedures.

p.8

Safeguarding children and young people

The recruitment and selection of people working at the home is very thorough to make sure young people are protected. There are also suitable systems in place to ensure that visitors to the home are suitably checked and supervised to protect young people.

p.8

Leadership and management

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

p.8

Leadership and management

Young people live in a home that is very effectively and efficiently managed in their best interests. The home meets the aims and objectives of its Statement of Purpose. Young people, parents and social workers are clear about the services and support the home provides.

p.8

Leadership and management

The Register Manager is highly competent, very experienced and suitably qualified. She is an effective leader who consistently promotes high expectations for providing excellent childcare practice. As a result, staff clearly demonstrate a strong commitment to delivering exceptional childcare practice tailored to the individual and personal needs of the young people they look after. The effectiveness of this approach is evident in the excellent progress young people are making.

p.8

Leadership and management

Young people are looked after by very competent and well-supported staff. They provide young people with a high level of consistency and an exceptional quality of care. They are enthusiastic and caring and work well together to promote young people’s welfare. The skills within the staff team match young people’s needs exceptionally well. The numbers of staff on duty are sufficient to meet the needs of young people in the best possible way. This includes the support they need for activities, visits and attending appointments. Staff are suitably qualified and receive high-quality training to develop their individual skills and knowledge relevant to the young people they are caring for. Staff are effectively supported and guided through excellent professional supervision. Also team meetings take place every month to allow the whole staff team to discuss the running of the home, to look at ways to improve the service they offer, to reflect on young people’s progress and how best to

p.9

Leadership and management

The home exceeds the requirements of regulations and national minimum standards. It shows a strong capacity for continued improvement based on its performance in the development of positive outcomes for young people over a short period of time. The manager has a realistic understanding of the strengths of the service and the areas for further development based on evidence. The provider and manager use strong quality assurance practices to monitor the running of the home, including consultation with young people, to take action to improve outcomes for young people. Any weaknesses are promptly addressed. For example, the manager has decisively dealt with a delay in staff reporting a safeguarding concern. She ensured that staff clearly understood their responsibilities and what action they needed to take through supervision and further training. All subsequent concerns about young people’s safety have been reported to the appropriate people immediately.

p.9

Leadership and management

Young people’s written records are securely stored and provide a clear and detailed picture of young people’s progress and experiences. The records generally provide a narrative for young people’s daily lives, observations about young people’s mood and behaviour, and analysis of the day’s events.

p.9

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.10

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.10