Children's Home run by Keys Direct Care Limited in Lincolnshire

Unique reference number SC419429 Inspection date 24/07/2012 Inspector Stephen Halliley 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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Brief description of the service

The children's home can accommodate up to four young people between the ages of 10 and 17 years of either gender. Wherever possible, the provider intends to maintain it as a single gender home. It offers medium- to long-term placements for children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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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 good .

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Overall effectiveness

This home provides an outstanding level of care for young people who come here at times of crisis in their lives. The home provides stability and the structures and boundaries which have previously been missing from young people's lives. This is effected by developing extremely positive relationships between staff and young people, consistency of care and the provision of a homely, nurturing environment in which young people feel safe.

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Overall effectiveness

Each young person is provided with very well-planned, individualised packages of care, designed to focus on their specific needs and areas for development. This leads to young people reducing their risk-taking behaviour, improving their educational attendance and attainment and showing huge improvements in their social interactions and social awareness.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are fully involved in the running of the home and staff take notice of their thoughts, feelings and wishes in terms of the quality of care they provide. Young people are also involved in writing their placement plans and highlighting specific areas which they need to work on to improve their life skills and future opportunities. As a result, young people move on from this home with improved self- esteem, skills and abilities to help them succeed in adult life.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people say that they are safe and it is clear that they are kept safe by a dedicated and conscientious Registered Manager and staff team. Leadership of the home is strong and there have been some good improvements made since the last inspection including addressing the one requirement and three recommendations that were made.

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Overall effectiveness

This inspection, however, noted some shortfalls with regard to the Statement of Purpose, some recording of sanctions and restraints and the frequency of fire alarm tests and fire drills.

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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 within 24 hours of the use of any measure of control, restraint or discipline a written record is made that includes the date, time and location of the measure and the effectiveness of the use of the measure (Regulation 17(b)(3)(d)(f)) 31/08/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) keep under review and, where appropriate, revise the Statement of Purpose; this relates specifically to the postal address for Ofsted and the frequency of staff supervision. (Regulation 5(a)) 31/07/2012

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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 regular monitoring, in line with regulations, of all records kept by the home to ensure compliance with the home's policies, to identify any trends; this specifically relates to ensuring times are entered on restraint logs (NMS 21.2)  ensure all staff's work is consistent with the Regulations and national minimum standards, and the home’s policies and procedures; this relates specifically to the frequency of fire alarm tests and fire drills and recording fruit and vegetables eaten in daily profiles. (NMS 21.3)

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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 make outstanding progress in terms of their emotional resilience and maturity. Through developing a clear understanding of their backgrounds, forming very positive relationships with staff and being supported to develop self confidence and self esteem young people blossom. One young person said 'they have given me the confidence to be myself'. This approach has also resulted in a marked reduction in young people engaging in risk taking behaviours though further work is planned in this area.

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Outcomes for children and young people

All health needs are comprehensively met through clear policies and good links with all health professionals. This coupled with support from a dynamic psychotherapist and good links with child and adolescent mental health services ensure young people's physical, emotional and psychological health needs are fully met.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Education is given a high priority in this service and staff ensure they do everything in their power to find appropriate educational placements for young people. This includes holding regular discussion with educational psychologists and social workers to ensure the nominated school can meet the needs of young people. This is in line with meeting the recommendations of any statement of special educational needs to ensure young people receive the most appropriate education to allow them to achieve their potential. Qualifications achieved include a level 1 diploma in child care and other young people have chosen their options to begin GCSE studies in the next academic year. Appropriate college placements have also been identified. This is a significant step forward for all young people from their starting point.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are actively involved in contributing to how the home runs but it is their contribution to the wider community which is more selfless. They have been involved in setting up a children's council within the organisation which allows young people to share good care practice in their homes with others for the benefit of all. Beyond this they have all been involved in consultation with Government ministers about the setting up of the Children's Charter and this has led to offers of work experience in the Houses of Parliament. This shows a clear ability to understand how being in care has helped them and a very clearly developed sense of maturity and self worth.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Contact with family is planned with social workers, families and the young people and is highly individualised to meet the needs of each young person. Contact for all has improved dramatically, in terms of frequency and reduced supervision, as relationships have been rebuilt. This is due, in no small part, to the support from the home in terms of transport and staffing the contact arrangements.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Transition is carefully planned for young people starting with a working towards independence programme and young people develop the appropriate skills to allow them to move on from the home and succeed in their future placements.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

Young people make extremely positive and enduring relationships with staff in this home. This is often the first time they have developed trusting relationships with adults and this has been based on mutual respect, the imposition of structures and boundaries and a clear message from the staff that they value the young people as individuals. One social worker commented that 'in the staff here she's got a family for life'. The quality of care provided is what young people want to make clear when discussing the children's charter as one feels 'this is my best placement, any kid would be lucky to be here for the right support'.

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Quality of care

Young people are clear that their needs and wishes are taken into consideration and that they are actively involved in the running of the home. They regularly contribute to group meetings and are very involved in discussion about their reviews and care plans. This ensures young people are aware of decisions being made about them and that they are seen as valued by adults who plan their care with them. Conversely when needs cannot be met immediately staff are very fair in explaining the reasons why and do this in a calm, respectful and consistent manner despite the provocation they sometimes receive. This reinforces boundaries and social norms with young people and makes them more able to share and be aware of the competing needs of others, skills that will benefit them in adult life. Young people are very aware of the complaints system and are clear that when they complain these are responded to appropriately and outcomes are fair and satisfactory.

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Quality of care

Placement plans and the numerous other plans this home has in place to support these are highly individualised and very detailed. They are also reviewed regularly with young people to ensure they remain current, accurate and relevant. This serves to further strengthen staff relationships with young people and ensures that all young people receive a tailored package of care to comprehensively meet their needs. This includes all needs relating to cultural diversity and personal identity which are also evident in the day to day work of the staff and supported in detail through specific keyworking sessions.

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Quality of care

Health needs are comprehensively met in terms of professional involvement with young people and this is very well supported by the daily living in the home. Menus are varied and healthy with a very good provision of all food groups. Young people are involved in preparing menus and are made aware of the importance of healthy diet and exercise. A wide range of activities is offered to young people to support this and one commented that 'staff offer us lots of things to do, exercise and activities, which are meant to keep us healthy'.

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Quality of care

The home is well furnished and maintained and provides a very family-orientated feel due to its size and location on the edge of a small village. Young people's rooms are thoughtfully and tastefully individualised and staff respect their right to privacy when they are in their rooms. Maintenance issues are clearly recorded and reported and the maintenance staff respond quickly to this. This ensures a comfortable, welcoming and homely environment is provided for young people at all times showing staff value them as individuals and further reinforcing their sense of self worth.

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Safeguarding children and young people

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

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Safeguarding children and young people

Safeguarding is given a very high priority in this home and young people are kept safe and say that they feel safe. Staff work extremely hard to help them understand the risks they put themselves at when they abscond or partake in other risk taking behaviours. Keyworking sessions look closely at areas including alcohol and substance misuse, relationships and sexual relationships, smoking and absconding. One young person commented 'I've changed completely, they work to keep me safe and I don't do drink, drugs or absconding any more'. Whilst this is not 100% factual the huge reduction in her risk taking behaviour shows that this work has been highly effective.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people abscond from this home infrequently and very positive work is done by staff to try and locate them and keep them safe when they do go missing. When they return staff respond positively to them and try to reintegrate them back in to the daily routine as quickly as possible. They also talk to young people to understand the reasons why they abscond and to help them find alternative ways of managing their feelings.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Positive behaviour is promoted at all times by the proactive and committed staff team. As a result sanctions are reducing in number and restraint is used very infrequently. Staff are well trained in behaviour management techniques including the use of restrictive physical intervention and so are able to hold young people safely should the need arise. All records of sanctions and restraints are clear and thorough though there are some shortfalls in regard to recording the time of the measure being imposed and its effectiveness.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are protected from the potential of abuse by unchecked adults due to a very rigorous and robust recruitment and selection procedure which includes the verification of three references. They are further protected by the diligent use of a visitors book and unchecked adults being escorted at all times when in the home or on the grounds.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Allegations are responded to quickly, thoughtfully and professionally and are resolved quickly and fairly. Staff are fully aware of safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures including how they should deal with allegations or disclosures, who to report to and how to record information. The Registered Manager is fully aware of when it may be necessary to refer this information to Safeguarding Teams or Local Authority Designated Officers and when she should make notification of these events to other organisations such as Ofsted. This knowledge ensures young people and staff are responded to appropriately should allegations be made and young people are kept safe, which is the home's paramount concern.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are further protected from the possibility of harm or abuse by a range of additional health and safety checks. These include fridge, freezer and water temperature checks, security checks, individual and building risk assessments, fire risk assessments and checks on fire fighting equipment and emergency exit routes. Fire alarm tests and fire drills are carried out regularly though these are not always being carried out in accordance with the timescales set down in the homes policy.

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Leadership and management

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

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Leadership and management

The home is effectively and efficiently managed by a dedicated, knowledgeable and experienced Registered Manager. She is ably supported by a team who's clear focus is on providing a safe, nurturing environment for young people in which they can develop into confident young adults.

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Leadership and management

Complaints received since the last inspection have been resolved and lessons have been learnt from one particular complaint between two members of staff. The Registered Manager has taken this on board in her writing of the rota and shift planning which has reduced tensions and minimised any potential for young people being aware of this conflict.

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Leadership and management

Since the last inspection the one requirement and three recommendations have been fully addressed. The home has also shown a capacity for further improvement by improving the monitoring of paperwork, streamlining the young people's handbook and updating the Statement of Purpose. However this document requires further updating in terms of ensuring the address for Ofsted is correct and with regard to the frequency of staff supervision. The home fully meets the aims and objectives set down in the Statement of Purpose and it is clear that placing authorities are fully aware of the services and facilities the home provide.

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Leadership and management

Monitoring of the home is completed on a regular basis by the Registered Manager and an external visitor who carries out checks on behalf of the company. Both of these are reported appropriately and forwarded to relevant parties within the expected timescales. However monitoring is not rigorous enough in terms of identifying some trends developing regarding gaps in recording.

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Leadership and management

The Registered Manager is very aware of the strengths and weaknesses of her team and is actively working to address these. The primary weakness, as she sees it, is the low number of male staff which does not always allow for young people to have an appropriate male role model. This has been addressed through a recent recruitment drive and will allow for male staff to be on duty more regularly to provide the positive male role modelling these young people have missed through their developmental years. She has a comprehensive development plan in place for the next six months which she reviews monthly to ensure progress is being made to improve the quality of service provision.

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Leadership and management

Staffing levels are high and the rota shows good staff cover at all times. This also shows when staff are completing training courses and a separate record shows when supervisions will be held. Training is undertaken regularly and this ensures staff are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to provide high quality care to young people and to respond to their changing needs. The frequent, good quality supervision, described by one member of staff as 'brilliant', ensures staff have the opportunity to discuss practice issues, reflect on their practice and receive appropriate support from managers.

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Leadership and management

All records are stored securely and are held in a number of well organised files for each young person. These provide a very comprehensive overview of each day the young person is at the home and any contacts they have had, either personal or professional. Educational attendance and achievements are recorded and recording of keyworker sessions is very regular and thorough. This evidences all significant aspects of the child's life and provides a very clear record and understanding of their time at the home.

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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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