Children's Home run by 4d Care Ltd in Cambridgeshire

Unique reference number SC064557 Inspection date 20/07/2012 Inspector Rebecca Sharp Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 01/02/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The home is privately owned. It is registered to look after a maximum of six young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. There are education facilities within the grounds of the home.

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Brief description of the service

The home works flexibly to meet the needs of young people's placement plans as identified by local authorities. The home supports young people to achieve positive moves to independence, supported accommodation or alternative placements.

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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

At the previous interim inspection, the home was judged as making good progress. The recommendation made around sending in reports of Regulation 34 monitoring to Ofsted has been met. At this inspection the home has been judged as good overall with outstanding features following the continuing progress the home has made. Three requirements have been made at this inspection to secure further improvement of the service.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are valued as individuals. Plans for their care are highly personalised and promote constructive outcomes in all areas of their lives. Young people are positive about living at the home and the experiences they have had. Risk management is dynamic and allows for age appropriate risks to be taken, allowing for personal growth and development. It is clear that the home has had an exceptional impact on the progress of each young person. Young people's welfare is central and there is a strong focus on developing emotional health through effective therapeutic care by skilled and trained specialist staff. Academic achievements are celebrated and young people have made exceptional progress from their starting points.

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Overall effectiveness

The leadership and management of the home is strong and there are clear plans in place to develop the service to improve outcomes for young people and the quality of care they receive. Relationships between staff and young people are genuine and effective. Trust is built and maintained through the consistency of the staff team in supporting and caring for young people. This support is influential in the emotional development of the young people.

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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 visits take place at least once a month and that the person carrying out the visit shall interview, with their consent and in private, the children accommodated there, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home in order to form an opinion of the standard of care provided in the home (Regulation 33 (3) (4) (a)) 31/08/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure there is a system in place to provide consultation with children accommodated in the home, their parents and placing authorities (Regulation 34 (3)) 31/08/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) evidence, for all employees, a full employment history, together with a satisfactory written explanation of any gaps in employment. (Regulation 26; Schedule 2 (6)) 31/08/2012

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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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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are outstanding .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit greatly from long-term, stable placements. Most of the current residents have been in placement over three years. This enables positive attachments to be achieved and sustained with staff, peers and friends in the local community. Young people are supported to develop an understanding of their backgrounds through specialised work, for example, play therapy. As a result, young people are enabled to deal with painful life experiences safely, by professionals.

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Outcomes for children and young people

All young people have made exceptional progress with regards education, both in attainment and attendance. For some young people maintaining their placement in mainstream school has been their major achievement. The home supports young people to attend a variety of learning provisions in order to meet the individual needs of young people. Achievements since their starting points have been dramatic in terms of success, which has enabled the young people to develop a positive self-view and confidence in their skills and abilities. Risk taking behaviours have reduced for some individuals, as has offending behaviour.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people have a positive sense of belonging in the local community. The home hosts a variety of social events each year including Guy Fawkes Night and yard sales to raise money for a local charity. Members of the local community are invited to these events which enables the home to create a positive reputation in the community. Young people are encouraged to make friends and maintain these relationships. Staff support them to stay over at friends’ houses and have also taken friends of young people on holiday with them.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The home challenges barriers to ensure the full participation of their young people in society. Individuals are encouraged to develop socially in preparation for independence with some young people working in the local area. The home supports young people to achieve a realistic understanding of independence and the responsibilities involved in order to succeed. Young people develop skills and knowledge to prepare them for a successful transition into adulthood and are supported devotedly by the home. Young people have made successful transitions in the past, and the home maintains contact with previous residents in order to promote positive attachments.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Health needs are met well by the home. Individual areas of need are identified and met with the appropriate agency support. Young people enjoy good health and significant work is carried out to support those who are not confident in attending health appointments.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Contact with family and friends is placed in high regard by the home. The service appreciates the importance of these attachments in the emotional development of the young people. The home provides transport and support for young people and their families, and will pay for families to stay in the local area to promote positive contact. Not only does this contribute to a constructive working relationship but it also ensures young people maintain crucial attachments to those who are important to them.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

The ethos of the home promotes constructive relationships between staff and young people. Staff are consistent in their approach which is aided by their shift pattern as it allows for continuity in the care the young people receive. Each young person has a detailed internal placement plan which encapsulates individual needs, objectives to achieve these, methods in achieving them and how they will be measured. This is not only effective as a planning tool but also in measuring the progress of young people. The home operates a therapeutic environment which allows young people to explore their feelings in a safe way, with people they trust, in order to develop. As a result, external resources are limited to specialised areas of input and the home provides necessary support for physical, emotional and psychological health needs. Staff are skilled in their communication with young people, especially in de-

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Quality of care

escalation. They tailor their approach to individuals to ensure young people receive appropriate emotional support.

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Quality of care

Staff have consistently high aspirations for all young people. The home supports young people in a way to ensure the placement succeeds and strive not to move an individual due to behaviour, but to work with them in addressing their needs. A particular strength of the home is the focus and support of achieving educationally, whether this is on-site, or in an alternative setting. As a result, attendance has improved dramatically for all young people. There are close relationships with local schools which has ensured placements are maintained. This has been achieved through effective communication. Achievements are celebrated regularly. The home places an emphasis on ensuring even the smallest of progress is recognised. During the inspection an award ceremony was held to celebrate the success of all the young people in terms of academic success and effort, and achievement in sport and leisure pursuits. Young people received trophies and certificates to commemorate their

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Quality of care

accomplishments. This was celebrated with family members of the young people which added to the significance of the experience.

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Quality of care

There are a range of productive and pleasurable activities available for young people to take part in. The home values the positive effect that gaining confidence in new skills has on young people. For example, the home organises an annual camping trip to go surfing and as a result, young people have become competent in this sport due to support from staff. Young people have experienced group holidays abroad and also stayed in cottages around the United Kingdom. This has not only enabled young people to experience different cultures, but contributed to the abundance of enjoyable memories of their time at the home.

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Quality of care

There have been no complaints since the last inspection however, young people are aware of the home's complaints procedure and are confident in the process. There are weekly meetings held for young people to contribute their thoughts and feelings about the day-to-day running of the home and their views on the quality of care provided.

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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

Young people are safe and feel safe living at the home. Each individual has a thorough risk assessment in order for the home to effectively manage risk. Young people are safeguarded by a competent and consistent staff team, however, they are encouraged to take age appropriate risks such as having mopeds. This allows for the development of the young person’s sense of self, alongside creative risk management strategies.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Since the last inspection there has been a number of incidents where young people have been reported missing to the police. Most of these instances have been as a result of young people staying at friends in the local community. After working closely with young people and their placing authorities, if individuals wish to stay over with friends, and this is appropriate, it is supported by the home and not treated as absconding. There are appropriate safeguards in place to reduce risks posed to young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Positive behaviour is promoted by effective relationships with the staff team and the consistency in their approach to dealing with challenging behaviour. Sanctions are applied effectively and are appropriate to the behaviour displayed. There have been incidents of restraint since the last inspection however, these have been in line with regulations in the prevention of injury and damage, and have been recorded appropriately.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There is a robust recruitment process within the company and new staff have appropriate references and Criminal Records Bureau checks prior to working with young people. However, gaps in employment are not always sufficiently investigated in a timely manner. This was rectified during the inspection, however, the member of staff had already completed a number of shifts. Although risks to young people are reduced due to the completion of suitability checks, a requirement has been made to ensure further recruitment meets regulation.

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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 supported by a diverse and experienced management team. As a result, the day-to-day running of the home is efficient and effective. There are clear plans in place for the development of the service in the acquirement of an external school, which will have a positive impact on the outcomes for young people. The building is equipped for vocational learning in catering and construction but will also replace the on-site classroom for mandatory curriculum based learning.

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Leadership and management

Leaders and managers monitor the progress of young people regularly and can demonstrate the difference the home has made in their development and success. There was one recommendation made at the last inspection around sending Regulation 34 reports in to Ofsted at six monthly intervals. These checks are completed on a quarterly basis by the responsible individual and sent in accordingly. However, mandatory monitoring of the home under Regulation 33 and 34, although thorough in its content, does not allow for effective consultation with young people, parents and placing authorities in the review of the quality of care provided. In addition, visits under Regulation 33 have not been carried out on a regular, monthly basis. These breaches of regulation have resulted in two requirements being made. However, the impact on young people is not detrimental as they have opportunities to express their wishes and feeling through other forums and placing authorities are

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Leadership and management

The home operates a therapeutic approach to caring for young people with emotional and behavioural issues. Staff are skilled in this method and receive appropriate training and support to fulfil their roles and responsibilities, led by a passionate and experienced management team. As a result, the home has had a positive impact on young people's lives.

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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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