SC 040491

Unique reference number SC040132 Inspection date 17/07/2012 Inspector Janice Hawtin Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 16/02/2012 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 registered children's home is run by a local authority and provides respite care for children with autism. At any one time it provides regular, short-break care facilities for a maximum of four children. The service supports approximately 32 children in total. Children stay for varying lengths of time and frequency, depending on their assessed needs.

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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

Children are encouraged to improve life skills, make friends and develop independence in this environment. Their strengths and weaknesses are understood and they are made to feel valued.

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Overall effectiveness

Personalised and careful planning takes account of children and young people’s individual needs. The service is focussed on achieving positive outcomes for children. These develop from detailed planning, the quality of relationships between staff and children and through collaborative and consultative work with parents. Parents’ comments include ‘this is an excellent service’, ‘I can not fault this service’ and ‘my child loves coming, he can’t wait to get here and runs in’.

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Overall effectiveness

A diverse range of communication methods ensure that children are able to make choices effectively. The staff team understand children’s needs, likes and dislikes, which are clearly recorded and acted upon. This avoids distress, contributes to children enjoying their time in the home and helps them to feel safe. Children and parents are consulted about the quality of care offered and feedback has been used to inform continuous development of the service.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff encourage and assist children to take part in a range of activities, some of which they may not otherwise have the opportunity to do. These activities support physical and emotional health and wellbeing, contributing to the children having a great time and making friends. Young people particularly enjoy swimming, trips to the zoo, art and crafts and are making good use of the refurbished garden with its new swing and climbing frame.

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Overall effectiveness

There is a confident and experienced management team in place. They are enthusiastic and dedicated to the needs of children. The management team has a determination to drive continuous practice development and provide an inclusive service for children with disabilities. Staff speak positively about children and have high expectations for them. Regular monitoring of the service contributes to quality assurance of the care provided.

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Overall effectiveness

Some external monitoring reports have not been forwarded to Ofsted within specified time scales. The service has not always notified Ofsted of significant events and there is insufficient information in the statement of purpose to comply with regulations. These shortfalls do not have a significant negative impact on the welfare or safety of children and young people. The manager has also been asked to take account of several recommendations to further improve the service provided.

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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 that Ofsted is notified without delay of any events as indicated in column 2 of Schedule 5 (Regulation 30 (1)) 24/08/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) include in the statement of purpose written detail of all the matters as listed in Schedule 1, particularly the qualifications and experience of people working at the home, the procedure for dealing with incidents where a child goes missing and a description of electronic monitoring devices used in the home (Regulation 4(1)) 24/08/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) provide to Ofsted copies of Regulation 33 reports within the required timescales. (Regulation 33 (5)(a)) 24/08/2012

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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

 provide a homely environment; in particular, ensure that the number of fire exit, fire door and information signs do not lead to an institutional feel (NMS 10.3)  ensure that all staff follow the policy and guidance on electronic monitoring of children at night (NMS 21.3)  ensure that where appropriate, children practice evacuations from the home in order to help ensure their safety in an emergency (NMS 10.9)  provide staff with regular supervision. (NMS 19.4)

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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

Children and young people develop a positive self view in this home. Their strengths and weaknesses are known and understood and they are valued as unique individuals. Interpersonal skills and the ability to form friendships are encouraged through careful matching of the children who spend time together. This is particularly important for the children who access this service as they can become isolated and find it difficult to make friends. A parent commented that this is the only opportunity her son has to spend time amongst other children that have autism.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Children are developing communication skills. Those who are able are encouraged to use verbal communication skills and sign language. A variety of systems are in place to enable those who do not use speech to communicate effectively and take part in decision making. Children are enabled to participate to their full potential in making choices about all aspects of the service provided. This has included their involvement in developing the service around activities and in staff recruitment. This practice develops young people’s skills, maximises independence and contributes to their emotional well-being by making them feel valued.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Children are encouraged in healthy life styles. They are encouraged to choose healthy food and to increase the range and variety of food they will eat. Children enjoy a variety of stimulating activities in the community and in the home. Amongst these, children participate in physical activity, including the use of the newly equipped outside areas. This includes apparatus on which children develop balance and improve understanding of the environment and sensory perception. They can become involved in gardening or bird watching.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The promotion of personal care contributes to young people gaining confidence and developing life skills which create opportunities for independence. Outcomes for children are identified so that their development and the skills they have acquired can be measured. This process contributes to detailed care planning and review so that children can fulfil their maximum potential.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Education is considered important and children benefit from full-time attendance. The staff communicate frequently with education providers and attend multi-agency meetings. Consequently developments and methods used to promote learning can be implemented in all settings to maximise progress.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

Staff have high aspirations for all children. One commented, ‘I love my job; it is a privilege to work with these children’. All aspects of the care provided are in response to the needs of children and have been developed and influenced through consultation and collaborative working. This is true of the leisure activities provided, communication methods used and specific specialist training for staff. Such is the staff expertise in meeting the needs of and developing services to improve outcomes for children with autistic spectrum conditions, that managers have been asked to provide training to other services.

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Quality of care

A social worker communicated that she has 'nothing but praise for this service', where staff are fully aware of children’s particular vulnerabilities and have a child- centred, creative approach around meeting needs. She also felt that the staff are good at including parents and determining the child’s view. Positive feedback was also received from parents during the inspection and on Ofsted’s surveys.

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Quality of care

Staff support transitions into the home and introductions are carefully planned. The provision of activity days to potential service users and their families has helped children to become familiar with the home. This also contributes to them feeling safe and knowing what to expect when they start to stay overnight. These activities also provide opportunities to allay any anxieties which parents sometimes have about leaving their children in the care of others.

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Quality of care

Each child has an individualised, detailed care plan which is produced in consultation with children and their parents. These plans address all areas of a child’s life, how care is to be provided and the focus of activities to improve outcomes.

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Quality of care

Staff are skilled in communicating with children and have developed additional communication methods to address barriers to their full participation in making choices. The staff know the likes and dislikes of children and they plan aspects of the care accordingly to make this a pleasant and productive home to stay in. Additional planning details how outcomes will be measured and progress is noted to inform reviews and future planning. The home ensures that children are continuing to make progress and developing their potential.

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Quality of care

The staff have built effective partnerships and work collaboratively with other agencies. Strong community links have developed from these partnerships; for example, the ‘Friends of Poppins’ committee. This comprises mainly parents and staff who meet together to discuss the well-being of children with autism. This fosters mutual help and support between parents and they have been instrumental in fund- raising, securing large amounts of money for the home. In the process of providing fund-raising events, they have improved the understanding and knowledge of autism in the local and wider community. This helps to promote positive outcomes for children with complex communication needs.

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Quality of care

Medical information is available for each child and includes signed consent from parents for medical treatment and the administration of medication. Medication is stored securely. Medication files contain pictures of children to avoid any mistakes with administration. Staff on duty carefully check the records of those who are staying, so that of all are aware of any particular medical needs.

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Quality of care

The home provides a stimulating environment through a good selection of games, books, musical instruments and lots of indoor and outdoor play equipment. Children are encouraged to try out new things and make the most of the facilities. Interpersonal skills and friendships are fostered; this may initially just involve sitting children in seats which are close together and assisting them to share time watching a video. The staff have planned and are introducing football coaching to support team games. Some children like to play football and benefit from new opportunities to play with others.

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Quality of care

Each child has their own file which contains a history of their time in the home. Children can take these away with them when they move on to adult services, so that they have lasting memories. These files contain pictures of them enjoying a variety of activities and of significant events enjoyed and celebrated during their stay.

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Quality of care

The statement of purpose, parents’ and children’s guides include details of how to raise a complaint. Parents confirm that they know how to make a complaint and that they would advocate on behalf of children if needed. Several commented that they do not need to make complaints as they were able to talk to the staff, can raise any issues and are confident that appropriate action would be taken.

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Quality of care

Fire door, fire exit and other information signs have been fitted throughout the building in line with the local authority’s health and safety protocol. In some areas, these signs are excessive and lead to an institutionalized feel, detracting from what is otherwise a homely, well-maintained and child-friendly environment.

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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

Children feel safe in this home; they appear confident and comfortable in this environment and especially around staff. Parents confirm that their children enjoy coming here and that it would be difficult to get them to stay if they did not want to or if they felt unsafe. All staff have undertaken child protection training. They know what to do and have acted appropriately to safeguard the welfare of children following any evidence or suspicion of abuse. They work in close partnership with parents to protect children from unnecessary risk. Staffing levels are sufficient to allow a quick response to deal with any incidents and bullying is not an issue in this home.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff have first aid qualifications and know how to deal with medical emergencies to protect children’s welfare. Specialist training around the additional needs of children with autism is provided so that the staff can deal effectively with a variety of issues. The home implements positive behaviour management strategies. Through careful planning and review, staff understand the particular vulnerabilities and needs of each child. Children are diverted from risk taking behaviour and encouraged to make safe choices. The quality of relationships between staff and young people is the key to developing positive behaviour. Acceptable and positive behaviour is encouraged through the use of praise. The home uses few sanctions and none have been applied since the last inspection. Staff are attentive and their response to all behaviour is considered, avoiding any deterioration in behaviour and contributing to children

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Safeguarding children and young people

All staff are trained in the use of physical restraint. These techniques are only used as a last resort and to protect children from significant harm. Clear, accurate records of any incident are kept and scrutinized by the manager to make sure children are protected from unwarranted interventions. Activity and general risk assessments are robust and individualised; they contribute to avoiding unnecessary risk whilst allowing children to take age appropriate risk as a normal part of growing up.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Incidents of children going missing from this home are rare. The last incident took place more than two years ago. Protocols with the police are in place to help ensure that children can be returned quickly, should any incidents of going missing occur.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The physical safety of the building is a priority. For example, regular health and safety checks are carried out which include checking of any electrical installations. Fire doors are fitted throughout, alongside fire detection systems and fire fighting equipment. The staff have undertaken fire safety training and regularly practice evacuation of the building, so that they can get children out quickly. Not all children for whom it would be appropriate, have practiced fire drills. This means that they may not know what to do in an emergency.

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Safeguarding children and young people

To protect children, given their complex needs, the front door is kept locked. All staff have the codes to open doors and can let children out or give them the codes should this be appropriate. Children can get outside into the garden area, which is fenced for safety. Arrangements for vetting visitors and allowing access to the premises are robust and hence protect children’s safety. Systems in place to recruit new employees ensure that all checks to protect the safety and welfare of children have been completed before staff start work.

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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 statement of purpose is accessible and clear. It has recently been updated and clearly states the aims and objectives of the home and how care is provided. Some of the detail required by regulation to inform purchasers and other stakeholders has not yet been incorporated. This includes staff qualifications and experience, arrangements for dealing with incidents should children go missing from the home and the policy around the use of electronic monitoring systems. A separate guide for parents is available. Each guide provided for children is unique to the communication needs of the child. They include pictures of the things that are familiar to individual children, their favourite activities or they address particular areas of concern to allay any anxiety.

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Leadership and management

A Registered Manager is in post, dedicated to providing the best possible service to children and meeting their diverse needs. She is supported by an experienced and enthusiastic deputy manager and has the confidence of the staff team. The strengths and weaknesses of this home are understood and plans are in place to continue to develop the service. For example, children benefit from the installation of outdoor play equipment. There is improved consultation with both children and their parents through the use of creative feedback techniques. Additional services have been provided such as outreach to families and in particular, helping some families respond to difficult behaviour using 'social story boards'. This service has made a positive impact on children by helping them to stay with their families.

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Leadership and management

At the last inspection, a recommendation was made that the manager completes regular monitoring of the service and provides reports to Ofsted. This issue has now been addressed. The quality of these reports demonstrates effective monitoring, consultation and helps to ensure that the service can develop. External monitoring is carried out on a monthly basis. These quality assurance visits contribute to protecting children and ensuring that the service provided is effective. However, reports are not always forwarded to Ofsted at the frequency required.

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Leadership and management

An experienced and well-trained staff team cares for children. All staff take part in essential training on a regular basis. Additional training supports specialist knowledge around many aspects. For example, training includes the particular safeguarding needs of children with autism and the use of 'talking mats' to discern children’s likes and dislikes. Of particular note is the training undertaken by some staff to equip them to help parents speak to their children about puberty, sexual health and relationships. This helps to ensure inclusive work with children with disabilities, who often do not have access to appropriate information on these subjects.

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Leadership and management

Regular team meetings are in part used to develop staff knowledge by addressing issues and sharing effective practice. All staff either hold or are working towards a childcare qualification and those in management positions are supported to pursue additional training. Some supervision has been provided and the manager has an open door policy so that staff feel free to present specific issues and get guidance when needed. Formal professional supervision is not yet provided at regular intervals to all staff. This impacts on opportunities for reflective practice and guidance. However, staff have annual appraisals and there are personal development plans in place to assist them in providing the best possible service to children.

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Leadership and management

To safeguard the welfare of children, the Registered Manager has taken appropriate action following significant events. Two of these events were not notified to Ofsted as required for quality assurance and external monitoring purposes. Comprehensive records are in place, which are well ordered so that information is readily available. This contributes to staff understanding of the needs and progress made by children. Attention is paid to confidentiality; records are stored securely and information is only shared with those who have a legitimate need to know.

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Leadership and management

Not all staff adhere to the home’s policy around the use of electronic monitoring used to listen to children at night. Although this monitoring is done with good intentions, it is not always necessary and compromises the privacy of children.

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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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