Children's Home run by Radical Services Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Unique reference number SC061158 Inspection date 24/07/2012 Inspector Anne Bannister Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 19/12/2011 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

The service is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for one young person of either gender who has experienced behavioural and emotional 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

Young people accommodated in the home benefit from very personalised care planning that addresses their individual needs. In order to ensure that young people receive consistent help and support, staff work in consultation and cooperation with family and placing authorities. As a result, young people make good progress in all aspects of their development. Social workers speak highly about the standard of care provided by staff. They state: 'This has been a fantastic placement. Staff regularly update me on issues relating to his progress and we have worked together to establish a smooth transition into supported lodgings.'

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are fully involved in developing their care plan. They are familiar with the content of their plan and feel that their views have been fully taken into account when plans are being developed.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people enjoy positive relationships with staff. They are confident to discuss any issues with staff, who are able to support them and help them resolve any issues which are concerning or worrying them. Young people indicate that the home provides a safe and comfortable place to live in. Young people's views are routinely taken into account and acted upon. Young people indicate that they know how to make a complaint if they are unhappy about any aspects of their care. They feel valued as staff listen to them, respect their requests and explain clearly the reasons why sometimes their requests cannot be acted upon.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people's positive behaviour is promoted. Staff emphasise rewards for young people's appropriate behaviour and celebrate success while working towards independence and educational achievement.

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Overall effectiveness

The home benefits from a well-established, committed staff team who feel well supported by the Registered Manager. The staff team are well motivated to help young people achieve positive outcomes in all aspects of their lives.

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Overall effectiveness

Issues have been identified in relation to the external monitoring of the home, and the content of the Statement of Purpose, which fail to fully meet the requirements of legislative guidance.

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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 the person carrying out the monitoring visit to the children's home interviews the parents and relatives of children accommodated there to form an opinion of the standard of care provided in the home (Regulation 33(4)(a)) 28/09/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure a written statement (in these Regulations referred to as 'the statement of purpose’) includes all matters listed in Schedule 1. In particular, this relates to Schedule 1.8 with regard to the numbers of young people accommodated and 1.16 regarding the arrangements for promoting the positive behaviour of young people. (Regulation 4 (1)) 28/09/2012

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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 risk assessments of the whole children's home environment are carried out, to identify any potential sources of harm. In particular, this relates to the hens. (NMS 10.8)

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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 have a more positive attitude to leading healthy lifestyles and have a good understanding of their own healthcare needs. Young people have detailed health plans that ensure they receive advice and support with any health issues. Young people are able to make informed choices as a result of the support and guidance they receive from staff. They are aware of the potential health issues associated with issues such as smoking and although some young people continue to engage in these activities, they have reduced their consumption considerably. Young people are positive about the progress they have made.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people have positive views about themselves and their abilities. Young people’s placement plans help them to identify the support they need to help them achieve their goals and the professionals who are best able to support them.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people have the necessary skills and knowledge to help them adapt to independent life when they leave the home. They fully engage in a comprehensive independence training programme that equips them with life skills they need for their next move. Young people receive positive feedback from staff on the progress they are making. This and improves their self-esteem and self confidence. A parent commented: 'He has matured a lot while he has been at the home. He is much more independent and they have helped him get ready to move into more independent living.'

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people living in the home at the time of inspection were not of compulsory school age. However, they are purposefully engaged in supportive work experience placements which provide them with opportunities to achieve and aim to improve their self-confidence and self-esteem. Staff's expectations are that young people strive to attain their educational potential, and their achievements in participating and achieving vocational awards are celebrated.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Where appropriate young people are helped and encouraged to maintain contact with their families. This helps them to retain or restore positive relationships with family members. Input from staff ensures that young people and their families are supported when difficulties arise which may previously have prevented home contact. A parent commented: 'I am going to miss the support and advice from staff as much as he is. They are always there if you need to talk something through.’

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Quality of care

Young people's well-being is central to the care staff provide. Young people are able to express their views, wishes and feelings to staff. Young people feel staff listen to them and that they value their opinions. Meetings enable young people to more formally request items, make suggestions and highlight any issues they are unhappy about. Young people are observed to have positive, constructive relationships with staff and comment that, 'staff have helped me get back with my family, manage my medication and get ready to move on.’

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Quality of care

Young people receive individualised support which encourages them to make positive decisions about their future. The manner in which this will be achieved is contained in individualised care plans, which are developed in full consultation with young people and others important in their lives.

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Quality of care

Staff have a good understanding of young people's health needs. Young people benefit from regular routine appointments with doctors, dentists and opticians. Health plans ensure that young people have access to any specialist services they may require. Detailed records demonstrate the outcome of any appointments attended and ensure young people understand issues which affect their physical or emotional health. Young people receive advice and support which encourages them to lead a healthy lifestyle. As a result, young people learn to take responsibility for their own health and well-being. A healthy diet is promoted and young people are encouraged to participate in outdoor activities to keep them physically fit.

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Quality of care

Young people are assisted to develop socially acceptable responses to situations which challenge them and may previously have culminated in anti-social behaviour. Individual behaviour management plans confirm staff’s response to young people's challenging behaviour. Staff are trained in the company's preferred method of behaviour management. They use their skills and knowledge of the issues each young person brings to the placement to successfully de-escalate situations which have the potential for conflict. The use of positive praise and reward is effective. Sanctions other than reparation for damage to property are used rarely. Young people are aware of other sanctions which staff can use and feel these are fair. Young people benefit from clear and consistent boundaries which promote positive behaviours.

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Quality of care

Staff effectively support and encourage young people's educational attainment. They recognise the importance of educational qualifications in relation to young people's future career prospects. For those young people unwilling to engage in post-16 education they devise vocational education programmes and work experience placements. This enables young people to develop new skills and enhances their self- worth, resilience and self-esteem.

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Quality of care

Young people live in a homely environment that is comfortable and well maintained. It is located in a residential area that has good access to educational, outdoor and community facilities. Young people have their own bedroom, which they personalise and which gives them their own personal space and privacy. Repairs and redecoration of the home ensure that the home is maintained in a good standard.

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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

Staff are committed to keeping young people safe. They are aware of the procedures to implement in circumstances where young people's safety and welfare need attention or assessment. Staff are aware of and act upon their responsibilities to safeguard young people. They receive regular training to inform and refresh their knowledge so that they act promptly when there are any concerns about young people's welfare. Young people indicate that the home is a safe place to live in and that there is always someone they are able to raise concerns with. Appropriate staffing ratios ensure young people receive the supervision and support they need to feel protected and keep them safe. The boundaries that are put in place ensure that young people's behaviours are managed safely. Agreed and established strategies are in place and these help to address ongoing challenges some behaviours present. Strategies are used to encourage young people to take responsibility for their behaviour; these are

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Safeguarding children and young people

revised and amended if they are failing to promote positive changes.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Individual risk assessments advise of the likelihood of young people going missing from home. Such incidents rarely occur as staff are aware of young people’s vulnerability and help them to understand the risks such behaviours may place them in.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Risk assessments of the home environment and activities ensure young people access physically safe environments. However, a written risk assessment relating to the keeping of hens in the garden, and the collection and usage of eggs was not available.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The company has effective recruitment processes. Checks are completed on prospective staff to ensure that they are suitable to work with young people. Visitors to the home are supervised by the staff team, who ensure that all young people are kept safe when visitors are present.

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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 Registered Manager is suitably qualified, experienced and exercises effective leadership and support to staff. He leads a strong, child-focused staff team who provide a quality of care that is conducive to young people developing their potential. Young people are looked after by competent staff who have either achieved or are working towards a professional childcare qualification. Staff are well supported and indicate that the manager is always available to provide them both with formal and informal support and supervision. This enables them to respond consistently and appropriately to situations or circumstances young people may present. A training programme ensures they maintain and develop the skills they require to meet young people's assessed needs.

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Leadership and management

Shift handovers and regular staff meetings help ensure there is effective communication within the staff team. This ensures consistency and helps staff to keep up to date with any changes to young people’s needs or circumstances. Social workers, family and other professionals indicate that they are very happy with the care provided and the progress young people make in placement in this home. There are systems in place which ensure that appropriate agencies are kept informed of any significant events which impact on the care young people receive. At the last inspection in December 2011 two requirements were raised. The effectiveness of the use of sanctions is now clearly evidenced. However, there remains an outstanding requirement relating to the external monthly monitoring of the service by the parent organisation. Contrary to requirements of legislation, there continues to be no evidence that effort is made during these visits to consult with the

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Leadership and management

young people’s placing authority, families and carers. The company's evaluation of the outcomes for young people is weak as a result of this deficit. The internal monitoring of the home by the Registered Manager does routinely seek the views of these key people and their views are taken into account. The manager’s practice goes some way to address the deficits in the company’s own independent monitoring.

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Leadership and management

Young people are cared for in line with the aims and objectives of the home’s Statement of Purpose. Young people and social workers are clear about the services and support the home provides. However, the Statement of Purpose inaccurately indicates that the home may provide care and accommodation for more than one young person. The company’s preferred method of managing challenging behaviour is not indicated in the Statement of Purpose. The manager has good systems in place to regularly monitor the performance of the home. This includes gaining feedback from young people, family and other professionals. The manager is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and has a development plan in place to ensure the quality of care continues to be of a high standard.

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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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