Children's Home run by London Borough of Hounslow in Hounslow

Unique reference number SC062128 Inspection date 13/08/2012 Inspector Muhammed Harunur Rashid Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 08/02/2012 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

The children's home is registered to care for up to six young people aged between 12 and 17 years for an assessment period of between three and six months. The home is owned and operated by a local authority.

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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 make good progress in relation to their starting point across all aspects of their welfare and development. For example, young people make significant progress in education and take responsibility for looking after their own health. The outcomes for young people and the quality of care provided by the home are good. The young people benefit from a caring and knowledgeable staff team. The quality of care promotes improved outcomes for young people in the areas of educational attainments, maintaining own health and developing independent living skills for future adulthood. Young people confirm that they live in a safe environment and staff are always concerned for their welfare. The home has now appointed a number of permanent staff including a deputy manager. Training opportunities for staff are good.

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Overall effectiveness

To further improve, the home must ensure that all new care staff complete the Children and Young People's Workforce Diploma at level 3.

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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 that all new care staff complete the Children and Young People's Workforce Diploma at level 3. (NMS 18.5)

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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 develop emotionally and learn to overcome traumatic experiences. They develop a positive self-view and knowledge and understanding of their backgrounds. They learn about pertinent issues, such as healthy positive relationships with staff and peers.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people's health care needs are well assessed. They have a good understanding of key health risks and take responsibility for their own health. Young people have access to specialist health professionals, such as, the diabetic nurse and learn how to self-administer insulin and take medications. Young people develop an awareness of a healthy lifestyle and healthy eating. Home-cooked meals meet their preferences and dietary needs..

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make significant progress in education through their attendance at their educational settings. Two young people have recently undertaken their GCSE examinations. A young person has completed a two week work experience course and is pursuing a career to be a motor mechanic.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people who are on semi-independence programmes have a self-management plan. For example, they take responsibilities to spend weekly allowances for buying personal items for themselves and keep the receipts. In addition to this they learn about looking after their personal space, laundry tasks and travelling into the local community in preparation of adulthood.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people develop and improve their relationships with their parents through regular contact. Young people take part in household activities and are able to pursue their individual interests. Young people enjoy watching television programmes, DVDs and listening to music. They have access to community amenities which includes visit to cinemas, bowling and day trips to places of interest.

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Quality of care

The placement plans and the home's care plans promote all aspects of young people's individual identity. Staff contribute to care plans which are tailored to meet the needs of an individual child. Staff act as role models and assist young people with developing a strong identity. Staff discuss issues with young people in the key working sessions relating to their race, culture, gender and identity.

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Quality of care

Young people's views are well listened to. In addition to regular key working sessions young people are consulted through regular house meetings where they discuss issues affecting their lives. For example, house rules, choice of activities and decoration of their bedrooms. Staff encourage young people to complete satisfaction questionnaires in order to improve the service they offer.

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Quality of care

The home provides a healthy environment and young people are registered with a local doctor, dentist and optician. Staff make referrals to specialist services, for example, diabetic clinic and children and adolescent mental health services. Staff accompany young people to medical appointments and administer medications to them.

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Quality of care

The home also provides the young people with a games room, where a television with game consoles, book and games are located. Behind the dining room there is a nice backyard with a small garden and a terrace area with seats where young people can relax.

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Quality of care

The home is located in an urban area and very close to an underground rail service and bus station which provide an easy access to transport for young people, staff and visitors. The home is well designed and maintained. The warm decorating touches as seen with the cushions, the wallpaper, the flooring, pictures and paintings on walls, offers a normal family home environment. The home employs a maintenance worker to carry out all repairs and all maintenance works are completed promptly. Domestic staff keep the premises clean.

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Quality of care

Education is well promoted and the facilities at the home are conducive for study. The home provides a computer and study room with three computers in it for educational and recreational purposes. Staff help young people with homework.

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Quality of care

There is an effective complaints policy and procedure in place. Young people spoken to know how to make a complaint should they wish to. Complaints from neighbours are minimal, where these have been received, they have been addressed to the satisfaction of the complainant.

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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 say that they feel safe in the home. Young people can approach staff at any times. There are comprehensive child protection and anti-bullying policies in place. Staff are provided with child protection training and they have sufficient knowledge to protect young people from potential abuse.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There are good arrangements in place for the effective management of young people's behaviour. Young people are supported in behaviour management by staff and where relevant, external agencies. Risk assessments are robust and set out specific strategies to reduce incidences of any negative behaviour. Staff provide a consistent approach to setting boundaries for young people. Staff impose monetary sanctions where reparation is required, where there is damage to property and young people think this is fair. Positive reinforcement is used to bring about change in young people's behaviour. For example, they can earn up to £2 a day in addition to their personal allowances for attending education provisions. Staff follow agreed procedures when a young person goes missing from care and report all incidents to relevant professionals including the police. Staff are proactive to discuss missing from care incidents with young people's social workers when the

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Safeguarding children and young people

There is a system in place to notify significant events to relevant authorities. Professionals carry out checks on gas and electric appliances, fire alarms, smoke detectors and emergency lighting. Staff carry out fire alarm testing and fire drills to keep young people safe. A risk assessment of the premises is kept up to date.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff are recruited according to the recruitment procedure of the local authority to ensure the protection of young people. The human resources department carries out all relevant checks including Criminal Records Bureau checks on staff prior to their appointments.

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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 has a Statement Purpose and young people's guide. The Statement of Purpose includes the aims and objectives of the home. The young people's guide provides information about the facilities available to them. The local authority has comprehensive policies on the promotion of equality and diversity and staff have completed equality and diversity training. Staff are recruited from a diverse community and they are able to meet young people's holistic needs effectively. Young people have easy access to various community resources.

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Leadership and management

Current staffing levels are sufficient to meet young people's assessed needs. The home has appointed a number of permanent staff recently. The Registered Manager is supported by a newly appointed deputy manager, senior residential support workers and support workers. Comprehensive daily handovers and shift plans enable the staff team to plan the shifts effectively. Regular staff meetings take place which promotes good communication between the staff team.

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Leadership and management

All staff receive regular supervision and appraisals. Staff spoken to are satisfied with the training they are receiving. The vast majority of staff have completed their National Vocational Qualification at level 3 and one newly appointed staff is yet to undertake the new Children and Young People's Workforce Diploma at level 3. Staff benefit from a comprehensive package of local authority training. All staff have recently completed a social pedagogy training provided by an external trainer and they have agreed to a number of pledges to fulfil their duties in order to achieve best outcomes for young people.

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Leadership and management

There are clear and effective procedures for monitoring and controlling the activities of the home. A monitoring visit takes place on a monthly basis and reports are sent to Ofsted. The Registered Manager monitors and signs the home's records and takes appropriate steps on issues requiring action. The Registered Manager completes reports detailing the effectiveness of the monitoring of matters as set out in Schedule 6 of Regulation 34.

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Leadership and management

The home is well resourced and there is a business plan in place for identifying planned changes in the operation or resources of the service. The physical environment of the premises is well maintained.

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Leadership and management

The only recommendation arising from the interim inspection is fully met.

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Leadership and management

The home does not employ any volunteers at present. However, student social workers are taken for placement experiences.

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Leadership and management

Young people's files are well maintained and these are regularly audited by the Registered Manager. Each young person has an individual case record which helps them to reflect on and understand their history and keep appropriate memorabilia of their time in the placement.

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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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