Children's Home run by Anna House Limited in Havering

Unique reference number SC058603 Inspection date 23/08/2012 Inspector Jackie Graves Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 12/01/2012 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 privately-operated children's home provides short break care for up to six children and young people with physical and learning disabilities. Children and young people can stay for short or longer periods of time.

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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 is making a positive difference to children's lives. An experienced staff team have developed warm, supportive relationships with children. They help children make progress with their social, emotional, educational and behavioural development. Care planning and practice is highly individual to meet each child's specific needs. Staff work sensitively with children, demonstrating a sound understanding of safe working practices. They are aware that one child's behaviour may impact on another's and skilfully make use of the facilities and space available to minimise any disruption to individuals. Staff ensure children can mix with others and make friendships. A parent said, 'it's nice she interacts with others safely'.

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Overall effectiveness

Children, including those who do not communicate verbally, are enabled to make choices and give their views about everyday matters in the home, for example about food, activities and selection of bedrooms. Parents and carers may remain in contact with their children during their stay and continue to play an active part in their lives. This is positive for children in helping them to develop and maintain important relationships.

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Overall effectiveness

Parents and carers appreciate that the staff take time to get to know their children's needs really well. They feel staff work effectively with them, keeping them fully informed about what goes on and supporting their contact with their children. This means they can trust that their children are safe and happy and enjoy their stay at the home. A parent said they, 'feel the staff work with me'. Another said they, 'like the staff, they're very welcoming'. Independent reviewing officers say that, 'Parents always compliment (the home) and report that they are happy and have no complaints.'

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Overall effectiveness

The leadership of the home is strong and effective. Clear communication with families and other professionals involved in children's lives, ensures management can act on suggestions and deal with any concerns; this helps to continuously improve the service. Monitoring is effective but the report of the manager's monitoring has not been sent to the regulator as required. Very occasionally, there is not someone trained in first aid available in the home, although further staff training is planned. There are sound arrangements for fire safety with drills and checks of equipment, but review of the fire risk assessment is overdue.

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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 at all times, at least one person on duty at the children's home has a suitable first aid qualification. (Regulation 20 (2) (e)) 17/09/2012

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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 are regularly reviewed; with specific reference to reviewing the home's fire risk assessment (NMS 10.8)  make sure reports under Regulation 34 are completed at six monthly intervals and a copy of every report should be sent to HMCI within 28 days of completion. (Volume 5, statutory guidance, paragraph 3.15)

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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 feel secure and happy with the routines and boundaries that staff set. There are improvements in behaviour, with children experiencing fewer aggressive outbursts. Consequently, children feel calm, less anxious and more settled. For some who have experienced previous placement breakdowns due to their very challenging behaviour, this results in a more stable, settled life. Some children's communication skills improve as a result of staying in the home. For example, because of frequent stays in the home, one child is more verbal and no longer relies on signs as the only means to communicate their needs.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff have worked collaboratively with parents to set targets that will improve outcomes for children, for example, to help children improve control of managing their personal care needs. As a result, children are able to make progress, with improved hygiene. Although reliant on adults to varying degrees, independence is maximised and promoted. Children are able to participate in day to day and more complex decisions about their lives. Parents observe that their child can, 'make their demands', which staff respond to.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Children benefit from staying in touch with their families during their stay. Staff accommodate any arrangements for children's families to visit or telephone. This helps reassure children that their attachments are sustained while they are in the home. One child particularly enjoys a regular call from their family at the same time every day. Staff also encourage families to visit and participate with their children in the life of the home, for example, at the annual fun day and barbecue.

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Outcomes for children and young people

All children attend school regularly. This maximises their learning opportunities and ensures continuity of their education. Children acquire skills and make progress to support their general development by staying in the home, for example, in learning table manners or how to better socialise with other children. Some also enjoy doing art and craft activities, for example, making pictures of the Olympic torch after a trip out to watch this pass on its journey through the local area.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Children experience a healthy, well-balanced diet and physical activities while staying in the home. Menus are individually tailored to their specific cultural and dietary needs, with staff making individual, freshly prepared meals. Children understand the importance of brushing their teeth, having good personal hygiene and taking regular exercise.

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Quality of care

Children stay in a stable and supportive home. They respond well to the structure and routines that staff provide. Staff build warm, nurturing relationships with them. Staff communicate effectively with children, helping them to express their preferences and choices. Staff have a very good understanding of how best to approach children to reduce their anxiety about certain everyday activities; for example, by announcing when bath time will take place and calmly helping them focus on this and avoid any distractions. They work sensitively and with knowledge of children's disabilities, for example, by keeping to routines to help those children who are autistic, feel secure.

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Quality of care

The manager and staff ensure that care planning takes into account children's diverse and individual needs. They have a thorough understanding of each child. Through careful planning with families and professionals involved in the children's lives, staff can set clear measurable outcomes, for example, to improve portion control, diet and eating habits, so children achieve better health. Staff are skilful in their management of children's behaviour. As a result, incidents of challenging behaviour have reduced and children feel secure in the tight boundaries set by staff. A parent said staff are, 'very good and very caring - they try their best to diffuse behaviour'. Staff work very closely with families and schools to ensure they have a consistent approach which helps children make progress.

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Quality of care

Arrangements for managing medication are very good. Medication is carefully recorded, stored, administered and returned to families at the end of each child's stay. Staff are trained to administer medication competently. Careful checking, with the administration witnessed by a second member of staff, results in a process free of errors that optimises children's safety. Although a number of staff, the deputy and Registered Manager are able to provide first aid in an emergency, very occasionally, some shifts do not include someone qualified in first aid; the manager has identified suitable training for more staff to rectify this situation. There is good management of children's ongoing health conditions. Prompt medical attention is sought for any health problems which arise during a child's stay, in consultation with their parents and carers.

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Quality of care

Children experience a good range of enjoyable activities both in the home and the local community. These include activities linked to children's religious backgrounds, for example, attending local places of worship. Parents and carers report that their children get opportunities to participate in activities not normally accessible to them. One commented that their child likes, 'going to the farm'; children said they like going to the park and the seaside. New toys have been purchased which are suitable for children’s individual needs and interests, for example, toys which stimulate their senses. Some children also get a lot of pleasure from looking at everyday items such as catalogues.

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Quality of care

The home is in a good location with access to a range of nearby leisure facilities. Children are helped to feel they are somewhere familiar by staying in the same room each time they visit. They choose the colour of the decoration and are able to make their bedrooms personal with their own toys and possessions. This helps children feel settled and gives them a sense of belonging.

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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 stay in a physically safe environment and are protected from harm. Children said, or signed, that they, 'feel safe' in the home. Staff give a high priority to children's safety. They are well trained in safeguarding children. No allegations or referrals relating to child protection have been made. However, staff are fully aware of procedures to follow should they have any suspicions or concerns relating to the protection of children.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Children do not experience bullying in this home. However, staff are aware that some children's behaviour may impact on others and take steps to ensure this does not impact on the individual care children receive; for example, by allowing a child space and time in their room to play with toys when they wish to be quiet and away from others. Staff are also mindful that children may be subject to prejudice when out in the community and strongly guard against this. Staff are fully aware of children's vulnerabilities due to their disabilities, individual needs and levels of understanding, for example in relation to the risk associated with traffic, or their vulnerability to being approached by strangers. By effective security in the home and close supervision when out in the community, staff ensure that no children ever go missing from their care.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Restraint is used infrequently and only in order to keep children safe, to protect others or to prevent damage. Restraints are recorded and incidents are monitored by management to ensure these are appropriate and to consider ways to improve the future management of challenging behaviour. Due to children's vulnerabilities, staff do not feel it appropriate to use sanctions. They work closely with parents and carers to identify triggers to behavioural changes and find the best ways of helping children feel calm and secure.

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Safeguarding children and young people

A very robust staff recruitment procedure helps ensure that only suitable people are employed in the home. For example, this procedure includes checks on candidates' previous employment, taking and checking references and obtaining Criminal Records Bureau checks before anyone is appointed to work with the children. A physically safe environment is promoted through secure boundaries and regular checks of equipment and systems, for example, gas and electrical safety and fire fighting equipment. Frequent fire drills help everyone to know what to do in the event of a fire. A process of risk assessment helps identify potential hazards and reduce risk on the premises, although the review of the fire risk assessment is overdue.

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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

Children benefit from a committed and experienced staff led by an effective management team. There is a strong focus on providing good childcare practice which is tailored to children's individual needs. Staff develop very positive working relationships with other agencies, for example, placing social workers and schools, to ensure all are working in children's best interests. The effective use of communication books ensures families, schools and staff share information about children's current needs and behaviours, promoting continuity of care.

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Leadership and management

Children are looked after by a very competent, experienced staff team who provide good quality care. The numbers of staff on duty meet the personal and individual needs of children in the best possible way. Staffing ratios are high to ensure that children are safe when going out into the community and taking part in activities. Staff are very well supported to carry out their roles. New staff experience an effective induction to the home; this, and support from management and the staff team, helps prepare them to work consistently with children. Staff receive regular supervision, meetings and training to help develop their competency and knowledge.

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Leadership and management

The home meets the aims and objectives of its Statement of Purpose. It fully enacts its equal opportunities statement and policy on anti-discriminatory practice. For example, by making sure children can access any activities they wish, that they are afforded choice and that they are supported by staff who reflect their gender, cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds. Families and staff are clear about the support and services the home provides. Information on the home is provided in a suitable, accessible format so that children may understand what to expect from their stay.

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Leadership and management

The home shows a capacity for continued improvement by acting on informal feedback from children, their families and placing authorities. The manager has also developed a quality assurance process to formally consult with all stakeholders; this enables management to have a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the service and identify areas for improvement. Sound monitoring systems ensure that the manager and someone not involved in the daily operation of the home can check what is going on and help drive improvements. The most recent report of monitoring by the Registered Manager has not been forwarded to Ofsted as required. However, this is an administrative task which does not impact on children's welfare.

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Leadership and management

The house is well decorated and maintained, although very recent damage caused during an incident has affected the standard of accommodation in the lounge and redecoration is due. Children's written records are well organised, providing clear information for staff on how best to care for children. Records also detail children's experiences and the progress they are making; for example, in relation to improvements in how they are helping staff with household tasks.

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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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