Children's Home run by S P Homes Limited in Lambeth

Unique reference number SC065535 Inspection date 17/10/2012 Inspector Paul Taylor Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 22/02/2012 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 company-run children's home caters for six young people. It provides supervised care and support for young people from all cultural backgrounds on a medium- to long-term basis.

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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 inadequate .

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Overall effectiveness

This service has some notable strengths, such as the support given to the young people in attending their educational placements and the opportunities given to them to voice their feelings and opinions with members of staff. As a result they make good progress in their lives.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people share positive relationships with staff which enables them to make achievements. They are assisted to make steps towards improving their emotional and physical health, educational outcomes and behaviour. Young people feel valued and cared for. They have clear goals and boundaries and know that staff are committed to helping them through any difficult times.

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Overall effectiveness

Some significant shortfalls have been identified during this inspection. The home has not met some requirements made at the last inspection. Reports made as a result of monitoring visits have not be made promptly available to the manager of the home or Ofsted. The manager has not forwarded the results and analysis of his monitoring of key records to Ofsted. Significant events which have led to the police attending the home have not been notified to Ofsted. Additionally, the young people's safety has been undermined especially with regards to fire safety. The system to ensure accurate recording of administration of medication has on occasion not been followed by members of staff and this has led to some inaccurate recording. At times parts of the house are locked to prevent access by the young people. There is no written policy or staff guidance in place regarding this measure.

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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 in relation to a children's home, any of the events listed in column 1 of the table in schedule 5 takes place, the registered person shall without delay notify the persons indicated in respect of the event in column 2 of the table (Regulation 30 (1) ) * 17/11/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that subject to paragraph (1A) the registered person shall after consultation with the fire and rescue authority (a) take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment and b) provide adequate means of escape * 17/11/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure reports of visits made by the registered provider are sent to Ofsted (Regulation 33 (5)(a)) * 17/11/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) establish and maintain a system for improving the quality of care provided in the children's home and supply to Ofsted a report in respect of any review conducted. (Regulation 34 (1) (2) ) * 17/11/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice

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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 members of staff record accurately and ensure there is a written record of all medication, treatment and first aid given to children during their placement. (NMS 6.15)  ensure that physical restrictions on normal movement within the home are not used unless this is necessary to safeguard children and promote their welfare and development. Such measures are only used where agreed with the responsible authority and, if appropriate, the parents. Such restrictions do not impose similar restrictions on other children (NMS 10.4)  ensure that when only one member of staff is on duty at any time, a risk assessment has been carried out and recorded in writing, identifying any likely risks to children, staff and members of the public. (NMS 17.9)

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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 make good progress during their time in the home, especially when taking into account their starting points at the time of admission. They benefit from being able to make trusting relationships with members of staff. They are offered close support and this enables them to make sense of their histories and background and helps them to feel valued and understood. They have their individual identities valued and respected and this increases their self esteem and self worth.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people have their health needs promoted to a good standard. Specifically, they have their emotional and psychological well being nurtured and specialist support put in place if it is needed. Due to the support they receive, young people's awareness of risks associated with certain behaviours, such as alcohol misuse, smoking as well as sexual health issues, is raised.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people feel valued, respected and listened to as staff ensure that there are ways for them to have their say. For example, house meetings and regular key work sessions are held and young people receive strong encouragement to share their views. Education is seen as highly important and the encouragement and guidance that the young people receive enables them to achieve very good levels of attendance at their schools, especially when bearing in mind their starting points. 'I know they want me to do well and get my exams' was a comment made by one young person.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people have access to a number of community activities such as the cinema, swimming, gymnasium and boxing club. They are also able to spend time with their friends both in the community and at the home. This ensures that they are able to enrich their experiences and to take part in positive activities.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are supported to learn and consolidate life and social care skills within the home and in the wider community. They are enabled, with staff support, to engage in independent skills programmes which are specific to their abilities and vulnerabilities. As a result young people are enabled to make good progress in their social and practical skills, for instance, young people learning budgeting skills. The home has an independence preparation program which enables young people to prepare for independence at a rate commensurate with their abilities and vulnerabilities.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The structure and strategies put in place to support the young people manage their behaviour enables them to become more settled and leads to a decrease in risk- taking and in some cases, criminal, behaviours. A young person reported that 'they help me understand why I lose my temper.'

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from care that meets their needs and that helps them to make very good progress. Staff are child focused and there is a strong empathises on the individual needs of young people. Staff encourage positive behaviour and a sense of right and wrong. This ensures that young people have clear boundaries and understand their goals. The positive relationships that young people share with staff help them to make feel valued and to make progress.

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Quality of care

Staff place a high value on listening to young people. They share positive relationships with young people, which helps young people to feel confident about speaking out. Staff also ensure that there are opportunities for young people to talk, such as house meetings and in key worker sessions. This helps young people to feel listened to and respected. A suitable complaints policy is implemented in practice. Young people say they know how to make a complaint or express a concern with further details available, including independent advocacy services, within the young persons’ guide and displayed openly in the home. Complaints made have been responded to swiftly with clear and appropriate resolutions recorded.

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Quality of care

Young people are supported to make good educational progress. The value of education is promoted and seen as key in improving the young people's life chances. Care plans clearly set out young people's abilities and goals. This helps the staff to provide well thought out support which enables young people to take advantage of their opportunity to improve on their school attendance and achievement.

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Quality of care

Staff are effective in promoting healthy lifestyles. Exercise is encouraged. For example, staff will take the young people to the gymnasium and swimming as well as encouraging them to join a boxing club and local football club. Young people benefit from receiving the health care services they need as staff are proactive in ensuring that these are available. Young people's emotional health is effectively addressed and they access relevant professionals to support their emotional needs.

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Quality of care

Members of staff do not always follow the correct process for the recording of medication that has been administered. For example, the stock recorded for one particular household medication was inaccurate and doses administered had not been recorded in the young person's file, although they had been recorded in the daily log. This could lead to errors in doses administered to young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is inadequate at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people report feeling safe and well looked after at the home. They feel that the staff are concerned with their welfare and will take steps to make sure they feel safe. They report that bullying is not seen as an issue in the home and they are confident that staff will address any issues of conflict should they arise.

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Safeguarding children and young people

A high awareness of each young person's vulnerability if they go missing ensures that any incidents are reported swiftly and effectively to the relevant agencies, including the police. This approach has led to a reduction of incidents where young people have gone missing or have gone out without permission. Any protocols in place are in line with local police strategies and policies and this ensures that the home and police can work closely together in the event that a vulnerable young person is missing or absent without permission. Members of staff work conscientiously to enable young people to return to the home if they are absent without permission. This includes constant telephone contact as well as searches of the areas where the young person might be.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The use of restraint in the home is rare. Young people report that it is only used when needed and that it is used fairly and effectively. Records are of a good standard and include the young person's comments gained via a debrief of the incident after it has happened.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home has a very clear recruitment process which ensures that all checks for prospective employees are thoroughly carried out before they can commence work. This ensures that only adults with acceptable employment and personal histories are allowed to work with the young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

All members of staff are aware of what to do and who to inform if they have concerns about a young person's well being. All members of staff receive child protection training on a rolling basis to ensure that they are aware of their obligations in this area.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home maintains effective links with placing authorities to ensure that they are kept up to date with any incidents or events. However, the home does not effectively or efficiently inform Ofsted of events which it has an obligation to do. For example, there have been a number of times when the police have been called to the home as a result of incidents involving the young people. Records of these events have not been forwarded to Ofsted despite this being a requirement made at a previous inspection.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home is adequately maintained and has comfortable furnishings and décor. Young people are able to personalise their rooms with pictures and posters and this encourages them to have an investment in their home. The young people are aware of what to do in the event of a fire and have been involved in fire drills. A recent inspection by the fire and rescue service highlighted a number of concerns and the home has a written action plan to address these. However, during the inspection it was noticed that a fire door to the kitchen was wedged open in direct contradiction of the home's policy and despite this being an area identified as a shortfall during the fire inspection. Additionally, the kitchen door is locked at night and this prevents access to the rear fire exit. This practice does not ensure the young people's safety in the event of a fire.

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Safeguarding children and young people

At other times some parts of the home, as well as the kitchen, are also locked. For example, the lounge and computer room. This is done to encourage young people to go to school and not have access to television or computers all day, or to eliminate areas in which they can go when it is bed time. While all members of staff and young people are aware of this procedure, there is no written policy or guidance in relation to this practice. Additionally placing authorities or parents have not endorsed the practice in writing.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are inadequate .

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Leadership and management

The home has an experienced manager in place. Young people find him approachable and report that they feel he listens to them and that he is fair in any decisions he makes.

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Leadership and management

Three requirements made at the last inspection have not been addressed. Some reports of significant events have not been received by Ofsted as required by legislation. Additionally, reports made as a result of monitoring visits have not been sent to Ofsted in the required timescales. The latest received was in August this year and was in relation to the visit undertaken in May. Of further concern is the fact that reports written after the most recent visits have not been forwarded to the manager of the home. He has therefore been unable to formulate written development plans to address any shortfalls identified in these visits. While the manager has completed checks as required under Regulation 34, he has not forwarded his findings to Ofsted as required at the last inspection.

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Leadership and management

Following an inspection carried out by the fire and rescue service in September a number of shortfalls were identified. The written action plan to address the requirements has not been made available to members of staff working on shift. The manager states that he verbally reminded the staff about their obligations, especially with regards to ensuring that fire doors are not propped open. This advice is not underpinned in writing or practice. During the inspection a fire door to the kitchen was found to be propped open. This has not ensured that fire safety has been promoted or complied with.

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Leadership and management

An experienced staff team provide young people with sensitive and consistent care. Adequate numbers of staff are available to care for young people during the day and night. On occasion members of staff work for periods of time on their own with more than one young person and the home has a single member of staff sleeping over at night. This factor has not been outlined in a written risk assessment which specifies what measures and responses should be enacted in the event of an emergency.

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Leadership and management

All care staff either hold or are working toward the required qualification in care. A rolling training programme enables them to continually update and develop their skills. Members of staff report regular supervision and good levels of support from the manager.

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Leadership and management

The home provides sufficient information which ensures young people and others know what support they can expect and how they will be looked after. A young persons’ welcome pack provides an informative and easy to understand guide to the home which includes contact details for external agencies and advocacy services. A clear, written Statement of Purpose is in place that informs parents and social workers of how the home operates and plans to meet young people’s needs.

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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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