Children's Home run by Hopedale Children and Family Services Limited in Staffordshire

Unique reference number SC444869 Inspection date 09/11/2012 Inspector Susan Mullin Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 10/05/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 6 young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It has it's own school within the children's home which is registered with the Department for Education. The home is privately owned.

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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 is the first inspection to the home since it was registered in May 2012. The manager has strong leadership qualities, which impact on and motivate a committed and dedicated staff team. Staff ensure that young people's care is personalised, well planned and provided to a good standard. The day-to-day running of the home is based on young people's needs, their views and wishes. Young people with a history of traumatic backgrounds and numerous disrupted placements benefit from a stable, nurturing environment. A social worker said, 'I cannot praise the staff enough, they understand the needs of the young people very well.’

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are happy living at the home and have genuine, meaningful relationships with staff, which are based on trust. Young people say they feel valued and respected by staff and are proud of their achievements since moving into the home. All young people attend a full-time educational programme at the home's own school and are learning to understand the importance of academic achievements. This provides a foundation for young people to learn, develop and make progress in other areas of their lives.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people live in an environment where their awareness and tolerance of equality and diversity is promoted. Young people are actively involved in their plans for their future and as a result, they are gaining more confidence and increased self-esteem. Staff encourage young people to take part in and offer a range of activities to enhance physical and emotional health and well-being. Young people make substantial progress in improving their behaviour and responding to the support from staff and other professionals. Staff are knowledgeable about the needs of young people and are able to cope with challenging behaviour. As a result young people's safety has improved and they are supported to take controlled risks based on their needs, previous experiences and levels of understanding.

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Overall effectiveness

Leaders and managers secure improvement by good development planning and show clear understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. Young people benefit from an environment where staff have high hopes and aspirations for all young people to reach their full potential. This is underpinned by effective training, supervision and support of staff.

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Overall effectiveness

No requirements or recommendations were made as a result of this inspection.

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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

Outcomes for young people are good. Young people receive good levels of care and, as a result, they make considerable progress, given their starting points on admission to the home. Highly individualised support from staff, helps them develop social skills, confidence and self-esteem. Their life chances improve as a result.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people form meaningful attachments with staff and are able to express their difficult and challenging feelings in an environment in which they feel safe. A social worker said: 'I have seen a miraculous improvement with my young person. He was so anxious before he moved into the home and would not even look into other people’s eyes. He is much more confident now, he looks physically better and he is in a much better emotional place. I am very pleased with the placement.'

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Outcomes for children and young people

The views and opinions of young people are continually sought and acted upon, for example, in the choice of board games, meals or outdoor activities. The culture of the home is extremely young-person-centred, with individual and group living needs being central to practice.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Equality and diversity issues are positively promoted, with young people learning how to appreciate other people's differences. This generates a culture of respect and security.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people lead healthy lifestyles and have their health needs met as a result of the support they receive from staff. For example, there are lots of opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities. Staff consistently encourage healthy eating and young people constantly learn about the benefits of a healthy diet. As a result, young people begin to take responsibility for their own health needs. One young person said, 'I am eating more and more things now, which is good because this will make me more healthy.’ A member of staff said, 'The food served here is excellent. We have so much choice.’ The chef stated, 'We only use fresh produce here and we do not buy in bulk. I like to look for good quality food and only use the best produce'. Young people's psychological and emotional health needs are met. Staff ensure that, where required, young people have access to external health professionals. In addition, the young people have access to the home's own therapist, who sees them

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Outcomes for children and young people

on a regular basis and reports her findings to the staff. Young people also benefit from a close relationship with their key worker. They are able to share their intimate and painful emotions with someone they trust. Experienced and competent staff are understanding and empathetic toward the emotional needs of the young people in their care. As a result, young people feel that staff genuinely care about them and they in turn gain a real sense of belonging. They start to feel more positive about their future and poor behaviour is used less and less, as a coping mechanism.

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Outcomes for children and young people

All young people in the home learn independent living skills, in line with their age and abilities. In addition to pathway plans, the home implement their own individual independent living plan. This increases the chances for young people of being able to live independently. One young person said, 'I am encouraged to keep my room clean and tidy and to wash and sort out my clothes'.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Education is seen as a priority in the home and young people receive excellent support from the home's own school or at further education placements. Their achievement is significant, taking into account their starting point at the time of placement. Education and support staff work closely together. This creates an ethos and culture in the home that helps to transform the attitude and approach of young people toward their education. Young people, who have previously disengaged from education, are now learning academic and practical life skills. A social workers said, 'Prior to this placement the young person refused to engage in any educational provision, now he goes every day and the staff say he loves it.’

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from contact with their families and people who are important to them, in line with their placement plan. Contact is fully facilitated by care staff, who support individuals to receive visitors or have home visits. This means that young people have a sense of identity and belonging. A social worker said, 'The staff have worked hard with some very difficult issues around contact for the young person and they keep me fully informed of any issues in this regard. They send me weekly reports which are very detailed.’

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from positive relationships with each other and the staff team. In some cases young people are new to the environment and relationships are developing. A member of staff said: 'One young person has only been in the home for a short while and we are still getting to know each other. Young people need time to build up trust with us and this can take some time. We have to take things at their pace.’ Young people confirm staff do not enter their rooms without permission. As a result, young people’s privacy is respected and protected. Care plans are comprehensive and take into account young people's individuality, personal attributes and difficulties. These are well-understood by all staff and reviewed and evaluated regularly. Young people have access to a variety of medical professionals and staff support them to attend appointments. The home has secure procedures for the safe administration of medication. As a result, the physical,

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Quality of care

emotional and psychological health of young people is promoted and they benefit from good quality, consistent care.

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Quality of care

Staff encourage young people to engage in new activities and to try different challenges. They focus on activities that help meet the identified needs of a young person. For example, some young people go to the gym to improve their health and fitness and this helps them feel better about themselves. Young people are supported to form and maintain friendships and attend activities with their peers.

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Quality of care

Young people are encouraged to express their views, feelings and wishes to their key workers and other members of staff. Young people say they are involved in their placements, their care planning and some aspects of the running of the home. A young person said: ' The staff ask me about what I want for my future and we try to plan how we can get me to that point. They help me understand what will happen when I become an adult.’ Young people develop into maturity as they are given trust to make decisions that affect their life in the home and into adulthood.

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Quality of care

All the young people maintain excellent attendance at the home's own school. The home actively promotes their learning and development through the use of educational material and games. Staff engage young people, in these which helps them to broaden their knowledge and enjoy learning. As a result, young people are supported towards achieving their educational potential.

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from a contemporary and stylish environment. Each young person has a single bedroom which they are able to personalise. The large garden is used for football and basketball games and there is parking for several vehicles at the front of the house. Internally the soft furnishings are of a very good standard and there is plenty of space for young people to receive visitors in private.

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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 confirm that they feel safe in this home. They appear confident and comfortable in their environment and especially around the staff. Staff make safeguarding young people a high priority. All staff are trained in safeguarding and are clear on their role in the safeguarding process. Staff employ safe care practices and are suitably trained about what to do if there are any complaints, allegations, or concerns that young people might be at risk of harm. As a result, young people are protected as far as practicable.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The staff team are effective in promoting positive behaviour through appropriate use of incentives and occasional use of sanctions. The use of restraint has reduced since the home was registered and all staff receive regular training in how to respond to challenging behaviour, including the use of physical intervention. The home has a written procedure, based on government guidance, that staff know to follow should a young person goes missing. However, there have been no incidents of young people going missing since registration.

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Safeguarding children and young people

A social worker said: 'The young person I have in placement is doing very well. He has not gone missing since he was admitted. He was previously going missing regularly. When he was at his last placement he would not even engage with me at all. Since he has been in the home he has really matured and now he prepares a list in his head about the things he wants to challenge and he really engages with me. He has become far more confident and happy since he has been living in the home.’

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Safeguarding children and young people

A young person said, 'I feel very safe here and I really like living here. The staff are always around when I need to talk to them.’ The staff are proactive in protecting young people from harm and implement individual risk assessments on any hazards that may affect them. They review these on a regular basis or when issues arise and clearly understand how to respond accordingly in order to minimise such risks. As a result young people are kept safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Effective recruitment procedures are in place and the manager ensures that no staff work at the home until all checks required by legislation have taken place and are clear. All new staff work supernumerary at first until they are deemed competent to become a shift member.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The premises are maintained in a safe condition. Professional technicians regularly service the electrical equipment, gas appliances and equipment for preventing, detecting and extinguishing fires. The staff conduct regular fire drills with the young people. As a result, staff and young people are kept safe while working or living in the home.

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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 is effectively and efficiently run by an experienced, enthusiastic and permanent Registered Manager. Young people and placing authorities are clear about the support the home provides and the home meets the aims and objectives detailed in the Statement of Purpose.

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Leadership and management

A comprehensive guide, given to young people on admission, enables them to understand the care being provided. The home employs an appropriate level of staffing. There are clear and appropriate arrangements for covering the manager’s absence.

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Leadership and management

The Registered Manager, supported by the deputy manager, provides proactive leadership and direction. Staff are well supported by the management team and say they feel included in decision-making, which helps them feel valued. Young people are supported by a staff team, which comprises of a good mix of age and experience. They are competent at identifying the welfare and care requirements of young people. This is evidenced by the on-going progress that young people make. When asked what was the best thing about the home, a member of staff said: 'I love working here, it is so nice the see the young people do well and do better and better in education.’ We teach the young people about politeness and manners and to respect each other. We lead by example.’ Another member of staff said, 'I can't think of anything negative to say about the home.'

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Leadership and management

The manager has exceptionally high expectations of her staff team and is proactive in ensuring all staff receive training which equips them with skills relevant and specific to the young people accommodated. New staff receive a comprehensive induction training which they complete in the appropriate timescale. Established members of staff are qualified to level 3 in care of children and young people, or above and the remaining staff are working towards this qualification. The staff receive training in a wide range of subjects and they receive regular formal one-to- one supervision from a senior person. As a result, staff continually reflect on their practice and improve the care and support afforded to young people. There is clear evidence of how the care and support provided by the whole staff team have a positive effect on outcomes for young people.

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Leadership and management

All staff attend twice monthly team meetings where they discuss any new developments, including changes in governmental guidance and legislation and also the feedback received from quality assurance checks. This ensures that staff continually update their knowledge and skills. Comprehensive handovers provide effective communication where staff evaluate how young people's individual needs are being met and that their behaviours are being managed consistently. As a result of the consistent application of strategies, young people engage better with staff and there has been a reduction in risk-taking behaviours.

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Leadership and management

The manager has established robust relationships with the local police and a range of health and education professionals. The manager demonstrates sound awareness of the development needs of the service and there is a strong drive to improve care practices throughout.

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Leadership and management

Quality assurance systems, in terms of monitoring under Regulation 34 by the manager and visits in line with Regulation 33 on behalf of the provider organisation, are extremely robust. Monitoring incorporates regular consultation with young people and reports reflect their views well. Where shortfalls are identified they are addressed quickly and thoroughly.

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Leadership and management

Young people confirm they are involved in meetings where key decisions are made about their futures, including contributing to decisions. Statutory reviews of care plans take place on time and the staff help to ensure each young person's views and opinions are made clear.

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Leadership and management

There is a clear system in place to notify appropriate authorities of all significant events relating to the protection of young people living at the home. This helps to further promote young people's well-being and protect them from harm.

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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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