Children's Home run by Castle Homes Care Limited in Birmingham

Unique reference number SC377825 Inspection date 15/11/2012 Inspector Michelle Spruce Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 07/02/2012 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 children's home is part of a large organisation operated by a private company. The home is registered to provide care for up to three children who have learning disabilities and social, emotional and behavioural 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

This good service with some outstanding features provides excellent quality of care delivered by a committed Registered Manager and a well-trained staff team. The robust and clear placement planning provides personalised care that is effective in improving outcomes.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people feel safe and are happy with the quality of care they receive within a nurturing and welcoming environment. There is a strong focus on reducing risk taking behaviour, improving health and restoring confidence.

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Overall effectiveness

The relationships between young people and staff are trusting and respectful allowing open channels of communication where young people influence the running of the home.

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Overall effectiveness

Manager’s regular review and assessment of the service secures improvement and shows a good understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. There are some shortfalls to the service in relation to mechanical surveillance, risk assessments and the Statement of Purpose.

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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 the registered person shall compile in relation to the children's home, a written statement which shall consist of a statement as to the matters listed in Schedule 1. In particular relation to a description of any electronic or mechanical means of surveillance of children which may be used in the children's home (Regulation 4(1)) 07/12/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that electronic monitoring devices used in the children's home meet the conditions of: consent from the placing authority; is provided for in the child's placement plan; so far as practicable the child in question is informed; and the measure is no more restrictive than necessary, having regard to the child's need for privacy (Regulation 22(1)(a-d)) 07/12/2012

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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 of the children's home environment are carried out, to identify any potential sources of harm to the children are recorded in writing and regularly reviewed. In particular relation to smoking. (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 grow significantly in confidence and have a positive self-view because they understand their background and the reasons they are in care. Young people take pride in their appearance and personal hygiene because they feel good about themselves. A staff member said, ‘relationships with staff are good and young people feel able to make choices. They take care of themselves.’ As a result, young people mature and develop confidence, self-esteem and social skills.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make good progress from their start point regardless of the difficulties they face. Young people actively search for, and attend, further education or training to enhance their learning development and job opportunities. Although progress to sustain a suitable placement is slow, young people benefit from chances to explore the right opportunities through persistence and determination. This means young people’s life chances improve.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from well-structured health plans that enhance their health and well-being because they are regularly reviewed. One young person said, ‘my health is better and I am putting on weight, I no longer use drugs but do smoke.’ Staff comment that young people look healthier as a result of changing their lifestyle. Young people make healthy choices when preparing meals and take physical exercise to enhance and maintain fitness. As a result, young people improve how they feel physically, emotionally and psychologically.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make good informed decisions about who they wish to have contact with. Young people choose to stay in touch with family and friends by telephone contact or visits to the home. Placement plans outline clear arrangements for contact. This ensures young people remain in touch and relationships develop and strengthen.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are equipped with skills for leaving care and have individual independence plans tailored to meet their needs. Young people develop independence because they have a budget to shop for their own clothes and food and complete daily chores that develop skills such as washing and cooking. This means young people know how to live independently with minimum assistance.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

Staff are extremely passionate, committed and dedicated and deliver high quality care. Young people love the home they reside in and feel a part of it. Young people compliment the management of the home and said, ‘the manager is the best, this is the best home I have lived in.’ Relationships are strong and built on trust and respect. As a result, behaviour is significantly improved and appropriate.

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Quality of care

Young people play an active part in the running of the home through regular meetings. Staff provide forums for young people to express their thoughts and views openly and keep photograph records as a reminder of what has been achieved. For example, young people requested items of furniture during a residents’ meeting, once purchased this was recorded by a photograph to demonstrate young people had received items requested. This shows young people are listened to and makes them feel appreciated.

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Quality of care

Staff provide excellent care planning support to meet the individual needs of young people because they work tirelessly in partnership with external agencies. Young people make significant progress from the additional support provided that enhance both physical and emotional health. Young people are stable and safe in placements where they know how much they are cared for. This is because staff do not give up and young people remain the focus in the delivery of care.

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Quality of care

Young people feel more socially accepted and valued because of the way they now view themselves. This is because staff are proactive in promoting social skills that enable young people to mature into respectable adults. Staff deliver care that encompasses the diverse needs of young people that recognise their religious and cultural values. As a result, young people feel embraced by the community they live in. The home provides a well-resourced environment to meet the diverse needs of young people. There is adequate space to give young people the freedom they require to take time-out to express their individual personalities. For example, there is a separate games room in the garden that has a wide range of resources to allow young people to be creative. This means young people develop freedom of choice and learn how develop socially which improves behaviour.

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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 have keys to their own bedrooms and staff do not enter without knocking or being invited. Young people have access to a cordless telephone that can be used in private and mail received is opened personally by young people. This protects young people’s dignity and privacy. However, electronic bedroom door alarms are used at night to alert sleep-in staff to the whereabouts of young people. Young people confirm a lack of understanding why the alarm is used. Furthermore, the placement plan does not demonstrate any agreement of consent to the use of the measure. This impacts on young people’s privacy during the night.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home provides safe measures of monitoring to protect young people form harm. For example, visitors are checked and health and safety risk assessments are in place and reviewed regularly. The home reduces the risk of fire to the environment and provides a designated smoking area with a bucket to safely discard cigarette butts. However, there is no risk assessment to demonstrate the hazards or how to monitor or control them in relation to smoking.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people keep the home tidy and free for hazards because they take responsibility and pride in their home. As a result, accidents are reduced. Where injury occurs trained staff provide emergency first aid. This keeps young people safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff are knowledgeable, skilled and trained in safeguarding and behaviour management. Episodes of physical intervention have significantly reduced because young people have good relationships with staff that care about their welfare. As a result, young people do not go missing or take part in risk taking behaviour. The manager and staff are clear about how to report any concerns and regularly contact the Local Safeguarding Children Board if they are unsure of any issues. This protects young people from the risk of abuse.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are protected from unsuitable candidates having access to them because the home has a robust recruitment and selection process. Staff are unable to begin working in the home before suitable clearance checks are received and verified. As a result, young people remain safe from harm.

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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

Young people benefit from a passionate Registered Manager and a dedicated staff team that provide consistent and effective quality of care. Young people make successful progress because the manager continually monitors the service to measure progress and outcomes. Regulation 33 monitoring visits take place monthly and Schedule 6 monitoring reports completed by the manager are now sent to Ofsted bi-annually. This means patterns and trends are identified and steps are taken to improve.

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Leadership and management

The home provides a Statement of Purpose for parents, carers and stakeholders wishing to place young people in the home. However, the statement does not clearly identify the reasons that electronic surveillance is used in the home. This means anyone wishing to place young people is not provided with the correct information in relation to what the home practices.

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Leadership and management

The home can demonstrate capacity for continuing improvement because the manager evaluates feedback through quality assurance and acts on improving where shortfalls are identified. One young person commented about staff and said, ‘she made me feel welcome and I just had a bond with her that I don't have with anyone else.'. This confirms the quality of care staff provide.

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Leadership and management

Development plans for the home are in place and the manager said, ‘the plan is looked at in intervals to make sure targets are met within timescales. Review makes sure we continue to see the difference we are making and to look at what we need to improve.’ This means the service is regularly evaluated for future development.

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Leadership and management

Staff receive regular supervision and appraisal and benefit from personal development plans. All training is provided and refreshers taken to keep staff up-to- date with current legislation. As a result, staff acquire skills necessary to complete their role effectively and efficiently.

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Leadership and management

The home is maintained to a high standard and provides a warm, friendly and welcoming atmosphere for young people to thrive.

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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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