Children's Home run by Roundhouse Care in Staffordshire

Unique reference number SC425859 Inspection date 29/11/2012 Inspector Suzanne Hogben Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 31/07/2012 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 home is one of two children's home operated by the same private organisation. The home provides care for up to three young people between the ages of 10 and 17 years who have 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 is a good service which provides positive outcomes for young people. A highly effective management and staff team provide a very high quality of care. Young people receive individualised care which promotes and improves their emotional resilience. They develop a confidence and knowledge about how to keep them safe. Social workers and other professionals comment on how the service provides a consistent and high quality of care for young people. Excellent joint working practices ensure that young people’s needs are viewed holistically. Young people do go missing from the home but staff are aware of the risks to young people and work well with other professionals to reduce this risk taking behaviour.

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Overall effectiveness

Safeguarding is a high priority in all aspects of young people’s care. Young people benefit from clear behaviour management plans and it is a particular strength of the staff that they develop strong and positive relationships with young people. This focus on behaviour management significantly enhances positive behaviour and young people begin to understand consequences of their actions.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are encouraged to be involved in planning and reviewing their care and participate actively in the running of the home. Staff are excellent advocates for young people and encourage young people to achieve to their full potential. A wide range of activities are encouraged and help promote a healthy lifestyle. Young people are positive about the home and staff. Young people receive excellent support to help them move on to independent living. There is one recommendation as a result of this inspection. It does not have an impact on the care young people receive.

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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 the Children's Guide includes how a child can contact their Independent Reviewing Officer and the Children's Rights Director (NMS 13.5)

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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 at this home make good progress from their starting points educationally, socially and emotionally because of individualised planning and assessment. Young people are encouraged to play an active role in their care planning and this helps develop a confidence in their abilities and they understand that their views are valued. Young people understand the importance of education and staff work hard to encourage and support regular attendance. They are aware that staff value education and want them to achieve to their full potential. Young people get support to maintain school placements even if this involves travel of some distance from the home. As a result, they are able to maintain some of the foundations that they need, such as friends, which helps in the development of emotional resilience. While some young people achieve positive outcomes and go on to work and college placements, the lack of attendance for other young people limits

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Outcomes for children and young people

The health of young people continues to improve both physically and emotionally. Young people benefit from a holistic approach and use the provider’s psychological and therapeutic service for additional support to that of local health organisations. Thus young people find ways of managing emotional difficulties and develop skills in managing their anxieties and worries. Young people experience a healthy lifestyle and staff promote healthy eating and diet. Young people play an active role in planning menus and cooking food themselves. As a result, they become more aware of ways to keep themselves healthy.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from excellent care plans which identify individual need and take a measured approach to risk assessment. Young people leave the home more assured and confident in their abilities. This is thanks to a tailored transition plan which staff follow, in partnership with other professionals. One young person who successfully completed a transition plan from the home commented, ‘I think coming here was the best thing that ever happened to me because I have grown up so much and that is down to the support you have given me.’ Contact with family is encouraged and supported if it is part of the care plan. Young people develop an understanding of their identity and culture. Some young people have made considerable progress in managing issues regarding their own personal identity and development.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

Young people develop excellent relationships with the committed and enthusiastic staff group. Young people maintain relationships even after leaving the home and say that support is so good from staff and that they, ‘taught me so much in the short time spent with you and I would love to return.’ Staff welcome and encourage these relationships and believe that such support is part of the continuing development young people need to progress in life. Staff are highly effective in managing some complex behaviour. Strong joint working with a range of professionals ensures that young people benefit from care which truly meets their individual needs. Staff are proactive in promoting positive behaviour and through the use of logical consequences, young people learn that certain behaviours have a consequence. The use of sanctions is limited because staff take time to understand young people and the triggers that affect them. Because of this, young people experience a calm and

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Quality of care

balanced time in care and challenging behaviour is reduced.

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Quality of care

Regular young people’s meetings provide forums for young people to express their opinions about the home and the care they receive. Young people also play a major role in the review of their care. Staff act as advocates for young people but also encourage them to be an advocate for themselves. Young people say they feel very involved in the decisions made about them. One reviewing office commented that during a recent review, with support from staff, a young person, ‘was quite instrumental within the meeting.’ Young people are clear about the process if they wish to complain. The home does not receive many complaints because young people instead use a ‘grumble book’ to express any concerns they may have on a daily basis. Young people say this allows them to discuss issues with staff, ‘before they become big.’ As a result, on a daily basis, the issues important to young people are addressed. Young people say that they trust staff to listen to them and

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Quality of care

understand them and as a result of this they feel they can manage their behaviour better. One young person said of staff, ‘they talk to you, if you say you need space they give you it, but they are still there.’

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Quality of care

Staff work exceptionally well with other professionals to improve the care young people receive. Strong links with local schools have made a difference to the education of young people. One teacher commented that, ’staff at the home cannot do any more to encourage attendance and achievement.’ In addition, police involvement in the home is encouraged which helps offer protection to young people as the police have a better understanding of their vulnerabilities.

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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 they feel safe and are well protected in the home. A committed and skilled staff team and clear placement plans mean that young people are able to experience many activities which encourage them to develop a sense of worth. As their self- esteem increases young people are better able to keep themselves safe because they value themselves. Maintenance within the home is of a good standard with staff implementing consistent monitoring and strategies to ensure the safety of young people. Consistent staffing ratios ensure that young people are well supervised at all times of the day. The recruitment of staff is effective, detailed and ensures the protection of young people. All required checks and enquiries are clearly recorded on file.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There have been several incidents of young people going missing from the home since the last inspection. Considerable effort is made by the Registered Manager and staff to address the issue. Not all young people go missing and the number of missing episodes is reducing. Good joint work with the police means that staff are all clear on the missing from home policy and work effectively to minimise the risk during such episodes. There are no physical restraints used in this home although all staff are well trained in the methods of intervention. One member of staff commented, ‘All of our restraint training is about avoiding it getting to that stage.’ Staff use tone of voice, body language, getting to know and understand the young person and this is what helps them manage the behaviour. One young person said that staff did not punish challenging behaviour but instead, ‘they talk to me about keeping safe.’

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Safeguarding children and young people

There have been no complaints or allegations made since the last inspection. Staff receive regular training on safeguarding and physical intervention and are supported monthly by a therapist so that they are equipped to deal effectively with challenging behaviour. This helps young people receive a balanced level of care.

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Leadership and management

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

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Leadership and management

The Registered Manager is extremely caring and experienced with regard to the needs of young people. A key strength of the home is the commitment and dedication of the staff group. The supportive staff group work exceptionally well together to provide holistic and nurturing care for young people. The manager has taken action to meet two recommendations from the last inspection. A new risk assessment format now identifies risk levels and potential likelihood of risk; staff comment it is now, ‘easy to follow and prioritise risk.’ Clear guidance about levels of risk ensures that young people are able to enjoy a wide range of activities with suitable guidance and support provided to keep them safe. The policy for electronic monitoring devices has now been evaluated and updated for the use of electronic door alarms. The manager commented that to ensure the use of such devices has not become custom and practice, he now considers young people needs on an

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Leadership and management

The manager has a clear development plan which is currently being adapted further. The use of effective and evaluative monitoring and an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the service enables consistent review and development in a child focused way. Plans include: the development of the service’s own bank of staff to prevent the need for agency staff and maintain consistency of care for young people. In addition, the manager is developing methods to more clearly identify outcomes and record them to help young people understand and gain a sense of their achievements while in care. Records are well maintained and structured. Life story work helps give young people an understanding of their life in care. The Statement of Purpose is comprehensive and accurately reflects the aims, ethos and care offered to young people. The young people’s guide is user friendly and has lots of useful information for young people to gain support external to the home if they

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Leadership and management

wish. However, the guide does not contain information about how children can contact their Independent Reviewing Officer.

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Leadership and management

The Registered Manager is highly effective in monitoring the home. The evaluation of trends in the home assists him in making judgements about the care provided. Staff are supported well by the experienced management team and they share the determination of the manager to achieve and improve. Stakeholders and young people regularly feedback their views on the care provided. Training of staff and staff support is central to the running of this home. Team meetings are well managed, meaningful and detailed. They take place away from the home so that staff can fully participate. All staff commented that these meetings are key to the way staff are able to support young people. One person described such meetings as the: ‘venue for us to get everything out- any issues, health and safety, young people. For example if a young person has absconded we look at how we could have handled it better.’ As a result, young people benefit from a well-trained and confident staff

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Leadership and management

group who are able to effectively manage their care.

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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 and the evaluation schedule for children's homes.

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