Children's Home run by Keys Direct Care Limited in Norfolk

Unique reference number SC450994 Inspection date 27/11/2012 Inspector Caroline Oldham Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 17/08/2012 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 owned by an independent provider. It is registered for three children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties (EBD).

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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 adequate .

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Overall effectiveness

This is the first inspection of this home. Young people have only recently started living in the home, and therefore the evidence in some areas is limited, and impacts on the judgement. Care plans are detailed and personalised to reflect each young person's individual needs. Staff are very caring, and enthusiastic to achieve the best outcomes for the young people in their care. Currently the home lacks stimulating activities such as books and games. However, overall young people are making sound progress in the brief time they have been in the home.

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Overall effectiveness

The young people have positive views about the staff, and are starting to build relationships. They are encouraged to be actively involved in the running of the home through discussions with staff, and residents' meetings. For example, young people strongly influence the meals, activities and soft furnishings. Staff register all young people with health professionals and encourage attendance. However, young people are not yet actively involved in a range of physical activities and continue to smoke. Generally their health is improving.

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Overall effectiveness

Senior management and the manager, have very thorough monitoring processes and developmental plans in place. The manager welcomes the views of others, and is continually striving to improve practice, for example; bringing in specialists to advise staff. The overview of the effectiveness of sanctions is not yet taking place to enable staff to reflect and learn. But due to the overall standards of care, young people feel secure and supported.

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Overall effectiveness

A real strength of the provision is in keeping young people safe. This is achieved through good working practices, and comprehensive risk assessments, although the very recent addition of the internet has not been discussed with young people. Staff have excellent knowledge of safeguarding procedures and staffing levels, keep young people safe both during the day and night. Young people's behaviour demonstrates that they feel safe; incidents of young people going missing are now extremely rare.

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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 children are encouraged to participate in a range of positive activities that contribute to their physical and emotional health (NMS 6.3)  ensure that each child is given good advice, support and guidance, as necessary, on good health and personal care. This advice should cover alcohol and illegal substance abuse and smoking ( Volume 5, statutory guidance, paragraph 2.58)  ensure that children develop their emotional, intellectual, social, creative and physical skills through the accessible and stimulating environment created by the home (NMS 7.1)  provide completed documentation regarding sanctions, to enable the home to regularly review incidents of challenging behaviour, examine trends or issues emerging from this, to enable staff to reflect and learn to inform future practice (NMS 3.21)  ensure that children are helped to understand how to keep themselves safe when using the internet and social media (NMS 4.4)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are adequate .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are settling in to the home, developing a positive self-view, and building confidence and self-esteem. For example, they are now enrolled in education and are settling into good routines. All the young people have complex backgrounds and arrive at the home with very high risk-taking behaviour. Through the dedication of the staff team these behaviours have significantly reduced, and young people are learning to keep themselves safe.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are making progress in their physical and emotional development. They are actively involved in the day-to-day running of the home, through regular discussions with staff and weekly residents' meetings. They talk with pride about their wall murals, the food that they cook and their ideas for the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The young people have histories of very poor school attendance. However, they are now successfully enrolled in appropriate school provision, and are starting to develop significantly improved patterns of attendance. This is a significant step forward for the young people who are now establishing good routines and making new friends. Young people enjoy caring for themselves and their environment; they are happy to complete their daily chores and they are actively involved in cooking. Young people are gradually becoming more confident in their skills to prepare them for adult life.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from appropriate contact with family, friends and other people who are important to them. Staff are actively involved with contact visits, to ensure that they are well managed and young people are supported. As a result, young people re-establish attachments, and benefit from contact with people who are important to them.

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Quality of care

The new, small staff team are made up of staff from other homes within the group and new members. This brings together a good mix of established ways of working and new ideas. They are working very well together, and the manager encourages initiative and 'thinking outside of the box', to work with the young people who have very complex needs. Consequently, young people are learning to build positive and constructive relationships with staff and each other. They are able to influence the running of the home, and they know how to make a complaint or raise an issue when they are unhappy. Young people are treated with respect, and their views are frequently sought through regular residents' meetings, and individual key work discussions about matters such as; activities, decor and menus.

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Quality of care

Young people have detailed care plans that set out their specific, individualised needs. Care plans include information about religious and cultural backgrounds, and personal identities. Staff support young people's individual needs and preferences, and help them to learn more about their cultural heritage. Staff actively encourage young people to be involved in the plans that concern them. They are regularly consulted every month, when plans are reviewed, to ensure that their views are considered.

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Quality of care

Staff consider most aspects of the young people's health. When a young person is admitted, they are registered with the local health professionals and encouraged to attend appointments. They are encouraged to have a healthy diet, and some enjoy activities such as swimming, and street dancing, but some young people do not show much enthusiasm for physical activities. Although, young people are not currently indulging in drugs or alcohol abuse, they are smoking. Young people are encouraged to engage with specialist support in some areas, but drugs, alcohol and smoking are not currently addressed. Therefore, although young people generally enjoy an improved healthy lifestyle, some aspects are neglected.

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Quality of care

Social workers and independent reviewing officers speak very highly about the home, and are pleased with the care that the young people receive. They say that the staff work hard to engage with the young people, and are putting in appropriate boundaries and managing difficult behaviour very well. They say that they are caring holistically for the young person, and addressing all their needs. Social workers say the staff team work well with them, and are very supportive when difficult messages are delivered. They have noticed significant changes in the young people and talk about them being 'a lot calmer'.

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Quality of care

Young people have long standing issues around school attendance, and have had significantly disrupted attendance and long periods of non-attendance. However, the home has successfully re-engaged the young people into appropriate education provisions. Consequently, school attendance has significantly improved and young people are gradually engaging in learning.

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Quality of care

The home is rurally located, well maintained and furnished, and there are ample grounds for outdoor activities. There are some in-house activities, but as young people have only recently been admitted, suitable books, games and other leisure activities are not yet readily available. Although there are no public transport links in the vicinity, there is a car available for trips to the shops and outings further afield.

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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 are kept safe in the home, and they say that they feel safe. Their behaviour shows that they like being in the home, and in the company of staff. For example, young people missing from care has become very rare and behaviour management issues are decreasing significantly. Young people are starting to become aware that staff care for their safety, and can be trusted with information. However, young people have not been given guidance on keeping themselves safe when using the internet or social media, and the very recent addition of internet access leaves them vulnerable.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Safeguarding practice is generally very effective, and staff are very clear about how to deal with any issues of concern. There are comprehensive risk assessments for the home and various activities, in addition to those for the young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Prior to admission young people were regularly missing, now this is very rare. Physical restraints are also rare events, although occasionally young people are appropriately guided away from dangerous situations. There is an incentive reward scheme, and in addition, young people are sometimes rewarded for behaving exceptionally well. However, the overview of the effectiveness of sanctions is not yet taking place to enable staff to reflect and learn. Young people are starting to manage their own routines and behaviour, and are recognising their own weaknesses and vulnerabilities.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The staff recruitment and selection process is rigorous, and comprehensive checks are made to ensure that young people are always cared for by appropriately experienced staff. The manager is actively involved in all recruitment, and has built up a good team with some staff transferred in from other homes in the group, and some new staff. This enables the company values and expectations to be carried through to the new home and also to incorporate new ideas and views. The team now has a good range of abilities and skills; they work well together and complement each other.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The environment is very well maintained, and kept safe through a system of internal safety checks and risk assessments. In addition, services such as electricity, electrical appliances and fire fighting equipment are regularly checked by the appropriate professional companies. Visitors to the home have their identification checked on arrival, and they are signed in and out. Consequently, young people live, and are cared for, in a safe environment, and are kept safe.

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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 well managed by the enthusiastic registered manager who is clear about his vision for the home, and keen to develop the expertise of his staff team. The registered person carries out comprehensive monthly monitoring visits, and the manager also has a comprehensive system of internal audits. There is a comprehensive development plan in place, and the manager seeks the views and expertise of others to shine a spotlight on the home, to ensure that it is operating to the highest standards. This strategic overview ensures that staff maintain high standards and any minor omissions are quickly identified and rectified.

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Leadership and management

Staff are very clear about their roles, and confirm that they are well-supported and valued by the manager. They are encouraged to use their initiative and explore alternative ways of working with the young people to engage them in developing new skills. For example, their specialist knowledge led to an excellent Indian food and cultural evening. Significant events are notified to the appropriate authorities in a timely manner and are appropriately managed. There is a clear, well written Statement of Purpose, which explains the aims and objectives of the home. Placing authorities are clear about the aims and objectives of the home and the services and facilities it provides. The young people are clear about the purpose of their placement in the home and future plans.

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Leadership and management

Although a relatively new staff team, they are working well together. Staff rotas show good staffing levels, which ensure that young people receive the levels of care that they need. Staff receive regular on-going training, and all staff are suitably qualified or working towards professional qualifications. The home is financially well resourced. Staff say that they receive regular, good quality supervision, and say that they are able to seek advice and support whenever necessary. This ensures a confident staff group who are able to meet the objectives of the care plans of the young people.

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Leadership and management

Care planning documents are excellent working documents that provide a good working format with sufficient detail, that are easy to use. All documentation is kept in a locked filing cupboard within a lockable office. The home is establishing good working relationships with the local community and other agencies, for example, the police.

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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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