Children's Home run by Oracle Care Limited in Staffordshire

Unique reference number SC368982 Inspection date 11/12/2012 Inspector Amanda Ellis Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 25/01/2012 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 is a privately owned children's home. The home provides care for up to three young people who may present with 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 home with many outstanding features. Young people benefit from good and effective care within this home. The care package includes the provider's education, social and therapeutic staff. This means young people receive a comprehensive approach to their care which is responsive to individual needs. A knowledgeable and skilled staff team support young people with all aspects of their development.

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Overall effectiveness

Consequently, outstanding quality of care means that outcomes for young people are significantly improved. Young people report they feel safe in this home and confirm that staff effectively manage unsafe situations and behaviours. Safeguarding practices are robust with staffing ratios adjusted according to need. Effective supervision of young people and good quality support from the staff and management team further ensure young people are kept safe.

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Overall effectiveness

Leadership and management arrangements are outstanding. Internal and external monitoring processes provide continuous quality assurance which maintains standards of care, while promoting the development of this service.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are involved in planning and reviewing their care. Care planning takes into account their views and diverse needs. However shortfalls identified at this inspection are in relation to seeking the views of young people and including them in some records.

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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 children communicate their views on all aspects of their care and support, with particular regard to the use of physical interventions and the use of sanctions. (NMS 1.3)

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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 and develop positively within this home. They develop attachments and form positive relationships with carers. Consistency and boundary setting further ensure young people benefit from stability of care. This results in promoting more positive and productive behaviour.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people achieve in education in relation to their starting points. The providers have their own school which is registered with the Department for Education. In addition they have effective links with alternative educational provision. This means young people receive individualised education and support. Young people’s attendance is supported by staff which means consistent education and improved outcomes.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people’s health and well-being are successfully promoted because the home provides an environment where their physical, psychological and emotional needs are met. For example, young people benefit from active lifestyles, nutritious diets and are taught the principles of healthy living. Staff work alongside a range of health care professionals which means young people benefit from a healthy lifestyle promoted by a skilled and knowledgeable staff team.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people receive appropriate support to maintain contact with family members and those of significance in their lives. The staff team collaborate with professionals and families to promote positive contact in line with arrangements agreed in individual care plans.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are well prepared for living independently. They benefit from the integration of life skills into the daily routines. In addition they take on responsibility for additional tasks, including gardening and car maintenance. They have opportunities to take driving lessons and some young people participate in schemes such as the Princes Trust. The acquisition of such life skills provides young people with improved outcomes when living independently.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding . Young people benefit from an outstanding quality of care at the home. A knowledgeable and skilled staff team demonstrate commitment to their work regardless of the challenging behaviours which young people may exhibit. Staff are proactive and creative in supporting young people. This includes regular meetings between the therapeutic, social and education teams to review each young person’s care package. This means the quality of care is responsive to individual needs and young people progress in all areas of their life.

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Quality of care

Young people say that they feel listened to. They understand that due consideration will be given to their requests. Staff provide clear explanations as to why these requests may not always be possible to act upon. The views of the young people influence the running of the home and the delivery of care. The consultation and participation of young people ensures they have opportunities to invest in their care and express choice.

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Quality of care

Care plans, placement plans, risk assessments and behaviour management plans are detailed and up to date. The providers have initiated a comprehensive integrated assessment for each young person produced by the multi-disciplinary team. This provides the wider staff team and the placing local authority with an informed analysis to aid care and intervention planning. The staff and management team have been responsive in working with professionals to amend care plans where it is identified that problematic behaviours require more intensive care provision. Regular reviews of plans ensure young people receive consistent care.

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Quality of care

The home provides a healthy environment which ensures young people access a range of services to meet their physical, psychological and emotional needs. The home has its own therapeutic service and works with the wider mental health service. The therapeutic team provide each young person with a very detailed leaving care assessment of need. This ensures the local authority has an informed analysis to support the young person’s eventual return to the community.

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Quality of care

Young people have opportunities to enjoy a wide range of leisure activities. Staff are very aware of the limitations for some young people to join in community groups due to the level of supervision required. However they continue to ensure that all young people are able to access suitable alternative activities. These opportunities support young people’s development with their social skills, self-esteem and a way to explore talents.

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Quality of care

The home is spacious, homely, well decorated and maintained. It provides the space for privacy and communal activity. All young people have chosen the décor of their bedrooms. Young people like their home, although find communal living stressful at times. Staff support young people to adjust to living away from families and work closely with young people to diffuse conflict.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is good at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe. There are good systems in place to promote the safety and welfare of young people. The skills, knowledge and experience of the team ensure that young people are kept safe and taught to keep themselves safe. This is underpinned by the implementation of extensive and individualised risk assessments, combined with robust policies and procedures. Young people are protected because of the safeguarding knowledge of the staff.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There have been some incidents of young people going missing from the home since the last inspection. A multi-agency response ensures that young people missing from care are quickly located and returned. Risks are minimised with staff support to young people upon their return to the home.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people state that they generally feel safe and secure living at this home. Staff effectively implements safeguarding procedures in circumstances where concerns have arisen. This includes working in partnership with external agencies, such as the police, youth justice, social workers and the local authority designated officer. This means risks are minimised to safeguard the welfare of young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There have been a number of physical restraints since the last inspection. Where restraint has occurred, incidents are recorded appropriately and staff involved are suitably trained. Challenging behaviour is generally managed through diversionary and de-escalation techniques, while positive behaviour is encouraged with reward and incentive schemes.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff employed to work in the home are required to undergo a rigorous selection process prior to taking up their positions. There have been no new staff members since the last inspection, with the exception of the new manager. Young people benefit from consistent care delivered by a stable staff team.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home is physically safe for the young people. Maintenance within the home is of a good standard, with staff implementing consistent monitoring and security to ensure the safety of young people.

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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

Young people benefit from a Registered Manager who is highly knowledgeable and dedicated. The management and staff team provide a child-centred quality of care to the young people in the home. The stability and support shared among the staff group means they have a strong investment in the care they provide to the young people.

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Leadership and management

There were no requirements made at the last inspection. One recommendation was made to ensure that all of the required information is provided in the children’s guide. This has been met. The manager continues to improve and develop the services further. The home demonstrates a strong capacity for continuing improvement based on its track record and performance since the last inspection. An example of this is the extensive and thorough development plan. This plan is informed by actions identified through quality assurance processes and identifies planned improvement in a wide range of areas. The development plan includes the participation and consultation of the young people.

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Leadership and management

Young people benefit from effective management and monitoring of the home. The manager undertakes rigorous routine monitoring activities, in addition to the independent monitoring visits by a senior member of the organisation. These processes clearly identify areas of potential improvement and set actions to ensure this improvement takes place. These systems ensure that young people receive a consistently high quality of care.

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Leadership and management

Management systems continue to be thorough and effective. Staff report feeling fully supported by the manager. They are positive about the management and leadership arrangements. Staff training is excellent with regular mandatory training and further specialist training. Supervision arrangements are consistent and rigorous in detail. Regular managers and staff meetings ensure care practice improvement throughout the home. Young people achieve good outcomes because of a highly effective staff team.

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Leadership and management

Young people's records are comprehensive, clear and contribute to a thorough understanding of the young person's life, experiences and plans for the future. Young people are encouraged to contribute to their case files; however their views are not consistently sought or recorded in relation to the use of restraint and sanctions. This means that young people cannot always comment or express their views on the impact of behaviour management strategies. Extensive care plans illustrate young people’s needs and plans to enable them fulfil their potential. All staff members fully understand and implement these plans. All records are stored securely thus ensuring confidentiality.

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Leadership and management

The manager has systems in place to notify relevant agencies, including Ofsted, of significant events to ensure the protection of young people by multi-agency decision making. These processes are implemented effectively when required.

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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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