Children's Home run by Channels and Choices Limited in Kent

Unique reference number SC408584 Inspection date 14/01/2013 Inspector Angus Mackay Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 15/05/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The home is registered to provide care to up the three young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties. Education in line with the national curriculum is available at an external school maintained by the home. The home is run by a partnership company.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

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Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making good progress .

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Progress

At the last full inspection, carried out on 15 May 2012, the home was judged as good. There were six requirements and four recommendations for improvement. The home has successfully addressed all of the requirements and recommendations that were set. In addition the home has made good progress by making improvements to the environment in consultation with the young people, improving the safe handling issuing and disposal of medication, enhancing young people’s engagement in understanding issues of culture and diversity and improving the quality of discussion in young people’s meetings.

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Progress

The home has made good progress since the last inspection and there are no requirements or recommendations following this inspection. Young people, their family and social workers say that staff are good at meeting their personal and cultural needs. One social worker stressed that this is done in consultation with the young person, ‘They are good at meeting his cultural needs and in doing that they do not force anything on him but help him to do what he wants.’ Staff keyworking with young people is structured by the manager to cover a wide list of topics. This is used to broaden young people’s awareness of society, diversity and issues of difference and disadvantage. Young people work with staff on topics linked to keyworking and cultural evenings to enhance their understanding of their own and others cultural backgrounds. Young people show little interest in their religion but staff engage in discussions with them about all religions. The home has good visual

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Progress

displays which stimulate discussions about different religious festivals and celebrations which young people incorporate into project books. Staff assist young people to attend places of worship when they request it allowing them choice and support in following their religion.

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Progress

Young people trust the staff and talk enthusiastically about the home and how well staff care for them, one young person saying, ‘the staff help me to work through problems if I have any.’ And another saying, ‘The staff are nice, kind, hard working. If we are upset staff listen to us. I would talk to any of them.’ Staff and young people interact well and display warmth and affection towards each other. Staff are enthusiastic about their work and interact well with young people. The home is pleasantly furnished, well decorated and maintained. One member of staff described it, appropriately, as homely and young people say it is, ‘nice, relaxing, chilling, calming and just lovely.’ Young people confirm that staff involve them in choices about furniture décor and making improvements. One young person said that he is involved in improving the garden working with staff to make it look nicer. This engagement fosters a sense of ownership and belonging in the young people who

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Progress

On being asked to describe staff in the home young people said they are, ‘nice, caring, helpful, trustworthy, friendly, funny adventurous, active and they play games. Generally they are very nice, just lovely’ The manager is described by one young person as nice but strict. Young people have a weekly meeting which allows them to contribute to the running of the home including choice in meals. The meeting explores issues of respect and safety in detail and seeks evidence of understanding from the young people. The staff and young people record these meetings in great detail and they provide excellent evidence of the views of the young people and their clear understanding of a range of diverse issues including fire safety, bullying and how to make a complaint.

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Progress

The home works well with outside agencies and positively engages with health, police and fire brigade staff in work with young people. Young people develop a positive view of these services through this engagement. Social workers say that communication is excellent and that staff are always friendly and welcoming. One external social worker detailed excellent support provided by staff following up on difficult behaviours presented by a young person. Young people have made good progress in the home leading to positive outcomes. One social described excellent work done with one young person leading to a great improvement in emotional stability and the achievement of the placement goals. Improvements in young people’s behaviour have improved family contacts leading to increases in unsupervised time for young people.

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Progress

There are very few restraints and when these occur staff note all interventions employed prior to any physical intervention. Young people’s files contain a very detailed guide to staff on triggers to different behaviours and how to engage positively with young people in a range of situations. Staff employ these techniques and skills developed in training with the home’s psychoanalyst, to de-escalate incidents reducing the number of restraints.

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Progress

The manager and acting manager provide good leadership to the staff team. The manager monitors and evaluates the conduct of the home sending copies of their reports to HMCI on a regular basis. This monitoring incorporates feedback from, young people, social workers and families evidencing their involvement in commenting on the running of the home. The manager regularly reviews the Statement of Purpose ensuring it accurately reflects the current practice and establishment of the home. Copies of the revised document are promptly forwarded to HMCI. These measures provide additional safeguards for young people and evidence their progress and engagement in the home.

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Progress

Staff are confident in the managers and say that supervision and training is good. One member of staff said, ‘supervision is a proper process and people listen to me and take my suggestions on board. It is regular and is a useful process.’ Staff have undertaken on line training related to infection control following the last inspection. To further safeguard young people staff have completed training in working with sexually active young people and have on-going training, from the community health trust, in sexual health for young people. These measures assist staff promotion of healthy lifestyles and in providing a consistent message to young people. Staff maintain children's files excellently ensuring they contain all relevant information necessary to provide safe care to the young people. All files contain up to date education information including attainment levels and progress reports to allow staff

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Progress

to address any issues of attendance or performance with the school and the young person.

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Progress

Young people feel safe within the home. Safety and security is enhanced by rigorous checking of visitor’s identity and accurate recording of all visitors to the home. Fire safety has been improved by the addition of door closures and modifications to the fire safety procedures agreed at the last inspection. Young people discuss fire hazards in their weekly meeting and the home work positively with the fire brigade raising young people’s awareness of fire risk. The home has shared the safeguarding procedures with the local safeguarding board and modified them following feedback, enhancing the safe care of the young people. All staff are trained in their use and apply this in their practice. The manager has revised the recording and issuing of medication in consultation with the local chemist. The new system ensures that medication recording is more standardised and there is a safe process for the receipt

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Progress

of new medication and disposal of old medication. These measures minimise the risk of incorrect issuing of medication to young people.

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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 progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection.

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