Children's Home run by Archways Care Limited in Worcestershire

Unique reference number SC383941 Inspection date 07/02/2013 Inspector Elizabeth Barrett Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 21/06/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This is a privately-owned children's home for four young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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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 satisfactory progress .

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Progress

At the last inspection in June 2012 the overall quality rating of the service was judged as good, with one requirement and three recommendations made to improve the provision. This home has met the requirement and recommendations set and has made satisfactory progress since the last inspection.

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Progress

This service has an up to date Statement of Purpose and children’s guide in place. The Registered Manager is continuing to review both documents to ensure they are compliant with regulatory requirements and reflect the current practices of the home.

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Progress

The home has introduced a new in-house placement plan that is personalised by young people. Young people are supported to set future targets and identify areas of progress. The manager monitors and reviews these plans to ensure the service is effectively meeting individual needs. Young people are consulted through weekly meetings and are encouraged to chair and minute each session. In addition, the home has introduced a ‘suggestion box’ for young people to comment, confidentially, on areas of practice and improvements to the home. This means that young people are provided with regular opportunities to communicate their views on all aspects of their care and support.

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Progress

The home provides information to young people on national advocacy services, such as visiting advocates and independent representation services for looked after young people. Additionally, the home has access to an advocate through the local authority. The young person's handbook contains contact details for these services and young people have access to a separate phone which means young people can make calls in private to discuss any problems or concerns.

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Progress

Most young people continue to achieve positive outcomes while living in this home. Progress is made in relation to their educational attainment. For example, individuals have increased their grade levels in all key subject areas with other young people studying towards academic qualifications and participating in work experience opportunities. Most young people are making good progress in relation to managing their behaviours because they are building appropriate relationships with core staff. Progress is also made with family contacts and the development of social and life skills. Staff promote and encourage young people to practice and learn skills relating to their transitions. This means that young people are growing in confidence and self-esteem and maximising their learning opportunities in preparation for future placements and adulthood.

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Progress

Following the last inspection this service has experienced a significant change to structure of the company and management of the home. In addition, there have been staff vacancies and changes to young people living in the home. Every effort has been made to ensure continuity of staffing; the manager and deputy manager have provided regular shift cover to a core group of staff. The provider has recently completed a process of recruiting staff; however, there has been a delay in the deployment of a sufficient number of competent and experienced staff in the home. This can overly disrupt young people's attachments by affecting the continuity of care provided and the home’s ability to meet young people's placement needs. Therefore, a statutory requirement and a recommendation is made to reinforce the importance of recruiting staff in a timely manner and to ensure the home can effectively meet the needs of young people at all times.

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Progress

While most young people have progressed well in developing appropriate coping strategies a minority of young people display difficult and risky behaviours. This can affect the stability of the home and the welfare of other young people and staff. There has been an increase in episodes of violence towards staff which has resulted in higher levels of physical restraint. The managers are addressing these concerns through the implementation of a contingency plan.

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Progress

Records of physical interventions demonstrate that they are not always made appropriately and details of any methods used to avoid the use of restraint and the duration of restraint are not being consistently recorded. A statutory requirement and recommendation is made to improve the recording of restraints and to ensure staff are supported to understand and manage challenging behaviour effectively.

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Progress

The home’s manager has implemented an action plan to address transitional matters in the home such as maintaining and updating young people's records and the development of the newly formed staff team. The home has established systems in place to monitor the outcomes being achieved for young people, which include monthly visits from an independent visitor. Reports produced recognise the difficulties experienced by this service in recent months and acknowledge that improvements are being made to ensure a good quality of care is provided to young people.

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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

17B (2001) ensure that within 24 hours of the use of any measure of restraint, a written record is made which include details of the duration of the measure of restraint, and of any methods used to avoid the need to use that measure (Regulation 17B (4)(a)(b)) 29/03/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that there is at all times having regard to the number and needs of the children, and to safeguard and promote the health and welfare of children accommodated in the home, a sufficient number of suitably qualified, competent and experienced persons working at the children's home (Regulation 25.1 (a)(b)) 15/04/2013

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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 home has a clear policy on managing behaviour which includes supporting positive behaviour, de-escalation of conflicts, discipline, control and restraint, that all staff understand, and are trained to apply at all times (NMS 3.3)  ensure the children's home only provides admission to children whose assessed needs they can reasonably expect to meet, particularly in relation to maintaining the continuity and quality of care, provided in the home at all times (NMS 11.2)

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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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