Children's Home run by Little Acorns London Beach Farm Limited in Kent

Unique reference number SC023651 Inspection date 14/02/2013 Inspector Karen Malcolm Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 12/11/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This children's home provides care for up to eight children, aged between four and under 15 years. The home only accepts admissions under the age of 10 years. The home caters for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties who have a wide range of needs which can be best met in a therapeutic style community.

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Brief description of the service

The home's independent school operates from two classrooms within the grounds. The provider of this service also operates another children's home and other provision for adults with mental health and learning 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

This children’s home was judged as adequate at the full inspection in November 2012, and three requirements and seven recommendations for improvement were made. In the three months since the last visit all requirements and six of the seven recommendations have been met. The recommendation not fully met relates to existing care staff attaining a minimum level three qualification. The progress made at this inspection is satisfactory with good outcomes for children and young people.

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Progress

Since December 2012 the Registered Manager has been off sick. Ofsted has been notified of this and of the interim management arrangements. Management cover is provided by the deputy manager who receives support and guidance from the Registered Individual. At the time of this inspection the home was fully occupied. Although the home maintains various records of admission information, there is no central register on site that includes the numbers of children and young people who had moved into the home and who have left the home.

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Progress

The Statement of Purpose has been reviewed and revised, and now includes the age-range, sex and numbers of children for whom the home provides accommodation to. The document is comprehensive, clear and accessible. Therefore, prospective children and young people and their representatives now have all the information they need to make an informed choice on whether the home will meet their needs.

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Progress

Records pertaining to physical intervention have been reviewed and now comply with the regulations. The home has implemented a system to monitor patterns and trends of behaviour. The graphs reflect significant incidents, such as challenging behaviour and physical restraint. This helps to identify triggers for behaviours and informs each individual’s care planning. The managing behaviour policy now includes other positive intervention strategies that can be used to support a child or young person. The numbers of incidents relating to physical intervention over the last three months have decreased. This is due to the home adopting a positive approach to any challenging behaviours that may arise. Children and young people are also given the opportunity to make a complaint or comment following a physical intervention and these comments are recorded. Further discussions are followed up in key working sessions to reflect and explore strategies that may help in a similar situation. Young

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Progress

people stated this was a positive approach and found the discussion a good way forward. However, the only drawback, according to the young people, is when a sanction is imposed. They understand why a sanction may be given, but they found it hard when their favourite activity was withdrawn for a limited period.

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Progress

Monitoring visits undertaken by an independent visitor now include evidence of discussions with children, young people and staff. Children and young people spoken to stated that a visitor does come to the home sometimes. They are asked to give feedback on how they feel and whether or not they are happy in the home. The Regulation 34 format has been reviewed and is due at the end of February 2013. The annual development plan has also been reviewed. This has a clear focus on improvement, for example, there is a proposal to upgrade the front door and re- decorate some parts of the home. Along with this, the safeguarding policy and procedures now have guidance on what action is to be taken if an allegation is made against a member of staff.

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Progress

It was recommended that environmental risk assessments of the whole children’s home were carried out to identify any potential sources of harm to the children; these are now in place.

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Progress

Young people spoken to were positive about the home. They graded the home as 10 out of 10 because they felt the home was a fun place, due to the staff being friendly and they felt that since moving into the home they have changed. Staff were also positive about the support they receive and how well the children and young people have moved on from their starting points. They rated the home as eight and half out of 10, they felt there was room for improvement.

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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

(2001) maintain in the children’s home the records specified in Schedule 4 and ensure they are kept up to date; this is with specific reference to keeping a record in the form of a register showing in respect of each child accommodated in the home the details listed on Schedule 4 1 (a) to (f) (Regulation Schedule 4 29(1)) 31/03/2013

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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 all existing care staff have attained a minimum level 3 qualification. All new staff engaged from the commencement of the NMS (in April 2011) are to hold the level 3 Children & Young People's Workforce Diploma which must include mandatory social care units; or be working towards the Diploma within 6 months of confirmation of employment (NMS 18.5)

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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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