Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in East Riding of Yorkshire

Unique reference number SC460063 Inspection date 18/03/2013 Inspector Nicola McEvinney Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 11/03/2013 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 home is operated by a large private company. It is registered to provide care for up to six young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home has an independence flat adjacent to the home to enable young people to move into, in preparation for them living independently. There is also a training flat as part of the main building to support young people with their independence skills.

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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 key inspection following the homes registration.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people benefit from the care they receive from a committed, experienced staff team who offer a nurturing environment where young people do well. Care plans clearly set out their individual needs with good guidance on how these needs are to be met.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people feel safe and are safe. They consider that their views are heard and feel that they are well looked after; saying, ‘it’s awesome here’. They enjoy warm relationships with the staff that, as well as caring for them they have fun with.

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Overall effectiveness

The Registered Manager acknowledges the weaknesses identified in this inspection and has taken immediate steps to ensure that this does not happen again. She has a development plan in place which is regularly monitored to ensure the home progresses

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Overall effectiveness

Requirements and the recommendation identified during this inspection relate to the administration of medication, monitoring of the home, recording the outcome of doctor’s appointments and training for staff on the administration of medication.

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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) ensure any medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed (Regulation 21 (2)(b)) 30/04/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure details of any medical examination is included in young people's case records (Regulation 28 (1) Schedule 3. 22) 30/04/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure medication and medical treatment is monitored. (Regulation 34(1)(a) Schedule 6) 30/04/2013

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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 staff have relevant training to keep them up-to-date with practice developments with particular regard to the administration of medication. (NMS18.1)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for young people are adequate .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make good progress, some individuals who are admitted in a crisis situation have quickly settled into the home building their self-confidence and forming good attachments to staff. They consider that staff listen to them and have a say in how the home operates.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people enjoy good health; staff work with those individuals who are choosing to smoke by offering them incentives which is having a positive effect. The company psychologist is a regular visitor to the home and works with staff to support them to help young people with their emotional needs.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Some young people attend residential special school Monday to Friday. These individuals have benefitted immensely from this arrangement having excellent attendance and are achieving well. There is close liaison between the home and school to ensure a consistent approach is maintained to manage behaviours. However, other young people are receiving their education on site which does not promote the social elements of school attendance; neither does it ensure young people engage with a full programme of education. None-the-less, staff are vigilant in trying to engage these young people in educational activities and provide, as far as possible stimulating opportunities to occupy their day. Young people enjoy engaging in activities within the community, for example they use the local fishing ponds. Young people clearly see this as their home and in that regard have pride in ensuring it is well maintained. They are involved in maintenance

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Outcomes for children and young people

tasks around the home and are building a chicken coop with the intention of keeping chickens. They prepare meals and are supported with their laundry. This enables them to learn skills that will help them to make a successful transition to adulthood.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit by having very clear contact arrangements set out in their care plan. Those contacts that require to be supervised are well managed to ensure that this is enjoyable and constructive for all concerned. Staff are proactive in liaising with sibling’s carers to ensure young people maintain relationships with all family members.

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Quality of care

Young people enjoy good relationships with the staff team. They have learnt tolerance, leading to mutually beneficial relationships with one-another enabling them to participate in joint activities.

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from ensuring that their wishes and feelings are sought in all aspects of their care. For example, on admission they discuss their likes and dislikes in respect of food and other topics; they are encouraged to participate in house meetings and choose their room décor and they are consulted over what activities they wish to participate in. Young people fully participate in their childcare reviews by completing a questionnaire and attend these meetings. Staff work hard to help young people understand issues that are impacting on their life, particularly with regard to their behaviours.

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Quality of care

Young people know how to make a complaint and are confident that issues raised will be dealt with to their satisfaction. Complaints are handled promptly and sensitively.

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from accessing a range of services to help meet their needs. For example, the company’s psychologist offers guidance and support to the staff team to help them manage some of the behaviours young people present. There is good liaison with social workers who are very positive about the care the young people receive in the home.

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Quality of care

Shortfalls were found in the recording and administration of medication. For example, a course of antibiotics was curtailed, but there was no record that the doctor had given this instruction; young people were not administered their medication according to their prescription. This does not ensure that the medication is effective.

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Quality of care

Young people enjoy participating in a range of enjoyable activities. For example, they go fishing, walking, cycling, the cinema and swimming. The home has extensive grounds and areas are being developed to enable young people to participate in a horticultural project with the aim of growing their own produce. They also intend to keep chickens. Staff bring in their dogs and the young people have fun taking them out for a walk.

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from having their individual identity promoted. The staff support them by raising their awareness on a range of diversity issues. For example, gay pride days, exploring different ethnicities, cultures and religions. This helps to instil tolerance and understanding.

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Quality of care

This is a large detached house set in its own grounds. It is well maintained and decorated to a good standard creating a homely environment for young people.

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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 confirm that they feel safe and are safe. They are protected by staff’s prompt response in addressing any bullying behaviours.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Due to the good relationships the staff have with the young people there are no incidents of them going missing or indulging in risk taking behaviours. However, individual protocols are in place to advise staff what action should be taken in the event of one of them not returning to the home when expected.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people benefit from the staff’s approach to behaviour management. Each young person has an individual crisis management plan. These plans identify possible triggers to unwanted behaviours with strategies in place to manage them. The plans are drawn up with the young person to enable them to have a voice in how they wish to be supported. Young people respond well to the consistent approach provided and parents have commented on the improvement in their children’s behaviour. A small number of restraints are recorded; these are appropriate and generally a guiding action to prevent escalation. Staff have reviewed the use of sanctions and use a restorative approach which is much more effective for the young people as it helps to instil a sense of being responsible for their actions.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The organisation has a robust approach to staff recruitment to ensure that only suitable people are employed.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are safeguarded by the staff’s good understanding of their responsibility in ensuring any safeguarding issues are dealt with appropriately. There are good links with the local safeguarding board who they will liaise with as necessary.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There is no police involvement with the home and young people do not get involved in criminal activity. Staff have forged good links with the local police community officers who support the young people, advising them on bicycle security and security coding their bikes. This helps young people to foster good relationships with the police.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are protected by risk assessments for the premises, activities and behaviours which identify potential dangers with strategies in place to minimise the risk. All essential health and safety checks are carried out ensuring the safety of everyone

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are adequate .

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Leadership and management

This is the first inspection since the home has been re-registered as it has recently been taken over by a large organisation. The newly appointed manager has recently registered with Ofsted. She has commenced a Diploma in Leadership and Management. Staff feel well supported by the open approach of the Registered Manager.

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Leadership and management

The home has yet to submit a Statement of Purpose to Ofsted that clearly reflects what services the home has to offer.

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Leadership and management

Social workers speak highly of the care young people receive; they consider that staff have a good understanding of their needs.

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Leadership and management

A development plan has been produced setting out how the home is to develop in the coming year; this is reviewed monthly to ensure it is on target.

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Leadership and management

There are monitoring systems in place to oversee how the home is operating. However, this monitoring did not pick up on the shortfalls identified in the administration of medication.

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Leadership and management

Young people are looked after by a sufficient number of staff who provide a caring and nurturing environment and meet their needs. All staff have attained the Children & Young People’s Workforce Diploma or equivalent or are registered on this qualification. There are good training opportunities for staff to enable them to support young people on a range of issues. However, the team have not had the benefit of training in the safe administration of medication.

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Leadership and management

Young people benefit from living in a well maintained home with all health and safety requirements met.

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Leadership and management

There were some minor omissions in young people’s records; however this was rectified during the inspection.

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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 the inspection of children's homes.

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