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

Unique reference number SC385631 Inspection date 19/03/2013 Inspector Angus Mackay Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 11/07/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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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 full inspection, carried out on 11 July 2012, the home was judged as good. There were no requirements and five recommendations made for improvement. The home has successfully met two of these recommendations but has not fully or consistently met the other three recommendations leading to them being repeated. Consequently following this inspection there are three recommendations for improvement. The home has made satisfactory progress and young people confirm they enjoy living there and feel safe and well cared for. There is now a dedicated staff team in place. They benefit from receiving excellent support from senior managers and therapists ensuring continuity of care is provided to young people. The home has made significant improvements to the environment incorporating young people’s views into this process. In addition, a process has been devised to gather young people's views on staff performance. The home has

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Progress

successfully reduced high risk behaviours in young people, successfully engaging them in education and therapy. Since the last inspection the home has increased the number of young people who can be accommodated from three to four.

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Progress

Since the last inspection the Registered Manager has left and a new manager has completed the registration process with Ofsted. The newly appointed Registered Manager is currently on long term sickness absence. The absence is being covered appropriately by an experienced manager, ensuring continuity of care to the young people. The disruption to the staff team caused by these changes has been addressed by senior managers in the company. This is ensuring that staff are receiving appropriate support to allow them to provide good care to the young people. Staff say that supervision was previously poor but is now happening regularly and is helpful to their care role. Staff files show that supervision is now occurring regularly and addresses staff performance and safe care of young people in residence. The young people say that the changes in managers have not affected them and they continue to enjoy living in the home. Young people say the acting

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Progress

manager is good and they can talk to her about any issues they have. Staff say that issues with the rota and continuity of staffing have been addressed since the last inspection. Rotas show suitable staffing levels and provide a predictable working pattern for staff, although only two weeks were available during the inspection. Staff say that the manager is flexible and ensures that rotas meet the care needs of the young people and the personal needs of the staff team. The manager has a pro forma to gather young people’s comments on staff performance in their upcoming work appraisals. This process has yet to be implemented but allows young people to engage further in the management of their home.

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Progress

The home has consistently provided monitoring reports to Ofsted, using them to identify patterns in young people’s behaviour and in supports to staff. Previously some reports lacked sufficient analysis of available information to clearly evidence how effective staff interventions had been. Changes have been made to these reports, improving the quality of information presented and making good use of graphical displays, evidencing young people’s improving behaviours.

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Progress

Not all staff have commenced the level 3 Children & Young People’s Workforce Diploma, although all staff requiring this were enrolled on the next available course during the inspection. All staff have completed training in health and hygiene and in work with sexually active teenagers but have not yet completed training on health promotion and communicable diseases. Staff ensure that young people engage in positive health programmes including healthy eating and exercise. One young person said, ‘they do a lot of work about fitness for us, good eating and activity.’ All young people attend regular health appointments and live in a well maintained safe environment. Staff follow detailed guidance on environmental health ensuring young people learn good food preparation habits.

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Progress

All young people have highly detailed behavioural plans which guide staff interventions with them. This ensures that there are few restraints with some young people never being restrained. Several young people spoke with pride about their excellent behaviour and that they could resolve all of their issues verbally with staff. One young person added, ‘I think the rules are ok. Yes I know them all and would not change any, they keep you safe.’ Where restraint is used staff maintain detailed records of attempts to de-escalate the incident and of post incident debriefing of the young people. However following the restraint the young people have not consistently been offered the opportunity to be examined by a registered nurse or medical practitioner. There have been only three occasions where any of the young people have gone missing from the home, since the last inspection. Staff maintain a detailed record of

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Progress

all actions they take to persuade young people to remain and to support their safe return if they go missing. The record is maintained until the young person returns and receives appropriate support to address any issues they may have.

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Progress

Sanctions are appropriately used and are closely monitored by the manager. A new format for recording sanctions is due to be implemented and the revised log books were viewed during the inspection. These provide excellent guidance to staff on the revised sanctions procedure. Young people confirm that sanctions are generally fair, reasonable and linked to their behaviour. Where they disagree with them they can speak to the manager or their social workers which has resulted in changes to the original sanction.

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Progress

The home has created a new games room by converting the garage. This is a positive improvement providing increased leisure space for the enlarged home. Young people are positive about this change. The home has decorated the lounge and completely refurbished this area. Young people say they were involved in choosing the décor and in purchasing the furniture. Young people have their bedrooms personalised and say they love the home. One young person said, ‘The home is cool. I like the new games room and they talk to us about all the changes in the home. They do listen to us and take on our views like in the lounge.’ Social workers are very positive about the home, praising the progress young people make. Social workers say the home is very good at meeting the young person’s needs and care plan targets and involving young people in this. One young person said, ‘I am happy with my care plan and I know what I am expected to do. I have done really

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Progress

well here with help from staff.’ Social workers say that the home works closely with them ensuring good progress in education, health, family contacts and transition planning. Young people learn responsibility and decision making through their engagement in care planning, developments in the home and purchasing resources for the home.

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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 that where there has been a physical restraint children are always given the opportunity to be examined by a registered nurse or medical practitioner (NMS 3.16)  ensure all staff hold the level 3 Children and Young People's Workforce Diploma or be working towards it within 6 months of confirmation of employment (NMS 18.5)  ensure staff receive sufficient training on health and hygiene issues and first aid with particular emphasis on health promotion and communicable diseases. (NMS 6.9)

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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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