Children's Home run by Reflexion Care Group Limited in Shropshire

Unique reference number SC366107 Inspection date 12/04/2013 Inspector Robert Hewston Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 17/12/2012 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 private company that has several similar homes in this area. Care and accommodation are provided for up to three young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and may also have learning disabilities. The company has its own school for children not attending mainstream education and also has its own therapy team.

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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 outstanding .

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Overall effectiveness

The home is making a positive difference to young people's lives and provides them with the tools and opportunities to achieve positive outcomes. Overall this home provides outstanding outcomes for young people; this is particularly noted in relationships with staff and keeping young people safe. Care is personalised and takes account of the individual needs of each young person. They benefit from the familiar surroundings and a strong team of staff.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are encouraged to identify their ambitions and are stimulated to achieve these. Staff access a varied range of community activities and social groups for young people and as a result, they experience improved self-confidence and self- esteem. Priority is given to helping young people develop their sense of self-worth and to help them to maximise their educational and personal development. Young people’s diverse needs are met because they are supported by an experienced and well-trained staff team.

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Overall effectiveness

The home has excellent relationships with partner agencies who work creatively and imaginatively to ensure young people explore and positively address their complex needs. Young people are encouraged to identify their individual preferences and are stimulated to achieve these. In turn, they develop a personal awareness that facilitates a greater understanding of how their experiences can influence their plans and transitions to alternative placements. The home demonstrates its on-going capacity for continuous improvement. Informative development plans and rigorous monitoring systems confirm the excellent quality of care and how this maximises positive outcomes for young people.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for young people are outstanding .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people receive outstanding care from a provision that places them at the heart of all they do. Exceptional levels of care and support from very experienced and motivated staff enable young people to maximise their individual potential. Social workers say the outcomes for young people's education, contact and safety have, 'vastly improved’. Also that, ‘Excellent contact arrangements and support, mean young people feel happy and settled.' The staff team has high aspirations for young people and provide incentives, motivation and encouragement. Young people explained, ‘It feels right to live here, for the first time I can see the future being bright and safe.’ They enjoy positive relationships with the staff group, based upon mutual respect and positive regard; this helps them to improve their self-image and build up their emotional resilience. As a result, young people develop confidence in their own abilities, improve their self-esteem and make personal choices in relation

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people's behaviour has improved dramatically since living at the home. For example, young people who have a history of offending behaviour have not become involved in criminal activities. Young people have significantly decreased the number of times they go missing. Young people's involvement with education has improved since living at the home. This is a strength of the service. Young people stated ‘Before coming here I was not attending any education, was on a two to one staff and always damaging the house.' Another said, 'Staff treat you like adults, give you support to achieve in getting exams and seeing a brighter future.’ Young people who have left education, are engaged in either full time work or in voluntary work in the local community. Young people stated, ‘It makes me want to achieve as much as I can. To be successful I need to understand how to get on in the community and to become independent.’

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Outcomes for children and young people

Comprehensive procedures are in place for young people's health and medication. Staff training and very clear record maintenance ensure correct management of all medication and protect young people’s safety. All staff are trained in basic first aid as well as in specific medical conditions relating to the young people. Young people explained how they felt more supported and safe knowing staff had the skills to assist in any medical emergency.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are very aware of their own health care needs. They confidently take responsibility for the administration of some medication and ensure they have sufficient supplies when on contact visits. Young people are generally fit and well and enjoy a range of sporting activities. They eat much more healthily and some relish the opportunities to cook for themselves and others. They are developing an excellent understanding of potential health risks and are mainly choosing not to take part in behaviour that affects their health. A young person said they know the dangers of smoking and did give up, but unfortunately started again. They say they will try again, but now is not the right time. However, they have reduced the amount that they smoke.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people form meaningful attachments with staff. They value the time to talk to their key workers, care staff and other support workers. Young people are encouraged to express their views, feelings and wishes. They are listened to when they make complaints. Young people believe they can have an impact on their futures. They are fully involved in their placement plans, attending meetings, preparing for independence and know what job they would like to do. Review minutes show the detail the staff and young people contribute towards these meetings. All young people spoken to felt they did have a positive impact on their future plans and felt extremely well supported by the staff team within the home. One example is how young people have felt the staff advocating for them on the arrangements to supportive lodging, supporting them in meetings and being able to put their opinions across in a positive manner.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people who have experienced significant disruption in their childhood and present complex behaviours grow in self-confidence. They develop emotional resilience as they build meaningful relationships and an understanding of their backgrounds. The extremely competent staff team have successfully created a nurturing environment that has well-defined boundaries, but remains both homely and supportive. Staff provide excellent patient support to young people to help them to spend time with others, take part in challenging character-building activities and cope with their anxiety in social situations. As a result, young people appear more relaxed, more sociable, more confident and happier.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff work closely with families in line with placement plans. Likewise, any restrictions are clearly recorded. Young people speak positively of the support they are given by staff to ensure that contact goes ahead. For example, staff provide a welcoming atmosphere within the home for young people to bring their friends or family. Young people are supported to understand emotional responses they may be feeling in relation to living away from family. In this way young people are encouraged to develop a positive self-view and emotional resilience.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people have considerable opportunities to explore their potential. They learn and grow in maturity because they are supported to prepare for independent living and receive good practical guidance. Some young people are further ahead in understanding the importance of independent skills than others. Individual plans which are discussed and written with the young people, do identify the young person's goals and potential accomplishments within time scales that enable young people to achieve these goals. Young people are very confident and proud of their abilities to budget, cook and attend appointments and interviews. Young people are also supported to explore how they see themselves and relate to others. Young people positively look forward to maturing into valuable young adults in society.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

Young people receive an outstanding quality of care in this home. They benefit from a highly competent, well-organised and motivated Registered Manager and staff team, who are passionate about meeting their needs. The innovation and commitment of the staff creates an environment that is nurturing and developmental, with well-defined structures which enable young people to feel safe and develop. Young people build successful attachments with staff and it is through these trusting and caring relationships that they achieve significantly positive outcomes and prepare for their future lives.

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Quality of care

Young people clearly benefit from a competent and able staff team who genuinely care about the young people in the home. Some young people have very difficult and challenging behaviours that can affect their relationships. However, this does not discourage staff from providing good quality care with clear boundaries. Young people spoken to stated, `I didn't really trust anyone when I first came. I had been in different foster homes and children's home and all of them got rid of me. I have been, at times, extremely difficult and hurt staff. The difference here is they talk to you, make you start to understand what you are doing is wrong, but also give you help in trying to control the anger inside. I feel you can trust these staff and they really want the best for you.' Consequently, young people are thriving in a stable, nurturing and supportive environment.

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Quality of care

Young people receive full staff support to attend and achieve in their education. Staff talk proudly of the impressive steps made by young people in relation to their educational attendance and personal achievements. Young people are keen to discuss their achievements in education and their aspirations for the future. Young people benefit from excellent health care that focuses on meeting their holistic health needs. Health care objectives are constantly reviewed to ensure young people have access to various medical professionals, including the provider's suitably trained therapist. Young people are provided with a variety of activities that encourage physical exercise and a well-balanced and healthy diet. This ensures young people receive appropriate and continuous personalised support in relation to their health and well-being.

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Quality of care

Information about how to complain is displayed in the home and can be accessed via the young people’s guide. It is also discussed in key working sessions. Observations and discussions with the young people confirmed how any concerns are immediately listened to, taken seriously and resolved quickly. Young people commented, ‘Always can say what you think in key working meetings, around the dinner table, don't need to make a complaint;' ‘Feel staff always deal with problems quickly and never feel I need to contact anyone about the home or staff.' Young people are very keen to let visitors know that staff, ‘Do not put an act on for visitors, they don't need to and anyway you would know if it was false.' Ultimately, young people enjoy extremely positive relationships with staff which enables them to make excellent progress in all aspects of their lives. Individual care plans are reflective of all aspects of each young person’s needs,

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Quality of care

including their cultural, religious and gender characteristics. For example, young people confirmed their engagement in their placement plan and the adaptability and flexibility to review and change the plan if required. This has assisted in young people being self-motivated in returning back from leave, attending their education provision and completing the independence programme. Young people commented, ‘I feel for the first time involved in my future, I know what staff write about me and I do have a big say in my future.’ This is demonstrated in the individual achievements by the young people. For example, young people have managed to keep full time employment as well as attending a night school course. Other young people are achieving well in education and have just completed their mock GCSE exams. Staff are extremely proactive at resolving issues which may be a barrier to young people's learning, such as their behaviour. Young people acknowledge this and the action

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Quality of care

they have taken to reduce any reoccurrence. They say, 'I know I let them and me down, but I am not going there again, I’ve worked so hard to get to where I am now and I'm not going to let it go down again.’

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Quality of care

Staff knowledge about each young person’s profile is key to responding to the young people’s needs and developing their identities and self-esteem. Staff use one-to-one discussion, incentive charts, a range of activities and direct work to engage young people. The young people’s care is contemporary and meaningful because there is excellent assessment and review of plans. Young people are a key part of this process.

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Quality of care

Staff are proactive in supporting young people to understand their cultural background and personal identity. They are encouraged to respect the diversity of others and embrace different cultures through key sessions, education and celebrations. There is also diversity within the staff team providing young people with a range of suitable role models and support. This means that young people benefit from fair and equal opportunities in both living and daily care planning regardless of their differences.

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Quality of care

Young people are offered stimulating and exciting opportunities to take part in activities although they do not always avail themselves of these. Nevertheless, staff design these carefully and specifically to stimulate and broaden young people's horizons through maximising the opportunities for them to positively engage in healthy and/or community-based activities.

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Quality of care

The home is appropriately located, within easy reach of local facilities, and is well maintained. Staff have consulted with young people on the internal decoration of the home. Young people are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms and are involved in choosing decoration. There is a pleasant atmosphere in the home. Staff ensure they apply a good level of privacy by respecting young people’s needs for time alone and always knock on bedroom doors.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is good at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe. Young people are wholeheartedly encouraged by staff to take responsibility for their behaviour in a way that is appropriate to their age and abilities. They say that they feel very safe in the home and demonstrate a good awareness about how the staff promote their safety. Young people are supported to develop socially acceptable behaviour that focuses on building on their individual strengths. Consequentially, young people’s engagement in risk taking behaviours has dramatically decreased.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Innovative and creative practice helps young people manage their emotions and feelings and carefully balances young people's vulnerabilities and safeguarding risks. For example, through discussions with young people, social workers, parents and staff, young people are given free time to spend with their friends within the local areas. These are always robustly risk assessed but have showed a decrease in young people going missing and have reduced any offending behaviour. Young people spoken to stated, `At first I was not allowed any free time and felt trapped and did cause damage and behaved poorly towards the staff. Now I have a choice, feel listened too and treated more like an adult. It's different and in some ways I want to spend more time in the home and with staff.’

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff are creative in enabling young people to explore and understand the triggers and strategies for improving behaviour. Through one-to-one sessions with staff young people understand how to reflect and share their thoughts can enable them to manage episodes of conflict and to challenge appropriately. One excellent example was observed on how young people have the use of an outside shed. This allows young people to follow their hobbies as well as a place to be quiet and reflect on their feelings. Young people stated, ‘I use the shed to just get some time away, staff understand my feelings and do come in and discuss issues that may be bugging me.’ Other young people commented on how they use the local gym to manage their anger and how staff just seem to know when they are feeling down or upset.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff receive regular and wide-ranging training in safeguarding. As a result, they demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the action they should take if they have any concerns about a young person's safety or well-being. A staff member commented; 'The training has been in-depth and immense. Has helped me straight away to start to understand young people's needs, especially ensuring their safety. This also includes reviewing behaviour plans, keeping up to date with risk management assessments and new reward systems.’ Effective working with external partners, such as the Local Authority Designated Officer, means that the staff’s knowledge and understanding of child protection are continually being developed.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The episodes when young people are missing from care have reduced. Clear boundaries are set and included in each young person's behaviour management plans. Staff are aware of these plans and follow them consistently. The home has appropriate systems in place to protect young people should they go missing. The home follows the local authority’s policy on young people missing from care and implements this in accordance with a young person’s risk assessment and care plan. Staff are very open with young people about the procedures they need to follow if this occurs and commendable efforts are made by staff to discourage young people from going missing. On the occasions a young person has gone missing it has not been overnight and regular contact either through mobile phones or visiting young people's friends has been kept up. Social workers confirmed they are kept up to date about any young person going missing and also about the discussions and actions in

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Safeguarding children and young people

place to ensure young people remain safe at all times. Through effective monitoring of the incidents, the Registered Manager and staff team develop a clear understanding of the reasons why young people do go missing and take positive action to address patterns of behaviour.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home has a vigorous health and safety regime which ensures that all fire precautions, drills and equipment servicing are conducted routinely, consistently and within timescales set by the relevant regulations. Good staffing levels further help to keep young people safe and reduce any risk of harm. The organisation’s effective recruitment procedures ensure the careful selection, recruitment and retention of staff. New staff are comprehensively vetted prior to their deployment in the home and before having unsupervised access to any young person. This ensures young people are safe and have a staff team who know them well.

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Leadership and management

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

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Leadership and management

The Registered Manager and staff team deliver an outstanding level of care for young people. The home is effectively and efficiently managed and the manager constantly communicates high expectations to the whole staff team and gives young people, their families and placing authority’s comprehensive information about the services offered by the home. The home is well-resourced, indicating the financial viability of the provider. The staff treat young people with the utmost respect and dignity and support them in overcoming significant and complex issues. Staff are held accountable for their performance and their individual development needs are identified through regular professional supervisions. This means they are able to reflect upon their performance and consider ways of further enhancing this.

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Leadership and management

The home has a development plan and the Registered Manager is able to evidence developments that have taken place in the home and how these have had a positive impact on young people. For example, behaviour plans, incentive charts and key working sessions have been reviewed to show the input young people have in these decisions. All young people spoken to, spoke highly of their involvement within these plans and achievable targets.

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Leadership and management

Staff work efficiently as a team and report feeling very well supported in their role. Staff regularly receive comprehensive training, supervision and appraisal, which enables them to explore their feelings about their role. Staff commented, ‘The training and support from the managers is the best I've ever had. The training gives you an in depth understanding of young people's needs. Managers understand the importance of building a good team spirit and try to ensure we remain in this home and not cover for other homes within the company.’ Regular team meetings focus on meeting young people's needs, improving the care staff offer and mutually supporting the staff team.

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Leadership and management

All significant events relating to the protection of young people accommodated in the home are notified by the registered person to the appropriate authorities and appropriate action is taken following the incident. This ensures the safety of young people. The staff in this home have a clear sense of purpose and fully implement the home's Statement of Purpose. They understand the ethos and aims of the home and communicate these effectively to others, including children and young people's families. This clear sense of purpose provides a solid foundation for the outstanding work undertaken in the home.

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Leadership and management

Senior managers routinely monitor practice and support staff. Efficient levels of monitoring ensure accountable practice in physical interventions and strategies to manage behaviours. Effective, robust, independent visits further monitor care practices and overall measures ensure care remains consistently successful.

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Leadership and management

The Registered Manager ensures that the staffing levels are sufficient in the home and adapts the rota in order to meet the individual needs of the young people. The home has a diverse staff group that uses staff’s individual experiences to develop young people's knowledge. The strength of the home is the enthusiastic, competent and consistent staff team that is totally committed to putting the best interests of the young people at the heart of their work, enabling them to provide outstanding care and support.

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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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