Children's Home run by Island Choices Ltd in Isle of Wight

Unique reference number SC399866 Inspection date 08/04/2013 Inspector David Coulter Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 20/11/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The children's home registered for up to four young people, including those with learning difficulties of either gender. The home is owned by a private limited company.

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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 good .

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Overall effectiveness

Since the last inspection of the home, a number of young people have successfully moved on. The home continues to provide care to an extremely vulnerable group of young people, a number of whom have complex needs and can display challenging behaviours. Some of the current residents have experienced a number of placement breakdowns before arriving at the home. They are now settled; have formed meaningful relationships with staff and respond positively to the home’s clear and consistently applied boundaries. This represents extremely good progress from their starting points on admission to the home.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff reinforce positive behaviour and success is recognised and celebrated. An excellent placement planning system ensures that the progress of each young person is regularly monitored. Young people indicated that they are happy in the home; with the level of staff support they receive; with their accommodation and the quality and quantity of food provided.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff are well-motivated and are led by an experienced and focused manager. Safeguarding practice underpins all aspects of the home’s approach. Staff are proactive in working with young people and are effective in helping them develop strategies to keep themselves safe.

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Overall effectiveness

Staffing levels are subject to regular review and are adjusted in response to the changing needs of young people. Staff are adept at meeting the particular needs of teenagers and provide regular opportunities for them to develop a broad range of social and life skills. Staff are well-equipped for their role and continually increase their knowledge and skills by accessing appropriate training opportunities.

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Overall effectiveness

In spite of the many personal difficulties they face, young people make significant progress in many aspects of their lives and engage positively with staff in planning for their futures. Outcomes are positive.

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Overall effectiveness

There are no requirements or recommendations for improvement arising from this inspection.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The specific, physical, cultural and care needs of each young person are identified within the home's placement plans. Young people's needs are effectively met as staff work consistently to the strategies outlined within these. Young people play a key role in the development of their placement plans and identify a set of achievable goals each month. They are able to measure their progress in areas, such as, education, behaviour and the acquisition of social and life-skills.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are settled and live full and active lives. Two young people are in full- time education and their attendance levels are good. Others access training opportunities which increase their knowledge and skills and extend their social horizons.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Clear boundaries, set and reinforced consistently by staff, create a safe and nurturing environment in which young people grow and develop. Staff have a zero tolerance of any form of bullying or discriminatory behaviour. The social dynamics within the group and are closely monitored and staff intervene if they believe an individual is being teased or exploited. Group meetings and individual sessions are successfully used to discuss relationships. There is an expectation that young people are tolerant of each other and evidence indicates that young people peacefully co-exist. Disagreements that arise are resolved through discussion.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff help young people to discuss and think through the possible consequences of their behaviour. Staff reinforce positive behaviour with praise and rewards. Sanctions are only used for serious misdemeanours. The reparation scheme is successfully used and provides the opportunity for young people to complete a household task instead of receiving a sanction. Young people respond positively to the home’s approach and there is clear evidence that incidents of anti-social and inappropriate behaviour have decreased.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people and staff are clearly at ease in each other’s company and have mutual respect for each other. Young people enjoy and respond positively to the care and attention they receive from staff.

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Outcomes for children and young people

While young people are helped to understand the particular reason they entered care there is an expectation that, once settled, they will participate in planning for their futures. During their placement young people maintain existing relationships with members of their families and friends.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff support and are encourage young people to adopt healthy lifestyles by eating wisely and taking regular exercise. They walk regularly and the home has a collection of bikes that can be accessed in the better weather. Their general health is carefully monitored through regular health checks and staff support young people to take responsibility for managing their own health. Young people are well- informed about health issues, through the advice and guidance they receive on issues such as the use of alcohol, drugs and sexual health.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Policies, procedures and working practices are well-established and consistently implemented. As a result young people receive highly personalised care that meets their needs. Medical interventions and personal care are sensitively managed.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff advocate effectively on behalf of young people in order that they gain access to specialist health services. Young people develop an awareness of healthy eating through participating in menu planning and this also takes into account individual preferences and tastes. Young people develop culinary skills.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

Staff successfully establish meaningful relationships with young people and this provides a sound basis for effective working. Staff promote the concept of mutual respect and young people are brought to task for the use of inappropriate or anti- social behaviours. Risk assessments are effectively used to identify any areas of potential concern associated with a young person's behaviour. Staff closely monitor the behaviours and moods of each young person and identify antecedents and possible triggers surrounding significant incidents. All significant incidents are appropriately recorded and reported.

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Quality of care

Staff seek advice and guidance from external professionals, such as the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), and develop strategies to address anti- social and destructive patterns of behaviour. Although a number of young people can present with challenging behaviour, staff are proficient in diffusing volatile situations by deploying a range of effective diversionary techniques. Each young person has a plan in place which outlines the levels of support they need to maintain positive behaviour. The home has a non-physical intervention policy and physical restraint would only ever be used if a young person is putting themselves or others at serious risk.

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Quality of care

The views of young people about their lives within the home are sought formally through young people’s meetings and informally through individual discussions and key-worker sessions with staff. Young people indicated they would have no difficulty in conveying worries or concerns to any of the staff. One young person said, 'I can speak with any of them at any time.' No complaints or concerns have been raised since the last inspection. Young people indicated they are happy in the home and with the care they receive. The key-worker system is successful and provides each young person with a designated member of staff who monitors their progress and advocates on their behalf.

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Quality of care

Staff liaise appropriately with other professionals in education and health to secure access to appropriate services. Effective communication systems mean staff remain conversant with the care needs and developments relating to each young person. Staff are conversant with the care needs of all the young people in their care and are able to illustrate areas of significant progress.

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Quality of care

The home is structurally sound; subject to regular maintenance and is kept in good decorative order. There have been improvements since the last inspection with the additional of a new training kitchen and new carpets on the first floor.

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Quality of care

Each young person is provided with their own lockable room. Young people are encouraged to personalise their rooms by choosing the décor and introducing their own posters and pictures. Young people are satisfied with their accommodation and appreciate have their own 'personal space.’ They reported that the home’s heating and hot water system are effective and they always have enough water for baths or showers. Regular health and safety checks ensure the homes environment remains safe.

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Quality of care

The homes central location provides young people easy access to many of the town's amenities including shops, leisure facilities and the beach. Staff encourage young people to develop their own interests and hobbies and introduce them to a range of activities both in the home and local community. Transport links are good and major bus, rail and ferry routes are all within walking distance. Young people regularly participate in social and recreational activities within the home and local community.

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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

Through the support given by staff, young people acquire a range of social and life- skills for adulthood and become confident to take age-appropriate risks. Staff actively encourage young people to participate in activities both within the home and local community, while being mindful of the risks involved. Staff are extremely aware of each individual's level of understanding and functioning. The majority of young people are extremely vulnerable and through their behaviours can, unintentionally, put themselves at risk. Staff effectively work alongside young people to heighten their awareness of risk and help them develop strategies for keeping safe. Staffing levels are continuously monitored and adjusted in response to the risks presented by young people. This keeps young people safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff monitor the movement of young people in order to determine where they are going and identify the individuals they are associating with. Young people are encouraged to use mobile phones to maintain contact with staff when they are out and about. Staff liaise with police and safeguarding officers if they believe a young person is putting themselves at risk. Staff successfully help young people modify risk- taking behaviours. Although a number of young people still go missing, the frequency of such incidents has reduced through appropriate staffing levels and effective supervision.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff are recruited through a comprehensive and robust recruitment process and are assessed as being suitable to work with vulnerable young people. Volunteers are not used and adults who have regular contact with young people, such as those in youth clubs, are appropriately vetted. Appropriate arrangements are in place for the supervision of visitors. Access to the home is limited and all visitors have to report to staff and sign in.

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Safeguarding children and young people

All new staff complete a detailed induction programme that includes specific training on safeguarding. Staff are aware of their individual responsibilities in regard to the reporting of any safeguarding worries or concerns. Staff aim to ensure that young people do not have contact with inappropriate adults. The home does not deploy volunteers and adults, such as those in youth clubs, who have regular contact with young people are appropriately vetted.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The health and safety of young people and staff is taken seriously; although the home is extremely homely, regular health and safety checks ensure that a safe environment is maintained that is free from hazards. The home does not deploy volunteers and adults, such as those in youth clubs, who have regular contact with young people, are appropriately vetted.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The fire alarm system is tested weekly and regular fire evacuations ensure staff and young people remain conversant with procedures.

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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 home is managed by an experienced and knowledgeable manager who is extremely child-focused. The manager and her team are well experienced and highly motivated. They have a positive impact on the lives of the young people in their care. Young people’s care needs are appropriately met and they are prepared well for moving on to independent and semi-independent living.

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Leadership and management

The home does not use agency staff and young people receive consistent care from a staff team with whom they have meaningful relationships. Arrangements for information- sharing and communication between staff on different shifts are highly effective and, alongside regular team meetings, contribute to consistent care delivery. Young people respond positively to the home's approach and appreciate being treated as young adults. The placement planning process is extremely effective; it recognises each young person as an individual with their own specific physical, social and emotional needs and plans care in recognition of these. Young people are involved in all aspects of their lives within the home. Staff encourage them to contribute to all planning regarding their futures.

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Leadership and management

Monitoring processes are extremely robust and track the progress that each young person makes. Weekly progress reports on each individual are produced for placing social workers. The progress young people make in their placements is reflected in a reduction in anti-social and self-destructive behaviours and an increase in their ability to make and sustain relationships.

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Leadership and management

Staff are clear about their roles and responsibilities and have access to a comprehensive range of policies and procedures. These are continually updated in response to regulatory and legislative changes. Through regular supervision staff examine their practice and this aids their professional development. Staff have regular training opportunities that that they access and which keep them abreast of developments within the child-care field. A record is kept on staff files of all courses attended.

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Leadership and management

The home’s development plan demonstrates a strong commitment to the continual improvement of the service and reflects the high aspirations that staff have for young people. The home is appropriately resourced and operates in the best interests of the young people. Records and documents contain recent and relevant information and are stored in appropriately locked facilities.

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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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