Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Warwickshire

Unique reference number SC457488 Inspection date 24/04/2013 Inspector Robert Hewston Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 14/02/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

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.

p.2

Brief description of the service

This home is registered for up to five young people who may have emotional or behavioural problems. The service is owned by a private company.

p.3

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

p.3

Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

p.3

Overall effectiveness

The manager and staff are committed to developing the service and providing a child-focused high quality of care to young people. Young people's individual needs are well met and this enables them to achieve positive outcomes and reach their full potential.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Young people are settled and feel safe in the home. They report very good relationships with the manager, staff and each other. Young people's welfare and safety is at the heart of practice and promoting safe care is clearly understood and put into action by the team.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

The atmosphere in the home is very calm and warm. Young people appear relaxed and happy and their needs and views are central to the running of the home. Young people are supported and encouraged to contribute to the decisions being made about their lives. Staff actively involve young people in both their care planning and the day-to-day running of the home. As a result, all aspects of care planning are personalised to meet the individual needs of the young people.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Minor shortfalls in recording were already being addressed by the Registered Manager and did not affect the safety and welfare of the young people.

p.3

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from a staff team who provide them with individual support in order to develop confidence and a positive view of themselves. Several of the young people arrive at the home in crisis, struggling to cope with home life, being involved in sexual exploitation and breakdown at another residential placement. As a result, some young people display behaviours that can be damaging to themselves and others. While living in this home young people make good progress in developing emotional resilience, confidence and self-esteem. This is evidenced by a significant reduction in self-harming and risk taking behaviours. Discussions with missing from care liaison officers, social workers, independent reviewing officers and parents confirmed how the young people have made significant progress although have, at times, still placed themselves at risk of harm. An example of this is a recent incident

p.3

Outcomes for children and young people

where young people had arranged to go missing and place themselves at risk. The home's staff quickly recognised the potential concerns and contacted the police regarding information received from other young people. The police managed to apprehend two adults before arriving to the home and also found the missing young people before getting onto a train. Young people’s growing attachments with staff also creates increased opportunities to build confidence and self-esteem. The manager closely monitors and evaluates the outcomes being achieved for each young person and works hard to promote an inclusive and stable home environment.

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make good progress and achieve individual milestones in all aspects of their lives. For some young people education is still a problem. However, the drive from the Registered Manager and staff to identify the appropriate placement and to build up young people's self-confidence and self-esteem has provided college placements within the next school term. Other young people are achieving well at school. Young people explained ‘didn't like school when I first came to the home, but staff have helped me to get past this and now achieving high grades for the forthcoming exams.' The Regional Education Manager commented ‘young people are achieving in education due to the commitment from the staff team, excellent communication links with schools and tutors and the drive young people have in wanting to achieve.' Some young people achieve well in the local community such as working in retail and acquiring work experience in a large supermarket. Young

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

people spoken to stated ‘was nervous going for an interview, didn't know what might happen but feel so happy what I've managed to do, staff were always there to support and give me advice.’ Overall, young people make good progress with their educational targets and achieve their goals.

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are helped to keep healthy. There are systems and services in place to address young people's health including their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. The staff team support them to attend medical appointments and take any prescribed medication on a regular basis. Young people are encouraged to lead healthy lifestyles and are always encouraged to take an interest in looking after their own physical and emotional needs. The established smoking contract has enabled young people to control the amount of cigarettes they smoke a day and in one young person’s case they have managed to stop smoking for good.

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are supported and encouraged to develop their independence skills at a level that is appropriate, taking into consideration their individual needs. Staff engage young people in a range of tasks from menu planning, shopping, budgeting and cooking, to keeping their rooms tidy and general chores around the house. This gradual introduction into independence prepares them well for future semi- independent living and adulthood. Young people make good progress in relation to their starting points; they establish personal routines and clear boundaries that enable them to develop effective strategies for managing their emotions and life events. Informal but structured routines ensure young people are kept occupied and actively engaged within the home and local community. Young people are provided with good support to keep in touch with significant people in their lives. These arrangements follow agreed plans and are negotiated and arranged sensitively in

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

consultation with young people and those who can have contact with them. Some young people experience significant difficulties with their family relationships. The impact of these difficulties is clearly understood by the staff team, which helps them provide the right emotional support to each young person.

p.5

Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

p.5

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.

p.5

Quality of care

Young people are clear that staff listen to them, respect their views and work hard to ensure that issues are fully explained. Some young people have very difficult and challenging behaviours that can affect their relationships. However, this does not discourage staff from providing excellent quality care with clear boundaries. A good example is how young people are able to discuss their behaviour management plans. Compromises are considered, reviewed and changed if it benefits the progress of the young person. This has worked extremely well with young people being given opportunities to follow their religious beliefs and spend more time with friends. Young people commented ‘it's the first home who have help me in exploring my beliefs, not felt bullied or laughed at by the other girls and able to talk about my feelings and wishes.’

p.5

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. Young people make progress because care and behaviour management packages are individually tailored. 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. Records of planned and unplanned discussions are recorded but are not always consistent in showing young people's opinions wishes and outcomes. Observations during the inspection showed how young people discuss issues daily with the staff and receive excellent support and guidance. However, these discussions are not always recorded showing the impact the young person has had within these discussions. In discussion with the Registered Manager she had already identified this small shortfall

p.5

Quality of care

and already has it on the agenda for the next staff meeting to address this issue. Young people’s meeting minutes do show young people having their opinions listened to and taken to the staff team meeting. In recent meeting a chosen young people is invited into the staff meeting to discuss any issues from the young people's meetings or any other issues they want to raise.

p.6

Quality of care

Excellent detailed plans are in place to provide staff with an understanding of the needs of individual young people and the services provided for ensuring that those needs are met. These plans include any additional services and support that arise out of a young person's disability, ethnicity, race, sexuality, faith or belief. Staff demonstrate an in depth knowledge and understanding of the plans which are updated and reviewed regularly. Families and social workers are also consulted regarding the preparation of the plans, resulting in close working relationships being formed with positive outcomes for young people. One parent commented that, ‘staff always seem to go the extra mile to help young people.’ 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

p.6

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.

p.6

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.

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

The service is good at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people live in a safe, secure and stable environment. There are exceptional improvements in the safeguarding outcomes for all young people staying at this service. Young people’s comments include ‘I know I am much safer’ and a social worker's comments about the home include ‘safety is their number one paramount issue.’ There is a significant reduction in offending and risk-taking behaviours for young people at the home. Young people who previously placed themselves at significant risk begin to think about ways to keep themselves safe and take responsibility for their own safety; they are motivated to change their behaviours. The staff team do recognise the potential for young people to continue their previous risky behaviour and have started to build stronger links with the local police force, the missing from care officers and the children and adolescent mental health workers. All staff have completed the child

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

sexual exploitation and missing from care training. The Registered Manager has requested more specific training in managing young people's mental health needs and in-depth training on supporting children who are sexually exploited. The local police have already agreed to assist in further training and to have weekly and monthly meetings on all of the young people.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Staff ensure that all aspects of young people’s safety are considered and reviewed. Risk assessments are regularly updated and young people are supported to understand their own behaviour and responses to situations. Discussion and reflection help young people to develop alternative strategies and coping mechanisms. The effective management and high staff ratios mean that significant incidents such as running away, self-harm, criminal or violent behaviour, in the majority of cases, reduce or stabilise over time. However, high risk incidents do still occur. These are managed well, often in partnership with external agencies. Young people confirm they do not feel bullied. Staff are clear on the action to take to support young people through any incidence. This ensures that incidences of bullying are actively addressed and young people are supported. Careful handover by staff ensures these plans and discussions are well known by members of staff coming on

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

shift, ensuring continuity of care for young people.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people's safety is promoted by an established health and safety policy, which ensures risks are identified and appropriate action is taken to manage and reduce them. Young people and staff are involved in fire drills and there are regular checks on all fire and electrical equipment to ensure it is in good working order. All staff are appropriately trained in health and safety matters including first aid and fire awareness.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people’s behaviour is positively managed, through consistent and clear boundaries. Young people learn how to make positive choices. Staff regularly give positive praise, rewards and incentives, such as activities and financial rewards. Consequently, young people develop socially acceptable behaviour. For example, there is a marked reduction in the number of physical interventions and young people going missing and this is attributed to the successful behavioural strategies adopted by staff at the home.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

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. Observations during the inspection saw other professionals such as aftercare workers, missing from care officers and education managers dropping into the home for a chat with the young people and staff. Staff ensure they apply a good level of privacy by respecting young people’s needs for time alone and always knock on bedroom doors.

p.7

Leadership and management

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

p.8

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 and gives young people, their families and placing authorities 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.

p.8

Leadership and management

Young people receive excellent care from a professional, dedicated and stable staff team. The strong, visible management of the home positively promotes the ethos of care and all staff fully understand their roles and responsibilities. There are areas of recording that do not deliver the high standards being offered to the young people. The Registered Manager and team manager had acknowledged this small shortfall and had already started the process in delivering further training within this area. The records do not affect the welfare and safety of the young people.

p.8

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 work in. 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.’ Staff confirmed that supervision and appraisal meetings are carried out on a regular basis which enables them to reflect on their practice and relationships with young people. Staff access good quality training that enhances their individual skills.

p.8

Leadership and management

The strength of the home is the enthusiastic, competent and consistent staff team who are 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. They communicate very well with each other to ensure that everyone is up to date with new and changing information about young people’s needs and circumstances. Open and honest dialogue helps young people learn from their mistakes.

p.8

Leadership and management

This service has substantial strengths. Where areas for improvement emerge the service recognises and manages them well. The organisation and Registered Manager ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of relevant records and events such as the complaints and child protection. This monitoring and consultation and regular communication ensures proper scrutiny and on-going development of the young people's care.

p.8

Leadership and management

The manager and staff have an excellent knowledge of the legal framework and regular management checks are carried out. These checks, alongside monthly checks by an independent visitor, ensure a comprehensive audit against the requirements and standards set down for registered children’s homes.

p.8

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.

p.10

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.

p.10