Children's Home run by Aspris Children’s Services Limited in Hampshire

Unique reference number SC449307 Inspection date 17/05/2013 Inspector Jennie Christopher Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 27/12/2012 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

The home is owned by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for 7 children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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 inadequate .

p.3

Overall effectiveness

The home is not adequately meeting the needs of young people and they are failing to thrive as a result. There are significant weaknesses in the quality of care provided. There is an inadequate level of supervision of young people and staff are not working consistently or effectively to manage young people’s challenging behaviour. Consequently there has been significant damage to the home, compromising young people’s safety through damaged fire doors and broken glass. There has been significant police involvement and young people do not express confidence in the ability of staff to support and ‘control’ them.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Since registration there has been a lack of consistent management and staffing in the home which has resulted in instability and loss of direction for both staff and young people. The Statement of Purpose is not available to staff and is not reflective of the home and service.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

There are several breaches of regulation identified. Areas include; behaviour management practice; policies and records; inadequate knowledge of young people’s health needs; staff experience and training; the management of complaints and maintaining a physically safe environment. Numerous requirements and recommendations have been made as a result of the inspection. The recently appointed manager is currently developing a short-term action plan to improve the quality of care and outcomes for young people living in the home.

p.3

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.

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the registered person makes a copy of the Statement of Purpose available to any person who works in the home (Regulation 4(2)(a-d)) 17/06/2013

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) review and where appropriate revise the Statement of Purpose and children's guide (Regulation 5(a)) 17/06/2013

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the registered person makes arrangements for the home to be conducted in a manner that promotes and makes proper provision for the welfare and supervision of children accommodated in the home (Regulation 11(1)(a)(b)) 17/06/2013

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) revise the procedure to be followed when any child accommodated in the children's home is absent without permission (Regulation 16 (4)(b)) 17/06/2013

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

17A (2001) review the restraint policy to ensure that it is compliant with the appropriate regulation (Regulation 17A(1)) 17/06/2013

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

17B (2001) produce and implement a behaviour management policy which sets out the measures of control and discipline which may be used in the home and the means by which appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the home (Regulation 17B(1)(a)(b)) 17/06/2013

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

17B (2001) ensure records of restraints and sanctions are completed fully (Regulation 17B(3)(4)) 17/06/2013

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the registered person promotes and protects the physical, emotional and mental health of the children accommodated, in particular that all staff are aware of individuals health conditions (Regulation 20(1)) 17/06/2013

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that all parts of the home and grounds which children have access to are so far as reasonable practicable free from hazards to their health and safety. Furthermore ensure a full risk assessment of the home and grounds is completed (Regulation 23(a)) 17/06/2013

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that a written copy is made of any complaint, the action taken in response and the outcome of the investigation; including when the complaint has come via a third party (Regulation 24(5)) 17/06/2013

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure there is at all times a sufficient number of suitably qualified, competent and experienced persons working at the home (Regulation 25(1)) 17/06/2013

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure there is a register showing in respect for each child detailing all the information in schedule 4 (1) (Regulation 29(1)) 17/06/2013 (2001) ensure their are adequate precautions against the risk of fire, with specific regards to fire doors that close effectively, preventing smoking inside the home and making a detailed risk assessment of the potential impact of fire extinguishers being locked away. (Regulation 32(1)(a)) 17/06/2013

p.4

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

p.5

Recommendations

 ensure young people have access to independent advice and support from adults they can contact directly and in private (NMS 1.5)  ensure sanctions and rewards for behaviour are clear, reasonable and fair and are understood by all staff and children (NMS 3.8)  review the home's procedures to ensure there is minimal need for police involvement to deal with challenging behaviour to avoid criminalising children unnecessarily (NMS 3.22)  implement a system where children feel safe from bullying and the repercussions of reporting bullying (NMS 4)  support children to understand how to keep themselves safe when using the internet and social media (NMS 4.4)  ensure risk assessments are proportionate and include strategies to prevent risk (NMS 4.5)  ensure staff are clear what responsibilities and decisions are delegated to them and when consent for medical treatment needs to be gained (NMS 6.5)  develop a system that prepares young people for independence and adulthood

p.5

Recommendations

(NMS 12)  ensure when staff are recruited telephone enquiries are made as well as obtaining written references (NMS 16.1)

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for young people are inadequate .

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

The home does not provide adequate health care to young people. The staff team’s knowledge of individual underlying health needs is inadequate. This leads to young people not receiving the support and encouragement they need to be able to take care of their own health needs and lead healthier lifestyles. Young people understand the health risks associated with smoking but the provision for targeted work to discourage smoking is inadequate. Young people’s behaviour around smoking is unhealthy and unsafe. They are not sufficiently discouraged and often smoke in their bedrooms. Young people say that there is not enough culturally specific food available to them. However, young people feel that food quality is generally good and there are several choices on the menu. There are limited opportunities for young people to join in day- to-day cooking and housekeeping to learn skills for adulthood. Opportunities to learn

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

life skills are inadequate, with no formal plans in place to improve individual skills in this area.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people’s attendance in education is adequate. Practice plans are in place for those who are struggling with attendance at the main school site. Increased liaison between home and school staff is helping to support better outcomes and young people are attending essential exams when appropriate. Those approaching school leaving age have some ideas for what they would like to do after their compulsory education finishes, although no formal plans are in place.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are more positive about the amount of local activities they can access independently since moving to the new home. However, they still feel there are limited choices in organised activities and would like to have greater options. While there are activity plans in place which young people initially agree to, they do not consistently attend these. As a result there is an increase in challenging behaviour in the evenings as young people say they are ‘bored’.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are making some progress in understanding their personal history and are developing improved confidence and self-esteem. There is an adequate degree of appropriate relationship modelling from staff. As a result there are some emerging attachments which young people can extend to peers and family. Young people have access to task specific specialist mental health services, however they are choosing not to access this at present and are not adequately supported and encouraged to do so. Young people do not have consistently clear understanding of their future plans and do not appear invested in their progress.

p.6

Quality of care

Staff’s understanding of the content of individual care plans is inadequate. This results in inconsistencies in approaches to care, negatively impacting on young people’s daily lives and progress. Neither pathway plans nor house life skills plans are available on files, resulting in staff being unable to effectively support young people for their future.

p.6

Quality of care

The home’s approach to behaviour management is inadequate. Young people lack consistent guidance and support to promote positive behaviour. The policy in place is unclear on how to promote acceptable behaviour, and as a result there is a fragmented staff approach. This means that young people have very little clear guidance of what is expected of them. Young people say, ‘staff cannot control us’ and that they, ‘always call the police’. Parents suggest the high turnover of staff has meant some staff, 'do not know what they are doing’. Young people feel disaffected and fear the police will be called to any incident within the home. This negatively impacts on young people’s view of staff’s ability to provide a safe environment and risks young people being criminalised. A parent said that they would like to know 'how they are going to manage behaviour' and is 'frustrated that the home does not share strategies' for managing behaviour with her for when her son is staying with

p.6

Quality of care

her. Financial incentives are used to encourage young people to manage aspects of their behaviour appropriately and this has had some positive effect. However, other sanctions and rewards are not clear or are consistent, resulting in confusion for both young people and staff.

p.7

Quality of care

Young people are increasingly consulted through key worker sessions. Records of sessions are inadequate as they do not effectively evidence young people’s involvement. Young people do not ‘see the point’ of house meetings, but observations demonstrated staff encouraging them to voice their opinions to ensure change in the home. Young people have affected some change through raising their concerns, including extra money to purchase culturally appropriate food and new televisions for the home. Young people feel they are sometimes listened to, but that reasons why something cannot happen is not always clear. However young people do recognise some of their behaviour, such as stealing property, has resulted in the home not always having the money to buy new equipment.

p.7

Quality of care

Medication is stored appropriately and there is a thorough system to ensure safety when administering. In case of emergency, there are several first aiders on site at all times. Not all young people’s files contain written consent for emergency treatment and for staff to administer both prescribed and non-prescribed medication. This on occasion has led to delays in young people receiving medical treatment where homely remedies could have been used. Not all staff are fully aware of specific potentially serious health concerns of young people and there is inconsistency in records of when appointments are required.

p.7

Quality of care

The building has homely living and safety in mind, with many areas for independent or group interaction. There is a large amount of damage to the property. Some young people were observed trying to improve the home through fixing broken items; however inconsistencies in managing behaviour resulted in further damage. Young people have limited access to independent advocates, which is essential as not all young people have social work involvement. Young people know how to make complaints and generally who to complain to. Further information on how to access a range of advocacy and support services is displayed clearly in the home. Young people challenge bullying, but are reluctant to take matters further than initial complaints of incidents to staff.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

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

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are not confident that they feel safe and that staff can keep them safe in the home. Staff do not always adequately supervise young people. This has resulted in a young person being missing for several hours without staff knowledge. As a result the young person was not kept safe during this time. Parents have expressed concern as a result of this, feeling the home has ‘neglected’ their child.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Staff are confident in the process to follow should they be concerned for a young person’s safety or well-being and policies reflect this. Staff are increasingly aware of individual vulnerabilities but fragmented working does not ensure safety of all young people. Individual files contain up-to-date photographs of young people in case of emergency.

p.8

Safeguarding children and young people

The company’s recruitment policy does not effectively ensure young people are protected from harm by robust personnel checks. For example, references are not consistently verified with follow up telephone calls.

p.8

Safeguarding children and young people

The restraint policy is inadequate and not in line with Children’s Homes Regulations, potentially resulting in restriction of young people’s liberty. Young people’s files detail which holds should be used, however consideration is not given to underlying health issues when deciding which holds are appropriate. Police assisting the home in crisis situations are unaware of young people’s underlying health concerns, which could negatively impact on individual’s safety and well-being. When restraints do happen they are not fully recorded in the volume provided.

p.8

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are not safe from fire and other hazards. Fire doors are repeatedly damaged, resulting in them not closing effectively or having holes in them rendering them ineffective as a firebreak. Young people continue to smoke in their bedrooms increasing the risk of fire and there is no specific risk assessment reflecting fire extinguishers being locked away. The home, while maintained regularly, is not free from avoidable hazards. Concerns include broken glass not being removed for several days, out-of-date electrical testing for major appliances and the absence of a whole house health and safety risk assessment. Young people’s risk assessments do not reflect on how to prevent risky behaviours. The assessments mostly ensure young people are able to enjoy age-appropriate activities and take controlled risk in line with their peers. However, the blanket policy of no internet access to social networking sites prevents young people interacting with family, friends and peers in

p.8

Leadership and management

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

p.8

Leadership and management

The home has not been effectively managed since it was registered in December 2012. There has been no registered manager in place since April 2013. A temporary manager with relevant transferable skills has been recruited in recent weeks. The person appointed is developing an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. A short-term development plan identifies the areas for immediate attention, focusing on behaviour management.

p.8

Leadership and management

Manager’s monthly checks are unable to currently demonstrate the impact living in the home has for young people, but this area is under development. Regulation 33 monitoring and reports are increasingly sound and young person focused. They identify weaknesses in practice and include consultation with young people. Shortfalls are identified and clearly listed in the report. Any shortfalls that are noted through monitoring have not been rectified promptly under the previous management structure.

p.8

Leadership and management

The provider is not meeting the aims and objectives as set out in the Statement of Purpose. This document does not reflect the needs of the client group and is not up to date. A copy is not available to staff in the home. The young people’s guide, as with the Statement of Purpose, is not reflective of the client group using the home, although it does detail how to access external advocacy.

p.9

Leadership and management

The home demonstrates some multi-agency working to improve outcomes for young people. Targeted mental health support is available to support both young people and staff as a result of a specific incident. Work is currently under way to link in with other services, such as planned visits to the home by local police starting imminently.

p.9

Leadership and management

Young people are able to complain when necessary and the desire to change placements, as an example, has been given serious consideration. There have been complaints from the community via the police regarding staff’s inability to manage young people’s behaviour. These have not been recorded appropriately; therefore it is not possible check whether the complaint has been resolved satisfactorily.

p.9

Leadership and management

The home’s staffing situation is inadequate. There have been several changes in the staff team, lacking consistency for young people. Staff who have not completed their probation or induction periods and do not have sufficient experience, are left in charge of the home; including a staff who have not experienced fire drills. Most staff are enthusiastic in their roles and are eager to improve their knowledge and skills. There are some vacancies within the team and there is a lack of suitably qualified staff in the home at all times.

p.9

Leadership and management

Records are generally clear and up to date, but are often not fully completed and lack reflection on how to effectively support young people and interpret their behaviour. There is no register in place of young people who have lived or whom are living in the home.

p.9

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