Children's Home run by St Christopher’s Fellowship in Sandwell

Unique reference number SC404994 Inspection date 16/05/2013 Inspector Elizabeth Barrett Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 30/10/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The home is one of a number of homes operated by the same organisation. The home has been set up as part of a tendering contract with a local council to provide care for no more than three children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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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 adequate .

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Overall effectiveness

Young people benefit from well-planned care which takes into account their individual needs. As a result, some young people are achieving positive outcomes in relation to their educational attendance and attainment, building positive attachments and developing life skills. However, a minority of young people do not fully engage in their care plan which means they are not progressing in relation to their placement objectives.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people generally feel safe in the home and can identify an adult they can talk to discuss specific issues and concerns. However, peer group relationships can sometimes result in conflict and aggression. At these times some young people say that although staff intervene to manage the situation, their safety can be compromised.

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Overall effectiveness

The manager has made some recent improvements to measures of control for young people which have not had the time to embed into practice. As a result, sanctions are not always reflective of the presenting behaviour or restorative. Incidents of missing for some young people are reducing. However, a minority of young people continue to go absent without permission and strategies to address these concerns are not sufficiently robust.

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Overall effectiveness

This home has experienced a significant period of transition. The provider has introduced an action plan to address shortfalls in areas such as staffing, and management practices in the home. The acting manager and provider are committed to improving all aspects of the operation of the home, to ensure young people are supported to achieve positive outcomes.

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Overall effectiveness

This inspection sets two requirements and five recommendations. Improvements are required to the quality of staffing in the home, behaviour management practices, developing proactive responses to young people going missing, and the notification of any revision to the Statement of Purpose for the home.

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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.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the registered person notify the HMCI of any revision of the homes Statement of Purpose within 28 days (Regulation 5(b)) 14/06/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that there is at all times having regard to the Statement of Purpose, and to safeguard and promote the health and welfare of children accommodated in the home, a sufficient number of suitably qualified, competent and experienced persons working at the children's home. (Regulation 25.1 (a)(b) ) 28/06/2013

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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 children develop and practice skills to build and maintain positive relationships, and resolve conflicts with their peers in the home positively (NMS 3.5)  ensure sanctions for behaviour are clear, reasonable, restorative and fair, and understood by all staff and children (NMS 3.8)  ensure staff in the home are trained to recognise and deal with any indications or incidents of bullying, to act proactively and intervene positively, engaging with those who bully as well as those who are bullied (NMS 31.12)  ensure where a child goes missing and there is concern for their welfare, staff arrange a meeting between the home the responsible authority and the police, that considers what action should be taken to prevent the child going missing in the future (NMS 5.9)  ensure staff members who are placed in charge of the home and other staff at particular times such as shift leaders, have substantial relevant experience of

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Recommendations

working in the home and have successfully completed their probation periods (NMS 17.5)  ensure children are supported to attend school regularly. (NMS 8.3)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for young people are adequate .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Individual young people are making positive progress living in this home. For example, some young people have increased their attendance at school with good attainment and achievement. However, for others, motivation to achieve is reducing with a minority of young people not attending school and spending time without permission in the community. As a result some young people are not achieving their educational potential.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are starting to build attachments with staff and say they value the caring environment they live in. Young people comment that they are receiving positive support to make changes in their life. As a result, individual young people are developing in self-esteem and confidence and have aspirations for their future.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people’s physical health is good. They receive support from health professionals and staff to understand the importance of making healthy lifestyle choices. Young people are developing an awareness of their own health needs and are taking more responsibility for their own care by arranging health appointments. However, some young people choose not to change unhealthy aspects of their lives. For example, comments received included; 'I know what the risks are to my health and it is my choice to smoke.'

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people say they have opportunities to share their wishes and views. There are systems that promote young people's involvement in the development of the home and their future. For example, young people have been involved in the remodelling of the home and choosing new furnishings. As a result, young people are enjoying their new surroundings and are taking better care of the home. Some young people are beginning to develop practical life skills through taking part in household chores and doing some of their own cooking, which means they are developing skills in preparation for independence.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from contact with family and significant others in line with their individual placement plans, with some young people inviting their friends back to the home. Young people have engaged in meaningful activities in the local community and participate in after school clubs. However, a minority of young people are now choosing to spend the majority of their time with their peers outside of the home. As a result, young people go absent from home without permission and do not adhere to the boundaries and structures in place.

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Quality of care

Young people receive care from a new and developing staff team who demonstrate a commitment to meeting their individual needs. They enjoy sound relationships with most staff through the establishment of daily routines, boundaries, and expectations. Young people say that they like living in the home and speak positively about the care they receive from most staff.

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Quality of care

The home has made improvements to the in-house care planning arrangements. Individual placement and behaviour management plans effectively guide staff in the management of young people’s daily care and behavioural needs. Young people’s progress is recorded and outlined in reports and reviews. This means planning arrangements ensure care and support is individually tailored for young people depending on their specific needs.

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Quality of care

Changes to the staff team since the last inspection has meant some disruption to the care of young people. Young people comment that it is difficult to build trusting relationships with staff because of these changes. In addition, extensive building work to the home has meant young people have been cared for in an unsettled environment for several months. This means, the needs of young people individually and as a group have been compromised.

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Quality of care

Young people mainly interact positively with staff and are relaxed in their company. However, interactions between peers can sometimes be inappropriate and volatile. Discussion with young people and observations at this visit show that during times of challenge and conflict, some staff struggle to manage young people’s presenting behaviours collectively. As a result, young people say that low level bullying can be a problem in the home.

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Quality of care

There are processes in place for young people to express their views, wishes, and feelings. House meetings discuss the day-to-day running of the home, with the care- planning framework giving scope to individual consultation with young people. For example, key work records demonstrate discussion with young people in relation to missing from home, and appropriate relationships. This means young people are provided with opportunities to discuss concerns relating to their placement objectives.

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Quality of care

Staff support young people to take responsibility for their health. Staff engage young people in discussions on personal objectives including anger management and reducing anxieties. Educational provisions are in place for all young people that consider their learning and abilities. However, staff have not engaged promptly with other services to ensure individual issues affecting some young people’s recent refusal to attend school are robustly addressed. Young people live in a well decorated and maintained home which promotes a homely environment. Building work and refurbishment has taken place since the last visit to increase the capacity of the home. Young people have good quality individual bedrooms which are personalised and well furnished.

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Safeguarding children and young people

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

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Safeguarding children and young people

The measures to promote the safety and well-being of young people are adequate. Young people state that they feel safe most of the time living in the home. However, a minority of young people say that they sometimes feel unsafe due to the behaviour of their peers within the home. Young people comment that staff intervene to keep them safe, although measures to resolve difficulties and to build positive relationships are not always effective. This means that behaviour management practices to de-escalate conflict and ensure young people’s well-being are not sufficiently robust.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Safeguarding policies and procedures are compliant with those of the local authority and staff are aware of these procedures in practice. Staff comment that they understand their own roles and responsibilities and those of other agencies involved in keeping young people safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Some young people have made progress in relation to reducing incidents of risk taking behaviour and keeping safe in the community. However, there has been an increase in episodes of missing from home for a minority of young people. Protocols relating to young people going missing from home are in place and records demonstrate that all episodes of missing are responded to appropriately. However, the manager and staff have not always acted promptly in discussing individual concerns with the responsible authority. As a result, strategies and responses to prevent some young people going missing are not sufficiently addressed.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There have been no incidents of physical restraint since the last inspection because young people are developing positive relationships with staff. The acting manager and core staff have re-established routines and practices that promote a more settled and consistent environment. This means that some young people are beginning to take more responsibility for managing their own behaviour.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people say that staff are generally consistent in maintaining boundaries and house rules in the home. The home adopts a positive incentive approach to behaviour management with young people encouraged to work towards individual rewards. However, not all behaviour management strategies promote positive behaviour or are restorative. For example, records show that the use of financial sanctions and the withdrawal of electronic equipment can be routine and largely ineffective. Consequently, young people say that sanctions are not always fair and some staff are inconsistent when applying sanctions.

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Safeguarding children and young people

An effective recruitment process that includes comprehensive checks on all staff protects young people from harm. The home is well resourced and the manager and provider ensure that health and safety requirements are met. Fire drills take place at appropriate intervals, and young people and staff know what to do in the event of a fire.

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Leadership and management

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

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Leadership and management

There were changes to the management of this home following the last inspection with the Registered Manager returning to her external management role within the company. The home’s acting manager, who has submitted an application to Ofsted for the registered manager’s position, currently manages the home on a day-to-day basis. In addition, the home has experienced significant staffing changes in recent months with some qualified and established staff moving on from the service. This means that young people have not benefited from a consistent group of staff; this can compromise the quality of relationships and care of young people.

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Leadership and management

The deployment of suitably qualified and experienced staff both as a group and on an individual basis has affected the home’s ability to meet all day-to-day operational responsibilities. For example, not all staff undertaking shift leader responsibilities have substantial experience in this role. The provider is aware of this shortfall and recruitment processes are on-going. However, vacant positions are not being recruited to in a timely manner.

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Leadership and management

Recommendations from the previous visit have been met. Improvements to care planning frameworks now include consultation with young people in relation to establishing behaviour management targets. In addition, medication records are compliant with the provider’s policies and procedures and are monitored through medication audits and management checks. Staff training is under review to ensure all staff are sufficiently knowledgeable in all aspects of the home's policies and their implementation in practice.

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Leadership and management

The home’s Statement of Purpose is clear and accessible with the service adequately meeting its aims and objectives. However, a revised copy has not been forwarded to Ofsted following changes made to the management and staffing of the home.

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Leadership and management

This service has some developing strengths as well as some key areas for improvement. The acting manager and provider are in the process of addressing issues through the home’s action plan, to promote and embed good practice. For example, shortfalls in the leadership and management of the home, service user participation, staffing levels, team building, and promoting a positive culture in the home. Monitoring visits undertaken by the provider and internal management checks are established to support the home to continue to drive up standards.

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Leadership and management

Significant improvements have been made to young people’s case records. This means that records contribute to a clear understanding of young people's lives and show the progress they have made. The acting manager and provider recognise that this home is at a transitional stage and are committed to acting on the findings of this inspection, prior to applying for a variation to increase the capacity of this home.

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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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