Children's Home run by Headway Adolescent Resources Limited in Bristol

Unique reference number SC066250 Inspection date 23/05/2013 Inspector Barbara Davies Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 08/02/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This service is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and learning disabilities. It is owned by a private company that also operates other children's homes in the surrounding area.

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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

Given the varying lengths of time in placement, young people make very good progress due to a highly efficient and individualised approach to care planning. Staff successfully support those who have been in placement for some time to reverse a pattern of non-school attendance and incidents of going missing from care. Despite presenting some challenges, such young people are now settled in their placement; attend education regularly and are achieving both educational and vocational qualifications. The efficient and business-like approach of staff ensures that the education, health and leisure needs of new residents are quickly identified and progressed. Given the limited time of their placement, these young people develop and progress through appropriate provision being made in line with their needs. Young people say, 'So far; so good. Everything is happening that should be happening.'

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Overall effectiveness

Staff in the home are knowledgeable about safe working practices and implement these in practice. Overall, incidents of challenging behaviour are well managed by staff and there has been a reduction in the amount of damage that is caused. Young people have strong, positive relationships with staff although a change in group dynamics is causing some challenges. The proactive approach being taken in response to these issues is in line with best practice.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people mostly enjoy good health as a result of regular access to healthcare. However, the long-term health of some young people is compromised through smoking and some use of illegal substances. Good attempts are made to direct young people to services that can support them with these issues but with varying success.

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Overall effectiveness

While interim management arrangements are in place; these are effective and provide clear direction to both staff and young people.

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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 children's guide shall be produced in a format appropriate to the age, understanding and communication needs of the children to be accommodated- this refers to making the children's guide available in the first language of all children accommodated (Regulation 4 (4)) 14/06/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that a written record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of the investigation. In particular ensure that information relating to complaints is consolidated within one record that contains complete information. Also that informal complaints are promptly addressed and the outcome recorded (Regulation 5) 14/06/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that children's case records contain details of the date and circumstances of any measures of control, restraint or discipline used on the child (Regulation 28; schedule 3 (13)) 14/06/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the registered person shall give notice in writing to HMCI as soon as it is practicable to do so if a person other than the registered person carries on or manages the home. (Regulation 38 (a)) 14/06/2013

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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 that children exercise choice in the food that they eat, within the limits that a reasonable parent would set (NMS 2.3)  ensure the home provides a comfortable and homely environment and is well decorated and maintained. This refers to replacing the damaged wardrobe doors in one bedroom and removing or replacing the damaged slow cooker from the kitchen. (NMS 10.3)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people have a good understanding of their history through the support they receive from staff. Even though some have only been in placement for s short time, there is evidence of young people already having formed attachments with staff. Staff have an inclusive approach to which young people respond. Individual needs of young people are met alongside the needs of the group as a whole.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people for whom education or vocational provision is identified maintain regular attendance, often after long periods of absence, and obtain educational and vocational qualifications. They have a desire to achieve and are committed to exploring vocational opportunities, such as apprenticeships, in readiness for the next phase in their education. Staff support young people who are not yet in full time education to make constructive use of the time available by for instance, gaining practical skills and achieving ASDAN qualifications through participating in practical and theoretical tasks around the home and local community.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Similarly young people develop independence skills through helping with shopping, cooking, cleaning and gardening. A reluctance, by some, to engage in a formal independence training programme is skilfully addressed. Staff work alongside such young people and engage them in practical activities using a more informal approach.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are positively and actively engaged in activities in the local community. Their individual interests, such as army cadets, pool and becoming members of a gym, are fostered. Good recognition is given and provision made for any special requirements in respect of health, religious and dietary needs. However, the young person's guide is not yet translated into the first language of all residents. This has been compensated for by the use of an interpreter to translate the information.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The risk-taking behaviour of some young people has reduced over the time of their placement. Young people who used to regularly abscond no longer do so. This means that new residents move into a settled environment.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Despite having access to external support and being educated by staff about the long-term effects of smoking and illegal substances, some young people continue to smoke. This compromises their health. Other young people confirm that their smoking has reduced significantly since moving into the home saying 'there are lots to do and I am no longer sitting around being bored. I am active for more of the time. I now only smoke 10 a day when I used to smoke 20.'

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is good . Staff consistently have aspirations for all young people in the home and ensure that placement planning focuses on individual need; addresses all aspects of young people's development and that the strategies outlined are quickly implemented. Young people make progress and have the same opportunities as their peers through the provision made to meet their social, educational, recreational, cultural and health needs.

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Quality of care

Young people and neighbours are aware of how to make a complaint. Young people identify staff and external professionals they say they can talk to and who will assume responsibility for making their concerns known. Some young people have used the home's own complaints procedure to raise concerns and there is evidence that these have been fairly and thoroughly investigated. However, the recording of information in two different records is confusing and, on occasions incomplete with the outcome not always being fully recorded. It is therefore not possible to tell whether appropriate action has been taken in response to the issues raised or whether children are satisfied with the outcome.

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Quality of care

A delay in responding to informal complaints, such as a recent issue over food, sometimes causes frustrations for young people. Also the failure to record informal complaints affects the monitoring of such issues in relation to emerging patterns and trends.

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Quality of care

Arrangements for young people to have contact with their families are well known and facilitated by staff. Staff respect the rights of young people and support them with relationship issues.

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Quality of care

The views of young people significantly influence the daily running of the home. Young people influence the decisions made though regular house meetings and through talking informally to staff. Staff respond to requests from young people, in particular about how they want their room to be decorated and the activities they would like to do.

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Quality of care

All aspects of young people's health are considered. Health needs are well met on a day-to-day basis through the provision of a healthy diet; opportunities for exercise and access to regular health checks. Alongside the guidance given by staff, young people have good access to external advice and support for other health-related issues, such as smoking and illegal substance abuse. Despite this some young people continue to smoke which potentially compromises their health. Arrangements for the administration and recording of medication are clear, safe and effective.

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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

Young people are protected by robust safeguarding policies and procedures that are implemented in practice by staff. Good quality information, obtained as young people are admitted to the home, informs the strategies identified for working with young people. Staff support young people to take age appropriate risks, including becoming more independent within their local community. Staff adhere to the safeguards identified within written risk assessments which are realistic and proportionate.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Consistent messages delivered by staff and strong links and with external agencies, such as the local missing from care coordinator, youth offending team and placing authorities, have been effective in reducing the number of missing from care incidents for young people who have a history of this type of risk-taking behaviour. Action taken in relation to young people who return late to the home is proportionate to their age and known risks. Staff educate young people about how to keep themselves safe; they maintain telephone contact with staff; keep them informed of their whereabouts and mostly return on time or request lifts. There have been no missing from care incidents for almost six months.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff are trained well in child protection matters and are familiar with the safeguarding and reporting procedures of both the home and the local authority. There have been no safeguarding incidents that staff have been required to report but are clear about concerns that would require this. Young people report that they feel safe in the home and they benefit from strong, positive relationships with staff.

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Safeguarding children and young people

A move to a more restorative and reasoning approach to behaviour management has been effective in reducing the number of incidents where damage is caused and young people are largely co-operative with staff. There is a recognition that some inconsistencies in approach remain within the team and is being appropriately addressed through supervision and the provision of additional training. Sanctions and physical restraint are rarely used as a means of managing behaviour. Young people gain a better understanding of their behaviour and its impact on others through negotiation. However, an isolated incident of the use of illegal substances was, in the first instance not dealt with sufficiently quickly or assertively to give a clear message to young people about the repercussions for themselves and their visitors. However, this has subsequently been addressed and further interventions, such as the involvement of the community police officer and youth offending team, are planned.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are protected by the consistent application of robust recruitment procedures. Thorough checks completed on staff before they commence working in the home limit the potential for young people to have contact with unsuitable adults. Any concerns raised by references, disclosure and barring service checks and gaps in employment history are rigorously pursued and investigated. Appointments are not made where any doubt about suitability remains.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The dynamics of the group have very recently changed with two young people having recently moved into the home. Some tension is evident. While young people do not perceive bullying to be an issue there are occasional incidents of racial and personal verbal abuse directed towards some young people. Staff recognise that this is a period of adjustment; are aware of the issues involved and are taking appropriate action to inform young people of the potential personal and legal consequences of their actions. The involvement of external agencies is planned to support staff in educating and delivering a consistent message to young people. The home provides a safe environment. Regular checks of all mechanical, electrical and fire appliances ensure that they remain in good working order and are safe. Risks presented by the past behaviour of some young people, are well managed. These risks are thoroughly assessed and preventative measures identified, including

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Safeguarding children and young people

the need for a professionals meeting should such incidents appear likely to repeat themselves.

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Leadership and management

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

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Leadership and management

Despite having not informed Ofsted of a change in the management arrangements of the home, the home has been run in the absence of the Registered Manager by an able, committed and focused acting manager. There has been no drift when young people have moved into the home; education and health planning has been quickly implemented and young people have moved on with their lives with clear and purposeful direction.

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Leadership and management

Quality assurance systems are robust and managers are aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the service. There are no outstanding requirements or recommendations for improvement from previous inspections conducted by Ofsted.

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Leadership and management

There are well-established links with external agencies, including the local police and social workers. Together they work effectively and successfully to address issues, such as, absconding and missing from care incidents. Any significant incidents concerning young people are notified to the appropriate agencies within a timely manner enabling them to consider whether any action needs to be taken.

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Leadership and management

Young people benefit from a staff team which is stable, cohesive and, in nearly all respects, consistent in its approach. Staff are trained, competent and well supported in their role. Practice issues are constructively challenged and addressed through regular team meetings and professional supervision and staff welcome this as a critical aspect of their personal development. Arrangements to cover staffing shortfalls are managed through the use of a small number of relief staff or permanent staff from other homes working additional hours. This maintains consistency of care and causes little disruption to young people.

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Leadership and management

Children's records contain most of the information required providing a detailed and accurate reflection of a young person's time in the home. These records contain information that can help young propel to make use of their history with the exception of any recent sanctions that have been administered. Although this could potentially be a significant issue, it is not currently due to the limited number and nature of sanctions that have been issued. The acting manager is in the process of chasing placing authorities to complete pathway plans for those children for whom they are currently not in place and has records to demonstrate this.

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Leadership and management

The home provides a comfortable environment and communal facilities are of a high standard. Young people mostly invest in the home as a result of being able to make a practical contribution to the maintenance and upkeep, such as helping with the gardening, and through being able to choose things for their bedrooms, such as a fish tank. There is some minimal damage to areas of the home that have not been addressed and which detract from the usual well-kept appearance. For instance the slow cooker in the kitchen is damaged as are the wardrobe doors and carpeting in one of the bedrooms.

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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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