Children's Home run by North Yorkshire Council in North Yorkshire

Unique reference number SC034189 Inspection date 13/06/2013 Inspector Rebecca Sharp Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 20/02/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This local authority children's home offers care and accommodation for six children who experience 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 good .

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Overall effectiveness

Young people receive well planned and individualised care from a child-focused and experienced staff team. Young people are involved in the care planning process and therefore have a good understanding of their needs and how to work with the home to achieve them. There are many strategies in place to keep young people safe, and young people report that they feel safe living at the home.

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Overall effectiveness

The views of young people are regularly sought by staff and management through various forms of consultation. The results of the consultation are taken into account in the home's review of the quality of care. These processes have been influential in changes to the day-to-day running of the home, such as the young people’s reward scheme.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people enjoy living at the home and experience positive and constructive relationships with staff. One young person said that they were very confident in sharing their thoughts and feelings with staff. Staff have a sound understanding of individual needs and tailor their practice appropriately. Individuals are making encouraging progress from their starting points as a result of consistent behaviour support through restorative practice. There have been a number of young people who have experienced positive transitions into adulthood as a result of the dedicated support from the home.

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Overall effectiveness

The management of the home is competent and effective. The manager has a clear vision to maintain and develop the quality of care for young people. There are a number of monitoring processes in place which enable a thorough review of the service. The recommendations made at the previous inspection have been met. Two shortfalls were found during this inspection. As a result, a requirement has been raised to ensure staff record the effectiveness of sanctions as routine practice, along with a recommendation in relation to the supervision of staff.

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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

17B (2001) ensure that records include the effectiveness and any consequence of the use of the measure. This is in specific regard to sanction records. (Regulation 17B (3) (f)) 16/08/2013

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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 staff have access to support and advice, and are provided with regular supervision by appropriately qualified and experienced staff. (NMS 19.4)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes are good for young people; however, progress made is unique to each individual. Staff work with young people who display extremely challenging and complex behaviour as a result of emotional crisis. There has been a period of unrest in the home since the last inspection. New residents have moved in, in quick succession, which has had an unsettling influence on the group dynamics. This has resulted in an increase in risk-taking and anti-social behaviour. However, staff work tirelessly and consistently, in conjunction with the local police, placing authority, and the youth justice system, in supporting individual needs, and provide extensive support to ensure young people achieve their potential. Young people have responded well to this support, and as a result, have shown a reduction in certain behaviours. Constructive attachments have been formed between staff and young people and staff are committed to being influential in young people’s lives.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are encouraged to maintain good health. Staff ensure all statutory health appointments are up to date, and specialist treatment is sought where necessary. Individuals benefit from psychological support from local child and adolescent mental health services, who work with both the staff as well as individually with young people. Dedication from staff in implementing consistent behaviour support strategies inspires young people to begin to take responsibility for their own behaviour and to develop alternative approaches in times of emotional crisis. In-depth discussions take place regularly, which further strengthens young people's ability to develop both their emotional resilience and a positive self-view.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Most young people have completed mandatory education. Those who have not are making progress with regards to their attendance. However, due to individual complexities, this is significant headway. The ethos of the home promotes education and the benefits of structure and routine, in order to improve self-esteem and develop social skills. Some young people have maintained successful work experience placements, while others are actively seeking employment.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from appropriate contact with friends, family and those who are important to them. The home has had a positive impact on re-establishing contact with estranged family members of young people. This has been significant in the development of a sense of self and knowledge of their background. Staff also actively promote friendships between young people and their peers. Friends come to the home and share meals and take part in activities as a group.

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Quality of care

The home provides a good standard of care and support to young people with complex emotional and behavioural needs. Staff work determinedly with young people who display challenging behaviour in order to support their emotional well- being through difficult periods in their life, such as bereavement, placement breakdown and police investigations. A worker from the local child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) commented: ‘This is a good staff team who are committed to the young people they care for.’

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Quality of care

Staff and young people relate well to each other, and interactions between young people and staff are generally positive. Young people enjoy the company of staff and feel that they are consistently concerned about their welfare. Strategies are put into place to manage peer relationships in line with risk assessments. Positive behaviour is promoted well and individuals are making encouraging steps in reducing risk- taking and anti-social behaviour as a result. A social worker for one young person commented that, ‘the young person was completely different when they first came. The restorative work has been very good.’

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Quality of care

Consultation with young people is effective in influencing the day-to-day plans for the home. For example, young people commented on the efficiency of the reward scheme and offered an alternative system which is now in place. Their needs, wishes and views are taken into account in relation to care planning and assessing risks. Complaints are handled fairly and promptly which promotes the young people's confidence in the complaints procedure.

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Quality of care

Internal care plans are highly individualised and reflect young people’s needs, taking into consideration their culture, religion, gender and sexuality. There are clear strategies in place which address how these needs will be met in daily living. Behaviour support plans are updated regularly in order to ensure successful approaches in dealing with challenging behaviour are consistent. Information is current and reviewed regularly and includes the views of young people. Statutory reviews take place within timescales and the home prepares well for these by completing thorough reports, and encouraging young people to contribute to the consultation process in order to express their thoughts on their care and aspirations for their future. This ensures they are part of the decision-making process and are aware of any changes to their care plans.

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Quality of care

The home promotes education well. For those young people still in mandatory education, educational placements are supported positively. Staff have high aspirations for young people to achieve successful outcomes and break down barriers to ensure the full participation of individuals. Proactive procedures are in place for young people who refuse to attend education. The home has strong links with local education provisions which enable effective communication to take place regularly and assess the progress of individuals, identifying areas of need where necessary.

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Quality of care

Young people are encouraged to take part in a variety of purposeful activities in order to promote their inclusion in the local community. There are a number of local amenities available for young people to access, such as army cadets and youth clubs. Not only does this promote self-esteem and confidence in new skills and interests, but it allows for young people to develop relationships outside of the looked after system. Young people enjoy the opportunities they get to explore new leisure pursuits.

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Quality of care

Young people have access to a range of local health services to meet their needs and ensure good health and well-being are maintained. There are positive working relationships between the home and the local CAMHS team. This is crucial in the support of young people’s emotional well-being and psychological health.

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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 safeguarded by robust planning and risk management strategies, and as a result, even the most vulnerable young people achieve a sense of safety. Young people confirm they feel safe and that staff promote their welfare. Risk assessments are completed prior to admission and are reviewed regularly to ensure the effectiveness of strategies in place. This is a regular feature on the staff meeting agenda which ensures the consistency of safeguarding practice.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Incidents of bullying are handled effectively by staff. Recording of incidents and monitoring practices are efficient, and one young person, who has experienced bullying at the home, said ‘staff sorted it.’ Comprehensive and imaginative restorative work is completed with young people, identifying the issues around bullying and the implications this behaviour presents. Positive behaviour is promoted through good role modelling from staff and consistency in the implementation of boundaries and individual strategies.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Instances requiring restraint are infrequent. Staff are trained and skilled in dynamic de-escalation techniques which reduce the risk of physical intervention. When used, it is proportionate, in the best interests of the young person, and within legislative frameworks. Young people are consulted with following an incident of restraint to ensure their understanding of the reason why it was used, and also to explore alternative strategies in dealing with similar feelings and behaviours in the future. Sanctions are proportionate and relevant to the misdemeanour. However, the effectiveness of these measures is not routinely evaluated. This means the manager cannot fully monitor the value of disciplinary measures implemented by staff. A requirement has been made as a result of this shortfall.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The young people can exhibit extremely challenging behaviour, including high-risk and anti-social conduct. Since the last inspection, this type of behaviour has increased with the introduction of new residents in short succession. This has led to involvement from police and the youth offending team. Although young people have placed themselves at risk of harm, the home has responded actively and has identified individual strategies to protect them. This has been successful so far in reducing certain behaviours. The home works closely with social workers and police in order to reduce risks in the local community and therefore ensure the young people’s safety. There have been a number of unauthorised absences of young people and reports of missing from home. Staff are aware of their responsibilities in following the home’s procedures when young people go missing. These procedures are in line with the local police joint protocol for missing persons. Young people are

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Safeguarding children and young people

supported when they return to the home and staff engage them in discussion in order to ascertain any triggers or concerns surrounding the incident. Strategies are then put in place to minimise risks, and for some individuals, numbers of such incidents have dramatically reduced.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home is well maintained and regular health and safety checks are carried out. There is a designated member of staff who is responsible for the oversight of health and safety within the home and its maintenance, which ensures a prompt response to any issue within the building. Therefore young people live in a home which is safe.

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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

The management of the home is robust and competent. However, there has been a period of instability during which staff sickness has impacted on the management of the home. This has been identified by the management team and there are now clear plans in place to address this. There is an in-depth action plan in place which identifies realistic goals and targets. This has been completed as a result of thorough monitoring and reflection.

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Leadership and management

Monthly staff meetings take place to ensure consistent messages are conveyed to the team. This is also a forum to discuss behaviour support strategies for young people. Staff find these meetings a useful development tool. While most staff feel well supported by the management team, some have not received regular supervision. A new system has been implemented by the manager; however, this is in its infancy. A recommendation has therefore been made to ensure this system allows for adequate and regular support.

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Leadership and management

The manager and staff have a sound understanding of the needs of the individuals in their care. Staff are child centred and outcomes focused. Young people's experiences at the home, since their admission, have had a significant impact on many aspects of their lives. This is demonstrated in successful transitions into independence for some, and the development of a positive self-view for others who have experienced emotional crisis.

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Leadership and management

The manager has demonstrated a capacity for improvement in the satisfactory conclusion of the previous two recommendations set at the last inspection. There is a system in place to ensure medical assistance is routinely offered following incidents of restraint, and all staff and young people have been involved in a fire drill to ensure their awareness of the home’s safety procedures.

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Leadership and management

The staff team receives high quality training. Staff are clear about the aims and objectives of the home and work consistently to achieve these and promote positive outcomes for young people. Communication between agencies is prompt and effective in ensuring all parties are kept well informed of young people’s progress. A social worker confirmed they are kept up-to-date with information and that ‘the home works really well with the placing authority and attend all meetings regarding the young person.’

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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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