Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Herefordshire

Unique reference number SC457923 Inspection date 11/07/2013 Inspector Jo Stephenson Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 11/12/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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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.

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Brief description of the service

This home is registered to accommodate up to four young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The service is owned by a private company.

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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

The home provides extremely personalised care for young people. The environment is nurturing and takes account of the individual needs of young people which allows them to thrive in all aspects of their development. Staff have high aspirations for young people and promoting positive outcomes is central to the work of the home. Young people are encouraged and supported to articulate their views on the running of the home and all areas of their welfare and care. However, case files are not always kept up to date. The review of internal support plans is not consistently documented and this means that case records do not provide young people with an up-to-date overview of their placement.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people enjoy good relationships with staff and each other and benefit from the family atmosphere at the home. Staff encourage young people to identify their ambitions and young people have access to a varied range of community activities to support these. As a result, young people experience improved self-confidence and self-esteem.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff are well supported in their role and their enthusiasm is clear. The Registered Manager ensures that robust monitoring systems are in place to continually review outcomes for young people and the quality of care. Managers use feedback from placing authorities, young people and their families to shape the development of the home and identify strengths and areas for improvement. Nevertheless, a requirement has been made regarding shortfalls in health and safety risk assessments in the home to ensure young people are kept safe from all known hazards.

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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 that all parts of the home to which the children have access are so far as reasonably practicable free from hazards to their health or safety (Regulation 23(a)) 19/09/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) maintain in respect of each child who is accommodated in a children's home a record in permanent form which is kept up to date; and is signed and dated by the author of each written entry. (Regulation 28(1)(b)(c)) 19/09/2013

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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 have access to a range of educational resources to support their learning and have opportunities beyond the school day to engage in activities which promote learning (NMS 8.2)  ensure physical restrictions on normal movement within the home are not used unless this is necessary to safeguard children and promote their welfare and development. Such restrictions for one child do not impose similar restrictions on other children (NMS 10.4)  ensure training keeps staff up-to-date with professional, legal and practice developments that reflects the policies, legal obligations and business needs of the home (NMS 18.1)  ensure information about the child is recorded clearly and in a way which will be helpful to the child when they access their files now or in the future. (NMS 22.5)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make substantial progress in all aspects of their lives. Staff actively promote and celebrate the achievements of young people and as a result, they develop a positive self-view and emotional resilience. One young person said, ‘Staff say lots of nice things to me and that makes me feel good.' Staff have high aspirations for young people and provide incentives, verbal motivation and encouragement. This means that young people respond well to staff and are able to sustain appropriate relationships with them. Young people are assisted to understand their cultural and family background through personalised care plans and effective partnership working between the home and other professionals. Subsequently, young people are able to make sense of their past and identify their future plans. However, case file are not consistently updated in a timely manner to reflect the one-to-one work done with young people or document the progress they have made.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff promote the emotional, physical and psychological health of young people. The home has formed effective partnerships with general and specialist health professionals. This means that young people profit from an integrated approach to identifying and addressing their individual needs. Staff support young people to attend all health appointments and this further promotes the health and welfare of young people.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are continually encouraged to attend their education placements and for some, their attendance has improved significantly since coming to the home. Staff are proactive at liaising with schools and colleges to identify barriers to education and securing alternative training opportunities for young people who have struggled to maintain their attendance. As a result young people benefit from a tailored approach to continued learning. Nevertheless, young people do not have access to educational resources, such as a computer, to support their education beyond the school day.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff encourage young people to participate in individual and group activities in the local community. For example, the home had established close links with a local stables that allow young people the opportunity to work with horses and develop their social and practical skills. As a result, young people are able to expand their social circle. Young people participate in regular young people’s meetings to plan activities and holidays and discuss the development of the service. Subsequently, young people are involved in the day-to-day running of the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff work closely with families in line with statutory placement plans, likewise, any restrictions are clearly recorded. Young people speak positively of the support they are given by staff to ensure that contact goes ahead. Consequently, young people are provided with support to establish and sustain positive relationships with their families and others significant to them. Young people say they have a clear understanding of contact arrangements. One young person said, ‘Staff make sure I call my family so that we stay in touch.'

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Quality of care

Young people enjoy strong and positive relationships with staff. The atmosphere at the home is supportive and well ordered, and young people thrive in this nurturing environment. Staff are able to demonstrate an excellent understanding of the individual needs of young people, and identify antecedents to changes in mood. As a result, young people are at the centre of running of the home and staff are skilled at adapting their care practices to meet these needs. Young people describe the staff and the home as ‘like being part of a family’.

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Quality of care

Staff consult with young people on all aspects of their care. Keywork sessions address a range of topics relevant to individual young people and the progress they have made at the home. However, these sessions are not effectively recorded in a timely manner and as a result, case files and documents do not provide young people with a helpful record of their placement. Young people say they feel listened to and that their thoughts, wishes and views influence the running of the home. The Registered Manager welcomes the constructive suggestions of young people and young people are confident and assertive in expressing their views. Young people confirm they are aware of how to make a complaint, and can directly access complaints forms. Complaints from young people are rare, but taken seriously and investigated fully in appropriate time scales. Young people receive written and verbal feedback on any concerns they raise and are able to comment on the outcome of

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from personalised internal placement plans, risk assessments and behaviour plans that clearly identify their individual needs and specify comprehensive strategies for meeting these. Plans include the use of additional specialist professional services when necessary. As a result, young people are provided with a holistic approach to their care. Young people are encouraged to review the progress of their plans with allocated keyworkers and therefore, young people have a sound understanding of the aims and objectives of their placement. However, this is not always documented. Staff support young people to attend review meetings and showcase their achievements. Social workers say the homes’ contribution to reviews and the regular progress reports they are provided with are detailed, clear and demonstrate how well the staff know and understand the young people.

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Quality of care

Progress in education is central to the daily running of the home. Young people disengaged from education prior to their admission, now attend on a regular basis. Social workers praise the support and commitment the home provides to assist young people to maintain their school placements. The home aims to equip young people with as many skills and qualifications as possible. Staff work closely with alternative education establishments to inspire young people to continue with their education. The home celebrates the educational achievements of young people and this means young people benefit from improved self-esteem.

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Quality of care

Young people enjoy a healthy and tasty diet that takes account of their personal preferences and cultural backgrounds. Meals are sociable occasions and staff encourage young people to discuss a variety of topics and reflect on their achievements during the day. This means that young people learn valuable social skills. Young people are cared for in a warm and nurturing environment with firm and consistent boundaries. There is an exceptional approach to promoting the emotional, physical and psychological health of young people. Staff are able to identify the specific health needs of young people and access specialist services to address these. Subsequently, young people are supported to make positive choices regarding their health and life style. Staff encourage young people to take appropriate responsibility for their own health and support this through engaging sessions relating to key health risks.

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Quality of care

Young people are encouraged to pursue a varied range of hobbies and activities they are interested in. Young people say, ‘We can do lots of good, fun stuff; things that we like.' Staff work with young people to source clubs and facilities in the local community and individual pursuits are incorporated in the daily routine of the home. These opportunities help young people to explore skills, experience success and develop a positive self-image.

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Quality of care

The home is appropriately located, in easy reach of local facilities. Young people are consulted on the internal decoration of the home. The home is comfortable and creates a homely environment. Young people take responsibility for their bedrooms, with the support of staff and are encouraged to take pride in their surroundings.

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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 safe and say they feel safe in the home. Young people do not identify bullying as an issue and there have been no recorded episodes of bullying. However, staff remain alert to the signs of bullying or intimidation both inside and outside of the home, and receive regular training in this area.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Policies and procedures support and promote safe work practices. Staff have an excellent understanding of safeguarding procedures and receive regular training to support their knowledge. Allegations and suspicions of harm are effectively recorded, managed and referred to the appropriate agencies. Safeguarding procedures are supported by a multi-agency approach to investigations. As a result, the management of allegations provide effective protection and support for young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Incidents of young people missing from the home have substantially reduced. Staff ensure that detailed missing from home risk assessments are in place and these are reviewed and incorporated into intervention plans. Young people have individualised action plans to support risk assessments and identify triggers to missing from home episodes. Staff work closely with other agencies and local police to ensure that young people are protected from exploitation. Staff complete keywork sessions with young people, informing them of the risk associated with absenting themselves without authority. As a result, young people benefit from an integrated approach to reducing their vulnerabilities.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people receive rewards and incentives for positive behaviour and this means they are able to identify their individual goals and targets. Staff implement individualised behaviour management strategies to encourage young people to display socially acceptable behaviour and promote their safety. However, the use of bedroom door alarms to safeguard young people is not regularly reviewed to ensure that the continued need for this measure is defined for individual young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff receive training in physical intervention and de-escalation techniques. Records of restraint are detailed and appropriate. Young people are encouraged to comment on the reason for this intervention being used and how they feel about being restrained. Staff complete comprehensive ‘de-brief’ interviews with young people following every physical restraint. Subsequently, young people are able to reflect on their behaviour and consider alternative ways of managing their frustrations.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Managers complete general environmental risk assessments to promote the safety of young people in the home. However, these risk assessments do not include all identified hazards. This means that potential hazards are not monitored and young people may be at risk of harm. Young people take part in regular fire drills; checks and tests of fire safety equipment are also carried out.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home adheres to robust recruitment procedures to safeguard young people. Safety checks are carried out in full on all new starters. This means that young people work with suitably vetted and selected staff.

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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

Young people live in a home that is effectively and efficiently run by an experienced and permanent manager. The home meets the aims and objectives of its Statement of Purpose and young people, staff and placing authorities are clear about the support the home provides. Managers and staff have a strong commitment to improving outcomes for young people and delivering a service tailored to the needs of individual young people. This is demonstrated by the significant progress young people are making. Staff have an extensive range of skills that reflect young people's individual needs. As a result, young people benefit from working with a knowledgeable and committed staff team.

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Leadership and management

The Registered Manager is at the centre of the home and has a clear oversight of young people’s progress, staff development and areas for improvement. Staff and young people benefit from effective leadership that emphasises high expectations and sustainable progress. The manager ensures that the home is structured to endorse stability and consistency for young people.

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Leadership and management

Staff say they are well supported in their role and receive regular and effective supervision. Staff meetings are held monthly and any issues raised by young people during their meetings, are discussed in this arena. This means that young people receive appropriate feedback on any issues they raise. Complaints recorded since the last inspection have been effectively addressed and resolved. All staff complete mandatory training, however, this is not refreshed in line with organisational polices and this means that staff are not consistently given the opportunity to refresh their knowledge. The manager has ensured robust systems are in place to monitor the quality of care and outcomes for young people. A bespoke development plan is in place that reflects progress and identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the home. Nevertheless, identified shortfalls are not addressed within appropriate time scales. For example,

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Leadership and management

actions required to update case file entries and the improved recording of one-to-one sessions with young people, remains outstanding. As a result, young people are not provided with an up-to-date or helpful record of their placement.

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Leadership and management

The home has established excellent partnership working with other professionals and placing authorities. The manager promotes effective consultation with young people prior to their reviews and supports young people to attend and express their wishes. As a result, young people are involved in decisions about their future.

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Leadership and management

Young people develop in an environment where boundaries and expectations are clear and staff practice is consistent. As a result, the home has a positive impact on young people and improves their life chances though commitment and support.

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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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