Children's Home run by Westgate Lifestyle Project Limited in Hounslow

Unique reference number SC409851 Inspection date 15/07/2013 Inspector Muhammed Harunur Rashid Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 13/03/2013 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 children's home is registered to care for up to four young people. The home is owned and operated by a private provider.

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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 outcomes for young people and the quality of care provided by the home are good. Young people benefit from care and support from a qualified and caring staff who are dedicated to their roles. Care planning and staff practice are personalised to meet the individual needs of young people.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people make good progress in relation to their starting points across all aspects of their welfare and development. For example, they make good progress in promotion of health, education, safeguarding and learning various life skills for adulthood.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people have positive views about the quality of their care in the home and relationships with staff. Young people feel safe and secure within a nurturing environment that offers them the opportunity to grow and develop.

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Overall effectiveness

The home has effective monitoring systems in place to review the quality of care that young people receive and identify any areas where outcomes for young people may be improved.

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Overall effectiveness

A requirement has been made with regard to addressing maintenance works promptly. A recommendation has been made in relation to all staff completing training to meet young people’s healthcare needs.

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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 children's home used by children are well maintained; for example, by securing rear garden and replacing young people's bedroom door frames. (Regulation 31 (e)) 15/09/2013

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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 that all staff receive sufficient training on health and hygiene issues; for example, medication administration. (NMS 6.7)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people receive individualised care which is consistent with their care plans and which enables them to feel secure and achieve good outcomes. Through the support they receive, young people gain confidence and develop self-help skills and positive- self-view. They are proud of their cultural heritage.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people learn to develop various life skills through individualised pathway plans for a semi-independence programme in preparation for adulthood. They acquire essential practical and social skills for future adult life. For example, they learn how to budget and shop with agreed amounts of money in each week. They are able to exercise choice and independence in the clothes and personal requisites that they buy and have these needs met. Young people learn to make doctors' appointments and travel to various places. A number of former residents of the service have successfully moved into semi-independent living following their placements.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people develop and improve their relationships with their parents and friends through regular contacts. Their family and friends visit the home. A number of former residents of the home join young people for Sunday lunch and socialise with them, which young people enjoy.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people enjoy good health and live in a healthy environment. They enjoy a variety of dishes that reflect their diversity and preferences. They are registered with doctors, dentists and other health professionals. This enables young people’s to access health professionals. Young people keep physically fit, for example, through attending the local gymnasium and participating in sports.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make good progress and achieve in their education through regular attendance at school. Some of the young people are pursuing careers in plumbing and construction works through enrolling themselves into these training.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make a positive contribution to their home and wider community. At the home they pursue their individual interests and hobbies. Staff ensure that young people have access to local community resources, for example through visits to the library, bowling and cinema.

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Quality of care

Young people’s care needs are effectively and comprehensively assessed. Each young person has an individual care plan in place. Guidelines are in place about individual aspects of care for each young person; this ensures that staff have a consistent approach in providing care. Consistent monitoring enable staff to evaluate young people’s progress regularly. This process positively contributes to statutory reviews.

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Quality of care

Young people are supported in line with their wishes. The home recognises the importance of involving young people in the day-to-day running of the home and in the decision-making process. Young people are consulted during weekly house meetings. Staff also consult with young people’s families and the placing authorities in order to improve the service they offer.

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Quality of care

A robust complaints procedure is in place. Parents, staff and young people are made aware of their right to complaint if they are unhappy with any aspect of the service. Any complaints made are taken seriously and dealt with promptly. A detailed record is maintained of any complaints made, including any action that has been taken and the outcome of the complaint.

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Quality of care

The home maintains a good relationship with their neighbours and exchanges Christmas presents with them. Neighbours talk to staff and young people.

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Quality of care

Staff closely work with the schools and monitor young people’s attendance at schools. Young people are provided with personal computers and a small library to promote education. Staff help young people with their homework and support them finding appropriate training courses.

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Quality of care

Staff encourage and support young people to eat healthily and to take participate in a range of activities that contribute to their physical and emotional health. The staff team liaises closely with doctors and any relevant specialists. Young people are referred to drug and alcohol services if required. A worker from this service visits the home and makes young people aware of the dangers of alcohol and substance misuse. This provides good information about misuse of drugs and alcohol and young people commented that they find this useful. Staff are provided with first aid and food hygiene training, but not all staff have attended medication administration training yet. A plan is in place for all staff to attend this training.

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Quality of care

The home is appropriately located and designed. There is a system in place to address maintenance works to improve the physical condition and presentation of the home. Since the last inspection the service has purchased new furniture and decorated the premises. The rear garden was secured with fencing but this has since been broken. Young people’s bedroom door frames have been damaged. The Registered Manager has obtained quotes from the relevant professionals to repair these in order to provide a homely, comfortable and well-maintained environment.

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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 as staff have a good understanding of the safeguarding procedures. Staff are fully aware of the action to take should they have concerns about a young person. This combined with their understanding of young people’s needs means young people are protected from harm. Young people have a good understanding of how to keep themselves safe. This is because of the advice and support provided by staff.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are made aware of the danger of going missing from care. The majority of young people who had a history of going missing have stopped doing so. Some who go missing return home quickly and let staff know where they are, or ask staff to pick them up from a specific location. There is a clear and comprehensive policy to guide staff what they should do if a young person is missing. As a result of this, staff know how to act appropriately to safeguard young people while they are missing and on return.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Behaviour management is based on building good relationships. Staff reward young people for their socially acceptable behaviour and for achieving good outcomes for themselves, for example, attending school regularly and completing weekly tasks. Staff provided with challenging behaviour training. Sanctions are used when need arise and young people said they were reasonable.

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Safeguarding children and young people

All significant events relating to the protection of children and young people are notified to the appropriate authorities. A written record is kept which includes details of the action taken, and the outcome of any action or investigation, following notifiable events.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The recruitment processes and procedures are good. Staff are vetted thoroughly before starting work with children and young people to ensure that they are safeguarded. They are recruited in accordance with the recruitment policy and procedure of the home so as to protect vulnerable children and young people. Staff follow comprehensive health and safety policies and procedures. Detailed records are maintained for all health and safety checks that take place and these are carried out at the required regular intervals. The home also carries out thorough risk assessments of any possible or identified risks to young people and reviews and updates these regularly to ensure the welfare and safety of young people.

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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 home has a clear Statement of Purpose which informs young people, their families and placing authorities about the services provided by the home. The Statement of Purpose accurately reflects the practice and registration conditions of this home. The home has a young people’s guide which well suited to the needs of young people.

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Leadership and management

The service has been successful in promoting an ethos of valuing diversity and equality. Staff are provided with equality and diversity training. Staff have multi- lingual skills and they are culturally diverse. Staff understand young people’s strengths and needs. There are consistent working practices which focus on enhancing young people’s quality of life. Staff encourage and support young people to make personal choices and to access community resources.

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Leadership and management

The home has made good progress since the last inspection, with all the requirements and recommendations for improvement now met. The home now ensures that young people's records include what actions are taken by staff to ensure their safety and prevent further incidents; there is a system in place to ensure that maintenance matters are addressed, young people are supported to develop various practical skills; daily handover take place to plan the shift ahead and young people know who is on duty at all times. All staff receive regular support and supervision. These measures promote the welfare and safety of young people and improve the quality of care.

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Leadership and management

Staffing levels are good and ensure that quality time can be spent with young people. Young people enjoy their time with staff and feel that they are supported very well by them and the manager. This enables the young people to be protected and make progress.

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Leadership and management

Staff are competent and efficient in their role as a result of the quality training they receive. Staff say that they are well supported through regular supervision and annual appraisals. Regular staff meetings, daily hand overs and effective shift planning systems promote good communication and contribute to the smooth running of the home.

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Leadership and management

There are clear and effective procedures for monitoring and controlling the activities of the home. A monitoring visit takes place on a monthly basis and reports are sent to Ofsted. The Registered Manager completes her comprehensive reports, detailing the effectiveness of the monitoring of the matters required by regulation. The home is adequately resourced. Managers understand the strengths and the weakness of the home and have a business plan in place to address shortfalls.

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Leadership and management

Each young person has an individual case record which helps them to reflect on and understand their history and keep appropriate memorabilia of their time in the placement.

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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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