Children's Home run by Compass Children’s Homes Kent Limited in Kent

Unique reference number SC425071 Inspection date 31/07/2013 Inspector David Putnam Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 10/05/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This privately run children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Education is available on site. Therapy is available to young people if required.

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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

This home was last inspected in May 2013 when the overall effectiveness was judged to be inadequate. A compliance notice was served against the responsible individual. A monitoring visit in June identified significant progress and resulted in a decision not to take further enforcement action. This further full inspection was undertaken to check progress against all previous requirements and recommendations and promote continued improvement.

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Overall effectiveness

The inspector found that robust and effective action had been taken to address the majority of requirements and recommendations. Where shortfalls remain they no longer have the same negative impact upon the safety and welfare of young people. However, requirements are made to ensure permission is given to monitor the movement of young people at night, to consult with young people, parents and placing authorities regarding improvements to the service and to ensure the performance of all staff is appraised annually. Recommendations are made to ensure that all staff are appropriately qualified and to promote the inclusion of young people in the recruitment of new staff.

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Overall effectiveness

Outcomes for young people remain adequate. All other judgement areas have been raised from inadequate to adequate. This demonstrates notable improvement within a short period of time.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people make progress as a result of the care they receive. They learn to manage their behaviour better and attend school regularly after prolonged periods out of full-time education. Young people, parents and placing social workers have positive views about the quality of care provided by the home. Young people get on well with staff and feel safe within the home. Care planning is sound and appropriately identifies how the individual needs of young people are met. Leaders and managers have an appropriate understanding of areas where the home still needs to improve. Plans are in place to identify how these developments will be achieved.

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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 electronic or mechanical monitoring devices for the surveillance of children are not used except for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children accommodated in the children's home, and that all conditions set out in this regulation are met (Regulation 22 (1) (a) to (d)) 30/09/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that all persons employed by him receive an appropriate appraisal (Regulation 27 (4)(a)) 30/09/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the system referred to in paragraph (1) of this regulation shall provide for consultation with children accommodated in the home, their parents and placing authorities. (Regulation 34 (3)) 30/09/2013

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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 where practicable, children are involved in the recruitment of staff in the home (NMS 16.8)  ensure that all staff engaged from the commencement of the national minimum standards are to hold the level 3 Children and Young People's Workforce Diploma which must include mandatory social care units; or be working towards the diploma within six months of confirmation of employment. (NMS 18.5)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for young people are adequate . Young people benefit from access to counselling and other therapeutic interventions. This helps them to confidentially express their feelings and emotions in a safe environment and come to terms with past experiences. Parents identify progress made by their children, highlighting that they are calmer and control their anger better as a result of being in the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from clear routines. This promotes full attendance in the on- site school when some young people have previously been out of full-time education for many months. As a result young people make demonstrable progress in their education. Achievements are in line with the individual abilities of young people and are celebrated by staff. Parents say that their children now enjoy going to school and confirm that they receive regular reports and updates which confirm the progress their children make.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The physical health of young people is promoted through engagement with activities in the wider community. The views of young people are actively sought to identify interests they would like to pursue. Currently young people share particular hobbies. This results in them spending some time together in addition to making new friends outside the home. Staff manage the need to support interaction with others while providing effective supervision.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people maintain positive links with their families. Parents say that they talk to their children every night, taking it in turns to call each other on the telephone. In addition positive experiences of face-to-face contact are promoted by staff in line with plans agreed with placing authorities. This helps parents feel they are working together with the home to directly benefit young people.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Individualised work ensures that young people acquire practical life skills in line with their ability and understanding. For example, young people help around the home to complete the domestic tasks that are undertaken in all households. This helps them feel they are contributing while building confidence in their own abilities. When appropriate, young people are assisted to manage themselves independently in the wider community. Staff ensure suitable safeguards are in place to support young people and build their self-confidence.

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Quality of care

Young people have benefited from significant improvements in the quality of the living environment since the last full inspection. The completion of maintenance tasks to a high standard has contributed to this. In addition the attention staff have paid to detail has provided a much more homely and welcoming environment. New furniture and equipment, along with the addition of pictures, plants and soft furnishings result in a more comfortable and attractive home for young people. As a result young people now spend time together within the home, providing a sense of community that was previously missing. Standards of hygiene have been dramatically improved through the appointment of a new housekeeper who ensures that communal areas are kept pristinely clean. Standards of food hygiene have also improved following the implementation of enhanced processes and procedures. These improvements enhance the living

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Quality of care

accommodation and experiences of young people.

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Quality of care

Significant improvements have been achieved in practices relating to medication since the previous full inspection. Managers secured updated training for the vast majority of staff. Practice of staff is monitored closely. As a result, arrangements for the storage, administration and recording of medication are now safe. Further advice was sought from an external pharmacist to identify additional improvements to practice around medication. Leaders and managers promptly responded to recommendations made through this process. This ensures that best practice is achieved and maintained within the home.

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Quality of care

While most young people attend the on-site school, staff work with placing authorities to promote the education of young people in external provision when this is more appropriate. Young people say that they are encouraged to undertake and complete work that stretches their academic ability. Young people are able to look forward to what they would like to do in the future. They clearly outline their desired career paths and identify personal academic goals they need to achieve, to enable them to realise their ambitions. Placing social workers say that staff from the home are good about attending parents’ evenings. Parents and placing social workers are positive about communication they receive relating to the education of young people. This ensures important information is shared by all those working with individual young people and results in clear plans being in place.

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Quality of care

Positive, communication between care staff and therapeutic professionals maintains confidentiality, but promotes understanding of behaviours. This informs care planning and helps to identify potential strategies and approaches to use with individual young people.

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Quality of care

Young people enjoy sound relationships with staff. A reduction in the use of agency and bank staff has improved consistency. Staff say that leadership in the home has improved. They confirm that clear messages now promote the ways in which the staff team work together to benefit the individual care provided to each young person. This results in consistent boundaries being set by staff. Parents praise the time and patience of staff in communicating clear messages to their children which result in improvements in behaviour and attitude.

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Quality of care

Views of young people are sought and considered in relation to basic aspects relating to the running of the home, such as menus and individual activities. However, they are not consulted in regard to larger issues. For example, young people are still not directly involved in the recruitment of new staff. Complaints are rare, but are dealt with promptly. Staff are prompt to respond when young people express dissatisfaction in less formal ways. Young people receive immediate responses to any moans, gripes or concerns they may have.

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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

Young people are comfortable with staff and say that they feel safe in and around the home. Prompt and clear responses to bullying help to further promote young people’s sense of safety.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Managers and staff pro-actively promote the safety of young people through sound care planning processes. At the same time, social workers from placing authorities say that staff understand the importance of safeguarding others from behaviours of young people that pose a potential risk. As a result young people receive one-to-one supervision when this is necessary.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Risk assessment processes have vastly improved since the previous full inspection. Documents relating to individual young people now consider potential risks or hazards and give clear direction as to how the likelihood and impact of these will be minimised. Staff now sign to confirm that they have read and understood these documents, enabling them to work with colleagues to promote the welfare of young people. These risk assessments are regularly reviewed in response to specific events or individual needs. Changes are communicated effectively to all staff to ensure practice with individual young people is consistent.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Records of restraints now fully meet regulations. In addition managers now effectively monitor records of restraints. Overall, the frequency of restraint appears to be reducing, but for some young people restraints continue to occur regularly. However, changes to the way restraints are recorded now ensure that the views of young people are noted, supporting them to understand that their opinion is valued.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Children rarely go missing. When this does occur staff recognise the vulnerability of young people and respond urgently, working together with the police and parents to find and safeguard young people. Young people are responded to positively after being found in a way that helps them to comprehend the genuine concerns staff have for their welfare.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Additional staff have completed first aid training since the last full inspection. Only a small number of staff do not currently hold a first aid certificate. Managers ensure that these staff do not work together. Consequently, staff rotas now reflect that there is always someone on duty with a first aid qualification. The welfare of young people, staff and visitors is further promoted through regular checks of first aid kits around the home. These are restocked when necessary to ensure that they contain the identified minimum content.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The inspector found that since the last full inspection managers had written to social workers and parents to request their consent to use alarms on the bedroom doors of young people overnight. While, evidence of this consent was found for most young people documentation could not be found for one young person during this inspection. Consequently the requirement is set again to ensure consistency of practice.

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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

An application for the post of Registered Manager has been received from the current acting manager. This is being progressed. Evidence of extensive work to drive improvement since the previous inadequate judgement was clear to see during this inspection. The efforts of the acting manager and other leaders in the organisation were recognised by the inspector.

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Leadership and management

Eleven requirements were made at the last full inspection, four of which were subject to compliance notices. Clear action has resulted in demonstrable improvements in relation to the majority of these. The overall welfare of young people is promoted through improved recording which more effectively informs risk assessment processes. Details of restraints are now recorded accurately and completely in one bound volume. The quality of first aid provision is significantly improved through the training of staff and the access to suitable equipment. Arrangements for dealing with medication are now safe and effective. The frequency and quality of supervision has improved and is now in line with the organisation’s own policy. Overall cleanliness and standards of hygiene within the home have significantly improved, providing a safer living environment. A new format for reports of monthly monitoring visits has

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Leadership and management

been produced. These reports are now consistently submitted to Ofsted and provide improved clarity and direction for the acting manager through raising well-defined action points.

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Leadership and management

Two requirements are not fully met. Consent for the use of alarms on the bedroom doors of all young people are not yet in place. While there is now an improved format for the manager to review the quality of care this does not yet reflect any consultation with young people, their parents or placing authorities. These shortfalls result in requirements being reset, but do not significantly impact on the welfare of young people.

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Leadership and management

In addition to the eleven requirements, eight recommendations were made at the last inspection. Evidence was identified confirming that five of these had been addressed satisfactorily. Young people no longer express concerns that their views are not listened to or acted upon. Where additional information was necessary to confirm recruitment and vetting checks of all staff this is now available in the home. Action has been taken to achieve continuity of staff to promote the opportunity for young people to develop positive attachments. Improved monitoring of records helps to identify patterns or trends and promote compliance with the home’s policies. Through clear direction staff now have a better understanding of the importance of the records they make. These now provide improved insight into the lives of young people. Records are now completed consistently. When the need to improve quality of recording for individual staff is identified, personalised support is given.

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Leadership and management

Three recommendations are not yet fully met. Young people from the home are not yet directly involved in the recruitment of new staff. This would help them to take on appropriate responsibility and further understand how their views are considered to be important and valued. Not all current staff hold or are working towards the minimum qualification set out in the national minimum standards. These recommendations are made again. While a revised approach to supervision now includes personal development targets for all staff, annual appraisals of the performance of staff have not been completed. The views of young people living in the home have not been obtained to inform a formal appraisal process. A requirement is now made to ensure that all staff are appraised appropriately.

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Leadership and management

The home is adequately resourced and employs sufficient staff to meet the needs of young people living there. An on-going training programme continues to support staff to provide an appropriate quality of care for young people. This is valued by staff and the commitment of leaders and managers demonstrates a sustained desire to improve the service.

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Leadership and management

The home’s Statement of Purpose was reviewed and a copy forwarded to Ofsted immediately after the last inspection. While it remains comprehensive, this document is shorter and more accessible that the previous version.

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Leadership and management

Social workers say that communication from both the acting manager of the home and the headteacher is good. Social workers confirm that they regularly receive clear information relating to progress of individual young people and any problems. They add that simple difficulties are frequently sorted out quickly.

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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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