Children's Home run by Hopscotch Care Limited in Lancashire

Unique reference number SC432741 Inspection date 02/08/2013 Inspector Anne Bannister Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 17/01/2013 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 privately-owned children's home is registered to accommodate and care for five young people of either sex who experience emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home accepts emergency placements and can offer care to young people on a short-, medium- or long-term basis.

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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 is making a positive difference to young people's lives. The commitment and quality of care provided by staff enables established young people to make good progress. At the time of inspection only two of the four young people were well established in the home. The other two young people were recent admissions and a full assessment of their needs and how they will be met was still being undertaken.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff provide personalised and well-planned care that takes into account the individual needs and wishes of each young person. Social workers, and other professionals involved with the home say staff promote positive outcomes for young people, and are skilful in supporting them through difficult periods. Experienced and the mostly qualified staff team, offer structure and support to young people that values and celebrates their individual qualities and experiences.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff listen and respond as young people contribute their views and ideas about the quality of care in the home. Staff encourage young people to be fully involved in decisions about plans for their futures. Staff foster co-operation in daily living, and nurture relationships based on mutual respect, understanding and tolerance.

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Overall effectiveness

The home is effectively managed, with a strong emphasis on providing a high standard of childcare practice. Monitoring systems ensure that all aspects of the home are scrutinised and the appropriate action taken to enhance performance within the home. Despite these strengths there are some weaknesses in recording. These have resulted in three requirements and one recommendation being raised. Although to date these have not impacted on the care young people receive they have the potential to do so.

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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) compile in relation to the children's home a written statement which shall consist of a statement as to the matters listed in schedule 1. In particular this relates to the means whereby appropriate behaviour is promoted in the home ( Regulation 4.1) 30/09/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the home is conducted so as to make proper provision for the care, and where appropriate, treatment, of children accommodated there, specifically in planning admission to the home, and in responding to children's emerging needs (Regulation 11 (1) (b)) 30/09/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) promote and protect the physical, emotional and mental health of children accommodated in the children's home. In particular this relates to the need to obtain full written details of young people's medical history so that issues which may immediately impact on their welfare can be addresses ( Regulation 20.1) 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

 work with the responsible authority to ensure effective sharing of information held in the home's records. In particular the home may wish to devise it's own admission form which ensures all key information is provided prior to a young person's placement commencing (NMS 22.7)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people receive support that recognises their individual needs. They engage with staff and other professionals, to identify barriers to their success, and contribute to plans for their immediate and longer-term futures. Young people understand the importance of healthy lifestyles, and according to their age and ability take responsibility for their own health. All young people are offered prompt access to professional consultation and guidance on a range of health and social issues including sexual health, relationships and emotional wellbeing. Most young people attend routine health appointments, and with staff encouragement, reduce their involvement in behaviour that damages their health, such as drug and alcohol misuse. Some young people engage with mental health workers to help them come to terms with past difficulties or trauma.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are supported to attend appropriate educational provision. Young people in well-established placement make good progress and education providers specifically recognise the support offered by staff in assisting young people to engage positively. Staff are consistent in promoting education as an important and essential feature in all young people’s lives. Consequently, young people recognise the importance of education and are developing a sense of pride in their achievements. One young person preparing to leave the home said 'Thanks to staff encouragement and support I am leaving with educational qualifications which I can put on my CV. They have been brilliant. It's the best placement I have had'. A social worker indicated that during placement at the home the young person she is responsible has learnt to ' Behave in a more age appropriate manner. She has greater self- esteem and self- confidence; has learnt to negotiate and has responded

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Outcomes for children and young people

well to the consistent caring boundaries staff practice. She is leaving the home with qualifications which will support her ability to become financially independent'.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from regular and appropriate contact with those important to them. Staff are flexible with contact arrangements and are committed to facilitating contact for young people. Families are appreciative of this saying, 'Staff are absolutely marvellous. All staff go out of their way and make great effort to keep her safe. They keep the family well informed- they are all absolutely great!'

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff encourage young people to develop independence skills in accordance with their developmental age and abilities. Thorough assessments highlight individual tasks for young people to develop independent skills. Keyworker sessions help to ensure that appropriate steps are taken to maximise individual potential. This approach assists young people to prepare for adulthood and equips them with essential life skills.

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Quality of care

Young people are observed to have positive relationships with staff that are based on respect, trust and honesty. Some young people say that their behaviour has improved because of these good relationships. Young people are helped to develop socially acceptable behaviour by the use of praise and the implementation of consistent boundaries. Young people know what standards of behaviour are expected and this has resulted in young people who have settled into the home demonstrating an increasingly mature and responsible approach to how they conduct themselves.

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Quality of care

Young people’s educational potential is supported by staff's regular communication with education providers. As a result, young people’s engagement has significantly improved with attendance and achievement consistently enhanced. Prior to the start of the new academic year staff are liaising with their placing authority to ensure educational programmes are in place for the two young people recently admitted to the home.

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Quality of care

Young people know how to make a complaint, although none have been made since the last inspection. Clear information is available to young people in the children's guide and through a pack they receive on admission which promotes children's rights. Young people were observed during the inspection as being able to express their views clearly to staff. Young people have access to an independent advocate should they require one. This demonstrates that they have access to a range of professionals who will ensure that their voice is heard.

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Quality of care

On admission health care planning documents are judged as adequate. Routine information relating to allergies and inoculations is not obtained as part of the admission process. This has the potential to impact on young people's health and wellbeing. A more detailed health plan is developed in consultation with young people, and other professionals, during the first 28 days of their placement. This practice ensures that young people are aware of their health needs and staff can assess how young people view and understand their health. Young people are supported to access suitable medical and health services to meet their identified health needs. Staff are proactive in ensuring that young people receive independent help and advice around their sexual and emotional health. Young people are able to reflect on this and one young person said 'I have learnt to accept and take responsibility for managing my medical condition. I understand why staff were

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Quality of care

concerned. I respect myself more now and want to make sure I stay well.'

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Quality of care

Young people’s welfare is promoted and protected by procedures for safe management and administration of medicines. Staff are trained in first aid and handling medication. They have a clear understanding of the home’s procedures and a detailed knowledge of each young person’s medication. Medication is securely stored. Staff make sure that young people only have medication specifically for them and take it in line with the prescription instructions.

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Quality of care

Activity records show, and it was observed during the course of the inspection, that sometimes young people refuse opportunities presented to them. However, staff persistently strive to engage young people in activities that will develop their interests and sense of achievement.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is good at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe. Young people live in a home where their safety and well-being are protected. Staff regularly participate in child protection training in order that they are able to respond to suspicions or allegations of abuse. Focused risk assessments are in place and identifying individual risk factors for young people. Risk assessments are regularly reviewed with young people and are central to the work undertaken in the home. This process assists young people to develop ownership of their behaviour and supports them to understand how to make positive change in their lives. It provides them with the opportunity to understand where risks have reduced or are escalating.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff take appropriate action should young people go missing from the home. The number of incidents for one young person has increased over recent weeks. However, the home's policies are in line with locally agreed protocols and the home has developed positive relationships with other agencies with a remit for the protection of young people. The home takes appropriate action to escalate concerns for the protection of young people, and risk assessments are detailed and regularly updated. This ensures that staff are clear about the process to follow for each young person, that are specifically developed taking into account the issues pertinent to them. Young people receive support that enables them to reflect on the vulnerable position that their behaviours place them in.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff are regularly trained in behaviour management, and present good role models in positive problem-solving techniques. They make good use of de-escalation approaches to deal with challenging behaviour constructively, and successfully avoid the need for physical restraint. One young person commented ' They have taught me to negotiate what I want in a mature way instead of kicking off and shouting at people. As a result I am much better at expressing myself and I feel much more confident'.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home is physically safe and appropriately secure. Regular health and safety checks of the premises are undertaken and safety certifications are in place. Fire evacuation procedures are rehearsed regularly, including at night time. This ensures that staff and young people are confident about the steps to follow in the event of an emergency.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Robust recruitment and selection procedures are in place that help prevent unsuitable people from having access to young people. New staff are carefully supported into their role, to ensure they acquire the skills necessary to safely care for 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

A committed, competent and experienced manager manages the home. Staff are supportive of the Registered Manager and clearly understand their roles and responsibilities. Young people live in a home that places their needs central to any service development, and celebrates the progress they make no matter how small. Enthusiastic and competent staff have consistently high aspirations for young people, enjoy their company, and are proud of and celebrate young people's achievements.

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Leadership and management

The home meets the aims and objectives of the Statement of Purpose. However, the document currently fails to advise the behaviour management training staff receive that is supporting the way they positively manage young people's behaviours. Young people, their families and social workers are clear about the services and the support the home provides.

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Leadership and management

The manager provides leadership that helps staff to focus on the needs of complex young people. However, documentation relating to new admissions to the home does not evidence that the vulnerabilities of the group already resident are fully taken into account as part of the matching process. Neither does it indicate whether staff have sufficient knowledge and understanding of the specific needs of individuals, to ensure their emotional health and wellbeing. Both managers and staff confirm that extensive discussion takes place but records fail to evidence the detail of the discussion.

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Leadership and management

The provider and manager effectively monitor the operation of the home, the quality of care and outcomes for young people. This is achieved in partnership with young people, their families and the professionals who support them. Results demonstrate the positive impact and value that living at the home is having on the lives of young people, who grow in confidence and maturity. It also identifies those young people who have needs that may require more specialist placements.

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Leadership and management

Young people are looked after by a staff team that are caring and have the young people’s best interests at heart. The numbers of staff on duty meet the needs of young people. Most staff have the National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in care and new staff are registered on the new qualification on successful completion of their induction. This ensures that young people are cared for by well qualified staff. The manager has high expectations of the staff team and is proactive in ensuring all staff receive a full training programme to equip them with specific skills relevant to the young people accommodated.

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Leadership and management

Team meetings and detailed handovers ensure that effective communication results in consistency of care for the young people. Staff receive formal supervision on a monthly basis and receive annual performance appraisals. The staff team work well together and utilize each other's strengths. Staff have access to good quality training, which they value and which benefits the young people. This has included specific training to meet the needs of individual young people. Access to other professionals for advice and guidance also increases their abilities to meet young people's needs. Staff say that they feel supported in their work and are encouraged to express their views and opinions on the operation of the home. This helps ensure that young people receive consistent messages, as staff are confident in the responses of their colleagues.

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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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