Children's Home run by The Caldecott Foundation Limited in Kent

Unique reference number SC037309 Inspection date 07/08/2013 Inspector David Putnam / Janet Hunnam Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 22/01/2013 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 private children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for nine children. The home is run by a charitable organisation.

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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 live in a comfortable, homely environment. They receive an extremely good standard of care from a focused and committed team of staff. Staff get to know each young person extremely well and utilise this knowledge to prepare individualised plans that inform how young people are cared for. Potential difficulties or problems are identified and clear strategies are implemented to help keep young people safe. Young people say they feel safe most of the time, but are able to express how sometimes the behaviour of others can affect this. Young people talk positively about the staff and are confident and comfortable in their presence.

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Overall effectiveness

Managers and staff communicate positive aspirations for young people. This helps young people come to terms with past experiences and grow in confidence to explore their own identity. This provides a supportive base for young people who progress and achieve positive outcomes. Parents, family members and placing social workers recognise genuine change in the lives of young people that they attribute to the quality of care young people receive.

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Overall effectiveness

Leadership and management arrangements are strong. In the temporary absence of the Registered Manager arrangements are in place to cover this important position. The current acting manager is supported by a strong leadership team within the organisational structure. Sound procedures contribute to a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for improvement.

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Overall effectiveness

However, reviews of the quality of care do not reflect the consultation with young people, parents or placing authorities that currently takes place. When the Statement of Purpose and children’s guide for the home are reviewed copies of these documents are not forwarded to Ofsted. Young people’s individual files do not reflect the necessary consideration or agreement for using electronic door monitoring devices at night. Time limited qualifications of some staff have been allowed to lapse. Requirements and recommendations are made to rectify these shortfalls, but they have limited impact upon the safety and welfare of young people.

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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) notify Ofsted of any revision of the statement of purpose or children's guide within 28 days (Regulation 5 (b)) 08/10/2013

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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)) 08/10/2013

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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)) 08/10/2013

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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 training keeps staff up-to-date with professional, legal and practice developments and reflects the policies, legal obligations and business needs of the home. (NMS 18.1)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people express genuine affection for staff and describe how staff help them to understand what has happened to them in the past. Considered but innovative work is undertaken by staff to help and support young people to develop their own identity and improve how they view themselves. As a direct result young people grow in confidence and feel more positive about who they are.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Parents and extended family members identify improvements in the physical and emotional health and well-being of young people which they attribute to the care young people receive. They say that young people are happier and more confident and have, ‘come on leaps and bounds’. Other comments include, ‘She cares more about herself and her appearance and has put on weight.’

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Outcomes for children and young people

Similarly, parents and extended family members identify improvements relating to education. They make comments such as, ‘He has made immense progress’ and ‘She’s doing very well with education and making good progress.’ Young people who previously did not attend school now benefit from the regular structure and routine provided by the on-site school. School reports shared with the home demonstrate improving attendance over time and progress against national curriculum and personal targets. Some young people identify how they have developed strategies that help them manage their behaviour better in school, allowing them to remain in class and learn. As a consequence they influence their individual care plans by requesting to stay in placement until finishing their education.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people join local clubs and organisations in the wider community, socialising with others of a similar age. This enables them to have new experiences and develop hobbies, skills and interests. Some young people actively demonstrate social responsibility through raising significant sums of money for local and national charities. This supports them to pro-actively consider and express concern for others.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff work together with placing authorities to enable young people to benefit from safe and appropriate contact arrangements with family members and others who are important to them. Young people demonstrate understanding and insight where there are restrictions to any contact. Parents and family members say that staff are always welcoming when they visit. Facilities exist for young people to enjoy private telephone conversations between contact visits.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are supported to develop independence commensurate with their age, ability and personal circumstances. Young people explain how staff support them to build confidence in using public transport over time. For example, progressive plans are devised to support young people to travel into the local town and spend independent time with staff support. All young people enjoy and benefit from individual cook nights when they are given a budget to buy food of their choice to cook their own meal.

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Quality of care

Young people, parents, family members and placing social workers all express positive views regarding the quality of care in this home. One young person said, ‘It’s as close to a real family as it could be. We kind of treat each other like brothers and sisters. We get on sometimes, but also have arguments.’ Family members also highlight the quality of relationships young people have with the staff and each other as a key feature of this home. Comments from social workers include, ‘It’s an absolutely brilliant placement’ and ‘I wouldn’t place her anywhere else.’ Family members echo comments made by social workers saying, ‘I have nothing but good things to say about the home.’

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Quality of care

Young people see it as natural that they influence how the home is run. Consequently they may not always recognise the considerable contribution they make. Young people are aware of the complaints process and are confident in using it. This includes making complaints to care staff about matters relating to the on-site school. Prompt and effective action is taken to address these complaints. However, rather than using the formal complaints process young people invariably express any concerns or issues in open conversation with staff. This supports swift resolution of problems as they arise.

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Quality of care

Excellent individual plans provide clear understanding and direction of how young people are cared for to meet their individual needs. Detailed description of their cultural and religious identity demonstrates consideration and discussion with the young people themselves. Sensitive subjects are addressed privately and effectively supporting young people to explore aspects of their own identity.

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Quality of care

In addition to a committed and enthusiastic staff team, a range of professionals from different disciplines contribute to supporting the emotional and psychological needs of young people. Counselling and therapy is available to all young people if required. Regular meetings between all staff and professionals ensure there is joint understanding and a consistent approach in meeting individual needs of young people. Physical health needs are met efficiently through registration with local health professionals.

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Quality of care

High standards of practice relating to the recording, storage and administration of medication help to promote the health of young people and keep them safe. An arrangement with a national chain of pharmacists supports managers and staff to maintain these standards. The arrangement involves an annual audit of medication practice and a review of medication policies and procedures.

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Quality of care

Consistent daily communication between care and education staff in the organisation supports the engagement of young people in their education. This results in demonstrable progress being made by young people. Staff encourage young people to complete homework to support and embed their learning.

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Quality of care

Regarding activities, young people say, 'You can pretty much do anything.’ Staff get to know each young person well and encourage them to try new things. Each young person takes part in at least one weekly organised activity or club in the wider community. An annual summer holiday is organised for young people, enabling them to explore different places and have new experiences.

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from living in a home that is furnished, decorated and maintained to a high standard. Parents describe the home as ‘very clean and tidy.’ Young people personalise their bedrooms to reflect their identity, hobbies and personal interests. Photographs and pictures around the home contribute to establishing a comfortable and homely 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 say that they usually feel safe in the home. However, several made reference to a recent incident involving a small number of young people from this home and others from different homes in the group. Young people were able to say that they did not feel safe at the time of the incident. Subsequently they had expressed their feelings to the young people involved who had apologised for their actions.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people do not identify bullying as a problem. They say that when bullying does occur it is dealt with quickly by staff involving all those involved. Staff are pro- active in addressing any name calling or bad language so that young people are clear about standards of behaviour that are acceptable. All young people have individual time with their key worker each week during which they are able to share anything that is concerning them. Similarly weekly residents’ meetings provide another opportunity for young people to express their feelings.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people do not go missing frequently. Staff are aware of particular risks relating to individual young people. Social workers say that, staff get to know young people ‘inside out’. Robust risk assessments are in place and understood by staff who know what action to take to recognise behaviours that may indicate that a young person may put themselves at risk. These are reviewed regularly and amended to reflect changes relating to individual young people. Staff are confident of the action they should take to minimise any potential risk and reduce the likelihood of harm to young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Leaders and managers have strong and effective relationships with key personnel from the local police. Contact is established and sustained with senior officers who maintain an overview. Information is sensitively shared with officers who specialise in managing missing person reports to support prompt and effective responses when needed. Community support officers establish regular links with the home and the organisation to enable young people to see the police in a positive light. When they do go missing young people confirm that staff always take time to talk to them on their return. This helps to explore the young person’s reasons for leaving and identify where they had been, who they were with and what they were doing.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Records of restraints meet the regulatory requirements and effectively cross reference to other documentation such as incident reports or sanction logs. Leaders and managers monitor the use of restraint in the home. Staff say that restraint is only ever used as a last resort. While restraint is only used in accordance with the legislative framework the need to reduce the number of restraints is recognised within the organisation. Senior managers have set a target to drive down the number of restraints by 50% over the coming year.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff from the head office of the organisation support the selection and vetting of staff through sound recruitment practices. This ensures that only those who are suitable progress to working with young people in the home. Regular checks by staff and external contractors promote the health, safety and well-being of young people. Parents and family members say that staff pay good attention to health and safety and believe that standards of hygiene in the home are good.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The bedroom doors of all young people are alarmed at night. Managers state that this is to safeguard the welfare of young people. However, how this has been individually considered and clear agreements with placing authorities are not evidenced in young people’s care plans or elsewhere in their files. While this does not have a significantly negative impact upon young people a requirement is made to promote consistency of practice that meets legislation.

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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

At the time of the inspection the Registered Manager had recently taken maternity leave. The responsible individual had appropriately informed Ofsted of the arrangements made to cover the manager’s role during the absence of the Registered Manager.

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Leadership and management

Managers lead a passionate and motivated staff team who communicate high aspirations for the young people in their care. Parents say of the home, ‘It’s brilliant and very well managed’, adding that staff are helpful and easy to talk to when they visit or call. They say this contributes to them feeling very happy about their child’s placement.

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Leadership and management

At the last inspection one requirement was made, which has been fully addressed. Reports concerning internal reviews of the quality of care are now consistently submitted to Ofsted at suitable intervals. This supports appropriate monitoring of the service by the regulatory body.

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Leadership and management

Senior managers within the organisation ensure that good practice is shared amongst managers and staff. This supports organisational improvement, promotes learning from other inspections and results in swift and effective change that benefits young people. Comprehensive and detailed records document the progress young people make over time. This inspection highlighted that some placing authorities had not provided decisions or minutes of review meetings relating to individual young people. To ensure young people’s records are complete, managers write firm, but clear letters to placing authorities. These letters express concern and stipulate the regulations and national minimum standards that require this information to be forwarded to the home.

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Leadership and management

Staff receive frequent supervision of a high standard. This is contemporaneously recorded as a continuous document. In addition to formal meetings this method of recording makes it possible to effectively detail ad-hoc conversations and decisions. All staff have their performance appraised each year. This helps staff to feel appropriately supported and guides them in their personal development through identifying appropriate areas to progress their skills, knowledge and understanding. Staff describe the training opportunities provided by the organisation as excellent. While a colour coded training matrix prompts managers when time limited qualifications are due for renewal these courses are not always put on in a timely manner. As a result the first aid qualifications of some staff are out of date. However, rotas confirm that at least one qualified first aider is always on duty.

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Leadership and management

The process for reviewing the quality of care in the home does not currently include evidence of any consultation with children accommodated in the home, their parents or placing authorities. This is despite the fact that parents and placing social workers describe communication from the home as excellent. One social worker commented that, ‘Staff are supportive of everything I suggest.’ Furthermore, significant evidence was noted relating to the ideas of young people being sought and acted upon. Reports of the review process clearly monitor necessary matters and identify specific actions which are designed to bring about improvement. However, plans for enhancing the service appear only to be triggered by the Registered Manager’s own reflections on the information they have gathered. This shortfall does not negatively impact upon outcomes for young people, but a requirement is made to improve practice.

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Leadership and management

The home’s Statement of Purpose is a comprehensive document which clearly sets out the aims and objectives of the service. A separate children’s guide is produced to communicate relevant and important information in an accessible format. However, previous revisions of the Statement of Purpose and the children’s guide have not been submitted to Ofsted. Senior managers took immediate action to rectify this matter during this inspection, but a requirement is made to ensure this obligation continues to be met.

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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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