Children's Home run by Institute of Integrated Systemic Therapy in Norfolk

Unique reference number SC065792 Inspection date 09/08/2013 Inspector Gwen Buckley Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 14/02/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

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.

p.2

Brief description of the service

This children's home is owned by a registered charity. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is a therapeutic community based on an Integrated Systemic Therapy model.

p.3

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

p.3

Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

p.3

Overall effectiveness

The staff team consists of dedicated, caring managers and staff who work well with others to ensure the best possible care and services are provided to young people. Staff are very highly motivated to bring about improvement in a young person’s life and to keep them safe. Young people are extremely positive about the staff and the care provided and say they always have a member of staff to talk with if they are upset or want support. Attendance at education facilities is good. Support for young people to maintain contact with those who are important to them is extremely well managed.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

As a result of this inspection developments are needed to the home’s procedures for: preparing young people for adult living; ensuring copies of pathway plans are obtained; ensuring records reflect the work undertaken with young people and are in line with the home’s own guidance. The views of social workers are not routinely sought. The fire risk assessment is not accurate. The aspects requiring development have little impact on young people as the staff undertake the expected work with young people, but the recording does not reflect expected practice in a few instances.

p.3

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.

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure where the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to the children's home the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home (Regulation 32 (1A)) 31/10/2013

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the system referred to in paragraph (1) shall provide for consultation with children accommodated in the home, their parents and placing authorities. (Regulation 34 (3)) 31/10/2013

p.4

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

p.4

Recommendations

 ensure the management of the home ensures all staff’s work is consistent with these Regulations and National Minimum Standards, the home's policies and procedures. This specifically relates to recording practice in care planning and the use of the missing person log (NMS 21.3)  ensure the home contributes to the development of each child’s care plan, including the pathway plan for “eligible” care leavers and works collaboratively with the young person’s social worker or personal adviser in implementing the plan. This specifically relates to the need to obtain and maintain a copy of pathway plans (NMS 12.2)  further develop the independence training to ensure children receive care which helps for them prepare for independent living and supports them into adulthood, so that they can reach their potential and achieve economic well-being. This relates to developing the initial assessment process that influences the

p.4

Recommendations

development of the independence plan. (NMS 12)

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

A social worker stated that effective support and encouragement is provided to young people and as a result school placements are maintained and numerous contact arrangements with family and friends are extremely well managed. Young people attend schools and further education placements that meet their very varying needs. This helps them develop as individuals and make friendships outside the home. This ensures young people enjoy positive experiences with friends and family and young people are maintaining their educational placements and make progress at school.

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people's health needs are identified and met effectively. Young people see health professionals, including mental health staff, when they have a specific need. Staff acknowledge the young person’s rights to make decisions while continually giving reminders about the importance of staying healthy and making positive choices such as the type of snacks they have. Young people receive advice on health matters and keeping safe in the home and community. This helps young people identify risks so that they can keep themselves safe and well.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are aware of their independence plan and are fully consulted over the targets they are expected to achieve. They learn and practice basic skills, such as having a healthy lifestyle, shopping, budgeting, cooking and cleaning. A newly developed independence planning system is in place and being further developed. Although meeting individual developing needs, the initial assessment process does not always identify strengths as well as areas where young people need to develop skills and confidence. As part of transition planning, staff work well with external professionals to find the best solutions and provide the most positive outcomes possible for young people moving on.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Staff support young people to manage any anxiety about their future. However, despite requesting a copy of a pathway plan this has not been made available by a local authority. Although staff are aware of the plans for the young person this young person should have a copy so that she is clear of the plans for her future.

p.5

Quality of care

There are extremely good relationships between staff and young people. Young people are able to share their views directly with staff and the Registered Manager. There are regular young people's meetings where a range of issues are discussed. Staff listen to what young people say and as a result, they can effect change and young people do not feel the need to complain as staff listen to them and address any issues they have.

p.5

Quality of care

External professionals are very complimentary about the quality of support young people receive. They reported, ‘The senior team are very thoughtful about how best to support young people who have complex emotional needs’ and ‘Staff are caring and work well with the young people.’ Staff support young people effectively to develop a sense of self-worth, gain confidence and achieve.

p.5

Quality of care

Cultural, religious and identity needs identified in care plans are met by staff that assist and support young people where appropriate. This includes helping young people understand their history and current feelings around their background, religious belief and sexuality. Staff have focus meetings to look at individual care plans to ensure the needs of young people are being met and are not allowed to drift. Care plans vary in the level of detail they contain. The vast majority of the care planning is very detailed such as what behaviour is being presented and how staff are to support the young person manage this and keep themselves and others safe. However, the health sections of individual care plans do not always reflect the wide range of health related work undertaken with young people. There is a range of healthcare services to which young people have access if required. For example, young people access services

p.5

Quality of care

which promote their health and well-being, such as opticians, dentists, doctors, sexual health advisors and mental health resources. Staff are meeting the health needs of young people and working well with others to ensure the services they need are provided. Staff, that are trained to, safely administer medication and records are very well maintained. Young people, when safe to do so, are encouraged to take responsibility for their own medication.

p.6

Quality of care

Young people have access to a very good range of activities at the home and in the community that reflect their specific interests and abilities such as football training, horse riding and visits to libraries. Young people were looking forward to various activities planned for the summer holiday. Important certificates and photographs are maintained on young people’s files, ensuring that they are kept safely for future reference.

p.6

Quality of care

The home is well decorated and furnished providing a good environment for young people to live in. Young people are able to personalise their own bedrooms and their views influence the décor of the home.

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

The service is good at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people feel safe and do not have concerns about their safety. They are confident staff will take action to keep them safe; they report that there is no bullying allowed at the home. Staff understand and can implement the child protection procedures to help ensure that young people are kept safe; sufficient staffing levels help to ensure the safety of young people.

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people very seldom go missing from the home with this occurring only once in three years. A missing-from-home protocol is in place confirming relevant professionals and agencies are notified when such events occur. Records reflect that appropriate action is taken to ascertain the circumstances of the young person going missing and their whereabouts. Incident records reflect the actions taken when the young person was missing and action taken on a young person’s return. Records identify how any problems can be addressed to reduce the likelihood of any further incident. However, the home’s own policy to record all this information in a specific log was not followed.

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

There is a stable staff team and young people have good relationships with staff they know and trust. Restraints had been high due to the extremely challenging behaviour of a few individuals. Where required, behaviour management plans are amended so that staff are aware of how best to support, advise and guide young people. In recent weeks, the level of restraints used has significantly reduced.

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

Sanctions are seldom used. When they are needed, clear records are made, which help young people understand about expected standards of behaviour.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

The staff recruitment processes are robust and the Registered Manager and another manager have undertaken safer recruitment training. As a result, only staff suitable to work with young people are employed.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

The home is safe and secure and all checks on equipment are undertaken as required. Fire drills are undertaken on a very regular basis. Staff and young people undertake a fire drill as part of their induction into the home. Young people are confident about the fire procedure. The fire risk assessment, although recently updated, is inaccurate. It does not reflect the changes made to night time staffing. The fire procedure is not robust. It does not specify what action staff should take if young people refuse to leave the building and staff are expected to re-enter a building if someone is missing from the assembly point.

p.7

Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are good .

p.7

Leadership and management

The Registered Manager is experienced and young people say she is approachable. There were no requirements or recommendations from the previous inspection. Since the last inspection, developments have taken place such as decorating communal spaces. This ensures the environment is a pleasant place for young people to live.

p.7

Leadership and management

External monthly monitoring visits highlight actions needed and these are followed up effectively at the next monitoring visit. Young people are provided with the opportunity to talk with the visitor, giving young people an avenue to express their views. This helps to ensure that the quality of care is maintained.

p.7

Leadership and management

Very regular supervision is provided to staff who feel supported in their work with the young people. This takes place at least monthly. Staff have many opportunities to discuss practice, both in supervision and in regular meetings. At these times, they can focus on meeting young people’s needs, improving practice and the care provided. Advice and guidance is always available from the senior management team and external consultants. This means staff understand the needs of young people and how best to meet these.

p.7

Leadership and management

Staff that require the level 3 Children and Young People’s Workforce Diploma have this or an equivalent qualification or are on the course. New staff are working through the Children and Young People’s Workforce induction standards and they feel well supported by colleagues and management. A development plan is in place showing how the home intends to move the service forward and improve outcomes for young people. Regulation 34 monitoring is undertaken and a report of the findings sent to Ofsted as required. The views of parents and young people are sought and they influence the development of care within the home. As a result parents and young people feel the care is excellent and they feel respected and listened too. However, there is no formal system in place to ascertain the views of the placing social workers and incorporate these into developments and the internal monitoring report.

p.7

Leadership and management

There are areas where action is being taken by staff to meet the needs of young people, but staff are not following expected practice such as in relation to the quality of care plans and missing person records.

p.8

Leadership and management

Staffing levels ensure the safety of young people. Agency staff are not normally used, but when needed to ensure the safety of young people agency staff were used for a short time. After they worked at the home exit surveys undertaken helped the manager look at practice within the home. The comments received show that the agency staff consider the home’s staff are very child focused, well trained and knowledgeable about the young people and provide a very high standard of care.

p.8

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.

p.9

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.

p.9