Children's Home run by After Care (NW) Limited in Sefton

Unique reference number SC051947 Inspection date 13/08/2013 Inspector Graham Robinson Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 07/01/2013 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

The home is owned by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care for up to two young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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 adequate .

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Overall effectiveness has been judged as adequate. This despite the fact that outcomes, quality of care and safeguarding are good. However, due to Ofsted not receiving an application for the manager to register within the prescribed timeframe, leadership and management is deemed as inadequate. This is based on the recent changes made to Ofsted's evaluation schedule in July 2013. However, no evidence has been found to suggest this situation has impacted negatively on young people, or in the way they are cared for.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Based on their starting points, young people are making good progress socially, emotionally and educationally. Individual needs are identified, with clear plans and strategies in place to address and meet those needs. Young people understand the boundaries in place which are clear and consistent. When boundaries are breached, staff work supportively rather than punitively, which encourages young people to modify areas of their behaviour and encourage them to live a more socially acceptable lifestyle.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Young people are cared for by a staff team that since March 2013, has enjoyed a period of stability. This has enhanced the quality and consistency of care given to young people. Staff have a good understanding of safe working practices, linked to young people's individual needs. As a result, young people’s welfare is promoted positively.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

The day to day organisation and management of the home is effective, with the manager having been in post since October 2012, initially for a temporary period. She has an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and there are suitable plans for continued development.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Two areas for improvement have been identified. They are to ensure all areas of the home are well maintained and decorated and to improve consistency in the implementation of the formal supervision programme for staff. The application process to register the manager is now at an advanced stage, with registration being imminent.

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 that all areas of the home are well maintained and decorated (NMS 10.3)  improve the consistency in the delivery of the formal staff supervision programme. (NMS 19.4)

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Based on their starting points, young people are experiencing positive outcomes in all areas of their lives. High levels of support are given to encourage young people to modify aspects of their lifestyle which have previously been the cause of unrest and conflict in their lives. Professionals and family members of young people living in the home recognise the progress being made with, for example, one clearly stating that the home is meeting the needs of the young person they are involved with.

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Contact arrangements can be complex, but staff work flexibly to promote and facilitate contact between young people and their families. As a result, young people are benefitting from having regular contact with family, friends and other appropriate adults.

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Motivating young people with long histories of educational rejection can be problematic, but the home has met with some recent success in positively engaging young people in their education. Young people are either in full time education or at the planning stage for further education. Recent educational attendances have been good, with young people having made appropriate educational progress as a result of this.

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

The health needs of young people are being promoted positively. Well established arrangements with local doctors, dentists and opticians ensure that day to day health needs are provided for. There are good links to more specialised services, which are available for young people as and when required. Specific, individual health plans for each young person ensures that health needs are identified and addressed. Young people are encouraged to reflect on past lifestyle and encouraged to make improvements through exercise and diet. They are also encouraged and supported to modify aspects of their previous lifestyle such as tobacco, drugs and alcohol. This often results in young people enjoying improvements to their general health and fitness levels.

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are asked to contribute to certain aspects of the home's daily operation. For example, they are encouraged to participate in shopping and cooking as well as taking responsibility for keeping their bedrooms tidy. This is part of a longer term goal in preparing and encouraging young people to take responsibility for their own actions and move towards a more independent lifestyle.

p.5

Quality of care

Staff are skilled in building and maintaining positive relationships with young people. These relationships usually withstand the impact of testing and challenging times, resulting in young people benefitting from developing positive and long-lasting relationships with adults who act as good role models. This gives young people a more positive view of themselves and others, builds trust and promotes greater self- confidence and resilience.

p.5

Quality of care

The positive relationships between staff and young people aids communication and consultation within the home. Young people's meetings are forums where they make choices and suggestions about certain aspects of the homes operation. For example, in choosing menus and activities, with areas such as bullying and complaints being discussed regularly. Young people also have the opportunity for regular, individual consultation meetings with the manager. As a result, this gives young people input and choice regarding certain aspects of daily life, assisting them to develop a greater understanding of decision making processes and in accepting responsibility.

p.5

Quality of care

Appropriate arrangements are in place for young people to access the complaints procedures, although none have chosen to do so since the previous inspection. Information about complaints, young people's rights and contact details for independent agencies is available. For example in the young person's guide given to young people when first admitted.

p.5

Quality of care

The range of documents that constitute planning and assessments of risk, link effectively into each other. When read collectively, they give a good insight into the identified needs of that individual, along with the plans and strategies in place to meet those needs. Plans include a young person’s identity, religious and cultural requirements, an area in the planning documentation that has expanded and improved since the previous inspection.

p.5

Quality of care

This home is well located to access community facilities. Each young person has their own bedroom, which can be personalised to suit the taste of the occupant. Young people are relaxed in their environment. The home has the facilities and equipment normally associated with a domestic dwelling, although the fabric and décor in some areas looks tired and is in need of improving.

p.5

Quality of care

Young people are encouraged to engage and participate in community based activities and have passes for a local sports centre. They also follow individual interests which are reflected on activity planners which are completed weekly. For example, one young person is a keen fisherman. Young people are encouraged to reflect on other aspects of their community with themed displays covering other religions and cultures created within the home on a monthly basis.

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

Strong links are in place with external agencies charged with safeguarding responsibilities. Staff understand their role and responsibilities should a safeguarding situation arise, although there have been none affecting the home since the previous inspection. All staff have undertaken initial safeguarding training as well as completing regular refresher training which forms part of the on-going, staff core training programme. Overall safeguarding awareness and practice keeps young people safe.

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

Specific records kept on site show that bullying is not an area for concern and is not a live issue currently. Staff confirm they would immediately intervene should an incident occur and that bullying in any form is not tolerated.

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

Staff work co-operatively and cohesively with external agencies should a young person be missing from the home. They are pro-active in initiating searches and taking steps to retrieve young people quickly, recognising any vulnerability a young person have. For example, staff scoured the home area of one young person who was missing for a time during the inspection. The use of good and effective communication with professionals and family members was able to establish that the young person was safe.

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are rewarded for good and responsible behaviour with sanctions, known as consequences being kept to the minimum. Staff are prepared to work through difficulties and challenges supportively, which aids the development of positive relationships and trust between staff and young people. The effective monitoring of incidents ensures young people’s individual strategies are kept under review and adapted as required. As a result, serious behaviour management incidents resulting in physical intervention are rare.

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people have benefitted from the home having a permanent and relatively experienced staff team in place since March 2013. Appropriate recruitment policies, procedures and practice ensure any new staff are suitably cleared prior to taking up their posts. This ensures only suitably checked people have contact with young people. Young people are protected with a range of risk assessments. They participate in regular fire drills and can safely exit the home if needed. Checks to maintain a safe environment are regularly undertaken. Individual risk assessments, coupled with coping strategies, promote a safe environment for all young people. Individual strategies are updated in light of reviews of young people’s risks and progress.

p.6

Leadership and management

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

p.7

Leadership and management

Although leadership and management has been judged as inadequate, the only reason for this was the delay in the manager getting the completed registration application to Ofsted within the required timeframe. A change to the evaluation schedule implemented by Ofsted in July 2013, is the sole cause of the inadequate judgement. However, a completed application has now been received and the process to register the manager is currently at an advanced stage.

p.7

Leadership and management

Young people have benefitted from having an experienced manager in post either in a temporary or permanent capacity since October 2012. The manager is child focused and has a clear vision of how the home should develop and progress. This has provided an element of stability to the home, resulting in a greater consistency of care being provided to young people.

p.7

Leadership and management

A programme of formal staff supervision is in place although recently there has been some inconsistency with some areas of delivery. Staff appraisals are taking place annually. All staff, apart from one currently in a probationary period, have either completed, or are undertaking appropriate professional qualifications. Staff regularly participate in core training events to update their knowledge and skills. This ensures they possess the competences and skills to effectively meet young people’s diverse and individual needs.

p.7

Leadership and management

Both the internal and external monitoring of the home are taking place regularly, with reports from monitoring visits in place. Reports review performance and identify areas for improvements. Young people contribute to monitoring and can discuss their views. The overall monitoring of the home is an area that has been subjected to review, with steps being taken to improve the general monitoring arrangements. For example, with one person independent of the home being charged to implement the external monitoring of the home on a regular and more consistent basis.

p.7

Leadership and management

The home has a good record of compliance and no requirements or recommendations have been carried over from the previous inspection. The manager demonstrates an understanding of the homes strengths and areas in need of improvement. As a result, a number of new developments and additions to the homes working practices have been implemented since the previous inspection. For example, the introduction of a new residential plan format and a recent initiative which focussed on education, resulting in improved attendance.

p.7

Leadership and management

The home has gained more stability since the previous inspection due to the permanency of the manager and staff team. This gives young people a sense of security and a greater consistency of care. Young people are being well cared for, with individual needs being identified and addressed. Positive feedback received from placing authorities and young people's family members support this view. The main difficulty that has impacted negatively on this inspection is about to be resolved as registering the manager with Ofsted is about to be concluded. This should allow the home to move forward.

p.7

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