Children's Home run by Barnardo’s in Oxfordshire

Unique reference number SC013143 Inspection date 15/08/2013 Inspector Clare Davies Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 10/12/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This children's home is registered to accommodate five children and young people who have a learning and/or physical disability. The service is delivered and managed by a national 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

Children and young people achieve good outcomes due to the level of support they receive. Good quality personalised care planning ensure staff respond with consistency enabling children and young people to feel secure in this placement. Methods of communication ensure that the views of children and young people are gathered and that they are offered choices. Children and young people benefit from activities within the home and the wider community as staff promote their inclusion.

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Overall effectiveness

Children and young people benefit from the collaborative working between their parents, the staff team and other professionals. This is appropriately referred to as the 'circle of support'. Parents report very positively on their involvement with their child's care and high levels of satisfaction with the care provided by the staff team.

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Overall effectiveness

The manager has effective systems to monitor the quality of care and has a good grasp of the strengths of the service and any areas for development.

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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 the home provides a comfortable and homely environment and is well maintained and decorated. In particular, remove notices of staff instruction from bedroom and bathroom walls. Improve the bathroom appearance where tiles and bath panels need repair or replacement (NMS 10.3)  ensure that the children's home has a record of the recruitment and vetting checks which have been carried out on those working for the children's home as listed under NMS 16.3. In particular, have on site evidence from head office that these checks have been completed (NMS 16.3)  ensure that the aims and objectives of the Statement of Purpose are child focused and show how the service will meet outcomes for children. In particular the arrangements for the promotion of education. (NMS 13.2)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Children and young people are making good progress as they benefit from the structure and consistency of care delivered. Some examples of how progress is measured can include, the reduction of incidents of challenging behaviour, improved sleep patterns and the ability to sit at the table for a meal. Staff are proud to report on such achievements and how children and young people continue to develop skills and grow in confidence. Parents report positively with comments such as, 'I could not have asked for a better home for my child' and 'it is nothing but good.’

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Outcomes for children and young people

Children and young people are supported in maintaining contact with their family and others who are important to them. Staff are sensitive to the impact family contact can have and prepare and support children and young people with the transition of care between the home and family members. Parents report that they are kept fully informed about their child and encouraged to be involved. Parents and professionals confirm that they are working together well with the management and staff at the home. Cultural identities are embraced and promoted through food, music, religion and festivals. This ensures that children and young people are supported in celebrating diversity and maintaining traditions that are important to the family as a whole.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Children and young people receive nutritious meals and are supported in making healthy choices for snacks. Physical exercise is promoted through activities where children and young people have fun while keeping active. For many, sensory stimulation is important and this is provided through food, activity and relaxation. There are effective arrangements for the safe storage and administration of medication; this ensures that children and young people receive the correct medical care from suitably trained staff.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Children and young people are supported to access activities in the community and participate with clubs for drama, music and school holiday projects. Use of a minibus ensures that there are many trips to the park and local attractions. There are plans for camping trips in the summer holidays, supporting children and young people to benefit from such an experience, challenging barriers faced by those with disabilities. Children and young people are consulted and able to choose such things as food and activities. Choosing the colour of the paint for bedroom decoration is an area where children and young people get involved, sometimes including their family members. This level of engagement supports children and young people with their choices and values their views, creating a personalised bedroom.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Independence is promoted at different levels such as using a fork without assistance or making toast for breakfast. Personalised care planning and targets identify how children and young people can be supported to complete tasks themselves and move on to additional more complex tasks as each one is achieved. Encouragement and praise are given at every level of achievement, this enables children and young people to have the confidence to try new skills and make progress in their personal and social development. The staff team have successfully supported children and young people to move on to other care settings. These transitions are managed well for those moving and support is given for those who remain in the care setting.

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Quality of care

The staff team have a very good understanding of the individual needs of children and young people. Consequently this has enabled some good relationships to form where children and young people receive consistency and security. There are limited relationships amongst each other, largely due to the impact of their disabilities yet most children and young people recognise the residential group to which they belong. For some children and young people this means developing a tolerance and understanding of others.

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Quality of care

The staff team are resourceful to ensure that there is effective communication to establish the views and wishes of children and young people. Picture symbols are available for portable use and a computer programme enables staff to produce tools for communication. Joint working with a speech and language therapist ensures that the communication is tailored to each individual.

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Quality of care

Simple picture versions of the complaints procedure are available. Invariably family members or other adults take responsibility to raise any concerns or complaints though there have not been any this year. Staff log complaints on behalf of children and young people if they have been hurt or bullied by another child. This represents good advocacy, providing children and young people with a voice. However in practice, this is more appropriately dealt with through behaviour management rather than a complaint process.

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Quality of care

Placement planning ensures that all key aspects of care are recorded and targets identified to promote the development of children and young people. My profile plans are very good documents providing key information in a child-friendly style. For example one plan states, 'I may refuse my food at first but please keep trying because I do enjoy my food once I get started.’ Information provides clarity to staff on how to provide support with care needs. These plans are so comprehensive it negates the need to have some notices on bedroom and bathroom walls, such notices detract from the homely environment.

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Quality of care

This service works well with other professionals, ensuring a collaborative approach delivers very good quality care to children and young people. Staff liaise regularly with school staff, health professionals, social workers and family members. Care plans evidence how specialist input has been incorporated into daily care routines such as physical exercises, methods of communication, medical care and specialist equipment as advised by an occupational therapist.

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Quality of care

A varied activity programme provides fun and interest within the home and at local events and facilities. Play equipment in the garden, such as a trampoline and other toys provides a safe space for children to explore. Inside a sensory room and soft play are enjoyed along with music and DVDs. Access to a computer promotes learning and a connection with the wider world.

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Quality of care

The home is located on the ground floor only, with staff rooms on the first floor. This provides easy access within the home for children and young people with restricted mobility and for any wheelchair user. Communal space provides different options for children and young people to have some time alone as well as being part of the group. Bedrooms are personalised with decoration and belongings, this means there is more stimulation for some than others according to their needs. Bathrooms have specialist equipment to assist with personal care, this leads to a less homely appearance compared to other areas of the home. Some tiles require repair or replacement, similarly with a bath panel. These maintenance issues have been attended to recently but require a longer term solution.

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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

This home provides a stable and safe environment where safeguarding of children and young people is given high regard. Staff are trained in safe care practices and supported by policies and procedures. Staff training covers how to recognise and respond to any suspicions or concerns should they arise. Safeguarding features as a standard agenda item on staff meetings and individual staff supervision, this ensures that child protection awareness remains high amongst the staff team. A serious accident has been fully investigated to establish if any areas of practice need addressing, the outcome being that equipment needs to change. An example of the thoroughness and transparency when responding to matters regarding the safety and well-being of children and young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Parents and professionals report that this is a safe environment for children and young people. Staff supervision and appropriate security to the building ensures that the risk of children and young people going missing is minimised, indeed there have been no such incidents to report. Measures have been taken to lock the front door but this has not led to excessive locked doors internally, children and young people can freely roam around the home with exception to the kitchen and laundry.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff have completed training on the production and implementation of risk assessments. This ensures that staff have the understanding to recognise risk and arrange to eliminate or reduce it. Systems in place for the prevention and detection of fire are tested regularly. This ensures that staff are equipped on what to do if the fire alarm sounds, the ground floor accommodation for children and young people assists with a quick evacuation.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff are trained in the management and de-escalation of behaviour. The need to physically intervene is rare, on the few occasions it has taken place suitable records have been made. To improve the effectiveness of behaviour management a designated member of staff has taken the lead to collate and monitor incident reports following the organisations review of the recording system. This focus improves the monitoring of behaviour, and staff responses, enabling a regular review of staff practice.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Input from behaviour support workers and other social care professionals contribute to an individual approach to support children and young people in reducing challenging behaviours. Social stories are available to assist children and young people in calming down when they are agitated. These visual prompts are effective where they are able to manage their own behaviour without the need for physical intervention.

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Safeguarding children and young people

This organisation adopts a robust procedure to employ new staff following safer recruitment practices. Visitors are required to show some identification and sign the visitors' book. These systems help to protect children and young people as they ensure that unauthorised individuals are not able to gain access to the home. Recruitment records are held at the head office and the outcome of staff suitability is passed to the manager. Not all the details of checks are available within the home though this has minimal impact on the safety of children and 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

Since the last inspection the manager has addressed the one requirement and three recommendations that were made. All staff have received training in safeguarding and there are regular updates on this matter in staff meetings. New staff have an induction to follow and the manager has a system for chasing review meeting minutes to ensure records are up to date. A revised format for recording incidents has been included in the review of behaviour management recording and monitoring system.

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Leadership and management

The manager keeps abreast of current issues in the field of social care and children with disabilities, cascading to the staff team. The diversity of each child and young person's special needs requires the staff to have a breadth of knowledge and training. Training has occurred with regards to medical protocols and understanding autism. Senior managers in health and social care report how the service has embraced any new training required to meet individual needs, extending their knowledge and skills as a team. In addition to the training programme, all staff are working towards, or have completed, a formal social care qualification at level three.

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Leadership and management

The manager is experienced and qualified, providing leadership to the staff team. Staff report positively on the support that she provides, similarly social workers and parents comment on the effectiveness of the manager. There have been minimal changes to the staff team; this ensures that a stable staff group care for children and young people. Any shortfalls on the rota are covered by regular sessional staff known to the children and young people, there has been some use of agency staff during the summer holiday period.

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Leadership and management

The manager has good systems in place to monitor the service. Regular file audits, monthly reports, supervision and appraisal of staff; all contribute to a good understanding of the strengths of the service and any areas requiring improvement. For the local authority, reports are produced every three months providing good evidence of the quality of the service and how children and young people are achieving good outcomes. The monitoring by the local authority provides an additional layer of checks; this contributes to the safety of children and young people in placement.

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Leadership and management

The manager and staff team work with other agencies for the safety and welfare of the children and young people. The team are proactive in contacting professionals within health services, education, youth and social care departments. This inter- agency working ensures that there is a team approach in meeting the specific needs of children and young people.

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Leadership and management

The staff team are enthusiastic about their work and have a team identity. They feel supported by the management and each other in their commitment to ensuring children and young people have the best opportunities for successful outcomes. Staff receive regular training and supervision, this enables them to be effective residential workers. Good communication through daily handovers and regular team meetings mean that staff are kept up to date so as to provide consistent care.

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Leadership and management

The majority of records made are clear, up to date and provide a good picture of a child or young person's stay in the home. This ensures that there will be an accurate history of events recorded for them, or their advocate, should they wish to look at these records in the future. All significant events are reported to Ofsted as required. The Statement of Purpose requires review to provide fuller details on how this service promotes education.

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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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