Children's Home run by Oracle Care Limited in Central Bedfordshire

Unique reference number SC421531 Inspection date 28/08/2013 Inspector Pete Hylton Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 27/03/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The home provides accommodation and care for up to three young people who have experienced emotional and behavioural difficulties. A private company owns and operates this setting.

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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 adequate .

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are treated as individuals and make good progress in relation to their starting points. All young people benefit from clearly defined care plans and the staff team provide an adequate quality of care. Relationships between staff and young people are positive. However, some areas of the home need attention as they are damaged and unsightly. This detracts from an otherwise homely environment.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people have positive views about the home and state that they feel safe. Risk assessment processes have improved since the last inspection. Incidents of challenging behaviour are rare and restraint is seldom used. However, the recording of sanctions does not always include the views of young people. The young person’s guide does not contain the correct telephone number for Ofsted. Not all staff are trained to level three.

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Overall effectiveness

There has been inconsistency in the management of the home. There has been no Registered Manager in the home since April 2013. An acting manager has made some changes and is supported by an experienced senior manager. However, the acting manager’s own checking of records and files in the home is not sufficiently robust and does not identify areas for improvement. Furthermore, the lack of a formal development plan means that the home has no vision for the future or plans for further improvements. However, the acting manager and senior manager have put plans into place to make immediate improvements.

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Overall effectiveness

As a result of this inspection, two requirements and four recommendations have been made.

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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) ensure that all parts of the children's home used by children are kept clean and reasonably decorated and maintained (Regulation 31 (2) (e) ) 04/10/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) establish and maintain a system for improving the quality of care provided in the children's home. (Regulation 34 (1) (b) ) 04/10/2013

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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 where any sanctions, disciplinary measures or restraint are used, children are encouraged to have their views recorded in the records kept by the home (NMS 3.18)  ensure that the guide includes a summary of what the home sets out to do for children, how they can find out their rights, how a child can contact their IRO, the Children’s Rights Director, Ofsted if they wish to raise a concern with inspectors, and how to secure access to an independent advocate (NMS 13.5)  ensure that the registered person has a written development plan, reviewed annually, for the future of the home, either identifying any planned changes in the operation or resources of the service, or confirming the continuation of the home’s current operation and resource (NMS 15.2)  ensure that all existing care staff have attained a minimum level 3 qualification. All new staff engaged from the commencement of the NMS (in April 2011) are to

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Recommendations

hold the level 3 Children & Young Peoples Workforce Diploma which must include mandatory social care units; or be working towards the Diploma within 6 months of confirmation of employment. (NMS 18.5)

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Outcomes for children and young people

All young people are engaged in education and are making good progress. Young people follow appropriate routines in the home and as a result, they maintain good attendance at school and other educational settings. This ensures that young people are able to develop academically and achieve in line with their peers. A social worker commented, ‘educationally the young person has come on leaps and bounds. They have made substantial progress with their key skills.’

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Outcomes for children and young people

Incidents of challenging behaviour are reducing and young people are making good progress living in a group setting. This is because they benefit from clear expectations and as a result, they develop socially acceptable behaviours. Young people do not go missing from the home and do not engage in risk-taking or harmful behaviours. A social worker commented that a young person is, ‘ a different young person to the one who first went there.’

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people form trusting relationships with staff and this enables young people to discuss any worries or concerns. As a result, they feel safe and emotionally secure in the home. Where appropriate to do so, young people maintain close contact with their families. This further ensures that young people develop emotional resilience and knowledge and understanding of their backgrounds.

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Outcomes for children and young people

They enjoy relaxing and taking part in more structured activities. Incidents of challenging behaviour are reduced through young people living active and age- appropriate lifestyles. A young person commented that they ‘do lots of activities.’ In some cases, there has been significant progress in young people being enabled to take part in new activities. For example, young people are now accessing holidays where this has not happened before. As a result, young people are developing skills in socialising and enjoying new experiences. A social worker commented, ‘the young person is now able to manage social situations.’

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Outcomes for children and young people

The health of young people is good. All young people benefit from easy access to appropriate medical services and receive appropriate care and treatment, from appropriate services, where necessary. Where young people require help with developing their personal care routines, they make good progress in this regard. As a result, young people develop their independence and increase their self-esteem. A social worker commented that a young person now has ‘strategies for managing their emotions.’

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Quality of care

Staff ensure that young people regularly access educational opportunities. All young people are encouraged to maintain good attendance and any difficulties are promptly identified and resolved. Young people are aware of the value of education and as a result, they make good progress. A young person commented, ‘staff help me.’ Relationships between staff and young people are positive and young people enjoy spending time with each other. The staff team role model an inclusive atmosphere where bullying behaviour is not tolerated. Furthermore, regular young people’s meetings seek to identify any potential difficulties and resolve these at an early stage. As a result, young people develop their tolerance, empathy and ability to live together harmoniously.

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Quality of care

Complaints from young people are rare. Where they do occur, they are appropriately addressed and resolved. As a result, young people know that their concerns are listened to and acted upon. The young person’s guide has been produced in video format. This gives a tour of the home and explains the home’s routines and expectations in a young person friendly way. As a result, young people are put at ease when they first visit the home and start to form a positive attachment. This is further enhanced by a written young person’s guide to the home. This guide contains contact details for a range of support services. This ensures that young people are able to raise their concerns with external services if they so wish. However, the contact details for Ofsted are out of date. A recommendation has been made to improve this area of practice.

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Quality of care

Medication, where used, is safely stored and carefully administered. Detailed records of medication are routinely checked for accuracy. This ensures that any errors are quickly identified and promptly resolved. The staff team promote the health of young people at all times. All medical appointments are up to date and the staff team are diligent in ensuring that young people attend. As a result, young people enjoy good health and any concerns are quickly resolved.

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Quality of care

Young people are encouraged to develop their emotional well-being because they benefit from regular, high quality discussions with their key workers. As a result, they form strong attachments to the staff team and are able to discuss a range of feelings, worries and concerns. Regular input from appropriately qualified therapeutic practitioners ensures that young people receive support for their emotional well- being. This ensures that young people’s emotional security is promoted and that they feel enabled to discuss their emotions. Detailed records of key working discussions are held securely in the home. This ensures that staff are able to work consistently and know of any matters affecting the progress that young people make. A social worker commented, ‘the staff team nurture the young person.’

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Quality of care

The home is spacious and well-appointed. Young people enjoy access to local amenities and there is a range of age-appropriate activities for young people to enjoy. However, some areas of the home are damaged and unsightly. There are cracks to some walls and several windows are stained and misted in some places. Recent damage to the home has not been promptly repaired. As a result, young people do not live in a home that is well-presented or well-maintained.

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Safeguarding children and young people

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

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Safeguarding children and young people

Since the last inspection, there have been no incidents of restraint. The home’s recording system is appropriate and ensures that should restraint occur, all appropriate details can be recorded. Positive behaviour is recognised and rewarded in the home. This ensures that young people are encouraged to display and maintain socially acceptable behaviour. Where sanctions are used, they are fair, proportionate and relevant to the young person’s behaviour. However, the views of young people are not always recorded where sanctions are given. As a result, the acting manager is not able to evaluate the effectiveness of these measures. A recommendation has been made to address this shortfall.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home was visited by the local fire and rescue service in April 2013. Some defects were notified to the home as a result of this visit. These related to smoke alarms and fire doors in the home. The organisation has ensured that all appropriate actions have been taken. As a result, the safety of young people is now improved. Regular fire drills take place in both day and evening times. This ensures that young people and staff are practised in safe evacuation.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Risk assessment processes have improved in the home. Organisational monitoring since the last inspection showed that risk assessments were not robust. However, the acting manager has reviewed all risk assessments and made improvements. As a result, the safety and welfare of young people is better protected as staff are aware of the risks and how to reduce these.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people do not go missing from the home. This is because the staff team provide appropriate support and supervision at all times. The home has clear protocols with the local police should a young person go missing. Serious incidents are rare at the home. Where they do occur, the staff team ensure that prompt and appropriate action is taken to ensure the safety of young people. Furthermore, all required notifications are made to the appropriate services. As a result, young people’s safety is promoted at all times.

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Safeguarding children and young people

All areas of the home are safely maintained and appropriate checks are in place. This ensures that young people’s health and safety is appropriately promoted in the home. Electrical and gas installation testing is up to date and regular checks of the home ensure any defects are identified and resolved.

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Leadership and management

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

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Leadership and management

The home was last inspected in March 2013 and was judged to be making satisfactory progress. Two of the three recommendations made at this time have been successfully addressed. The acting manager has ensured that young people have a better understanding of their health needs and that risk assessments are now proportionate.

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Leadership and management

However, there has been an unsettled period where there has been no stable management presence in the home. As a result, there have been failures to maintain records in line with the home’s policies. This is further affected by the acting manager’s own monitoring systems not robustly identifying areas for development. Although the acting manager regularly audits the home, this system does not evaluate the service being provided to young people. Furthermore, a lack of scrutiny means that areas for development are not identified or suitably addressed. As a result, there is no formal process for improving the quality of care in the home.

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Leadership and management

The home has been without a Registered Manager since April 2013. A manager was appointed to the home but left the home shortly after. A lack of consistent management cover and oversight has affected the home’s progress since the last inspection. Although a new acting manager has been in post for several weeks, an application for registration is yet to be received by Ofsted. The organisation is aware of the importance of submitting an individual to be registered to manage the children’s home. However, a senior manager has worked closely with the acting manager to identify weakness and develop structured plans for improvement. This has had some positive impact on the home. Areas of weakness, identified through the organisation’s robust monitoring visits, have been identified and acted upon. Furthermore, the senior manager has developed structured improvement plans to address areas requiring improvement in the home.

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Leadership and management

The home’s Statement of Purpose is clear, up to date and includes all required information. This ensures that young people, parents, carers and placing authorities are clear about the home’s aims and objectives. However, the home’s development plan is outdated and relates to the previous year. This means that the home lacks formal plans for further growth, improvement and development. There is no direct impact on the outcomes for young people as a result of this shortfall and a recommendation has been made.

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Leadership and management

Staff are, on the whole, suitably trained. All staff are trained in first aid, restraint, fire safety, child protection and food hygiene. The acting manager keeps detailed records of staff training and ensures that refresher courses are arranged where necessary. However, not all staff are trained to level three. This has not, to date, had a demonstrable impact on the outcomes for young people. A recommendation has been made to address this shortfall.

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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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