Children's Home run by Essex County Council in Essex

Unique reference number SC044975 Inspection date 19/09/2013 Inspector Gwen Buckley Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 08/11/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This children's home provides respite care and accommodation for up to 12 children with disabilities or learning difficulties and with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The children are cared for in three separate flats. The home is managed by the local authority.

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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

The manager is aware of the strengths and weaknesses in the home. The service provides personalised, very well planned care to young people. Young people make good progress and enjoy their time at the home. They get the help needed, especially with regards to the management of their own anxieties and behaviours.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people benefit from positive relationships with the staff and receive excellent support to develop as individuals. Their relationships with staff who know and understand their needs very well are excellent and integral to the quality of care provided. Their welfare is safeguarded by trained experienced staff.

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Overall effectiveness

The home supports young people extremely well to achieve positive outcomes which include dietary and health care needs. Extremely positive feedback has been received from parents in relation to the care and support provided at the home. Comments include: ‘My child thrives at the home,’ and, ‘The home meets all his complex needs and the staff are extremely supportive and caring.'

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Overall effectiveness

Areas for development include improvements in the number of staff available, the quality of risk assessments, monitoring of induction training and the time it takes for maintenance work to be undertaken.

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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 there is at all times, having regard to the size of the children’s home, the Statement of Purpose, and the number and needs (including any needs arising from any disability) of the children accommodated, there is a sufficient number of suitably qualified, competent and experienced persons working at the children’s home (Regulation 25 (1) (a)) 08/11/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that all parts of the home to which children have access are so far as reasonably practicable free from hazards to their health or safety. This specifically relates to the timeliness of completing maintenance. (Regulation 23 (a)) 08/11/2013

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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 all staff’s work is consistent with these Regulation and national minimum standards, the homes’ policies and procedures. This relates to the quality of risk assessments undertaken for outings and monitoring of training during the induction period for new staff. (NMS 21.3)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Individual health needs are clearly assessed and recorded on care plans. Young people have very complex needs which the home’s staff and health professionals manage effectively. This ensures that young people’s health is a priority and maintained in line with their individual needs.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from a staff group who have a very sensitive approach to personal care. They respect young people's dignity, privacy and need for clear routines. Young people are encouraged and enabled to undertake simple daily living tasks in line with their ability and level of understanding. Staff work very well with young people, their family and other professionals when young people move into the home and when leaving. This joint working ensures that transitions are a positive experience for young people

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Outcomes for children and young people

A range of activities are available for young people in the home and in the community such as swimming, local parks and other attractions. Parents and carers report that their children thoroughly enjoy their time at the home and look forward to seeing the staff. Young people are encouraged to bring items from home to have in their bedrooms so they feel comfortable in their room.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff use various communication aids such as flash cards and schedule planning in pictorial formats, ensuring young people know what to expect next and prepare for change which reduces their anxiety levels. This ensures young people have choices and their views taken account of throughout their stay.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The staff work effectively with parents, taxi escorts and the schools to ensure school transport arrangements meet individual needs. This includes how medication and behaviour is managed ensuring young people get to school safely and attendance is very good.

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Quality of care

Effective, regular communication with parents ensures care plans provide clear guidance on individual needs and the support needed on a daily basis. Young people’s needs are assessed effectively prior to admission and each time they stay at the home. Family backgrounds, cultural identity and communication requirements are known which helps staff to understand and treat each young person as an individual.

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from positive relationships with staff who interact with them using humour and praise which regularly raises smiles and laughter. Staff are extremely attentive when caring for young people, which helps create a positive experience for young people. However, on occasions due to staffing levels, this level of direct care and attention is not maintained. For short periods during the day, such as when staff have to cook for young people and the young people are not able to assist in the kitchen, some are not being observed. Parents report staff patience and care has enabled their children to make remarkable progress at the home in eating well, managing their behaviour and trying new foods.

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Quality of care

Good systems are in place to administer medication. Systems for auditing the standard of medication administration and recording are in place. Staff have a good understanding of the medication young people require. Effective working with parents and health professionals ensures a high standard of training and guidance is in place, enabling staff to safely administer routine and recovery medication.

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Quality of care

Staff work hard to ensure that young people can enjoy life fully in line with their individual needs and ability. Young people appear happy and relaxed in the home. They benefit from the excellent play facilities with a range of games and equipment available for use both outside and inside the home such as games rooms and sensory rooms. Young people live in a bright, well decorated home, which provides a comfortable homely environment and sufficient space to meet their needs. The gardens are well maintained, clean and secure. Staff are aware of fire evacuation procedures and checks on safety equipment are undertaken as required. The manager is taking action to improve the quality of maintenance and response times provided by the company used by the council to maintain the property.

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Quality of care

Parents talk positively about the staff; comments include, ‘They go to great lengths to help (name of child). I appreciate support being available on the phone and they will change booked nights if possible so that we can attend special functions. I can’t fault the staff.’

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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

All staff at the home are fully aware of their responsibilities to safeguard young people and know how to respond to any allegation or concern. Staff receive regular training and know what to do in the event of a child protection incident. Young people are also safeguarded through the robust staff recruitment procedures in place; this ensures staff are suitable and safe to work with young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Bullying is not an issue at the home, parents and carers are confident young people are safe. Young people were seen arriving at the home with a smile on their face and being made welcome by staff. Young people spoken with during the inspection report that it is good at the home and that staff are good.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people do not go missing; appropriate staffing levels for outings are assessed which promotes young people safety. Risk assessments for outings include the medication needed and other aspects such as access to phones. However, the risk assessments for outings are not robust as they do not always include the information staff have considered. For example, staff know, but do not record, how many of the staff going with the young people to the swimming pool or beach can swim.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people receive care from staff who recognise how their own behaviour affects young people or when certain triggers are present. Sanctions are very seldom used. Staff have the ability to positively distract young people and make better decisions to manage their own behaviour. This enables each young person to become calmer and avoid crisis and the need to be held. It also keeps others safe and helps prepare young people for the future. When measures of control are needed, records are well maintained and scrutinised which means the Registered Manager is able to identify trends and patterns. Action is then taken to improve the outcomes and care provided to young people. Records of restraint show the majority of restraints are instances when staff are guiding young people away from situations.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Clear, detailed emergency plans are in place that mean young people would be able to go to suitable premises in the local area if needed.

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Leadership and management

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

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Leadership and management

A strong management team is in place. A deputy manager supports the Registered Manager who has a clear sense of the home’s strengths and a clear development plan is in place showing how they are looking to further improve the service provided. Staff report that the management team is approachable and supportive. Young people receive care and accommodation in line with the stated aims in the Statement of Purpose. No actions or areas for development were raised at the last inspection.

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Leadership and management

An effective monitoring and reporting system is in place; this includes a monthly review of all the issues highlighted in regulations.

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Leadership and management

Young people benefit from consistency of care from staff they know, regular routines, effective management of specialist health care tasks and excellent relationships with staff. Staff receive mandatory training which is regularly updated. Staff at all levels confirm that the frequency of supervision has improved and they receive good support through supervision and meetings. At times, staffing levels enable an outstanding level of care and support to each child, but, this is not consistent and the system to cover shortages at short notice is not effective. Managers cover shifts when needed which gives them a clear understanding of care practices and the support staff need. Recruitment to vacant posts is on-going. New staff undertake the Children’s Workforce Development Council induction standards: however, their progress on this is not monitored through supervision as expected.

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Leadership and management

Young people benefit from the staff team being able to work extremely well with parents and external professionals. Parents and carers comment very positivity on the care and support young people receive. They stress that they are kept up-to-date with young people’s progress and they can’t think of any way the home could improve. They say that young people enjoy positive outcomes and that the home meets young people’s complex needs.

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Leadership and management

Documentation is stored securely. Staff maintain sensitivity and confidentiality regarding young people's personal records and while keeping young people safe; their right to privacy is well managed.

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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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