Children's Home run by Radical Services Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Unique reference number SC061158 Inspection date 28/08/2013 Inspector Anne Bannister Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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

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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.

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Brief description of the service

The service is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for one young person of either gender who has experienced behavioural and emotional difficulties.

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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

This is a home where young people receive consistent and well planned care that meets their individual needs. Outcomes for young people are generally good as they feel safe and benefit from good quality relationships. The home routinely collects feedback from young people about daily living and the quality of care provided, and acts on the feedback.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people have individual plans and a strength of the home is that staff fully understand and implement these. This consistent approach to young people's care helps to ensure that young people make good progress in all areas of their lives. Young people speak positively about the home and about the staff who care for them. Staff understand and follow safe working practices and there is effective leadership which helps to ensure the positive development of the home.

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Overall effectiveness

The three requirements being raised are partly attributable to the absence of a deputy manager to share some of the management tasks. These relate to the content of the statement of purpose, regular supervision of staff and Schedule 6 monthly monitoring reports. These deficits lead to a judgement of adequate being given for leadership and management. The overall judgement is made on the basis that these breaches in regulation are not currently directly impacting on the quality of care young people receive.

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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) compile in relation to the children's home a written statement which shall consist of a statement as to the matters listed in schedule1. In particular this document must accurately reflect the approach adopted by staff to behaviour management (Regulation 4(1)) 08/11/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) compile a report in respect of any review conducted by him for the purposes of monitoring, at monthly intervals, of issues set out in Schedule 6 (Regulation 34(1)(a)) 08/11/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure staff receive supervision within the frequency specified in the company's policies and procedures. (Regulation 27(4)(a)) 08/11/2013

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people living in the home show improvement in their educational attainments, emotional development and ability to keep themselves safe and healthy. As a result they grow in confidence and self-esteem.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from caring, trusting relationships with staff. They are routinely encouraged to express their views about the quality of the care they receive and actively influence decisions taken relating to their day-to-day lives. As a result young people learn to express their views in a positive way and are able to reflect on how previously they would have used anger and aggression to get what they wanted. One young person commented 'Staff treat me with respect. If I want to do something that’s not ok with them, they explain why so that I understand and don't lose it and end up in trouble'.

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Outcomes for children and young people

From admission young people are encouraged to participate in an individually planned education programme. Where young people are beyond compulsory school age they are encouraged and supported to engage in further education. For many young people this is a significant development as they have previously failed to engage in education for lengthy periods of time. The nurturing environment promotes young people's self-esteem. Their educational achievements and attainments are acknowledged and celebrated and as a result they make good progress in their learning and development. Young people's physical and emotional health needs are positively promoted. When young people require specialist health care or support, staff act as advocates to ensure they receive the services they need. For example, young people have opportunities to engage with local drug and alcohol advisory services. This ensures they have sufficient information to make positive decisions about aspects of their

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Outcomes for children and young people

lifestyle that may previously have impacted negatively on their health. Young people's sexual health is taken seriously and addressed through discussions and support to attend health appointments. This helps to ensure that young people are supported in their transition to adulthood and equipped with the information they need to keep healthy.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are encouraged to enjoy active and healthy lifestyles. They are able to participate in local community activities, such as joining local football teams, that enable them to develop friendships outside of the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people

When agreed with placing authorities, young people are supported to maintain positive contact with their family members. This helps to ensure that young people sustain links in their home area and promotes a positive sense of identity.

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from positive, nurturing relationships with staff. They understand that staff are there to promote their best interests. Staff consistently respect and value young people's individuality. Care plans are in place and updated to reflect individual needs and strengths. This ensures that young people’s needs are met and their progress is monitored.

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Quality of care

Young people's wishes are valued and actively sought. The close one-to-one support that young people receive ensures their views are sought on all aspects of their care. Young people know that their views are valued and say that staff listen to them and make sure their voice is heard by other professionals. Young people are able to contribute positively to statutory reviews. Staff help them prepare for their reviews and support them to raise the issues which are of importance to them. Young people said they feel valued and their wishes are taken seriously.

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Quality of care

Since the last inspection theere have been no complaints raised by young people about the quality of care they receive. Young people are confident that any concerns raised will be taken seriously and are clear about what to do should they wish to make a complaint. The management have a positive approach to concerns and learning and are considering ways in which they can demonstrate how they respond to 'minor grumbles' young people make, which are always promptly addressed.

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Quality of care

Comprehensive care plans and risk assessments identify all aspects of a young person’s needs and vulnerabilities. Care plans identify specific targets and outcomes for young people. These are developed in full consultation with young people, who are able to identify what their current targets are. Staff work successfully alongside young people, their relatives and social workers to help young people achieve their specified goals. Care plans and risk assessments are regularly reviewed so that they remain relevant to young people's current needs.

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Quality of care

The property is situated in a residential area and is domestic in character. Young people live in comfortable and homely surroundings that are clean and generally well maintained. They are able to personalise their bedrooms and are expected to contribute to the day-to-day cleaning of the home and this helps young people to feel a sense of belonging and pride in their environment.

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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

Arrangements for safeguarding are robust and ensure that young people are cared for safely in the home. Staff are confident and demonstrate that they know what to do and who to inform in the event that they have concerns about a young person's well-being. All members of staff receive training in child protection and safeguarding procedures. The Registered Manager ensures that appropriate action is taken and all the relevant agencies are informed of any safeguarding issues.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff understand how to support young people to behave in socially acceptable and safe ways. Training equips staff to respond positively to any challenging or difficult behaviour presented by young people by redirecting their behaviour. Staff implement the strategies effectively in practice. As a consequence, there have been few incidents of physical intervention in the home for a considerable time. This contributes to young people's sense of safety and well-being. Sanctions are rarely used; staff prefer to discuss the impact of young people's behaviours on themselves and others. This encourages young people to conduct themselves in a socially acceptable way and assists them in developing their skills in managing their behaviours.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff take action to minimise the risk of young people going missing from the home. They have had some success in reducing the number of these incidents for individual young people. Close liaison with professionals outside the home ensures that there is good communication between the home and other agencies. These arrangements offer protection to young people if they do go missing.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Robust procedures for recruiting staff ensure that all checks are done and that staff are vetted and assessed as suitable before they start work in the home. The identity of visitors to the home is confirmed before they are allowed entry. These systems protect young people from harm as they prevent unsuitable individuals gaining access to the home.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people live in a home that is kept safe and free from hazards. Equipment and installations are regularly checked to ensure that they are in good order. Risk assessments on the environment are developed and kept under review to ensure that all identified risks are eliminated or minimised. These measures protect young people, staff and visitors.

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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

The home meets the aims and objectives set out in its Statement of Purpose. The Statement of Purpose clearly describes the skills, qualifications and experience members of staff have in looking after young people. However, it fails to accurately identify the home's preferred method of behaviour management.

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Leadership and management

The young people's guide to the home is clearly written and provides important information which young people may need. Young people know what they can expect from living at the home, and how to contact the regulatory body and other agencies if they are worried or concerned about anything.

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Leadership and management

Staff ratios are high and comply with the home’s Statement of Purpose. Any shortfalls in staffing levels are covered by existing staff, or by regular bank staff who are familiar with the young people. This ensures young people are cared for by staff who know them and can respond effectively to their needs.

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Leadership and management

The organisation demonstrates a commitment to staff training. Members of staff receive training in a number of areas which help to safeguard and protect the welfare of young people. Written records indicate that, where training is to be updated, renewal dates have been identified and a plan is in place to ensure staff attendance. The majority of staff are qualified, with the remainder working towards an appropriate child care qualification.

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Leadership and management

Staff confirm that they feel extremely well supported by the manager who they say is 'always available if they need support or advice at any time day or night'. Staff feel positive about working at the home and feel they can talk to the manager about any concerns they may have. Regular staff meetings ensure consistency in addressing young people's identified needs. Handovers are very comprehensive and enable staff to review the previous shift, and plan for the next one. This promotes consistency of care for young people living in the home. However, over recent months the expected frequency of formal supervision has not been met. Staff do not feel this has impacted on their ability to care for young people because of the high quality of daily support and communication the manager has with them, both individually and as a team.

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Leadership and management

There are adequate systems in place to monitor the performance of the home. Monthly audits of the service are undertaken by the manager. Signatures on documentation confirm that he continues to review all documentation on a monthly basis. Over recent months he has failed to collate his findings into a monthly monitoring report. He directly attributes the failure to meet all regulatory administrative requirements to the absence of a deputy to share management tasks.

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Leadership and management

Monitoring visits by someone independent of the home take place every month. The person undertaking these visits talks to young people, staff and, where possible, the parents or relatives of young people living at the home. These visits help to ensure that the home is run properly and that young people are well cared for. They have however, failed to identify any of the issues raised as a result of this inspection.

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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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