Children's Home run by Keys Education Ltd in Herefordshire

Unique reference number SC062074 Inspection date 19/09/2013 Inspector Pete Hylton Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 27/11/2012 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

This privately-owned home is registered to accommodate up to four young people. The home can look after young people who may have 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 good .

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Young people feel listened to, valued and respected. They are confident in expressing their individuality. The staff team provide effective, highly personalised care to young people. Young people make good progress in relation to their starting points. All young people are attending appropriate educational settings and make good progress. Young people develop a range of skills in readiness for adulthood and make good progress in developing their independence. The staff team ensure that the views, wishes and preferences of young people underpin how their care is provided. Young people have positive views about the home and their ideas are sought for further improvement. Relationships between staff and young people are good. Young people report that they feel safe in the home and that staff are concerned for their welfare. The home is well managed and is robustly monitored by the Registered Manager and

p.3

Overall effectiveness

the organisation. Relationships within the local community have improved and there have been no complaints about the home since the last inspection. The Registered Manager has a clear understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. Clear development plans are in place to further develop the home. As a result of this inspection, two recommendations have been made. These relate to the timings of fire drills and ensuring all records are legible, factual and objective. There is no demonstrable impact, to date, on the outcomes for young people as a result of these shortfalls.

p.3

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 there is an emergency escape plan that all staff and children are familiar with and have practiced so they know what to do in an emergency (NMS 10.9)  ensure that entries in records are legible, clearly expressed, non-stigmatising and distinguish as far as possible between fact, opinion and third party information. (NMS 22.4)

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make good progress in developing their readiness for adulthood. They develop skills in managing a budget and planning their meals. Young people learn how to make simple meals and are encouraged to develop their skills in cooking. As a result, young people now make a range of meals with increased confidence and ability. Young people value the progress that they make in this regard. Comments from young people include; ‘I am loads more independent now’ and ‘I know how to cook different things.’ Young people are comfortable in expressing themselves and are know that they can discuss their personal needs with the staff team. As a result, young people make excellent progress in developing and understanding their personal identities. Young people develop their emotional resilience because they develop self-worth and value diversity. Relationships with families, where it is appropriate to do so, are developed

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

and maintained. This ensures that young people feel emotionally secure and continue to develop knowledge and understanding of their backgrounds. A social worker commented that ‘the home is the most stability this young person has ever had.’ Young people develop skills in keeping themselves safe. All young people have recently completed a course in ‘countering bullying’. As a result, they know how to recognise bullying in different forms and how to respond to this. Young people know how to keep themselves safe in the home and are confident in raising concerns if they so wish. Young people play an active part in decisions made in the home. This makes them feel valued, respected and treated as young adults. All young people attend appropriate educational placements and make good progress. Furthermore, young people make a positive contribution to the wider community through voluntary work. For example, young people regularly volunteer

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

in local charitable shops. As a result, they develop their vocational awareness and sense of community responsibility. Furthermore, young people develop key skills and attitudes that equip them for adulthood. Young people make good progress with understanding their health needs. Where young people choose to smoke, they are aware of the associated risks. Young people are similarly aware of smoking cessation services and know how to access these. Risk-taking behaviours are reducing in the home and young people make good progress in managing their emotions. A social worker commented that the home has ‘made a real positive difference to the young persons’ life.’

p.4

Quality of care

The quality of the care is good. Relationships between young people and staff are a key strength of the home. Excellent individual key working sessions ensure that young people feel listened to, valued and that their views are acted upon. The staff team ensure that young people’s views are at the heart of their practice. Furthermore, choice is actively promoted in the home. Their choices inform plans for activities, holidays, ideas for improving the home and resolving any differences in opinion. Regular young people’s meetings ensure that young people are involved in running the home. Young people chair these meetings and know that their views are respected. A sensitive and skilled staff team ensure that young people are enabled to express their individuality in a supportive and nurturing environment. As a result, the diversity of young people is actively celebrated and promoted in the home. A young

p.5

Quality of care

person commented that, ‘I can be myself here. I like it because the staff treat me with respect.’ The staff team ensure that equality is embedded into care practice. Where young people indicate a preference for specific equipment to meet their personal needs, the staff team ensure that this is provided. A member of staff commented, ‘we make sure that young people’s needs are met and they are treated as individuals.’ Young people enjoy access to a wide range of activities and are enabled to try new and different experiences. For example, young people have designed and built garden furniture from reclaimed woodland materials. As a result, they are enabled to develop new skills and broaden their understanding of sustainability. The routine of the home ensures that young people are able to regularly attend educational opportunities. As a result, young people maintain attendance and make good progress in developing their academic studies.

p.5

Quality of care

The staff team ensure that all relevant support services are promoted and the young person’s guide contains all required information. A freely available telephone ensures that young people can contact their friends, families and services of support. As a result, young people are enabled to raise their concerns to persons outside of the home if they so wish. Complaints from young people are rare and where they do occur, they are appropriately and swiftly resolved. Young people’s views are sought in care planning and they are encouraged to take part in all reviews. A social worker commented, ‘the staff are committed to providing the best care that they can.’ This is reflected in individualised and regularly reviewed care plans. As a result, the views of young people underpin the care provided in the home. All required details are kept on young peoples’ files and, where young people have pathway plans, they are followed and reviewed with the placing authority. This

p.5

Quality of care

ensures that young people are supported in their readiness for adulthood. A social worker commented that ‘the staff team meet the needs from the care plan.’ Medication arrangements are safe and effective. Appropriate storage systems are in place and all the staff are appropriately trained. The Registered Manager ensures that stock levels are regularly audited. Where discrepancies are found, they are swiftly identified and appropriate actions are taken. Health plans for young people are regularly updated and contain all required details. Where young people need additional specialist services, the staff team ensure that appropriate referral is made. As a result, the health needs of young people are well met and young people are in good health. The home is well-maintained and appropriately furnished. Young people are able to personalise their bedrooms and enjoy relaxing in the home’s communal areas. The

p.5

Quality of care

staff team work hard to maintain the home to a high standard. Young people enjoy spending time with each other and mealtimes are a social occasion where young people and staff sit down together. The staff team ensure that food provided to young people is safely prepared and provides sufficient variety and balance. Where young people plan and prepare their own meals, the staff offer appropriate guidance and support. As a result, young people are encouraged to eat healthily and maintain their dietary needs.

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

The service is good at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe. Care plans clearly identify the individual risks and vulnerabilities of young people in the home. The staff team are well-trained in safeguarding procedures and know how to respond to concerns about the safety or welfare of young people. Individual behaviour management plans ensure that young people’s behaviour is consistently managed by the staff team. Young people are involved in creating and reviewing their behaviour plans. This ensures that young people are able to recognise how staff will support them to develop positive behaviour. Risk assessment is appropriately used to further protect young people from possible harm. An improvement since the last inspection ensures that where risk assessments are updated, this is more clearly recorded. As a result, the staff team are able to recognise and review the current risk reduction strategies and young people receive

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

consistent care at all times. Restraint is rarely used in the home and only for appropriate reasons. Young people are encouraged to discuss their behaviour and reflect on incidents. As a result, they develop empathy and understanding of the effects of their behaviour. Sanctions, where used, are fair, reasonable and proportionate. Young people are supported in making their views on sanctions records. The staff discuss strategies for improving behaviour with young people. This results in young people making good progress in developing positive behaviour. The Registered Manager regularly reviews all incidents of challenging behaviour and ensures that any patterns or trends are identified and acted upon. As a result, incidents of challenging behaviour are reducing in the home. Incidents of young people choosing to run away from the home are rare. Where they do occur, they are short-lived and quickly resolved. This is because the staff team

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

ensure that young people are appropriately supervised and their whereabouts known at all times. Young people know that they can talk to staff about their concerns, worries and feelings. The home has effective protocols in place with the local police service. The Registered Manager ensures that where serious incidents occur, immediate action is taken to promote the safety of young people. Young people say that they feel safe in the home. Staff recruitment is robustly managed and includes all required checks. As a result, young people are protected from adults who may wish to cause them harm. Visitors to the home are appropriately checked and where necessary, escorted at all times. This ensures that young people are safe in the home and protected from harm. The physical environment is safe and well-maintained. All required checks on electrical and gas installations and appliances are in date. The Registered Manager

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

ensures that safety is at the centre of staff practice. Fire drills are regularly held and this ensures that young people and staff are practised in evacuating the home. However, these drills have not taken place at night time. As a result, young people and staff may not be fully practised in safe evacuation during hours of darkness. There is no demonstrable impact, to date, on the outcomes for young people. A recommendation has been made to improve this area of practice.

p.7

Leadership and management

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

p.7

Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are good. The home was last inspected in November 2012 and was judged to be making good progress. No recommendations or requirements were made at this time. Relationships with the local community continue to be a primary focus for further developing the home. There have been no complaints from the community since the last inspection. The Registered Manager has ensured that the home is conducted in a manner that has minimal impact on the local community. The Registered Manager attends local parish council meetings and is proactive in addressing any issues that are raised. This results in a home that is responsive to the views of the community and is working hard to minimise any negative impact. The organisation regularly visits the home in accordance with the Children’s Homes Regulations 2001. The visitor checks records, speaks to young people and evaluates

p.7

Leadership and management

the quality of care in the home. The reports from these visits detail where further improvements are needed. These visits robustly monitor the home and enable the Registered Manager to make improvements. As a result, young people benefit from a home that is regularly monitored and reviewed. Where serious incidents occur, the Registered Manager ensures that prompt referral to appropriate agencies is made where necessary. Young people’s records are up to date, regularly audited and securely stored in the home. This ensures that information relating to young people is kept confidential and is protected from unauthorised access. However, some handwritten records relating to young people are difficult to read and there are occasions where the staff have recorded their opinions relating to young people's behaviour. As a result, records are not always non-stigmatising or differentiate between fact and opinion. There is no

p.7

Leadership and management

demonstrable impact on the outcomes for young people. A recommendation has been made to address this shortfall. The progress of young people is regularly reviewed. The staff team ensure that placing authorities, parents and other involved parties are kept fully informed. Where concerns arise, these are appropriately shared and acted upon. A social worker commented that the home ‘keep me very well informed.’ Staff with key working responsibilities know the young people well and provide detailed summary reports. As a result, the progress that young people make is recorded and used to inform the planned care in the home. Staff feel supported and well-trained in their duties. Effective supervision from the Registered Manager ensures that all staff regularly discuss their work and the care provided to young people. Staff are supported with identifying areas to further improve and are motivated and committed to developing the service given to young

p.7

Leadership and management

people. All staff are up to date with their training. This ensures that young people are cared for by a staff team who are suitably skilled in providing safe care. The staff team are enabled to further their knowledge and competency and have received additional training in recognising self-harm, equality and diversity, behaviour management, complaints and countering bullying. The Statement of Purpose is up to date and includes all required details. As a result, young people, parents and placing authorities can review the home’s aims and objectives. The Registered Manager is committed to providing an effective service to young people and has built good relationships with partner agencies. A social worker commented that ‘the manager goes above and beyond to help.’ A police officer commented that, ‘it is clear to see the communication, professionalism of the staff both in the home but also working with the surrounding community which is very

p.8

Leadership and management

well received.’ Health and safety is well managed. The Registered Manager ensures that the home is well maintained and any defects are swiftly resolved. Effective monitoring systems are in place and young people benefit from a home that is committed to further improvement. The homes’ development plan clearly details the planned improvements to the home and is regularly updated. This is further enhanced by a young person’s development plan. This document seeks the views of young people and includes their ideas for developing the home. As a result, young people know that their views and feelings have demonstrable impact on how the home is managed.

p.8

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