Children's Home run by BREAK in Norfolk

Unique reference number SC060743 Inspection date 27/09/2013 Inspector Deirdra Keating Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 03/01/2013 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

This children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for four children who have learning disabilities, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is owned by a registered charity.

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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 home provides good quality care that incorporates young people's unique needs and enables them to develop as individuals. As a result of the care provided, young people have made good progress, which is evident in changes to their attitudes and behaviours.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are positive about the home. They benefit from positive relationships with staff, a nurturing environment and a consistent approach from adults. Consequently, young people say they feel safe, happy and well looked after. Overall, this helps them develop emotional resilience and stability in their lives.

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Overall effectiveness

The manager has a good overview of the home and a clear understanding of areas that require improvement. Some minor shortfalls have been identified during the inspection; however, they do not impact on the safety or well-being of young people. These include: the monitoring of bedtime routines of some young people, specific detail in individual records pertaining to behaviour, some areas of décor, risk assessments and staff training. The young people's information about the home requires updating.

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Overall effectiveness

There is a good drive to improve the home and improve outcomes for young people. The manager is aware of the shortfalls identified and plans to address these areas are underway. As a result of this inspection two requirements and five recommendations have been raised.

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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

17B (2001) ensure that within 24 hours of the use of any measure of control or discipline a written record is made in a volume kept for the purpose which shall include details of the child's behaviour leading to use of the measure (Regulation 17 (b) (3) (b)) 25/10/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that any activities in which children participate are so far as reasonably practicable free from hazards this is with particular reference to risk assessments for specific activities. ( Regulation 23 (a)) 25/10/2013

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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.)  ensure all existing care staff have attained a minimum level 3 qualification (NMS 18.5)  ensure that procedures for introducing children to the home ensure children understand what to expect from living in the home this is in relation to the children's guide (NMS 11.1 )  ensure the home is comfortable homely and well maintained throughout this relates to the décor on the first floor landing (NMS 10.3)  ensure that children are supported to attend school, college or alternative provision regularly this is relation to the evening routine of the home. (NMS 8.3)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are supported and encouraged to build friendships with peers in the local community. This develops their self-confidence and social skills. They have formed trusting relationships with the staff team who they say that they like and respect. This supports young people through adolescence and helps them gain an understanding of their diverse backgrounds. They have high aspirations for their future lives, encouraged by staff who have high expectations for them.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from good overall health. They eat well, engage in active lifestyles and are starting to take responsibility for their own health and do not engage in alcohol or other substance misuse. Young people access a range of health professionals where necessary. Their basic health needs are routinely met and psychological support is made available and accessed through individual choice. This gives young people an opportunity to gain an understanding of their behaviours in relation to their complex backgrounds.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Appropriate educational provision is available for all young people, although their attendance is varied. Most attend regularly and make good progress, although there are, however, occasions when some young people’s routines are not conducive to getting up for school.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people all have strong links to the local community, through peer groups, friends, sports and activity clubs. These links give young people a better understanding of the local area and opportunities to develop friendships outside the home and to develop their interests and skills.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are fully supported in their individual contact arrangements. This enables them to see their families regularly. Some young people share time with friends in the vicinity and this promotes their independence. An independent living programme teaches young people to care for themselves. Young people are expected to budget, shop and cook with tailored support from staff. This helps them prepare for adult life.

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Quality of care

Experienced staff provide good role models and individual care. They communicate warmly with young people and provide clear, caring boundaries. This is based on a good understanding of each young person's individual needs and the impact of their past lives. This means that behaviour management strategies are tailored well to individual needs.

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Quality of care

Staff share information well to ensure that young people are given consistent messages and the dynamics of the group are monitored. While there may be low- level disagreements between young people, very few incidents occur and in general they live amicably and accept one another's differences. Staff provide good care for young people and implement consistent boundaries. This helps young people feel secure and contained. Sanctions that are given link closely to the event, to ensure that young people can learn from their mistakes.

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Quality of care

Staff work hard to ensure educational placements encompass young people's learning styles. Barriers to learning are addressed and staff liaise closely with providers to help young people attend and make achievements. Young people are expected to attend. Routines differ according to young people's ages; however, some of these are not carefully monitored. On occasion this has resulted in young people being too tired to get up for school.

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Quality of care

Staff promote healthy lifestyles and generally provide healthy role models. They support physical activities, sports and outdoor pursuits. These include football, cycling, running and horse-riding. Food is cooked from raw ingredients and nutritionally balanced. This ensures young people are healthy.

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Quality of care

Staff ensure that young people know how to complain and keep a record of complaints. This record shows that the home has received several minor complaints and these have been properly addressed. Staff seek out young people's views and use these to inform menus, décor and activities. Staff buy food and snacks in line with young people's individual preferences and wishes. This ensures that young people receive individual care in line with their choices.

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Quality of care

The home is located in a rural village close to the sea. Young people use amenities available in the local community. The house is a family style detached house that is adequately maintained in most areas apart from the first floor landing. Young people have ample space and are able to choose the décor in their rooms. This helps young people know their ideas are valued and gives them a sense of personal belonging.

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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

Young people are relaxed and confident within the home. They say that they feel safe in the knowledge that staff will advocate for them. Bullying is not identified as an issue at the home. Generally young people get on well and this helps them feel relaxed and safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are encouraged to take part in physical outdoor activities as they choose. Staff assess activities and compile generic risk assessments. However, these do not detail specific activities such as swimming and trips to local parks. This could potentially compromise young people's safety.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There a few incidences of young people going missing. There is a shared protocol with the police which sets out a joint response tailored to the needs and age of the young person. This approach ensures that individual vulnerabilities are recognised and staff take a proactive approach in ensuring young people's safe whereabouts and return.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff are competent and effective in managing young people's challenging behaviour. Restraint is used in appropriate situations, although the records of such interventions lack details about prior behaviour, are not signed by young people and do not include their views. This makes monitoring difficult and does not evidence any discussion following restraints. Generally the approach of staff is one of positive reinforcement and proportionate responses in line with individual characteristics.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Clear safeguarding procedures are in place and these are understood by staff. Training is provided regularly and this ensures that in the event of an allegation or a disclosure form a young person staff are clear about what to do and who to involve. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of these procedures, protecting young people from potential harm.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff working in the home are checked prior to taking up post. New staff are recruited in line with the provider’s wider organisational procedures. As a result young people are cared for by safe and suitable adults.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home provides a physically safe and secure environment. Risk assessments ensure the home is free from hazards. Fire prevention equipment is checked and fire drills are practised. This ensures the house is free from hazards and young people know what to do in the event of a fire.

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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

The home has an established Registered Manager who provides good leadership and direction to a committed team of staff. Staff are fulfilled and happy in their roles. They work well as a united, cohesive team promoting a calm, positive atmosphere. This provides young people with a relaxed happy environment and good adult role models. A member of staff said 'I cannot fault the team they are lovely. I have never worked in a place where there are superb relationships'.

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Leadership and management

Good staff ratios ensure that young people are supervised by a competent staff team. Clear deployment of duties is based on the needs of young people. Staff receive good support and supervision to support them in their roles. Induction of new staff is planned to enable staff to be trained for the role. However, some staff have yet to undertake level 3 training despite having been in post for some time. This does not meet requirements and could potentially mean they do not have up-to- date knowledge for their role.

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Leadership and management

There have been no concerns about the home externally and internal complaints from young people are minor and addressed well. They know how to use the complaints procedure and this ensures they can express their views.

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Leadership and management

The Statement of Purpose is an overview of the care and facilities provided by the home. This enables parents, professionals and staff to gain an understanding of the aims of the home. The welcome guide for young people sets out information but is not adapted to suit the different ages and understanding of young people.

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Leadership and management

An independent visitor monitors the home on a monthly basis. The views of young people are included and central to these visits. The manager also monitors the logs kept by the home and ensures that patterns and trends are identified. This helps ensure good oversight of staff practise and record keeping in relation to behaviours and events in the home.

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Leadership and management

Records kept in the home are clear and reflect young people’s lives. This will provide a chronology for them if they wish to access their records now or in the future. Records also incorporate young people's views and preferences. The staff manager chases documentation from placing authorities to ensure that records are complete. There has been one event where the home has notified Ofsted as required. This provides an extra safeguard to young people.

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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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