Children's Home run by Knossington Grange School Limited in Lincolnshire

Unique reference number SC436386 Inspection date 09/10/2013 Inspector Caroline Oldham Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 08/04/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This home provides care and accommodation for up to four young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties and usually takes boys. The home is owned by an independent provider with a school site nearby; young people may also attend the school.

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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 supported by a well-established staff team who know the young people very well and provide personalised, well-planned care. Each young person has a very clear and detailed care plan designed to meet their specific needs. Given their starting points, young people are making very good progress and their behaviour is improving. However young people are not actively encouraged to read their files and it is not always clear how targets identified in plans are followed through into the day-to-day care. That is not helpful for young people when they access their files now, or in the future.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people say that they are well cared for; they like the staff team and the broad range of activities. Generally they respond well to the clear rules and expectations. They re-engage with education and make good progress. Although there are opportunities to prepare for independence there is not a clear programme to support young people to develop the skills and knowledge they need for the future. Some young people's psychological health needs are very complex, and these impact on their general health and wellbeing. The home is proactive in engaging with specialist agencies to offer support and advice.

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Overall effectiveness

The manager and the senior team have thorough systems in place to monitor progress, and are fully aware of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. Social workers, other professionals, parents and young people all have a good understanding of the purpose of the home. Staff feel well supported through team meetings, training and formal supervision. There are comprehensive, up-to-date risk assessments and well-considered safe working practices which help to keep young people safe. Risk-taking behaviour is diminishing, and young people are learning to keep themselves safe. Overall, young people make progress in keeping themselves safe and avoiding dangers.

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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 information about the child is recorded clearly and in a way which will be helpful to the child when they access their files now or in the future. Actively encourage children to read their files, other than confidential or third party information and to correct errors and add personal statements (NMS 22.5)  ensure that each child's placement plan is monitored by a key worker within the home who ensures that the requirements of the plan are implemented in the day-to-day care of that child (NMS 25.2)  ensure that children are supported to develop practical skills, including shopping, buying, cooking and keeping food, washing clothes, personal self-care, and understanding and taking responsibility for personal healthcare and also develop financial capability, knowledge and skills. (NMS 12.1 (e) and (f))

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people come to the home with complex needs, but through the persistence of the staff team and the support of other professionals, young people form, and sustain, friendships and attachments. They learn to develop social skills and interactions, and these social skills are then extended to environments outside of the home. For example, involvement in local clubs, running a car boot sale and working in a charity shop.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people attend the specialist school nearby which is managed by the same provider. They are doing well in their education, and their attendance has improved dramatically. This has also enhanced their social skills and they have grown in confidence.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people's health is good, and all are encouraged to eat a well-balanced diet and enjoy a broad range of physical activities. Young people receive appropriate psychological support and specialist counselling which helps them to deal with issues that are troubling them and make positive choices about their health and wellbeing. Consequently young people are generally in good health and are learning about leading a healthy lifestyle. Although young people enjoy some opportunities for cooking, keep their rooms clean and do their own laundry, there is no clear programme to help them prepare for independence. This means that young people are not consistently prepared in many of the practical skills, including financial skills, to manage well in the community.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff welcome visitors to the home, and work closely with social workers, family members and young people to maintain appropriate contact. Consequently young people maintain contact with family, friends and other people who are important to them. This may be through phone calls and/or visits and ensures that young people maintain meaningful relationships and learn to understand their past.

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Quality of care

The staff have a good understanding of the needs of the young people in their care, and this helps young people to form strong, sound relationships with the staff. Staff are skilled at using these relationships to help young people to develop confidence and feel secure. Young people learn to respect themselves and others and work together to resolve minor issues, such as some young people being rather noisy early in the morning.

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Quality of care

Young people are actively involved in decisions that affect the day-to-day running of the home. They have regular, weekly group meetings to discuss food, activities, their achievements and other relevant issues. In addition, they are involved in the redecoration of communal areas and their views are sought on staff recruitment and new admissions to the home. This helps the young people to look on the provision as their home and see how their involvement can influence decisions.

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Quality of care

All young people have very clear, colour coded care plans that set out specific individualised targets and objectives. The plans include any relevant information about psychological issues, disability, and religious and cultural backgrounds. Files also include an independence record, an up-to-date risk assessment, a behaviour management plan and details of very well documented personal support work sessions. Generally the files are clear and contain all the relevant information, although the care plans need closer monitoring to ensure that targets set are followed through into the day-to-day care of the young people. Currently staff and young people are not able to see clearly how the issues identified in plans are being followed through and what progress young people are making.

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Quality of care

The home is proactive in seeking good working relationships with other agencies, the local community and education facilities. Recent developments include working with local charities to arrange volunteer placements for young people and getting young people involved in fundraising for charity. This ensures that young people engage in positive activities in the community.

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Quality of care

When a young people are first admitted to the home, they are routinely registered with local health professionals. When young people have medical needs these are swiftly responded to and appropriate appointments are arranged to ensure identified concerns are responded to fully. In particular the staff team are very proactive in ensuring that young people have good mental health support. All young people are encouraged to be active through for example swimming, kickboxing, country walks or going to the gym. All young people are encouraged to eat a healthy balanced diet. Where there are concerns, young people's food consumption is closely monitored and strategies put in place to encourage healthy eating. Young people have plenty of support and opportunities to be healthy.

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Quality of care

Social workers speak very highly of the home. They say that they have observed that young people have good relationships with the staff and that the staff manage young people's challenging behaviours very well. Whenever social workers visit they are made welcome and they are kept regularly updated via email and phone calls. Social workers say that they are kept well informed at all times and any issues that they should be aware of are always highlighted for them.

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Quality of care

Young people have made significant strides to re-engage in education after significant periods of non-attendance in school. All young people are currently in education and are maintaining a good attendance record; some have achieved 100% attendance. The home works closely with the school and they work together to address issues quickly. As a result young people gain confidence and are motivated to learn.

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Quality of care

The home is well placed within walking distance of the centre of the town where there are shops and other facilities. The home is spacious, and recent photos of the young people are used to personalise the environment. Outside there are large grounds for games and growing vegetables. The home is beautifully maintained and young people take care of their environment which ensures the home remains welcoming and safe for young people.

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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

When young people come to this home thorough risk assessments are completed and these are regularly reviewed in order to support staff in managing young people's behaviours and keeping them safe. The staff team work very hard to keep young people safe while at the same time allowing them some independence. It is a real credit to the home, and to the young people, that young people rarely go missing from this home. Young people reduce their risk-taking behaviour and say that they feel safe and secure.

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Safeguarding children and young people

All staff receive safeguarding training and very regular refresher training, and therefore their practice and knowledge is extremely good. The staff are very clear about how they would deal with any issues of concern. Young people confirm that there are no issues of bullying in the home. On the contrary they are very supportive of one another. This ensures that young people are kept safe and are cared for appropriately.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are clear about the rules and expectations of the home. Generally they manage their behaviour very well and respect other people and property. However, sometimes young people need staff to physically intervene to stop them from harming themselves, property, or other people. Documentation shows that staff use minimum intervention and young people always have the opportunity for reflection and discussion. Sanctions are very rare, as there is an excellent points system in place which rewards good behaviour and encourages cooperation. Each young person has individualised targets and timescales. Young people are proud of their achievements and look forward to their rewards. Given their starting points, young people are making significant progress in managing their behaviour.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The staff recruitment and selection process is rigorous, and comprehensive checks are carried out to ensure that young people are always cared for by appropriately experienced staff. It is a credit to the manager and the senior team that there is a very low turnover of staff. This ensures that children and young people are cared for by a settled and stable team of staff who know them well.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The environment is monitored by a system of internal safety checks and risk assessments. In addition, services such as electricity, electrical appliances and fire fighting equipment are regularly checked by the appropriate professional companies. Consequently, children and young people live and are cared for in a safe environment.

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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 Registered Manager is very popular with staff and young people. The staff team say that they feel very well supported through frequent formal supervision and regular staff meetings which provide a good opportunity to discuss the care of each young person in detail. All staff take on additional responsibilities and talk with enthusiasm about their work. Staff say that they work well together and their suggestions and ideas are valued by the management team. There is a very good system of management monitoring in place and, in addition, the registered provider carries out comprehensive monthly monitoring visits.

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Leadership and management

Young people are aware of how to raise a concern or make a complaint but have not made any complaints about the home. Significant events are very rare but the relevant authorities are always notified in a timely manner and appropriate action taken by the home.

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Leadership and management

There was one requirement made at the last inspection. This was to ensure that the registered provider supplies Ofsted with a copy of the Regulation 33 report. This is now occurring on a regular basis and is monitored by the manager through the amended monthly monitoring form. The home continues to be well managed; the manager has an excellent grasp of how the home is operating, and of its strengths and weaknesses. Improvements are regularly being made to develop and enhance the work being undertaken.

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Leadership and management

The commitment and enthusiasm of the staff team is a credit to them. They are happy to come in to cover additional shifts or provide consistency in the event of a new admission. Staffing levels ensure there is plenty of opportunity for individual key working as well as opportunities for young people to enjoy sports and activities of their choosing. All the staff are suitably qualified or working towards professional qualifications. The home is financially well resourced.

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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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