Children's Home run by Anderida Adolescent Care Ltd in East Sussex

Unique reference number SC028536 Inspection date 26/07/2013 Inspector Anna Williams Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 15/03/2013 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 setting is registered to accommodate two young people, of either sex, with emotional or behavioural difficulties. It is owned by a private company.

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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 adequate .

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Overall effectiveness

This home provides young people with individualised care plans. The highly personalised documents promote good outcomes for young people. Young people are positive about the care they receive and feel safe. Relationships between staff are appropriate and constructive. Feedback from parents and placing social workers indicates a high level of satisfaction with the care given.

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Overall effectiveness

Shortfalls identified during this inspection include staff working excessive hours on a regular basis. The core team of staff is small. Consequently, additional staff are required to fill spare shifts. This has led to a large number of different bank staff, who are employed by the organisation, working within the home. This compromises young people’s attachments. Some shifts are led by staff who have not successfully completed their probationary periods, or do not have substantial relevant experience of working in the home. Surveillance is used. However, its use is not outlined within the Statement of Purpose or the young people’s placement plan, nor has consent been sought from the placing authority. There is no policy in place to direct staff around its appropriate use. The provider took immediate action to address this. Staff who come into regular contact with children have not been subject to full and robust

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Overall effectiveness

recruitment checks. This compromises children’s safety.

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Overall effectiveness

There is a development plan in place. However, targets are operational and do not relate to improving outcomes for young people within the home. The Registered Manager has some awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. However, self-evaluation systems are weak and have not identified the shortfalls as highlighted during this inspection.

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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 the Statement of Purpose contains a written statement on all the matters listed in Schedule 1; with particular reference to the use of surveillance and an up-to- date staffing structure for the individual children's home (Regulation 4 (1)) 30/09/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that electronic or mechanical monitoring devices for the surveillance of children are not used in a children's home except for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child accommodated, and where the specific conditions listed within regulation are fully met (Regulation 22 (1) (a - d)) 30/09/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that there is at all times a sufficient number of suitably qualified, competent and experienced staff working at the children's home (Regulation 25 (1) (a and b)) 30/09/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that all persons employed to work at the children's home, including those who have regular contact with children, have full and satisfactory information sought in relation to each of the matters specified in Schedule 2, prior to them commencing duties (Regulation 26 (2) and (3) (a - d)) 30/09/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the system in place to review the quality of care contains effective and robust evaluation of the recruitment checks of all staff having regular contact with children accommodated, and of staffing deployment and competencies. (Regulation 34 (1) (a)) 30/09/2013

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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 electronic devices are used to monitor children, there is a written policy that sets out how they should be used, how they promote the welfare of children, how children will be informed of their use, how legitimate privacy of children will be protected and how children will be protected from potential abuse of such measures (NMS 10.5)  ensure that telephone enquiries are made as well as obtaining written references, prior to a member of staff commencing work in the children's home (NMS 16.1)  ensure there is a record of the recruitment and vetting checks which have been carried out on those working for the children's home including (e) checks to confirm the right to work in the UK and (f) where the person has lived outside of the UK, further checks as are considered appropriate where obtaining a CRB disclosure is not sufficient to establish suitability to work with children (NMS 16.3)

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Recommendations

 ensure staff members who are placed in charge of the home and other staff at particular times (e.g. as leaders of staff shifts) have substantial relevant experience of working in the home and have successfully completed their induction and probationary periods (NMS 17.5)  ensure the registered person makes every effort to achieve continuity of staffing so that children' attachments are not overly disrupted. (NMS 17.8)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people have regular key sessions with their allocated worker, and also other staff. This provides them with opportunities to discuss their current situations and personal circumstances. Young people say that staff listen to them and it helps to talk things through. This offers young people formal personalised guidance and helps build emotional resilience.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people enjoy good health. Some young people have reduced their smoking since living in the home. Young people engage positively with physical sports, such as rugby or visiting the local gym on a regular basis. Some young people have joined a local football club. This provides opportunities to maintain a healthy lifestyle, learn new skills and make friends. Some young people have accessed the therapeutic support offered. This supports young people with their emotional health and well- being. Some young people's challenging behaviour has reduced. This benefits young people's social interactions.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people in the home historically have not attended educational establishments on a regular basis. Since living at the home, young people have engaged consistently with educational activities and attended regularly. They have achieved units towards accredited courses. This benefits their learning and development.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people maintain contact with their family and those who are important to them. This ensures that young people sustain attachments while living in the home. Young people are involved in community events and clubs, as well as engaging in in- house activities such as gardening or art work.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people achieve independence goals. Young people use appropriate allowances to buy personal requisites. They are progressing well with budgeting, shopping and preparing food. Young people engage with daily living tasks around the house. All young people use public transport independently. This effectively prepares young people for a successful transition to independence and adulthood.

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Quality of care

Young people enjoy constructive relationships with staff. Their views are captured through regular house meetings and key sessions. Young people have seen changes in the garden and with activity choices through these forums. This demonstrates to young people that their views are listened to and acted upon. Young people know how to complain, although positively there have been none since the last inspection.

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Quality of care

Individualised care plans are detailed and capture the unique needs of young people. Staff work creatively to learn about different cultures and celebrate diversity in the home. Needs relating to the cultural backgrounds of young people are identified and positively addressed day-to-day.

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Quality of care

There is a good range of purposeful activities on offer and engagement is generally positive. Staff actively encourage young people to engage in activities such as fishing, cinema visits, shopping and beach trips. This promotes young people's personal and social development. Staff provide a healthy environment, which encourages exercise. Young people engage with staff in regular appropriate sporting activities. This benefits young people's overall well-being.

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Quality of care

Staff work proactively with external agencies to achieve continuity of care. This includes in relation to young people's educational attendance and achievement, and also youth offending services. This ensures consistent and effective partnership working which promotes good outcomes for young people.

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Quality of care

The home is located within close proximity to local services and public transport routes. This supports positive community engagement. Accommodation is maintained to a good standard. Young people say they like their bedrooms. They are involved in the planning for the re-decoration of the house and for choosing items which enhance the home, such as attractive hanging baskets. This provides young people with a homely environment.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is adequate at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people say they feel safe living in the home. Staff demonstrate a sound awareness of safeguarding policies and procedures. Significant events relating to the protection of young people are notified to the appropriate authorities as required and appropriate action taken. This demonstrates appropriate multi-agency working for the protection of young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Positively, there have only been 2 incidents of restraint since the last inspection. These were suitably scrutinised by the Registered Manager. Debriefs are undertaken with young people and staff. This approach has been successful at keeping the use of restraints very low. Young people are aware of the rules of the home and their individualised incentive schemes. Positive behaviour is consistently rewarded. Consequently, the use of formal sanctions is also relatively low.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There have been 3 incidents of young people reported missing from the home. Steps taken by staff are in line with agreed protocols and these appropriate actions help protect young people. There are door alarms on the home’s exit doors, and further alarms on windows. These are forms of surveillance. This is not identified as necessary within young people’s individual placement plans, and placing authorities have not consented to such monitoring. This is not in line with regulation. Immediate action to address this was taken by the provider. However, the organisation do not have a suitable policy for staff to follow which addresses relevant issues such as how the legitimate privacy of young people will be protected.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are appropriately involved in the recruitment of new staff. This demonstrates to them that their views are important. One member of staff who has regular contact with young people within the home has not been recruited safely. Their file lacks any references, formal verification of identity, confirmation of right to work in the UK and verification of time spent abroad. Further to this, a CRB check from another organisation has been accepted without suitable risk assessment, and no new DBS check taken up by this current provider. This practice compromises the safety of children. Other staff files sampled demonstrate full and satisfactory information being sought. However, not all staff have their references verified by telephone prior to them commencing duties. This further compromises safe recruitment practice.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are protected by sound health and safety routines. Maintenance issues are promptly addressed. Regular gas, fire and electrical checks take place. Young people know what to do in an emergency through regular drills. This provides young people with a physically safe environment to live in.

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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

There is a Registered Manager in post. This offers the home stability. The Registered Manager continues to work towards the Diploma 5 award, which will enhance her skills and knowledge base.

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Leadership and management

The Statement of Purpose describes the facilities and services of the provider organisation well. However, it does not describe the unique facilities and services offered by the home in any detail. For example, it does not contain specific information relating to the staffing structure of the children’s home and the skills held by the core staff team who work in the home on a regular basis. It also does not include details of the use of surveillance within the home. This does not provide placing social workers and parents with clear information. The children’s guide also contains limited specific information about the home, and is more generic to the whole organisation.

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Leadership and management

Staff are sufficient in number to meet the needs of young people on each shift. However, vacancies within the home mean some staff work excessive hours, sometimes up to 100 hours in one week. The home is actively recruiting to address this shortfall. However, poor contingency planning means young people are cared for by staff who are possibly tired, including the Registered Manager. This is not supportive of staff and has potential to compromise the quality of care. Due to the lack of a sufficient number of core staff, there have been 20 different bank staff, who are employed by the organisation, who have worked in this small setting since the last inspection. This practice compromises children’s attachments. Some shifts have been led by core staff who have not successfully completed their probation period, or by bank staff who do not have substantial relevant experience of working in the home with the individual young people placed. Although no incidents of concern

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Leadership and management

have arisen, this practice is not in the best interests of young people living in the home.

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Leadership and management

50% of the core team either hold or are completing suitable childcare qualifications. The further 50% are completing their induction and probationary periods, or are sessional workers to the home without qualification. An on-going rolling training programme keeps staff, including bank staff, up-to-date with a range of key skills. Recent training has included first aid, safeguarding and behaviour management techniques. This ensures young people are cared for by staff who have relevant knowledge of safe care skills. Staff receive supervision and performance appraisal on a regular basis. The Registered Manager also receives regular additional advice and guidance from a clinical psychologist. This provides staff with sound support and direction.

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Leadership and management

A previous recommendation to create a policy around the management of staff allegations has been met. This provides staff with clear procedures to follow if such an incident arises.

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Leadership and management

Internal monitoring visits take place and fully involve young people. The Registered Manager uses a range of monitoring activities within the home. These are successful in maintaining detailed records of a consistent standard, which clearly capture the life of young people placed. However, shortfalls as identified within this inspection have not been identified by the Registered Manager. The home has a development plan, however it reads as a generic operational document and covers all four homes in the organisation rather than being service specific to this children's home. Progress has been made in relation to replacing the kitchen flooring and improvements in the garden area. However, development targets are not child focused and this compromises the quality assurance process.

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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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