Children's Home run by Staffordshire County Council in Staffordshire

Unique reference number SC028905 Inspection date 31/10/2013 Inspector Elaine Cray Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 07/03/2013 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

The home is part of a local authority residential provision for looked after children. It provides care and accommodation for young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It provides emergency, short- term assessment placements for a maximum of five young people, of either gender. Placements are for a maximum of 12 weeks, other than in exceptional circumstances.

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 outstanding .

p.3

Overall effectiveness

This service promotes a holistic approach to the care of young people. Relationship building and partnership working are integral and outstanding features of this home. These qualities ensure all aspects of young people’s lives are embraced and impacted on.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Young people develop positive identities and develop meaningful social relationships. They feel more confident and secure. Young people develop in adolescence because they live in an environment that proactively identifies, develops and celebrates difference.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Young people benefit from their short stays at this service and are well prepared for transition into future placements. Parents spoke positively about the service and say, ‘all of the staff helped my son grow into the wonderful young man he has now become and he is settled in college and at home.’

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Older young people are ready to live more independently as they are more confident about making safer life choices and associations. Young people say, ‘I came here and sorted myself out. I do all my own cooking, sort my room, am applying to college and want to go back to my building job. I don’t really know what to say, what words to use – it’s just so good here.’

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Young people and staff value and invest in the management and on-going development of this home. The views of young people are integral to the clear commitment, energy and ambition to continuously improvement in the service. These improvements include good staff training, but also practical projects. For example, young people are currently involved in hatching chicks from eggs and have built a coop for the first chick to be hatched.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

There are excellent safeguarding outcomes for all young people. They develop a growing awareness about their risk taking activities and how to make more positive lifestyle choices. There are significant reductions in missing from care incidents and in offending behaviour.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

Robust quality assurance promotes a clear focus on improvement. The manager has an accurate and insightful evaluation of the service’s performance. The staff team is up-to-date with developments in legislation and practice. Developments in pedagogy, training in working with families and developing outreach are all examples of the service’s drive for improvement.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

No statutory requirements or recommendations are set and this is testament to the rigorous monitoring of the management team.

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for young people are outstanding .

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make exceptional progress in this service. They emotionally and physically thrive due to robust safeguarding and a strong ethos in building positive relationships and attachments. The strong emphasis on relationship building positively and quickly impacts on young people’s confidence and emotional resilience. Young people say the home is ‘An excellent place to live and they provide not only excellent care but are also amazingly supportive and really push the boat out to help.’

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people fully engage with education and enjoy learning through a range of opportunities. They value the support they receive to continue in education and find new experiences in college and work. Young people successfully maintain their education and employment opportunities after their short term stays at this service. This is excellent testament to how young people have come to understand the importance of learning and working as they enter into young adulthood.

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people do exceptionally well and value their relationships with staff. They feel more confident and grow in maturity because their concerns are listened to and their views respected. Young people’s comments include ‘I can talk to them and they listen – all hours of the day and night.’ Young people remain in contact with staff, return to the home to visit and update staff with their progress. This is testament to the strength of the attachments young people make with staff.

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people expand their tolerance of others and value relationships. They are given excellent opportunities to make sense of their backgrounds, experiences and behaviours. Young people feel more confident, feel secure and are more able to look at different strategies to manage the challenges of growing up.

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Family relationships are much improved as a result of staff working in partnership with young people and their families. Young people are encouraged to discuss, unravel and resolve their feelings. As a result young people have a greater understanding of the impact of their own and the behaviour of others. Emotional resilience is developed and nurtured as young people feel safer. These developments result in significant reduction of challenging behaviours and young people’s increasing ability to seek positive attention.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people also learn and develop confidence through a range of activities. They help choose and take an active part in arranging trips and pursuing hobbies and interests. Young people feel supported and do extremely well in developing their independence skills. Most importantly they grow in self-confidence. Improved self- esteem enables young people to cope and positively interact in society and prepare for more independent lives.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people’s health is significantly improved. They develop an informed awareness of their own health and medical needs. Young people lead healthier lifestyles. They are enthusiastic and active participants in choosing, cooking and enjoying healthy meals. Changes in young people’s attitudes to healthy eating, exercise routines and improving personal hygiene have all contributed to young people’s excellent health outcomes.

p.5

Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

p.5

Quality of care

Young people are consistently cared for and thrive because frameworks for care, safeguarding and partnership working are extremely effective. Staff are extremely dedicated and consistently concerned with the welfare of young people at the service. The excellent assessment process for young people’s needs is the cornerstone to the outstanding care planning and quality of care.

p.5

Quality of care

This home provides a vibrant and nurturing environment with excellent communication processes. Staff are very intuitive and skilled in exploring the emotional and behavioural responses of young people. Young people are treated with high levels of respect and this is extended to working in partnership with families. This inclusive framework results in a good success rate of young people connecting and re-engaging with their families. Parents’ comments include, ‘They went out of their way to help and smooth the transition of my son from care to eventually coming home.’

p.5

Quality of care

Staff have an excellent insight into the individuality and backgrounds of young people. This child-centred framework ensure the needs, choices and personalities of young people are focal to their placements. Placement and care plans are very comprehensive. Written plans provide staff and young people with clear and practical strategies and support. Young people invest in their placements because care strategies are discussed and tailor-made.

p.5

Quality of care

Staff are proactive in advocating for young people, including helping them to access independent advocacy services. Staff encourage and support young people to attend meetings and network with other agencies. The service’s commitment to participation is crucial to empowering young people. Young people are included in their care plans, setting new objectives and deciding goals for their future.

p.6

Quality of care

Young people’s health is managed with detailed health care plans and effective links with health agencies. Staff demonstrate extensive knowledge of health issues relating to young people’s diverse backgrounds and lifestyle choices. They are proactive in developing skills and knowledge in order to holistically respond to young people’s physical and emotional health. Young people are protected with effective arrangements for the storage and administration of medication.

p.6

Quality of care

Young people’s education is supported and facilitated. Staff work tirelessly to ensure young people continue in their education placement during their short term stays at this service. They are very proactive in finding placements and opportunities that will re-engage and support young people with learning and employment opportunities.

p.6

Quality of care

Young people are looked after in a well-designed and homely environment. The house is exceptionally well maintained, furnished and personalised with pictures and ornaments.

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

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

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people live in a safe, secure and stable environment. Their safety is placed in the highest priority. Safeguarding strategies are effective because policies and procedures are robustly implemented and regularly reviewed by experienced and competent staff.

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people say they feel safe and secure. They identify significant improvements in their behaviour and a significant reduction in offending behaviour. Making meaningful attachments and positive relationships are the main contributory factors to these improvements.

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

Strategies to safeguard young people are clear, structured and focus on immediate and robust risk assessment. Drawing up risk management strategies at the earliest stage of admission is key to effective safeguarding. This early intervention ensures young people receive a consistent and dedicated response from staff.

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

Staffing levels are effectively allocated in order to manage risk and promote safety. Concerns and challenges are clearly identified. Strategies to manage these concerns focus on safety but also ensure all young people have opportunities to grow, achieve independence and reach their potential.

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

Excellent liaison with the police has resulted in a reduction in young people being reported missing from care. Individual protocols are drawn up and agreed between the young people, the police, placing authorities and staff at the home. Local police, staff and families work together to provide excellent safeguarding outcomes for young people using this service.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Behaviour is exceptionally well-managed. Behaviour plans are meaningful and effective because they are directly linked to individual risk assessments. Staff have an excellent knowledge of how young people’s previous experiences impact on and influence behaviour. They are trained in behaviour management, including physical intervention. Staff are quick to intervene before behaviours escalate and young people are therefore less anxious and more able to manage their own behaviour.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people quickly divert their focus on positive outcomes because their strengths and efforts are consistently celebrated and rewarded. Care and control is sensitively handled, with physical intervention seldom used and only as a last resort.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are protected with robust recruitment processes. Visitors are checked, vetted and monitored. All staff are trained in and knowledgeable about their own and other agencies’ roles and responsibilities in keeping young people safe.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Health and safety is effectively managed. Staff are trained in health and safety and ensure young people are cared for in a safe environment. Regular checks and fire drills ensure young people have a good awareness of how to promote personal and environmental safety.

p.7

Leadership and management

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

p.7

Leadership and management

Strong and dynamic leadership promotes a safe and child-centred service. The staff team’s energy and vision consistently contributes to the excellent care framework and outcomes for young people. Staff comments include, ‘Our management team is very strong and approachable, this enables us a staff team to bond together and progress in our work ethics and values.’ Young people thrive and staff develop in this positive environment.

p.7

Leadership and management

Management systems are established and robust. Procedurally the service is very sound. Records are clear, accountable and incidents are notified as required. The manager has an extensive knowledge of the legal framework and carries out regular and comprehensive management checks. These checks, alongside monthly checks by an independent visitor, ensure a robust audit against the requirements and standards set down for registered children’s homes.

p.7

Leadership and management

The service is excellently and effectively staffed. Staffing levels are effectively managed and in keeping with the service’s Statement of Purpose. There is a consistent response to the turnover of admissions, discharges and outreach work required to meet the needs of young people and their families.

p.7

Leadership and management

Staff are supported with a comprehensive programme of professional development. This ensures young people are looked by well trained and extremely motivated staff. The motivational staff team is evidenced with staff comments such as, ‘It is important to show commitment and stay about when the young people need you’ and ‘Can’t stand still – got to keep training.’

p.8

Leadership and management

Strategic development of the service is set out in a comprehensive business development plan. Forward planning is detailed and thorough, including targets which are achievable and can be sustained. This service continues to improve because the manager and staff are exceptionally adept in developing their practice. Young people receive excellent care because outcomes for young people, open consultation and partnership working are placed at the core of the service.

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