Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Nottingham

Unique reference number SC457500 Inspection date 06/11/2013 Inspector Catherine Honey Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 19/09/2013 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 home is registered to accommodate up to six children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is operated by a large private organisation.

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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

Following an inadequate overall effectiveness judgement at the last inspection in September 2013, this is the second full inspection this year.

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Overall effectiveness

A strong management response to the shortfalls identified at the home is having a positive impact. There has been a strong drive by the management and staff team to raise standards and make the necessary improvements in order to keep young people safe and to ensure their welfare is promoted. All requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection have been met.

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Overall effectiveness

There are improvements in how the home is run with more emphasis on shift planning, a focus on consistency and providing appropriate boundaries and routines for young people. Young people's behaviour has improved. There is now far less damage to the home. In addition, the home has benefitted from significant redecoration and maintenance. Young people live in a homely and nurturing environment and feel an increased sense of belonging.

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Overall effectiveness

The staff team are being provided with clear direction, effective management and constructive leadership. Staff demonstrate an increased enthusiasm and motivation to support the development of the home. Stakeholders consulted as part of the inspection process all commented on the improvements they have noticed in the home recently and the positive impact that has had on young people. A young person said, 'Everything’s better in the last few weeks.'

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Overall effectiveness

While good progress has been made to action all shortfalls, the developments and improvements remain at the early stages and will require further consolidation to become embedded into practice. A manager has been recruited which will provide consistency to sustain the necessary improvements over time. One recommendation has been raised in relation to the appropriate debrief of young people following physical intervention.

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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 all children are given the opportunity to discuss incidents of restraint they have been involved in, witnessed or been affected by, with a relevant adult. (NMS 3.17)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for young people are adequate .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Since the previous inspection, outcomes for young people have improved. The home has implemented staff training, new monitoring systems and strong leadership. Some young people have left the home and in general, behaviour of young people has improved. There has been vast redecoration of the home internally and externally. Due to the measures taken since the last inspection, young people living in the home have increased stability, are managing their behaviour better and have increased confidence. Young people describe the home as ‘Brilliant’ and ‘Absolutely awesome.’

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people feel more in control of helping to shape the future direction of the home. They have been part of a joint staff and young person's meeting to discuss changes and development to the home. They are consulted on their views which will in turn feed in to the staff appraisal system. This enables young peoples' voices to be heard and encourages a sense of belonging.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The atmosphere in the home is much calmer and steadier. Young people are responding more positively to a staff team who are providing them with increased consistency, boundaries and routine. Young people continue to enjoy spending time with staff and are starting to engage more positively with the discussions, direction and guidance provided during key work sessions and house meetings. For one young person there has been an increase in incidents of risk taking behaviour however, staff have taken appropriate action to address it.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make appropriate progress in all aspects of their health. Young people are learning personal care habits and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Young people engage with activities within the home and in the local area. Activities include go carting, and physical activities such as high-wire assault courses. As such, their individual health needs are being appropriately met which in turn improves their physical and psychological wellbeing. Young people’s educational outcomes remain positive with all young people participating in learning activities. Some have made exceptional progress with their school attendance and achievement. Others are struggling with their attendance and are engaging well with educational work at the home while alternative options are considered. Young people demonstrate a mature understanding of the importance of education and continue to engage with independence goals. Young people engage

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Outcomes for children and young people

with some daily living tasks around the house which helps prepare them for a successful transition to independence and adulthood. Some young people who have left the home have had a positive transition to independent living.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Some young people have developed friendships outside of the home. They enjoy having their friends over for tea or to spend time with them in the home. In general, young people are learning to live together more amicably and relationships are becoming more positive. At times incidents still occur that result in verbal altercations and bullying. These incidents are dealt with swiftly and confidently by staff; ensuring they do not escalate. Incidents are sensitively followed up with young people with the support of external professionals where appropriate. As such, young people are learning social values and are developing a positive self-view.

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Quality of care

Staff engage positively with young people. Young people have good attachments with key members of staff describing particular members of staff as, ‘sound’ and ‘a legend.’ Young people are confident to raise any concerns, worries or complaints. Information about advocacy agencies and support services are clearly displayed on the young person’s notice board and an advocate regularly visits the home. Staff have undergone refresher training in the home’s complaints policy and how complaints should be managed. There have been 3 complaints made by young people since the last inspection and these have been resolved appropriately with effective management oversight.

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Quality of care

Internal care plans and young people’s case files have been fully reviewed and revised. They now contain up-to-date and accurate information describing young people’s presenting needs and how the home is addressing them. Managers have identified shortfalls in the required documentation provided by the placing authorities and are proactively following this up. There has been a focus on improving young people’s understanding of difference and identity. Young people have been involved in creating posters about the identity and diversity of the local area where they live and there are plans to incorporate themes of equality and diversity into key working sessions and the day to day running of the home. Use of negative language is appropriately challenged helping young people understand the use of derogatory language can have on others.

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Quality of care

Vast improvements to the environment have helped to make the house feel more homely and cared for. There has been new carpeting, the exterior of the home was repainted, and the ground floor communal rooms have been completely redecorated. Rooms are brighter, furniture has been refreshed, damage has been repaired and there are on-going plans to make the garden more presentable. Young people’s rooms are undergoing redecoration and have new furniture. During the inspection, young people took great pleasure in choosing new items for their newly repainted bedrooms and couldn't wait to move in. Damage to the home has decreased significantly. These measures have helped young people have more respect for their environment and feel a sense of belonging to the home. One young person described the home as, ‘Absolutely awesome’.

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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 state they feel safe living in the home. Since the last inspection all staff have undertaken refresher training in bullying awareness, behaviour management and complaints. Staff are confident in implementing required procedures to ensure the safeguarding of young people and the home responds appropriately to safeguarding concerns. There has been a small increase in incidents of young people missing from the home. Reasons for this have been identified and there has been a proactive response and improved joint working with the local police and placing authority to implement strategies to keep the young people safe. This means that the home promotes the safety of young people through effective multi- agency working.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The behaviour of young people within the home has improved. Internal doors are no longer locked during the day as a behaviour management strategy. This enables young people's free movement through their home. The management team is working with staff to promote consistency, routine and boundaries for young people. There is now far less damage in the home, young people are listening to staff more and staff are more effective in calming situations down before they become challenging. The use of sanctions and consequences within the home has been reviewed and incentive strategies are proving very effective in helping young people manage their own behaviour. Physical interventions are now kept in a bound book ensuring there is less risk of tampering. There has been one restraint since the last inspection. It is not clear from the records kept by the home that the young person was provided with an opportunity to de-brief after incidents. This limits opportunity

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Safeguarding children and young people

for an independent discussion and open reflection by the young person.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Individual and group risk assessments are now subject to regular review and revision. This includes checking the documents following significant events and regularly evaluating them. There is now a young person’s phone available for young people to use without reference to staff. This promotes young people’s safety. The home is more secure, locks on external doors have been changed to prevent unauthorised access from outside. The safety of young people is promoted by effective fire safety systems and periodic testing of electrical installations. The home has been visited by a fire officer who has offered advice and young people and staff are involved in regular fire drills ensuring they are aware of what to do in an emergency.

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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

Following the last inspection, senior managers took swift action to instigate an improvement plan in response to the shortfalls identified. Good progress has been made by the organisation to address each shortfall. Changes in the management of the home are having a positive impact. Interim managers were seconded to the home and a permanent manager has been appointed who is in the process of submitting her application for registration to Ofsted. The manager demonstrates a good understanding of the home's strengths and areas for development The organisation instigated a voluntary suspension of new placements to enable the current residents to settle while they establish improvements in the home.

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Leadership and management

Nine requirements and four recommendations were made at the last inspection. These have been addressed quickly by the management team. In summary, the home has improved its approach to behaviour management; staff have benefitted from refresher training; young people's care plans and activity risk assessments have been updated and a telephone has been provided for young people's use; the complaints policy has been reviewed; the home has benefitted from extensive redecoration and maintenance and fire safety requirements are adhered to. These measures have helped provide a safer, more nurturing environment for young people which they have positively responded to through a decrease in negative behaviour. In addition, young people have been involved in consultation about the running of the home and themes of equality and diversity have been integrated in to the day to day running of the home. Managers have significantly improved their oversight and

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Leadership and management

monitoring of the home. This demonstrates the home's capacity for continuing improvement, however, these positive changes are still in their infancy and require further time to ensure changes to practice are embedded and outcomes for young people continue to improve.

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Leadership and management

Staff are provided with effective leadership and direction. This positively benefits young people as there is an improved focus on meeting the aims and objectives of the home and ensuring positive outcomes. There have been comprehensive staff meetings which have provided staff with clear direction on their role and the running of the home as well as increased monitoring by the management team. Staff receive regular supervision and support and the manager is booking formal performance appraisals. An updated statement of purpose has been received by the regulator. This now appropriately describes the age range of the children and young people the home can accommodate.

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Leadership and management

The staff team demonstrate enthusiasm and a keenness to work with the management team to drive forward necessary improvements. Staff are positive about the changes in the home stating morale has increased, as has the team's understanding of the services strengths and weaknesses; this positively benefits children. Stakeholders commented on the improved communication from the home. Social workers regularly received updates from staff about the progress of young people. Relationships have improved with local agencies such as the police. There is a good system in place to ensure Ofsted is notified of significant incidents involving 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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