Children's Home run by Oracle Care Limited in Staffordshire

Unique reference number SC368982 Inspection date 14/11/2013 Inspector Jo Stephenson Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 26/02/2013 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 provides care and accommodation for up to three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. This is a privately owned children's home.

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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

Young people receive extremely personalised care that meets their individual needs. Internal support plans are detailed and regularly reviewed and this means that positive outcomes for young people are promoted. Staff provide a nurturing environment that supports young people to develop their skills and make progress in their lives. The home provides a good quality of care and young people are encouraged to express their views, thoughts and opinions about the service they receive. Young people are safe and feel safe in the home because staff provide individualised and consistent care. However, records of sanctions given for inappropriate behaviours lack detail, which limits their effectiveness.

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Overall effectiveness

Relationships between young people and staff are positive and meaningful. Staff have high aspirations for young people. They work in partnership with other professionals to support young people to achieve their personal goals and ambitions. This means that young people access the support services they need and this further promotes their welfare.

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Overall effectiveness

The Registered Manager ensures that systems are in place to monitor the development of the home and identify the strengths and weakness of the service. Young people’s involvement in the monitoring of the home has improved. Their views are sought and included in evaluation reports regarding the quality of care provided by the service.

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Overall effectiveness

The home provides a comfortable and welcoming environment. However, annual service checks on portable electrical appliances have recently expired. There has been no demonstrable impact, to date, on the outcomes for young people as a result of this shortfall. Immediate action was taken by the Registered Manager to improve safety in this area. Nevertheless a requirement has been made to ensure that this shortfall does not reoccur.

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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 all parts of the home to which young people have access are so far as reasonable practicable free from hazards to their health or safety. This specifically relates to portable appliance tests. (Regulation 23(a)) 16/12/2013

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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 sanctions for behaviour are clear, reasonable and fair and understood by all staff and young people. (NMS 3.8)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make good progress in all aspects of their lives. Personalised risk assessments and care plans enable young people to consider the impact their backgrounds and past experiences have on their development. In particular, they are able to acknowledge their challenging behaviours and adopt alternative strategies to manage these. As a result, young people move forward with their lives and experience improved confidence in their skills and abilities.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Education is central to the daily routines of the home. Young people attend the provider’s own school and benefit from the comprehensive and integrated learning support this provides. For example, achievements in school are incorporated into reward and incentive systems in the home. As a result, young people understand the pivotal role education plays in their development and are motivated to continue with their learning.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people access general and specialist health services to promote their physical, emotional and psychological well-being. They are involved in medication reviews and meetings about their health. This means young people appreciate the importance of maintaining good health and the positive impact this will have on their development. Young people participate in regular key work sessions relating to healthy eating, diet and exercise. These sessions inform the lifestyle choices young people make regarding key health risks and this further promotes their welfare.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Independent living skills programmes reflect the developmental age, skills and abilities of young people. Young people set their own targets and assign timescales to achieve these. Plans are based on their individual needs and abilities rather than chronological age. Young people are encouraged to identify their strengths and consider areas where they require additional practical or emotional support. This means that pathway plans encompass the varied range of skills needed for independent living and are realistic in defining future accommodation option. As a result, young people experience a successful transition to adulthood that takes account of their preferences and skills.

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Quality of care

Young people have very positive relationships with staff. Staff ensure that boundaries are clear and understood by young people. As a result, young people know what is expected of them and this supports their development. Staff have an excellent understanding of the complex and challenging needs of young people because support plans are up to date and regularly reviewed. Internal care plans are supported by detailed risk management plans that identify patterns and antecedents to behaviours. This means that strategies used to de-escalate behaviours are robust and effective. Additionally, young people have statutory care plans in place and therefore staff are able to validate their practice against the aims and objectives of the placing authority. Subsequently, young people benefit from a collaborative approach to meeting their needs.

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Quality of care

Young people are consulted on all aspects of their care. Staff deliver bespoke key work sessions that reflect young people’s achievements, ambitions, behaviours and progress. Furthermore, young people participate in one to one sessions to discuss their education and health needs. Young people use these sessions to raise any concerns they have and suggest incentives and additional support they need to achieve their personal goals and targets. Records demonstrate that staff act on these suggestions where possible, and explain why this may not be appropriate. As a result, young people reflect on their behaviour and are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions. Young people say they understand how to make a complaint and are confident that these will be addressed. They confirm they are aware of other agencies they can approach if they do not feel their concerns are taken seriously. This further promotes young people safety and welfare.

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Quality of care

Education is a priority in the home. Young people attend the provider’s own school and attendance is high. Staff liaise with teachers on a daily basis to address barriers to education and reward achievements. Personalised timetables reflect the abilities of young people, and highlight where additional support is required. For example, staff provide classroom support during lessons that young people find difficult. As a result, personal education plans are bespoke and support the specific learning needs of young people.

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Quality of care

Young people are encouraged to take responsibility for their own health because they are involved in decisions about their health care. Staff ensure young people attend regular general and specialist health appointments. They use one to one sessions to emphasise the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, eating a healthy diet and taking regular exercise. Furthermore, medication administration systems are robust and this promotes the health of young people.

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Quality of care

Regular young people’s meetings allow young people to discuss the development of the home, complete personalised activity plans and devise menus. Young people say they are listened to and feel their suggestions are acted upon when possible. They say they are involved in the current refurbishment and re-decoration of the home, and have made decisions relating to colour schemes and furnishings. This means the views and thoughts of young people are central to development plans for the home. Activity plans reflect the interest and hobbies of young people. Staff source local leisure facilities and encourage young people to experience new activities. As a result, young people develop their social interactions.

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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 safe in the home and say they feel safe. Incidents of bullying are very rare. Staff are alert to signs of intimidation and bullying because they receive regular training to refresh their knowledge. Staff receive regular and effective training in child protection and safeguarding. This incorporates managing risks relating to missing from home episodes and sexual exploitation. Allegations and suspicions of harm are recorded, well managed and referred to the appropriate agencies. Because of this, young people are protected and supported in these circumstances.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Missing-from-home events are rare. Staff work in partnership with local police to highlight triggers, patterns and known antecedents to these events. Risk assessments are comprehensive and reflect the individual risk factors of young people. Protocols identify actions for staff, such as searching areas and addresses in the community where young people may be. As a result, young people benefit from a robust and practical approach to keeping them safe and this means their welfare is continually promoted.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff complete advanced training in the use of physical intervention. Records of restraint are clear and detailed. Young people are encouraged to comment on their thoughts and feelings regarding this intervention and suggest alternative responses to their unsafe behaviours. Subsequently, young people are able to reflect on their behaviours and this supports their development. The use of sanctions in the home has reduced. However, records completed lack detail and do not continually relate to the behaviour displayed. This means that the effectiveness of these measures cannot be rigorously evaluated.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Environment and activity risk assessments are in place to ensure that young people are safe from known hazards. However, the annual testing of portable electrical appliances has recently expired. This shortfall was immediately and appropriately addressed by the Registered Manager during the inspection. However, there has been a short period of time when young people’s safety has potentially been affected by a failure to ensure that the home is safely maintained.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The Registered Manager adheres to robust and effective recruitment procedures. Staff files include all necessary documentation, including the reasons for any gaps in employment. This means that young people work with a suitably-vetted staff team and this further promotes their wellbeing.

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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

Young people thrive in the home because it is well managed by an experienced and competent Registered Manager. The Statement of Purpose is clear and well- presented and the accompanying young person’s guide includes the contact information for external support and advice agencies. This means that young people are aware of who they can contact should they have concerns regarding the care they receive. This ensures their safety and promotes their welfare.

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Leadership and management

The Registered Manager works closely with other professionals, including placing authorities and the organisation’s therapists. Regular internal case review meetings monitor the progress young people make, assess the effectiveness of the services they access and identify additional support needs. For example, when case review meetings highlight the need for additional therapy sessions, these are arranged without delay. Young people articulate their views and feelings on their care and these are incorporated into internal and statutory case review reports. As a result, young people experience a cohesive approach to meeting their care and welfare needs and their opinions are central to decisions made regarding their futures.

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Leadership and management

Staff meetings are regularly held to discuss the progress of young people and the development of the home. Practice changes are reiterated in effective formal staff supervision sessions. Staff complete mandatory training such as food hygiene and fire safety. Additionally, training programmes reflect the specific needs of young people. For example, staff undertaking training around autism and the indications of attention disorders. This means that you people are supported in their development by skilled and competent staff.

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Leadership and management

The Registered Manager monitors the quality of care and positive outcomes for young people through the evaluation of Regulation 33 reports. The views of young people, their families and placing authorities are an intrinsic part of the home’s continuing development. Feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of the service are included in newly amended Regulation 34 documents. Furthermore, young people have one-to-one sessions with the Registered Manager to ascertain their views on the development of the home and other areas for improvement. As a result, consultation with young people on the development of the home is embedded in practice and this improves outcomes for 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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