Children's Home run by Reflexion Care Group Limited in Shropshire

Unique reference number SC389830 Inspection date 21/11/2013 Inspector Mark Ryder Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 10/01/2013 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

This children’s home is operated by a private company and can accommodate and provide care for one young person who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities. The company has its own school for children not attending mainstream education.

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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 are safe and well living at this home. Staff value young people and act as positive role models. Relationships between young people and staff is friendly, good natured and respectful. A young person said they really liked the staff and get on well with all of them. Young people have a lifestyle that gives them opportunities to mature and develop.

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Overall effectiveness

The Registered Manager and staff team have a clear vision for the home. They understand areas for development as well as the strengths. This is a very child focused home in which young people, parents, social workers and other stakeholders all play an active part in its development. Staff provide a good quality of care, ensuring young people are safe. Boundaries are consistent and fair. Young people benefit overall by a strong management team that advocates for them in all aspects of their lives.

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Overall effectiveness

However, outcomes for young people are less clear in some areas. For example, inconsistent day-to-day promotion of independent skills and a limited record of details of an individual’s cultural background within a care plan do not always demonstrate positive outcomes for young people. One statutory requirement and one recommendation are made as a result of these shortfalls.

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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 the registered person maintains in respect of each child who is accommodated in a children's home a record in permanent form which includes the information, documents and records specified in Schedule 3 relating to that child. This to include a description of the child's racial, cultural and linguistic background. (Regulation 28(1) Schedule 3 (4)) 02/01/2014

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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 children are supported to develop practical skills. (12.1)

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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

Young people progress from their starting points during their placements at this home. They enjoy a range of support from the organisation which enables them to mature and move on from the home. For example, psychological and education services support young people to develop lifelong skills.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from regular contact with family members. Staff promote contact and provide transport when required. A parent commented that they are able to speak to their child and see them often. A young person confirmed that they enjoy the frequent contact visits that staff help to support.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people show progress in their training and work related experience. Staff encourage young people to maintain work placements, meet regularly with the employers and help young people to find jobs most suited to their needs and interests.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people live healthy lifestyles. They attend all health appointments such as dentists and opticians when required. A young person said they like to look after themselves and eat healthily.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The outcomes for young people to prepare for adulthood is mixed within this home. Records of the transitional arrangements to develop independent skills to move on from the home include their wishes and feelings. For example, the timeframe for pathway plans are arranged with the young people so that they have time to adjust and prepare for the move. However, day-to-day preparation for independent living are not always consistently followed by staff. For example, the use of public transport is not promoted despite the need for young people to feel confident using buses when they move to their new accommodation. This has the potential to limit their skills to visit family and friends when they have moved on from the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people's right to self-choice and self-determination are promoted. Their individuality is recognised and respected. For example, young people are able to make informed choices about their activities they wish to do. However, care plans do not record evidence of young people's cultural backgrounds. While the impact of this omission on day-to-day living is minimal, an inaccurate account of a young person's life story limits their potential to understand their lives when they are older.

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Quality of care

Staff provide young people with a good level of care. The staff are able to meet the needs of young people and provides regular consultation. Staff provide young people with key work sessions regularly and record the outcome. Young people say they understand the reason for the meetings and find them helpful. Staff and young people discuss a range of subjects including contact with family and planning to leave the home in the future.

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Quality of care

Young people are consulted on all aspects of their care. They play an important and integral role in their own placement and are able to make decisions about their future. Young people regularly attend their statutory reviews and fully participate in the discussions about themselves. A young person said they are listened to and staff respect and act on what they say. Consultation is, therefore, strongly promoted.

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Quality of care

Staff provide a varied, nutritional balanced diet for young people. Young people contribute to the menus and make their own decisions about what they would like to eat. For example, a young person said they are able to buy the ingredients, cook and serve their own favourite meals. Healthy eating is actively encouraged at this home.

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Quality of care

The young people enjoy a full range of activities. They comment that they go out regularly, for walks, visits to the local town with friends, or for cycle rides. At home, the young people like to watch television or play on their computer games. A young person said, 'I am always so busy being here but I like what I'm allowed to do.'

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Quality of care

There have been no complaints since the last inspection. Young people say that the staff treat them very well, are friendly and supportive. A young person said, 'There is no reason to complain. I'm happy living here'.

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Quality of care

Psychological support provides the staff with effective strategies in working with young people. The organisation has its own psychological services that enable the team to work in ways that best enables young people to progress. This has, in part, helped to stabilise behaviour within the home and significantly reduce the use of physical restraint.

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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 enjoy living at this home in safety and comfort. They are informed of all safety concerns. Young people are able to access support services if they so wish. Contact details are available for young people to speak to agencies in confidence, for example regarding bullying, drug or alcohol misuse.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Care plans refer to known and potential risks for young people. Keyworkers update these documents with young people to ensure an accurate reflection. Key work sessions further address any concerns that the young person may be experiencing. This ensures that staff have a clear overview of any risk factors associated with young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There is a high but realistic expectation on young people to behave reasonably and to discuss their concerns appropriately with staff. This culture has significantly reduced the level of physical restraints and the use of sanctions since the last inspection. Similarly, no incidents in which young people have left the home without permission or been missing have occurred since this time. Young people feel that they have matured and can resolve their difficulties without the need to be physically challenging to others. The young people comment that there is no bullying either in the home or the wider community. A therapist commented that 'staff do a good job in appropriately challenging behaviour'.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff safeguard young people through good awareness of risk factors, the child protection policy and regular contact with social workers and other professionals. The protocol between the staff and the home for young people who go missing from care is available to all staff members. While such incidents are now rare, staff know the procedures and have documents with all relevant information about young people to share with police if required. Staff are therefore prepared and able to respond appropriately to such events.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The staff provide young people with a safe environment. The home is very well maintained and meets young people’s needs. Health and safety checks are regularly carried out; for example, fire safety is regularly reviewed through fire drills and checks on equipment.

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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 home is well led and provides an environment that supports staff to effectively work with young people. Administration within the home is good. There is a long- standing Registered Manager in place. Records are up-to-date and are filed for easy access which enables staff to minimise their time within the office and spend more time with young people.

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Leadership and management

Staff working patterns are clearly recorded, known to staff and young people and promote continuity of care. For example, staff ensure that that those working when young people go to bed and are back on duty the following morning. Handover meetings are arranged during the afternoon to lessen any potential disruption to young people. The rota reflects the time the Registered Manager is present and also when they and other staff are on call. These records are kept up-to-date and planned for several months in advance. This has the benefit that young people know when and where staff will be working at any given time. A young person said they liked the fact they know which staff are on duty.

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Leadership and management

There is a good support structure arranged by the Registered Manager. Formal supervisions are carried out regularly as well as team meetings. Staff comment that there is good communication between each member of the team. Supervision, appraisal and team meetings promote consistency of care and professional development. For example, discussions are held about the young people preparing to move on from the home. Training programmes are relevant to the work and focused upon the young people’s needs and welfare. All staff have completed mandatory training and are qualified. The result of this is that young people are cared for by a well-trained and competent staff team.

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Leadership and management

A senior member of the organisation provides clear and timely feedback to the staff on their practice, their strengths and areas that require improvement. Quality assurance feedback from young people, parents and social workers further contributes to this process. The staff and the Registered Manager take ownership of the findings from the monthly monitoring visits and work hard to address any shortfalls. They have a good understanding of their strengths as a team and are able to identify areas for improvement. The outcome is that the service continuously strives to improve in all aspects of its function. The Statement of Purpose accurately reflects the ethos and practice of this home.

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Leadership and management

A previous recommendation set at the last inspection has been met. The young person's guide now includes information for young people to contact the children's rights office if they so require.

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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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