Children's Home run by Springfield Road Children’s Homes Ltd in East Sussex

Unique reference number SC412296 Inspection date 26/11/2013 Inspector Anna Williams Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 16/04/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The service is a privately run children's home providing care and accommodation for up to three young people between the ages of 10 and 17 years, who may have emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

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Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making good progress .

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Progress

At the last full inspection in April 2013 this children’s home was judged to be good overall. Since then the home has maintained an outstanding quality of care, and outcomes for young people have continued to improve. All the requirements set at the last visit have been fully met. Previous good practice recommendations have been either fully met, or satisfactorily addressed. There is one recommendation arising from this inspection.

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Progress

There have been nine physical interventions since the last inspection. Positively, there have been none within the last two months. The Registered Manager monitors each intervention closely to ensure it is proportionate and appropriate. Staff debriefs are now recorded within the bound logbook in line with regulation. This now evidences clearly that staff are supported to reflect and learn after every incident. Young people continue to receive good quality individual support and guidance with behaviour management. They add comments and views on measures of control within their own records.

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Progress

Staff recruitment files now demonstrate full compliance with regulatory requirements. Personnel records now clearly show a full employment history for each candidate. Any gaps or missing information are checked and clearly documented on staff files. This ensures young people are protected by safer recruitment practice.

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Progress

Notifications of significant events relating to the safety and welfare of young people are shared appropriately, and now consistently. The Registered Manager and the staff team work in partnership with a range of external professionals to ensure the safety of young people. Records of actions taken to safeguard young people are good.

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Progress

Staff can now refer to key local safeguarding documents and ‘Working Together’ guidance through up-to-date computerised links. Staff have signed to confirm they understand and are aware of these important policies and procedures. This ensures staff are referring to the most recent child protection guidance and protocols.

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Progress

Young people benefit from staff who have undertaken recent training in a variety of safe caring topics. This includes an administration of medication course. This means staff are now equipped with relevant knowledge around the safe handling of medicines. Other recent training courses include food hygiene, behaviour management and child protection. This ensures the staff team remains refreshed on professional and legal developments.

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Progress

Staff have continued to receive supervision on a regular basis. Records kept of individual staff one-to-one sessions are now more detailed in content. The majority of records are now signed by both parties at the end of the supervision. This recommendation has been satisfactorily addressed.

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Progress

Young people are extremely positive about the home. Relationships between young people and staff remain strong and nurturing. Young people continue to have positive and purposeful engagement with the local community. One young person said: ‘I really like going to my weekly club.’ Since the last inspection, young people have enjoyed a holiday to a local caravan park. Comments from young people include: ‘I loved the holiday, it was fantastic.’ This provides young people with new experiences and adventures. Young people continue to have full attendance at school and are progressing very well. One young person proudly displays their ‘student of the term’ certificate within the house. Young people’s views are actively sought through individualised consultation systems. All the young people know how to complain and feel staff listen to them. Young people’s health needs are fully met. Some young people continue to engage with individual therapy sessions. A healthy

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Progress

lifestyle is successfully promoted. One young person reflects: ‘I eat a lot more vegetables now.’ This benefits young people’s emotional and physical well-being.

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Progress

Overall, the home is maintained to an excellent standard. The development plan identifies areas of future renewal, such as the main house carpets and evolving the outside space. However, areas of mould are apparent in two young people’s bedrooms. Initial action taken by staff has been ineffective at addressing this issue. This compromises an otherwise homely and comfortable environment. The home is making good progress towards its development plan goals. Staff are nearing completion of a systemic training programme. This further enhances staff knowledge in providing a consistent therapeutic approach with the young people. Family therapy sessions have continued to be successful. This provides both the young person and those significant to them with support and guidance through individual family circumstances.

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Progress

The Registered Manager continues to demonstrate an extremely good understanding of the strengths and development needs of the home. Actions taken since the last inspection have been child-focused and demonstrate overall good progress.

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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 the home provides a comfortable and homely environment and is well maintained and decorated; with specific reference to ensure prompt action to remove patches of mould within two young people's bedrooms. (NMS 10.3)

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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 progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection.

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