Children's Home run by Crossway Services Limited in St Helens

Unique reference number SC063498 Inspection date 27/11/2013 Inspector Pamela Nuckley Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 22/01/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This service is managed by an independent company who provide a number of small children's homes. The home provides accommodation for one child with emotional or behavioural difficulties and is staffed in accordance with their assessed needs.

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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 living in the home have good relationships with the staff team. These relationships have ensured that young people understand their background, that they can confidently talk about any issue and that they can influence the care they receive in the home. Therefore, young people make good progress from their starting points.

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Overall effectiveness

Social workers comment extremely positively on the services that are provided and the progress that the young people make. This has been apparent in young people being ready for and settling into foster families. A social worker who has recently placed a young person here said ‘the service has been excellent in ensuring that the young person has settled in well. The communication from the home is excellent and it’s really good to see that they are being proactive in listening to their views, wishes and feelings.’

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Overall effectiveness

The home is efficient in ensuring that young people are not only kept safe, but also develop the knowledge and confidence to keep themselves safe. Excellent liaison with external agencies ensures that young people receive good levels of support in all aspects of their lives. The young people consider the home to be a good one that keeps them safe and meets their needs.

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Overall effectiveness

The manager has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of this home. Staff are highly committed to supporting and enabling young people to develop their skills and socially acceptable behaviour. Management arrangements are good and this creates an environment where young people are able to make positive changes. Managers effectively tackle weaknesses with a view to securing improvement. However, this inspection has identified several minor shortfalls. These relate to: signing of documents; menus; referral information; individualised risk assessments; regulation 33 reports and restrictions to contact. These shortfalls have not impacted on the good outcomes achieved by the young people in this home.

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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 all records are clear, up to date and stored securely, and contribute to an understanding of a child's life. This is specifically in relation to ensuring that all documentation is signed by the relevant parties (NMS 22)  ensure that children are treated as an individual rather than a group member. This is specifically in relation to ensuring that assessed risks are individual to young people’s needs (NMS 2.1)  ensure that any limitations or restrictions that are set out in a child’s care plan, placement plan or court order are reflected in the child’s risk assessment and contact plan (NMS 9.1)  ensure that the home only provides admission to children whose assessed needs they can reasonably expect to meet. This is specifically in relation to evidencing and retaining the documentation that has informed the decision (NMS 11.2)  ensure that children’s health is promoted. This is specifically in relation to

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Recommendations

ensuring that the menu reflects a balanced healthy diet (NMS 6.5)  ensure that visits of the home carried out under Regulation 33 include relevant checks set out in regulations and guidance. (NMS 21.7)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people did not wish to speak with the inspector on this visit. However, they confirmed that they were happy and safe here. A social worker commented on the good introduction to the home that the young person received and said ‘it is a credit to the home on how well they have settled.’

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people living in this home are activity encouraged to make positive choices and to use every opportunity to develop and reach their individual potential. Individual placement plans have been developed that recognise young people's individuality. The documents show that they are fully consulted on their care and have opportunities to discuss daily living and future plans. This ensures that young people feel valued and can influence decisions on their care. Young people benefit from personalised care in a supportive and nurturing placement. The staff team sensitively and carefully help young people to recognise and understand the issues that affect them. They work alongside each other to set realistic and achievable goals and young people are supported to take steps towards effectively managing the difficult and challenging emotional situations they encounter.

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Outcomes for children and young people

An outstanding area of this home is the transition of young people into foster care. Young people receive highly individualised care that makes this transition successful. The staff work closely with potential foster carers to ensure that caring elements are understood and transferable to assist young people in settling in. As a result, young people are enjoying and experiencing family life.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are able to access local doctors, dentists and opticians. Health plans clearly set out each young person's health care needs and how these will be met. Staff identified that a young person had a poor diet and promptly sought medical advice. This has enabled the young person to receive vitamins to maintain a balanced nutritional intake. However, the home menus do not show that a healthy diet is offered to young people. The records show what young people chose to eat rather than what is offered. Therefore, it is not evident that young people are encouraged to eat a healthy diet.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Education is well supported at the home. Prior residents have been able to maintain mainstream education with excellent attendance and results in achievement. Young people who have recently been placed are being home tutored, while an identified placement is sought.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are supported to establish and maintain constructive contact with their families. This is sensitively managed and in line with young people’s individual placement plans. Staff sensitively and supportively handle any emotive issue that may arise from family contact. However, some identified restrictions to other significant people have not been highlighted within the young person’s risk assessment or contact plan. This does not ensure that young people are fully protected.

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Quality of care

Young people live in a property that blends into the neighbourhood and resembles a family home. The home is decorated and furnished to a good standard. Young people have their own bedrooms, which have been personalised to their tastes. The home is warm, homely and inviting. This is further enhanced by having photographs of the young person and their family displayed throughout the home.

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Quality of care

The home has a good system for ensuring that young people have a positive transition into the home. Staff liaise with young people, involve health and social care professionals and families, to ensure that they have all the important information about the young person to be able to meet all their care needs. However, the manager has not retained the referral documentation. For example, there is no initial risk assessment, pre- placement information or decision of suitability to meet the young person’s needs. This does not show that an informed decision was made, in whether the home could provide the care needed.

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Quality of care

Placement plans clearly identify each young person's individual needs and any specialist or professional input needed to support them. Young people are encouraged to comment and include their wishes, views and feelings into the plans. Consistent and good monitoring enables staff to evaluate the young people's progress on a regular basis. This contributes to feedback to the placing authority and parents. Further to this, young people are supported to recognise the progress they make through discussions in key working, team meetings and by attendance at regular reviews. Therefore, young people are cared for in line with their placement plan.

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Quality of care

Young people's health needs are identified and services are in place to meet these needs. The home has a good health plan which records all areas of a young person's health, including appointments. Clear records are maintained on administration of medications and consent for emergency treatment are in place. The home stores medicines safely and staff are trained in the administration of medication and first aid. This ensures that young people receive the treatment they need in line with their prescription.

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Quality of care

Young people are able to form good relationships with staff. A social worker commented on how quickly the young person was engaging with staff and was already being able to express their views. Staff feel that these relationships are good because they are based on trust and honesty. Staff say they have realistic expectations of young people and promote a positive culture of managing behaviour with a focus on encouragement, praise, reward, and de-escalation. Staff model good behaviour and effectively support young people to consider their actions, make informed choices and take responsibility for them. Sanctions are used occasionally and these are reasonable and proportionate to the behaviour. This good practice has resulted in young people’s negative behaviour decreasing, with successful transition into foster care.

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Quality of care

Encouraging young people's educational and personal development is recognised as being central to the life of the home. Education attendance is very good and high attainment is encouraged. Young people are encouraged to value their education and their progress is recognised and celebrated. They are therefore enabled to grow as individuals. Staff have good links with educational officers and work proactively with them to identify educational placements for young people who are not receiving full time education. Staff support young people to develop their knowledge, skills and independence by offering appropriate advice, encouragement and by being good role models.

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Quality of care

The young people's guide to the home gives comprehensive information of the process of raising concerns within the home. In addition to this, staff periodically go through the homes complaint system with them. This ensures that young people can raise concerns if they wish to. Further to this, young people can access independent advice if needed. Staff fully demonstrated their roles and responsibilities in ensuring that young people have their voice heard within the home. This means they are able to provide effective guidance and reassurance to young people to help reduce any anxieties or worries they may have. Social workers say staff are very good advocates for young people and are positive parental role models.

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Quality of care

Some young people are restricted in being involved in community life and activities in the evening due to legal restrictions. However, the staff have been proactive in ensuring that young people access meaningful activities in the day. Within a short period of time young people are already attending the gym and are part of a football team. As a consequence, young people are accessing activities that they like and that keep them fit and healthy. The home also has many games, games consoles, books and DVDs to keep young people entertained in the evenings.

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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 confirm that they feel safe and protected within the home. Staff have access to clear information, support, guidance and advice about child protection and safeguarding requirements. Staff understand their responsibility to protect young people and are able to demonstrate what actions they would take to keep young people safe. Staff are confident about their responsibilities and know what to do if an allegation is made about the home's manager or another member of staff. The local authority designated officer (LADO) said ‘this home is excellent in discussing all concerns with me. They are very transparent and ensure that safeguarding young people is at the heart of their practice.’

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home has clear, well-understood and effective risk management plans in place. These provide staff with suitable strategies to manage any associated risks. Young people are supported to take risks as a normal part of growing up. However, the risk assessments in place are generalised and not specific to each young person’s needs. For example, one young person has been risk assessed for self-harm when there is no previous incidents of self-harm. This does not show that young people’s individual needs are assessed appropriately.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff are fully trained in physical intervention techniques to support young people if required. The good relationships staff have with young people and the de-escalation techniques they use have been instrumental in effectively managing unacceptable behaviour. Therefore, there have been no incidents requiring physical intervention since the home’s last inspection.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home follows the local authority’s policy and procedures regarding young people who leave the home without staff permission. The home has established very good protocols and reporting systems with the local constabulary and with the local safeguarding board. The home's records demonstrate that procedures are consistently followed. Good individualised assessments of risk have been formulated in respect of unauthorised absence, which are reviewed frequently. Due to these good arrangements, coupled with the good activities on offer and individual discussions with young people, there is very minimal reporting of young people being missing from the home.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people live in a home that provides physical safety and security. Fire safety and health and safety checks are regularly carried out. Records show that young people and staff regularly practice evacuation of the building so they know how to respond in an emergency or fire. The home has established systems and structures in place to maintain safe practices and fulfil health and safety obligations.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people benefit from a stable staff team. There has been no new appointments since the last inspection. This ensures that young people are cared for by a consistent staff team. The home has a robust recruitment policy and practice. All visitors to the home are monitored and sign in and out of the visitors’ book. These systems reflect the importance of the young people's safety.

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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 Registered Manager is qualified, skilled and experienced and provides effective leadership to the staff team and young people. He identifies the strengths and weaknesses in the service provided, and is keen to improve and develop the quality of the home. Staff understand young people's strengths and needs, even when they have only lived at the home for a relatively short time. Care practices focus on enhancing young people's quality of life and ensuring that they reach their full potential. There is a commitment in the home to anti-discriminatory practice. Any cultural or racial needs are taken into account and staff will ensure that these are fully met.

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Leadership and management

The provider meets the aims and objectives in their Statement of Purpose. This document is available to placing officers, families and other stakeholders and accurately reflects the current staffing arrangements and the services being provided by the home.

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Leadership and management

Excellent communication is a feature of the home, which enables staff to be well informed about daily events, routines and the progress of each young person. This is supported by excellent feedback from other professionals involved in the care of the young people. All professionals said that: the communication at this home is excellent; staff are very knowledgeable about the young people in their care; young people are fully consulted about their care; and the relaxed, homely and stimulating environment has brought about positive changes in young people.

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Leadership and management

There are various systems to monitor quality of care. Regulation 33 and 34 monitoring is regularly carried out and young people are consulted during monitoring visits. However, the Regulation 33 report lacks detail and contains over all phrases such as ‘all placement plans in place’, rather than commenting on the quality of them. Therefore, this system has not identified shortfalls such as unsigned documents. Further to this, these reports do not give Ofsted a clear overview of the quality of care between inspections.

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Leadership and management

Young people are cared for by competent and experienced staff. Training programmes cover mandatory requirements and are carried out at induction and through regular updates. All staff have completed the Children’s Workforce Development Council’s level 3 qualification. The training delivered ensures staff are equipped with the skills to meet the needs of the young people and purpose of the home. Staff report being well supported and supervised. Regular team meetings focus on the development and progress of the young people and enable staff to ensure that there is a consistent and personalised approach to meet their individual needs.

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Leadership and management

Young people’s records are detailed and well structured; these are held securely and confidentially. However, some paperwork is unsigned by the author, staff and manager. For example, a local authority care plan has not been signed by anyone. This does not ensure that all parties are in agreement with the plan. Although this is not currently impacting on the care young people receive, it has the potential to do so.

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Leadership and management

At the home's last inspection the home was asked: to ensure that lone working risk assessments were completed for all staff. All staff now have a lone working risk assessment on file. This ensures staff safety when working on their own with 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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