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

Unique reference number SC460973 Inspection date 01/11/2013 Inspector Trevor Hall Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 24/04/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The home is run by a private organisation. The home is registered to provide care for up to three young people of either gender, aged between 10 and 17 years. Most of who are placed on an emergency basis following a recent history of placement breakdown and difficult or high-risk behaviour.

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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

This is the home's first inspection since registration was granted in early April 2013. The home provides short-term care for young people who have experienced upheaval or trauma, prior to placement, who are in need of assessment and respite. The home offers a structured programme of activities, designed to both challenge and stimulate. It is clear that the home's Registered Manager and staff team have made a good start in their attempts to create a safe and nurturing care environment.

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Overall effectiveness

Relationships between young people and staff were observed to be positive on the whole, based upon mutual respect and high regard. The home has all the required policies and procedures to ensure a good quality of care. Care practice witnessed was of a good quality and it is clear that relationships between staff and young people are on the whole positive.

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Overall effectiveness

This is clearly a supportive home where young people make progress in many aspects of their welfare and development. This is due to the provision of consistent care delivered by a committed and hard working staff team who have high expectations of the young people they care for. Care planning is highly personalised, ensuring that young people have every opportunity to do well.

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Overall effectiveness

The safeguarding of young people is adequate. Staff are appropriately knowledgeable about their responsibilities in this area and have received appropriate training. The home has all required policies, procedures and staff guidance. Safeguarding issues have been rare, however, those incidents that have occurred have been appropriately identified and have been reported to all necessary external agencies.

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Overall effectiveness

Sound behaviour management systems are in place and staff receive appropriate training to assist them to maintain a safe living and working environment. Inconsistent recording, however, in respect of incidents and particularly the use of physical interventions by staff undermines the home's good practice in these areas. Good health and safety regimes within the home appropriately support staff efforts to maintain a safe environment.

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Overall effectiveness

The home enjoys generally good management, young people know what is expected of them and feel settled because of this. They are cared for by a motivated and dedicated staff team, who are adequately trained to meet their needs and who feel well supported by the home's management team. The home's failure to supply Ofsted with copy's of its internal monitoring report constitutes a breach of regulation and a statutory requirement has been raised. Staff reported satisfaction with their training and the support they receive, however, records examined indicate that staff have not always received formal supervision at the expected frequency.

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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 the registered person shall supply to the HMCI a report in respect of any review conducted by him for the purposes of paragraph (1), and make a copy of the report available on request to placing authorities where the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home. (Regulation 34(2) 31/12/2013

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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 a clear written policy on managing behaviour is available, which includes supporting positive behaviour and that all staff understand and apply this at all times(this refers to providing greater detail and clarity in incident recording) (NMS 3.3).  ensure that restraint is not used as a punishment, nor to force compliance with instructions where significant harm or serious damage to property are not otherwise likely (this refers to staff recording clearly their reasons for applying physical interventions) (NMS 3.14)  ensure that staff have access to support and advice, and are provided with regular supervision by appropriately qualified and experienced staff (NMS 19.4).

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Outcomes for children and young people

The home provides care for young people who have experienced unsettled or turbulent periods prior to arriving at the home. Young people quickly settle into the home and build effective relationships with staff. They make good progress in most areas of their lives, when compared to their individual starting points. Young people value and recognise the progress that they make. A social worker commented in relation to the progress of a young person, ‘the difference in attitude and behaviour is quite remarkable.’

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Outcomes for children and young people

The health needs of young people are carefully managed. All young people take part in an activity based programme, where the benefits of regular exercise, healthy lifestyles and positive behaviour are promoted. This leads to young people developing their personal confidence and improving their self-esteem. Anti-social, challenging and negative behaviours reduce as relationships develop through shared achievements. Young people develop a sense of self-worth and a better understanding of their emotional state. This results in significant improvements to their personal safety and emotional well-being.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people learn a range of new skills and abilities as a result of staying at the home. Young people who have struggled with regular attendance in education in the past are successfully encouraged to re-engage by following a programme based around the activities undertaken and the skills that are developed. The home's education programme is overseen by education staff from the organisation’s own education unit.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people, where appropriate, are helped to maintain helpful and close relationships with important people in their lives. Particular attention is given to planning and organising family contact, and staff listen to young people and family members in order to achieve arrangements that are appropriate and safe. This ensures that young people experience positive contact with their families, thus promoting a strong understanding of their backgrounds and a positive self-view.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people freely express their feelings and emotions and are involved in all decisions that affect them or the running of the home. They are consulted about changes to the house rules, activities that are being planned, the home's menu and about reviews of their care planning arrangements.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people learn to appreciate the significance of differing values and cultures and to have respect for other people because staff promote a positive ethos that fully embraces diversity and difference. This promotes positive behaviours, assists young people to understand the consequences of their actions, and encourages alternative and more acceptable responses.

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Quality of care

Young people clearly benefit from the security and structure that exists within this home. Boundaries are consistent and help to give young people a feeling of security without denying them their individuality. They benefit from individualised programmes of support, in line with their identified needs, including those relating to culture, religion, language and race.

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Quality of care

Relationships between staff and young people are a key strength and young people speak favourably of the staff. The staff team are committed and enthusiastic about working with young people who are experiencing trauma or that are in crisis. Due to the short-term nature of the placements, they work hard to establish appropriate and beneficial attachments. This ensures that young people are immediately supported when they arrive at the home, which enables them to make rapid progress and benefit from their time at the home. This is reflected in both young people's and social workers comments; ‘ I like the staff, they care and work very hard to keep you safe', ‘the quality of care is good’, ‘I know that the young person is in safe hands’ and ‘the home has clear boundaries and staff offer high levels of support at all times.’

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Quality of care

Young people know that staff are concerned for their welfare. As a result, they build trusting relationships with staff and are able to share their concerns, worries and feelings. Information about how to complain is on display within the communal areas of the home and is in the young person's guide supplied to each young person on admission. Young people confirmed that they knew how to complain and that they had confidence that any complaints made would be appropriately dealt with. Complaints from young people are rare, only two being recorded since registration was granted.

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Quality of care

Comprehensive care planning identifies areas for development based upon young people’s individual needs, skills and abilities. Staff work consistently to address these needs and promote young people’s emotional and physical well-being. Staff communicate well with young people, who confirm that they feel listened to and actively involved in their care. This ensures that young people’s needs and wishes are well known.

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Quality of care

The progress of young people is appropriately shared with parents, social workers and other appropriate parties. The staff team work closely with placing authorities and relationships are effective. Due to the short-term nature of placements at the home, the Registered Manager ensures that moving on plans are diligently progressed, this ensures that young people make planned and considered moves to their next placements.

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Quality of care

Young people live in an environment where their individual health needs are identified and services provided to meet them. Clear policies and procedures are consistently applied by an appropriately trained staff team that effectively safeguard young people’s health. Clearly maintained records of appointments with health professionals evidence that the physical, emotional and mental health needs of the young people are effectively met. Placement plans are updated when health needs have been met, or when new issues are identified. This helps the staff team monitor young people’s emotional and physical well-being and ensures continuing good health and development. Staff support young people, where appropriate, to take charge of their own health care to better prepare them for independence and adulthood.

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Quality of care

Young people spend time away from the home on a range of activities and camping experiences. The standard of accommodation on such experiences is carefully managed to ensure that young people are provided with appropriate shelter, warmth and comfort. This ensures that the needs of young people are met and promoted.

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Quality of care

The staff team provide a homely environment for young people. Communal areas are suitably furnished and equipped. Young people are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms. This enables young people to develop and maintain their personal space and identities. This is further enhanced through the display of young people’s photographs around the home. These photographs show young people taking part in a range of activities and experiences. As a result, young people feel proud of their achievements and are encouraged by the staff team to recognise their progress.

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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

The home has a comprehensive range of detailed policies and procedures covering aspects such as the prevention of bullying, complaints, safeguarding and behaviour management. Staff are knowledgeable about these policies and receive appropriate training and regular updates in all these areas. This enables them to protect young people from the risk of harm and abuse. The regular and effective monitoring of the home's records and staff practice contribute to ensuring that young people receive safe care in line with their individual needs.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people confirm that they feel safe living in this home. The home has a good set of individualised risk assessments for each young person in residence. Risk assessments are proactive, identify potential risks and provide effective strategies to help to minimise these. These cover aspects of the young people's potential behaviour, the environment and the activities they undertake.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff promote a positive culture of managing behaviour, with a focus on dealing with issues quickly to avoid escalation. They manage young people’s behaviour by building good relationships, listening to them and understanding their individual triggers. Staff help young people to increase their levels of self-control and awareness of the impact of their behaviour, by helping them reflect on significant incidents. This strengthens attachments and encourages young people to better manage their future behaviour. It also shows them that they are supported and valued.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The use of sanctions is minimal, fair and consistent. There is an emphasis on recognising and rewarding positive behaviours, rather than purely punishing those behaviours identified as being unacceptable. This enables young people to develop more socially acceptable behaviour and better prepares them to interact positively with the wider community. Young people understand that the boundaries in place are there to ensure their safety. Records of incidents within the home are of variable quality. While most are detailed and comprehensive others are minimalistic and lack sufficient detail, antecedents are not always clear and some staff responses are neither explained or linked to individual behaviour management plans. However, the impact of these lapses in recording, on young people, is minimal and does not compromises their safety or welfare.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Physical interventions are infrequent, they are only used as a last resort by staff to ensure safety for all. Most incidents are resolved through the skilful application of staff support and the sensitive use of conflict resolution techniques. The home’s manager monitors each intervention and ensures that the intervention was necessary and applied correctly. Recording of restraints lacks consistency and staff are not always accurately recording why restraints have been applied. Following such incidents, the home's manager ensures that young people, receive any medical attention required or requested and are aware of their right to complain. He informs social workers and, where appropriate, parents that an incident requiring physical intervention has occurred.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff receive regular and wide-ranging training in safeguarding. As a result, they demonstrate a good understanding of the action they should take should they have any concerns about a young person's safety or well-being. Effective working with external partners, such as the Local Authority Designated Officer, ensures the continued development of staff’s knowledge and understanding of child protection practice.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home has effective policies in place to safely manage young people's unauthorised absence. Established protocols with the local police complement and support these policies. Staff are aware of the potential reasons why young people may go missing and use this insight to assist young people to manage their feelings and frustrations in a more productive manner, rather than running off and putting themselves at risk.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Activities are carefully risk assessed and the home has the required licenses in place for outdoor activities. This ensures that young people are able to participate in safe yet challenging activities.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home has a good health and safety regime, which ensures that all fire precautions, drills and equipment servicing are conducted routinely, consistently and within timescales required. Good quality risk assessments of the whole home environment have been conducted, which identify all potential sources of harm and include actions needed to address them. These assessments are recorded and regularly reviewed. Good staffing levels further help to keep young people safe and reduce any risk of harm. The organisation’s effective recruitment procedures ensure the careful selection, recruitment and retention of staff. This ensures young people are safe and have a staff team who know them well. New staff are comprehensively vetted prior to their deployment in the home and before having unsupervised access to any young person.

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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

This inspection is the first of this home since registration was granted in April 2013. The home's Registered Manager is a suitably qualified and experienced care manager, who is striving to establish a cohesive care team and create a supportive and caring home environment. Staff turnover has been relatively high since registration and this has hindered the manager’s attempts to establish consistency, particularly in respect of recording across the care team. The current team is a mixture of experienced care staff and newcomers to the profession. All staff have completed their core training prior to their deployment. The home is generally well managed, with clear well known aims objectives.

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Leadership and management

The home has an, accessible and comprehensive Statement of Purpose which contains clear information on what people can expect from the service. The young person’s guide tells them what the home is all about and informs them about the home's rules and their rights; for example, if they wish to complain or what they should do if they experience any bullying. The home has a good system for dealing effectively with young people’s complaints. Young people confirmed their awareness of the home’s complaints system and said that they would use it with confidence.

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Leadership and management

Sufficient staff are deployed at all time's to ensure that young people's needs can be safely met. Relationships between staff and young people were witnessed to be very cordial and young people said that they liked the staff and felt safe in their care. Young people stated that the staff and the home's manager were all approachable and that they felt more than comfortable discussing any issues of concern with them. Staff willingly participate in the home's programme of activities and provide young people with a good set of positive role models.

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Leadership and management

Regular team meetings provide staff with ample opportunities to discuss the needs of the young people and to be fully involved in the development of the service. Staff expressed satisfaction with the frequency and quality of the supervision and support they receive, however, records indicate that staff supervision has not always been maintained at required frequency.

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Leadership and management

Staff are provided with a good initial induction, further training, support and resources and therefore have a good understanding of the developmental needs of the young people in their care. Staff training covers all mandatory areas such as safeguarding, behaviour management and first aid, as well as specific training based on the identified needs of individual young people.

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Leadership and management

The staff team works proactively to help young people to achieve positive outcomes, overcome barriers and enhance their well-being. Good staff communication ensures that staff are consistent in the care they provide, which ensures young people's individual needs are met. Young people take an active part in the running of the home and they are encouraged to make their views known, through discussions with staff and by attending house meetings. Staff ensure that a safe, secure and nurturing environment is maintained which assists young people to make real progress and to fulfil their individual potential.

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Leadership and management

The home is adequately resourced, for example with sufficient funds for activities, food and decoration. The home is well maintained to provide a pleasant environment for young people. Good systems are in place to protect young people and staff from the risk of fire. Health and safety arrangements in the home are sound and promote young people's safety.

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Leadership and management

The manager has established appropriate internal quality assurance monitoring systems and produces a monthly report for senior management. As yet, these reports have not been shared with the Ofsted as required by regulation. It is clear that the manager checks all reporting systems regularly and comments if any record fails to meet either the home's policies and procedures or national regulations. Monthly external monitoring visits are undertaken by senior staff, reports of these visits are routinely shared with Ofsted to ensure the regulator is kept informed of how the service is operating. These visits are normally unannounced and involve consulting young people wherever possible. It is evident that the home's manager has a good understanding of the home's strengths and weaknesses and has used his own internal monitoring and the company's external monitoring visits to identify areas that need improvement.

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Leadership and management

The Registered Manager ensures that young people’s records are appropriately updated and safely stored. As a result, information relating to the progress of young people is clearly recorded and shared with relevant individuals and would contribute significantly to the young people’s understanding of their life in care, if they choose to access these documents.

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Leadership and management

The home is safely maintained and the health, safety and well-being of young people are at the centre of staff practice. Regular trips out, including overnight camping stays, are thoroughly risk assessed to ensure the safety of all those taking part. The Registered Manager is committed to providing safe yet stimulating, challenging and explorative experiences for young people. This results in an environment where young people are able to make significant progress in developing their confidence and self-esteem. The registered person notifies the appropriate authorities about all significant events relating to the protection of young people accommodated in the home.

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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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