Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Bradford

Unique reference number SC424141 Inspection date 11/12/2013 Inspector Angela Whiteley Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 10/01/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

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.

p.2

Brief description of the service

This service is a privately owned children's home which is part of a large organisation. The home provides care and accommodation for up to six young people with emotional and/or behavioural problems.

p.3

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

p.3

Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Young people live in a caring and supportive environment and confirm they feel safe at the home. They comment positively on the quality of care they receive and their relationships with staff and say this is a good home to live in. A committed and well- trained staff team demonstrate detailed knowledge of each young person. Good communication exists between young people, staff and other professionals who have an interest in securing positive progress for young people. A police community support officer said, ‘staff engage well with young people and spend a lot of time with them.’

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Good leadership, management and monitoring of the home ensure that young people’s individual needs are met. They are consulted about all aspects of their care and their views and wishes carry weight. This ensures their needs are central to the running of the home; as a result, changes occur for their benefit.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Most young people benefit from personalised, well-planned care plans, individual behaviour management plans, and comprehensive risk assessments. These are reviewed regularly to keep young people safe. As a result, most young people make good progress from their starting point across all aspects of their welfare and development. However, not all young people have an up-to-date care plan, or pathway plan for ‘eligible’ care leavers, as the placing authority has not made these available to the home. Staff are proactive in chasing missing documents and requesting review meetings where a change of care plan is needed. This ensures young people are cared for in line with their individual placement plans and have opportunity to fully understand and contribute to their reviews. Some young people continue to compromise their progress and make poor life choices and take unacceptable risks. For example, some young people new to

p.3

Overall effectiveness

placement do not fully engage in education and go missing from the home, which restricts their future opportunities. Staff work tirelessly to help young people settle, understand and manage their behaviour differently and provide access to support services. They provide opportunities for young people to succeed and encourage them to make positive choices in preparation for their adult lives. They take appropriate action and implement safeguarding measures, which help to keep young people safe when they go missing from the home.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

The manager is effective in securing improvement in practice and has good monitoring and oversight of the standard of care. However, some shortfalls are identified in respect of staff training and supervision and clear information in the restraint record in relation to seeking medical assistance. Also, ensuring prompt replacement of furnishings, furniture, maintenance and decoration of the home to ensure it is homely and comfortable. These shortfalls have not had an adverse impact on the quality of care and outcomes for young people.

p.4

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.

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that all staff receive appropriate training and supervision. In particular, child sexual exploitation training (Regulation 27 (4) (a)) 22/01/2014

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that young people's files contain all the information and documents specified in Schedule 3 of this regulation. In particular, ensure there is an up to date, signed copy of the placing authority plan for the care of the child or pathway plan. (Regulation 28 (1) (a - c) & Schedule 3 (18)) 22/01/2014

p.4

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

p.4

Recommendations

 ensure that where there has been a physical restraint that children are always given the opportunity to be examined by a registered nurse or medical practitioner (NMS 3.16)  ensure that the home provides a comfortable and homely environment. In particular, woodwork is clean, damaged lounge and games room furniture and furnishings are removed and replaced promptly along with stair carpets that show signs of wear and tear (NMS 10.3)  ensure that the home contributes to the development of each child's care plan, including the pathway plan for 'eligible' care leavers and works collaboratively with the young person's social worker or personal advisor in implementing the plan. (NMS 12.2)

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Most young people settle quickly and make good progress from their starting point. They say they feel safe at the home and are well cared for and respected. This helps them feel valued and increases their self-esteem and confidence. Some have been at the home only a short while and require time to settle. They continue to display the same behaviours they were presenting prior to their admission. At this early stage not all young people are willing to accept that their behaviours need to change, or that their risk taking behaviours place them at significant risk of harm, particularly when they continue to go missing from the home for significant periods of time. Staff taking appropriate action in response to any incidents and are committed to helping young people achieve stability and permanence. Young people return home safely as there is effective partnership working with the police. Where necessary, placements

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

are regularly reviewed and alternative placements considered ensuring young people’s safety and welfare.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Most young people benefit from the support and encouragement of staff to lead healthy lifestyles and participate in appropriate leisure activities. They are registered with primary health care providers and have access to additional support services, such as mental health services and the looked after nurse. Young people are encouraged to take responsibility for their appointments and have good attendance. They learn the importance of looking after themselves and develop personal care skills with the support of staff.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people enjoy a well-balanced and healthy diet that they choose and plan with staff. They are encouraged to shop for food items and help prepare meals. Independence is promoted well within the home. Young people make positive progress with skills that help them become more self-sufficient and help to prepare them for the transition to adulthood, which increases their self-esteem and confidence. Individual independence plans are prepared by the home that take account of young people’s skills and abilities. However, these are not included in the placing authority pathway plan.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people have a strong sense of identity, reinforced by regular contact with family and friends, where appropriate. Staff support and facilitate contact, which helps young people maintain positive relationships with those who are important to them. For some, this has enabled them to build on the positive relationships with agreed overnight stays with family. There is excellent communication between the home and families, which helps inform planning.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Most young people benefit from excellent school attendance as staff are proactive and consistent in supporting their educational achievement and help them to achieve their potential. For some, attendance has significantly improved since being admitted to the home. Other young people new to the placement struggle to achieve full attendance due to their previous placement history and lack of stability, which means they are struggling to achieve their potential. Staff are addressing this through regular meetings with professionals to review the plans. The home has strong links with school and other education providers and communicates regularly to monitor progress and enable a consistent approach to young people’s care.

p.6

Quality of care

Young people live in a caring environment and develop good relationships with staff over time. They confirm it is an ‘ok’ place to live. Young people confirm they can approach any of the staff team if they have worries or concerns and know how to complain if they feel unhappy with any aspect of their care. They have regular young people’s meetings and feel listened to. As a result, changes are made for their benefit, such as new furniture and equipment for the games room and contributing ideas for activities at holiday times.

p.6

Quality of care

Young people receive good quality care and support from motivated and experienced staff that have high expectations of them. Staff work hard to help young people develop their potential and are persistent when faced with setbacks. They continue to support and guide young people to help them make positive choices in their lives. When young people take inappropriate risks and put themselves in danger, staff are proactive in contacting the placing authority to review the placement plan. A placing social worker said, ‘staff are motivated and passionate to meet the needs of young people in their care.’

p.6

Quality of care

Individual care plans clearly set out young people’s care. Plans are reviewed regularly, which helps to provide stability and permanence. Young people are encouraged to participate in all aspects of care planning, which means they know what progress they are making.

p.6

Quality of care

Staff are proactive and consistent in supporting young people’s educational achievement and attendance. Incentives and rewards are used to good effect and young people regularly achieve full attendance. Staff keep in close contact with educational providers to ensure any issues are resolved quickly. A placing social worker said, ‘there is good relationship building with young people and communication with family and school is good.’

p.6

Quality of care

Young people are encouraged to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. They have good access to health support services and staff are in regular contact with the looked after nurse and other health care providers. They participate in a broad range of activities, such as, ice skating, gym sessions, skateboarding and diving. These measures help promote and safeguard the welfare of young people. Staff help young people develop independence skills, which will assist their transition to adult life.

p.6

Quality of care

Young people live in a large spacious house that is generally well-decorated and furnished. They are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms with posters and furnishings. The home has its own transport, which allows young people to access local facilities and those further afield. There has been some recent damage to furniture and furnishings, scuffed woodwork, paintwork, and wear and tear to the stairs carpet that does not provide a comfortable and homely environment for young people to live in and does not promote their welfare.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

The service is good at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people say they feel safe and staff talk to them about keeping themselves safe, particularly when out in the community. Young people say they generally get along well together. The home has a strong culture that bullying and discriminatory behaviour is not tolerated. Young people have confidence in the staff to deal with any incidents quickly. They are addressed with individuals or in house meetings to ensure all young people feel safe. This approach is supported by strong policies and procedures. Staff balance the need for protection with enabling young people to take managed risks as part of their growth and development.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Staff understand safeguarding procedures and receive regular appropriate training. They are confident and competent in implementing the policies and procedures if they have any concerns, or allegations are made about young people’s welfare. Staff recognise the particular vulnerabilities relating to the diverse needs of young people and take appropriate actions to address them. They express concern regarding young people, new to the placement who choose to leave the home without permission and who are reluctant to engage with them. Despite their efforts, some young people continue to make poor life choices and refuse to attend education and go missing from home, which places them at risk of harm. Staff have regular telephone contact with young people until they return home safely. The home acts in accordance with the placing authority care plan and the legal status of the placement.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

There are good links with the police missing person’s coordinator and community officers and staff follow the agreed police missing from care protocol. Staff are proactive in communicating with placing authorities to highlight the safeguarding issues. They request meetings where changes to care plans are required and contribute well to strategies that help to achieve more positive outcomes for young people. Generally, when young people settle in their placement, records support a reduction in young people going missing from the home. A consistent, individualised approach to risk assessments and behaviour management; ensures young people learn appropriate boundaries. Creative incentives and rewards are used to good effect to help young people and develop socially acceptable behaviours. Staff are trained in the appropriate use of physical restraint but rarely need to use this, preferring to use humour, distraction and

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

planned ignoring as de-escalation techniques. These are effective measures, as the homes records show physical intervention has only been used once in the last year and consequences are also reducing. However, the record does not include sufficient information in respect of young people having opportunity to be examined by a medical professional following a restraint. This means young people are not fully protected because there is not a clear account of the incident to either support young people in raising concerns or enable appropriate monitoring of practice.

p.8

Safeguarding children and young people

Thorough recruitment and vetting procedures are in place and visitors to the home are checked and supervised as appropriate. These practices ensure young people are protected from people who may pose a risk. Young people enjoy a safe and secure environment as safety within the home is ensured by the routine checking of electrical, gas and fire equipment. Health and safety guidelines are followed and effective assessments are in place of any hazards in the home.

p.8

Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are good .

p.8

Leadership and management

The home benefits from strong leadership. It is effectively managed by an experienced Registered Manager who is suitably qualified and ably assisted by an experienced, deputy manager. There is strong support from a motivated and skilled stable staff team who understand the needs of the young people and the expectations for the smooth running of the home.

p.8

Leadership and management

The home is well resourced in terms of staffing and finance. There are sufficient numbers of staff on duty to ensure that young people’s individual needs are met and that they are safe. Any shortfalls in the rota are covered by the staff team and a pool of consistent casual workers, which ensures young people are cared for by staff that know them and can effectively respond to their needs.

p.8

Leadership and management

Staff say they are well supported and feel valued. They receive regular supervision, training and team meetings. This ensures they have frequent opportunities to develop their practice to meet young people’s needs. Although, some staff have not received additional supervision that is identified as part of their individual development needs.

p.8

Leadership and management

Staff can access monthly in-house consultations from specialist professionals such as, psychologists and therapists to address the specific needs of young people. Opportunities are available for additional training in response to young people’s emerging needs. However, some staff have not yet completed training in working with young people at risk of sexual exploitation. The Registered Manager is aware of this and is to enrol staff on training from the new training programme which is released early in the New Year.

p.8

Leadership and management

Young people’s records are of a good standard, are stored securely and generally present a good overall picture of their experiences at the home. However, some documents, such as placing authority pathway plans are not up-to-date or are missing. This is primarily the responsibility of the placing authority and is regularly chased by the Registered Manager. Whilst the absence of this information does not prevent staff from supporting young people it may not give young people a full understanding of their future plans. This provider prepares a comprehensive care package document for all young people in their care, which is agreed with the placing social worker to give a clear picture of young people’s care needs. Young people are regularly engaged in discussions about their care and influence the running of the home.

p.9

Leadership and management

The Registered Manager has effective monitoring systems in place, which ensure young people enjoy good standards of care and protection. She understands the strengths and weaknesses of the home and continues to strive for improvements to the service. Other key documents are in place, including a comprehensive development plan that is reviewed regularly to help drive forward further improvements. There are no outstanding requirements or recommendations from the last inspection, which shows the service is committed to improving the provision.

p.9

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.

p.10

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.

p.10