Children's Home run by St Hill Establishments Ltd in Kingston upon Hull

Unique reference number SC385633 Inspection date 09/12/2013 Inspector Nicola McEvinney Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 07/03/2013 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

The children's home is run by a private company. The home is registered to provide a service for up to five children or young people, male or female, with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

p.3

Brief description of the service

The home mainly provides placements for the local authority it is situated in. Young people receive care until such a time they can return to family, move to alternative specialist placements or can live independently.

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 adequate .

p.3

Overall effectiveness

All the young people have been admitted to the home over the last few months; they are making adequate progress. Care plans identify where young people need support to enable them to progress further. All young people are positive about the care provided and they say that they feel safe in the home. Within the home they are safe but some individuals risk taking behaviours has the potential to compromise their safety and well-being. However, staff are proactive in trying to address this behaviour and work closely with other agencies to promote young people’s safety. The Registered Manager understands the strengths of the home and recognises the weaknesses identified during this inspection which he has immediately started to address. These shortfalls are; ensure staff know what young people eat; ensure medication is administered as prescribed; the maintenance of the home; review risk assessments; the monitoring of the home; ensure the Statement of Purpose contains

p.3

Overall effectiveness

the age range of the young people and social workers understand that the home cannot restrict the liberty of young people. To ensure Ofsted is sent Regulation 33 reports and notifiable events; support young people who are not attending school to have educational opportunities and support them to obtain skills to enable them to make a successful transition to adulthood.

p.3

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 children are provided with food at appropriate intervals (Regulation 13(1)(a)(i)) 31/01/2014

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure any medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed (Regulation 21 (2)(b)) 31/01/2014

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that all parts of the home are kept clean and reasonably decorated and maintained 31/01/2014

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) review risk assessments for activities in which children participate in (Regulation 23(b)) 31/01/2014

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the Statement of Purpose contains all matters listed in Schedule 1, in particular the age range of the children it intends to accommodate (Regulation4 (1)) and (Schedule 1) 31/01/2014

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the children's home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose by not acting as a secure children's home (Regulation 4 (6)) 31/01/2014

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) monitor the matters set out in Schedule 6, in particular the administration of medication (Regulation 34 (1)(a) and Schedule 6. 14) 31/01/2014

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) notify without delay Ofsted of any notifiable events. (Regulation 30 (1) Schedule 5) 31/01/2014

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

 support young people develop financial capability, knowledge and skills (NMS 12.1. f)  ensure young people have access to a range of educational resources to support their learning, in particular for those young people who are not attending school (NMS 8.2)  ensure young people's liberty is not restricted. (Volume 5, statutory guidance, paragraph 2.109)

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for young people are adequate .

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

All the young people currently living at the home have only lived there for a relatively short period. Their outcomes are variable; some on arrival were sporadic school attendees but now attend very well. Other young people have not attended school for nearly a year which has impacted on their daytime routine. The home has worked hard and these young people are more compliant and adhering to bedtime routines. This gives them stability and promotes their well-being. In general young people benefit from having their health needs well attended to; this is made possible by all being registered with doctors, dentists and opticians and are supported with appointments. However, although young people have access to healthy and nutritious meals it is not clear what they actually eat throughout the day which can compromise their wellbeing. Young people benefit from being encouraged to express their views. For example,

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

the independent reviewing officer visits young people at the home in order to discuss their plan of care and air their views. House meetings are held which enables young people to have a say in how the home operates; they are encouraged to help plan meals and activities. Most young people benefit from the efforts of the staff team in order to secure appropriate educational placements. For some young people who have been out of school for a significant period, meetings in the home with headteachers and the young people has been very beneficial to engage them. There are effective links with schools to discuss progress and share information. However, for some individuals their chaotic lifestyle has resulted in them no longer engaging in college or constructive day time activities. This has a negative impact on their life opportunities. The home enjoys good relationships with the local community resulting in good

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

cooperation. Some young people were involved in the redecoration of the communal areas which gives them a sense of belonging. Young people benefit from having their contact arrangements clearly set out in their care plans. There is regular contact between the home and parents who telephone regularly to see how their children are. Staff facilitate supervised contact by transporting young people as requested. Young people who are approaching adulthood are ill prepared to live independently. Although they have skills in meal preparation they lack the ability to manage their finances, their personal space and continue to lead a chaotic lifestyle. This does not ensure that they will have a successful transition to adulthood and limits their life opportunities.

p.5

Quality of care

This new group of young people are benefiting from building trusting relationships with the staff. They are gradually responding to the boundaries that are being put in place and generally behave quite well in the home. A number of young people who have left the home continue to call and visit the home. On occasion they will ask staff to support them in the form of an advocate when dealing with other agencies. This demonstrates that young people build lasting relationships with staff. Young people enjoy positive relationships with one another. The older ones offer good support and offer friendlyy ’ advice to the younger ones. Young people are given information on admission on how to make a complaint; they also can record their minor grievances in a grumbles book. However, there are none recorded. Young people are supported to understand that they are unable to have all their wishes realised; particularly those that impact negatively on their well-being. This

p.5

Quality of care

helps young people to understand compromise. Young people benefit from having their needs set out in their care plan with guidance in place to ensure that these needs are met. The home produces a weekly report to identify how they are progressing week by week. Needs relating to young people’s abilities, religion and heritage are identified in their plan. Young people benefit from accessing a range of services to help meet their complex needs. For example, the children and adolescent mental health service supports them on emotional issues and undertakes art therapy with some individuals. A sexual health service supports young people with keeping themselves safe and provides sexual health advice. The youth offending team supports young people with offending issues and provides some young people with a limited education programme to support them with independence skills. Young people’s health may be compromised by not having their medication

p.6

Quality of care

administered as prescribed. In particular, antibiotics were not given as instructed which compromises their well being. Young people who are attending school benefit from the close collaboration between the home and school who endeavour to share all pertinent information. For those young people who have been out of education for a long period, staff are proactive in addressing this. However, for these young people their days are not spent fruitfully which does not promote their well-being. Young people enjoy a range of activities. For example, trips out to the coast, meals out, the cinema and bowling. Within the home they enjoy board games, watching television or films and having the occasional ‘pamper’ night, painting their nails. Young people’s well-being is compromised by areas of the home which are not always maintained to a good standard of cleanliness. In particular bathrooms and toilets were found to be dirty. Some young people’s bedrooms are very untidy but

p.6

Quality of care

this is not helped by curtains and blinds being broken or hanging off the rail . This does not create a warm and cosy environment.

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

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

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

Social workers consider that the young people are safe in the home. Staff are acutely aware of the vulnerabilities of the young people and to this end have not allowed some young people to leave the building. This impacts on their liberty and does not promote their well-being . Young people respond to the consistent behaviour management strategies that are in place and young people are developing socially acceptable behaviours. Other young people are adopting improved routines which will enable them to participate better in opportunities that will enhance their life. The majority of young people do not go missing from the home. However, some individuals are persistently missing which further criminalises them and their risk taking behaviours make them very vulnerable. However, staff follow individual missing person’s action plans and are vigilant in trying to ascertain their whereabouts and will search areas where they suspect young people will be. The home works

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

closely with the police to ensure young people’s safe return and makes them welcome when this happens. Young people are protected by staff who are trained in behaviour management which includes restraint techniques. However, the use of restraint is minimal with one restraint recorded since the last inspection which involved a young person being guided away from a potentially volatile situation. There are a number of sanctions recorded which are appropriate and young people are encouraged to have their views recorded following the event. These records are effectively monitored and occasionally young people are able to earn back their sanction. Young people consider that they are safe in the home and say that there is no bullying. Young people are protected by all health and safety checks being carried out as required. Fire drills are carried out regularly to ensure all young people know what action to take in the event of a fire occurring.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are safeguarded by having individual risk assessments. These identify possible dangers with strategies in place to minimise the risk. However, these are not regularly reviewed to ensure they reflect the current situation.

p.7

Leadership and management

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

p.7

Leadership and management

The home is managed by an experienced and competent Registered Manager. Young people are cared for by a sufficient number of well qualified staff who have good training opportunities. The Registered Manager understands the strengths of the home. These are the commitment given to young people placed by the staff team who provide stability for them. The ability of the staff team to work with challenging young people and get them to change negative behaviours which improves their life opportunities. The weaknesses he recognises are issues identified at this inspection. Immediate steps have been taken to address the majority of these. There is a development plan in place with achievable targets which is monitored to ensure its delivery. A Statement of Purpose is in place but does not contain the age range of the young people the home accommodates. Social workers are not clear about the function of the home. For example, requesting that young people must not be allowed to exit

p.7

Leadership and management

the premises . Social workers and independent reviewing officers speak positively about the care provided by the home. They are kept informed about young people’s development and any issues arising. Young people are visited regularly and their statutory reviews are held as required. This ensures their plans are kept updated. Young people benefit from being cared for by staff that have an understanding of needs relating to their abilities and how their social and economic background impacts on their life opportunities. The home is visited monthly by an independent person who writes a report of their visit, but this report is not forwarded to Ofsted promptly. The Registered Manager monitors the home’s records; however, neither he nor the regulation 33 visitor identified the shortfalls in the administration of medication. The communal lounge and dining room are comfortable and well maintained; however, some young people’s bedroom fittings require attention. The domestic staff

p.7

Leadership and management

is currently not at work and this impacts on the cleanliness of some areas of the home.. Young people’s records are well maintained; a weekly progress report is produced for each young person which clearly identifies their progress. This enables young people to have a clear understanding of their time spent at the home. The home benefits from good interagency working with a number of agencies including the police and local authority. The Registered Manager attends a multi- agency meeting which highlights vulnerable young people and to share intelligence. This promotes young people’s safety. There have been a number of significant events but the home failed to inform all the required agencies of these incidents. In particular, it does not ensure Ofsted is able to monitor how the home is operating. There were no requirements of recommendations raised at the last inspection.

p.8

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.9

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.9