Children's Home run by Channels and Choices Kent LLP in Kent

Unique reference number SC067895 Inspection date 02/01/2014 Inspector Anna Williams Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 17/04/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The home is registered to provide care for up to three young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is run by a partnership company.

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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 demonstrated continued improvement in the quality of care and outcomes for young people. The one requirement set at the last visit has been addressed. One previous good practice recommendation has been fully met. There are two recommendations arising from this inspection.

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Progress

External monitoring visits take place on a monthly basis. They fully involve the views of young people. Since the last inspection there has been more regular feedback sought from parents through this independent process. This provides parents, carers and significant adults regular opportunity to formally contribute their opinion on the standard of care.

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Progress

Young people now have access to a computer within the home. This supports extended learning opportunities, contact with family and friends and recreational activities. Since the introduction of the computer, there has been a significant event relating to e-safety. The Registered Manager took appropriate action to safeguard all young people and liaised appropriately with relevant external agencies. However, there has not been a review of the organisation's safeguarding following this serious event. The current policy describes e-safety in generic terms. It does not provide staff with clear procedures and guidance to follow if they identify e-safety concerns, nor does it include reference to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP). Currently only one member of staff has received training in e-safety matters. This does not ensure that all staff are aware of current practice and research

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Progress

regarding safeguarding young people online.

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Progress

Outcomes for young people in the home are improved. One young person has re- established contact with family members after a significant period apart. This helps young people to maintain attachments to those who are important to them. One young person demonstrates continued improvements in managing their own behaviours. At school this has resulted in a recent 'most improved behaviour' award. Young people have been involved in events which have raised money for charity. Young people cooked and sold cakes as part of one of these occasions. This positively involves young people in thinking about others, through fun and engaging ways. Young people continue to take part in therapeutic emotional learning opportunities. This benefits their psychological well-being.

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Progress

Young people continue to take part in community based and after-school clubs. These include army cadets, dance classes, football and rugby clubs and a local youth group. This provides opportunities to meet new people, keep fit and be an active part of the nearby area. Young people have experienced successful holidays away from the home both in England and abroad. This offers young people positive life experiences and extends their cultural awareness. An overall strength of the home is the wide range of personal and social development opportunities that all the young people continue to engage in.

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Progress

Young people are extremely positive about living in the home. They feel listened to by staff. They influence the running of the home through daily catch-ups. Young people write their own minutes for these meetings. They have seen changes in activities, menus, and the house redecoration. These daily sessions also provide time for reflection around regular topics such as respecting others. Young people have also been visited by the local fire brigade recently to discuss and learn about fire safety. This provides young people with regular chances to talk as a group learn and reflect together.

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Progress

Improvements to the home since the last inspection include new outdoor benches and planters. These enhance the outside space. On-going maintenance and redecoration schedules have resulted in an overall excellent standard of accommodation. Young people's bedrooms have benefited from re-designing and built-in wardrobes. They offer storage and a creative use of the space available. Young people personalise their walls and speak favourably of their rooms.

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Progress

The Registered Manager is working towards achieving the level 5 diploma management qualification. This will extend her skills and knowledge around leadership and management. She continues to demonstrate a 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

 review the safeguarding policy to include procedures and guidance in relation to e-safety. This policy must be available to children, young people and their families as well as to all home staff, whatever their role. The registered person must make sure that all staff are familiar with the policy and understand how to put it into practice (Volume 5, statutory guidance, para 2.67)  ensure staff are equipped with the skills required to meet the needs of the children and purpose of the setting, and training keeps them up-to-date with professional, legal and practice developments, with specific reference to e-safety training. (NMS 18.1)

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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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