Children's Home run by 4d Care Ltd in Cambridgeshire

Unique reference number SC064557 Inspection date 06/01/2014 Inspector Clive Lucas Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 11/09/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The home is privately owned. It is registered to look after a maximum of six young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Education facilities are provided by the organisation at a school in the local village.

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Brief description of the service

The home works flexibly to meet the needs of young people's placement plans as identified by local authorities. The home supports young people to achieve positive moves to independence, supported accommodation or alternative placements.

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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 satisfactory progress .

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Progress

At the previous inspection the home was judged to be good, since that time they have made satisfactory progress. At the previous inspection shortfalls were identified relating to recording, monitoring of the service, sanctions and sending in notifications of significant events.

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Progress

Records of restraints now include details of the time of the restraint and confirmation that young people are spoken to, or offered the opportunity to speak about the incident. Staff are also spoken to by the manager or deputy after incidents of restraint. This allows them the opportunity to reflect on the incident and consider alternative strategies for the future. Incidents of restraint have decreased significantly. There were four in October 2013, but there has only been one since then. Staff say that restraint is a last resort and they focus on avoiding the need for it by considering what has led the young person to become so upset and using activities and diversionary tactics. This helps to reduce the trauma on young people from being restrained when it can be avoided by pro-active work. While the records of restraints have improved to address the identified shortfalls at the previous inspection, one record did not contain sufficiently in depth information on the

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Progress

method of restraint, so a requirement has been made relating to this.

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Progress

Records of medication show that they are given to young people as prescribed. The records contain clear details of any medicines that are refused. These are offered again and usually taken on the second attempt. Consequently, young people receive their prescribed medication in order to meet their health needs. Changes to prescriptions are recorded on the medication records, so that all staff are aware of them. Changes that are given verbally by consultants are not always followed up with written instructions. While the records from the person who spoke to the consultants show the changes, this is not as secure as having those changes in writing from the consultants. There are very few incidents of young people going missing from the home. Records show that in such cases staff take appropriate actions to safeguard young people as far as possible. These include attempting maintain contact with them by telephone, finding out where they are and where

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Progress

appropriate reporting them missing to the police and notifying placing authorities and parents.

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Progress

An independent person undertakes monthly visits to the home to assess and report on the conduct of the home. Since the previous inspection these visits have been taking place as required. The Registered Manager monitors the records in the home on a regular basis and signs them to show that it has been done. Effective monitoring helps to ensure a good standard of care for young people and to identify any issues at an early stage. Since the previous inspection notifications of significant events have been sent to Ofsted as required. This allows Ofsted as a regulator to be aware of any concerns relating to these events. Sanctions given to young people are clearly recorded. They are reasonable and young people are given the opportunity to comment on them and have their comments recorded. Young people say that rules and sanctions are fair. This helps young people to learn to appropriately manage their behaviour. Not all sanctions are signed by the person completing the record as

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Progress

required by The Children's Homes Regulations 2001.

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Progress

Young people at the home are able to take part in a very wide range of activities. Some of these have written risk assessments to help staff reduce any associated risks as much as possible. There are not specific risk assessments for some other activities, such as attending a staffed skate park. The park has it's own risk assessment and qualified first aid staff on site. Staff from the home make sure that young people have protective clothing, including helmets. Staff practice helps to ensure that risks are reduced. However, not having a risk assessment in the home for this reduces the robustness of the safeguards and does not ensure that all staff, including new and bank staff, are aware of what they need to do to help keep young people safe. Placing social workers are very positive about the progress that young people make at the home. They give examples of young people continuing to develop and progressing in education since the previous inspection. There is on-going work to

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Progress

help young people live healthy lifestyles which is having a positive effect. .

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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

17A (2001) ensure that within 24 hours of the use of any measure of control, restraint or discipline in a children’s home, a written record is made in a volume kept for the purpose of which shall include a description of the measure used and the signature of the person authorised by the registered provider to make the record (Regulation 17B(3)(c and i)) 14/02/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that any activities in which children participate are so far as reasonably practicable free from avoidable risks. (Regulation 23(b)) 14/02/2014

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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 there is a written record of all medication. This relates to written changes to prescriptions. (NMS 6.15)

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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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