Children's Home run by S P Homes Limited in Lambeth

Unique reference number SC065535 Inspection date 11/02/2014 Inspector Jackie Graves Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 17/07/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This is a privately-run children's home which caters for up to six young people who have emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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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 inadequate progress .

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Progress

At the last full inspection in July 2013 the home was judged adequate overall.

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Progress

The home is judged to have made inadequate progress as a requirement made at the last inspection to improve external monitoring of the home is not met. Management is not supported by good quality external assurance systems which are the responsibility of the registered provider.

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Progress

Reports of monitoring are weak and do not provide helpful information for the manager and staff to move the service forward. The reports tell the manager what they already know and do not give any advice. Reports do not comment fully on the conduct of the home as required; they lack analysis, for example, just stating that an incident took place but not exploring this occurrence. Monitoring is not sufficiently robust, for example, on occasion stating that no incidents have taken place, when actually the police have been called to the home. The reports have not identified shortfalls in record keeping when these have been apparent.

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Progress

On some occasions, monitoring reports have not been provided to Ofsted in a timely manner. For example, three month's of monitoring reports were provided together, thus limiting the regulator's ability to be kept informed of what is going on in the home.

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Progress

The shortfall in external monitoring has not adversely affected young people's welfare or safety. The quality of care and young people's outcomes are maintained and there is recent improvement to the management of the home.

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Progress

Since the last inspection, the home has experienced change to management and leadership. The Registered Manager left the home, an acting manager covered the position and now another acting manager is in post. The acting manager has applied to be registered with Ofsted. They have brought a lot of positive change to the home in the short time they have been in position, providing stability and clear leadership. They have a good understanding of the service's strengths and weaknesses and firm ideas of how to move it forward.

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Progress

There is recent improvement to record keeping. The acting manager has compiled new records and improved the quality of existing documents. This ensures that young people now have placement plans, health plans, behaviour plans and risk assessments on their files and staff have clear guidance. These records are appropriately monitored by the acting manager but have not been checked sufficiently by external monitoring of the home. The acting manager is effective in ensuring young people receive planning meetings and reviews of their care when these are due. They work proactively with placing authorities to secure pertinent information about young people's backgrounds and needs, using this information to develop plans for their care. This ensures that staff know how best to work with young people and that young people have a better record of their time in the home.

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Progress

Notifications of significant events, for example, if police are called to the home, are now made to Ofsted within 24 hours to ensure the regulator is informed.

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Progress

Improvement to the decoration and furnishing of the home commenced recently. The bedrooms of those young people resident have been upgraded according to their requirements. Two further bedrooms are being decorated and furnished in readiness for other young people who may be placed in the future. The final two bedrooms will be improved after this current refurbishment is complete. One of the lounges is being decorated. Other small improvements to the appearance of the premises, such as providing pictures on walls and removing worn furnishings, provide a more homely feel to the building and an improved environment for young people.

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Progress

A development plan was written following the last inspection. However, this is not of particularly good quality and does not reflect the plans the current acting manager has to develop the service. The acting manager has already identified that this document requires improvement in order to help the service progress appropriately.

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Progress

Young people are encouraged to take increasing responsibility for managing their own health, for example, making their own medical appointments. Consents for medical treatment are now obtained where this is necessary.

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Progress

Staff recognise that a lot of positive changes have been made since the acting manager joined the home, including regular staff meetings, listening to staff input, identifying further training needs, updating policies, forms and risk assessments, and improving behaviour management and communication with young people.

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Progress

Young people are continuing to make improvements in the things that they can do for themselves, for example, some have gained the confidence to use public transport and facilities in the local community alone. Young people usually return to the home when they are expected and it has not been necessary to report them missing, which promotes their safety. All young people have a college placement or support for their education outside of the school system so they can be helped to make progress.

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Progress

There has been delay in paying the annual fees to remain registered with Ofsted. However, the service appears to have sufficient funds to continue to operate the service and meet its Statement of Purpose; for example, refurbishment is underway and staff say there are sufficient funds for food, activities and the other costs involved in running a children's home.

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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) improve the monitoring of the home. This particularly relates to the quality of the registered provider's monthly reports on the conduct of the home. (Regulation 33 (4)) 31/03/2014

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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

 improve the quality of the written development plan for the future of the home, either identifying any planned changes in the operation or resources of the service, or confirming the continuation of the home's current resource (NMS 15.2)  provide reports of monitoring on behalf of the registered provider to HMCI, specifically within reasonable timescales. (Volume 5, statutory guidance, paragraph 3.13)

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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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