Children's Home run by Care Focus Limited in Suffolk

Unique reference number SC062651 Inspection date 20/03/2014 Inspector Susan Southey Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 29/08/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The home provides care and accommodation for up to four young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties. The service includes an independent school in the grounds of the home. The home is privately owned alongside two other services. One of the other services provides semi-independent facilities for young people preparing to leave care.

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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 full inspection in August 2013, two statutory requirements and one recommendation were raised with an overall judgement of good. Actions raised were in relation to inappropriate use of physical intervention, maintenance of the building and training of staff who were facilitating supervised contact. All actions have been addressed, demonstrating commitment to making improvements to the service.

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Progress

Young people generally engage well with each other and interact appropriately. Sometimes there are disagreements, as you would expect in any group living setting. However, on the whole young people say they like their peers and they form appropriate relationships.

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Progress

Young people benefit from increased involvement in making decisions in the home. They have chosen décor and have participated in decorating the home. Each bedroom is highly individualised to reflect young people’s personalities. Young people say they love their rooms and use them as a haven for spending private time. Young people have been involved in re-decorating communal areas of the home and this has given them ownership and encourages respect for their surroundings. Furthermore, the reporting of maintenance issues within the home has improved, resulting in less delay in repairs being undertaken

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Progress

Behaviour management of young people has improved and physical interventions have significantly decreased. Staff use incentive systems and de-escalation techniques to promote good behaviour. There have been some physical interventions used but they are as a last resort and are in line with regulations. There are some omissions when recording information. However, this has minimal impact, as the interventions themselves are used appropriately.

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Progress

Young people are involved in menu planning and preparing meals and this is teaching them to understand how to organise nutritious meals. Young people enjoy cooking and some say they plan careers in catering. Food cupboards are locked to prevent some young people eating inappropriately and this limits the choice of snacks for all young people. However, fresh fruit and drinks are readily available throughout the day, so young people are able to select from limited choices.

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Progress

Medication procedures are in place and staff receive appropriate training. Close links are formed with medical practitioners, and when young people have non-prescribed homely remedies, approval is sought from general practitioners. Medication sheets are in place to record when medicines are given and staff monitor these regularly. However, this practice does not extend to dispensing of vitamin tablets. When they are given to young people staff record on daily logs. This does not demonstrate that dispensing of vitamin tablets shares the same robust monitoring as other medication administered in the home.

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Progress

Young people have increased access to therapeutic services, delivered by a trained art therapist who is employed by the company. This has proved an effective service, allowing young people to express their wishes and feelings in a safe environment with appropriately qualified practitioners.

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Progress

Changes to the format of key worker time have increased their effectiveness. Young people set themselves goals at each session to improve their development. Examples of targets set include managing emotions and positive engagement in education. These changes support young people to make improvements in all areas of their lives and, furthermore, staff can regularly monitor progress to evidence young people's success.

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Progress

Staff have received training since the last inspection to improve their knowledge and skill base. Training undertaken includes facilitating supervised contact. This knowledge assists staff to manage complex contact visits and to conduct them appropriately.

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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

17B (2001) ensure that the registered person within 24 hours of the use of any measure of control, restraint of discipline in a children's home, a written record is made in a volume kept for the purpose which shall include all matters listed (a-i). (Regulation 17b (3)) 20/04/2014

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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 young people exercise choice in foods and are able to choose and prepare their own snacks, within the limits that a reasonable parent would set. With particular regard to locking of food cupboards (NMS 2.4)  ensure there is a record of all medication, treatment and first aid given to children. With particular regard to recording administration of vitamin tablets on medication sheets. (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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