Children's Home run by Southern Adolescent Care Services Ltd in West Sussex

Unique reference number SC061795 Inspection date 27/03/2014 Inspector Keith Riley Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 24/06/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The setting is one of two homes operated by the same private organisation. It accommodates six young people on a planned or emergency basis. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for young people with 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 satisfactory progress .

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Progress

At the last inspection in June 2013, the home was judged overall to be good. Since the last inspection there has been a change of manager. The new manager has made an application to be registered with Ofsted.

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Progress

The manager ensures that prescribed medication is given in accordance with the prescription. New procedures have been introduced to consider the risks to a young person who is on medication and leaves the home without permission.

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Progress

There has been some redecoration and new furniture purchased. Young people are able to personalise their rooms. The environment is improved and gives young people a sense of belonging.

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Progress

The manager ensures that placement plans are in place, signed and agreed within statutory time-frames. This includes a review within 72 hours for any young people admitted in an emergency. A procedure has been put into place to ensure young people read and understand their placement plans. The manager ensures significant events are notified to the relevant authorities.

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Progress

The manager works closely with other professionals. She ensures there is sufficient challenge to the practice of others, to promote positive outcomes for young people. For most young people, who are able to stay long term in the home, there are successful outcomes. Young people engage in education, form friendships and find alternate ways to manage their difficult and challenging emotions. They gain apprenticeships or access to college courses to further their education. Other professionals speak positively of progress such as, 'NAME is much calmer and less aggressive'. Young people speak positively about their future. One young person said, 'I know that I have a positive future. I'm going to college and know that I can last the course'.

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Progress

Other young people are currently making poor choices and putting themselves at risk, for example, by going missing. There are robust policies and procedures in place, which have recently been submitted to other bodies, such as the police, for comment. The procedures give clear guidance for staff to follow young people, in the event they consider them at risk of going missing, when they leave the home without permission. However, all scenarios, at key times such as bed-times, are not fully considered. This means that, recently, young people are not being followed on every occasion. Although there have been statutory reviews, recent events supersede the outcomes of the review. The home is working closely with other professionals, such as the police, to keep young people as safe as possible, such as from the risk of sexual exploitation. However, in one case, there is no formal request for the placing authority to review the care plan, in line with new regulations, when the registered

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Progress

person considers the young person is at risk of harm.

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Progress

There have been a number of admissions and discharges since the last inspection which, on occasion, disrupts the culture of the home. Although the home is far more settled now, there is no revision of the admissions policy in the Statement of Purpose. This means there is the potential for further placement instability and disruption.

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Progress

There continues to be a robust approach to safeguarding issues, such as bullying or allegations. Risk assessments reflect the immediate and evolving risks. The manager takes swift and robust action, working closely with other professionals, to keep young people as safe as possible. Young people, who have previously had conflict with others in the home, now describe themselves as friends.

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Progress

Since the last inspection, closed circuit television has been installed to monitor communal areas. There are clear policies and protocols in place to ensure such monitoring is appropriate and secure. Staff and young people understand that the use of such equipment is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the young people currently living in the home. However, there is no formal procedure in place to review the use of electronic surveillance. This means there is a risk that the use of such measures becomes embedded in the culture and customs of the home and may unnecessarily intrude into the privacy of the young people accommodated there.

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Progress

There is a satisfactory approach to health. Young people are supported to attend routine appointments to keep them as healthy as possible. However, on one occasion, a young person was not supported at a 'walk-in' centre. The management took robust action to ensure this does not happen again. Staff show an awareness of the issues around epilepsy management. However, they have not had formal training specifically for managing epilepsy.

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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) revise the Statement of Purpose, in particular the admissions policy for short term or emergency placements (Regulation 5 (a)) 16/05/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) review, on a regular basis, the use of electronic surveillance for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children accommodated in the children's home (Regulation 22 (1)) 16/05/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ask the local authority to review a child's care plan where the child who is accommodated in the children's home is at risk of harm (Regulation 16 (6)(b)) 16/05/2014

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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

 search for children who are missing, in particular consider the arrangements at bed-times (NMS 5.5)  ensure staff receive sufficient training on health issues, in particular epilepsy. (NMS 6.7)

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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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