Children's Home run by Laurel Leaf Homes Ltd in Newham

Unique reference number SC060545 Inspector Jackie Graves Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered manager Noorjahan Begum Gokool Date of last inspection 04/02/2014 2 of 11 Inspection date 13/05/2014

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Previous inspection satisfactory progress Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness adequate

Outcomes for children and young people adequate Quality of care adequate Keeping children and young people safe adequate Leadership and management adequate

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Overall effectiveness

A strength of this home is the quality of relationships between staff and young people. Staff are nurturing and passionate about improving young people's lives. They try to get young people engaged in purposeful activities. Feedback from professionals is that, 'Staff go out of their way to help young people.'

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Overall effectiveness

The staff work effectively as a team. They are well qualified, with 82% holding a level 3 qualification or above and all expected to be qualified by December 2014. The diverse team provides strong gender role models to the young people.

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Overall effectiveness

The Registered Manager monitors what goes on in the home and is very 'hands-on'. There is an improved atmosphere in the home and staff spend a lot of time talking and listening to the young people. A member of staff finds it is, 'Great working here - like a big, happy family.'

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Overall effectiveness

Young people get on well with each other and say they do not experience any bullying in the home. Most say there are 'good staff'. They find the home a safe place to live. They like doing activities with staff and trying new things.

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Overall effectiveness

Some young people's progress is limited due to being placed only short-term in the home. The progress young people make in education, learning skills for independent 3 of 11 living, reducing risky behaviour and reducing episodes of going missing is very varied.

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Overall effectiveness

Not all areas of the home are maintained to a sufficiently high standard for young people's use. A damaged and wedged open fire door may have compromised fire safety but was put right on the day of the inspection. One record of a young person going missing requires a little more detail to provide full information. 4 of 11

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately run. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for eight children with learning disabilities and/or emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/02/2014 Interim satisfactory progress 16/05/2013 Full adequate 23/07/2012 Interim inadequate progress 01/05/2012 Full adequate

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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) ensure that all parts of the children's home used by children are kept clean and reasonably decorated and maintained (Regulation 31 (2) (e)) 31/07/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the registered person takes adequate precautions against the risk of fire, with specific reference to ensuring fire doors are not wedged open and that any damage to them is repaired quickly. (Regulation 32 (1) (a)) 30/06/2014

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take 5 of 11 account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure that records kept by the home when a child goes missing detail the circumstances of the child's return. (NMS 5.10) 6 of 11

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people enjoy generally good physical health. Some take part in sport and exercise to improve their fitness levels. They eat very well in the home, enjoying home-cooked meals. Young people have some understanding of the potential impact of risky behaviour on their health, such as drug use and smoking. However, risky behaviour is not declining in all cases so continues to compromise some young people's health. Young people's engagement with services to help their emotional health is variable, sometimes due to their short term placement in the home. Consequently, not all are helped to deal with difficult past experiences and make progress in their resulting behaviours.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Some young people acquire useful skills for adult life, such as preparing meals, doing laundry and learning how to budget. However, others refuse to engage in learning skills for independence, which disadvantages them when they do move on to semi- independent living. Consequently, some are ill-prepared for adult life and may struggle when they move on from the security of the home environment.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people's progress in attending and achieving in education or training is variable. Some are very successful in maintaining good attendance and educational progress during their stay in the home. Some may start courses or jobs but often find it difficult to maintain attendance and subsequently leave. A few are not engaging in any type of education, training or employment, which compromises their future options in life although a few keep busy with purposeful activities with staff during the day. Sometimes, the transitional nature of placements does not allow time for education/training to be established; the long-term plan may be towards a more appropriate placement in terms of meeting a young person's educational needs, for example, a move to a home with education or a secure children's home.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Some young people show a reduction in incidents of criminal or anti-social behaviour when they move into the home, while others have not engaged in any criminal behaviour at all during their stay. Some have continued to engage in behaviour which puts them at risk of offending and further involvement in the criminal justice system.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people benefit from maintaining contact with their families where this is appropriate. This helps those who return to live in their family home, when their placement ends, to have a smooth transition. Others have benefited from remaining in touch with family members even when a move home has not been the outcome. Some have re-established contact with those from whom they were previously estranged, so they are helped to develop a sense if identity from the people in their family backgrounds. 7 of 11

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Quality of care adequate

Staff are warm and caring towards the young people, wanting each of them to make progress and improve their life chances. A social worker describes the quality of care as, 'They (staff) were good at nurturing and offering quality care - it's not the building but the relationships they form.'

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Quality of care adequate

A strength of this home is the support, staff and management give, to young people who have moved on. Young people remain attached to the staff and know they will take an interest in how they are and what they are doing. Staff continue to advocate for young people, even when they are no longer responsible for their care, for example, by liaising with social workers on their behalf. Young people telephone staff for support and visit the home knowing they will be made welcome. Staff maintain attachments by visiting young people in their new placements; this helps young people make the transition to somewhere new to live yet feel rooted to the home. The social worker of a young person who moved on from the home says, 'The key worker gives them sound advice, even now.'

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Quality of care adequate

Staff are persistent in trying to encourage young people into education, training or employment. They help some young people find jobs, for example, by making sure they are smartly dressed for interviews and are prepared in interview techniques. When job or training placements break down, staff are persistent in trying to find alternative solutions which may interest the individual young person's interests.

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Quality of care adequate

There are sound arrangements to manage medication in the home and make sure it is safely administered. Health arrangements are reasonable, as staff make sure young people are registered for health services, receive appointments and may access services such as child and adolescent mental health services. Although young people sometimes refuse to engage with health services or attend medical appointments, staff do persist in encouraging them to do so and point out the benefits. A young person feels 'the staff really care for me' finding they 'helped me feel calmer'.

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Quality of care adequate

Young people's dietary needs are well met. The social aspect of sharing meals, while talking to others, is encouraged. Young people are provided with healthy, varied diets which meet any cultural or religious needs they have. Some young people cook very well for everyone else in the home and enjoy sharing what they have made. Home- cooked meals or trips out to restaurants are used to mark special cultural celebrations or events, for example, when young people are moving on from the home.

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Quality of care adequate

Staff are strong in their management of very challenging behaviour. They set clear boundaries and try to help young people understand the consequences of their behaviour and how it may impact on others, although young people say that the staff 'do give them leeway' and apply the rules sensibly. Staff have been persistent in trying to maintain some placements despite daily challenges, so that young people 8 of 11 can move on in a planned way and experience fewer disruptions in their lives. Young people find the sanctions and rewards used in the home to be fair, with opportunities to 'earn' rewards for positive behaviour. One young person said, 'The ways of dealing with trouble are fair.'

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Quality of care adequate

Young people's views are listened to. They contribute positively to daily life in the home, for example, about activities and about how staff are performing for appraisals. Staff make sure young people's views are considered about matters affecting their own lives, for example, about when to move on to semi-independent living or at reviews of their care. Young people feel they can raise any concerns or complaints with staff and these will be listened to. An effective complaints procedure ensures complaints are taken seriously and swiftly addressed.

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Quality of care adequate

Young people's needs, relating to their cultural background and personal identity, are recorded on their care plans and followed up by staff to make sure that these are respected and met.

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Quality of care adequate

Staff encourage young people to use their leisure time purposefully. They take part in activities with young people which suit their individual interests, for example, martial arts, boxing, shopping trips and visits to beauty salons. There are activities, for example, to the cinema or outings to theme parks so that young people can also do things as a group. The home has invested in gym equipment and there is a games' room for all to use. Some young people would like more to do in the home, for example, things to do in the garden.

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Quality of care adequate

The building is not well maintained in all areas as there is sometimes delay in carrying out repairs and decoration and a few areas are not sufficiently clean. For example, the lounge and kitchen are maintained to a good standard and are clean, but the computer room, garden and bedrooms currently unused are not always maintained to a sufficiently high standard in order that young people can experience a quality environment throughout the premises.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Young people say they 'feel safe' in the home. They feel staff are concerned for their welfare and want to protect them. In one case, placement plans identify that the home is tasked with bringing about 'positive change to risk taking and negative behaviours' to protect a young person. This is being achieved through consistently challenging negative and risky behaviour and providing strong gender role models. The social worker of a young person who has moved on says, 'They kept the young person safe - very good safe care policy.' There are some risks in the local area as the Registered Manager has identified in her review of the home's location. However, young people generally feel safe in the area and staff raise their awareness of any local risks. 9 of 11 The use of restraint is low in this home and is very much used as a last resort in order to protect staff, young people or property. Staff mostly reason with young

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

people in order to de-escalate situations and promote safety, although occasionally the police have been called when there has been criminal behaviour.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Staff are aware of what may trigger some young people to go missing and try to help them understand the danger they may be placing themselves in, for example, the risk of sexual exploitation or gang involvement. They follow the home's procedures of reporting young people as missing when they do not return when expected and make sure they are safe and well on their return. One record of a young person who went missing, does not show the circumstances of their return; this prevents staff from assessing full information in trying to prevent further episodes.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

The frequency with which young people go missing has reduced for some young people; others do not go missing at all. Some make progress by no longer just disappearing but telling staff where they are going, providing addresses and contact numbers, which staff check, and remaining in touch with staff until they return. This ensures that staff can check to make sure they are safe. Some young people continue a pattern, established prior to moving into the home, of going missing frequently, which places them at risk. However, placing authorities are making arrangements for appropriate accommodation in order to protect such young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

At the last inspection, the home demonstrated a robust recruitment system to make sure staff are suitable for employment in a children's home. As no new staff have been employed since the last inspection, records are not reviewed on this occasion. Following recruitment, the Registered Manager continues to monitor staff to ensure they are safe to work with vulnerable young people, for example, by frequent supervision, observation, extending probation or failing probation. This helps to ensure that only suitable people work in the home.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Staff training in safeguarding makes sure that staff are confident about how to record and report any concerns or allegation. The home makes use of an effective relationship with the Local Safeguarding Children's Board to promote young people's best interests.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

The environment is mostly safe; a fire door was wedged open and damaged and this was rectified during the inspection. Regular tests of fire equipment and alarms are made and young people are 'walked through' the fire evacuation procedure soon after arrival, so they know what to do in event of a fire and can be kept safe. Staff monitor those who smoke to keep a watch on the risk of smoking inside the building.

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Leadership and management adequate

10 of 11 Young people benefit from the stability of a Registered Manager who has been in post for three years, has suitable experience and an appropriate level five qualification. The manager has a good understanding of the home's strengths and weaknesses, conducting her own checks on what goes on in the home to improve the quality of care. The home's development plan recognises the building's limitations as a children's home and sets out ambitious plans for how a new property will provide a more suitable environment for young people.

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Leadership and management adequate

What goes on in the home is also regularly monitored by two visitors. Their review of the service includes obtaining young people's views so they may contribute to their assessment of the home's safety and quality of care. Although this monitoring does meet regulation and guidance, occasionally, the information gathered by monitoring may benefit from further analysis, for example, on what young people's outcomes are and whether there has been improvement or decline in aspects of the service.

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Leadership and management adequate

Young people benefit from being looked after by a diverse team of staff who provide strong role models in terms of gender and cultural and ethnic identity. Sufficient, competent staff are employed to adequately support young people. Staff find the training provided is good and helps them work with young people who have very varied needs. If staff identify a gap in their knowledge the manager will provide training to cover this, for example, training in mental health. Staff say that in addition to training they 'always learn from more experienced colleagues'.

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Leadership and management adequate

Effective relationships with other agencies, including placing authorities and health services, help ensure effective information sharing for young people's benefit. A social worker said of the staff and manager: 'Communication is good - phone, email, attending meetings.' Social workers find information forwarded by the home provides greater insight into young people's behaviour and needs to assist their role. The manager and staff strongly advocate for young people to ensure they can access services and receive what they are entitled to, for example, regular reviews of their care and the provision of pathway plans.

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Leadership and management adequate

The Statement of Purpose and children's guide provide up-to-date information about the service, so that young people, social workers and families know what to expect from the service. The home continues to meet its conditions of registration.

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Leadership and management adequate

The home is not well maintained in all areas as there is sometimes delay in carrying out repairs and routine upkeep. As a result, not all areas are of a sufficiently good quality for young people. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management adequate

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Judgement Description

Outstanding A service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

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Information 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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Information about this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the framework of inspection for children's homes.

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