Children's Home run by Crusoe Care Limited in East Sussex

Unique reference number SC434573 Inspector Liz Driver Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Registered person Crusoe Care Limited Registered person address 10 South Way NEWHAVEN East Sussex BN9 9LL

p.1

Responsible individual Stephen Brown Registered manager Stephen Brown Date of last inspection 04/02/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 22/05/2014

p.1

Previous inspection satisfactory progress Enforcement action since last inspection There has been no enforcement action against this provider.

p.2

Overall effectiveness good

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

p.2

Overall effectiveness

This service has worked hard to keep up to date with changing legislation and practices. The manager is registered for the two units and manages across both units well. The manager, head of care and responsible individual are aware of the home's strengths and weaknesses and are working together to ensure continued and sustainable practice improvements across both units. Good monitoring procedures enable the manager to have good knowledge, on a day-to-day basis, of how the service is functioning and areas that need to improve.

p.2

Overall effectiveness

Although there were no recommendations or requirements made at the last inspection the service has continued to make improvements including updating and implementing changes to policies and procedures, decreasing the number of missing persons incidents, providing training outside of the mandatory field and tightening up on the detail of recording.

p.2

Overall effectiveness

Young people receive care that helps them to make good progress in their lives. They receive strong support from staff and as a result are happy and settled. They receive good support and guidance to help them develop positive behaviour. They also receive care which helps them to reduce some risky behaviour such as going missing, criminal activities and substance misuse. Young people make good progress 3 of 10 in education, training or employment. Young people do not experience physical interventions as a result of excellent relationships and good behaviour management.

p.2

Overall effectiveness

Young people are treated as individuals and have clear plans of care that reflect their individual needs. Staff are motivated and have aspirations for young people. They are well supported by management and this promotes young people's well- being. Young people feel safe. There are effective arrangements for ensuring that young people are protected from harm.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Areas the service need to focus to improve include: ensuring physical intervention records, when needed, include all necessary information;, increasing the recording of the involvement of young people in all aspects of their lives; implementing a self- medication policy for any young person who may wish to self-medicate and making sure records relating to electrical testing which show `all items tested` clearly evidence what all items are. 4 of 10

p.3

Information about this children’s home

This is a privately children's owned home for two young people who have emotional or behavioural problems. There is a satellite unit which also has spaces for two young people who have emotional or behavioural problems. The satellite unit is used to provide young people with a semi-independent living experience.

p.4

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/02/2014 Interim satisfactory progress 02/10/2013 Full good 21/01/2013 Interim inadequate progress 03/07/2012 Full adequate

p.4

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.

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

4 (2001) the registered person shall supply a copy of the statement of purpose to HMCI (Regulation 4 (2)) 30/06/2014

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

17B (2001) the registered person shall ensure a written record is made of the use of any measure of control, restraint or discipline which shall include a description of any injury to the child concerned or any other person and any medical treatment administered. (Regulation 17B (3) (g)) 30/06/2014

p.4

Recommendations

5 of 10 To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

p.5

Recommendations

 consider more detail in the recording of electrical testing carried out (NMS 10.  better evidence young people's involvement in all aspects of their care and support (NMS 1.3)  ensure there is a policy/protocol for any young person who may be able to se medicate. (NMS 6.14) 6 of 10

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people enjoy activities both at the setting and in the local community such as football, tennis and clubs. This enables them to experience different environments, feel included in the larger community and further develop their self-esteem. Young people form and sustain relationships with a staff team who know their individual likes and dislikes and this helps young people to feel comfortable in trying new experiences. Young people say the staff are `cool` and `know me well`.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people's self-esteem is increasing as is their confidence in their abilities. Young people have very good relationships with staff and healthy relationships with each other. They are confident in expressing their views and confident that staff take appropriate action if they raise a worry or concern.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are supported to develop resilience and coping strategies that will help them to be more independent in the future. Young people are provided with appropriate support to help them understand past events and together with sensitive behavioural guidance, previous negative behaviours are diminishing.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people have improved attendance at school or college that is fully encouraged and supported by staff. They enjoy school and staff support them to find the most appropriate educational establishment.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people enjoy contact with those significant to them. Contact is well managed with close liaison with social workers about negative contacts. Young people are learning the skills they will need to live a successful independent life with targets set on an individual basis so they can progress at their own rate.

p.6

Quality of care good

Young people enjoy healthy and constructive relationships with staff and each other and this helps them to make good progress in all areas of their lives. Young people know that staff are concerned for their welfare. They are happy and feel that they are valued and treated with respect. Young people say staff are fair.

p.6

Quality of care good

Staff encourage positive behaviour and a sense of right and wrong. They have clear expectations of young people and set consistent and appropriate boundaries. As a result, young people understand how to interact positively and behave appropriately. Young people are encouraged to take responsibility for their behaviour supported by a consistent approach to behaviour management from staff which ensures that young people feel fairly treated and are safe. 7 of 10 There are suitable arrangements for responding to complaints despite none being recorded. Young people say they feel comfortable in raising any worries or complaints and feel confident that staff would take them seriously. Young people feel listened to and know that their wishes will be acted upon. Young people say, `staff are always here to listen to me`. The positive relationships that staff enjoy with young people encourage discussion and enable young people to have their say about

p.6

Quality of care good

what is important to them. Staff maintain positive and professional relationships with partner agencies and significant people in young people's lives. As a result, the views of these people play a significant role in making positive decisions about young people's lives.

p.7

Quality of care good

Young people are supported to make progress in education. Staff ensure that young people understand they can be successful in education and work and have high aspirations for them. They make sure that young people understand their options. Staff work closely with schools and colleges so they can provide on-going support at the home. Staff positively support young people with their homework.

p.7

Quality of care good

Each young person has a care plan that is understood by staff. Care plans cover all aspects of young people's care, including arrangements for contact with family members and religious requirements such as views about attending a place of worship. As a result young people receive care that meets their needs. Strong arrangements are in place for ensuring that young people benefit from maintaining good physical, emotional and psychological health. For example, all young people are registered with the local doctor, dentist and optician. Staff ensure that young people have access to services such as the child and adolescent mental health service and drug counsellors as necessary. Young people receive medication if required by staff who are trained to safely deliver it. There is no policy in place if a young person was able to self-administer. Young people contribute to all aspects of their lives however

p.7

Quality of care good

Young people are well supported to make achievements in planning for their future. They receive good support to help them develop skills for living happy and successful lives. Staff work positively with other agencies to promote positive outcomes for young people. This includes close work with placing social workers, health care agencies and the police. This supports a coordinated and consistent approach to young people's care.

p.7

Quality of care good

Young people are supported to access leisure activities and develop individual interests. For example, young people are encouraged to enjoy healthy relationships with friends and also spend leisure time with staff. They say they like going to the cinema, fishing, theme parks and out for meals. As a result, young people develop confidence and their emotional, intellectual and social skills. Young people live in pleasant and homely surroundings that are well maintained. There is adequate space for young people to enjoy and there is easy access to facilities and community activities. This promotes young people's well-being. 8 of 10

p.7

Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people feel safe in this home. They share positive relationships with staff and this means that they always have an adult who they can talk to. Staff also make sure that young people have access to other adults out of the home such as their social workers. This helps to promote young people's safety and well-being. Safe and positive behaviour management strategies are used in the home and this promotes young people's welfare. There have been no physical restraints since the last inspection. Staff diffuse and de-escalate difficult situations which promotes a calm atmosphere in the home. There is monitoring of this by management which helps to keep young people safe. The recording format for physical interventions does not specifically include reference to any injury a young person may sustain or any medical treatment administered.

p.8

Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff help young people to reduce risky behaviour such as going missing. They talk to young people about the risks associated with going missing and ensure a positive response to young people when they return from being missing. Incidents of young people going missing have decreased significantly. Staff are aware of the factors that trigger young people going missing and take action to address these. When young people do go missing there are clear and constructive plans to address this in order to protect young people. This includes a strong working relationship with the police.

p.8

Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people live in an environment that is safe and secure. Checks are made on the gas and electricity installations and there is a strong approach to fire safety. Records are kept however some do not fully reflect what has been checked. For example the electrical testing records show `all items` checked. This does not truly reflect the exact items checked.

p.8

Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people say bullying is not an issue in the two homes. There are high staffing levels and low numbers of young people. Young people have opportunities for settling in when they are new. This helps to ensure that bullying does not occur. There is careful checking of all new staff members prior to them commencing work in the home. This promotes young people's welfare. There is a positive approach to child protection issues, such as sharing information with the local authority without delays and this promotes young people's safety.

p.8

Leadership and management good

The home is managed effectively which ensures that young people receive a service that meets their needs. Management and senior staff know their responsibilities and who they are accountable to. Specific detail and forethought has been given to the service's development plan and direction. This has resulted in the proposed plan to move one unit to a more suitable provision that will offer young people a house 9 of 10 rather than a flat to live in. The registered manager has been in post since the service was first registered in July 2011 and has suitable qualifications to manage this children's service.

p.8

Leadership and management good

There is quality assurance in the form of Regulation 33 visits and this helps to ensure that the home functions in line with the Statement of Purpose and problems are put right quickly. There is a close working relationship with the placing authorities. This means that social workers and young people are clear about the home's objectives. Social workers confirm the service provides `good care and communicates well`. The management has a clear commitment to meeting the individual needs of young people. For example, the homes are maintained and there are good resources. This helps to promote young people's welfare.

p.9

Leadership and management good

Young people benefit from suitable staffing levels and as a result are offered good support. Lone working is supported by a protocol with detailed records kept of times and reasons this occurs ensuring the safety of both young people and staff. Staff are well motivated and committed to supporting young people to make progress in their lives. They say they receive good support from management. Staff receive regular supervision together with team meetings and handovers and this promotes strong team work and a consistent approach to young people's care. As a result, young people are well cared for.

p.9

Leadership and management good

The arrangements for staff training are good and provide staff with the skills and information required to provide a good quality service to young people. For example, new staff complete Children's Workforce Development Council's induction standards and then go onto completing the diploma in children's social care. Additional training such as child protection, physical intervention techniques and first aid add to the promotion of welfare and safety of young people.

p.9

Leadership and management good

A clear and recently updated Statement of Purpose is in place and sets out what the home intends to do, although not yet submitted to Ofsted. There is also a children's guide in place. These ensure that young people and other stakeholders know what to expect from the home. Young people benefit from having their privacy upheld and information about them is kept confidentially. Record keeping is generally of a good standard although some are not as detailed as they could be; such as electrical testing records. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.9

Leadership and management good

This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

p.10

Judgement Description

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

p.10

Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

p.10

Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

p.10

Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

p.10

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.

p.10

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.

p.10