Children's Home run by Aspris Children’s Services Limited in Hampshire

Unique reference number SC467155 Inspector Jennie Christopher Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Priory Education Services Limited Registered person address 5th Floor 80 Hammersmith Road London W14 8UD Responsible individual Helen Sharpe Registered manager Kerrie Turner Date of last inspection N/A 2 of 10 Inspection date 22/05/2014

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Previous inspection N/A Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness adequate

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

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Overall effectiveness

Young people make progress in all areas of their lives as a result of living in the home. They enjoy excellent relationships with staff who listen to what young people say and act upon their wishes when able. Young people build good relationships with staff and each other in a safe and nurturing environment. Observations show young people feel safe and that staff are concerned for their well-being. Staff have positive working relationships with parents, education and a range of specialist services to promote effective care and placement planning.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are actively involved in consultation and service development through group meetings and individual sessions, which are evidenced in ‘You Asked, We Did’ records.

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Overall effectiveness

The home is effectively managed by a team who recognise the strengths and weaknesses within the home. Development plans identify areas for improvement in the quality of care provided and the living experience for young people. Staff say they are well trained and supported through regular supervision. Young people benefit from continuity in staffing and a consist approach to care.

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Overall effectiveness

Areas identified as requiring improvement as a result of this inspection include: reviewing the Statement of Purpose to ensure it is individualised to the service; 3 of 10 considering the use of audible bedroom door alarms and gaining all relevant placement documents from placing authorities, among others. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned by a large organisation. It sets out to provide care and accommodation for up to 4 young people with learning disabilities.

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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

5 (2001) review, and where appropriate, revise the Statement of Purpose. Specifically to ensure it is individualised to the home and reflects practice undertaken (Regulation 5(a)) 30/06/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

17B (2001) ensure that within 24 hours of the use of any measure of control, restraint or discipline in a children's home, a written record is a made in a volume kept for the purpose (Regulation 17B(3)) 30/06/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the use of electronic or mechanical monitoring devices for the surveillance of children are not used in a children's home except for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children accommodated in the children's home (Regulation 22(1)) 30/06/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the registered person maintains in respect of each child who is accommodated in a children's home a record in permanent form which includes the information, documents and records specified in Schedule 3 relating to that child. This is with specific regard to a copy of any plan for the care of the child prepared by his placing authority, and of 30/06/2014 5 of 10 the placement plan. (Regulation 28(1)(a))

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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

 develop a system where young people are able to take age appropriate risks a understand how to keep themselves safe when using social media (NMS 4.4)  ensure supervision of provides sufficient challenge for staff to fulfil their roles provide a high quality service to children. (NMS 19) 6 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are supported to develop a positive self-view through understanding their personal history, behaviour patterns and needs. Examples include aiding young people to overcome barriers which have caused or continue to cause them stress or anxiety.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are encouraged to eat a healthy range of foods, which they often cook for themselves and the group. Young people are involved in a wide range of physically and emotionally stimulating activities, such as using the gym, gardening and playing musical instruments.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

All young people are involved in making decisions about their lives and care plans. Photographs within individual ‘Picture Memories’ books and ‘You said, We did’ documents ensure young people have a record of activities and enjoyable events, alongside evidence of how they have influenced care practice and running of the home. Young people make a positive contribution within the home and grounds including the home’s vegetable growing project.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Group and individual sessions enable young people to understand risky behaviours and how to keep themselves safe. Sessions have included stranger danger; appropriate relationships and personal choice and e-safety. Safe use of social media is hindered through the home computer not having access to age-appropriate social networking sites. As a result, young people have less opportunity to learn safe use of social media under staff supervision.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people’s education attendance at the on-site school is excellent and young people achieve in line with their peers. Planning for future placements is timely to ensure transitions are as smooth as possible. Excellent use of target setting for individual young people demonstrates improvement in both practical and emotional skills in preparation for adulthood.

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Quality of care good

Young people enjoy positive relationships with staff and enjoy their company in the home and on activities. Staff are demonstrably concerned about all aspects of young people’s wellbeing and welfare. Staff have excellent communication skills to ensure all young people are understood and able to share their views. There have been no complaints since the home's registration and young people’s contributions are welcomed. Changes within the home as result of young people’s suggestions have included a ‘snug’ room where young people can feel safe and relax alone or with staff 7 of 10 and a ‘welly plant pot’ project. Young people are further supported to understand when their views and wishes cannot be acted upon.

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Quality of care good

Young people actively contribute to their reviews and care plans which reflect agreed decisions and targets. However the placing authorities Looked After Children placement plans are not consistently available within the home for staff to refer to. Highly individualised behaviour management plans ensure consistency in approach to unwanted behaviour. Positive behaviour is rewarded in ways appropriate to individual young people. Observations demonstrated staff’s skilled approach to reducing anxiety and working through situations that cause young people stress.

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Quality of care good

Staff support young people in education both in the classroom and through close consultation with school staff to ensure consistency in plans and targets. As a result young people benefit from continuity in care and approach to reach their goals. In addition to educational programmes, young people have tailored activity plans, meeting their social and emotional needs. Activities are varied and include clubs in the community and activities within the home and school.

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Quality of care good

Young people are encouraged to recognise equality and diversity beyond their disabilities. Young people are effectively supported to explore other cultures and beliefs through activities. These include celebrating events which they and those they live with recognise as important. Staff facilitate agreed contact with family and significant other people and liaise effectively with parents, carers and social workers to ensure contact is beneficial to young people.

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Quality of care good

Strong links with local medical professionals ensures young people benefit from consistency in health care. Working relationships are excellent with the local general practitioner and pharmacy which enables safe administration of medication in the home. Any changes to medication are managed safely and promptly, including pre- prepared dosage packs for home contact.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Young people’s behaviour and demeanour indicates they feel safe in the home and community with staff. Young people identify staff they can go to if they are worried or upset. Staff are confident in processes to follow should they be concerned for a young person’s safety or welfare. Staff understand each young person’s vulnerabilities and work proactively to protect them. Bullying is not identified as a concern. Issues within friendships are managed effectively within the home and through school as required.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Policies within the home are proactive and updated in response to lessons learned locally and nationally; including identifying signs of exploitation and e-safety. Safeguarding investigations are managed promptly and in line with local procedures. 8 of 10 Young people do not go missing from care and if young people leave the home staff remain with them at all times. Robust measures are in place should a young person be missing. Individual files contain up-to-date photographs of young people in case of emergency. Young people’s risk assessments are robust and thoughtful, ensuring young people are able to take age-appropriate risks in line with individual abilities and vulnerabilities.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Individualised positive behaviour plans reward young people through positive reinforcement. Sanctions are rarely used and when used, are proportionate and related to the young people’s needs and understanding. Young people are encouraged to consider how future responses could be different and staff effectively facilitate reflective discussion. The proactive response to unwanted behaviour results in limited use of restraint. However, records of restraint, while clear in separate records are not accurately reflected in central records as per regulations.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Young people are safe from fire and other hazards as a result of regular checks and procedures. The use of alarms on bedroom doors has not been authorised by the placing authority or included in placement plans to ensure they do not restrict movement while considering safety. The current use of the alarms requires review. The system is not discreet, sounding on the hallway, and there are sufficient night staff on duty negating the need for electronic monitoring. The organisation’s recruitment policy is thorough, including robust personnel checks.

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Leadership and management adequate

The registered manager has been in post since the home was registered by Ofsted in January 2014. The manager holds a level 5 qualification in leadership and management with young people and is suitable and experienced to manage this provision.

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Leadership and management adequate

The Registered Manager has a sound understanding of the strengths and weaknesses within the fabric of the home and care practice. Evaluative monthly monitoring of the building and records highlight any new areas of concern. However, there have been failures in identify non-compliance with the requirements of regulation; including records of restraints not fully reflecting other records of incidents; the generalised nature of the Statement of Purpose; lack of consent for the use of bedroom door alarms and failure to make available Looked After Child placement plans in all young people’s files.

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Leadership and management adequate

Reports in relation to visits made to the home to monitor its conduct in line with Regulation 33 are sound. In addition quarterly evaluation of the manager’s monthly monitoring highlights trends and patterns and identifies areas to be included in the development plan. Within these processes, the views of young people, their families and other stakeholders are considered. Additionally, questionnaires completed by family and social workers help identify areas of strength and weakness within the 9 of 10 home. The home gives careful consideration to requests for activities from parents, considering both the positive and potential negative impact for young people.

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Leadership and management adequate

The Statement of Purpose is generic for the organisation and does not identify the individuality and strong skill base of staff observed during inspection. Staff fully understand the functions, purpose and ethos of the home, despite the lack of clarity in the Statement of Purpose. The young people’s guide is in a simple format which can be easily adapted for individual communication styles. The document contains information on both internal and external advice and advocacy services.

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Leadership and management adequate

The home demonstrates a good level of multi-agency working to improve outcomes for young people. Close working relationships with specialist health services, education and social workers help ensure positive outcomes and consistency in approach for young people. Services that are not performing are challenged when required. There have been no complaints regarding the home from the local community and relationships are positive.

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Leadership and management adequate

The staff team are consistent and have an excellent understanding of the young people they care for. Staff feel they are supported well by the management team and say they receive training they require to complete their jobs well. Succession planning ensures vacancies are mostly filled prior to staff moving on from the home. Supervision of staff is regular, although does not provide a sufficient level of challenge to continually improve practice. Annual appraisals include the thoughts of young people and identify training needs for the coming year. Newly appointed staff complete an induction programme specific to the service, based on the Children’s Workforce Development Council’s induction standards. 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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