Children's Home run by Stoke-on-Trent City Council in Stoke-on-Trent

Unique reference number SC381085 Inspector Mark Ryder Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Stoke on Trent City Council Registered person address City of Stoke-on-Trent, Civic Centre Glebe Street STOKE-ON-TRENT ST4 1HH Responsible individual Susan Hammersley Registered manager Linda Jane Dent Date of last inspection 18/02/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 15/05/2014

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Previous inspection inadequate progress Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness adequate

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

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Overall effectiveness

This home is making a positive difference to young people's lives and in keeping them safe. Young people are generally pleased with their care plans and have good relationships with the staff. The environment is welcoming and friendly. Outcomes for young people are, however, varied in relation to health, education, independence into adulthood and social skills. Individual starting points reflect the differences in progress for each young person.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people confirm that they feel safe living at this home and are able to talk to staff freely. There is minimal use of physical restraint required as young people do not often present such behaviour. Staff have the experience and confidence in caring for young people with complex emotional and behavioural difficulties. Care plans reflect the diversity of need and how each young person should be supported during placement. Staff have a very good understanding of the needs of young people and provide a good quality of care. Social workers and independent reviewing officers report that young people are suitably placed and that they are satisfied with the quality of care provided.

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Overall effectiveness

The leaders and managers understand the areas of weakness as well as the strengths and have a clear plan for the development of this service. There is a Registered Manager in place although recent absence has required interim 3 of 10 management cover. There are, however, areas for improvement. Administration of records is not always well managed and internal monitoring review by the leaders and managers is inconsistent. Pathway plans and contact arrangements are not routinely updated. However, this does not presently negatively impact on the welfare of young people. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

This children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for two young people of either gender with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is operated by the local authority.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/02/2014 Interim inadequate progress 12/12/2013 Full good 27/03/2013 Interim good progress 23/05/2012 Full good

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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 any activities in which children participate are so far as reasonably practicable free from avoidable risks in relation to lone working risk assessments (Regulation 23 (b)) 19/06/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) maintain in the children’s home the records specified in Schedule 4 and ensure that they are kept up to date in relation to the admissions and discharge register and staff employment details (Regulation 29 (1)) 19/06/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) supply to HMCI a report in respect of any review conducted by him for the purposes of paragraph (1), and make a copy of the report available on 19/06/2014 5 of 10 request to placing authorities where the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home. (Regulation 34 (2))

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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

 prepare young people to develop practical skills, including shopping, buying, cooking and keeping food, washing clothes, personal self-care, and understanding and taking responsibility for personal healthcare (NMS 12.1 (e)  ensure that staff understand what decisions about contact are delegated to th in line with the child’s care and placement plans, and to make those decisions the child’s best interests. (NMS 9.7) 6 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people have made adequate progress since the start of their placements at this home. For some young people there have been notable educational achievements made. However, for others there has been only minimal progress.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people enjoy a reasonable healthy lifestyle and understand the necessity for a balanced diet and exercise. Young people engage in therapy which has benefited them in sharing their feelings and emotions with others. For some young people this is a significant development. The outcome is that for some young people they are able to socialise more than previously and are able to share their views and opinions. However, not all young people attend health appointments as required. While staff strongly support them to do so, outcomes in this area remain low.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people say they are able to see and speak to their family and friends by telephone or during visits. Staff promote safe contact and work effectively with parents and other family members. However, contact details are not kept up-to-date within care plans although this has limited impact on young people's ability to continue to maintain contact.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people are able to express their wishes and feelings to the staff. Young people are able to attend their statutory childcare review and contribute to the discussion about their placement and future plans. For those young people who do not wish to attend their review, their views are taken into account through consultation prior to the meeting. Young person say they are listened to and valued.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people's independent skills are promoted although there is inconsistency to this. For example, young people are not always encouraged to use public transport independently of staff. Pathway planning on some young people's files do not accurately reflect the barriers to independent living. This has led, to some extent, to only adequate progress being made for young people to develop necessary life skills.

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Quality of care good

Staff provide a high level of individualised quality of care for young people. Young people benefit from a caring and supportive staff team that understands them well.

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Quality of care good

Care planning and review of the current arrangements for each young person is managed well at this home. Staff consult young people about their care plans and provide them with every opportunity to contribute to their own review meetings. A young person said that they go to these meetings and tell them, for example, what 7 of 10 they would like to do as a job when an adult. Equality and diversity of need is clearly recognised by a competent and supportive staff team who take into consideration the range of needs of the young people.

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Quality of care good

Young people are able to engage in a range of activities that are of interest to them. For example, young people are able to attend the local youth club while others enjoy art and design. Staff value the contribution by young people which is positively reflected in presenting young people's art work around the home.

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Quality of care good

Staff strongly promote education and work hard to address the barriers that some young people face. Educational packages are flexible to meet the needs of all young people. For example, an educational support agency provides home tuition for young people who are unable or unwilling to attend formal education. This has benefited young people who would have very limited opportunity to education if it was not available.

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Quality of care good

Educational attainment is encouraged and rewarded. For example, a young person is doing so well at school that they often receive student of the week merit awards for outstanding behaviour. This reflects a culture within the home that enables young people to do the very best they can to reach their potential.

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Quality of care good

Young people are able to taken proportionate and managed risks in line with their age, understanding and safety. Staff listen to and support young people and assist them to make good lifestyle choices.

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Quality of care good

Relationships between staff and young people are good natured and supportive. There are very few complaints regarding this home with none since the last inspection. Young people say they know how to make a complaint and feel able to do so if they need to.

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Quality of care good

Regular therapeutic consultation provided to the staff team help young people to continue to develop socially and emotionally. This has seen small but noticeable changes to some young people's behaviour. In addition, individual therapeutic intervention is flexible and adapted to the needs of the young people. Young people feel that such help is made at the right pace for them.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff promote a safe and caring environment in which young people can live and develop into adulthood. Care plans accurately reflect the risk factors for each young person. These are regularly reviewed and discussed with young people. Staff have a very good understanding of both young people and make daily safe and suitable decisions during the course of their shifts. Handover meetings provide detailed information to prepare for on-coming staff to work with the young people effectively. 8 of 10 There has been no missing from home episodes since the last inspection in February 2014. Staff are aware of the missing from home procedures and have regular contact with the local police both formally and informally. The protocol between the police and the home is regularly updated.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Safeguarding procedures and practice has improved since the last inspection. The leaders and managers have a good understanding of the process in referring safeguarding incidents to the local authority. Such incidents are written in detail and reflect the prompt action taken to safeguard and protect young people. The home is, therefore, operating in accordance with the local safeguarding board's procedures.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people confirm that they feel safe and that there is no bullying. Young people are able to identify staff that they can talk to in confidence if they have any worries. Keyworking sessions address areas of concern such as keeping safe, contact with family and relationships. This educates and enables young people to talk about and understand how to protect themselves in the future.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Lone working arrangements meet the local authorities policy although there is limited assessment of individual risk for staff to work with young people on their own. While there is no impact on this, there is the potential for staff not to be fully aware of individual issues affecting young people when working with them on their own.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

There is a very low level of required behaviour management within this home. The use of sanctions is infrequent. There has been no use of physical restraint for several months. Young people confirm that staff treat them with respect and understanding. Boundaries are realistic and fair. Young people contribute to their own safety through talking with staff and being aware of risk taking behaviour.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Environmental health and safety measures are in place and ensure young people live in a home that is free from hazards. Fire safety is regularly checked and discussed with visitors as a part of the signing in process. Fire drills are carried out with young people ensuring that they are fully aware of what action to take in the event of a fire.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

There is a stable staff team with one member of staff recruited since the last full inspection. Vetting and checks of new staff are rigorous and suitable. Therefore, young people are cared for by adults who have been suitably and carefully selected to work with them.

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Leadership and management adequate

The management of this home provides a secure and safe environment for young people to live. There is a Registered Manager in place who has been registered since 2008 and is qualified to level five diploma in caring for children and young people. However, the Registered Manager has been absent for a continuous period of 23 days although there are sufficient interim management arrangements in place that 9 of 10 adequately maintain the running of this home. Managers and leaders understand the strengths and weaknesses of the setting and have suitable development plans to make progress.

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Leadership and management adequate

All previous requirements from the last inspection have been met. Young people have the opportunity to attend education, therapy and leisure activities where necessary. The welfare and safety of young people is central to the running of this home. Staff have a clear understanding of the needs of both young people and provide a warm and stimulating environment for them.

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Leadership and management adequate

A previous recommendation regarding developing a lone worker risk assessment has not been satisfactory met. This has therefore escalated to a statutory requirement.

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Leadership and management adequate

Staff are qualified and experienced in caring for young people with complex emotional and behavioural difficulties. They show a commendable commitment to the care of the young people. Staff also demonstrate resilience in maintaining positive relationships with young people who do not always engage well. Diversity of need is acted upon regardless of gender, race or disability. This promotes a culture within the home of acceptance and understanding.

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Leadership and management adequate

Administration within this home is inconsistent and has the potential to negatively impact on the smooth running of this service. For example, records such as the admissions and discharge register, young people's contact arrangements, lone working risk assessments and recruitment data are either incomplete or incorrect. This does not, presently, follow the organisations own file retention policy.

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Leadership and management adequate

The homes statement of purpose and young person's guide provide sufficient information for both young people and the local authority placement teams to understand the type of setting the home offers. The guide and statement are freely available within the home and young people confirm they are aware of the guide.

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Leadership and management adequate

There are monthly visits by a senior member of the local authority to monitor the running of the home and the quality of care. These visits provide feedback to the staff to further develop the service. However, internal monitoring by the Registered Manager is not carried out at the required frequency and reports are therefore not submitted timely to Ofsted. The impact of this is that there is less regular scrutiny by the leaders and managers of this home. Equally, Ofsted is not able to review the quality of care between inspections and is therefore unable to determine the level of development of the service prior to statutory visits.

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Leadership and management adequate

The staff have regular contact with a range of agencies that provide support and guidance within this home. This ensures that young people receive specialised services to enable them to develop emotionally and educationally. 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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