Children's Home run by Unique Care Homes Support Limited in Lincolnshire

Unique reference number SC473699 Inspector Tracy Murty Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Unique Care Homes Support Limited Registered person address Holland House 1-5 Oakfield Sale Cheshire M33 6TT Responsible individual Annily Jameson Registered manager Paula Marshall Date of last inspection N/A 2 of 10 Inspection date 05/06/2014

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Previous inspection N/A Enforcement action since last inspection None

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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

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Overall effectiveness

This is the first inspection of the service since it registered with Ofsted earlier this year. The home provides good care to young people and improves outcomes for them. Young people engage very well with education. From their starting points at the time of placement, educational attendance has improved significantly and young people are making positive progress. Education providers praise the staff team for their close working relationships with schools and report improved attendance and engagement by young people as a result of this collaborative approach.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people enjoy a wide range of social activities and report high levels of satisfaction with the support and care provided to them by the staff team. Direct and indirect contact with family members and significant others is promoted and supported by the staff team. Parents and carers report high levels of satisfaction with the care and support provided to their children and with the regular updates they receive.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people’s health needs are met and they learn about healthy eating and lifestyles. They enjoy a healthy and balanced diet and take part in regular physical exercise and activities. Staff consult them regularly on all aspects of the care they receive and take their contributions into consideration in all aspects of the way in which the home is run. 3 of 10 Detailed risk assessments and safety plans for young people ensure that they are kept safe from any actual or potential harm. Young people report feeling very safe and well cared for by staff. They know how to make a complaint and have access to advocacy services.

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Overall effectiveness

The home is visited each month by an independent person who considers the care provided to young people and produces a report of their findings. The reports do not currently provide clear timescales for action required by the registered person in response to any identified shortfalls. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

This children's home, which is part of a small organisation, can accommodate up to three children and young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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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 the independent person's report recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the children's home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 33(10)) 10/07/2014 5 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people develop their confidence and sense of self-worth whilst living in this home. From their starting points at the time of placement, young people’s engagement with and attendance at education has increased significantly. One head teacher reported high levels of satisfaction with the staff team and praised their support for young people to achieve in education. 'The success of the young person is due to the brilliant back-up and support we have from the staff and manager of the home.' The staff’s close working relationships with schools enables young people to achieve their potential over time.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people enjoy good health and have their holistic health needs met in this home. Staff work closely with relevant agencies and professionals to ensure that young people's needs are quickly assessed and supported. This leads to improved physical, emotional and mental health of young people over time. Young people learn to consider their own health needs and how they can meet them. This has included young people setting their own health targets around for example healthy eating and weight loss. Young people take part in a range of physical activities to promote their health, including swimming, football and running.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

They engage fully with facilities in the local community and access resources with staff support. Trips to local places of interest, shopping and the use of community resources promote a sense of inclusion and belonging for young people. They enjoy spending time with staff on country walks and begin to take an interest in nature and their surroundings.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people feel listened to by staff and feel that their views and feelings matter. They feel consulted about all aspects of the care they receive and are able to raise any concerns or complaints they may have, confident that they will be resolved by managers.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people have aspirations for the future and feel supported by staff to prepare for their eventual move to independence. Staff support and enable them to prepare simple meals, to take responsibility for their own bedrooms and to assist in the planning, shopping and preparation of meals in the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people enjoy positive and meaningful contact with family and significant others. One parent stated; 'the staff support contact for us, which is great; we are always made to feel welcome when we come to visit the home.'

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Quality of care good

6 of 10 Young people develop trusting and positive relationships with the staff, leading to an increased sense of worth and positive behaviours over time. They feel supported and included in all aspects of their care. Staff take time to ensure that young people read and understand their plans and risk assessments. This enables young people to understand and consider their behaviour and emotions over time and to reduce any anti-social behaviour.

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Quality of care good

Staff consult with young people and ensure that their views, wishes and feelings are reflected in all aspects the way in which the home is run. Young people recently expressed a desire to go on holiday with staff during the summer. The Registered Manager has acted on this and booked a week's holiday at the seaside. For some young people, this provides new opportunities and experiences, increasing their confidence.

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Quality of care good

Staff know the specific needs of each young person and place them at the centre of their working practice. This has led to marked improvements in educational attendance and attainment. Prior to coming to live at this home, some young people had poor attendance and engagement. Attendance rates for all young people are now 100% and education providers report having very positive and supportive relationships with the staff team. Young people feel motivated to do well and now describe their aims and goals for the future. This includes applying for further education courses locally and sitting formal exams. One parent stated; 'my child never used to go to school. They now attend every day and are doing really well. This is all thanks to the school and home staff working so well and knowing my child's needs.'

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Quality of care good

Staff listen to young people in order to learn about their likes and dislikes and ensure that they have a wide range of interesting social activities to take part in. This includes camping, swimming, football, running and trips to the seaside. Young people speak very positively of the activities on offer in this home. One young person commented; 'there is so much to do here, I am never bored.'

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Quality of care good

Staff also demonstrate a detailed understanding of each young person’s care and placement plans and ensure that their identified needs are met at all times. Young people know what their plans are for contact with family members and significant others. The staff team support contact by providing supervision and transport. This ensures that young people know and understand their backgrounds and can maintain vital links with family and friends.

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Quality of care good

For those young people who have been involved in anti-social or offending behaviours, staff work closely with relevant agencies to ensure that appointments are kept and work is completed. One youth offending worker praised the staff team for their work with young people; 'they really care about the young people. I visit a lot of children's home in my work and this is one of the best by far for the support they give to young people.' 7 of 10 Staff ensure that all young people are registered with relevant health professionals when they move to the home. Young people attend all routine health appointments and demonstrate a detailed understanding of their health needs and how to meet them. Staff support young people to consider their needs and incorporate them into their weekly activities and menu planning. Young people develop a real and positive sense of the impact of healthy eating and lifestyles on their physical and emotional

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Quality of care good

health. Staff act as positive role models and go out running with young people. They also support young people through key work sessions to identify and plan how best to meet their individual health needs.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people report feeling safe in this home and say that staff ensure that they are protected from any actual or potential harm. Risk assessments provide a clear and detailed sense of the individual needs of each young person and how these will be met. Such assessments and plans receive regular consideration by staff to ensure that they remain relevant to the needs of the young people. Staff encourage young people to read and make comment on all plans and risk assessments. This leads to young people having a good understanding of how staff will support them and help them to meet their needs.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The use of physical restraint in this home is minimal. Staff use positive behaviour management strategies with young people, consistently rewarding positive behaviours and using key work sessions to discuss any concerning behaviours. This has led to a marked decrease in anti-social behaviour and an improvement in behaviour generally. Staff work very closely with other agencies such as the youth offending service, police and education providers. This ensures that all young people receive consistent care across all areas of their lives. The Registered Manager has formed positive relationships with the local police and police community support officers. This is in order for young people to learn about the role of those agencies in the hope of reducing the potential for them to become involved in any criminal or anti-social behaviour in future.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

There have been no reported incidents of young people going missing from this home to date. Risk assessments and plans clearly set out the potential triggers for young people and what action staff should take. High staffing levels also provide young people with the support they need to ensure their safety at all times. The Registered Manager has close working relationships and regular communication with local police. Arrangements are clear and all staff know what action to take in the event of a young person going missing.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The home provides a safe environment for young people to live in. Where electronic surveillance methods are used, this is clearly identified in risk assessments and plans for young people and is with the written consent of the placing authority. Young people understand and accept the need for such measures and parents are also fully 8 of 10 consulted.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

All staff appointed to work in the home are subject to robust selection and recruitment processes. The Registered Manager maintains detailed records of all staff employed, including checks undertaken prior to them commencing work in the home. This ensures that no unsuitable people are able to come into contact with the young people.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager has been in post since the home opened earlier this year. She has relevant experience and qualifications in this area of work and is currently undertaking a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership.

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Leadership and management good

There have been no reported complaints or concerns raised since the home opened. Complaints procedures and recording formats are clear and known to all staff and young people. The Registered Manager undertakes monthly monitoring of all aspects of the care provided to young people, including management oversight of any complaints or concerns.

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Leadership and management good

The home has a clear and concise development plan in place which sets out both short and long-term aims and objectives. Some of these have already been achieved; for example the development plan included the young people’s request to go on a holiday this summer. The holiday has been booked and young people are very pleased that their wishes and feelings have been taken into account. The Registered Manager has a good understanding and oversight of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and incorporates these into the development plan.

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Leadership and management good

The Statement of Purpose for the home is clear and contains all of the information required. It clearly sets out the home’s aims and objectives and how these will be achieved. Young people are given a young person's guide when they first arrive. The guide summarises the aims and objectives set out in the Statement of Purpose. Young people say they are clear about what the home is able to offer them. Parents also receive a parent's guide when their child moves into the home. This provides a clear and detailed overview of the services provided by the home. One parent reported finding this guide very helpful and informative.

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Leadership and management good

An independent person visits the home every month to consider the care provided to young people. Young people are consulted during these visits and their views and comments are included in the report produced by the independent person. However, to date the independent person has not set clear or specific actions with timescales arising from their visits. That would not only assist the Registered Manager in terms of their management oversight but also ensure that any identified actions or shortfalls receive a timely response. 9 of 10 The home is decorated and furnished to a very good standard throughout. All agencies contacted spoke of the welcoming and homely feel to the house. Photographs of young people engaged in various activities are prominently on display throughout the house along with certificates and awards celebrating young people’s achievements.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager has ensured that staffing levels reflect the needs of the young people at all times. This enables staff to provide high levels of support and supervision for young people. Risk assessments for each young person are devised and reviewed by the Registered Manager, with staff rotas consistently reflecting the needs of young people.

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Leadership and management good

Staff enjoy access to a wide range of training and development opportunities. The Registered Manager has detailed, comprehensive training matrices in place which make it clear what training staff have completed and any refresher training planned or completed. Staff also receive regular formal supervision which is well recorded and securely stored. Staff report feeling very well supported by the Registered Manager and deputy manager at all times.

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Leadership and management good

A particular strength of the home relates to recording. All records are well laid out, kept up to date and give a very clear and meaningful sense of a young person's life. There is also positive evidence of young people being asked to consider their records with staff support and to comment on plans and risk assessments. The voice of the young person is evident from their files and recorded in detail, with young people signing and making their own comments on their files appropriately.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager ensures that staff take their own notes of all looked after review meetings they attend. This enables the staff to ensure that, pending receipt of the official minutes, any and all actions agreed at those meetings are completed in a timely manner. This demonstrates a commitment to ensuring that there is no delay in providing services and support for young people. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management good

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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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