Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Herefordshire

Unique reference number SC457923 Inspector Suzanne Young Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Advanced Childcare Limited Registered person address Pinnacle House 2 Oakwood Square, Cheadle Royal Business Park CHEADLE Cheshire SK8 3SB Responsible individual Stephen Nevitt Registered manager Jennifer Clare Whyatt Date of last inspection 11/03/2014 2 of 7 Inspection date 04/06/2014

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Previous inspection inadequate progress 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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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to accommodate up to four young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The service is owned by a private company.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/03/2014 Interim inadequate progress 11/07/2013 Full good

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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

 ensure the home implements a proportionate approach to any risk assessmen (NMS 4.5)  ensure risk assessments of the whole children's home environment are carried out, to identify any potential sources of harm to the children, are recorded in writing and regularly reviewed. (NMS 10.8) 4 of 7

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are having their needs well met within the home. They are making good progress in all areas of their development and are experiencing good outcomes with regard to their health, education and emotional wellbeing. As a result, young people are able to grow in confidence and self-esteem. One placing social worker stated, 'I feel that she has made positive progress and this is down to the patience and hard work of the staff team.'

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are in good health and take responsibility for their own health. They understand the importance of having a healthy lifestyle and regularly take part in sporting activities, such as playing football, horse-riding and attending the gym. Young people do not engage in risk-taking behaviours, such as smoking or misusing alcohol and drugs.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

The majority of young people attend school fulltime and are making good progress in their education. Where young people are not in full-time education they are engaged in meaningful activity by staff. Young people develop independence skills appropriate to their age and abilities. Supported by staff, those nearing the age of 16 are starting to work towards independence.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are benefiting from appropriate contact with family, friends and other people who are important to them. This is achieved through regular face-to-face and telephone contact facilitated by staff. As a consequence, young people are able to maintain positive links with their home, family and friends.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are able to contribute to the running of the home by planning activities during weekly house meetings. They are also able to personalise their bedrooms and have a say in the décor of living areas in the home. Young people are actively involved in activities in the local community. For example, the home has an arrangement with a local stables where they part own a horse for one young person to ride regularly and care for.

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Quality of care good

Young people enjoy positive and supportive relationships with the manager and staff. They are aware that staff are concerned about their well-being and development and feel secure living in the home. One young person commented, ‘this is a great home with great staff’ and rated the home ‘10 out of 10’. Young people are aware of how to make a complaint if they are unhappy about any aspect of their care. Complaints are dealt with swiftly and appropriately by the manager. 5 of 7 Young people’s health and education needs are positively addressed within the home. Staff support young people to attend school and to do well. Young people attend health appointments and medication is appropriately stored and administered. Staff are proactive in supporting young people to engage in sport and other leisure activities to promote a healthy lifestyle. Staff work closely with the in-house psychologist to support young people’s emotional health needs and develop a

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Quality of care good

therapeutic approach towards their care.

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Quality of care good

Care planning is good. Staff identify and promote young people’s cultural and religious needs through individual care planning and positively address those in daily living. Placement plans are tailored to meet the specific needs of each young person and are of a good quality. Behaviour management plans identify strategies to enable staff to deal appropriately with young people’s problematic behaviour. As a result, staff are clear about how best to work with each young person. Parents and placing social workers speak positively about the way the manager and staff enable young people to develop skills in managing difficult situations and conflict. One parent stated, ‘they are doing really well in managing her behaviour.’

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Quality of care good

The maintenance issues raised at the last inspection have been rectified and the home has undergone significant repair and refurbishment. The home presents as warm and comfortable. The décor and furnishings are of a high standard. All young people have their own bedrooms which they personalise in line with their individual tastes and preferences.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people are living in a home in which they feel safe and are safe. Young people feel that staff listen to them and will respond quickly to any concerns they may have. Young people rarely go missing and when they do staff respond swiftly and appropriately. There has only been one instance of a young person going missing since the last inspection.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff receive regular training to develop their knowledge and expertise in safeguarding. This helps ensure they are aware of what action to take if they have any concerns about a young person's safety or well-being.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff develop strong and trusting relationships with young people. This promotes positive behaviour and as a result there are few instances of physical restraint. Any instances of physical intervention are appropriate and there is a good level of scrutiny by the manager. Young people have comprehensive and detailed risk assessments which identify areas of risk or vulnerability. However, they are numerous and complex and some risk assessments are reviewed more frequently than others. As a result, there is the potential for confusion. 6 of 7 The home is physically safe and secure. The home has clear procedures for the recruitment and vetting of staff. Fire equipment checks are completed appropriately and young people participate in regular fire drills to ensure they can evacuate the home in an emergency. Environmental risk assessments are carried out, however changes to the staff sleeping arrangements have not been reflected in the home’s

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Leadership and management good

Since the last inspection the home has a new manager in post who is currently going through the registration process. The manager is appropriately qualified and has previous experience of management. She has taken decisive action to tackle the shortfalls found at the time of the last inspection and has made significant improvements within the home. The requirements made at the last inspection have been met. Over recent months the home has stabilised which has had a positive imapct on outcomes for young people. The home is now fully staffed and the number of staff is sufficient to meet the needs of the young people.

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Leadership and management good

The home has a development plan which is reviewed by the manager on a quarterly basis. The manager also monitors the activities of the home on a monthly basis to ensure good quality care is delivered. As a result, she has a good understanding of the strengths and weakness of the home and ensures the home continues to improve and develop.

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Leadership and management good

The home’s Statement of Purpose and young people’s guide accurately reflect the home and gives clear information for placing social workers, parents and young people. Staff working in the home feel well supported and receive regular supervision. Training is provided on a rolling programme and is a particular strength of the home. Staff receive mandatory training during their induction period before starting work at the home. This ensures they can fully meet young people’s needs as soon as they start work at the home. Staff also receive support and training through workshops delivered during team meetings with outside speakers being invited to discuss areas of practice. One member of staff felt the training and support they receive is ‘amazing’.

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Leadership and management good

The manager and staff team have developed very good working relationships with placing social workers and parents. One parent stated, ‘Staff keep me informed. I don’t feel like an outsider; I feel I am part of her life.’ A placing social worker commented, ‘I always get weekly reports which are of an excellent standard’.

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Leadership and management good

Young people’s records are stored securely. They clearly demonstrate young people’s development and progress and contribute to an understanding of the young people’s lives. 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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