Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Torbay

Unique reference number SC456863 Inspector Jim Palmer 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 James Nevitt Registered manager Beverley Lorraine Goode Date of last inspection 27/02/2014 2 of 11 Inspection date 17/06/2014

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Previous inspection good 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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Overall effectiveness

This children's home is well managed and led. It provides a good level of service overall with some outstanding aspects of practice. Each outcome area is judged as good.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people benefit from living in this home and make significant progress. They are generally happy to live in this home and recognise the positive impact this has on them. External feedback about outcomes for young people is positive and indicates steady progress overall.

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Overall effectiveness

The strengths of the service includes a committed, stable and skilled staff team. Staff are knowledgeable about the needs of young people and how they will be met. The manager provides a clear direction and is able to demonstrate effective leadership.

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Overall effectiveness

At the time of this inspection one young person was living in the home. The home continues to work in a positive manner with the young person and as a result interventions are effective. The culture is based on good childcare practice and mutual respect.

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Overall effectiveness

Two areas for further development were identified in this inspection. These include 3 of 11 ensuring that visits to monitor the quality the service under Regulation 33, fully consult with young people, their families, staff, social workers and other professional in order to gain their views on the service. Additionally, the home has been asked to ensure that young people's views are sought with regard to staff annual appraisals. 4 of 11

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and operated by a national provider of children's services. The home looks after young people who may display complex emotional and behavioural needs. The service has good internal and external links to specialist services to work with young people with those complex needs.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/02/2014 Interim good progress 15/10/2013 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 the person carrying out the visit shall interview, with their consent and in private, such of the children accommodated there, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as appears necessary in order to form an opinion of the standard of care provided in the home, namely by visiting the home when these people are able to be spoken with. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)). 01/07/2014

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s): 5 of 11  ensure all staff have their performance individually and formally appraised at least annually and this appraisal takes into account any views of children the service is providing for. (NMS 19.6.) 6 of 11

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people continue to achieve good outcomes whilst living in this home. They benefit from staff working effectively and consistently to address behavioural issues. As a result young people are able to develop a good understanding of the reasons for their placement and are able to address these issues positively.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

There are significant improvements in young people's educational achievements and attendance. The progress young people make is recognised by family members, social workers, teaching staff and health professionals. Some young people are now able to participate in school activities and classroom situations which would not have been the case at the outset of the placement. However, whilst good progress is made and maintained it is not always fully sustained. For example, despite the constant support and encouragement provided by staff in promoting attendance at school, non- attendance can still negatively impact on the achievements that young people can make. Comments from professionals though are positive, for example, 'The home does everything they can reasonably do to impact on young people's behaviour.'

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Good health outcomes are achieved by young people in this home. Staff are pro- active in promoting healthy lifestyles, encouraging personal hygiene and the importance of a balanced diet and physical activity. An area of particular progress is in the much improved attendance of medical appointments. As a result young people's physical and emotional health is good. Young people are able to speedily access a wide range of health services including specialist services such as child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and if necessary in-house psychological services.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

The manager and staff are very pro-active in ensuring that frequent medication reviews are held. Young people benefit from the provision of these services and from the high level of staff liaison that takes place with specialist health services. Staff receive good support and guidance from health professionals which enable them to work effectively with young people in promoting their health. Young people's health plans are regularly monitored to ensure they are still meeting identified needs.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Key to the success the home achieves is the quality of relationship that exists between staff and young people. Young people have an allocated worker and individual meetings with staff and young people take place regularly. Young people clearly are able to develop relationships with adults in which they acquire strategies to manage challenging behaviours in a positive manner. As a result young people develop considerable insight into the impact their behaviours have on others. Staff display skill and resilience in working with young people in addressing these issues. 7 of 11

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Quality of care good

Young people enjoy positive relationships with most staff. Staff set high but achievable standards for young people and they are always available to discuss any areas of concern the young people may have. Staff and the manager have a strong focus on achieving successful outcomes in the work they undertake with the young people. They create a safe environment in which the young people can be challenged and encouraged to resolve conflict and disagreement in a mature and positive manner. They challenge unacceptable behaviour but are not rejecting of young people. They provide clear boundaries and excellent role models and they work with considerable skill and with positive strategies. As a result young people develop stronger relationships with their family members, friends and people at school.

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Quality of care good

The home has good systems for engaging young people in the day-to-day running of the home. They contribute to decisions regarding the leisure activities available, choice of menu, décor and the upkeep of the home. This is very much a young person's home. Young people participate in their reviews and planning meetings and make a significant contribution towards planning for their long-term futures. Staff work with young people to ensure that their views are always heard. Young people are clear that they know how to raise any concern they may have about the service. and they have access to external contacts and agencies if needed. The manager promotes the use of advocacy services.

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Quality of care good

Young people's needs are very well assessed and documented in detailed placement plans which are regularly reviewed and updated. Staff's knowledge of young people's placement plans is good. As a result young people's needs are able to be effectively addressed. Feedback from social workers, other professionals and families is good. They report that the staff team is knowledgeable about young people and their placement plans. Staff are highly aware of the importance of an excellent preparation that young people require prior to meetings and appointments. As a result of the extra care taken by staff in this area, young people are able to contribute with greater confidence and assertiveness.

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Quality of care good

Staff encourage contact between young people and their families in consultation with social workers. Family members say that communication is good and that the home promotes and supports contact with them. Young people benefit from a close relationship between families and staff. This is particularly relevant when the contact with home is being increased, for example towards the end of a placement.

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Quality of care good

There are robust systems in place for the safe storage and administration of medicines. All medicines are safely kept and audited. All staff receive regular training in the safe administration of medicines.

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Quality of care good

The home is well decorated and furnished. It is generally maintained to a good standard although there is some evidence of recent damage. Young people are encouraged to assist in repairing any damage they may cause if appropriate to do so. 8 of 11 The home is fully refurbished at the end of a placement and prior to a new placement starting. It is not identifiable as a children's home.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people's safety is very well promoted in this home. The young people report that they are confident that staff work hard to keep them safe and act in their best interests, even though at the time they may not always agree. Feedback from placing social workers, other professionals and from parents indicates they have no concerns regarding the safety of young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

There are effective safeguarding procedures in place which are well known to the staff team. This knowledge is kept up-to-date by regular training and discussions in team meetings. The manager and staff liaise regularly with the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) and staff are fully familiar with referral procedures should they have any concerns. As a result young people's safety is promoted by prompt referral and discussions taking place with appropriate child protection agencies.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The home has robust policies and procedures for reducing risk should a young person be missing from home. The policies conform to local protocols and have been drawn up in consultation with the police and the local authority. All staff show a strong knowledge of risk factors and young people have individual risk assessment as part of their placement plan. No young people have gone missing.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff receive training in awareness of child sexual exploitation and spend considerable time working individually with young people about keeping themselves safe. This includes safe practice when using computers and other forms of electronic communication.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people are encouraged and supported to expand their social experiences, particularly in areas that they may find anxiety provoking or challenging. They are able to develop good coping strategies and enhance young people's skills and awareness about keeping themselves safe. The home encourages controlled risk management rather than being risk averse.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people's behaviour is managed by praise and reward for positive behaviour. Staff provide excellent role modelling and a great deal of time is spent in encouraging young people to reflect on how any negative behaviours impact on themselves and others. Young people recognise the benefit this approach has in allowing them to resolve conflict with others. As a result they make significant improvements in managing their own behaviours. Since the last inspection there have been only two sanctions issued and no physical interventions. The positive effect of the home's behaviour management has strengthened relations in school and with their families. 9 of 11 Young people's safety is protected by the use of effective and robust staff recruitment systems. All staff are regularly supervised and are required to complete a probationary period which can be extended if required. No staff have been recruited to this home since the last inspection.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

This home makes effective use of risk assessments for activities, equipment and the physical environment. All risks assessments are regularly reviewed and amended as necessary. All records are up-to-date. All fire safety equipment and electrical, gas and appliance tests take place annually and within date.

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Leadership and management good

This home is very well managed and young people benefit from living in a home with strong leadership and direction. The manager and staff are committed to providing young people with good quality care and seek to improve the quality of the service at all times. The team strives to achieve good outcomes for young people. They are pro-active in learning from inspections and monitoring visits by independent visitors.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager has many years of management and child-care experience and is appropriately qualified. They are very aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the service and works with diligence to remedy any shortfalls. At the last inspection there were no recommendations or requirements. The home has a realistic and targeted service development plan.

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Leadership and management good

A stable, highly experienced and well-trained staff team enables young people to flourish. Young people and staff benefit from the depth of skill, experience and stability within the staff team. Staff absence is minimal. The home is sufficiently staffed to meet the young people's needs. The staff are well supported and supervision and annual appraisal take place regularly. Staff also have personal development plans. However, there is no evidence that young people are consulted or invited to comment as part of a staff member's annual appraisal.

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Leadership and management good

The home is fully able to meet the aims and objectives of the Statement of Purpose. A new edition of the home's Statement of Purpose is currently in place. This clearly describes the purpose of the home and the services it can provide. Despite this update, it does not describe the recent changes in the management structure as a result of a change of company ownership. A revised version of the statement is in the process of being produced in order to reflect those changes.

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Leadership and management good

Very good information is available to young people about who they can contact if they have any concerns about the quality of the service. This is outlined in the young person's guide and in numerous leaflets prominently displayed outside the staff office. 10 of 11 The quality of the service provided to young people is regularly reviewed and monitored by the manager and regular reports are made available to Ofsted. However, not all reports completed by external visitors are able to evidence sufficient consultation with all those whose views should be sought. 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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