Children's Home run by Headway Adolescent Resources Limited in Bristol

Unique reference number SC066250 Inspector Heather Chaplin Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Headway Adolescent Resources Limited Registered person address P O Box 94 Lydney GL15 9AQ

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Responsible individual Andrew John Plummer Registered manager Beverley Page Date of last inspection 24/01/2014 2 of 12 Inspection date 16/06/2014

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Previous inspection satisfactory progress Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness good

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

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Overall effectiveness

Young people make good progress in relation to their starting points in terms of their behaviour, social skills, resilience, health and education. They receive high quality individual care from a dedicated staff team. Care planning is highly detailed and covers all aspects of each young person’s life including their unique cultural and religious needs.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people interviewed are very positive about the home and say that it has given them the confidence to go out and engage in education and leisure activities. They are also pleased about how the home has helped them with establishing a healthy lifestyle.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are kept safe in the home and staff show a very good understanding of safeguarding practice. Behaviour is generally managed well although there are some issues about professional boundaries in the home. For example, young people’s free access to the office is a well-intentioned, inclusive policy, but it has led to a number of issues of concern. For this reason, together with some maintenance issues, the quality of care outcome area has been rated adequate. A new requirement has been made.

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Overall effectiveness

The home has a strong, experienced and skilful Registered Manager who is working 3 of 12 towards her qualification. The manager has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development.

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Overall effectiveness

The home has addressed requirements and recommendations from the last inspection, but a recommendation has been made in relation to ongoing maintenance. A new recommendation has been made in respect of the need to archive previous copies of placement and care planning documents, to improve clarity and ensure that files remain manageable.

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Overall effectiveness

There are no breaches of regulations or national minimum standards that have had a direct impact on the safety or wellbeing of young people. 4 of 12

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Information about this children’s home

This service is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and learning disabilities. It is owned by a private company that also operates other children's homes in the surrounding area.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/01/2014 Interim satisfactory progress 23/05/2013 Full good 08/02/2013 Interim satisfactory progress 31/07/2012 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

17B (2001) review and revise the behaviour management policy; in particular, review the present practice of allowing young people free access to the home's office; where confidential information and other inappropriate material may be accessible to them. (Regulation 17B (2) (a)) 31/08/2014

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take 5 of 12 account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 continue work to provide a comfortable and homely environment that is well maintained and decorated. Avoidable hazards are removed as is consistent wi domestic setting. In particular, ensure that the broken step in the garden and young person's bed are repaired, and that the garden development plan continues (NMS 10.3)  ensure that records are clear, up to date and stored securely and contribute t an understanding of the child's life. In particular, ensure that when file record are updated, the older versions of each document are archived, so that files a not over-filled. (NMS 22.1) 6 of 12

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Outcomes for children and young people good

The young people in the home are very diverse in age, gender, ethnic, religious and cultural background. All make very good progress in relation to their starting points in all aspects of their development. For example, some young people are asylum seekers who previously had exceptionally difficult challenges in their previous life overseas. Since coming to the home, they have been able to focus on developing their academic potential and learning English. One young person has now become tri- lingual and has clear ambition for his future career.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

All the young people have had traumatic histories and have benefited from intensive personal support. Consequently their physical and emotional health have improved measurably since they arrived in the home. For example, some young people have learned to identify their feelings and overcome the need to express themselves aggressively. Others have made steady progress in developing life skills, becoming more secure and feeling safe. Asked how the home had made a difference, one young person said that before coming there, they never used to go out, but they now have the confidence to do this. Other young people now feel cared for and have a sense of belonging that was previously missing from their lives. This increases their self-esteem and improves their life chances.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people confirmed that they enjoy good physical health. Those that wanted to lose weight have a very good understanding of the necessity for this. They have been able to do so and were feeling very pleased that they have embarked on an exercise programme. Special dietary needs can be catered for to comply with religious, cultural and health requirements. Young people enjoy their meals and are actively involved in planning the menus, cooking and shopping.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people have made exceptionally good progress with their education. Some did not attend school at all before coming to the home but all are now in education, training or actively seeking employment. Young people who have reached an appropriate level in their education are now undertaking GCSE exams. They have a place at a local college to boost their attainment which will enable them to undertake ‘A’ levels and go to university. Other young people have discovered that they enjoy arts and crafts, which has helped to rekindle their interest in going to school.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people, who are sufficiently mature to be out and about in the community, are allowed free time, which they manage sensibly. None of the young people are currently engaging in risk-taking behaviour which could lead to harm; for example, going missing. They also enjoy positive contact with their families and friends. Some young people have been able to re-establish contact with family members with whom they had previously lost touchand a young person from an African country is able to keep in contact with their parents at home. This helps young people to develop and 7 of 12 maintain a sense of identity and belonging.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Some young people are actively engaged in working towards independence. They are encouraged to do their own laundry and keep their rooms tidy. Some young people have had to learn to cope in a culture that is very different from their own, while others have developed considerable skill in managing their personal finances. This means that young people achieve the life skills they will need when they leave the home.

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Quality of care adequate

Staff and young people interact together with warmth and mutual respect. Young people who have grown up with very different cultural traditions are encouraged to embrace equality and diversity; for example, to regard both genders as equal. Any discrimination is addressed through strong role modelling from both genders on the staff team. The staff team is exceptionally diverse in terms of ethnicity and culture which is one of the home's strengths.

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Quality of care adequate

The home has an ‘open door’ policy with regard to the staff office which is well intentioned. It is accepted that this is the young people’s home and the manager would like them to feel able to access all areas. However, there are times when some of the staff need privacy in order to make confidential phone calls and record sensitive information. Staff do on occasion ask young people to leave the office to enable them to progress with their work. Some young people respect this very well, but others are still learning about appropriate boundaries and refuse to leave the office. This has resulted in damage to items in the first aid kit and a computer keyboard. Although no significant harm was done on these occasions, there was the potential for a breach of confidentiality and more serious damage to essential equipment that is kept in the office to support young people's needs. A requirement has been made about behavioural boundaries around the staff and young people’s

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Quality of care adequate

Young people generally have positive relationships with each other, but they are at very different ages and stages of development, so it is inevitable that sometimes, they fall out. When difficulties have arisen, staff deal with this assertively and effectively. When sanctions have to be applied, they are fair and recorded well so that their effectiveness can be evaluated. When sanctions are considered not to be effective, they are not repeated but another strategy is employed. This demonstrates that the manager is monitoring the effectiveness of the home’s behavioural management policy and making changes that benefit young people.

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Quality of care adequate

Young people say that they are consulted about the running of the home and that their views are considered. For example, the company runs a consultation meeting, called Hear By Rights, with young people and staff from the five different homes. Young people and staff discuss sanctions, restraints and compatibility of residents 8 of 12 within the homes. Young people’s comments show that they think their education provision is good and that they feel listened to within their homes. One issue was raised about staff moving around between homes to meet operational needs. Young people said that they find this difficult, so the company raised an action point to address this. This shows that young people’s opinions are truly valued and used to inform future practice.

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Quality of care adequate

Young people said that they know to whom they can complain and that something would be done about their concerns. Complaints records show that issues raised are always investigated and acted upon.

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Quality of care adequate

Young people’s care planning documentation is generally very good. Care plans are clear and cover all areas of the young person’s life. Professionals commented on how well the home addresses young people’s unique needs. One professional said, ‘From my perspective the placement has provided a good level of care for (the young person), as his needs have been met effectively in all aspects of his care. The geographical location of the placement enhances his ability to socialise with people from different ethnic cultures and supports his identity development. His cultural needs are being met in placement.’

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Quality of care adequate

The home provides very good access to all the services and support young people need in order to meet their health needs. For example, young people from overseas countries have received all the vaccinations that are usual for children growing up in England. Dental and optical appointments are made for young people and they are encouraged to attend.

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Quality of care adequate

Professionals consulted about the home said that the Registered Manager is particularly proactive in engaging with educational resources to ensure that young people’s needs are met. The manager explained how she had obtained many different opportunities for young people to attend college, alternative educational resources and apprenticeships. She is extremely knowledgeable about local resources and puts this knowledge to good effect. This ensures that young people have the best possible chances of obtaining an education while living in this home.

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Quality of care adequate

Young people enjoy a range of interesting and fun activities, many of which will also help them to keep fit. For example, some young people had completed a three mile walk the day before the inspection. The young people have asked if they can work towards less usual and more expensive activities and this has been agreed.

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Quality of care adequate

Young people’s individual religious and cultural needs are met very well in this home. These are identified and addressed through actions in the young people’s care planning documents. For example, one young man is supported to attend a Mosque and to follow the customs of his faith. Staff support him when he is fasting, by providing meals outside daylight hours. This young person has a separate menu, which includes Halal meat and some vegetarian meals to meet his dietary and cultural needs. 9 of 12 The home is situated in a city but in a quiet residential street. Since the last inspection, the manager rewrote the home’s development plan and shared maintenance and decorating tasks between staff and young people. For example, the lounge has been repainted and now has more furnishings and games. The kitchen has been repainted and new flooring has been fitted in the garage which is used as a recreation room.

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Quality of care adequate

The home now appears more modern and homely but some areas of the premises still require work. The house is adequately decorated and maintained, but one young person said she had asked for her bed to be repaired and this had not been done.

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Quality of care adequate

Parts of the garden are not as attractive as the interior of the home. One young person has been landscaping part of the garden. He has designed trellis work and completed some planting to enhance the environment for young people and staff. However, the quality of this work has not yet been extended to the rest of the garden. For example, there is a broken step leading down from the garage and the seating and decking areas are bare and uninviting, which does allow this area to reach its full potential for relaxation and informal conversations between staff and young people. A recommendation has been made.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people confirmed that they feel safe and protected in the home. Compared with some extreme risks that young people faced prior to arrival, the home provides a stable and secure haven for them. There has been a documented incident of bullying but this was addressed very promptly. There are detailed and effective risk management strategies to assess the impact of the young people on each other which helps to minimise bullying and other negative behaviour and improve young people's outcomes.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

No young people have gone missing since the last inspection which is a very positive outcome. There has been very limited use of physical intervention in the home. The Registered Manager is strongly opposed to using restraint. Since the last inspection, the only occasion when it has been used was appropriate, it was a last resort and the hold was very brief. This shows that the manager is determined to use more creative strategies to support young people's behaviour.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Two staff files were examined and were found to contain almost all the documents required by Schedule 2 of the Children’s Homes Regulations (as amended) 2011. The missing items were identity documents that had been sent to the company’s head office. The home was asked to ensure that these are kept on file in future, which the manager agreed to do. There is good evidence that the home recruits staff safely; in particular, that references are verified and the results of the verbal verification are recorded in detail. This helps to ensure that young people are looked after by staff 10 of 12 who are suitable and safe.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Allegations against staff are rare. Any instances are reported promptly to the local area designated officer and investigated appropriately.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The home’s environment is generally safe and secure. Health and safety checks are completed as required. Fire safety in the home is good. For example, there are regular fire drills, including during the hours of darkness, and all equipment is tested to fire service recommendations.

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Leadership and management good

The home has a Registered Manager in post, who is competent and experienced in direct work with young people. She was registered to run this service on 4 March 2014 but was in day-to-day control of the home for some months prior to that. The manager has good leadership skills and has risen to various challenges very effectively. One of her strengths is her ability to relate very positively to young people who have developed warm and trusting relationships with her. The manager is working towards her level 5 qualification in leadership and management and has almost completed this.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager has a very clear understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses and is ambitious for the young people. Her management monitoring is robust and effective. For example, sanctions are constantly reviewed, there is appropriate learning from complaints and there is clear evidence of the home’s steady improvement since the last inspection.

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Leadership and management good

There was one requirement at the last inspection, regarding the decoration and maintenance of the home. This has been addressed in terms of the specific areas mentioned in that report so the regulation is now met. However the garden redevelopment is in progress and is not yet complete. The manager has an ambitious plan for work to be undertaken by the young people during the school holidays. A recommendation has been made to support the need for improvement in this area.

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Leadership and management good

There was a recommendation about improving the culture and relationships between young people through positive behaviour management. The Registered Manager said that there was difficult period when young people were facing some individual challenges and not getting along with their peers. She redeveloped the behaviour management plans for the young people and ensured that all staff understood these. This has resulted in changes in behaviour and improvements in relationships.

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Leadership and management good

The second recommendation related to a young person’s educational needs not being met. Since the last inspection, the manager has obtained a place at an alternative educational resource for this young person. 11 of 12 The home has a Statement of Purpose that meets all the regulatory requirements. It was last updated in March 2014, which ensures that it reflects the current services on offer.

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Leadership and management good

The home maintains good records. However, most young people’s documentation is printed out monthly and is not archived, so it remains on file. The intention is to make file material available for internal and external inspection, but there are other ways to achieve this and in practice, the quantity of material makes some of the files difficult to navigate. A recommendation has been made about management of the home’s records.

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Leadership and management good

One of the home’s senior managers was present during part of the inspection and confirmed that the company is financially viable and expanding at a sustainable level. The home has sufficient staff resources. The Registered Manager is supported by a deputy, who works half time on shift, with their remaining time spent on management. There are some agency staff employed but this is kept to a minimum to help ensure continuity for young people.

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Leadership and management good

Staff confirmed that they receive very good training which is tailored to young people's needs. Staff say that they can request whatever training they need and that their development is very well supported.

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Leadership and management good

The home has notified all significant events to Ofsted as required by regulation. This helps to ensure that the regulator understands events in the home and can monitor these as required. 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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