Children's Home run by After Care (NW) Limited in Sefton

Unique reference number SC051947 Inspector Graham Robinson Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Registered person After Care (N W) Limited Registered person address 31-33 Hoghton Street SOUTHPORT Merseyside PR9 0NS Responsible individual Timothy Arthur Blundell Registered manager Paula Maria Jennings Date of last inspection 13/01/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 07/07/2014

p.1

Previous inspection satisfactory progress Enforcement action since last inspection No direct enforcement action affecting this home.

p.2

Overall effectiveness adequate

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

p.2

Overall effectiveness

The overall progress being made by young people currently living at this home is adequate. This is due to some young people having to move more quickly than originally planned due to a variety of issues. When the inspection took place no young people were present in the home, which meant some aspects of the inspection, notably speaking and spending time with young people did not take place.

p.2

Overall effectiveness

There was a similar situation with the staff group, who at the time the inspection took place and because there were no young people present, were working in other children's homes or receiving training. The inspection was conducted with the manager, with other staff being unavailable.

p.2

Overall effectiveness

The home has experienced mixed fortunes since the previous inspection, having at times to deal with some serious incidents that have impacted negatively on young people, staff and at times, the local community. However, these incidents have been managed, resulting in greater stability within the home and more recently, a reduction in incidents impacting on the community.

p.2

Overall effectiveness

Staffing of the home has at times been fluid but recently a small dedicated staff 3 of 10 team have been able to provide a greater consistency of care. In agreement with placing authorities, staff lay out boundaries and clear expectations for young people. Apart from a recent episode that has divided the opinion of the home and a placing authority, these have met with some initial success regarding current placements. For example, incidents of missing from care and serious behaviour management events have reduced in frequency.

p.2

Overall effectiveness

A strength of some recent work has been in planning and in pre-placement activities with young people, along with working out clear plans and agreements with placing authorities. However, at the time of the inspection, some plans were being tested by young people. This has followed a relatively stable period and currently, the home and placing authorities are reviewing their options.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Staff look to develop and foster relationships with young people which, if successful, are used effectively as part of the home's response to behaviour management. Having a stable staff team in place, providing some consistency has proven to be beneficial. This is reflected in the way young people with long histories of rejecting education have recently engaged in the educational arrangements set up for them.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Prior to the inspection Ofsted received two separate notifications, the first regarding financial concerns, the second linked to fitness of the provider, which triggered a visit to the home. Both of these issues have been looked at and dealt with as part of this inspection. The company have in place an action plan which lays out the areas to be addressed and this is on-going. Although no formal action has been taken, Ofsted will continue to monitor these issues.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

The report contains one requirement and three recommendations. The requirement links to a lack of accurate information regarding staffing details which appear in the statement of purpose supplied to Ofsted and the young person's guide provided to the most recent admission. However, it is judged that this has not impacted negatively in any way on the welfare and safety of young people.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

One recommendation links with some historical information missing from a young person's health plan, with the other two recommendations directly linked to a lack of consistency in implementing the formal supervision programme for both staff and the registered manager. 4 of 10

p.3

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care for up to two young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

p.4

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/01/2014 Interim satisfactory progress 13/08/2013 Full adequate 07/01/2013 Interim satisfactory progress 30/04/2012 Full good

p.4

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.

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

5 (2001) keep under review and where appropriate revise the Statement of Purpose and Children's Guide 01/08/2014

p.4

Recommendations

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

p.4

Recommendations

 ensure the health of young people is fully promoted by obtaining the immunisation and childhood illness records of young people and reflecting the in health plans (NMS 6.5)  ensure suitable arrangements exist for the supervision of the registered mana 5 of 10 and that the supervision programme takes place with greater consistency (NMS 19.3)  ensure all staff are provided with regular and consistent supervision (NMS 19.4) 6 of 10

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Although outcomes for young people living at the home since the previous inspection have been mixed, overall they have been judged as adequate. It has been a challenging time for the home since the previous inspection. However, greater stability has been achieved through the use of a recognised staff team. This has resulted in less reliance on agency staff and other staff from children's homes operated by the organisation to support any staffing shortfall. Recently, this has provided a greater consistency of care.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people adequate

The home regularly has young people referred who have long histories of being in care. As a result many have rejected authority, education and boundaries put into place for them. However, since the previous inspection, the home has had success in re-engaging young people of both school age and beyond, back into education.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people's everyday health needs are being promoted positively, with appropriate arrangements in place that allow for their day to day health needs to be met by community based health services. The home maintains strong links with services that can provide more specialist input when required. For example, there are good working arrangements in place with the local looked after nurse who visits the home. However, individual health plans currently lack the required detail regarding a young person's health history.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Current contact arrangements for young people are sensitive and complex. Agreements between placing authorities and the home regarding contact arrangements are in place. All information about young people’s contact is being recorded appropriately.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people adequate

The home has appropriate systems and arrangements in place to support and prepare young people in their transition towards independence. For example, one young person recently took up a three day placement at a local college, with the other two days of the week programmed to promote semi-independence skills.

p.6

Quality of care adequate

The quality of care provided for young people is adequate. Staff promote structure in the home and set boundaries which are designed to meet the specific needs of young people. For example, one young person's placement was set up by the placing authority to ensure a high staffing ratio between the young person and staff. Initially this worked well in keeping the young person safe, although of late this is being tested. 7 of 10 The home has put into place a recognised permanent staff group specifically to meet the specialised needs of young people. This has given young people consistency of care and the opportunity to develop relationships with appropriate adults who can act as good role models.

p.6

Quality of care adequate

This consistency of staffing has helped reduce the number of serious incidents taking place within both the home and community, which has resulted in a recent dip in police involvement. The home enjoyed a period of stability as a result of this, although at the time of the inspection, some testing of boundaries by young people was taking place.

p.7

Quality of care adequate

Appropriate information is available to young people regarding how to access the complaints systems, with the young person's guide being a primary source of information. Records show that no complaints have been made by young people since the previous inspection.

p.7

Quality of care adequate

Young people's needs are clearly identified in a range of planning documents, assessments of risk and coping strategies that are individual to that young person. Plans are reviewed and updated regularly to keep them current. Social workers are updated regularly to keep them informed of any development or progress.

p.7

Quality of care adequate

An area of improvement has been noted linked to a recent admission to the home. Following referral, the planning and practical work undertaken by staff prior to the admission was thorough. For example, written agreements laying out the terms of the placement between the placing authority and the home were in place, with the young person concerned being transported to the home on two occasions by staff to allow the young person to familiarise themselves with the staff team and the home they are were due to live in. This level of pre-planning will continue to be encouraged Ofsted.

p.7

Quality of care adequate

Young people are encouraged to become involved in the daily running of the home. For example by participating in young people's meetings which are held regularly. Recent areas of input and discussion include activities and menus. This encourages young people to take some ownership of the home, allowing them to take on some areas of responsibility.

p.7

Quality of care adequate

Following a recommendation made at the previous inspection the home has been upgraded and refurbished, with new carpets, new equipment, furnishings and décor. Young people have single occupancy bedrooms which are personalised to suite their own taste, giving them an area of their own where they can have some privacy. The whole fabric and appearance of the building has been greatly improved, providing a more comfortable and homely environment for young people. 8 of 10

p.7

Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Much of the pre-planning previously referred to in this report centres on keeping young people safe. The home maintains links with the external services charged with keeping young people safe, with any potential safeguarding issues being referred appropriately. Training records show the staff team have received training in safeguarding, for three of the staff this was as recently as July 2014.

p.8

Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Appropriate procedures to deal with young people missing from care are in place and follow the agreed local multi-agency protocol with external agencies. However, incidents of young people missing from care since the previous inspection are relatively few, with more instances recorded of young people returning late, rather than going missing.

p.8

Keeping children and young people safe adequate

The ethos of the home is to work positively rather than punitively with young people through difficult and challenging times. Despite the challenges presented by young people, the number of sanctions and incidents of physical interventions since the previous inspection are low. As a result, serious behaviour management incidents have reduced.

p.8

Keeping children and young people safe adequate

The management of the home has remained relatively stable and the dedicated staff team assembled specifically to work with the young people currently placed, has improved stability within the home. Appropriate recruitment policies and practice ensure that any new staff are suitably cleared prior to taking up their posts, ensuring that only suitably checked people have contact with young people.

p.8

Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Young people are protected through a range of risk assessments. They participate in regular fire drills and can safely exit the home if needed. Safety checks to maintain a safe environment are being undertaken. Individual risk assessments, coupled with coping strategies, promote a safe environment, with individual strategies being updated in light of reviews of young people’s risks and progress. The home has produced its own risk assessment which highlights local hazards within the surrounding community.

p.8

Leadership and management adequate

The Registered Manager, who is suitably qualified, has been in post at this home since January 2014. Prior to this she was registered as the manager of other children's homes operated by the company. In total, she has been a manager of children's homes for this company for nearly three years.

p.8

Leadership and management adequate

A programme of on-going internal supervision and appraisal for staff is in place. However, records show some lack of consistency regarding frequency. This is also true for the arrangements regarding the formal supervision of the registered manager. 9 of 10 Since the last inspection, the organisation has made changes to the person who undertakes the external monitoring of the home. This has resulted in visits now being undertaken by someone independent of the home and organisation. These arrangements are in their infancy and are an area that Ofsted will continue to monitor.

p.8

Leadership and management adequate

During the inspection, two areas of concern notified to Ofsted prior to the inspection were reviewed. They linked to concerns raised regarding financial issues and the fitness of the provider, with the latter triggering a visit to the home by Ofsted in March 2014. These and more general concerns have been discussed with the organisation which has put into place an overall action plan of improvement. Although no formal action has been taken regarding the concerns about this home, the situation will continue to be monitored by Ofsted.

p.9

Leadership and management adequate

No requirements and only one recommendation were carried over from the previous inspection. The recommendation has been fully addressed following the refurbishment of the property which has significantly improved the standard of accommodation. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.9

Leadership and management adequate

This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

p.10

Judgement Description

Outstanding A service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements.

p.10

Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

p.10

Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

p.10

Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

p.10

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.

p.10

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.

p.10