Children's Home run by Leicester City Council in Leicester

Unique reference number SC039025 Inspector Catherine Honey / Rachel Griffiths Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Leicester City Council Registered person address New Walk Centre Welford Place LEICESTER LE1 6ZG Responsible individual Michael David Evans Registered manager Kevin Curtis Date of last inspection 04/03/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 02/07/2014

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

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Overall effectiveness

The majority of young people living at the home make consistent and positive progress from their starting points. This inspection was brought forward following a significant increase in notifications to the regulator Ofsted concerning young people being at risk of sexual exploitation and missing from care. However, leaders and managers take action to address such behaviour and have developed an effective multi-disciplinary approach to support young people and provide guidance to the staff team. There are examples of good, co-ordinated and sensitive safeguarding practice, also some young people's placements are subject to review to consider if their needs are being suitably met in the home.

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Overall effectiveness

While a large majority of young people are making positive progress with their health, education and independence skills; some young people are experiencing a time of crisis and are reluctant to engage with the routines and boundaries of the home, struggle to attend education and are at risk while missing, which impacts on their current and future outcomes.

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Overall effectiveness

A strength of this home is the care, consideration and concern that staff demonstrate for young people. They advocate on their behalf and endeavour to improve their outcomes and opportunities. Care planning is effective in addressing the diverse needs of young people. Recognition of young people’s unique identity 3 of 10 and vulnerabilities underpins how staff work with young people to help them reach their potential. Young people are fully involved in their placement plans and feel able to express their wishes and feelings about their daily lives and future needs.

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Overall effectiveness

Leaders and managers have insight into the home’s strengths and weaknesses and are proactive in developing the service. Staff show resilience in working with young people who often need stability and consistent boundaries. Three recommendations are made as a result of this inspection. However, none of these negatively impact on the quality and safety of care provided. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by the local authority and registered to provide care and accommodation for six young people. The home offers care and accommodation for young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/03/2014 Interim good progress 07/08/2013 Full adequate 21/02/2013 Interim good progress 17/10/2012 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 provides a comfortable and homely environment and is well maintained and decorated. Risk reduction does not lead to an institutional fee (NMS 10.3)  ensure children’s health is promoted in accordance with their placement plan. This is in relation to statutory health assessments (NMS 6.5)  ensure all existing care staff have attained a minimum level 3 qualification. (N 18.5) 5 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people living in the home currently experience mixed outcomes. For most there is very positive progress and development, however, this is not the same for all young people. Some young people, despite living at the home for a significant length of time, struggle to engage consistently in the routine of the home and there are periods of risk taking activity. Their engagement with the home and with specialist support services is sporadic.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Most young people are attending education and are making good progress with their individual attainment considering their starting points. Some young people who previously had poor attendance are now regularly attending and enjoying the experience. Young people have aspirations for their future and those above statutory school age are considering college to undertake courses of their choice. This means most young people have the opportunity to improve their knowledge and skills in preparation for adulthood; however some young people have periodic engagement with education placements and struggle to engage regularly, which limits their life chances.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Progress in relation to most young people’s health outcomes is positive. For example, some young people take responsibility for their own health through self- administration of medication, attending the gym and learning about healthy lifestyles. The majority of young people engage with specialist workers, such as looked after children nurses. Those young people who are reluctant to engage with health professionals have, on some occasions, recognised the benefit of the support they receive and have increased their engagement demonstrating a more responsible attitude to their own health. For the majority, risky behaviours and missing from home episodes have decreased and young people are more able to keep themselves safe; most are developing a more positive self-view. However, this isn’t the case for all young people some of whom have increased their missing from home activity.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

The large majority of young people are progressing with independence skills. They are encouraged to take responsibility for household chores such as helping to shop, cook and keep their personal area tidy. The home benefits from a semi-independence flat on site and young people have made the transition in to the flat recently. This has been a huge achievement and adjustment for the young people who had lived in the main home for a long while. They are learning how to budget, care for their own environment and cook for themselves in preparation for independent living in the future.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people have regular contact with their friends, parents and extended families. This enables them to maintain and further develop their relationships. A parent of a young person expressed how staff keep them updated on any incidents or 6 of 10 developments. This means young people benefit from effective partnership working by the staff.

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Quality of care good

The care, support and safety of young people is central to the practice and culture of this home. Young people benefit from positive relationships with staff. A young person commented, 'Staff give you space, they listen to you.' This positive relationship is fostered by staff enforcing appropriate boundaries and remaining consistent in their approach to young people. Staff are proactive in enabling young people to contribute to their care plan and own futures. There are high, yet realistic expectations of young people to do well and make sound lifestyle choices. For example, young people, with complex needs, are supported continuously to engage with education. Staff promote attendance at school and celebrate achievements. A professional commented on the persistence and encouragement of staff in helping young people engage and achieve.

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Quality of care good

Young people live in a healthy environment where their physical, emotional and psychological health is promoted and where they are able to access services to meet their health needs. The home is provided with good support from specialist services. Staff are aware of young people’s individual and diverse needs and make requests to health professionals in order to seek specialist mental health support for young people. Staff are persistent in ensuring that young people attend health appointments, however, where young people require looked after children’s health reviews; these have not always been carried out without delay. This means young people’s current health needs are met, but their statutory health reviews are not completed in a timely manner. Medication is safely stored and safely administered. Where young people are reluctant to take medication, staff monitor their health carefully and take appropriate actions to ensure they receive professional assistance.

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Quality of care good

Individual placement plans are developed in the home to show how young people's needs are to be met and to ensure consistency of care. Staff have a good understanding of the needs of the young people and there is a strong support for young people who are exploring their identity. Staff work with young people on a daily basis using effective strategies to reduce challenging and risky behaviour. Where shortfalls are identified in the care or support offered to young people by other agencies, staff are very strong advocates on behalf of young people and resolutely stand up for young people's rights.

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Quality of care good

Young people understand how the home’s complaints process works. There are opportunities for young people to voice their opinions about life at the home through young people’s meetings and by speaking to the Children’s Rights worker. Young people have the opportunity to personalise their rooms to their own tastes. As a 7 of 10 result of this on-going consultation, no complaints have been made at the home since the last inspection.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people say they feel safe in the home. One stated, ‘I feel safe as soon as I walk through the door.’ Young people are safely cared for and have positive relationships with staff who they are able to talk to in times of distress or anxiety. Some young people have periods of going missing and for some this has increased in frequency recently. The staff and management team have a very thorough understanding of the risks affecting young people. There are some examples of very resourceful, carefully balanced and sensitive safeguarding practice. For example, staff have worked with family members, who are reluctant to engage, to ensure they have a thorough understanding of the risks facing young people, so as to ensure better communication in the event of missing from care. Consequently young people are better protected when displaying high risk behaviours.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Where young people are at risk of child sexual exploitation (CSE), there are strong risk management strategies in place. Leaders and managers have been proactive in addressing these concerns and have worked well with the local police and supporting agencies to reduce the level of risk. The home has strong established links with the local police team and actively share information and intelligence with them. Staff are knowledgeable about CSE and multi-agency safety plans are in place. A police officer stated that the home are ‘fantastic’ in the work they do to keep young people safe.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Behaviour management strategies are effective and proportionate. Risk assessments, relating to individual young people as well as their activities and behaviours, are kept up to date. Staff are aware of the vulnerabilities of each young person; risk assessments accurately document these issues. The home has a safeguarding policy which includes procedures to follow in the event of a safeguarding issue. Where there are safeguarding concerns, appropriate links are in place with both the Local Children's Safeguarding Board and the Local Authority Designated Officer.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people live in a safe environment which is subject to regular monitoring by staff. For example, staff monitor all identified risks in the home. Fire drills are regular. These measures ensure young people live in an environment where risks are clearly identified and protective measures are put in place to enhance safety. The home is purpose built and efforts have been made to make the building feel more homely. However, a metal cage surrounding a fire alarm system panel makes the home feel institutionalised. In addition, although there are plans in place for redecoration and refurbishment of the home, there have been delays in this work starting, leading to the home décor feeling tired and worn. 8 of 10

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Leadership and management good

There is a Registered manager in post who has managed the home for a number of years. The Registered Manager holds a Diploma in social work and a National Vocational Qualification at level 4 in management. The manager also intends working towards a level five diploma. The manager is appropriately skilled and qualified for the role of manager.

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Leadership and management good

The management team provide strong leadership. There is a development plan in place and the management team recognise the strengths and weaknesses of the home. For example, following recognition of previous shortfalls in the placement matching process, improvements have been made with the introduction of a pre- admission risk assessment to create a more considered and planned approach to placement matching.

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Leadership and management good

Three requirements were made at the last interim inspection which judged the home as making good progress. These requirements have been fully addressed. A policy change now clearly describes the steps to be followed when reporting a safeguarding issue to the local authority safeguarding team outside of normal working hours. In addition, records are now more accurate in detailing when the home has passed safeguarding issues to the local authority meaning there is a better audit trail. Notifications of significant events to the regulator are now sent more quickly meaning Ofsted have a more effective overview of issues affecting the home.

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Leadership and management good

An experienced, competent and skilled staff team provide a high quality of care. Staff promote a safe and nurturing environment for young people. A professional stated staff 'go above and beyond' what is expected of them. The diverse needs of young people are known, respected and acted upon. All young people are treated with sensitivity and understanding. Staff understand their role and are aware of their responsibilities in providing a safe environment. Staff continue to develop their knowledge through on-going training which is tailored to meet the needs of young people. For example, the team have taken part in CSE awareness training. The majority of care staff hold suitable care qualifications, those who do not are due to be enrolled on the appropriate training in due course. Staff receive regular, high quality supervision that provides professional guidance and constructive feedback. Staff comment that the leaders and managers of this home support them on both a

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Leadership and management good

Staff work well with family members and have undertaken some very complex work with family members for the benefit of young people. Staff understand the necessity to work in partnership with parents and those with parental responsibility. Monitoring of the home is effective and an independent visitor inspects the home on a monthly basis and provides detailed and evaluative reports for the manager and staff. Professionals consulted during the inspection commented positively on the overall running of the home and the significant progress made by the large majority of young people. 9 of 10 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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