Children's Home run by Lincolnshire County Council in Lincolnshire

Unique reference number SC042950 Inspector Tracy Murty Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Lincolnshire County Council Registered person address Lincolnshire County Council, County Offices Newland LINCOLN LN1 1YL Responsible individual Janice Spencer Registered manager Jeanette Mitchell-Fox Date of last inspection 17/03/2014 2 of 12 Inspection date 04/08/2014

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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 outstanding Keeping children and young people safe good Leadership and management good

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Overall effectiveness

Young people receive highly personalised and well-planned care whilst living in this home. Staff demonstrate a clear and detailed awareness of the specific needs of each young person, and ensure that their holistic needs are consistently met. Involvement of staff with other agencies is a key strength of the home and leads to improved outcomes for young people over time. Staff consistently and positively ensure that health, education and social care needs of all young people are considered and met at all times.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people feel able to discuss any concerns or issues they may have with the staff team. They feel supported to read and consider all relevant plans, risk assessments and documentation relating to the care they receive. They feel that staff always have time for them and do things with them, which increases their sense of worth and value. Staff retention at this home is very good and is reflected in the relationships they form with young people and their detailed understanding of their complex needs and how best to meet them. Young people do not always receive formal responses to any requests or issues they raise with the staff team or managers.

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Overall effectiveness

The Registered Manager has been in post for a considerable length of time and provides clear and strong leadership for all staff working in the home. She 3 of 12 understands the strengths and weaknesses of the home and is proactive in ensuring that young people's outcomes improve during their time living in this home. Some staff have not received formal supervision at the specified frequency according to records seen during this inspection. Specific training on ADHD would benefit the staff team in relation to the care and support they provide to some young people. 4 of 12

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Information about this children’s home

The home is a six-bedded children's home run by a local authority. It caters for young people who present emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/03/2014 Interim good progress 05/07/2013 Full good 14/01/2013 Interim satisfactory progress 22/08/2012 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

(2001) ensure that all persons employed receive appropriate training and supervision. This is with specific reference for the need for staff to receive training on ADHD and for regular supervision sessions to take place. (Regulation 27(4)(a)) 19/09/2014

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 ensure that young people understand how their views have been taken into 5 of 12 account, and where significant wishes or concerns are not acted upon, they are helped to understand why. This is with specific reference to ensuring they receive clear feedback from young people's meetings and to any comments or issues they raise with staff and managers. (NMS 1.2) 6 of 12

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people develop increased confidence over time and a positive sense of self- worth. They display a clear understanding of their backgrounds and work with staff to manage any challenging or anti-social behaviours they may display. For some young people, they have been able to re-build positive relationships with family members. One parent stated their happiness at now having increasing amounts of contact with their child. They stated; 'this was not possible when my child first moved into this home, but we now have weekends together and really enjoy our time together. This is thanks to the support the staff have given us both.'

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people have all of their holistic health needs met whilst living in this home. Records clearly set out what their individual health needs are and how they will be met. Young people learn the value of healthy eating and lifestyles. They take part in a range of activities which promote healthy outcomes. This includes swimming, going to the gym and dance classes. Young people also have access to specialist mental health services and engage with the support of the staff team with health professionals. They attend appointments with local doctors, dentists and opticians, with records clearly reflecting that their health needs are being met consistently.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

All young people living in this home have educational provisions in place. Their attendance and engagement is excellent. Some young people go on to attend further education courses and have clear goals and aspirations for their futures. The staff team imaginatively support young people to engage in education. This has included employing the services of a tutor for some young people, whilst they are not in formal education. One parent stated how much their child had learnt in the past year, due to the imaginative use of home tutors. They felt that their child had progressed in relation to their educational attainment significantly.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people have a wide range of social activities to take part in. They routinely access local resources and facilities, either on their own or with the staff. The home also has use of a caravan at the seaside. Young people enjoy spending time there and look forward to taking part in activities with staff whilst there. One young person stated; 'I get to do activities when I'm good, like watching films, playing games or doing homework with staff.'

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people learn over time how to consider and address any anti-social or concerning behaviours they may display. Reward charts are used to enable young people to address their behaviours and reduce any concerning behaviours. Young people respond very well to this approach, with one stating; 'I know that if I settle to bed every night, I will get to choose a reward the next day. I like to choose a reward and this makes me want to do well with my set goals.' Young people engage well with other agencies, to support them with any offending behaviours they may 7 of 12 present. This includes youth offending services, police and specialist mental health services.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people receive the support they need to prepare them for their eventual move to independent living. Assessment packs are used by staff to support young people in developing the skills they will need to make a successful move to adult life. Over time, young people learn how to manage their own money, cook their own meals and take more control of all aspects of their lives. Young people report feeling confident about their eventual move to independence and that staff fully support them in this area of their lives.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people attend regular meetings with staff, to share their views and feelings about the care they receive. They report feeling able to raise any issues or concerns with staff during these meetings and outside of them. However, records of the meetings do not clearly reflect how their views have been considered or taken into account by the staff team. The Registered Manager has not routinely formally responded to them.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people feel safe and state that staff really care about their welfare and safety at all times. Staff ensure that risk assessments for each young person clearly reflect their specific needs and how these will be met. All risk assessments and plans receive regular review and update by the staff team. Staff undertake regular case file audits and ensure that any identified actions are completed by key workers in a timely manner.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people read and consider key documentation on a regular basis. Staff support them to make comments on their plans, incident reports and other key documentation and to sign them. Young people display a clear awareness of what their plans state and how the staff will work to support them. The use of incentives and rewards enables young people to consider any concerning or anti-social behaviours and to improve them over time. A consistent approach by the staff team further ensures that all young people are clear as to the expectations on them and to the consequences of any concerning behaviours.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people feel confident and able to discuss any issues or concerns they may have with the staff team. One young person stated; 'this home is good, because no matter what, the staff on duty always have time for the kids. They are easy to ask if you need someone to talk to and they try to get involved with us.' Young people were fully engaged in the process of securing a holiday caravan for use by staff and young people. This has proved to be very successful and provides young people with an excellent resource during weekends and holiday periods.

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Quality of care outstanding

From their starting points, young people receive excellent support to meet their 8 of 12 physical, emotional and psychological needs. Staff work diligently to ensure that young people have access to the holistic services they need. One social worker praised them for their commitment to ensuring that young people receive the care and support they need at all times. A parent stated; 'this home has been an oasis for my child in a troubled time. I will always be grateful to the staff team for what they have done, for the rest of my life.'

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people report feeling confident in being able to raise any concerns or complaints they may have with any member of the staff team. There have been no recorded complaints from young people for over a year. Young people receive a copy of the young person's guide on admission to the home, which sets out the complaints procedure. They are also visited every month by an independent advocacy worker, as well as being able to discuss any issues with the independent visitor, who visits the home every month.

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Quality of care outstanding

Placement plans for each young person clearly set out their needs and how these will be met by the staff team. Staff complete monthly summaries for each young person. These consider their plans, goals and agreed actions and what progress has been made. Young people read and sign their placement plans and state a clear understanding as to what their needs are and how staff will work with them to achieve their identified goals. This is reinforced through the use of incentive and reward schemes for positive behaviour. Over time, this has led to a significant reduction in risk taking and offending behaviours.

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Quality of care outstanding

From their starting points, young people make exceptional progress in relation to their attendance, engagement and attainment with education. All young people have educational placements and achieve qualifications. Some move on to further education at local colleges and have clear aspirations and goals for their futures. The staff team have employed the services of a home tutor for some young people, with parents reporting very high level of satisfaction in the educational progress made by their children since moving to live at this home.

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff work closely with young people to assist them in identifying and learning more about their cultural and personal identity. Some excellent work has been done recently with some young people on compiling memory books. This provides young people with an opportunity to explore and make sense of their pasts and reasons for being placed in this home. Staff have taken considerable effort to gather photographs and information, which young people will be able to take with them when they move on.

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Quality of care outstanding

The home is located in an urban area, with easy access to a wide range of local resources and facilities. Young people enjoy living in a home, which is maintained, decorated and furnished to a very high standard throughout. There is ample outdoor space and gardens for young people to enjoy. Young people report high levels of satisfaction with their own personal space, with one young person stating; 'I get to make my bedroom how I like with my own pictures.' Photographs of young people 9 of 12 engaged in various activities are on prominent display throughout the house, providing a very homely and welcoming feel to the home.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people report feeling safe living in this home and that staff really care about their welfare at all times. They feel confident in approaching staff to discuss any issues or concerns they may have. They also know of other agencies and professionals they can contact for support and have regular contact with advocacy services and independent visitors.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff demonstrate a detailed awareness and understanding of the specific needs of each young person. Risk assessments clearly set out how young people will be kept safe from harm. All documentation is regularly reviewed and updated as necessary. Young people demonstrate a good understanding of their plans and how staff will work to support them and keep them safe.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff work closely with the police in relation to any concerns about young people going missing. Protocols and procedures are clear and staff display a high degree of competence in knowing how to respond to any missing incidents. Records clearly reflect what actions have been taken. Missing profiles for each young person provide staff with clear information and guidance as to what action should be taken and what information should be shared with the police and other involved agencies. Young people are made welcome when they return from being missing and have return interviews carried out with them. Staff and managers monitor any patterns and trends in relation to missing incidents and ensure that prompt action is taken, in line with agreed plans and risk assessments.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

There is minimum use of restraint in the home. Staff work closely with young people to promote positive behaviour and to support them to manage any concerning behaviours. Young people respond well to this approach and understand the reasons for the use of restraint. One young person commented; 'I haven't been restrained myself but when a restraint takes place, staff sit the kids down when the child is calm and explain why the restraint was needed.' Records clearly reflect that staff always take time to reflect with young people following the use of restraint and that their comments and signatures are sought and included on all incident reports.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Any reported incidents of bullying are considered quickly and recorded in detail by the staff team. Specific recording and monitoring is undertaken and overseen by the Registered Manager. Young people's risk assessments and plans reflect any such concerning behaviour and what actions staff have taken to eradicate any bullying. Young people understand that bullying will not be accepted in the home and of what actions will be taken. The use of sanctions and rewards is applied by staff and 10 of 12 understood and accepted by young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The selection and recruitment of staff in this home is robust and prevents unsuitable people from having the opportunity to harm young people. An administration officer works closely with the Registered Manager to ensure that all checks are undertaken, renewed and recorded on staff personnel files. This demonstrates a thorough understanding of safe recruitment practices.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

There have been no reported allegations or suspicions of harm relating to staff working in this home since the last inspection. The Registered Manager has a proven track record of ensuring that any such concerns are reported promptly to all relevant agencies and professionals, including making notifications to Ofsted. Staff report feeling well supported if they have ever been the subject of a complaint or allegation and understand the processes and support available to them.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager has been in post since 2009. She has the necessary skills, qualifications and experience for the role.

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Leadership and management good

There have been no reported complaints made since 2013. Records of any concerns or complaints are clear and reflect a clear understanding of and adherence to the complaints policies and procedures by the Registered Manager. Both young people and staff report confidence in being able to raise any concerns and that they will be resolved to their satisfaction. The Registered Manager monitors all reported concerns or complaints on a regular basis to ensure that all necessary actions have been taken.

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Leadership and management good

The home clearly demonstrates capacity for continuing improvement based on its track record and the strong and effectiveness leadership provided by the Registered Manager. Staff report feeling very well supported by managers in their role. They receive regular and relevant training and have opportunities to develop their skills. Not all staff have received formal supervision at the agreed frequency. Staff would benefit from having some specific training, in order to further develop their skills in responding to specific needs of young people who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorders.

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Leadership and management good

One recommendation was made at the last inspection. This has been fully addressed and met by the Registered Manager. Risk assessments now reflect any actual or potential dangers for young people in relation to the railway tracks to the rear of the home. The health and safety policy has also been updated to incorporate this and advice sought from the local authority health and safety representative.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager has clear systems in place to monitor and track all aspects of the care provided to young people. An independent visitor also provides monthly 11 of 12 reports on all aspects of the care provided to young people, which are fully considered and responded to by the Registered Manager. Regular case file audits for each young person are undertaken by the staff team. This enables them to identify any actions needing to be taken, with clear timescales being set for completion. Monthly summaries for each young person set out objectives and how these have or will be met. This provides staff and young people with a clear sense of how their life chances improve during their time in this home.

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Leadership and management good

The home has a clear and up to date statement of purpose in place. This sets out the aims and objectives of the service and is understood by staff, young people and the placing authority. Young people receive a young person's guide on admission to the home. This provides them with information on how to make a complaint and who they can contact for support, as well as a summary of the information contained in the Statement of Purpose.

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Leadership and management good

The home employs a sufficient number of staff to meet the needs of young people. Staff report feeling well supported by managers and each other. One member of staff stated that what was good about the home was; 'the experienced and committed staff team, positive outcomes for young people and good relationships with other professionals to support young people.' Staff benefit from attending regular team meetings and place young people at the centre of their work.

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Leadership and management good

Staff also provide informal on-going support to some young people who have moved on. Some care leavers remain in contact with the staff and visit the home. This demonstrates the impact the staff team have and the importance young people place on their relationships with all staff and managers. 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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