Children's Home run by Aspris Children’s Services Limited in Southampton

Unique reference number SC407783 Inspector Emeline Evans Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Priory New Education Services Ltd Registered person address 5th Floor 80 Hammersmith Road London W14 8UD Responsible individual Helen Sharpe Registered manager Marion McGinnis Date of last inspection 22/10/2013 2 of 10 Inspection date 12/08/2014

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Previous inspection good progress Enforcement action since last inspection None

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Overall effectiveness adequate

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

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a national private organisation and provides accommodation for an associated residential special school. The home provides care and accommodation for up to five young people aged nine to seventeen years who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/10/2013 Interim good progress 18/07/2013 Full adequate 10/01/2013 Full adequate 29/05/2012 Full inadequate

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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 registered person makes arrangements for the home to be conducted in a manner that promotes and makes proper provision for the safeguarding and welfare of children accommodated in the home: specifically ensure risk assessments are followed and risk reduction strategies are implemented (Regulation 11(1)(a)) 22/09/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the written policy which is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect is implemented. This specifically relates to the anti-bullying policy and to 22/09/2014 4 of 10 have clear individual strategies in place to minimise the occurrence of bullying. (Regulation 16(1)(a))

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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 staff are able to meet children's individual needs as set out within the child's placement plan. This specifically relates to ensuring placement plans are kept up to date and include information from professionals and actions from statutory reviews (NMS 2.3)  ensure the home provides a comfortable and homely environment. This specifically relates to removing metal bars from one window (NMS 10.3)  review risk assessments of the home environment to ensure they incorporate any safety issues with the glass within the garage (NMS 10.8)  ensure the written or electronic record of each supervision held by the home is signed by the supervisor and member of staff at the end of the supervision (NMS 19.5)  ensure there is a system in place to monitor the quality and adequacy of record keeping and take action when needed. This specifically relates to ensuring clear audit trails are in place to cross reference incidents and

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Staff support young people to understand and come to terms with matters from their past which are impacting on their emotions and behaviours currently. Young people benefit from this individualised support which helps them grow in confidence. Staff work in partnership with parents and professionals to assess young people’s needs prior to moving into the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Since the last inspection, the group dynamics in the home have changed with a new admission and some young people moving back home or on to adult placements. Outcomes for these young people are difficult to measure as these young people are just beginning to settle into their new environment and engage with staff. The staff recognise the progress some young people have made and give examples of how young people have developed and moved on, both in their confidence and self- esteem. However, it is not clear if young people’s welfare has been adequately safeguarded in all instances, this relates to young people being subjected to bullying within the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Promotion of health means young people have an understanding of healthy lifestyles and what this means for them. Increased support from staff and external agencies ensures young people are able to have access to an adequate range of information and advice on health issues. Young people are supported with smoking reduction plans by staff. Although they choose at times not to engage, staff advise how to reduce this behaviour. This enables young people to make informed choices and develop independence.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

All young people living in the home attend educational provision or are awaiting confirmation of college placements, and are achieving academically. Young people understand the importance of achieving their educational potential and are committed to meeting educational targets. Young people have some positive relationships in the local community, accessing local shops and sports and leisure activities. This is providing opportunities for social interaction.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Some young people engage well with independence goals. Some young people use an allocated budget to buy food on a weekly basis and are progressing well with budgeting, shopping and preparing healthy choices of food. These life skills assist them in becoming independent. However, engagement for other young people in completing individual goals is mixed.

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Quality of care good

6 of 10 The young people benefit from some good supportive relationships from committed and experienced staff members. Comments from parents include, ‘staff are good fun people to be around and they care about the young people.’ Young people receive personalised care that helps them develop their self-confidence and deal with the issues that affect their emotional well-being. Following the last inspection, there is more of a focus by staff in working together and moving forwards as a team to ensure good quality of care is achieved.

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Quality of care good

There is an emphasis on including young people in decision-making about their personal plans and also in the development of the home. Key work sessions, house meetings and daily discussions provide opportunities for young people to express their views and influence the running of the home. The staff are creative in gaining young people’s views and young people are encouraged to bring issues to these forums and know how to make a complaint. Young people appear confident in speaking out about day-to-day living matters within the home and the wider organisation. A culture of openness provides opportunities for young people to raise grumbles or formal complaints. All forms of complaints are taken very seriously.

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Quality of care good

The staff act as good advocates, for example, in ensuring that young people have access to appropriate education. This enables young people to improve their engagement and behaviour and to attain their potential. The staff give practical support to young people to encourage their educational progress.

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Quality of care good

Young people are cared for in line with detailed and comprehensive placement plans, These are indicative of the young people’s individual requirements and identify cultural needs and personal identity. Joint work between staff and external professionals provides a strong basis for addressing young people’s diverse and personal needs. There is a strong emphasis on promoting young people’s emotional well-being and welfare. However, in one care plan up to date information in relation to supervised spending for a young person was not included. Decisions are made within reviews and meetings; however, these are not detailed in the young person’s care plan. This does not enable staff to be fully aware of current information.

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Quality of care good

The arrangements for the management and administration of medication are safe and effective. Staff have received training in the safe administration of medication and this includes competency checks of their practice. Services are accessed for young people to promote their health, safety and well-being. For example, local police officers visit regularly to talk to young people about various dangers and young people have attended smoking cessation appointments. The home has a play therapist that works directly with a young person in placement and is available for staff to consult with.

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Quality of care good

Young people’s self-esteem is promoted through a range of varied and purposeful activities in the home and the local community. Young people have participated in a range of activities over the summer including visits to the cinema and the seaside; enabling greater peer interaction and opportunities to have fun. Staff support young 7 of 10 people to choose the activities they would like to participate in and there is a good balance between free time and opportunities to develop new interests.

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Quality of care good

The home is generally well presented and maintained; it provides a comfortable environment where young people feel secure. Refurbishment and painting of some of the rooms is due to start in the forthcoming weeks. Young people are able to choose the décor and furnishings in their rooms and to personalise these with pictures and posters. This approach enables young people to feel invested in their environment. However, one bedroom has a metal bars across the window. This has not been replaced with an appropriate window restrictor. This leads to an institutional feel in this room.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

The home provides an environment within which young people feel safe and where they are suitably protected from harm. Young people acknowledge the work staff do with them in order to keep them safe. However, it is not clear if young people who are subject to bullying are appropriately protected. According to staff spoken to and records available at the time of inspection incidents of bullying have taken place and have not always been accurately recorded. There are no clear strategies and consequences in place to minimise the occurrence of this behaviour. In addition, a young person’s risk assessment in relation to the level of supervision required was not followed in one instance. There is a wide range of safeguarding policies and procedures including safeguarding, anti-bullying and behaviour management. However, it is unclear if the anti-bullying procedure is implemented in practice.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Staff provide regular opportunities for young people to talk should they feel worried or upset. Staff are trained in a range of safeguarding issues and this is regularly reviewed. Staff have a sound understanding of safeguarding procedures and appropriate actions to take in response to any incidents concerning the protection of the young people. There are a number of occasions when young people are absent without authorisation, or go missing. Staff are aware of the reasons why the young people go missing and work with young people and professionals to reduce this. There is close and effective liaison with the local police when this occurs. The protocols that are in place minimise risk. Staff respond appropriately in line with risk assessments specific to young people going missing and take into account the particular vulnerabilities of each young person. Young people are given a range of opportunities for support and guidance to consider the reasons for and potential

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

consequences of their actions in relation to this behaviour.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Members of staff receive training in the use of physical intervention; there is an emphasis on de-escalation and distraction. Staff demonstrate a sound understanding of these principles and there is little use of physical intervention. Young people are learning how to manage their difficult and challenging emotions in appropriate ways. However, there is no clear audit trial in place to be able to easily cross reference 8 of 10 incidents and sanctions.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Safe recruitment practices are in place to ensure contracted staff have all the required checks prior to starting work in the home. This ensures that there are adequate safeguards for the protection of vulnerable young people. Matters of health and safety, and fire detection and prevention are given serious attention. This is underpinned by policies, procedures and training that alert staff to their roles and levels of responsibility. As a result, young people benefit from a safe environment and this has a positive impact upon their welfare. However, there is a garage within the garden area and it was unclear how safe the glass was in the windows as there is presently no risk assessment in place.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Notifications of significant events have been received by HMCI, Ofsted. The home follows the correct safeguarding procedures and ensures all necessary people are informed in a timely manner. The manager ensures that all the relevant agencies are informed promptly of any safeguarding issues.

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Leadership and management adequate

There is a strong management team effectively led by the Registered Manager. The Registered Manager has been in post in the children’s home since October 2013 and has completed a level 5 qualification in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People’s Services. She has the necessary experience to provide strong and effective leadership. However, the shortfall identified within the safeguarding judgement did not have appropriate management oversight. At the time of inspection, the manager was unable to provide evidence that appropriate action had taken place.

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Leadership and management adequate

The manager understands the strengths of the home and is aware of some of the areas for development.Staff report that morale is good amongst the team and they have clear direction and leadership. The management work hard to build confidence within the staff team and continue to identify and develop practice and processes. The manager and staff team have made huge progress in identifying and reflecting on the practice in the home and are positive about making further changes. A comprehensive development plan is in place which enables the manager to focus on the future for the home.

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Leadership and management adequate

The home offers care and accommodation for young people in line with its Statement of Purpose. The aims and objectives of the home are understood by authorities who place young people in the home. The manager has an efficient system to monitor key records as required by legislation. There is a focus on improving the quality of care provided. The manager attempts to gain views of young people, parents and placing authorities and this information is fully incorporated into this internal monitoring.

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Leadership and management adequate

Staff are enthusiastic and committed to the young people in their care. They form 9 of 10 good relationships with young people and speak positively about them. Staff numbers, their level of experience, and the support provided to them, are such that the staff sufficiently meet the needs of the young people. Recruitment processes are underway to fill vacant posts. The manager provides and receives regular supervision to ensure that young people are cared for by a team that knows how to meet the diverse needs of the young people. However, supervision records kept by the home have not been signed by the supervisor and member of staff. Therefore, it is not evidenced that the record is a clear reflection of the actual supervision. Effective communication through handovers and regular team meetings allow staff to keep up to date so as to provide consistent care. Young people are cared for by a staff team

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Leadership and management adequate

that receives regular training that equips them to undertake their designated roles. The home is currently reviewing the staff induction programme following feedback from recently appointed staff.

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Leadership and management adequate

Records are clear, up to date and provide a good picture of a young person's time living in the home. This ensures that an accurate history of events is recorded for them, should they wish to look at these records in the future. There were no requirements or recommendations arising from the previous inspection. Since the last inspection there has been one complaint; this has been dealt with promptly and effectively. This demonstrates capacity to learn from feedback. Social workers report very good working relationships with the staff and management of this home where communication is regular and reliable. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management adequate

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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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