Children's Home run by Fairfield Residential Limited in Cheshire West and Chester

Unique reference number SC397987 Inspector Janine Shortman-Thomas Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Fairfield Residential Ltd Registered person address Fairfield House 59 Warburton Lane Manchester Lancashire M31 4NL Responsible individual Kendall Tzaraine Cope Registered manager Debra McGarrigan Date of last inspection 21/03/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 04/09/2014

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Previous inspection good progress Enforcement action since last inspection There has been no enforcement action since the last inspection.

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Overall effectiveness adequate

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

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Overall effectiveness

Young people benefit from personalised care packages, which take account of their complex needs. They are supported to choose and take part in a full range of social and community activities which allows them to experience different things and develop new skills in preparation for adulthood. All young people are supported to enjoy good health, through regular health screening, monitoring and positive links with a range of health professionals. Most young people access the education provision which best meets their needs. However some young people are yet to access a provision which is appropriate for their specific needs. As a consequence all young people make good progress with their health and some young people make adequate progress from their initial starting point with their education.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people’s wishes and views are sought in line with their unique needs and abilities. The core staff team engage with young people in a meaningful way to gain an understanding of their likes and dislikes. Staff use this knowledge to inform care planning and make improvements to the way they deliver their services to the young people. 3 of 10 The Registered Manager undertakes regular monitoring and supervision to ensure she understands the strengths and shortfalls of the home. The areas for improvement are incorporated into the working development plan which is under regular review. Whilst the home has previously benefited from a consistent core staff team who have delivered a high level of support and services; recent months have seen a change in staffing and an increase in the use of agency staff. Whilst this has not provided continuity of care for the young people, this shortfall has not negatively impacted on the young people’s welfare or safety.

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Overall effectiveness

In order to promote the welfare and progress of young people requirements and recommendations have been raised in relation to education and staffing. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned and is registered to provide accommodation for up to two children with learning difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/03/2014 Interim good progress 31/07/2013 Full good 26/02/2013 Interim inadequate progress 14/12/2012 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) The registered person shall promote the educational achievement of children accommodated in a children’s home, in particular by ensuring that- The children make use of educational facilities appropriate to their age, aptitude, needs, interest and potential. (Regulation 18 (1) ( a)) 10/10/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the independent person, when carrying out a visit, shall –(a) interview, with their consent and in private, such of the children accommodated there, their parents, relatives and persons working at the children’s home. (Regulation 33 ( 8) (a) (i)) 10/10/2014 5 of 10

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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

 The registered person makes every effort to achieve continuity of staffing so that children’s attachments are not overly disrupted. No more than half the staff on duty at any one time, by day or night, at the home are to be from an external agency, and no member of staff from an external agency is to be alone on duty at night in the home ( NMS 17.8). 6 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people make steady progress in their social, emotional and academic development. They remain settled as they understand the routines and boundaries in the home. Behaviour management strategies have been formulated in consultation with partner agencies and take account of young people’s complex needs and level of understanding. These strategies are effective in promoting socially acceptable behaviour. As a result young people benefit from maintaining positive relationships with each other and the staff team which enables effective group living.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Most young people access an education provision that meets their individual needs. Staff maintain positive working relationships with education staff that guarantees communication is effective and up to date. This ensures most young people’s individual education plans are kept current, ensuring they sustain and develop skills they need to succeed into adulthood.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people are encouraged to eat a healthy well balanced diet and choose to regularly take part in physical activities. This includes going to the park, playing on the swings, bowling, swimming and attending the communication youth group. The home has good links with health care professionals such as the local doctors, community paediatricians and the speech and language therapist. As a result, young people’s health needs are met and they are supported to lead a healthy and active lifestyle.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Staff value the importance of contact for young people in understanding their heritage and identity and facilitate and support this thoughtfully. Individual contact plans are in place. This ensures young people's contact is well planned, safe, enjoyable, and a positive experience for all involved. As a result young people maintain regular, quality contact with their family members and those significant to them.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people are prepared for their transition to independence. They are encouraged to assist with household chores and given realistic opportunities to develop their independent living skills in line with their individual needs and ability. For example one young person was observed making a choice of food for their evening meal. This support enables young people to be involved in decisions that affect them and helps to develop their abilities and skills.

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Quality of care adequate

7 of 10 Young people share positive relationships with the core staff team. These relationships underpin all aspects of practice and are used to encourage sociably acceptable behaviour through positive role modelling and agreed behaviour management strategies. Negative behaviour is calmly addressed and young people are helped to manage their feelings and emotions more appropriately. This has resulted in young people showing greater self-control and relying less on the interventions and support of staff. For example, one young person’s independent reviewing officer stated, ‘I have observed staff using effective strategies to distract and manage behaviours. This has worked well and has reduced certain behaviours over time.’

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Quality of care adequate

Young people are encouraged to make choices in line with their abilities and understanding. Staff use a range of effective communication methods, such as verbal, pictorial and signing which ensure young peoples’ wishes and views are obtained.

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Quality of care adequate

Care practice is highly individualised and clearly focused on young peoples' individual needs and areas for development. Most staff have a comprehensive understanding of the young people in their care. Positive links and good communication with a range of external professionals promote a collaborative and inclusive approach to care planning. This ensures young people receive the individual care and support that they need and deserve to ensure that they can achieve their best possible outcomes.

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Quality of care adequate

Young people’s health is routinely monitored to ensure their known and emerging needs are met. They are registered with a doctor, dentist and optician at the point of admission and are well supported to attend routine appointments. In addition young people are supported to access specific health services as identified within their individual health care plan. Reluctance to engage in appointments is positively managed by the staff. This has proven effective in ensuring young people access services that they have not done previously and so remain up to date with routine checks and appointments.

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Quality of care adequate

The value of education is promoted by staff and levels of attendance are high. Good links with education professionals promote a collaborative approach to supporting young people to engage in the learning environment. Most young people attend an educational provision that can best meet their individual needs. However where it has been identified that an educational provision is no longer effective, staff and managers have not supported or advocated for some young people to access the appropriate provision in a timely manner. This results in further disruption and impacts on continuity of education for some young people.

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Quality of care adequate

Young people live in a home that is suitably located and they can access a range of local amenities. It is safe and maintained to an acceptable standard. The home is equipped and appropriately furnished. Each bedroom has been personalised to meet the young persons’ needs. Communal areas are used effectively to ensure young 8 of 10 peoples’ individual needs are met, for example sensory lighting and personalised seating are used regularly to support young people to enjoy their restful time.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people’s risks and vulnerabilities are continuously assessed and fully recorded in young people’s risk management plans. Information in these plans is routinely shared during handovers, supervision and team meetings to ensure staff are equipped to keep young people safe.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Positive behaviour is rewarded and celebrated within the home and sanctions and physical restraints are not imposed. One member of staff was observed to calmly interact and redirect a young person who was becoming distressed which ensured that their anxiety levels reduced and the behaviours subsided. As a result there have been no episodes of young people being physically restrained since the last inspection.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

There are clear safeguarding procedures in place. Staff are aware and understand their responsibilities should an injury be observed, an allegation be made or a young people goes missing. Due to the effective staff support and the individual ability and needs of the young people there had been no allegations or incidents of young people going missing.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The home has a core staff team who provide a high level of care and support to the young people. They are able to undertake their roles and responsibilities effectively as they are provided with a robust training plan which ensure that they have the skills, knowledge and experience they need to deliver a high level of care to young people with complex needs.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people live in a physically safe environment. This is because they are protected by a range of health and safety procedures, risk assessments and routine checks. Individual evacuation plans are detailed, understood and regularly practiced by young people and staff.

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Leadership and management adequate

There were no requirements and one recommendation made at the last inspection. The recommendation to replace the laminated floor in the dining room, hallway and upstairs landing has now been adequately addressed. 9 of 10 The home is managed and run by a Registered Manager who has the necessary skills and experience to provide clear leadership and management of the home. She holds a degree in Social Work and has been registered as manager at the home from July 2013.

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Leadership and management adequate

The home is consistently managed and effective in meeting its Statement of Purpose. A clear vision of child focused practice is embedded within the home's ethos. The manager works directly with young people and staff to adequately monitor young people's welfare, which ensures the sufficient standards of care and the safety of young people. The Registered Manager provides effective leadership and accountability therefore staff fully understands their roles and responsibilities.

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Leadership and management adequate

Staff understand the majority of young peoples’ diverse needs and support them to achieve their goals. Recordings are generally good and provide a picture of young people's daily lives. However, reporting and recordings of incidents and accidents are not always reported fully and to the required agencies.

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Leadership and management adequate

The homes procedures for recruiting permanent staff are robust. Staff are subject to a rigorous process, including an application form, group interview and then an individual interview. Relevant checks are undertaken prior to staff commencing work to ensure they are suitable to work with vulnerable young people. On occasion agency staff have been working alone to cover staff shortages. The use of agency staff impacts on the stability of the staff team and affects the continuity of care provided to the young people.

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Leadership and management adequate

There are internal systems in place to monitor the quality of care which include monthly and quarterly reviews by the management team. Although, internal monitoring is sufficient the external monitoring undertaken by the independent visitor is not robust. This monitoring is not inclusive as it does not take into account young people, their families and partner agencies views nor does it fully analyse or identify trends to continually improve the service. The management and leadership team are clear and transparent about the strengths and weaknesses of the home and are in the process of addressing these through the development and training plan. 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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