Children's Home run by Compass Children’s Homes Kent Limited in Kent

Unique reference number SC425071 Inspector David Putnam Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Registered person Ferndearle Child Care Services Limited Registered person address 13 Highpoint Business Village, Henwood Ashford Kent TN24 8DH Responsible individual Alison Green Registered manager Sonata Brisley Date of last inspection 15/01/2014 2 of 12 Inspection date 16/07/2014

p.1

Previous inspection good progress Enforcement action since last inspection none

p.2

Overall effectiveness good

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

p.2

Overall effectiveness

Young people recognise positive improvements in their lives that result from the care they receive and the opportunities provided for them in this home. Some make fundamental changes that help promote their safety and welfare. Others benefit from periods of stability in their lives when this has not been their experience previously.

p.2

Overall effectiveness

Young people are seen as individuals. Their views are consistently sought, listened to and acted upon. Young people contribute to and benefit from personalised care plans that identify how their needs will be met. Significant emphasis is put on the importance of education. While most access the separately registered school on site, others attend mainstream schools or move on to college placements. All make progress in improving their educational attendance and achievement. The physical and emotional health needs of young people are also identified and met well.

p.2

Overall effectiveness

A committed group of staff are led by a determined and effective Registered Manager. Together with a supportive management team they establish and maintain positive changes that drive improvements in the services provided to young people.

p.2

Overall effectiveness

Parents identify the application of clear and consistent boundaries as a strength of the service. The home has demonstrated success in working with young people and 3 of 12 their families to enable young people to make planned returns to live with their families. The nature of this success improves outcomes for the young people concerned and leads to further interest in the development of this work as an additional or specialist service.

p.2

Overall effectiveness

Reviews of the quality of care are undertaken by the Registered Manager, but recent examples were not forwarded to Ofsted in expected timescales. This shortfall has minimal impact upon young people. Regular delays in submitting notifications of significant events to Ofsted do impact upon the regulatory body’s ability to monitor the service. Requirements are set to address these matters.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Recommendations are made to improve practice regarding the use of restraints, with a view to reducing further the frequency and impact of physical interventions within the home. While practice around young people who go missing is sound, the Registered Manager is not able to evidence full awareness of any difference in protocols for the various local authorities that place children in the home. 4 of 12

p.3

Information about this children’s home

This privately run children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Education is available on site. Therapy is available to young people if required.

p.4

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/01/2014 Interim good progress 31/07/2013 Full adequate 10/05/2013 Full inadequate 07/01/2013 Interim satisfactory progress

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

(2001) ensure that if any of the events listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 5 takes place the registered person shall without delay notify the persons indicated in respect of the even tin column 2 of the table (Regulation 30(1)) 31/10/2014

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) supply to Ofsted a report in respect of any review conducted for the purposes of paragraph (1) of this regulation. (Regulation 34(2)) 31/10/2014

p.4

Recommendations

5 of 12 To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

p.5

Recommendations

 encourage children to take responsibility for their behaviour, in a way that is appropriate to their age and abilities (NMS 3.6)  support staff to manage their responses and feelings arising from working with children, particularly where children display challenging behaviour or have difficult emotional issues (NMS 3.10)  ensure methods to de-escalate confrontations or potentially violent behaviour are used wherever appropriate to avoid the use of physical restraint, which is only used in exceptional circumstances (NMS 3.13)  ensure that where children placed from different authorities go missing, the Registered Manager of the home follows the local Runaway and Missing from Home and Care (RMFHC) protocol and also complies with any other processes required by the placing authority that are specified in the individual child's care plan. (NMS 5.7) 6 of 12

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people good

Some young people identify positive changes in themselves that directly result from the care they receive. For example those who previously placed themselves in vulnerable situations no longer do this. Through moving to this home they grasp opportunities provided to them. They no longer become involved in gang culture, use drugs or go missing. Others make positive changes but struggle to recognise this progress in their lives.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people good

The educational needs of young people are met well. Some attend mainstream provision and complete GCSE examinations, including all core subjects. They make positive friendships with contemporaries and maintain these relationships during free time in the wider community. Young people improve their attendance at school when compared with their starting points. For example young people who previously failed to engage with school for more than a year now achieve 88% attendance in the organisation’s separately registered school. While educational progress can be difficult to measure against nationally recognised standards, achievements are recognised and celebrated. Consequently, young people are encouraged by the improvements they make and express a desire and an eagerness to learn more. However, some struggle to maintain this progress when other events occur in their lives. As a result they do not consistently make the most out of the learning opportunities presented to them.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people good

Older young people are encouraged to further their education upon leaving school through support to access appropriate college courses. These are chosen to meet their particular needs and specific interests.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people good

Physical health needs of young people are identified well and planned for effectively. All young people are registered with relevant health professionals and appointments are consistently followed up. The emotional and psychological needs of young people are supported through access to therapy that is available to all, should they consent. Individual assessments inform personalised programmes of treatment.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people good

Engagement with activity and social groups within the locality of the home is encouraged. This enables young people to make friends while developing particular hobbies, skills and interests. Some make a valuable contribution through engagement in voluntary work for local woodland or wildlife charities. They are rightly proud of their achievements, which enhance the experiences of people in the wider community. Their efforts contribute to planned ways in which young people are encouraged to develop independence. This is progressed at a pace that ensures young people remain comfortable. As a result they grow in confidence and make significant progress over time.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people good

Practical skills are addressed through education and individual work with young people to further help them prepare for adulthood. A programme designed by 7 of 12 managers within the organisation serves to identify particular strengths along with areas where young people need to grow or improve. Plans are then put in place and progressed to develop, establish and maintain core skills. All young people are encouraged to contribute to the home. They willingly engage in chores that enhance their living environment and further develop their personal skills.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people good

Positive experiences of contact are encouraged and facilitated in ways that benefit young people and their families. Managers and staff make concerted efforts to greet and engage with the families of young people living in the home. Parents confirm that they are made to feel welcome when they visit.

p.7

Quality of care good

Key workers provide important relationships with young people, but openness exists between young people and all staff. Consequently, young people enjoy good relationships with staff. Key work sessions are completed by different staff at times. In this way staff with the most appropriate knowledge or experience are able to support the individual needs of different young people.

p.7

Quality of care good

Young people benefit from clear and firm boundaries being set by managers and staff. While some initially struggle to accept these, parents and placing social workers identify this as a strength of the home. They highlight the clarity of expectations and guidelines as very important for specific young people.

p.7

Quality of care good

Young people are made fully aware that they can make complaints and make use of this process. They confidently express their views. Complaints are taken seriously by managers and appropriate responses are made. This helps young people to understand that their views are valued and heard. Young people are consistently provided with feedback and receive appropriate responses to the matters they raise. When complaints are not upheld, young people are helped to understand why. When investigations identify where things should have been done differently or how improvements can be made in the future, lessons are learnt and changes to practice are made.

p.7

Quality of care good

The views of young people are sought in a variety of other ways. Their opinions are taken into account and used to develop the quality of care provided to young people. Day-to-day events are influenced by young people through regular house meetings. Young people openly contact the Registered Manager whom they can approach directly to simply have a chat or make particular requests. The views of young people are regularly sought through independent monthly monitoring visits. Following incidents when young people go missing, are restrained or have a sanction imposed, their views are consistently sought, recorded and reviewed by the Registered Manager. This supports effective monitoring and provides opportunities to further enhance the service. 8 of 12 Young people contribute to their own placement and care plans which are of a good standard. These documents are specific in detail and reflect the individuality of each

p.7

Quality of care good

young person. Staff carefully consider, identify and plan to meet the particular ethnic and cultural needs of young people. Young people are supported to contribute to discussion at their review meetings. Staff consult young people prior to these meetings to identify issues they would like raised. During meetings, staff enable young people to speak for themselves or advocate on their behalf. After meetings staff talk with young people to clarify their understanding of what was discussed.

p.8

Quality of care good

Managers and staff work closely with placing authorities and parents to achieve agreed outcomes. For example, positive and effective work is undertaken with young people and their extended families that results in some young people being able to return to live at home. The quality of this work is becoming a particular strength of the service and has led to referrals from placing authorities for similar work to be undertaken. Placing social workers describe the quality of service as ‘really good’ and identify the quality and frequency of communication from the home as significant. Similarly, parents value the fact that they can speak to any member of staff who all appear to be fully aware of the circumstances surrounding their children’s care. They describe the living environment as ‘very homely’.

p.8

Quality of care good

Robust and effective changes to medication practice have been undertaken since the last inspection. Suitable facilities for the storage, administration and recording of medication now further enhance the safety of young people.

p.8

Keeping children and young people safe adequate

While important improvements were identified during this inspection, issues remain in relation to the use of restraint within this home. The inspector found that the frequency of incidence of restraint is reducing over time. In addition the content of records relating to restraints has significantly improved. These records now meet regulatory expectations. Monitoring by the Registered Manager is also now undertaken consistently, this includes consultation with young people who are encouraged to express their views.

p.8

Keeping children and young people safe adequate

However, the quality of detail in a small number of restraint records lack clarity. As a consequence it is not always possible to identify whether all attempts to de-escalate a situation have been taken prior to staff taking steps to physically intervene. While this did not constitute a regulatory shortfall, young people are impacted by a readiness of staff to engage in physical restraint rather than use their relationships to identify alternate approaches. For example, young people who have lived in the home for a number of years continue to be restrained at times. This indicates that staff are not able to establish sufficient rapport with young people to enable or encourage young people to take responsibility for their own behaviours.

p.8

Keeping children and young people safe adequate

In addition the inspector found that staff are not consistently supported to manage 9 of 12 their own responses and feelings arising from working with young people who display challenging behaviours. During this inspection staff were observed during a physical restraint of a young person. A difficult and challenging situation was handled well by staff. However, at one point an inappropriate comment was made to the young person during the restraint. While the young person did not appear to react specifically to this, the comment had the potential to exacerbate the situation.

p.8

Keeping children and young people safe adequate

The safety of young people is enhanced by the opportunities they have to express their views. Young people are confident to speak out about any concerns they may have. Records reflect robust responses to any bullying incidents and young people know this is not tolerated. Young people’s sense of safety is boosted by the ways managers and staff respond to matters raised. For example, allegations made against members of staff are dealt with appropriately. The Local Authority Designated Officer is consistently consulted along with placing authorities. Thorough investigations are undertaken and matters are followed up with all concerned to promote the safety of children while continuing to support the staff concerned.

p.9

Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Excellent recruitment practices help to protect vulnerable young people from unsuitable applicants. All recruitment is supported by staff from the organisation’s head office leading to clear and robust recording. Young people contribute to the selection and vetting of staff, through identifying suitable questions to ask at interview and providing feedback to managers after meeting applicants.

p.9

Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Established processes ensure that the physical environment of the home is safe. Health, safety and maintenance checks around the home are kept up-to-date and consistently reviewed. Personalised risk assessment documents are produced to a good standard. Risks to individual young people are carefully identified. Measures of control are carefully considered and help to reduce risks to manageable levels.

p.9

Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Young people do express that they feel safe in the home. Those who have previously put themselves in vulnerable situations describe feeling ‘overprotected’. However, the inspector identified that fundamental changes in the lives of such young people resulted in demonstrably positive outcomes for them. Placing social workers confirm that through the establishment of boundaries young people stop running away, taking illegal drugs and no longer put themselves in vulnerable situations.

p.9

Keeping children and young people safe adequate

A clear policy relating to young people going missing is in place. Consequently staff know what to do when this happens. An established working relationship with local police supports prompt action in line with the local Runaway and Missing from Home and Care (RMFHC) protocol. However, the Registered Manager confirmed that they are not aware of any subtle differences in the same protocols for all placing authorities. As a result they are not able to demonstrate these are being met.

p.9

Leadership and management adequate

10 of 12 A suitably experienced and qualified Registered Manager is in post. Since their appointment they have shown commitment and determination, working hard to improve the quality of the service provided to young people. Significant refinements have been made and an improving direction of travel has been evidenced through recent inspection judgements. The Registered Manager continues to be supported by an experienced and pro-active line manager who acts as director of operations for the organisation. Newly appointed senior care staff augment the management team.

p.10

Leadership and management adequate

Recommendations made at the last inspection have been effectively addressed. The introduction of a new record book now logs all information in relation to young people who go missing in one place. This makes monitoring more effective and helps to recognise patterns or trends. Separate action taken by leaders and managers contributes to ensuring that young people are cared for by suitably qualified staff. All staff confirmed in post either hold or have now been enrolled upon the relevant diploma course. Staff are supported to attain this qualification in designated timescales. No statutory requirements were set at the last inspection.

p.10

Leadership and management adequate

The full complement of staff, including the Registered Manager, benefit from receiving regular supervision of a good standard. This provides staff with opportunities to share their thoughts, consider their practice, and be challenged to improve their individual performance. In addition to formal supervision, informal advice and support is accessed through open channels of communication. Annual appraisals of staff lead to the identification of personal targets that are set out in individual development plans. A comprehensive programme for training staff addresses core learning as well as pertinent areas of specialism identified through monitoring of the service. This enables staff to be equipped to meet the needs of the specific young people in their care.

p.10

Leadership and management adequate

Leaders and managers work together with staff to develop positive working relationships with external agencies. These promote positive outcomes for young people. For example, work with police helps young people to understand the impact of certain behaviours. This helps to divert young people from engaging in criminal activities that may affect their future life chances. Work with specialist officers from the local fire and rescue service helps young people to better understand risks. Work with health professionals appropriately promotes young peoples’ awareness about sexual health and the use of illegal drugs, enabling them to make informed choices.

p.10

Leadership and management adequate

Leaders and managers have reviewed and made further improvements to the home’s statement of purpose since the last inspection. These changes help to make the document accessible to parents and placing authorities, so that the services and facilities available in the home are set out clearly.

p.10

Leadership and management adequate

The Registered Manager ensures that the home is well maintained and that requirements relating to health and safety are prioritised when necessary. Leaders and managers have reverted to placing flat screen televisions within Perspex boxes, purportedly to protect them from being damaged. In addition they have reintroduced 11 of 12 the use of a buzzer that makes a loud noise each time external doors are opened. This form of monitoring is set out in agreements with parents and placing authorities and therefore does not constitute a regulatory breach. However, the changes described detract from what is otherwise a homely feel to the living environment.

p.10

Leadership and management adequate

Leaders and managers use established monitoring frameworks to identify areas where further improvements are required. Regular monthly independent visits are undertaken. Reports of these visits are comprehensive and are consistently submitted to Ofsted. They reflect consultation with young people, placing social workers and parents and include robust challenge to drive up standards. The Registered Manager also completes reviews of the quality of care at least every three months. A revised template ensures that all matters set out in the Children’s Homes Regulations 2001 are considered. However, due to an administrative error these reports had not been submitted to Ofsted within designated timescales. While this temporarily impacted upon Ofsted’s ability to monitor the service this shortfall had minimal impact upon young people.

p.11

Leadership and management adequate

Notifications of significant events are forwarded to the relevant external agencies. However, since the last inspection there have been several examples of significant delays when submitting this information to Ofsted. These frequently extended to a number of weeks and were rarely in line with the expectation that they are submitted without delay. Consequently, the ability of Ofsted to monitor important events in the home was impaired. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.11

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.12

Judgement Description

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

p.12

Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

p.12

Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

p.12

Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

p.12

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.12

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.12