Children's Home run by Care Focus Limited in Essex

Unique reference number SC461240 Inspector Gwen Buckley Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Care Focus Limited Registered person address Care Focus Ltd 18 Bury Street STOWMARKET Suffolk IP14 1HH Responsible individual Jean Lloyd Registered manager Kaye Joyce Arnold / Leroy Ferguson Manhertz Date of last inspection 10/10/2013 2 of 6 Inspection date 02/10/2014

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Previous inspection good Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has declined in effectiveness .

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This inspection

A regular review of care plans ensures timely action to address any emerging needs. This ensures staff have a very good understanding of the needs of each young person and actions needed to support them both socially and in education. Highly individual strategies help young people manage things they have found difficult. For example, these have enabled young people attend lessons and stay in school. The Registered Manager has introduced a system which evidences the progress young people have made. When shared with young people they can see how well they have done and what has changed for them. This raises their self-esteem and confidence as it clearly shows the good progress they have made. Staff and young people have excellent relationships and young people say they are safe and have adults they can turn to if they are sad or worried.

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This inspection

Young people are helped to prepare for adulthood and are expected to keep their rooms tidy and help around the house. They have access to the fridge and fruit is available at all the times. Each week they enjoy cooking a meal for the staff and other young people in the home. However, the days they are not doing this, the main food store is locked. Locking the food store has become custom and practice and not in line with any identified risks. Young people support a local charity and will collect and take food to a local food-bank.

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This inspection

Social workers consider that the staff support young people well. They consider staff could do no more and do their utmost. They do not give up and meet the needs of all the young people, even during difficult times and a placement breaks down. External professionals state: ‘I have always experienced professionalism from the staff towards me, the staff have always made sure I am informed of all situations ensuring my visits have a positive outcome with the young people. I can’t think of a bad visit and always look forward to the forward thinking of the management team and what new ideas they have created for the young people.’ 3 of 6 Both the recommendations made at the last inspection have been met. The home is a listed grade 2 building: within the rules that govern this the young people are in the process of decorating their own bedrooms and staff are supporting young people to achieve this. The vulnerability of the young people in the home is considered

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This inspection

when organising activities that helps them integrate into the community in a safe way. Restraint logs contain all the required information. The environment has improved by decorating and replacing carpets in many areas and flooring in the bathroom. However, the home is not well maintained, as damage to bedroom doors has not been addressed.

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This inspection

Regulation 34 monitoring reports show that the home has a clear understanding of young people needs. The provider has engaged an external consultant to review care practice. The manager is a reflective practitioner who is learning from and developing practice following referrals to local safeguarding organisations. This contributes to his continuous professional development and underpins work with young people in delivering good quality care. External professionals consider the manager and staff work in partnership with them which improves the experiences of young people.

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This inspection

Health and safety arrangements are not robust or effective. Risk assessments for outings to a local pier do not mention the sea and any danger this might pose. The home’s own procedures such as monthly fire drills and fire safety checks do not take place within expected timeframes. The fire risk assessment states health and safety checks are carried out monthly and the manager monitors logs on a monthly basis. Since October 2013, one fire risk assessment check has taken place and the last fire drill was in July 2014. The visitors’ book, which is signed by all visitors, lists the emergency procedure in case of fire and indicates three fire exits. However, one of these exits is kept locked and only staff have keys. The home’s fire risk assessment does not mention this locked fire exit or any agreement with the Fire and Rescue Service. The integrity of two bedroom doors is compromised, with one not being

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This inspection

able to close, which does not ensure safety of young people. Internal and external monitoring of the home has not identified these issues and staff have not brought any concerns to the manager’s attention. These are significant issues and do not ensure the safety of those living and working in the home. 4 of 6

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Information about this children’s home

This home is one of three homes owned and run by a charitable organisation. The home offers care and accommodation for up to three young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is registered for single sex occupancy. There are educational facilities on site.

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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 parts of the home used by children are kept clean and reasonably maintained (Regulation 31 (2) (e)) 30/10/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home (Regulation 32 (1A)) 31/10/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) establish and maintain a system for monitoring the matters set out in Schedule 6 at least once in every 3 months. This specifically relates to risk assessments for health and safety purposes and subsequent action taken. (Regulation 34 (1) Schedule 6 (18)) 30/11/2014

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s): 5 of 6  develop risk assessment processes to ensure the home implements a proportionate approach to any risk assessment. This relates to the assessing outings where there is water and not mentioning this in the assessment (NMS 4.5)  ensure avoidable hazards are removed as is consistent with a domestic setting. Risk reduction does not lead to an institutional feel. This relates to the practice of locking the food store. (NMS 10.3) Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Recommendations

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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

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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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