Children's Home run by Keys Group Progressive Care & Education Limited in Hampshire

Unique reference number SC412476 Inspector Keith Riley Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person New Horizon Centre Limited Registered person address European Care Group 2 Parklands, Rednal BIRMINGHAM B45 9PZ Responsible individual Amanda Elizabeth Morgan-Taylor Registered manager POST VACANT Date of last inspection 13/06/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 13/08/2014

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Previous inspection inadequate Enforcement action since last inspection A notice restricting accommodation for the period 23 June 2014 to 22 August 2014 was issued.

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A compliance notice was issued on 23 June 2014 for breaching Regulation 25 of the children's home's regulations which states, 'The registered person shall ensure that there is at all times, a sufficient number of suitably qualified, competent and experienced persons working at the children’s home'.

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Overall effectiveness adequate

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

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Overall effectiveness

At the last inspection the home was judged as inadequate. A full re-inspection took place to assess progress against the shortfalls.

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Overall effectiveness

A new manager has recently been appointed who demonstrates an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. There has been some improvement in staffing. This means that the young people currently accommodated are cared for by a consistent staff who are committed to meet their individual needs. Such needs are identified in the placement plan. There is now a system in place to review behaviour management strategies with the agreement of interested parties. 3 of 10 Relationships between young people and staff are good. Their views and feelings are sought regularly. There are some positive outcomes, such as being able to tolerate a hair cut or manage personal care.

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Overall effectiveness

A complaint was made to Ofsted about poor staffing levels. Adequate progress has been made in recruiting staff. The current cohort of young people are safe in the home with the current staffing levels. Young people are able to access the community safely. However, young people are unable to access leisure trips further afield from the home due to a lack of drivers. The senior management team acknowledge the need to have in place the correct number of trained staff before accepting any new admissions.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff now have regular supervision and support. As a result staff morale is improving. Appraisals are planned but not yet implemented.

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Overall effectiveness

One final area for improvement is regarding the downstairs shower. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

The home offers small group living to four young people with learning disabilities. It is privately owned.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/06/2014 Full inadequate 31/10/2013 Interim satisfactory progress 16/04/2013 Full good 23/01/2013 Interim good progress

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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) provide suitable washing facilities for use by children accommodated in the home, in particular the downstairs shower (Regulation 31 (3)) 12/12/2014

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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 children pursue individual interests and hobbies including leisure activities and trips (NMS 7.2)  ensure staff have their performance individually and formally appraised at 5 of 10 least annually (NMS 19.6) 6 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people make some good progress, such as being able to tolerate a hair-cut, achieving their ideal weight or being able to use the toilet independently. Education is seen as a priority in the home. Young people benefit from the structure and routine in the school day. The vast majority of young people are making good progress in relation to starting points.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people have access to support and services to meet their health needs such as attending routine appointments. Parents guide staff as to their wishes and views, such as whether to take up routine vaccinations for their child. Specialist support for other needs is sought when necessary, for example through a consultant psychiatrist. Potential triggers for challenging behaviours are identified, enabling strategies to be put into place.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Menus are varied with options for any specific dietary needs and fresh fruit is readily available. Young people with communication difficulties are able to participate in selecting the menu, for example choosing different meals from pictures. Mealtimes are well ordered with young people developing their social skills.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people have appropriate contact with people who are important to them. Staff fully support the arrangements that are in place. This means young people are able to maintain a sense of identity and important links.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people make reasonable progress toward their independence. Life skills, such as being able to load a dishwasher, are practiced daily.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people are supported within the home to engage in an activity of their choice, such as trampoline, music or exercise bicycle. Community integration is improving as the staff team grows. However on occasion, young people are unable to access a trip of their choice due to a lack of staff who can drive the home's vehicle.

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Quality of care adequate

Young people receive a satisfactory quality of care. They benefit from constructive and positive relationships with staff who are attentive to their needs. Experienced staff, attuned to the particular idiosyncrasies of each young person, are on hand to guide other staff if necessary. Staff are mindful of the dynamics within the group, for example when a young person makes a lot of noise due to their disability, and are on hand to diffuse situations as they arise. 7 of 10 Young people’s views are promoted and valued. Young people with communication difficulties are listened to, for example in how they want to spend their pocket money. Young people are offered key work sessions to be able to have their views heard formally.

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Quality of care adequate

An appropriate programme of care planning ensures that young people have their specific needs met. Individual needs are assessed and incorporated into the placement plan. This includes education. Staff provide support to ensure there is a culture that promotes and encourages learning.

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Quality of care adequate

Young people’s healthcare needs are met. Health action plans are completed which provide a good overview of needs and how these are to be met by staff. All young people are registered with local doctors, opticians and dentists, and are assisted to attend appointments. There are suitable arrangements in place for managing medication including controlled drugs. Clear protocols guide staff when to administer 'as and when required' medication. This means that young people are not at risk of receiving unsuitable doses of medication, for example during a period of heightened anxiety, without exploring alternate strategies first.

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Quality of care adequate

Members of staff enable young people to take part in some activities. This allows them to develop their self-esteem and confidence and to experience being a positive part of a community. However, access to some leisure trips, on occasion, are limited due to the number of staff on duty who are authorised to drive the home's vehicle.

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Quality of care adequate

Young people live in a home that offers them a good standard of accommodation. Communal areas are comfortable and homely. However, the downstairs shower is in need of refurbishment. This is recognised by the manager with plans to address it.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Staff understand young people's individual needs and vulnerabilities. They are confident in the processes to follow should they be concerned for a young person's safety or welfare. Clear procedures guide staff to ensure any issues are dealt with in consultation with other professionals. There have been no safeguarding concerns since the last inspection.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Staff are trained in the home's approved behaviour management restraint techniques and apply them only when necessary. The number of physical interventions is minimal. Such interventions are low level and of short duration. Interventions guide young people rather than restrain them. Non-verbal clues from young people indicating how they are feeling are picked up by staff and acted upon.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Young people do not go missing from care but staff are aware what to do should this happen. Supervision levels are high which lessens the risk of a young person going missing. Likewise, bullying is not an identified issue. Staff ensure that behaviour 8 of 10 which may cause distress is carefully managed so all young people are protected.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Young people's safety is promoted by risk assessments for the environment and activities. The approach to risk management means that young people are able to take part in activities and outings with the support they need.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

The setting's recruitment policy is thorough and ensures young people are protected from harm by robust personnel checks for staff.

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Leadership and management adequate

All of the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection have been met.

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Leadership and management adequate

A new manager has recently been appointed who has submitted an application to register with Ofsted. He shows an awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. Staff, parents and professionals speak positively of their initial contact with the new manager. The management team has been strengthened with the appointment of team leaders with clear responsibility to deputise in the manager's absence. This means there are clear lines of accountability and a point of contact for parents and professionals.

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Leadership and management adequate

Morale is improving. The frequency of staff supervision has improved recently. Although annual appraisals have not yet taken place, they are scheduled in the near future. Staff have access to good training opportunities to continue to develop their practice. Staff speak positively of the changes being brought in to improve the service.

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Leadership and management adequate

At the last inspection, the organisation was asked to improve the staffing levels. Progress has been made, such as employing staff on temporary to permanent contracts. Other staffing shortfalls are currently being met through the use of regular bank staff and overtime. Staff who work overtime now say this is manageable and not impacting on their well-being. There are clear strategies to recruit more staff, such as holding recruitment days in nearby locations. The immediate situation is being adequately managed with the number of young people currently living in the home. The senior management team acknowledge there is not sufficient staffing capacity to admit further young people. There is a clear strategy to build and train new staff prior to any new young people being admitted into the home.

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Leadership and management adequate

Monthly monitoring reports are regularly completed and sent to Ofsted. Internal audits of records are also in place. The majority of records kept are of good quality. However, there is some duplication which, on occasion, causes confusion for staff. There is no negative impact on young people.

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Leadership and management adequate

Health and safety is well managed with required checks taking place regularly. 9 of 10 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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