Children's Home run by First 4 Care Limited in Doncaster

Unique reference number SC390293 Inspector Nicola McEvinney Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person First 4 Care Limited Registered person address 7 Albion Place DONCASTER South Yorkshire DN1 2EG Responsible individual Carolann Dodds Registered manager POST VACANT Date of last inspection 28/02/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 03/10/2014

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Previous inspection good progress Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness inadequate

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

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are provided with good quality of care and the home has a history of good outcomes for young people.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people consider that they are well looked after by staff who they have built good relationships with. Young people say that they feel safe although persistent unknown whereabouts of some young people put them at risk.

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Overall effectiveness

However, over recent months there has been a disruption of the management of the home that has created instability. The Responsible Individual has taken on the oversight of the home. She has an understanding of the majority of the requirements and recommendations raised. However, she failed to grasp the significance of fully ensuring that all required information is sought when recruiting staff. This has the potential to impact negatively on the welfare of young people.

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Overall effectiveness

Requirements and recommendations raised at this inspection relate to the appointment of a suitably qualified and experienced manager; young people’s diets, young people’s missing person’s protocols and staff training on this; signing in of visitors; regulation 33 and 34 reports; admissions to the home; recruitment of staff; risk assessments; staff training; and sharing information with placing authorities. 3 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

The setting is operated by a private organisation and registered to provide care for three young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties between 10 and 17 years. The Statement of Purpose specifies placements are medium to long term.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/02/2014 Interim good progress 15/08/2013 Full good 26/02/2013 Interim good progress 21/09/2012 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) ensure young people are provided with wholesome and nutritious meals (Regulation 13(1)(a)(ii)) 30/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the missing child policy has regard to any relevant local or police protocols on missing children (Regulation 16 (5)) 30/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the record of visitors to the home is properly maintained by requesting all visitors to sign in (Regulation 29(1) and Schedule 4 (13) 01/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

7 (2001) ensure an individual is appointed to manage the home ( Regulation 7 (1)) 01/12/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure parents are interviewed as part of the Regulation 33 process (Regulation 33 (8) (a)) 30/11/2014 4 of 10 (2001) ensure that the children's home is conducted so as to promote and make proper provision for the safeguarding and welfare of children accommodated there. Specifically that the home only admits children whose assessed needs they can reasonably expect to meet (Regulation 11(1)(a)) 01/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure where a person has previously worked with children full and satisfactory information is available in relation to him in respect of each of the matters specified in Schedule 2. In particular, to establish verification of the reason why the employment or positon ended (Regulation 26 (3) (d) and Schedule 2 4.) 01/11/2014

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 encourage young people to take appropriate risks as a normal part of growing up, by reviewing risk assessments (NMS 4.4)  ensure staff keep up-to-date with professional developments, in particular missing person's protocols (NMS 18.1)  ensure all staff complete the level 3 Children and Young Peoples Workforce Diploma (NMS 18.5)  ensure the responsible authorities are notified of any significant changes, for example, changes in the management of the home. (NMS 15.4) 5 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people have developed in confidence and staff help them to build their self- esteem. Some have maintained good relationships with friends outside the home who they spend regular time with.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people enjoy good health, they are encouraged to attend all health appointments with doctors, dentists and opticians and outcomes from these appointments are recorded. Although young people are able to choose their meals there is a tendency towards high carbohydrates and ‘junk’ food. This does not ensure young people are provided regularly with healthy and nutritious meals. Some young people say that they really want to stop smoking; therefore smoking cessation services are accessed for these individuals.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people benefit from the proactive approach of the staff team who source education provision that young people will engage with. This has had a significant impact for some young people who have not engaged with education for a considerable period prior to their admission.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people’s life experiences were enhanced over the summer months by their engagement with a community project. For example, they cleared local hedgerows and baked cakes which were sold for a charity. This helps young people to develop social responsibility. Some young people enjoy horticulture and are responsible for maintaining the flower tubs in the garden. This helps them to develop interests and skills which they are wanting to develop further by having a gardening plot. This is being actioned over the winter months in preparation for the Spring.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

The majority of young people have responded to the care provided and have significantly reduced the incidence of absconding; behaviours that were prevalent prior to admission. There are good negotiations which enable some young people to have free time while returning to the home as per their agreement. However, some young people have recently been admitted who have promptly fallen back into behaviours that they were adamant that they would not engage in; this puts them at risk. The Responsible Individual has recognised this and immediately alerted the placing authority to identify alternative appropriate provision.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people’s contact arrangements are clearly set out in their care plans although some young people will make their own arrangements; young people say that this is supported by staff who provide regular phone top ups. Young people are encouraged to bring friends back to the home, although this is a new venture for some. The Responsible Individual was proactive in obtaining addresses of significant relatives who were initially reluctant to provide them. This enables them to liaise as necessary particularly in case of an emergency. 6 of 10 Young people have good opportunities to develop age appropriate skills that they require to make a successful transition to adulthood. For example, some regularly prepare their own meals and maintain their own private space.

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Quality of care good

Young people enjoy good relationships with staff who provide a good level of care. Young people say ‘I love it, it’s cushty’. Relationships between the young people are based on mutual respect, living in harmony with one another.

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Quality of care good

Regular house meetings ensure that young people’s views are heard and responded to. They have their say about meals provided and activities organised. Young people confirm that they always have someone that they can talk to. Young people attend their childcare review meetings to ensure they understand what is going on and have their views heard.

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Quality of care good

Although the regulatory body has received a number of complaints the majority have not been substantiated. There have not been any complaints raised by young people regarding the care provided. Although they confirm that they know how to make a complaint.

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Quality of care good

Young people’s care is optimised by having their individual needs clearly set out in their care plan with guidance in place setting out how these needs are to be met. Alongside the care plans individual daily routines are in place which set out on a daily basis how the young person is to be cared for from waking up in a morning until going to bed. This ensures a consistency of care which is pertinent in this period of staff changes. Some social workers speak highly of the care provided and consider that their ‘children’ have made good progress. Minutes from childcare reviews demonstrate that young people are settled in placement and parents are happy with the level of care provided.

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Quality of care good

Young people benefit from accessing a range of services to help meet their complex needs. For example, child psychologists support young people with their emotional needs and advise staff on how best to manage some of the complex behaviours young people present. Other young people access the children and adolescent mental health service to support them on emotional issues. The youth offending service support some young people to address their criminal behaviours.

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Quality of care good

Young people’s behaviours are well managed, good key work sessions help young people to address concerning behaviours. Young people are able to discuss these behaviours with staff and work through strategies to prevent reoccurrence. This promotes their wellbeing.

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Quality of care good

Young people enjoy a range of enjoyable activities. For example, some go dancing, 7 of 10 the cinema, some participate in arts and crafts and story writing, baking and spending time with family and friends. There are local parks and animal sanctuaries that the young people like to visit. Some young people have pets such as hamsters and fish which they care for.

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Quality of care good

Young people’s quality of life is enhanced by them living in a home which is situated in a quiet rural setting. It is decorated and furnished to a high standard; most bedrooms are en-suite and for those that are not there is a family bathroom available. Young people are able to have their rooms decorated to their choice resulting in tasteful pleasant private space where they enjoy spending time.

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Keeping children and young people safe inadequate

Those young people who are in long-term placements say they feel safe. The home was prompt to address issues of bullying at school; steps were taken to ensure good liaison between the home and school to protect the young people concerned.

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Keeping children and young people safe inadequate

Recent admissions to the home have reverted back to previous behaviours of going missing and indulging in substance misuse; although there were only two occasions when they were missing overnight. The staff team have procedures that they follow when young people do go missing but there is a lack of awareness of the local authority’s protocols. Also, at the time of the inspection the staff team were undertaking the safe and well check on the young people’s return to the home; although the police are now undertaking this task. The home has asked the placing authority to review the appropriateness of the placement in order to better safeguard these young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe inadequate

Young people say that they can talk to staff if they have any worries; this promotes their welfare.

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Keeping children and young people safe inadequate

Young people are generally well behaved; their good behaviour is rewarded which helps to promote their self-esteem. There are very few sanctions recorded; these are all appropriate. There have not been any physical restraints.

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Keeping children and young people safe inadequate

The lack of robust recruitment practices compromise the safeguarding of young people. For example, where employment references have not been fully explored in situations where individuals have left their previous employment. Also, visitors to the home are not requested to sign in on every occasion which, can compromise the home’s security.

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Keeping children and young people safe inadequate

Young people are protected by the staff team’s understanding of their vulnerabilities and strategies are in place to ensure their continued safety. For example, young people who had a propensity of going missing are given free time to spend as they choose, visiting family and friends. They comply with this which has ensured that they return to the home as required. However, other young people are constantly 8 of 10 supervised as per their risk assessment. This needs reviewing to enable these young people to enjoy normal peer interaction.

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Keeping children and young people safe inadequate

Young people are safeguarded by risk assessments which identify potential hazards with strategies in place to minimise the risk. However, there is no record of assessments being undertaken on admissions to the home which have proved to be inappropriate.

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Keeping children and young people safe inadequate

All health and safety checks are carried out as appropriate and young people are made aware of the fire evacuation procedures to ensure they know what action to take in the event of a fire.

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Leadership and management inadequate

The Registered Manager left the organisation very suddenly; temporary arrangements were put in place which have now ceased. Although the Responsible Individual has been proactive in trying to recruit a manager, to date there is not a manager in post. The Responsible Individual who holds a National Vocational Qualification level 3 and is currently undertaking level 5 has taken on a management overview. She is familiar with young people’s care plans and has good knowledge of the detail of their daily routines.

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Leadership and management inadequate

The change in the staffing has led to some instability and has resulted in a number of complaints received by Ofsted. However, these are in the main unsubstantiated.

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Leadership and management inadequate

Out of the two requirements raised at the last inspection one has been fully met the other partially. The Statement of Purpose contains all the required information. Ofsted have not received Regulation 33 reports each month. However, a new visitor has been appointed and they are conducting monthly visits.

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Leadership and management inadequate

The Responsible Individual has acknowledged the majority of the weaknesses identified during this inspection and has taken immediate step to address a number of them. Although there is a development plan in place the most urgent action is to recruit a new manager.

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Leadership and management inadequate

The Statement of Purpose is a comprehensive document setting out what the home has to offer. A young person’s guide is also in place enabling young people to have some understanding of what they can expect when they come to live at the home.

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Leadership and management inadequate

Ofsted has not received a Regulation 34 report since May which covered the three month period up to April. This does not ensure that the regulatory body has a good overview of the home. There is no evidence that parents are consulted as part of the Regulation 33 process in order to gain their views on the quality of care provided.

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Leadership and management inadequate

Although there is a consistent team of core staff who provide a good level of care 9 of 10 there has been some staff movement which has created some instability. The view of local authorities about this varies; some say it has impacted on the young people while others say it has not had a detrimental effect.

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Leadership and management inadequate

There are good training opportunities for staff although they would benefit from having training on missing person’s protocols. Some staff have enrolled on the level 3 Diploma for Children and Young People’s Workforce but they are yet to complete.

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Leadership and management inadequate

This is a well maintained home and is well resourced.

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Leadership and management inadequate

Young people’s records are in the main in good order although some documentation, for example, impact risk assessments for new admissions are not available. Some recent admissions of young people are not appropriate as their needs are not being met.

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Leadership and management inadequate

There has been some communication difficulties between the home and placing authorities which does not ensure that all information is shared. However, Ofsted have been notified of significant events. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management inadequate

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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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