Children's Home run by Headway Adolescent Resources Limited in Bristol

Unique reference number SC066250 Inspector Heather Chaplin Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Headway Adolescent Resources Limited Registered person address P O Box 94 Lydney GL15 9AQ

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Responsible individual Andrew John Plummer Registered manager Beverley Page Date of last inspection 24/01/2014 2 of 6 Inspection date 07/10/2014

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Previous inspection satisfactory progress 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 improved effectiveness .

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This inspection

The home demonstrates improved effectiveness, because the requirements and recommendations from the last inspection have been addressed and exceeded. The Registered Manager leads her staff effectively. She is proactive, creative and has a clear vision for the home's further improvement. Her strong commitment to developing the quality of care means that young people have continued to achieve good outcomes in all areas of their lives.

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This inspection

At the last inspection, the home was required to review and revise the behaviour management policy. This was in connection with the previous practice of allowing young people unstructured access to the home's office. The home now has an 'open door' policy with regard to the office, but with clear boundaries in place to manage this appropriately. For example, young people are allowed access to the office so long as it has been agreed with staff at the time and their behaviour is acceptable. Managers and staff are now much more disciplined in storing away from sight all confidential material relating to other young people and staff. This promotes a professional and business-like environment, but one which remains relaxed and welcoming, with displays of young people's work on the walls. This strategy has been effective and the previous tensions around access to the office are now resolved.

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This inspection

Two recommendations were made at the last inspection. The home was asked to continue work to provide a comfortable and homely environment. Repair work was needed to some areas of paving in the garden. The garden was not at that time a particularly relaxing space for young people, but it has now been tidied and the patio cleaned. New planting areas have been created and essential maintenance has been completed to a good standard. The manager explained that the young people have appreciated the changes, and that the garden is still work-in-progress, but 'should be blossoming by the summer.’ 3 of 6 The Registered Manager has a clear development plan for improving the quality of every room in the home. For example, the dining area will have a partition wall demolished, to make the area lighter and more homely. The staff sleeping in rooms have been significantly improved to afford staff better quality relaxation and rest.

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This inspection

This is essential to promote good decision-making and care.

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This inspection

The home was also asked to make sure that when file records are updated, the older versions of each document are archived, because a great deal of material was duplicated. The manager has reviewed all the young people's records and has created new files that contain what is needed on a daily basis. This means that file records are easier to navigate for staff and young people, to find information that they need. In addition, the manager has also placed all the day-to-day care planning information in one file, so that it is easily accessible to staff.

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This inspection

The outcomes for all young people in the home have continued to improve. One young person is working full time and has made excellent progress. Another young person is at college, working towards his driving theory tests. The third young person has achieved an activities award. She has made very good progress in terms of her diet, health and physical fitness. She is also doing well in school and has formed friendships with other pupils. The positive outcomes for this young person have increased her self esteem, with a clear impact on her physical and emotional development. Social workers are very pleased with their young people's progress.

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This inspection

The quality of care continues to improve. The Registered Manager understands that achieving a high quality service and building positive relationships with young people is the key to engaging them in productive activities and keeping them safe. The home works very well with social workers and commissioners to ensure that there is effective, consistent care planning. One social worker commented on the excellent communication from the home and commended the manager on the commitment shown by her long-distance visits to the placing authority area for meetings.

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This inspection

There have been no new admissions since the last inspection. Care planning documentation for existing residents continues to be informative and describe young people's unique needs accurately. Relationships between young people and staff are good. Young people have placed numerous cards, paintings and poems to the manager on the office notice board, which show how they value her warm and inclusive approach.

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This inspection

Children and young people continue to be safe in this home. There have been very few significant incidents. The small number of notifications submitted to Ofsted have been appropriate.

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This inspection

There have been no physical interventions since the last inspection. The single complaint, which was from a young person, was handled well. The Registered 4 of 6 Manager has ensured that learning from this complaint was shared with the staff team and the young person. This helped to reduce the chances of any repetition of the issue.

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This inspection

The home has clear and effective risk assessments, which include bullying, aggression and risks associated with sexual exploitation. Although going missing is not a current issue for this home, there are clear policies and procedures to help staff prevent or respond to any such incidents. Strategies are closely linked to the young people's risk assessments, so that they differ in order to reflect individual needs.

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This inspection

One young person has reached an age when they will be testing boundaries around visiting friends and staying out later than agreed. A recent incident of this nature was handled well and the young person returned home safely. The Registered Manager spent time explaining to the young person how achieving increased freedom is dependent on listening to the staff's advice and making sensible choices. This shows that the home can work flexibly with young people to allow them increasing freedom appropriate to their age and development, but at the same time maintain consistent messages about keeping safe.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager actively researches current practice issues and keeps herself and her staff informed of new information and government guidance. For example, she has researched issues around the location of children's homes in relation to the potential for child sexual exploitation. The manager is now developing a location risk assessment, and although her home is situated in a pleasant suburban street approximately two miles from the city centre, she is well aware of the potential hazards to young people's safety in inner-city areas.

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This inspection

The home is adequately staffed to meet the young people's needs. Staff have recently received updated training in child protection, and the Registered Manager has sourced additional online training for them in child sexual exploitation. The manager is aware that this training is at a basic level and consequently, she is in the process of identifying additional learning that will provide greater challenge and depth of knowledge.

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This inspection

One recommendation has been made to support the Registered Manager's plans to source specialised training in child sexual exploitation. The manager is keen to address this very important issue and has identified some training, but funding has not yet been agreed. 5 of 6

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Information about this children’s home

This service is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and learning disabilities. It is owned by a private company that also operates other children's homes in the surrounding area.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/01/2014 Interim satisfactory progress 23/05/2013 Full good 08/02/2013 Interim satisfactory progress 31/07/2012 Full good

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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 that training keeps staff up to date with professional, legal and practice developments; in particular, continue with plans to provide advanced training in the prevention and awareness of child sexual exploitation. (NMS 18.1) 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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