Children's Home run by Thunderbolt Mobile Limited in Lancashire

Unique reference number SC055153 Inspector Mark Kersh Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered manager POST VACANT / Nichola Millicent Fairhurst Date of last inspection 21/03/2014 2 of 11 Inspection date 13/10/2014

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Previous inspection satisfactory progress Enforcement action since last inspection None.

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Overall effectiveness adequate

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

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Overall effectiveness

Young people have positive relationships with staff who clearly care about them. There are some elements of well-planned care and there is effective partnership working with placing social workers to ensure a consistent approach and development of young people.

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Overall effectiveness

There have been some positive outcomes for young people and the current young people placed are doing well. However, this has not been the case for all young people who have previously used the service. Some young people have not fully engaged in the activity based programme and some have felt isolated from their family and friends.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are regularly consulted about the quality of care they receive, although there is little written evidence of how their requests are responded to in the records kept by the service.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are safe and say they feel safe in this service and have no issues in relation to their privacy or safe well-being as they travel to various locations around the country.

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Overall effectiveness

One requirement has been made at this inspection in relation to staff supervision 3 of 11 and training. Four recommendations have been made in relation to responding to young people's views, contributions of young people and key workers in plans, making the settings young people use more homely and comfortable and clear lines of accountability for the manager and staff.

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Overall effectiveness

The new manager and staff have worked hard to identify ways of improving this service. However these are initial improvements. Implementation of new structures and systems needs to be embedded to ensure that early stage developments are sustained over time. 4 of 11

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Information about this children’s home

This service is owned by a private organisation. It provides activity-based intervention for young people who are experiencing a period of difficulty or crisis. Up to three individual placements for young people are provided. Placements are usually short term and are activity based.

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Information about this children’s home

A planned yet flexible programme designed to meet a young person's individual needs and circumstances is agreed with placing authorities. Young people are cared for at various locations around the United Kingdom in accommodation that includes bunkhouses, youth hostels, campsites, a narrow boat and an ocean-going yacht.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/03/2014 Interim satisfactory progress 14/11/2013 Full adequate 29/10/2012 Interim inadequate progress 21/05/2012 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 that all persons employed by him receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal; and are enabled from time to time to obtain further qualifications to the work they perform. (Regulation 27 (4) (a) (b)) 19/12/2014 5 of 11

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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 understand how their views have been taken into account, and where significant wishes or concerns are not acted upon, they are helped to understand why (NMS 2.1)  ensure each child’s Placement Plan is monitored by a key worker within the home who ensures that the requirements of the plan are implemented in the day-to-day care of that child (NMS 25.2)  ensure the home provides a comfortable and homely environment and is well maintained and decorated (NMS 10.3)  ensure managers and staff are clear about their roles and responsibilities. The level of delegation and responsibility of the manager and staff, and the lines of accountability, are clearly defined. (NMS 21.4) 6 of 11

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people learn to develop a positive self-image while living in this service. They are supported to develop confidence in their skills and know how to express their wishes and feelings. From their starting points, young people develop a clearer understanding and awareness of their backgrounds. Over time, they develop in emotional resilience.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people benefit from carefully planned health care. Young people’s health needs are identified and met. They attend routine or specialist health appointments as required. Arrangements are in place for when young people are travelling around and staying in various locations. For example, should young people require medical attention they would be taken to the local walk in centre or accident and emergency department. Health promotion within this service supports young people to have an understanding of healthy lifestyles. This includes an increasing understanding of how to keep themselves in shape and eat healthily. Although some young people smoke tobacco, they do not abuse alcohol or other substances.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Education is central to daily routines and activities in the service. Young people are able to attend the organisation’s own school when appropriate and make progress in education taking account of their starting point. Attendance in school is satisfactory because some routines in the service mean young people only attend the school on a part time basis and may be far away from the school’s location. When this happens young people are provided with school work that they complete. One young person said, ‘I like my school and I do want to learn and make something of myself, I know education is important'.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Some young people maintain contact with family members and friends while living in this service. This includes staff providing transport for them from various locations around the country. Young people also telephone friends and family on a regular basis. This supports some young people in maintaining attachments to those who are important to them. Not all young people take to this service, as some feel isolated and miss their family and friends and some are a considerable distance from their home town.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people develop basic skills in independent living on a daily basis. This enables them to gain self-care skills, such as cooking their own meals and completing domestic chores. However, some placements are of a short duration and some young people are reluctant to engage in this process despite efforts from the staff team. Therefore, not all young people are fully equipped with the skills they require when they leave the service. 7 of 11

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Quality of care good

The service has an enthusiastic staff team who are committed to improving the lives of young people. They are diverse in age, gender and ethnicity and act as positive role models. Positive relationships between the staff and young people enable the development of sound and caring attachments. Young people enjoy positive relationships with staff and say, ‘I get on with all the staff, I know they want the best for me and we have fun'. Staff continually praise young people for their achievements. This builds a culture of respect and trust in the service. As a result, young people develop suitable attachments and take responsibility for their actions and behaviours.

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Quality of care good

Consultation with young people takes place on a daily basis. The staff team strive to instil in young people a sense of ownership in all aspects of their care and the locations they visit. Young people are encouraged and supported to attend weekly meetings, complete questionnaires and participate in key worker sessions, all of which are recorded. However, there is no system in place for recording decisions made following young people's requests. Therefore a recommendation has been made to ensure young people understand how their views have been taken into account. Young people make menu choices and help devise their activity programmes. This helps young people develop their likes and interests.

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Quality of care good

The service has a clear policy and procedure for dealing with complaints which is understood by the young people and is adhered to in practice. Since the last full inspection there have been two complaints which have been effectively resolved. This process was supported by clear records and the young people making the complaints have since moved on.

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Quality of care good

Care plans identify young people’s individual needs and include their cultural background and personal identity and the support they require to make progress in all aspects of their daily lives. Care placement plans are updated each month by staff to set goals and achievements linked to the reward and incentive scheme. A social worker said, 'I get regular updates and they (staff) always keep me informed of events'. However it is not clear if young people are involved in this process or contribute to their plans as their signature or that of their key worker is not evident within the plans. As a result a recommendation has been made, to ensure young people sign their agreement to the plans made for them.

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Quality of care good

The service has a robust procedure for dealing with young people's medication which is adhered to in practice. Good systems are in place and understood by all staff for ensuring medication is safely stored at the location where young people reside and this is supported by appropriate records completed.

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Quality of care good

Young people take part in a range of planned and purposeful activities. As this service is activity based young people contribute positively within the many different communities they visit. They engage in canoeing, kayaking, climbing, caving, hill 8 of 11 walking, abseiling and horse riding. Young people take part in such activities in Lancashire, North Yorkshire, Scotland and Wales.

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Quality of care good

Some parts of the service in which young people stay are undergoing refurbishment, with full consultation with young people. Young people usually live for short periods of time on a narrow boat, a yacht, a property in North Yorkshire and a caravan. However, some of the accommodation is basic and does not present as being homely and comfortable, and as young people move around to these various locations, they are unable to personalise their space or surroundings.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people say they feel safe in this service and are supported by staff to feel safe. They can identify within and outside of the settings used trusted individuals that they would speak to if needed. Staff demonstrate a sound knowledge and understanding of the issues that impact on young people’s safety. Staff practice is supported by the local authority’s safeguarding policies and procedures within each area where young people stay. This means that any allegations or suspicions of harm are effectively recorded, managed and referred to all necessary agencies. This promotes the safety of young people. There are no issues of bullying as young people live in a variety of single occupancy accommodation.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

There are no current concerns in respect of young people being missing from care. Records show when previous young people have been missing, their absence has been for a short duration due to the rural locations and staff have implemented the missing from home policy effectively. The service has clear procedures in place to notify all the relevant agencies when this occurs. A joint protocol for children missing from care is in place and used when appropriate.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Incidents of physical intervention are low and used only as a last resort when a young person is placing themselves or others at risk. Staff are suitably trained to undertake any physical intervention and recording of such incidents is in line with regulations. There are no current concerns in relation to young people's behaviour. One social worker says, 'since the young person arrived at this service their behaviour has improved dramatically'. Young people have individual behaviour management plans which show strategies staff use such as de-escalation techniques or planned ignoring. Young people's risk assessments include risks on the canal or while operating the canal locks. All young people prior to going on the narrow boat or yacht are given a full induction in relation to on-board safety. One young person is undertaking a competent crew certificate.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Regular health and safety checks of key equipment such as portable electrical items and gas appliances take place and are recorded and monitored. When young people are accommodated on the narrow boat or yacht daily safety inspections take place. This ensures the safety of young people. Fire evacuation drills take place regularly 9 of 11 and involve young people. Robust checks are in place to ensure that only suitable people are recruited to work with young people.

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Leadership and management adequate

Since the last inspection the Registered Manager has left this service. A new manager has been appointed and Ofsted have received an application for the position of Registered Manager. During this inspection the manager was interviewed and recommended as suitable to be the Registered Manager for this service. The manager has the relevant experience and has enrolled on the Level 5 Diploma.

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Leadership and management adequate

Despite being in the role for only a short time, the manager has devised a comprehensive and reflective action plan which clearly identifies areas for development of the service. This includes, recognition that staff in the service require further development to empower them and help them fully understand their roles and responsibilities. She has identified ways in which young people's current care arrangements can be improved, and has implemented a 12 week planned activity programme. The service is recruiting a deputy to support the manager, although at this time structures and lines of accountability are not clearly defined and the changes the manager is making have not fully embedded into the service.

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Leadership and management adequate

At the last inspection, one requirement and one recommendation were made which were judged to be fully met at this inspection. All required events are now notified to Ofsted to ensure there is appropriate oversight by the regulator. In addition, the service have themselves restricted accommodation from three to two young people and all staff are now permanent and only work for this service. Recruitment is on- going and the service needs five more staff if they are to increase accommodation to three young people.

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Leadership and management adequate

There is an up to date statement of purpose document to inform staff and placing social workers of the aims and objectives of the service. All young people receive a welcome pack which outlines the services they can expect to receive and includes details and contact numbers of independent organisations, including Ofsted.

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Leadership and management adequate

Quality assurance processes are undertaken through both internal and external monitoring processes. An independent visitor undertakes monthly monitoring visits and raises actions to address shortfalls in reports sent to the service and Ofsted. The manager ensures that required quarterly internal quality assurance checks are conducted to monitor the quality of care. The manager has made improvements to the reports for internal monitoring which have a traffic light system highlighting areas for action in red. However, it is too early to judge the effectiveness of these reports and any impact they might have on improving the service. 10 of 11 Since the last inspection a number of staff have left the service and new staff have been recruited. Staff are enthusiastic and committed to improving young people’s future life chances. They report that they are well supported by the manager and the organisation. Supervision for all staff has been completed for September 2014

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Leadership and management adequate

although prior to this staff supervision has not been consistent. Induction programmes provide new staff with opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills so that they are competent and confident in supporting young people. The manager has identified further training opportunities for staff although this has yet to be completed. As a result a requirement has been made to ensure staff receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal; and are enabled from time to time to obtain further qualifications relevant to the work they perform.

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Leadership and management adequate

Young people's records and significant documentation moves around from location to location. Each setting has secure storage for these records to ensure confidentiality. 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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