Children's Home run by Aspris Children’s Services Limited in Herefordshire

Unique reference number SC476486 Inspector Suzanne Young Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Priory Education Services Ltd Registered person address 5th Floor 80 Hammersmith Road London W14 8UD Responsible individual Helen Sharpe Registered manager Katrina Louise Mosinski Date of last inspection N/A 2 of 10 Inspection date 14/10/2014

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Previous inspection N/A Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness good

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

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Overall effectiveness

This is the home’s first inspection since it’s registration in May 2014. The manager, staff team and young people transferred into the home from another home owned by the company.

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Overall effectiveness

This is a good home that impacts positively on young people’s lives. The Registered Manager is experienced and appropriately qualified. She understands the strengths and weaknesses of the home and reviews the quality of care to young people. There are some shortfalls in recording keeping, staff development and in the storage of medication. These are, however, far outweighed by the significant strengths of the home.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are making good progress in all areas of their development. Young people have a good sense of belonging. They are happy and feel safe. This is because relationships between young people and staff are strong. As a result, instances of risk taking behaviour, such as, running away is minimal and the numbers of physical interventions are reducing.

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Overall effectiveness

The manager and staff work closely with other professionals to support young people. Placing social workers and other professionals universally praise the manager and staff team in their work to ensure young people achieve good and 3 of 10 positive outcomes.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff feel well supported by management. There is a comprehensive training programme developed for staff to meet the needs of the young people they look after. There are shortfalls, however, in the speed to which the organisation has ensured the professional development of new staff.

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Overall effectiveness

Four requirements and two recommendations have been made as a result of this inspection. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

This children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to seven children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is run by a private, national provider that runs other children's homes and education services.

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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

17B (2001) ensure that within 24 hours of the use of any measure of control, restraint or discipline in a children's home a written record is made in a volume kept for the purpose of which shall include all matters specified in this regulation (Regulation 17B (3)(a)–(i)) 14/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) shall make suitable arrangements for the recording, handling, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of any medicines received into the children's home (Regulation 21(1)) 14/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that a record is kept of the receipt, disposal and administration of any medicine to any child as well as being recorded in the child's file- this refers specifically to the recording of prescribed medication and homely remedies (Regulation 29 (1); schedule 4 (5)) 14/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) shall supply a copy of the report required under paragraph (4)(c) of this regulation to HMCI. (Regulation 33(5)(a)) 14/11/2014

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Recommendations

5 of 10 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 staffing rotas demonstrate the staffing level of the home. This relates to demonstrating handover times of shifts and who is sleeping in the home at night(NMS 17.2)  ensure all care staff have either attained an appropriate minimum level 3 qualification in caring for children &young people or are working towards the level 3 Children & Young Peoples Workforce Diploma within 6 months of confirmation of employment. (NMS 18.5) 6 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people good

The outcomes and experiences of young people in the home are good. This is because they are making good progress in all areas of their development. Placing social workers are extremely pleased about how well the young people are progressing. One placing social worker commented, ‘The young person has made significant progress in all aspects.’ Another stated, ‘He is doing absolutely fantastic.’

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are progressing well in education. They all have high attendance at school, including those with previous poor school attendance. Attitudes to learning have also improved. Young people regularly achieve rewards for good work and behaviour in school. Some young people are working towards formal examinations. As a result, young people are growing in confidence and self-esteem.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are in good general health. They attend routine health appointments and regularly engage in sporting activities in the local community. They are aware of the need to eat healthily and are beginning to take responsibility for their own health. Young people smoke cigarettes but rarely engage in risk taking behaviours such as misusing alcohol and drugs.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people develop independence skills which are individualised and appropriate to their age and abilities. Young people over 16 are helped and encouraged to complete formal independence skills work such as shopping, cooking and budgeting for themselves. As a result, young people are being well prepared for the transition to adulthood.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people’s contact with their family is actively promoted by staff who ensure their time spent with family is positive. They support and transport young people to contact when required. As a consequence, young people are able to maintain positive links with their home, family and friends.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are able to contribute to the running of the home by planning meals and activities. They are able to personalise their bedrooms and are consulted in house meetings about the décor in the living areas. Young people speak positively about the home. One young person stated, ‘Couldn’t wish for a better placement. We are like one big happy family.’ Another young person rated the home 10 out of 10.

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Quality of care adequate

7 of 10 Staff engage well with young people. Young people are aware that staff are concerned about their welfare and, as a result, they form positive relationships with staff. One placing social worker commented, ‘There is a good nurturing element to the home.’ Staff work closely with health and educational professionals to support young people. For instance, staff are able to stay and support young people who attend the company’s school while they are participating in education. They also work closely with youth offending teams to help young people who are on court orders. The manager has devised strategies to support young people to give up smoking. These, however, have been largely ineffective.

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Quality of care adequate

Impact assessments are conducted prior to any young person moving into the home. This helps ensure the interests of existing young people in the home are taken into account when considering new admissions into the home. Young people’s diverse needs are identified within care planning. Placement plans are individual and meet the specific needs of each young person.

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Quality of care adequate

Behavioural management guidance enables staff to effectively manage young people’s behaviour. As a consequence young people’s negative behaviour has improved over recent months, reducing the need for physical interventions to take place. Recording of physical interventions, however,is not always clear. Records do not always clearly describe events leading up to and following physical interventions taking place. This makes it difficult for managers to have clarity or accurate oversight of the management of young people’s behaviours.

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Quality of care adequate

The arrangements for dealing with young people’s medication are not secure. Although all medication is held in a locked office, the keys to the medication cabinet have not been stored securely and the medication cabinet is faulty. A new medication cabinet is on order and management have made arrangements for the safe storage of the keys. The recording of the administration of medication to young people is also not accurate as there have been two entries which are contradictory. Records of the administration of medication to young people are kept in young people files but are not kept as a central record as required in legislation.

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Quality of care adequate

The home is large but warm and comfortable. It is set in a rural location and has large grounds with orchards and chickens. It is well maintained and the décor and furnishings are of a high standard. Two young people have en-suite bedrooms.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people feel safe and are kept safe in the home. Instances of young people going missing from the home are rare. There has only been one instance of a young person going missing since the home has been open.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people’s records clearly identify risks for young people. Risk assessments and placement plans highlight concerning behaviours and the factors that trigger 8 of 10 behaviours. These are regularly updated and reviewed. This ensures that staff are aware and able to take the protective measures to safeguard young people from risky situations.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff receive safeguarding training and are aware of the procedures when young people go missing. Clear guidance is available to staff to ensure they are aware of the action to take should they have any concerns about a young person's safety or well-being.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The home is physically safe and secure. Fire equipment and lighting checks are completed regularly. Young people participate in regular fire drills to ensure they can evacuate the home in an emergency. Staff recruitment is robust. The organisation has clear procedures for the recruitment of staff which prevents unsuitable people from being recruited.

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Leadership and management good

This is the home’s first inspection since it opened in May 2014.The manager, staff team and young people transferred to the home from another home owned by the company. The home is managed by a long standing, experienced and qualified Registered Manager who has been in post since February 2012.

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Leadership and management good

Management arrangements in the home are good. The home has a statement of purpose and a young people’s welcome booklet which accurately reflect the home and give clear information for placing social workers, parents and young people. The manager has a development plan in place. She regularly monitors and evaluates the activities of the home to identify patterns and trends. External monitoring is taking place on a monthly basis which is thorough and challenging. On one occasion, the report from the independent visitor was not sent to Ofsted within required timescales. This has no impact on young people.

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Leadership and management good

Young people's records are clear and contribute to an understanding of their experiences while in the home. Young people are able to sign and comment on aspects of their care. Young people’s house meetings are taking place weekly and allow young people to contribute to running and development of the home.

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Leadership and management good

Staff levels have been managed to ensure the home is running with sufficient staff to meet the needs of the young people. The statement of purpose states that the 'usual working ratio is one less member of staff to the number of young people accommodated.' The home now has its full complement of young people and the organisation is in the process of recruiting staff. Staff vacancies are being covered by overtime and regular peripatetic staff who are known to young people. Young people are fully aware of who is working in the home and who is sleeping in at night. Staff rotas do not, however, clearly detail handover times or state who is sleeping in the home at night. 9 of 10 Staff receive regular supervision and feel supported. Regular staff meetings also include a practice element. There is a comprehensive range of training available for staff pertinent to the needs of the young people in the home. The organisation also

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Leadership and management good

has a clear induction and probationary programme for new staff. Once staff have completed their probation period, however, they are not promptly enrolled onto an appropriate qualification for working with children and young people. As a result, staff are not having the opportunity to further develop their knowledge and skill base.

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Leadership and management good

The manager and staff team have developed strong relationships with other professionals. Communication with placing social workers is ‘excellent’. Placing social workers and other professionals working with staff are extremely complementary about the level of communication and the way the manager and staff work with them to meet young people’s needs. One placing social stated, ’staff are extremely good in liaising with me.’ Another social worker commented, ‘I can’t praise them enough.’ Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management good

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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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