Children's Home run by Westgate Lifestyle Project Limited in Hounslow

Unique reference number SC409851 Inspector Barbara (Polly) Polain Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered manager Deloris Ionie Palmer Date of last inspection 16/01/2014 2 of 11 Inspection date 24/09/2014

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Previous inspection inadequate progress Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness good

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

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Overall effectiveness

Young people make good progress relative to their starting points across all aspects of their welfare and development. Staff are experienced and suitably qualified to ensure that young people get the encouragement and support they need to achieve positive outcomes.

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Overall effectiveness

Care planning and practice are highly personalised to meet the individual needs of each young person. There is a real sense of purpose and progress towards independence within the ethos of the project.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff are suitably trained and experienced. Safeguarding is well managed within the home and strategies for promoting and encouraging positive behaviour are well developed. Young people are mentored through strong key working arrangements and the focus of the home is on encouraging young people to take responsibility for their futures. Independence planning is a key feature of the work of this home and the home specialises in accommodating hard to reach adolescents who may have had multiple failed placements and may already be within the criminal justice system.

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Overall effectiveness

Managers have a clear direction for the home and the ethos and values of the project underpin every aspect of day to day practice in the home. The home's 3 of 11 statement of purpose is clear as to the services the home provides and reflects the work that the home actually does.

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Overall effectiveness

Quality of care is good and this is achieved by the employment of motivated staff who understand the ethos and values of the project and are positive about the aims and objectives. Young people report that they are happy at the home and have good relationships with staff and managers. All young people have a key worker who are chosen because of their motivation to engage and work with young people who may have challenging behaviour and difficulty making attachments.

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Overall effectiveness

Expectations are high in terms of behaviour and engagement with education and health services and all young people ae encouraged to work towards a positive future and to feel good about themselves. Small steps along the way are praised and rewarded with privileges or extra allowances. The home relies more on a system of rewarding progress than sanctioning. In the longer term, young people who have been out of education for some time and successfully return will be considered for semi-independent and independent living arrangements through the project, in consultation with other professionals.

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Overall effectiveness

Effective measures are in place for identifying weaknesses and managers are able to demonstrate that these have been responded to and improvements made since the last inspection. All requirements and recommendations of the last inspection have been addressed. 4 of 11

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Information about this children’s home

This children's home is registered to care for up to four young people. The home is owned and operated by a private provider.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/01/2014 Interim inadequate progress 15/07/2013 Full good 13/03/2013 Interim inadequate progress 09/07/2012 Full adequate

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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 the home provides a comfortable and homely environment and is well maintained and decorated. Avoidable hazards are removed as is consistent with a domestic setting. Risk reduction does not lead to an institutional feel.(NMS 10.3) ' 5 of 11

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people make good progress in developing a positive self view and in making and sustaining attachments. They learn key independence skills and are encouraged to make realistic plans for adult life. Strong key working arrangements promote resilience. Social workers note a reduction in offending behaviour and improved relationships with family members. Young people who have been out of education for many years are successfully encouraged to return. One social worker noted 'his good progress is very much due to the work of the home'.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

The home can monitor and demonstrate progress through the after care service it provides. Residents of the home have the opportunity to move on to semi independence and independence through the semi-independent unit and flat which are available to older residents. Access to these facilities is dependent upon assessed independence skills and stable employment or enrolment in a vocational or academic study course. Young people secure apprenticeships and places at colleges with the support of the staff and management of the home. This provides a clear route to independence for young people and underpins the ethos of the home which is to guide and encourage older young people at risk of criminalisation back to education and towards independent adulthood.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

The home also works with social workers and other professionals to re-establish fractured family relationships. For example, one young person was recently reunited with a family member. The home provided good management of contact arrangements and this led to a return to the family and work opportunities through family contacts.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

The project is able to help young people who have not settled at previous placements. One social worker commented that her young person had not settled elsewhere but has achieved stability at the project with a reduction in offending: 'they don't give up on young people there'.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

The home provides a comfortable and homely environment and is well maintained and decorated. Avoidable hazards are removed as is consistent with a domestic setting and risk reduction does not lead to an institutional feel.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

The home also promotes healthy lifestyles. Staff encourage young people to reduce dependence upon smoking, alcohol or drugs and this is done through mentoring and role modelling. All young people are enrolled at a local G.P and staff support young people to address health needs as and when required. They will also accompany young people to health appointments as necessary.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Menus are decided between staff and young people and meals are prepared jointly by 6 of 11 those present in the home at the time. Young people can decide what to buy for their own personal use and staff will assist with budgeting and shopping. Healthy eating is encouraged and managers ensure that menus are varied and there is sufficient good quality healthy food available at all times.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are involved in the running of the home. Activities are planned between staff and young people and the décor of the home is decided jointly by young people, staff and managers. Young people noted that they were involved in the decisions concerning the colour schemes for the recent refurbishment.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are given to access their own personal notes and encouraged to take ownership of their individual plans and work towards good outcomes alongside social workers and staff.

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Quality of care good

Staff and young people enjoy positive and constructive relationships with staff and with each other. Staff work with young people to encourage appropriate behaviour and a reduction in offending. Each young person has a key worker who is experienced and trained in residential work. Staff report that they enjoy this aspect of the work and find that the manager is supportive of the work they do and the results achieved. One keyworker noted: 'the young people always come first here'.

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Quality of care good

Young people said they were listened to at this home and their views taken into account. Many commented upon a good relationship with the registered manager 'I can always talk to her' and remarked upon the genuine concern for their welfare and success: 'the staff here really want you to do well'.

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Quality of care good

The home operates with a mixture of nurture and boundaries. Confident managers and staff establish firm boundaries and expectations. The rules of the home are simple and clear. The emphasis is upon the home working as a community in which mutual respect is a key feature.

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Quality of care good

Young people are expected to respect the home and each other as well as those who work there. Managers and staff encourage young people to take responsibility for their own actions. The local police services assist in this area, by way of informal discussions with the young people. Young people are also encouraged to take responsibility for criminal behaviour and the consequences. They are also expected to engage with mutually agreed plans towards independence. Social workers commented upon the way the home has a clear focus upon developing independence: 'they encourage young people to start taking responsibility for their lives'.

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Quality of care good

Staff are motivated and enthusiastic about the quality of care the home provides. 7 of 11 There is strong support for the values and ethos of the home and what it tries to achieve. Some staff commented that the home is by far the best they have worked in and this is because of the strong ethical framework ' they do good work here' and 'we do our utmost to help really troubled young people who are towards the end of their time in care, before it is too late' .

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Quality of care good

Each young person has an individual care plan and the home contributes to this significantly. Case records show an understanding of the complex needs of each young person as well as achievable but suitably ambitious targets. Social workers are pleased with the work the home does and comment upon the good liaison and engagement of managers and workers with care plans.

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Quality of care good

Staff consistently encourage hard to reach young people to re-engage with education and to envisage a positive future for themselves. Young people are able to see a way forward for themselves through the example of those who have moved to independence through the project's independence path. The home is able to demonstrate to young people that real progress is both possible and achievable in this way. Young people who have moved forward with their lives in this way comment that the home played a central role in this success.

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Quality of care good

The home provides a range of activities and day outings. Young people are encouraged to engage with these and assist with the arrangements. Some young people find it hard to engage with group activities and staff will arrange shorter outings close to the home as a way of starting with small steps. Some social workers said they would like to see more engagement with activities and managers are currently looking at ways to encourage young people's engagement with a greater number of activities and outings.

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Quality of care good

There are sufficient trained staff available for each shift and most have considerable experience of residential work. Rotas are planned in advance so that young people can see who is on duty on any particular day, thereby reducing anxiety around these and ensuring a level of stability to the arrangements.

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Quality of care good

The home is located on a quiet residential street and has a homely rather than institutional feel. Electronic surveillance is minimal and only used as and when considered necessary to ensure the safety of young people and staff.

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Quality of care good

There are some maintenance issues but these are currently being addressed and redecoration of the house is in progress to ensure the physical environment is appropriately comfortable and homely.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

8 of 11 Young people report that they feel safe at the home and there is no bullying. There are sufficient staff available, both day and night, for them to feel adequately supported and safeguarded. Managers and staff spend their time on shift getting to know the young residents thereby ensuring opportunities to engage with them are not missed. This also ensures that any tensions between young people can be responded to before they have a chance to escalate. Staff commented that at this home 'staff are expected to spend nearly all their time with the young people rather than in the office'.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Requests for placement at the home by social workers are analysed carefully and managers ensure sufficient information is provided with which to decide the suitability of each application relative to the needs of existing residents. There is sufficient placing information available on each young person's file to ensure fully informed decision making.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

All young people in the home are of similar age with similar histories and report that they do not feel intimidated by other residents: 'no one will pick on me'. Managers are careful not to introduce much younger or otherwise vulnerable young people who would not mix well with the current cohort. Managers are currently considering how they might offer a service to adolescent girls and are carefully assessing the safeguarding issues that may arise before any decisions are made in this regard.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people do go missing from time to time but when they do steps are taken to trace them and to ensure they return quickly and safely. The home has well established links with local police and particularly the Missing Person's Unit. Police officers at the unit understand the work of the home and are supportive of the aims and objectives: 'we admire them for the work they do, they are doing a good job in difficult circumstances and they take young people who have had a very difficult start in life'. 'They can always call us for advice and assistance'. Both managers and staff are able to liaise effectively in response to concerns and police officers regularly visit the home to speak informally with young residents and to provide support for the staff.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Log books held at the home show that when young people are late home, staff make every effort to contact them via phone calls to their mobiles or through friends and family members. Staff are able to distinguish between situations in which young residents are at high risk rather than simply late home. Good liaison with the missing persons unit also ensures that police are aware of the particular vulnerabilities of the resident group and concerns can then be addressed promptly.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff at the home are carefully selected and vetted by the registered manager. References and DBS checks are taken up and interviews take place in the home with the manager and finance manager. Most staff are of long standing but newer recruits are selected with relevant experience in recognition of the challenging nature of the work. 9 of 11 The environment is physically safe and secure relative to the needs of the young people. Electronic surveillance in the form of CCTV is only switched on in the day and cameras are only used in areas such as the front entrance where they do not compromise the privacy of young people resident in the home.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Positive behaviour is promoted by engaging with young people and encouraging the development of attachments. The home also specialises in helping young people take a step by step approach towards independence. In this regard it is able to offer some residents a clear path towards independent living through the after care resources that the home has available. This ensures that young people have solid goals to work towards, serving to decrease the chance of escalating criminalisation.

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Leadership and management good

Leadership and management arrangements are sound. The home benefits from an experienced and well qualified registered manager who is backed up by a capable and experienced administrator and finance manager. This appointment has been made since the last inspection and has ensured that the registered manager has been freed up to provide hands on management and sufficient support to fulfil her role. The home's financial arrangements are now also closely monitored to ensure continuing financial viability. Clear and accessible policies and procedures have now been put in place and recording systems have been streamlined to ensure they are straightforward, accurate and up to date. Any concerns or complaints are addressed promptly. Although residents do sometimes disturb neighbours and give rise to complaints, police are satisfied with the response of the home and advise that these incidents are not a regular occurrence.

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Leadership and management good

Social workers report that the manager is closely concerned with the day to day functioning of the home and the standard of care. They note that they can easily discuss any issues with the manager and be listened to: 'liaison is very good and I have no concerns'.

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Leadership and management good

Monthly independent visitor reporting procedures are in place and reports are informative and thorough. Quarterly manager’s reports indicate that issues identified by the independent visitor are responded to in a timely manager.

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Leadership and management good

The project is able to demonstrate capacity to progress and develop its services and a development plan is in place for the home. Examples of this are the appointment of a finance manager and administrator to ensure that the policies, procedures and recording systems are of a good standard and the home has a clear direction. In this regard the managers are considering developing their capacity to offer a service to young women as well as to young men.

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Leadership and management good

The manager is able to demonstrate the difference the home is making in young people's lives. Social workers confirm that young people placed in the semi 10 of 11 independence unit have successfully progressed through the home and been assessed as sufficiently stable and secure to manage the transition. In order to do this they have been helped to find apprenticeships, college courses and employment through the project and have demonstrated independence skills, stability and a positive view of their potential to achieve.

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Leadership and management good

The registered manager ensures that essential maintenance and redecoration is carried out. The home has recently renovated the bathrooms and a large painting and decorating project is now underway to refurbish all ground floor areas.

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Leadership and management good

The manager and finance manager ensure that new staff are suitably qualified and experienced to undertake a role with hard to reach young people who may have highly complex needs. Clear records of staff training have been established to ensure all staff receive essential training and that these are refreshed regularly. Most staff are of long standing and with appropriate levels of experience as residential workers. Managers ensure that supervision occurs regularly and the arrangements for supervision and support of staff are sufficiently robust to enable staff to continue to work creatively and enthusiastically with hard to reach young people.

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Leadership and management good

Social workers generally report that liaison is good and that staff support the aims of care plans and work towards these in a positive and proactive way. Clear recording systems identify overdue visits and reviews and these issues are then addressed with the appropriate professionals.

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Leadership and management good

The Statement of Purpose accurately reflects the services which the home provides and clearly explains the aims and values of the project as a whole.

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Leadership and management good

Serious incidents, accidents or safeguarding concerns are notified to the appropriate authorities and the registered manager and staff have a good understanding of safeguarding concerns. 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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