Children's Home run by North Yorkshire Council in North Yorkshire

Unique reference number SC034189 Inspector Jacqueline Malcolm Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered manager Simon Keran Saxton Date of last inspection 17/01/2014 2 of 12 Inspection date 15/10/2014

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Previous inspection good progress Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness adequate

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

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Overall effectiveness

The home strives to promote positive outcomes for young people who are starting to build positive and trusting relationships with staff. However, the action taken by the home to promote aspects of young people’s welfare is yet to have the desired impact. For example, young people’s disengagement in areas such as their education, health and their individual challenges to abide by the homes daily routines and boundaries has culminated into some risk taking behaviours. This has led to a number of serious incidents; some involving police interventions both at the home and in the local community.

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Overall effectiveness

Although the plans to support young people and improve their outcomes are not fully embedded, most young people express satisfaction with living at the home. Some say they feel safe and can identify staff with whom they can approach with any concerns. Professionals consider young people to be safe and well cared for at the home and they are informed about young people's progress in the main.

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Overall effectiveness

The leadership and management of the home is adequate. The Registered Manager has been in post since January 2014. He is suitably experienced and qualified and leads a staff team that is aspirational for all young people. A sufficient number of experienced and qualified staff are effectively supported by the management team. They continue to develop and share their practice and skills through relevant training 3 of 12 and peer support. However, management oversight has missed opportunities to quickly implement existing development plans and also identify and put right the practice weaknesses found at this inspection. This does not support a robust quality assurance system and has undermined the homes capacity to efficiently drive forward improvements.

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Overall effectiveness

Requirements and recommendations are intended to help the home improve young people’s safety, quality of care and outcomes. 4 of 12

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority children's home offers care and accommodation for six children who experience emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/01/2014 Interim good progress 13/06/2013 Full good 20/02/2013 Interim good progress 26/09/2012 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 that there are 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 the children’s home is conducted so as to promote and make proper provision for the safeguarding and welfare of children accommodated there; this specifically relates to ensuring that young people’s individual risk assessments detail how risks to self-harming behaviours will be minimised (Regulation 11(1)(a)) 14/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

30 ensure in relation to a children's home, any of the 14/11/2014 5 of 12 (2001) events listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 5 takes place, the registered person shall without delay notify the persons indicated in respect of the event in column 2 of the table (Regulation 30 (1))

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure at all times that all parts of the children's home used by children are secure from unauthorised access. (NMS 31(2)(b)) 14/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the independent person forms an opinion as to whether the children accommodated at the children’s home are effectively safeguarded and the conduct of the children’s home promotes the wellbeing of the children accommodated there; specifically include an evaluation of children missing from care events (Regulation 33 (8)(i)(ii)) 14/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) establish and maintain an effective system for improving the quality of care provided in the children’s home. This specifically relates to the prompt and robust action that the registered provider must take to address any issues of concern that they identify or which are raised with them and provide for consultation with children accommodated in the home. (Regulation 34(1) (b) (3)) 14/11/2014

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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

 ensure that young people’s views, wishes and feelings are acted upon, in the day to day running of the home and important decisions or changes in the child’s life, unless this is contrary to their interests (NMS 1.1)  ensure that all young people understand how to maintain a healthy lifestyle; specifically in relation to drinking, smoking, substance misuse and engaging with health services to address their health needs (NMS 6.2)  continue to support all children to attend school, college or alternative provision regularly (NMS 8.3)  ensure that all areas of the home provides a comfortable and homely environment and is well maintained and decorated (NMS 10.3)  ensure physical restrictions on normal movement within the home are not used unless this is necessary to safeguard children and promote their welfare and development. In particular, review the practice of locking internal doors in the home in agreement with the placing authority and if

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Recommendations

appropriate, the parents (NMS 10.4) 6 of 12  ensure that young people fully develop practical skills in relation to meal planning (NMS 12.1)  ensure there is a system in place to monitor the quality and adequacy of record keeping and take action when needed. This specifically relates to all records relating to young people. (NMS 22.1)  ensure that information about individual children is kept confidential and only shared with those who have a legitimate need to know the information. (NMS 22.3) 7 of 12

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people make variable or limited progress from their starting points. However, they are starting to develop emerging attachments with staff. This forms the basis of trusting relationships, but not all young people are ready to fully invest in life at the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Although young people understand the importance of healthy lifestyles, some refuse to stop misusing alcohol and substances, including legal highs. They have minimal engagement with agencies despite the persistence of professionals to form relationships with them. Similarly, young people are reluctant to attend health appointments and medical checks despite staff encouragement. This does not bode well for their future physical, emotional and psychological health outcomes. Professionals acknowledge the challenges that staff face when influencing young people to take responsibility for their health. For example, one professional said, ‘young people are strongly encouraged to stop drinking. This however takes time, particularly with young people who come into the system in their mid-teens and have been involved in the lifestyle for a significant time. This doesn’t however mean staff, IROs, SWs don’t try and keep on trying’.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Most young people have been out of education prior to moving into the home, which has impacted on their attainment levels. Some young people show excellent natural talent and ability and staff support them to excel and aspire into their chosen interests. Positively, educational placements have been identified for young people to attend in the near future. However, their successful integration and improved outcomes in this area is yet to be determined.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people have been out with staff on day trips during the holidays, for example visits to theme parks, short breaks away with staff and bespoke activities, such as fishing trips. This exposes young people to new experiences which help them to develop confidence in their skills in the company of positive adult role models. Photos of young people's activities serve as a positive memory of their time at the home. However, most young people prefer to spend most of their time away from the home with people they consider friends in the community. Some of these associations have resulted in some risky, anti-social and offending behaviour.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people have contact with family and significant others. This keeps them in touch with their kin and maintains their identity needs and sense of belonging.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people demonstrate good independence skills and they make use of the facilities available to them in the home. For example, preparing drinks, snacks and they know how to maintain their personal space. Some young people are resourceful in actively carrying out paid chores around the home for extra pocket money. Young 8 of 12 people who have recently moved into independence continue to be supported by staff in the community. Similarly, young adults who used to live at the home stay in touch. This good parent model values young people and reduces their sense of isolation.

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Quality of care adequate

Young people benefit from being cared for by a consistent staff team who strive to build positive and nurturing relationships with them. Young people express affection towards staff. One young person spoke fondly about the staff saying, ‘Staff are sound’ and ‘I love her she is my favourite person here’. A professional said, ‘I have observed each member of staff showing interest in the children I am involved with, they support them and know them well’. The house rules promote clear and consistent boundaries which are known to the young people. However, they do not always choose to abide by them. For example, young people have gone missing from care and have also caused significant damage in the home, resulting in the imposition of sanctions. Some young people’s anti-social behaviours have led in them having to attend court and becoming involved in the youth justice system. A professional said about young people’s offending behaviours, ‘It does diminish,

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Quality of care adequate

however due to past experiences can flare up, but then is dealt with again’.

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Quality of care adequate

A reduction in the numbers of young people placed at the home helps to balance the current group dynamic. Most young people are cared for in line with their placement plans and they are reviewed to ensure their plans remain current. Young people’s needs arising from their personal identity are identified so that they can be properly addressed with respect to their diverse needs. However, not all young people sign up to the development of their plans. This does not acknowledge their full participation and engagement in the delivery of their care.

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Quality of care adequate

Most young people confirm they feel listened to and their wishes and feelings are considered. However, the mechanisms for capturing young people’s views are not consistently supported in evidence. For example, their lack of involvement in menu planning, young people’s meetings and key work sessions confirm young people’s general reluctance to invest in home life. Furthermore, internal management monitoring does not capture the collective views of young people. This does not illustrate how they influence the operation of the home and their care.

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Quality of care adequate

Young people know how to complain and some confirm no cause to raise concerns at this home. One complaint made since the last inspection has been resolved to the individual’s satisfaction. Young people are aware about raising any concerns with children’s rights. This affords them independent support and advice.

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Quality of care adequate

Effective relationships between the home and health providers promote young people’s good health and supports their health plans. However, staff have not been consistently able to successfully engage some young people with health professionals 9 of 12 to help them to address some of their significant health issues. The arrangements for signing in and monitoring medication are not consistently robust, specifically with respect to young people who self-medicate. This does not enable staff to satisfy themselves that young people have completed their course of medication to ensure that their specific health conditions have been successfully treated.

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Quality of care adequate

Staff promote the value of education and young people’s involvement in their educational placements helps them to take some control. Staff’s high aspirations for young people are shown in their positive and constructive communications with educational providers and other professionals. Staff work extremely hard to ensure that young people have an appropriate education provision. They appropriately challenge to ensure that young people's educational placements are secured so that they are given every opportunity to reach their potential.

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Quality of care adequate

Young people live in a home that provides them with sufficient communal and private space. Each young person has their own en-suite room, which they personalise to suite their individual tastes. The upstairs bathroom is kept locked due to young people flooding the room in the past. This has not been reviewed in consideration of the current group of young people and restricts their freedom of movement around the home. The home is in a reasonable state of repair and decoration. However, some aspects of the home, such as the lounge is minimal in its presentation with little adorning the walls and is poorly lit. Noticeable stains on the stair carpet leading to the bedrooms have not been cleaned. This does not promote a consistently homely ambience.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Safeguarding systems are underpinned by a stable staff group who are carefully selected. In addition, a tracking system for updating Disclosure and Barring Service checks ensures young people's continued protection from unsuitable adults.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Although the home environment has security systems in place, these at times have been compromised by young people who do not live at this home. This has resulted in significant incidents requiring police intervention, damage to the fabric of the home, destruction of young people’s property and the barricading of rooms. A similar concern relates to a professional who recently entered the home without staff knowing, raising questions about staff vigilance and security levels in the home. It is of further concern that information regarding the welfare and safety of young people is not always shared with social workers or police. This means that decisions and plans are not as effective or robust as they should be. Risk assessments informing the care planning process has omissions to particular vulnerabilities relating to some risky behaviours. Internal and external monitoring oversight has not been sufficiently

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

rigorous to detect and quickly address these matters. This has the potential to undermine young people's safety and welfare. 10 of 12 Some young people report they feel safe at the home. They confirm that they can identify an adult they can talk to about any concerns or worries they may have. They feel that staff care about their welfare and support them. Professionals agree that young people are safe at the home. One said, 'although the staff make every effort to offer appropriate advice to the young people and reduce risk taking behaviours this is often ignored by the young person. However, this should not reflect on the staff as I do not have any concerns regarding the unit'.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

One allegation made against staff was referred to the local authority designated officer (LADO). The LADO has raised no concerns about how the matter was dealt with or about the home.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

The home ensures appropriate and core safeguarding and behaviour management training is in place and more specialist training is disseminated through to the staff team. This means that staff are well resourced to work with the vulnerabilities that the young people present. Staff practices promote a positive and restorative approach to behaviour management. This minimises the use of sanctions and helps young people to understand the impact of their behaviour on other people. Restraint is rarely used. However, loose paper in the restraint book compromises the security of the document.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Where the home is concerned that young people may be at risk through exploitation, missing from care or drug and alcohol abuse, information is shared with appropriate agencies and strategies are developed to minimise risk. Although young people who do go missing from home and use drugs and alcohol are subject to multi-agency and multi-disciplinary meetings and plans, these incidences have not significantly reduced from point of admission and on occasion have increased. The lack of daily routines which the young people engage in, such as education and consistent meaningful leisure activities has contributed to the risk taking behaviours.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Up to date checks on fire, electrical and gas appliances in the home promotes the health and safety of young people, staff and visitors to the home.

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Leadership and management adequate

The leadership and management of the Children’s Home is adequate. The Registered Manager has worked in residential child care for 13 years. He has been registered with Ofsted to manage this home since January 2014 and he possesses relevant child care and management qualifications. The home demonstrates a good commitment to the young people’s progress and has aspirations for all of them. This forms the basis for staff to form positive relationships with young people and improve their life chances.

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Leadership and management adequate

The Statement of Purpose has been amended to reflect the changes in service delivery and the home operates within these boundaries. 11 of 12 The manager understands most of the homes strengths and weaknesses and has a development plan for the home. However, limitations in the management oversight and monitoring of practices have impacted on young people’s safeguarding, quality of care and outcomes. For example, reports following visits conducted under Regulation 33 do not comment on missing from care events under the visitor's safeguarding remit. This is particularly relevant given the increase of missing from care episodes. Internal management monitoring has introduced new systems to improve the means of tracking, recording and evidencing of progress made. However, there has been a delay in implementing some of the key measures identified in the Regulation 34 report. The changes in paperwork and tracking are not always completed as required

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Leadership and management adequate

by the homes own expectations and therefore are not fully embedded in practice.

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Leadership and management adequate

Furthermore, young people's full names are used in the homes log books which compromises their confidentiality and future accessibility. Not all events of a potentially safeguarding nature have been followed up and referred to the appropriate authorities; serious incidents relating to the security of the building and the vigilance of staff has not been satisfactorily addressed. There has been significant delay in some notifications being received by Ofsted, which impedes the regulator from carrying out its regulatory duties. Medication management is insufficiently robust and the voice of the child is not captured in the Regulation 34 reports. These management shortfalls are exemplars of missed opportunities to tackle weakness and drive forward improvement in a timely manner.

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Leadership and management adequate

Good progress with regards to young people improving across a range of measures and, in particular with regards to routines, education and missing from homes could not be demonstrated.

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Leadership and management adequate

Recommendations of the previous inspection have been addressed and the home presents in good repair.

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Leadership and management adequate

The home employs a suitable number of qualified staff who are well supported and trained. The majority of staff have a minimum of level 3 qualification and are also provided with a wide range of core and additional training opportunities to enhance their skills and competencies. Members of staff not qualified to level 3 are working towards this within the requisite timescale. Additionally, members of staff are encouraged to share formally with colleagues their particular strengths and skills and knowledge base. This promotes a learning and supportive environment. 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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