Children's Home run by Keys ACE Limited in Bury

Unique reference number SC420388 Inspector Mark Kersh Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Alliance Care & Education Limited Registered person address Brow Top Farm Quernmore LANCASTER LA2 0QW Responsible individual Andrew Taylor Registered manager Nicola Louise Robinson Date of last inspection 31/03/2014 2 of 11 Inspection date 27/10/2014

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Previous inspection good progress Enforcement action since last inspection None.

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Overall effectiveness good

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

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Overall effectiveness

This is a good home with some outstanding features. Young people thrive in this nurturing environment. Committed staff are strongly led, well-trained and supported to give high quality care to young people. Young people benefit from individual plans, which focus on maximising positives. This helps create a home where young people make excellent progress and achieve progressive outcomes.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people report feeling very happy living in this home. They have positive relationships with each other and the staff team. They feel very well listened to by the manager and all members of staff and are able to influence how the home is run. They enjoy a wide range of fun and stimulating activities. They have regular contact with family members and friends and engage well in education placements.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people feel safe in this home and are positive about the warm support that staff give them. Young people develop a real sense of their own personal responsibilities and being able to take appropriate risks over time. Staff work with young people, family and involved agencies to ensure that clear plans and goals are set and met for all young people. This has led to a significant reduction in safeguarding and missing from home concerns. A reviewing officer says, 'I am confident that young people are safe in this home'. 3 of 11 The management team and staff demonstrate a detailed understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and there is a development plan in place. The Registered Manager has also reviewed and implemented new recording systems to reduce duplication within young people's case files evidencing how the care provided to young people has improved their outcomes.

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Overall effectiveness

One requirement and two recommendations have been made as a result of this inspection. The requirement is related to accuracies within the restraint records. The two recommendations relate to a policy for electronic door alarm devices and shortfalls in the monitoring system, identified during this inspection. 4 of 11

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Information about this children’s home

The setting is a detached property in its own grounds, providing accommodation for up to four young people who have experienced emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is operated by a private provider.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/03/2014 Interim good progress 19/11/2013 Full good 20/02/2013 Interim good progress 09/05/2012 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 where a measure of restraint is used on the child the record must include the duration of the measure of restraint. (Regulation 17 (4) (a)) 03/11/2014

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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 where specific measures, including electronic devices, are used to monitor children, there is a written policy that sets out how they should be 5 of 11 used, how they promote the welfare of children, how children will be informed of their use, how legitimate privacy of children will be protected and how children will be protected from potential abuse of such measures (NMS 10.5)  ensure the manager regularly monitors, in line with regulations, all records kept by the home to ensure compliance with the home’s policies, to identify any concerns about specific incidents and to identify patterns and trends. Immediate action is taken to address any issues raised by this monitoring. (NMS 21.2) 6 of 11

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

As a result of exceptionally individualised, nurturing and effective care, young people make outstanding progress from their starting points. Young people develop confidence and a positive self-view in this home where they are valued and treated with respect and understanding. They enjoy free time with friends and make appropriate friendships. Young people are observed to be polite, respectful and grateful to staff for the help they are receiving.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Young people have an excellent understanding of their own health. They attend all mandatory health appointments and engage and receive support with health specialists such as the occupational psychologist. Due to this, young people have a better understanding of their past and current issues and are able to move forward and start considering their future. Through involvement in cooking, shopping and making menu choices, young people have a better understanding of healthy lifestyles.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Young people do exceptionally well in relation to their educational achievements whilst living in this home. All young people living in this home have educational provision in place, including college placements. The management and staff team place a very high value on education and ensure that all young people have provision in place as quickly as possible following their admission to the home. Some young people had not engaged in formal education for some considerable time before moving to this home and are now achieving their educational potential.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Young people flourish by taking part in a wide range of fun and stimulating social activities with staff. These include swimming, sports, visiting the theatre, theme parks, attendance at local gyms and youth clubs. Young people receive an allowance for social activities and are able to identify and choose what they want to do each week. Young people are involved and contribute to their individual activity planners. This leads to improved self-confidence and engagement with the local and wider community and a real sense of belonging for young people.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Contact with family and friends is sensitively negotiated. Contact arrangements are agreed in consultation with young people and placing social workers. Young people are open and share details of friends and significant people they wish to visit. This benefits young people as it helps them to maintain friendships in a safer way, and have overnight stays with their friends. One parent said, 'I have visited the home and was welcomed in and the staff always let me know when things happen. My child is making great progress and doing so well since they have been there'.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

A particular strength of the home is its preparation and support of young people for their eventual move to independence. Young people fully understand and look forward to moving onto an independence plan. With staff support, they learn all the 7 of 11 skills necessary to make a successful transition to adult life. This includes learning how to budget and manage their own finances, prepare their own meals and undertake all household tasks. Young people receive an excellent photographic history book, which includes staff comments, of their time in the home which they can take with them when they leave. This practice contributes to young people developing self-esteem, confidence and to feeling valued. One social worker says, 'I would have no hesitation currently in placing a young person at this home'.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people receive care and support from a stable and exceptionally dedicated staff team. Staff have consistently high aims and aspirations for the young people in their care. They speak of young people with pride and have a detailed awareness of their individual needs. The staff team are experienced, skilled and very child-focused. They are very mindful of young people's past experiences and how this affects their current behaviour, their identity and their attitudes. The young people are very different in interests and ages, but live together amicably and show tolerance to each other's needs.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people's wishes, feelings and views are central to how this home is run. Young people meet with staff on a daily basis to discuss any issues, share ideas and agree menu plans and activities. The manager asks young people to complete questionnaires regularly and she fully considers their responses and is prompt in delivering answers to young people's questions. Key worker sessions and young people's meetings capture the views, wishes and feelings of young people and young people say they feel all staff and the manager listen to them in this home.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people demonstrate a detailed and clear awareness of the complaints procedure and have the relevant information should they need to complain. They also report satisfaction at how any concerns they may have are considered and addressed. There have been no formal complaints made since the last inspection. The manager and staff provide a very good oversight ensuring any concerns raised by young people are effectively dealt with before a formal complaint is made.

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Quality of care outstanding

The home has excellent placement plans that clearly identify how the needs of young people are to be met. Young people fully contribute to all plans, risk assessment and review processes. Staff spend time going through these with individual young people, ensuring that their views, comments and contributions are fully recorded and signed. Young people know what the plans are for them, what support they will receive and how they will know when they have achieved their identified goals. Staff support young people to attend meetings and to be able to express their wishes and feelings. They advocate for young people and challenge any actual or perceived delays or issues about the services needed.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people's psychological and emotional health needs are very well-served in this 8 of 11 home. Staff demonstrate a high level of emotional warmth in their interactions with young people, and consistently seek to uncover the reasons underlying the behaviour rather than focusing on what is presented to them. They are assisted in this by regular whole team consultation sessions with a psychologist. This helps give staff the space to be proactive and imaginative in seeking effective ways to engage young people.

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff are exceptionally proactive in securing educational provisions for all young people. This is seen as a major priority at the placement planning stage, before a young person moves into the home. Managers work closely with education providers and local authorities to ensure that any delay in educational provision being in place is avoided.

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Quality of care outstanding

The staff team demonstrate a detailed awareness and understanding of the diverse needs of each young person. They ensure that any specific dietary, religious or cultural needs are recorded and met. Staff work closely with placing authorities to ensure that they have all relevant information for each young person. This ensures that they can then provide the specific support and services that may be required.

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Quality of care outstanding

The home is warm and welcoming and set in a rural location. The home's environment and appearance is of a high standard. Internally and externally it is very well cared for and maintained. The home has been personalised by young people, including their bedrooms. Their art work is displayed in communal areas and photographs of them with staff and each other are displayed throughout the home showing their enjoyment during holidays and activities. The manager feels strongly that this is important so that young people feel appropriately valued. Young people agree with this approach saying, 'this home is lovely, it's warm with ornaments, pictures and we all look after it'.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people report feeling safe living in this home and believe that the staff work hard to try and keep them safe at all times. A parent stated that they have absolutely no concerns about the safety of their child, since they moved to live at this home. They feel that staff have the welfare and safety of the young people at the centre of their practice at all times. Staff undertake training to ensure they have the knowledge and skills needed to keep young people safe. They can readily discuss the actions needed to protect young people should there be any evidence or suspicion of abuse. There are no current issues of bullying in this home which reflects the positive relationships that exist between all who live and work in the home.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Previous incidents of risk taking behaviour and associations with unsuitable individuals by some young people have stopped. The manager and staff team works in conjunction with local agencies and other professionals to ensure there are clear plans and strategies in place to help young people reduce their risk-taking behaviour. 9 of 11 This ensures their welfare is promoted and protected. There have been some incidents of young people going missing from the home in previous months and these have stopped. This reflects the positive working relationships staff have with young people, family members and other agencies. Protocols clearly set out what action staff should take in the event that a young person should go missing.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Risk assessments and behaviour support plans are personalised and reflect young people’s assessed needs. These quality documents provide staff with the necessary guidance and strategies to minimise risks and manage any concerns. There has previously been a number of physical interventions, involving young people. All interventions have been of short duration and appropriate in order to keep young people and staff safe. Restraints are recorded on the home's incident forms and summarised in the restraint log book. However, the duration of restraints has not been consistently recorded and some are inaccurate. This has little impact on young people but a requirement has been made to facilitate management monitoring.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The selection and recruitment of staff is robust and prevents unsuitable people from working with vulnerable young people in this home. The manager ensures that all pre-employment checks and references are undertaken and has detailed systems in place to ensure that up-to-date information is retained on each member of staff's personnel file.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Health and safety checks take place on a regular basis; these include fire equipment checks and young people’s involvement in fire drills so they know what to do in an emergency. Robust equipment checks are in place to ensure the home is a safe place to live. Young people's bedroom doors have an electronic device which sounds an alarm in the staff office to alert staff of movement and to safeguard young people. However, there is no policy in relation to these devices and a recommendation has been made. This is to ensure an appropriate assessment is made for individual young people to see if such a device is needed.

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Leadership and management good

There is a motivated Registered Manager in post, who has been in this position since November 2011. She has the appropriate qualifications, experience and continues to undertake relevant professional development. The Registered Manager is supported by two qualified and competent deputies and together they manage the home effectively and efficiently.

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Leadership and management good

There have been no reported concerns or complaints raised since the last inspection from young people or others. The management team and staff maintain positive working relationships with partner agencies, the local community and young people.

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Leadership and management good

Since the last inspection, the management team and staff have worked hard to address the areas for improvement that were identified. As a result, the previous 10 of 11 recommendations have been met. The home has a good track record and young people's care documents clearly evidence the positive impact the home is having on them. The management team understand the strengths and weaknesses of the home and there is a development plan in place. This sets out expectations for the home for the coming year and is regularly reviewed and updated by the Registered Manager.

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Leadership and management good

The home is able to meet the aims and objectives as set out in the Statement of Purpose document. This is a clear document which is easy to understand and provides accurate information to parents and other potential stakeholders. The young person’s guide is well written and the format suits young people with a pocket size version recently being published for them.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager believes in leading by example and is involved in all aspects of the home's functioning including cleaning and health and safety. This enables her to monitor everyday practice in the home. She also regularly completes the formal monitoring systems which are focused on young people's progress over a period of three months. Reports from these monitoring activities are mainly detailed and evaluative. However, shortfalls in the records of restraint and the absence of the electronic door alarm device policy have not been picked up. As a result a recommendation has been made.

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Leadership and management good

There have been some staff changes during the summer months, with new staff joining the team. This has had no impact on the young people who have been supported well during these changes. Staff induction and essential training is provided through formal courses, on-line training, and face to face discussions in supervision, and as part of staff appraisals. The home is fully staffed by a team who are enthusiastic and committed to meeting the needs of young people. One social worker commented, 'staff go above and beyond to meet young people's needs and do this very well'.

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Leadership and management good

Young people’s records are stored securely to avoid any breach of confidentiality. Case file records have been revised to avoid duplication and they contribute to understanding the life and progress of young people, and young people have access to what staff write about them. Staff demonstrate well their understanding and responsibilities for informing all appropriate agencies, including Ofsted should a significant event occur. This further protects young people. 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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