Children's Home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Staffordshire

Unique reference number SC005066 Inspector Matthew Hedges Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Care Today (Children's Services) Ltd Registered person address Care Today Children's Services, Lansdowne House 85 Buxton Road STOCKPORT Cheshire SK2 6LR Responsible individual Vivien Anne Snape Registered manager Carla Jane Savery Date of last inspection 19/03/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 29/10/2014

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Previous inspection satisfactory progress Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness adequate

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

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Overall effectiveness

The home provides an adequate quality of care. Young people are supported consistently by staff in line with individualised care plans. Young people make progress and their outcomes improve. This is particularly evident in relation to their risk taking and offending behaviours. Young people are proud of this and their self- confidence increases.

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Overall effectiveness

Positive relationships exist between staff and young people. Young people talk positively about the home and the support they receive. Young people are clear that they feel safe in the home and the local community.

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Overall effectiveness

The Registered Manager understands the home’s strengths and weaknesses and has a development plan in place. This has led to improvements in some areas.

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Overall effectiveness

Shortfalls in a number of areas were identified during the inspection. These areas include the home’s behaviour management policy, specifically the use, and recording, of physical interventions, the home’s Statement of Purpose and children’s guide, maintenance and décor, medication storage and recruitment checks. Other recommendations relate to young people’s records, sanctions records and training records. The impact of these shortfalls is reduced by the relationships that exist between staff and young people and other processes that are in place. 3 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for one young person with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It provides short term, crisis placements. The home is owned by a private company.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/03/2014 Interim satisfactory progress 04/11/2013 Full good 12/02/2013 Interim satisfactory progress 16/07/2012 Interim satisfactory progress

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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

4 (2001) compile in relation to the children’s home a written statement (in these Regulations referred to as “the statement of purpose”) which shall consist of a statement as to the matters listed in Schedule 1 (Regulation 4 (1)) 12/12/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

4 (2001) produce a guide to the children’s home (in these Regulations referred to as “the children’s guide”) which shall include a summary of the home’s statement of purpose (Regulation 4 (3) (a)) 12/12/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

17B (2001) implement a written policy (in this regulation referred to as the “behaviour management policy”) (Regulation 17B (1)) 12/12/2014 4 of 10 17B (2001) ensure that where a measure of restraint is used on a child the record must include the duration of the measure of restraint (Regulation 17B (4) (a)) 12/12/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) make suitable arrangements for the recording, handling, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of any medicines received into the children’s home (Regulation 21 (1)) 12/12/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that full and satisfactory information is available in relation to all staff in respect of each of the matters specified in Schedule 2 (Regulation 26 (3) (d)) 12/12/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that all parts of the children’s home used by children are kept clean and reasonably decorated and maintained. (Regulation 31 (2) (e)) 12/12/2014

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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 where children’s homes use restraint, staff are trained in the use of physical restraint techniques and that the training is regularly refreshed (NMS 3.15)  ensure that where there has been physical restraint, children’s homes are able to call on medical assistance as required and children are always given the opportunity to be examined by a registered nurse or medical practitioner (NMS 3.16)  ensure that where any sanctions, disciplinary measures or restraint are used, children are encouraged to have their views recorded in the records kept by the home (NMS 3.18)  ensure that the registered person’s system for recruiting staff and others includes an effective system for reaching decisions as to who is to be appointed and the circumstances in which an application should be refused in the light of any criminal convictions or other concerns about suitability that are declared or discovered through the recruitment process (NMS

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Recommendations

16.5)  ensure that the learning and development programme is evaluated for effectiveness at least annually and if necessary is updated (NMS 18.2)  ensure that information about the child is recorded clearly and in a way which will be helpful to the child when they access their files now or in the future. Children are actively encouraged to read their files, other than confidential or third party information and to correct errors and add personal statements. (NMS 22.5) 5 of 10 6 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people make progress in developing a positive self-view. Their confidence increases because of this. This gives young people the courage to develop greater knowledge of their background and events that have occurred. Young people have limited contact with their friends and families and use staff support to understand this.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people’s health is good. Risks taking behaviours such as drug and alcohol use, and risks relating to sexual health, decrease significantly. In addition, young people take a keen interest in physical activity. This further promotes their health. Young people’s offending behaviour also decreases. This allows them to focus on more positive aspects of their life. A social worker commented that they had seen a ‘huge turnaround’ for the young person they support, particularly in relation to their anger and aggression.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people’s engagement in education increases significantly. Young people have previously had very poor attendance in formal education. One young person explained that they were, ‘not in education much before.’ They are now planning to re-take their General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE’s) at college, they were rightly proud of this.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people develop skills that help to prepare them for adult life. For example, young people plan weekly menus and go shopping to buy the things they need. They cook for themselves and are able to try new kinds of food. Young people speak positively about this.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people are able to express their views, wishes and feelings regarding all aspects of their care.

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Quality of care adequate

Young people enjoy positive relationships with staff, who set clear boundaries for them. Young people respond well to this and their behaviour improves. Young people are positive about the home and staff. One young person said, ‘the staff are cool and really nice.’ Another young person said, ‘it’s brilliant, there’s always someone to talk to, mum and dad also think it’s a good choice for me.’ Professionals also comment positively. For example, an Independent Reviewing Officer felt that young people, ‘responded really well to the structure that staff put in place.’ In addition, a young person’s social worker felt that the service was, ‘great’ and continues to, ‘recommend the home to other professionals because of the work it has done with young people.’ 7 of 10 Relationships between staff and young people are further developed through a range of purposeful and enjoyable activities. Many of these activities involve being outside

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Quality of care adequate

and active. They include, camping, hiking, climbing, and mountain biking. Young people are very enthusiastic about the activities offered. One young person said, ‘there’s always loads to do.’ Social workers also talk positively about this.

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Quality of care adequate

Young people’s views are actively sought and are taken into account. This ensures young people feel that their opinions are valued. Staff support young people to understand why it is not always possible to act on their wishes all of the time. This reduces young people’s frustrations and helps them to understand the impact that their behaviours may have. Young people know how to complain. There have been no complaints since the last inspection.

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Quality of care adequate

Young people are cared for in line with individualised care plans. Some information recorded in these plans is not always recorded clearly. For example, information regarding young people’s behaviour is vague at times. In addition, young people do not add personal statements to their files. This means that important information is not available to young people who may wish to look at their records.

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Quality of care adequate

The staff team promotes education and learning opportunities. Staff understand the importance of education and work with education providers to offer young people the placements that they need. This is done as soon as young people move into the home. This helps young people to achieve their potential.

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Quality of care adequate

The home is appropriately located. Maintenance of the home in some areas is poor. Staff highlight that the kitchen is, ‘functional but dated’ and some areas need repainting. The garden is overgrown. The shower room has peeling plaster and some areas of the lounge require repainting. This does not help staff or young people to take pride in the environment.

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Quality of care adequate

Medication records are clear and evidence that young people get the correct medication. Concerns regarding medication are raised with young people’s doctors and followed up proactively by staff. Medication is usually stored in a locked cabinet in the staff office. This ensures that young people cannot access medication inappropriately. On the day of the inspection, the lock of the cabinet was broken and the cabinet had to be removed. This compromises the safekeeping of medication.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Young people say that they feel safe in the home and the local community and identify adults that they trust.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Staff work proactively to reward positive behaviour and ensure that strategies are consistently applied. Young people’s behaviour improves and this instils a sense of 8 of 10 pride and self-confidence. Sanctions for negative behaviour are used proportionately but records do not always contain young people’s views. The impact of this is reduced by the conversations young people have with staff.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Staff are trained in the use of physical restraint and training is refreshed annually. The home’s records do not show evidence that one member of staff attended last year’s refresher training. Physical restraint is rarely used. There has been one recorded since the last inspection. The home has a behaviour management policy that covers the use of restraint; there are shortfalls in its implementation. Although young people have individual risk assessments in relation to restraint, these do not outline specific holds that can be used or link to other behaviour management strategies effectively. In addition, the duration of the restraint is not always recorded. Records do not evidence that young people are offered the opportunity to be examined by a medical professional following a restraint. Positive relationships between staff and young people and the low frequency of physical interventions limit the impact of these shortfalls.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

The Registered Manager understands the importance of safe recruitment. One staff file contained a gap in employment, this had been explored by the provider but the outcome was not evident on the staff members file. Criminal convictions are highlighted and discussed with applicants. The system used by the provider for reaching decisions regarding the suitability of applicants with criminal convictions is not clear. The impact of these shortfalls is reduced by the other recruitment practices in place. Staff are aware of the whistleblowing procedure. Any complaints are well managed and followed up robustly. This also helps to ensure that unsafe adults are not employed at the home.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Staff show good awareness of safeguarding and are aware of the risks when young people go missing. They are also aware of young people’s individual vulnerabilities and factors that may trigger them to go missing. The home has clear agreements in place with the police and work proactively with them. Police talk positively about this. One officer stated, ‘staff are very good at interacting with us.’ This close working helps to protect young people. Missing incidents decrease significantly when young people move to the home. This is celebrated as a significant achievement. Risk taking behaviours are significantly reduced because of this and young people are safer.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Bullying is not identified as an issue by either staff or young people. High supervision levels ensure this is also the case when young people are out in the local community. The physical environment is safe and the home is appropriately secure.

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Leadership and management adequate

9 of 10 The home has an experienced Registered Manager who has been registered since September 2013. The Registered Manager holds a level four award in leadership and management. In addition to this, they are also undertaking a level five diploma in leadership.

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Leadership and management adequate

Four recommendations were made at the last inspection. The first recommendation related to the young people’s guide, specifically that it was not clear what the home sets out to do for young people. The Registered Manager produced an additional information leaflet. This does not provide enough information for young people and the guide lacks detail. The second recommended was that young people’s views are recorded in relation to sanctions. Records do not evidence this on every occasion. The other recommendations have been addressed. These related to monthly monitoring and the home’s development plan.

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Leadership and management adequate

The Registered Manager understands the home’s strengths and weaknesses. Regular monitoring takes place and the home is visited each month by an independent visitor. There is evidence of young people’s consultation as part of this process and these reports are shared with Ofsted. Actions identified are addressed in a timely way. There is also a development plan in place.

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Leadership and management adequate

The Statement of Purpose provides useful information to staff, young people and families. Social workers comment that they understand the services offered by the home and that, ‘the home delivers what it offers.’ There are some areas that are not up to date. This includes details regarding the Positive Intervention team, the Registered Manager’s work address, and supervision arrangements for staff. In addition, references to the provider’s therapy team lack detail.

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Leadership and management adequate

The home employs a sufficient number of staff. Staff receive regular supervisions that are used effectively to improve practice. Regular team meetings also ensure that staff are supported. Staff speak positively about the support they receive, particularly in relation to supervision and access to training. Staff receive regular training, which helps them to offer good quality support to young people. Not all training records are kept at the home. This means that the effectiveness of the training programme is not evaluated by the Registered Manager on an annual basis.

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Leadership and management adequate

Regular health and safety checks including fire safety are in place. This helps to protect staff and young people.

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Leadership and management adequate

The home has developed effective links with other agencies including the police and placing authorities. Professionals talk positively about communication with the home. This ensures that support to young people is consistent. There is a system in place for serious incidents to be notified to Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector (HMCI), Ofsted as required. 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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