Children's Home run by Esland South Limited in Kent

Unique reference number SC059037 Inspector Liz Driver Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Esland South Limited Registered person address Unit 4, Ednaston Home Farm Brailsford ASHBOURNE Derbyshire DE6 3AY Responsible individual John Stamp Registered manager Kim Samantha Walder Date of last inspection 26/02/2014 2 of 12 Inspection date 14/10/2014

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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

This service has recently undergone changes in its leadership and management. The management and staff team show commitment in responding to the changes that have already been put in place and those planned for the future; however these still need time to fully embed.

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Overall effectiveness

The management of the home, although aware of the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB), lacks in-depth knowledge of its function in relation to missing children and the risks of potential or actual child sexual exploitation.

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Overall effectiveness

The outcomes for young people vary significantly depending on their commitment to engage with staff and other agencies. Recent improvements to matching criteria have resulted in suitable placements for young people, and this is already showing improved outcomes for some young people over a short period of time. The current progress of young people in relation to all aspects of their welfare and development is positive and encouraging.

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Overall effectiveness

A strength of the home is the persistence of staff in challenging anti-social behaviour and supporting young people who are disengaging with society. Strategies include re-establishing relationships with family and friends through the development of positive contact arrangements. Young people are proactively encouraged to make 3 of 12 progress in all aspects of their lives.

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Overall effectiveness

Children and young people receive planned and individualised care and their views are increasingly taken into account regarding the operation and practice of the home. However the lack of health care plans, provided by the placing authority at the start of their placement could have a negative impact on staff being able to meet individual health needs. Young people living in the home respond extremely well to the relationships they form with staff and clearly enjoy their presence. Staff have a sense of aspiration for young people and this contributes to their progress, particularly in behaviour management, attendance in education and emotional resilience.

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Overall effectiveness

Changes to the staff team have not yet been fully embedded, however the changes are positive and young people are currently being cared for by a stable and professional staff team. Young people say they feel safe and protected and enjoy the company of staff.

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Overall effectiveness

Quality assurance is improving with the recent recruitment of a quality assurance manager. The manager has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and is keen act on areas that require improving, including those identified in this report.

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Overall effectiveness

Five requirements and three recommendations have been made as a result of this inspection. These relate to better knowledge and communication with the Local Safeguarding Children's Board (LSCB) in relation to missing young people and at risk of child sexual exploitation, embedding a clear e-safety policy that references how the setting will keep young people safe from internet abuse and how staff's use of computers will be monitored. In addition the need to ensure fire evacuation drills are better monitored for their effectiveness and ensure all looked after children's paperwork is in place. Recommendations made include evidencing contact with the local authority when young people move out of the area, reconsidering the staff sleeping in arrangements, and continuing to review policies and procedures and their effectiveness. 4 of 12

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children's home offering care and accommodation to four young people experiencing severe emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/02/2014 Interim satisfactory progress 14/05/2013 Full adequate 21/11/2012 Interim satisfactory progress 24/04/2012 Full adequate

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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) consult, and take into account the views of, the local safeguarding children's board (LSCB), before implementing or making an amendment which the registered person considers to be substantive to, the missing child policy (Regulation 16 (5) (i)) 21/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) prepare and implement a written policy which is intended to safeguard children accommodated at the children's home from abuse or neglect; specifically include the risks of child sexual exploitation, missing children and e-safety in accordance with the LSCB's risk assessment tool and procedures (Regulation 16 (1) (a)) 21/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

16 prepare and implement a written policy which is 21/11/2014 5 of 12 (2001) intended to safeguard children accommodated at the children's home from abuse or neglect; review the setting's e-safety policy to ensure it has clear reference to how the setting will keep young people safe from internet abuse and how the setting will monitor staff's use of the internet (Regulation 16 (1) (a))

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) promote the physical, emotional and mental health of the children accommodated in a children's home; specifically ensure all health related looked after children's paperwork is in place ( Regulation 20 (1)) 21/11/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that the person's working at the home and children accommodated there are aware of the procedures to be followed in case of a fire; specifically ensure records show how effective these drills are and that they are regularly monitored. (Regulation 32 (1) (e)) 21/11/2014

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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 the process of notifying to the Local Authority when young people move in from other authorities also includes notification of when the young person leaves the home (NMS 22.7)  continue with the review of all policies and procedures and their effectiveness (NMS 13)  reconsider the staff sleeping-in provision. (NMS 17) 6 of 12

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people make varying progress while living at the home. Changes to the placement decision process are beginning to evidence better admission decisions. For those young people currently placed in the home this is beginning to lead to improved outcomes.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people are supported to understand their backgrounds and to develop positive self-views and resilience. The staff team and the strong relationships developed with young people enable them to reflect on their pasts without fear, and in a safe environment. Comments young people make such as, `I am able to talk to anyone here about anything’ reflects the trust they have in the staff team. In addition this enables them to address and understand their previous and current situation. Young people are taught to appreciate their individual cultures and to be respectful towards others.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people receive good health care despite the current lack of information provided by some local authorities at the start of placements. The lack of health information provided by local authorities could have a negative impact on the care provided, however the manager pro-actively seeks knowledge from specialists to ensure young people receive the correct health care. During their placement, they are supported to understand the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and, to take responsibility for their own health, particularly as they approach leaving care.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people benefit from living in a home where the value of education is promoted and encouraged. They make varying progress depending on their starting points and their commitment to engaging in the placement overall. Young people who previously were poor attenders now commit to full time education. Young people accessing education acknowledge the progress they have made in achieving full attendance. A young person said that, `staff helped me realise that having a good education is important and I now go to school every day.’

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people enjoy a variety of activities. Activities are sensitively managed to meet the emotional needs of the young people; for example those young people who do not like crowded places are not taken to the cinema. As their emotional resilience develops, staff encourage young people to take part in activities that they may not have previously undertaken.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people are readily able to, and are supported to contact families and friends. Staff work very closely with all professionals in relation to restrictions of contact that can be complex to manage.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people are supported to gain independence skills. Staff are very well informed 7 of 12 of individual challenges young people face and provide individual packages of support to help them prepare for independence. As a result, young people develop their skills and knowledge, at their own pace and to a good degree, especially when taking their starting points into account.

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Quality of care adequate

The quality of care is improving as a result of the policies and procedures being reviewed, a focus on staff training and the changes to the staff team. A strength of the home is the relationships staff build with the young people. Relationships are generally positive with clear and strong boundaries. Good parenting skills are embedded in the staff practice. The application of consistent routines results in young people feeling well cared for.

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Quality of care adequate

Young people are encouraged to voice their views and opinions in numerous ways such as: daily interaction with staff; key worker meetings; and the complaints procedure. Work is carried out prior to placement reviews, to ensure that young people have either the confidence to participate themselves, or to ensure that staff can represent their views and opinions. Young people know how to make a complaint with informative notices on display around the home. Outcomes of complaint investigations carried out since the last inspection have resulted in the home implementing a new and reviewed complaints procedure. Robust action is taken as a result of complaint investigations. The home also provides young people with a list of external organisations who they can contact to share their concerns.

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Quality of care adequate

Health care is, at times hindered by the lack of detailed information provided by the placing authority. The manager is robust in following this up with placing authorities, however in their absence the manager seeks health information directly from specialists, if necessary, to ensure young people receive the correct health care. The lack of health information provided by local authorities could have a negative impact on the care provided. Young people are supported to understand the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and, where possible, encouraged to take responsibility for their own health, particularly as they approach the time for them to leave care. As a result of the manager's contacts with the necessary health professionals, all known specific health needs are currently addressed with access to specialist health professionals. Young people are encouraged to live a healthy lifestyle as the home

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Quality of care adequate

provides a broad selection of fresh fruit, healthy snacks and meals. Young people choose the menu and eat a varied diet. Meals are nutritious and balanced.

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Quality of care adequate

The value of education is embedded into the ethos of the home and staff work hard to improve the life chances of young people. They make varying progress and benefit from staff support and guidance to develop socially as well as academically. Staff relationships with educational establishments remain constructive.

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Quality of care adequate

Good quality care plans, which are detailed and individualised, outline how each 8 of 12 young person's needs will be met. They evidence the increasing level of input young people have into these plans and show outcomes achieved by the young people which are improving.

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Quality of care adequate

Staff continue to develop relationships with all external agencies and social work services and are not afraid to challenge any shortfalls, to ensure children and young people receive the support they need. Feedback from one social worker stated `this is a nurturing, caring home and they communicate well with me.’

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Quality of care adequate

Children and young people enjoy an excellent range of activities which they have a voice in choosing. Staff participate in activities with them or allow them to engage independently, depending on their age and abilities.

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Quality of care adequate

Young people live in a well maintained property, close to the town centre. The home provides a modern comfortable environment. The use of door alarms and closed circuit television, included in the Statement of Purpose, is recorded in their placement plans and therefore young people are able to discuss and record their views about this provision with their social worker. Young people have their own bedroom, which they personalise to reflect their individuality. Sleeping in arrangements for staff are just adequate and would benefit from improvement. Accommodation for staff to sleep in overnight is either in the staff room or a very small bedroom located at the back of the home. The Registered Manager is currently completing a location review in accordance with legislation which came into effect in April 2014.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Adequate arrangements are in place to safeguard and protect young people. The manager and the staff team are not as well informed as they could be of the function of the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) in relation to missing young people and the risk of child sexual exploitation. The use of the LSCB's risk assessment tool is not fully implemented into day-to-day practice or in accordance with the LSCB's own guidance. The manager does however refer to the Kent child protection and safeguarding procedures and referrals. The home's policy has very recently been reviewed to highlight additional areas of safeguarding, such as the link between missing young people and the risk of exploitation.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Staff are pro-active in supporting young people's safety and they work in partnership with other agencies in order to facilitate this. Staff receive training and have guidance in place for them to follow, regarding child protection matters. This ensures they have the awareness and knowledge to promote young people's safety. Staff have recently received training in e-safety and sexual exploitation and as a result have an increased awareness of the risks to young people including indicators that they may be at risk of being exploited. The home's e-safety policy is in need of review so that it guides staff on how to keep young people safe from internet abuse and how the organisation will monitor safe use by staff. 9 of 12 Care plans identify each young person's vulnerabilities and associated risks with strategies for the staff and young people to follow. The effectiveness of care plans and strategies in the past have been poor, especially in respect of going missing

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

incidents. Current young people engage well with their care plans and strategies put in place to keep them safe. Clear risk assessments help protect young people, while enabling them, as appropriate to their age, to take reasonable risks as part of their growth and development. Good communication with the local police around missing young people ensures they can be located as soon as possible. Since the last inspection, over a period of a few months there were a high number of incidents of young people going missing. Currently this is not the case. Staff are aware of the dangers relating to the location of the home that young people may face when missing. Staff work closely with the local police community support officers who regularly visit the home and who get to know the young people well.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Positive behaviour is encouraged and rewarded. Bullying is not tolerated at any level. Staff consistently apply firm boundaries if they feel any young person is at risk of bullying. Young people feel comfortable in talking to staff about any concerns or worries they may have. A bullying incident raised by young people and not actioned by staff has been taken seriously by the manager with an internal investigation carried out and robust action taken as a result. Staff are well informed of, and comfortable in, whistle blowing.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

There has been a period of time since the last inspection when physical interventions were used as a necessary measure to prevent young people from harming themselves or to protect staff. Due to young people moving on and improved placement matching of new young people being admitted, the number of physical interventions has decreased significantly. Young people identify the improvements they have made and relate this to staff support and intervention. One professional said, `this home provides clear and consistent boundaries that create a sense of safety, organisation and regulation’ and `staff set appropriate limits and provide a model for appropriate behaviour’.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Children and young people are protected by the home's robust recruitment procedures, which ensure that all necessary background checks are carried out before staff commence employment. Recruitment procedures ensure adults are safe to work with children and young people, whilst being of good character and integrity.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

All health and safety checks and inspections are undertaken at appropriate intervals ensuring it is a safe environment. These includes checks of firefighting equipment, alarm systems and electrical and gas installations. All young people know what to do in the event of a fire and regular drills ensure this knowledge is embedded in practice. Records do not clearly evidence the effectiveness of fire drills or good monitoring procedures. 10 of 12

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Leadership and management adequate

The manager has been in post since June 2014, having previously managed the home from 2010 through to early 2014. She is suitably qualified and experienced to fulfil her role, and is currently going through Ofsted's registered manager’s process. She has national vocational qualification at level 3 and 4 relating to children and young people and a suitable level 4 qualification in leadership and management. She is currently undertaking a foundation degree course in supporting young people.

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Leadership and management adequate

Changes to the management of the home and the staff team have resulted in a team of experienced and more permanent staff who are focusing on providing stability for the young people in their care. Staff receive regular supervision and yearly appraisals. Good quality training is in place for all staff, with new areas being delivered such as child sexual exploitation and e-safety. This enables staff to keep up to date with changing risks and learn and explore matters that are important for the care of the young people. All staff have completed, or are undertaking the required qualifications. This means that staff have good theoretical knowledge.

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Leadership and management adequate

There is a clear and up-to-date Statement of Purpose for the home which describes what it intends to achieve and deliver. Additionally, there is a young person's guide which ensures that young people are aware of what they can expect from the home and the support they will receive. These documents enable all relevant individuals to have a clear understanding of how the home operates and supports correct placement planning. The manager is committed to ensuring that future placements are suitably considered and admissions take place in a timely manner.

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Leadership and management adequate

The manager has a system in place for notifying the local authority of out of area placements, however there is no record of the notification process when a young person leaves the area.

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Leadership and management adequate

Both internal and external monitoring of the home is being developed. The organisation has a newly recruited quality assurance manager who is reviewing the organisation's policies and procedures as well as monitoring processes within the home. The manager is developing more effective monitoring systems to ensure patterns and trends are more easily identified. This will enable staff to review and change practices such as behaviour management strategies. The monthly monitoring visits undertaken by an independent person include talking to staff and young people about their experience at the home. The manager follows up any areas identified and takes appropriate action where relevant.

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Leadership and management adequate

All records are stored safely and securely. They are checked regularly to ensure they are up-to-date and provide a clear and accurate history of each young person's time at the home. All significant events are reported promptly to all relevant agencies, to ensure the home is accountable in promoting young people's well-being.

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Leadership and management adequate

Two requirements were made at the last inspection, and both of these have been 11 of 12 addressed; the recording format for physical interventions now clearly document that young people have been spoken to following an intervention and more written detail of events leading up to the intervention. Monitoring reports now provide for consultation with young people, parents and placing authorities, although this continues to be an area for development.

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Leadership and management adequate

In addition four recommendations were made at the last inspection: the homes procedures are now compatible with, and have regard to, Runaway and Missing from Home and Care protocols and procedures; written records are in place that reflect any action taken by staff in circumstances when young people return from being missing; the organisation is currently reviewing the effectiveness of the staff training and development programme; and staff appraisals take into account feedback from the young people, again a continual developing area.

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Leadership and management adequate

The manager and staff know the service's strengths and weaknesses, and have the capacity to continually develop and improve. 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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