Children's Home run by Bryn Melyn Care Limited in Telford and Wrekin

Unique reference number SC372621 Inspector Michelle Moss Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Bryn Melyn Care Limited Registered person address 2 High Street Dawley Telford Shropshire TF4 2ET

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Responsible individual Melissa Johnson Registered manager Jonathan David Lokier Date of last inspection 06/02/2014 2 of 9 Inspection date 05/11/2014

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

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Overall effectiveness

Key strengths of the home are the way young people make rapid progress in their personal, social, educational and moral development. As they progress through their placement their behaviour and attitudes improve significantly and they become more confident in their own abilities. Young people feel they have staff working with them who are interested in them as individuals and want to keep them safe. This starts by experiencing genuine care from a stable staff team who are committed, well trained and skilled to provide individualised tailored care.

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Overall effectiveness

Some improvements are needed in a few areas of practice. These include complaints, medication, consultation, children’s guide and ensuring the home holds copies of all Personal Education Plans. What reduces the impact on young people is the Registered Manager’s ambitious and energetic approach, especially their principle of wanting to get it right for every young person. This includes recognising the importance of ongoing improvement to enhance young people’s experience. This starts by having a development plan in place with clear set objectives. 3 of 9

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Information about this children’s home

This home, run by a private company, is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/02/2014 Interim good progress 09/05/2013 Full good 30/01/2013 Interim satisfactory progress 16/08/2012 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) ensure the Registered Person makes suitable arrangements for the recording, handling, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of any medicines received into the children’s home. In particular, clear recording on how medication must be administered (Regulation 21 (1)) 05/12/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the Registered Person supplies to HMCI at HMCI’s request a statement containing a summary of any complaints made during the preceding twelve months and the action that was taken (Regulation 24 (7)) 05/12/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

28 ensure every school report is received in respect of 05/12/2014 4 of 9 (2001) the child. In particular, their Personal Education Plan (PEP). (Regulation 28(1) Schedule 3. 16)

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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 the children’s guide includes a summary of what the home sets out to do for children, how they can find out their rights, how a child can contact their IRO, the children’s commissioner and Ofsted if they wish to raise a concern with inspectors, and how to secure access to an independent advocate (NMS 13.5)  ensure 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 young person’s life, unless this is contrary to their interests (NMS 1.1)  ensure young people can take up issues in the most appropriate way with support and without fear that this will result in any adverse consequences. Young people receive prompt feedback on any concerns or complaints raised and are kept informed of progress. (NMS 1.6) 5 of 9

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people’s willingness and confidence to re-engage with staff following a problem is exceptional. Young people can do this because they independently use the strategies that they have been given to modify their behaviour. Young people are becoming more responsible for their behaviour and solving problems when things get difficult, and are better prepared for their transition from being a young person to a young adult.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people access therapeutic support to help them move forward by building up coping skills that help them face everyday challenges. Young people use this support to modify their behaviour so that they can begin to overcome difficulties in their past.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people get involved in menu planning and are adventurous in trying new dishes, especially in integrating culturally appropriate food so they can celebrate their heritage.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people take part in a wide range of leisure activities in their community. They use these opportunities to develop personal and social skills, talents and abilities. The level of achievement is impressive. This has given young people new levels of self- confidence in their abilities. In particular, young people participate in a number of physical activities of their choice including being members of sport clubs. These opportunities enhance their physical well-being.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are sustaining excellent school attendance and in doing so are achieving qualifications appropriate to their abilities and aspirations, including working towards General Certificates in Secondary Education and accredited awards. All achievements never go unrecognised including young people using the positive reinforcement from staff to recognise their success.

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Quality of care good

Young people experience a climate where mutual trust and respect is at the heart of everyday practice. This starts with staff being alert to the emotional, physical and social needs of young people. Staff are committed to helping young people to make progress to overcome their difficulties. Staff are sensitive to the diverse and complex needs of young people. Staff will help them to understand their heritage to form a sense of identity and belonging, especially through key working sessions. This in turn enables young people to strengthen a sense of identity and to celebrate diversity.

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Quality of care good

Families describe their child’s progress as ‘nothing more than amazing’. As a 6 of 9 consequence of the home their child is now on the right direction for a more positive future. Social worker’s report young people are making ‘very good progress’, which is evident at each visit.

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Quality of care good

Young people have clear placement plans that develop over time. The plan details how their needs are to be addressed and are based on assessments provided by placing authorities and detailed risk assessments. Health needs are identified and assessed at the early stage of the placement. These are recorded in a health plan. Particular health needs which can impact on future outcomes are identified and support is sought from specialist health workers including Child and Adolescent Mental Health services and the in-house therapeutic service. By using these services, young people have better coping skills to self- regulate their emotions.

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Quality of care good

Medication records sometimes give inconsistent instructions on the method of administration. For example, there can be a lack of clarity whether medication is to be administered ‘as and when required’ or ‘regularly’. This leaves potential errors in the process of administering medication in line with a prescribing doctor’s instruction.

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Quality of care good

Young people have access to a complaints procedure which they use to raise concerns over their care. Although their concerns are dealt with promptly, the process does not take into account young people’s rights to go directly to someone independent of the home. Complaint investigations lack rigour to show the complaint is fully addressed. As a result young people are not assured that their voice is always heard.

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Quality of care good

Young people are afforded opportunities to undertake a wide-range of activities that strengthen their skills, interests, knowledge and enhance their physical well-being.

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Quality of care good

Young people are consulted on a regular basis. Although they value this consultation they do not feel that their opinions and views are always acted on. For example, young people raise ideas in group meetings and then find nothing happens. This leaves young people less trusting that their contribution to decision making is taken seriously.

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Quality of care good

Staff provide a valuable contribution in enabling young people to re-engage in education to enhance their learning. As a consequence, young people have excellent school attendance and are achieving significant milestones in their academic achievements, especially given their starting point. Parents report being amazed by the level of educational progress. They feel the difference comes from staff helping young people to manage their emotions in ways that mean they can now enter classrooms so that learning can begin.

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Quality of care good

The accommodation provides a pleasant homely environment to support young people’s needs. Families are made welcome and are afforded opportunities to visit the home prior to admissions being agreed. This helps them to be assured the 7 of 9 placement is right for their child.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people commence their placements with considerable emotional and behavioural needs. The various support systems in place including therapy and partnership working with education and outside agencies help to significantly improve behaviour. As a result, the use of physical intervention has reduced significantly over time and young people develop more self-coping skills to self-moderate their emotions safely.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff are trained in aspects of safeguarding young people. They are alert to young people’s vulnerabilities and risks of harm. They are knowledgeable about how to implement child protection procedures. Staff are aware of the risks associated with young people going missing from care and work with young people to ensure they keep staff informed about their whereabouts and return at agreed times. As a result no young person has been reported missing from care. Staff are particularly alert to the risks to young people in the community and use key working sessions to help young people to learn about staying safe. This helps to ensure young people are aware of dangers and do not place themselves at risk from people prepared to exploit their additional vulnerabilities.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Incidents of bullying are rare with staff alert to the different forms of bullying and how this can impact of young people’s emotional stability and confidence.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Effective safe recruitment procedures ensure the appointment of staff who are suitable to work with young people. This provides an additional layer of protection for young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The home has regularly updated risk assessment for aspects of safety of the premises including fire. Young people alongside staff take part in practice drills and are made aware of the dangers associated with fire.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager has been in post since July 2014 and holds the level five Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People services. The Registered Manager provides strong leadership and is ambitious in driving forward improvement. This starts by having a rigorous development plan which the Registered Manager utilises effectively to drive forward this improvement. The key focus is to achieve positive outcomes for young people. 8 of 9 There is a good balance of experience among staff. Individual members are well qualified, skilled and trained to their responsibilities and the needs of young people. Staff receive regular supervision. This helps them to reflect on practice and in particular their roles in supporting young people.

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Leadership and management good

Young people are supported by a well-established staff team. Staff are effectively deployed and work closely together so that young people have one- to-one support. This in turn ensures young people gain the support they need to thrive physically, emotionally, socially and educationally.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager leads on ensuring the home’s self-evaluation is rigorous and generates valid and reliable evidence. They use the information to measure the impact the home is having on improving outcomes for young people.

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Leadership and management good

Young people are provided with reasonable information about the home in the form of a guide which they receive on admission. This helps them to gain some aware of rules and what they can expect from staff. However, the guide fails to inform young people of their right to contact outside people. For example, how they can access the children’s commissioner and Ofsted. This hinders young people being aware of how to secure access to more independent services, especially if they have concerns which they wish to take outside of the home.

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Leadership and management good

Complaints are not annually monitored in order to increase awareness of emerging patterns. The complaints log records often lack detail. These incomplete logs leave gaps in evidencing that young people’s concerns are investigated fairly and that lessons are learnt where necessary.

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Leadership and management good

Young people’s individual case files are confidentially stored and are arranged in a manner that makes them readily useable by staff. The vast majority of information on health, care and education is comprehensively captured in files. However, the Personal Education Plan report is missing. This leaves gaps in using this key information to inform other plans around young people’s education attainment and progress.

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Leadership and management good

The Statement of Purpose is clear in setting out what care the home will provide and how this will be provided. This is presented in a form that helps placing authorities and families to make informed decisions.

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Leadership and management good

The home had no shortfalls at the last inspection which required following up. 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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