Children's Home, Residential special school run by Amberleigh Care Limited in Shropshire

Unique reference number SC448209 Inspector Janine Shortman-Thomas Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Residential special school (>295 days/year)

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Registered person Amberleigh Care Limited Registered person address Amberleigh Care Ltd, Golfa Hall Golfa WELSHPOOL Powys SY21 9AF Responsible individual Patricia May Pritz Registered manager POST VACANT Date of last inspection 18/03/2014 2 of 11 Inspection date 06/11/2014

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Previous inspection satisfactory progress Enforcement action since last inspection There has been no enforcement action within this inspection period.

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Overall effectiveness adequate

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

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Overall effectiveness

Overall young people are making good progress and achieving improved outcomes, especially with their attendance and attainment in education and managing their feelings and behaviour. Young people are developing positive relationships with staff, showing emotional resilience, building confidence in their skills and taking pride in their achievements; for example the young people who attend the on-site education provision proudly shared their recent art work which is displayed around the classroom.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff are committed and have a good understanding of each young person’s individual and specific needs. Care planning is comprehensive, personalised and includes contributions from the young people themselves. This ensures care practice is child focused and child centred. Staff have high but realistic aspirations for young people and work effectively with therapeutic and education staff to ensure a holistic care package is consistently provided.

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Overall effectiveness

The Responsible Individual shows a good understanding of the strengths and areas for development within the home. She is aware of the difficulties and shortfalls that the home has experienced recently, especially in relation to management oversight and the plans to improve record keeping; the need for more robust internal and 3 of 11 external auditing to ensure all the homes policies and procedures are implemented, especially in regards to medication; and to expand the opportunities that are offered to all young people within the home. The Responsible Individual is in the process of reviewing the homes developmental plan to ensure these areas are included to ensure they improve. She is confident that, with the imminent appointment of the new homes manager, all the actions highlighted from the inspection will be completed efficiently and effectively. 4 of 11

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Information about this children’s home

This company owned children's home offers an integrated residential therapeutic care and education package to young women. This home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 12 young people who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/03/2014 Interim satisfactory progress 02/05/2013 Full good 21/11/2012 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

5 (2001) ensure the Statement of Purpose is reviewed to fully reflect the services and provisions offered by the home, in particular to highlight staff and their qualifications and care practice that is undertaken to maintain young people's safety (Regulation 5 (a) (b)) 04/12/2014

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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)) 04/12/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

33 ensure that a written record of the Regulation 33 04/12/2014 5 of 11 (2001) report is completed and forward to Ofsted within a timely manner (Regulation 33 (9) (a)).

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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 young people pursue individual interest and hobbies. This includes taking part in a range of activities, including leisure activities and trips in line with their wishes (NMS 7.2)  ensure that physical restrictions on normal movement within the home are not used unless this is necessary to safeguard and promote welfare and development. Such measures will only be used where agreed when signed written consent is received from placing authorities and parents where appropriate (NMS 10.4)  ensure a written record is kept detailing the time, date and length of supervision and the record is signed by the supervisor and the member of staff at the end of the supervision. (NMS 19.4/5) 6 of 11

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people benefit from care practice that is personalised to their individual needs. Staff are experienced at forming and sustaining positive and trusting relationships with young people and professionals. Young people report that, ‘staff are always here to listen to me and help me. They help me with things that I find difficult.’ This ensures young people feel secure and supported to address their thoughts, feeling and behaviours more effectively. As a result most young people’s behaviour is improving as they are making better life choices.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people understand the importance of healthy lifestyles and take some responsibility for improving for their health. One young person proudly commented that they had recently lost weight due to the changes that they had made to their diet. Young people have an understanding of key health risk associated with smoking, self-harm and sexualised behaviours and continue to work with staff and therapists to reduce these behaviours.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

All young people make good progress with their education. Their attendance and attainment at school is extremely good from their starting point. One young person reported, ‘I love school, I have learnt loads whilst I have been here’. This was echoed by the social worker who feels the support offered has improved the young person’s education outcomes greatly.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are supported and listened to. They report that if they want something and can be clear why this is, staff listen to them and try, where possible, to facilitate this. Young people comment that they contribute to the plans made within the home and feel supported to voice their views. This is achieved through regular residents meetings, one to one sessions and ongoing daily discussions which occur around the home’s mealtimes. Young people confirm that they know how to complain and feel they would be supported by the staff should they need to use this process. This enhances young people’s confidence and self-esteem because they feel listened to, valued and respected as individuals.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Staff value the importance of contact for young people in understanding their heritage and identity, and facilitate and support this thoughtfully. Individual contact plans are in place to ensure young people's contact is well planned, safe and enjoyable for all involved. This supportive approach has helped young people maintain regular, quality contact with their family members and friends ensuring that they remain in touch with those significant to them.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are being well prepared to become more independent, appropriate to their age, ability and level of understanding. They are encouraged to develop basic life skills through regular involvement in the running of the home, including keeping 7 of 11 their rooms clean, washing up after meals and managing their money. They comment that they can shop, cook and know how to use the household appliances. As such, young people are equipped with the basic knowledge and skills they require to effectively prepare for independence.

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Quality of care adequate

Most young people are happy and settled in the home. They are building and maintaining constructive relationships with significant adults they feel they can trust. Social workers comment on the progress young people are making, specifically in regards to their education, confidence and self-esteem and attribute this progress to positive relationships which are evident throughout the home.

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Quality of care adequate

Young people are regularly consulted about their care plans and as such have a good understanding of their lives and future plans. Care planning and practice is individualised as young people’s needs and vulnerabilities are documented within their individual placement plans. These plans are reviewed regularly and progress is shared with the staff team and social workers. This ensures young people receive a personalised level of support which is designed to meet their individual and diverse needs.

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Quality of care adequate

Young people’s physical, emotional and psychological needs are recognised and addressed appropriately. Staff continually assess and monitor young people’s emotional and physical health to ensure that they are aware of, and respond to, any issues or concerns promptly. Positive working relationships with specialist and partner agencies ensure that all young people are registered with a doctor, dentist and optician. All young people are supported to access specialist health services as identified within their individual plan, such as weekly input from the companies’ psychotherapist, and attend routine health appointments and check-ups. As a consequence young people receive the correct level of support and care to ensure their physical and emotional health needs are improved.

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Quality of care adequate

Staff have high aspirations for young people and are committed to supporting and enabling them to reach their full academic potential. Staff regard education as being extremely important to improving young people’s life opportunities. They are proactive in working with young people, social workers and education colleagues to ensure any barriers that prevent inclusion are addressed. As a result young people are provided with opportunities to improve their leaning potential and achieve qualifications.

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Quality of care adequate

Young people are encouraged to identify and get involved in a range of activities within the home, such as arts and crafts, and pamper evenings. They also enjoy a playing a range of board games together. To increase their confidence, skills and community presence, further work is required to identify suitable community activities for the young people to engage in. For example, young people identified 8 of 11 that they would like to attend youth clubs and guides. The present arrangements for administering medication are ineffective and unclear. Medication records relate to medicines that are no longer given: some records have not been marked as ‘Finished’, and refer to medication to prevent illness which is no longer present. The responsible individual took steps to rectify this shortfall throughout the inspection to ensure all young people’s health needs can be adequately and safely addressed and maintained.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Most young people report that they feel safe in the home and can identify at least one staff member who they report they can talk to if they are worried about anything. There is a proactive response taken to managing any incidence of bullying and all young people understand the different forms that bullying may take. Young people report that they are clear about how to report bullying and feel staff address this appropriately. This ensures that incidents of bullying are minimised and young people are kept safe.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people’s risks and vulnerabilities are continuously assessed and recorded in their individual risk management plans. Information in these documents is personalised and is routinely shared during shift handovers, daily community meetings and team meetings. This ensures all staff are aware of and equipped to meet the present and emerging needs of all young people in their care. Social workers commented that staff are efficient and effective in observing and responding to any changes in young people which may lead to increased risk. As a result, risks and vulnerabilities are managed to ensure young people's physical safety and emotional welfare is promoted.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people rarely go missing. Staff are aware of the homes missing from care procedure and also of the associated triggers which may increase the risk of young people going missing. Staff undertake regular safeguarding training and implement individual risk management plans as required. Social workers comment that they are confident that the staff team keep young people staff as they systematically follow the agreed policies and procedures.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff are clear that physical intervention is used as a last resort to safeguard young people. Any incident of restraint is carried out by staff who are trained and is only used when all other de-escalation techniques have been unsuccessful. All incidents are recorded accurately and discussed with the young person sensitively afterwards. This allows them to reflect on the events and consider how they may change and improve their behaviours in the future.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The homes procedures for recruiting staff are robust. Potential staff are subjected to a rigorous and challenging recruitment process. Relevant checks are undertaken prior to staff starting work to ensure they are suitable to work with vulnerable young 9 of 11 people.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people live in large detached comfortable and well-maintained home which is suitably located with access to local amenities. The home is well equipped and pleasantly furnished in every room. Each bedroom has been chosen to meet the individualise needs of the young person and has been personalised to the young person’s taste. The home is located on a main road. To ensure the ongoing safety of all the young people and to improve the security of the property, building work is underway. Whilst the wall around the property has been built, the gates and fences need to be added to ensure all young people are kept safe.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people live in a physically safe environment. This is because they are protected by a range of health and safety procedures, risk assessments and routine checks. Evacuation plans are understood and regularly practiced by young people and staff. An inspection by the Churches Fire Security Ltd on 14 August 2014 identified four fire doors needed to be replaced. Work is presently ongoing to ensure that these doors are replaced.

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Leadership and management adequate

The Registered Manager left on the 17 September 2014. Since this time the Responsible Individual has taken over the day to day management of the home. She is suitably qualified and has previously managed the home. The Responsible Individual is actively seeking to recruit an experienced manager to this vacant post.

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Leadership and management adequate

The Statement of Purpose is shared with young people and placing authorities. This provides information about the home’s aims and objectives and ensures that placing authorities are informed of the care and support young people can expect to receive. However, the Statement of Purpose has not been updated to reflect the recent changes to the management of the home; includes factually incorrect details in regards to the qualifications held by one member of staff and reports that doors within the home are not locked. The kitchen door is presently locked as part of a risk management plan, however the placing authority have not been made aware of this or provided written consent for this care practice to be implemented. As a result young people, their families and placing authorities do not have accurate and up to date information about the running and management arrangements of the home.

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Leadership and management adequate

Four of the nine staff have attained a relevant childcare qualification. Suitable arrangements are in place for those staff who still need to complete a level 3 childcare qualification to achieve this in the prescribed time frame. New staff are inducted well and are given the opportunity to commence a relevant childcare qualification upon completion of their probationary period. Staff performance is now routinely monitored and developed through training, monthly supervision and ongoing daily support. All staff are complimentary of the support, guidance and training they receive from managers and colleagues and confirm that their training 10 of 11 needs are identified and met following this. The supervision records are thorough and detailed however a shortfall in staff signing the supervision matrix has been identified. Young people’s records are generally up to date and of adequate quality. They provide a good insight into young people’s individual and diverse back grounds

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Leadership and management adequate

and care plans but lack clarity of how some health needs are being met as these details are not easily accessible within the case files.

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Leadership and management adequate

Internal and external monitoring of the home is adequate. An independent person completes and provides written reports under Regulation 33 to the Responsible Individual. Whilst all young people have given written consent for the visitor to view their files, written consent has yet to be obtained by the placing authorities. Reoccurring issues with the recording of medication and supervision of staff, highlighted within the Regulation 33 visits, have been identified as areas for improvement by the Responsible Individual within the Regulation 34 monitoring arrangements. Plans are now in place to ensure that all staff receive monthly supervision and the medication procedure is to be reviewed immediately. A shortfall in submitting one Regulation 33 report to Ofsted has occurred.

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Leadership and management adequate

There are systems in place for the management and notification of serious incidents. Information is securely stored and is shared appropriately with young people, staff and stakeholders to ensure individual confidentially is maintained. There are systems in place for the management and notification of serious incidents. Information is securely stored and is shared appropriately with young people, staff and stakeholders to ensure individual confidentially is maintained. 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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