Children's Home run by Active Ark Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Unique reference number SC439956 Inspector Elaine Clare Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Active Ark Ltd Registered person address Active Ark, Unit E Baron Way, Kingmoor Business Park CARLISLE CA6 4SJ Responsible individual Derek Blyth Registered manager Louise Matthews Date of last inspection 03/02/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 10/12/2014

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Previous inspection good 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 has had a period of instability and is now beginning to become stable. Young people receive an adequate overall standard of care. They learn how to develop skills suited to maintaining positive relationships, and have started to take more responsibility for their behaviour. Staff demonstrate that they possess skills suited to working in a residential setting.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are organised and follow their plans and personal routines. Although there have been a number of behaviour management issues affecting young people and the community in which they live, young people are making steady progress and are beginning to show that they can resolve conflict more positively.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people gain more confidence from attending education. Frequent individual work sessions provided by staff assist young people to extend their skill set and keep them well motivated.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are safe, relaxed and happy in their placements. They believe that they are in control of their lives and are being well prepared for their futures. Statutory reviews and planning meetings take place and this keeps individual plans focused. 3 of 10 There are a number of shortfalls identified at this inspection. Records including the home’s Statement of Purpose, behaviour management policy, complaints, supervision and incidents that require notifying to Ofsted are not routinely updated. Consequently, a range of records cannot be suitably audited in order to assess the quality of the service and identify where improvement is required. Furthermore, it is identified that the home requires an independent external visitor to provide an overview of the standards of care provided in the home. It is this monitoring and the managers monitoring that will serve to identify matters such as, young people

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Overall effectiveness

continuing to smoke cigarettes, risk taking behaviours and how medication is managed in the home. As a result, eight requirements and two recommendations are made at this inspection. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children's home is registered to accommodate and care for one young person. Young people accommodated at the home experience emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is one of eight homes owned by the company, but the first sited in England. It accepts emergency placements and can offer care to young people on a short, medium or long-term basis.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/02/2014 Interim good progress 12/11/2013 Full good 19/10/2012 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

4 (2001) compile in relation to the children's home a written statement which shall consist of a statement as to the matters listed in Schedule 1; with particularly regards to the registered providers qualifications, details of staff employed at the home and address of Ofsted within complaints (Regulation 4(1)) 02/01/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) promote and make proper provision for the care, welfare and supervision of children accommodated there (Regulation 11(1)(a)) 02/01/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

17B (2001) implement a written policy, (“the behaviour management policy”) the means whereby 02/01/2015 5 of 10 appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the home (Regulation 17B(1)(b))

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) promote and protect the physical health of children, in particular take action to reduce or cease smoking by children (Regulation 20(1)(d)) 02/01/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that a written record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of the investigation (Regulation 24(5)) 02/01/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that all persons employed by him receive appropriate supervision and appraisal (Regulation 27)(4)(a)) 02/01/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure any of the events listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 5 takes place, the registered person shall without delay notify the persons indicated in respect of the event in column 2 of the table (Regulation 30(1)) 02/01/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) appoint an independent person to visit and report on the children's home in accordance with this regulation; with particular reference to a person being disqualified from the role who has, or had, a connect with the registered person and a connection to the children's home (Regulation 33 (1)(2)(g)(i)(ii)) 02/01/2015

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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 prescribed medication is only given to the child for whom it was prescribed and in accordance with the prescription (NMS 6.14)  The registered provider’s written report of a visit carried out under Regulation 33 is lodged in the home for the manager and staff to read and to respond; in particular these should be within a reasonable time from the visit (NMS 21.8) 6 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Securing positive outcomes and futures is still at an early stage for the young people living at this home. Recent successes are acknowledged for a resident whose emotional development and self-confidence has improved considerably over the last few months.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Staff work hard to ensure young people build resilience and begin to understand their personal circumstances. A range of plans supporting individual growth and development are in place. These are implemented satisfactorily allowing progress to be made in some areas. Plans are subject to regular review. A key focus of these plans is directed towards attending education. Young people are gaining clear benefits from routine and suitable educational programs and in consideration of their individual starting points attendance is significant improvement. Likewise, staff work well with partners to ensure young people remain focused.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Staff report that the young people have gained confidence in their placements and are more open to talking through matters affecting them. A good example is in the cooperation extended to mental health services and staff during individual work sessions. Young people show some willingness to learn from the support being provided. The range of subjects covered has improved young people’s self-knowledge and self-awareness.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people living at the home are treated fairly and staff work hard to support their individual needs. Similarly, young people benefit from the high levels of emotional support that they receive. This is particularly evident in maintaining contact and relationships with family members.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Behaviours exhibited in the home sometimes means the home is not a calm place and this has impacted on the lives on the homes neighbours and local community. Neighbours complain about excessive noise and unruly behaviour, resulting in numerous visits by the police to the home. This has disturbed the harmony within the community and has caused a number of residents to complain both directly to the home and via Ofsted. Complaints have been justified resulting in mediation meetings between the organisation and the local community to try and resolve issues.

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Quality of care adequate

On the whole young people enjoy good relationships with staff, which enable them to engage more positively and learn how to make better choices. Staff demonstrate a good insight and understanding of young people’s needs. As a result, young people 7 of 10 are starting to appreciate and value the efforts of staff and learn how to work more closely with them in planning their futures. Young people receive clear support, instruction and updates to help them manage any anxieties they might have.

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Quality of care adequate

Partnerships with external agencies are clear. Communication between staff, young people and their relatives, social workers and other professionals is established. It was pleasing to note that many more positive comments had been reported to partners now that the young people are providing improved commitment to their placements. Young people are confident to express their views in meetings and statutory reviews they attend. Staff practice supports young people to maximise their contributions during recent meetings.

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Quality of care adequate

Developing educational potential forms a part of the home's philosophy of care. Care staff continuously emphasise the importance of young people gaining the best education. Young people show improved confidence and better attention to detail with their social presentation, smart dress style and timely attendance.

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Quality of care adequate

Young people understand how to make a complaint. They confirm that complaints, if made, would be responded to in full. A written guide covers complaints, with information, guidance and contact details of agencies such as Ofsted, children's rights and the Children's Rights Director.

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Quality of care adequate

Young people who are admitted to the home as cigarette smokers show no progress towards addressing these issues. The Registered Manager explains that young people are given pocket money and have free time, therefore are free to purchase cigarettes illegally should they choose. Young people are seen smoking at the house including in their own bedroom. There has been no professional help to address this habit. Likewise, where health plans dictate that young people should follow a healthy diet these are not being followed. Staff will often purchase 'meal deals' and take- away late in the evening. Furthermore, medication is not suitably monitored in order to make sure young people only receive medication purchased or prescribed for them. As a result, young people do not experience suitably health outcomes or develop a healthy lifestyle.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

The home is now settling following a very turbulent time with young people demonstrating very difficult behaviours. Young people have suitable safeguarding and complaints information and they are made aware of the content of this information by staff. Young people do not respond well to praise, nevertheless staff persevere with a good use of positive reinforcement, incentives and rewards resulting in young people beginning to recognise their own achievements. Staff are clear that physical intervention is very much a last resort. There have been no incidents requiring physical intervention. All staff receive regular and refresher training in positive handling techniques to ensure safe practice. Staff receive regular training to 8 of 10 update their knowledge and have an adequate understanding of safeguarding policies, procedures and actions they should take when an incident arises.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Good recruitment practice is followed. Personnel files demonstrate satisfactory procedures are followed. Each staff member has an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check prior to working at the home. Good practice also ensures the vetting of visitors to safeguard young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Health and safety is managed well, ensuring young people and staff remain safe in the home. Regular servicing of equipment and routine safety checks maintain a safe environment. Further testing of electrical appliances is planned against an up-to-date inventory. Young people know what to do in the case of an emergency and can exit the home safely. A maintenance book is used to highlight any repair work needed.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Systems for dealing with young people who go missing from home are well established and a protocol is set out. There have been a few occasions between inspections where young people have been reported missing from the home. However, risk assessments take account of young people's potential to go missing and are in line with the established police protocol. Likewise, there is regular communication between the home and the local police missing from home coordinator to review matters affecting the safety of young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Young people have sometimes placed themselves in dangerous situations, for example they have bought weapons such as knifes and darts into the home. The police coordinator works closely with the home and visits when young people are introduced and throughout their stay. Therefore, positive relationships are established and information sharing starts from the commencement of each placement. Potential harmful relationships between young people and unsuitable members of the community are acknowledged by the staff but they are not always proactive in minimising the contact they have As a result, some relationships increase the risk of young people being exploited and engaging in criminal behaviour

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Leadership and management adequate

The home is managed by an experienced and qualified manager who is registered with Ofsted. The manager has been at the home since registration in 2012. The manager is working hard to ensure the staff team deliver good quality practice. There have been some changes to the staff team working at the home between inspections but this is difficult to establish as the staff team is not recorded within the Statement of Purpose. A deputy manager has been appointed who has submitted an application into Ofsted to be the Registered Manager of the service.

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Leadership and management adequate

The service remains child-focused. The Registered Manager provides a suitable vision for how the home should operate. Practice adjustments, including a robust assessment and risk management process, are developed to ensure the young 9 of 10 people continue making steps towards positive futures. The home's management team demonstrate that they are perceptive in identifying the home's strengths and the areas where it could perform better. All levels of staff are working hard to influence and shape the service to improve the quality of experience young people gain.

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Leadership and management adequate

Staff supervision and appraisal has not been delivered in a timely manner. As a result staff are not supported through times when their working environment is challenging. The young people have confidence in the staff team and know who is responsible for them at all times of the day and night. Staff are experienced but do not have the training to support young people with specific needs. However, training is planned in the New Year.

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Leadership and management adequate

The home’s Registered Manager provided an accurate verbal and written assessment of the service resulting in some realistic targets for improvement being set. The home also has a development plan that helps focus where improvements are needed.

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Leadership and management adequate

Internal and external monitoring systems linked to Regulation 33 and 34 reporting are in place and these support quality assurance. Monthly visits provide a snapshot in time of what it is like to live in the home. However, reports are often delayed in their timeliness. For example the September visits report was produced at the end of November. Furthermore, the Regulation 33 visitor previously worked for the organisation and therefore he is not independent. Reports attempt to evaluate and analyse processes and data but do not influence driving forward change. The full impact and value that living at this home has had on young people's lives is not fully represented within these reports.

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Leadership and management adequate

The system in place to notify persons and appropriate authorities of the occurrence of significant events is not consistent. Incidents such as, police attending the home, serious complaints made about the service and young people attending hospital following injury have not been notified to Ofsted. Complaints made by the local community have not always been recorded and investigated by the Registered Manager and this has resulted in the community being dissatisfied with the home's response with their concerns.

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Leadership and management adequate

Staff practice is supported by written guidance, policies and procedures. The home's Statement of Purpose provides information in accordance with regulations but requires some detail around qualifications of the registered provider, complaints and staffing personnel in the home. 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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