Children's Home run by Hampshire County Council in Hampshire

Unique reference number SC066277 Inspector Shaun Common Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Hampshire County Council Registered person address Hampshire County Council The Castle WINCHESTER Hampshire SO23 8ZB Responsible individual Lin Ferguson Registered manager Pamela Ann Gardner Date of last inspection 21/10/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 07/01/2015

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Previous inspection sustained effectiveness 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

Young people receive good quality care and make good progress in all areas. Assessment and care planning processes are well thought through and robust, including the views of parents and placing social workers.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are very well supported. There needs are identified and met and they are helped to develop skills for independence. Staff have good relationships with young people and the home is well led by a dedicated manager. Safeguarding processes and systems are clear, understood by staff and managers and this helps to keep young people safe.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff are well trained, qualified and supported to deliver quality care to young people. Young people are provided with regular opportunities to share their views and opinions about their care and the running of the home. Their views are taken seriously and acted upon to improve the quality of provision.

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Overall effectiveness

Internal and external quality monitoring systems ensure the service provision maintains good standards. Any identified shortfalls are quickly addressed.

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Overall effectiveness

Areas for improvement identified at this inspection include: ensuring the Registered Manager receives regular formal supervision, that complaints records are clearer, 3 of 10 that all staff undertake training in equality and diversity and that external/senior managers ensure transition plans for young people are fully supported through effective collaborative working. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

The setting is owned and operated jointly by a local authority children's services department and a National Health Service Foundation Trust. This service offers short breaks for up to nine children and young people who have learning disabilities that may include sensory and physical disabilities, complex health needs or challenging behaviour.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/10/2014 Interim sustained effectiveness 14/01/2014 Interim good progress 26/06/2013 Full good 10/12/2012 Interim good 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

(2001) ensure that written records made of any complaint include the outcome of the investigation; specifically, whether the complaint was upheld or not upheld and whether the complainant is satisfied with the outcome. (Regulation 24(5)) 28/02/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take 5 of 10 account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure the home supports young people's transition to adult services; specifically, that external senior managers ensure that delivery of transition planning leads to effective collaborative working between relevant professionals and other services, with children's home staff (NMS 12.4)  ensure there is a good quality learning and development programme which staff are supported to undertake; specifically, ensure that all staff are trained in equality and diversity (NMS 18.1)  ensure there are suitable arrangements for the professional supervision of the Registered Manager. (NMS 19.3) 6 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are well cared for and supported and as a result make good progress in all aspects of their lives. Staff support promotes the development of positive self- esteem and self-worth in young people through praise and encouragement. Young people's mental and emotional wellbeing is supported and improved through staff liaising closely with mental health teams who provide a good service to the young people. A parent stated, 'The staff are all absolutely brilliant. They are interested in my daughter's overall development rather than just for the time she attends.'

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Outcomes for children and young people good

There are a range of activities available to young people, both in and outside the home, that they enjoy. Recently young people have been consulted about the kinds of activities they would like to do. The programme has been revised as a result, giving young people choice, stimulation and positive experiences. Activities include bowling, cinema , trips to a garden centre, aquarium, parks and shopping centres. In- house there is a very good range of games and equipment that young people use with staff such as jigsaws and arts and crafts. The home has its own transport to facilitate any trips and activities.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Due to the nature of the home being respite care, visits by carers, parents and family to see children and young people are infrequent. However they are able to visit the home and see their children whenever they wish. Staff keep in touch with parents and parents telephone the home to get updates on their children, which provides them with reassurance.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people's self-care and independence skills are assessed well and plans are in place to support them to develop in line with their abilities. Young people have access to communication methods such as PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) appropriate to their individual needs to support them. There are plans in place for when young people are ready to leave the home and move to new services. The manager and staff prepare young people well for this important transition in a young person's life. However, collaborative working between relevant services and professionals is not always coordinated and well delivered by the placing authority. This means that the children's home staff are not as well supported as they could be to ensure the best support possible is in place for young people’s moves.

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Quality of care good

Staff have good relationships with the young people. They are effective in assessing a young person's needs prior to admission including undertaking a home visit to parents and carers. This means that when young people are admitted to the home 7 of 10 their care is tailored and their individual needs known and met. Young people are supported well to settle into the home and detailed care plans are in place and delivered. Diverse needs including cultural and religious are known and met. A professional stated, 'Staff thoroughly understand the children's needs. They are very quick to update care plans where needed ensuring that they always reflect the child's needs and wishes.' Staff handovers take place. These ensure that all staff fully understand all aspects of a young person's routine so that good quality care is provided.

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Quality of care good

Parents and carers retain primary responsibility for the health care of young people. Thorough assessment processes and staff training ensures that all staff are fully aware of the health needs of young people and how to meet these during the young people's stays at the home. Staff are also able to access advice and guidance from relevant health professionals if needed.

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Quality of care good

Parents and carers also retain responsibility for the education of young people. All young people continue to attend school during their stays at the home. Staff take young people to and from education. Staff meet with school staff each day so that any relevant issues are passed between school and the children's home. This helps staff to support young people with their education and in consistency of care. Young people are making good educational progress in line with their abilities.

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Quality of care good

Young people are able to raise concerns. Communication media enable young people to show staff how they are feeling and those young people who are able to verbally communicate do so freely and with confidence. There have been no complaints raised by the young people. There has been a complaint raised about the home and services provided. The issue raised was taken seriously and acted upon quickly with records kept of the complaint and the action taken. However, the records do not show whether the complaint was upheld or not upheld and whether the complainant was satisfied with the outcome. This matter is a recording shortfall and does not impact upon the quality of care provided. A parent stated, 'We think that our child is very happy at the home and we hope it continues, she has made lots of new friends and gets on well with the staff. We have no complaints; carry on with the good work.'

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Quality of care good

Consultation with young people is a strength of the home. A staff member has responsibility for coordinating this area of work and is enthusiastic and committed. Young people's views, wishes and feelings are routinely sought about life at the home using media appropriate to their individual needs. Young people's views positively influence the running of the home: for example in the activities young people would like, the decoration of their rooms and the living areas of the home.

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Quality of care good

The home's environment is of a good standard. This has improved since the last inspection. Consultation with young people has led to living areas being made more homely and bright. Young people's rooms have also been re-decorated in consideration of young people's wishes and views. The home is well furnished 8 of 10 throughout with relevant equipment and adaptations for young people with disabilities.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people are supported by staff to stay safe and they feel safe.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff are aware of the needs, abilities and levels of understanding of young people, which contributes to proactive and positive behaviour management. Any negative behaviour is managed in line with young people's care plans. Staff are able to identify when young people need extra support and use positive behaviour management techniques well. No sanctions have been used since the last inspection and staff understand what measures can be used in line with the young people's needs, abilities and understanding.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Physical intervention has not been used since the last inspection. A system is in place for recording any incidents and the Registered Manager has a monitoring systems for close scrutiny of any incidents to ensure practice at the home is appropriate.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

There have been no incidents of young people going missing from the home. There are high staff ratios and close supervision of young people at all times, which supports the young people to be safe. The home has a procedure in place and arrangements with the local police if ever a young person were to go missing.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The home has a child protection procedure that is known and understood by staff and supports staff to keep young people safe. There have been no child protection concerns since the last inspection. Staff understand the home's procedures and how to implement them to keep young people safe. Most staff are also trained in child protection with those needing the training or a refresher course attending an arranged event very shortly. This supports staff to keep young people safe.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Four new staff have been recruited since the last inspection. Checks undertaken before individuals start work at the home ensure that the right people are employed to work with vulnerable children.

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Leadership and management good

The manager is registered with Ofsted, has relevant experience and is qualified. The home is well led and provides good quality of care and good outcomes for young people. The manager is dedicated to improvement. However formal supervision of the Registered Manager to support her in her role is not sufficient. 9 of 10 The recommendation identified at the last inspection has been met. This ensures that the home has the equipment required so that all children can safely enjoy a bath.

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Leadership and management good

The home's Statement of Purpose clearly sets out the aims and objectives of the home. The information provided is useful for parents and placing social workers so they are able to see the range of services available to young people. A children's guide is available for young people in booklet form. This provides good information to young people about the home and what it is like. It is in a format suitable to the needs of the young people.

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Leadership and management good

There are sufficient staff on duty at all times to provide good and safe care to young people. Staff are skilled, experienced, qualified, and undertake a range of relevant training that supports them in their role of caring for young people with complex needs. A staff member stated, 'I am proud of the place I work in and feel it is a vital, invaluable service for the families we assist.'

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Leadership and management good

Staff training includes safeguarding, child sexual exploitation and medication with annual competency assessments. Staff also undertake training relevant to the needs of the young people such as in Makaton and diabetic care. However, not all staff have undertaken training in equality and diversity. Staff do understand the young people's needs well and also understand the home's procedures to care effectively for young people.

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Leadership and management good

Staff are provided with good support that assists them in their role of caring for young people. A staff member stated, 'Supervision is very valuable to me in reflecting on events.' Most staff receive very regular formal supervision as well as an annual appraisal that sets out their developmental needs. Staff feel that managers support them well and are approachable. Recently a small number of staff did not have formal supervision as regularly as others. This is due to sickness and absence. Staff did not feel this impacted and there is a clear plan in place to ensure this area improves quickly.

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Leadership and management good

External monitoring of the home is good. Visits take place each month by an independent person under regulation 33 of the Children's Homes Regulations. Reports are provided of these visits to the home and Ofsted and help managers to improve the quality of care provided. 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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