Children's Home run by Amicus Residential Care Ltd in Reading

Unique reference number SC059221 Inspector Stephen Collett Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Causeway Care Homes Ltd Registered person address 118B Oxford Road Reading RG1 7NQ

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Responsible individual Angela Lynn MacDonald Registered manager Angela Lynn MacDonald Date of last inspection 07/05/2014 2 of 7 Inspection date 28/01/2015

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Previous inspection good Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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This inspection

The home has sustained overall effectiveness since the last inspection in May 2014. Two recommendations were made at the last inspection, and both of these have been addressed.

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This inspection

Young people are encouraged to review and comment on their placement plans on a regular basis. All young people have key-workers, and key-work sessions provide an opportunity for young people to discuss the progress they are making towards their individual goals and targets. Records of these sessions are well maintained, and this enables the home to evidence the extent to which young people engage in the process.

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This inspection

Data pertaining to prescribed medication is kept on young people's medication files, but the recording of medication administered is not always accurate. The recommendation made at the last inspection has been met, but further work needs to be undertaken to ensure records accurately reflect when medication is administered and the medication stock levels.

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This inspection

Many young people have made good progress in some aspects of their lives, and some have significantly reduced the frequency of unsafe and offending behaviour. Young people who have a history of angry and aggressive behaviour respond well to the care they receive, and begin to develop more effective ways of managing their frustrations and anxieties. Some young people also develop more positive attitudes towards education and training and engage well in their chosen courses. This level of educational progress is not consistent among all the residents though, but staff are pro-active in securing alternative provision, when arrangements break down, and offer young people encouragement and practical support to re-engage.

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This inspection

A stable and skilled staff team maintain consistent boundaries within the home and 3 of 7 provide young people with the emotional support they need to feel settled and secure. Relationships between staff and young people are positive and one young person stated, 'I love it here, I can talk to staff about anything'.

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This inspection

Although there are many positive aspects to the quality of care provided, practice in some areas have a negative impact on creating a homely environment. The kitchen is routinely locked in the late evening, and all communal areas of the home are locked at bedtime. Young people's normal movement around the home is therefore restricted for certain periods. This practice has been adopted as a behaviour management strategy and become embedded in the culture of the home over a prolonged period.

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This inspection

The home also has a policy of locking the doors at night to prevent young people leaving the home. The keys are held by staff who are on sleep-in duty. The Registered Manager has consulted and obtained advice from the fire service in relation to this measure. Young people would be reliant on locating the member of staff with keys to the home if the premises needed to be evacuated at night.

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This inspection

Locking the doors at night has not been successful in preventing young people leaving the premises, and there have been two occasions when young people have left the home without the knowledge of the sleep in staff. On one of these occasions, young people subsequently put themselves at risk of harm. Arrangements for the supervision of young people overnight are not currently effective.

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This inspection

Other aspects of safeguarding practice are more robust. Young people report that they feel safe in the home, and they can identify members of staff they would speak to if they had concerns. Staff are alert to the potential for bullying, and young people say it is not an issue in the home. Pro-active steps are taken to reduce the frequency with which young people go missing, and there are good systems in place for monitoring risks and recording information pertaining to young people's missing episodes.

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This inspection

There has been a consistent staff team in place for a prolonged period, and staff vacancies rarely occur. However, one new member of staff has joined the team since the last inspection. Although all necessary checks were undertaken and references taken up, the member of staff was not given a formal interview prior to being offered the post.

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This inspection

Staff receive regular supervision, feel well supported and are able to access training to further their professional development. The Registered Manager has a development plan in place which is regularly reviewed along with the homes statement of purpose. The Registered Manager demonstrates a commitment to continuous development and throughout the inspection expressed a determination to develop practice in the areas where shortfalls were identified.

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This inspection

As a result of this inspection, one requirement and four recommendations are made 4 of 7 to improve the overall effectiveness of the home. 5 of 7

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately run and provides emergency as well as long-term placements for up to three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/05/2014 Full good 13/01/2014 Interim satisfactory progress 15/08/2013 Full good 27/03/2013 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 the children's home is conducted so as to promote and make proper provision for the supervision of children accommodated there; specifically, ensure staff are aware and take appropriate action when young people leave the home at night. (Regulation 11 (1) (b)) 13/03/2015

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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

 do not restrict the liberty of any child as a matter of routine; specifically in relation to locking the doors to prevent young people leaving the premises (NMS 3.19) 6 of 7  ensure physical restrictions on normal movement within the home are not used unless this is necessary to safeguard children; specifically, ensure young people have full access to communal areas of the home (NMS 10.4)  ensure there is a written record of all medication given to children during their placement (NMS 615)  ensure all people working in or for the children's home are interviewed as part of the selection process. (NMS 16.1) Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Recommendations

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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

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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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