Children's Home run by Kent County Council in Kent

Unique reference number SC403850 Inspector Sophie Wood Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Kent County Council Registered person address Kent County Council, Sessions House County Road MAIDSTONE Kent ME14 1XQ Responsible individual Philip Segurola Registered manager Amanda Vallis Date of last inspection 17/02/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 27/01/2015

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

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Overall effectiveness

Young people thrive in an environment where they experience fun, new activities, appropriate boundaries and warm, loving relationships. They enjoy their short breaks because these are very well planned and take into account each young person's individual and highly unique needs.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people and their families routinely influence the changing shape of the service. Their views, opinions and ideas are actively sought and acted upon. Families who access the service describe a very real sense of ownership and belonging. Comments include, 'It's a friendly, safe, clean, happy, well run establishment and my child always looks forward to visiting.'

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Overall effectiveness

Highly personalised care planning ensures young people receive the care and support they need. Staff's extensive and detailed understanding of each young person also ensures they are appropriately stretched and challenged in order to achieve their goals and realise their full potential. The service interacts very well with the other agencies associated with each young person. It provides a vital means of support to families and enriches the experiences of the young people.

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Overall effectiveness

The safety and welfare of the young people is assured. Excellent relationships exist with wider safeguarding agencies and a well trained staff team provides a safe and 3 of 10 appropriately secure environment.

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Overall effectiveness

Leaders and managers implement robust monitoring systems which effectively identify the strengths and weaknesses of the service. Development plans are continually reviewed and practice is routinely challenged in the interest of driving improvement.

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Overall effectiveness

Two recommendations are made from this inspection. Greater detail in some areas would further improve upon the quality of written care plans and one particular aspect of recruitment practice would benefit from being reviewed. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

This short-break service for children and young people is provided by a local authority. The home caters for up to six young people living with learning and/or physical disabilities. This includes young people with complex needs and those on the autistic spectrum.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/02/2014 Interim good progress 17/07/2013 Full good 21/02/2013 Interim inadequate progress 14/05/2012 Full good

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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 the home has a record of the recruitment and vetting checks which have been carried out on those working for the children's home which includes: a to f (NMS 16.1)  ensure that information about the child is recorded clearly and in a way which will be helpful to the child when they access their files now or in the future. (NMS 22.5) 5 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Young people make outstanding progress across all areas of their growth and development. Highly individualised and inclusive care planning practice actively seeks contributions from parents, carers, other professionals and the young people. As a consequence, areas of need, and those for development, are keenly targeted and consistently supported. Young people are successful. They achieve their targets and goals and grow in confidence as a direct result.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Detailed health care plans are consistently implemented by well trained, competent staff. Young people are assured that their most complex health and medical needs are safely supported. Parents and carers are reassured by this thorough approach. Young people enjoy their short breaks without being significantly impeded by their care needs. One parent stated, 'Our child has very complex needs which frequently change. Their needs are always met, with staff happy to take on additional training and challenges.'

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Young people continue to attend their usual school during their stays. Their education is uninterrupted. Indeed, it is frequently complemented by the wide range of activities and experiences on offer. Parents say, 'They listen to both me and my child and have provided vital necessities for both their enjoyment and education.'

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Young people maximise their independence and self-help skills as much as their disabilities allow. The Registered Manager drives a culture of appropriate risk taking whereby young people develop a 'can do' attitude. Naturally occurring activities, such as bathing, dressing and cooking are all effectively used to encourage independence. Any degree of success, no matter how seemingly small, is richly praised and rewarded. Young people feel good about their achievements and are inspired to make continued progress.

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Quality of care good

Young people enjoy caring and nurturing relationships with staff who understand their needs and know them exceedingly well. Young people understand that they are highly valued as unique individuals. In response, they demonstrate genuine affection towards the staff. Great emphasis is placed upon ensuring that young people enjoy their stays. This is achieved through good quality planning, whereby young people often stay at the same time as the friends they have made. One parent said, 'It is a place where our child can develop their social skills with their peers; they get to know others from different schools.' 6 of 10 One area of particular strength relates to the impact of the service upon the wider family members of the young people. Numerous examples illustrate the additional time, energy and effort which staff provide for families, particularly in times of need or distress. Quotes from parents include, 'Treetops is a Godsend for us' and 'we are

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Quality of care good

very grateful for the service as it provides a real treat for our child and a much needed rest for us and time for our other child.'

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Quality of care good

The confidence expressed by parents and carers is underpinned by the excellent quality of the care provided. Staff receive regularly refreshed and updated training over a wide range of relevant topics. For those young people requiring a more specialist approach, bespoke training ensures their competence, confidence and ability to deliver safe care.

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Quality of care good

Individual care plans are continuing to improve in terms of quality and content. Staff can describe young people's needs in finite detail but there are some areas where this information is not fully captured in written plans. A high number of staff are long standing and they know the young people very well. Therefore, the risks associated with any lack of written information are significantly minimised. However, it is recommended that such plans continue to be reviewed and updated, particularly for the benefit of newer staff members.

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Quality of care good

Staff actively promote young people's good health. They are acutely aware of specialist and complex medical needs and they effectively meet these. Stringent processes in the event of medication being brought into the service are sometimes time consuming for parents and carers. However, this attention to detail effectively reduces risks and room for error. Where relevant, individual health plans describe any on-going input, guidance and advice from external health professionals. Staff understand and implement prescribed therapy plans and diligent oversight from the practice nurse educator maintains continuing good practice. Young people receive advice and encouragement with regards to healthy eating. Good quality ingredients are locally sourced. This results in a range of nutritious and varied meals. Young people are encouraged to try new foods and those who wish to, further develop their understanding by spending time in the kitchen. A wide range of play equipment and

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Quality of care good

external activities enables young people to undertake plenty of enjoyable physical activities and exercise.

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Quality of care good

Staff ensure that young people's school attendance is uninterrupted during their stays. Young people are well prepared to start the school day. Diligent planning around morning routines incorporates any necessary transport arrangements in order for this transition to go smoothly. Although not always well captured within written care plans, the service maintains good links with individual schools. This fosters collaborative working relationships. It is particularly beneficial in securing a consistent approach, for example, when devising behaviour management strategies which are then applied at home, at school and when using the service.

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Quality of care good

The service is particularly strong at promoting participation with parents, carers and 7 of 10 the young people. One example is the continual review of care plans in between annual reviews. This pro-active approach ensures that new and emerging goals and targets are continually refreshed and remain appropriately challenging. Young people engage in a variety of consultation processes, as do their parents and carers. Open days, support groups, surveys and young people's meetings are a regular occurrence whereby everyone is welcomed and encouraged to express their views, opinions and ideas for the service's continuing development.

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Quality of care good

Young people benefit from staying in a safe and secure physical environment which is suitably equipped to meet their presenting needs. Young people have a very real say in terms of the décor and resources. Their ideas continue to shape this aspect of the service provision. Particular favourites include the computer room, spacious garden and games room. For those young people who require an extended stay, meticulous attention is paid towards the personalised style and decoration of their bedrooms. This practice underpins the ethos of the service which is concerned with making young people feel as welcomed and comfortable as possible. Specialist equipment is readily available for those who require it but every effort is made to achieve a homely feel. The maintenance and cleaning team are particularly commended for their on-going efforts to maintain such high standards of décor, maintenance and hygiene.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people are effectively safeguarded and their welfare is promoted at all times. Staff understand the safeguarding practice and guidance provided within the service and the local authority. They know what to report, when and to whom. Regularly refreshed safeguarding and child protection training maintains an acute awareness of the potential vulnerabilities of disabled children and young people. Staff are diligent in their approach. They question and challenge on a regular basis, in the very best interests of the young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Recent developments include a review of the safeguarding logs and information held by the service. Consequently lower level concerns, patterns and trends are rigorously identified and explored. Potentially uncomfortable questions are asked in order to maintain a culture of no secrets and utmost safety. Parents say, 'We can also trust the staff to keep us well informed about any concerns. We think the service at Treetops is wonderful and our child loves staying there.'

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Individual behaviour management plans are good at identifying potential triggers which may result in harmful or challenging behaviours. Clear and effective attention to detail enables staff to be pro-active. They routinely anticipate situations and successfully apply de-escalation techniques. Although staff are trained in the use of physical restraint techniques, these are very rarely implemented. Similarly, the need to use consequences or sanctions is equally rare. A harmonious and enjoyable atmosphere is the norm. Young people enjoy their time here because they are safe 8 of 10 and very well cared for.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people do not go missing from the home. High staff ratios ensure appropriate supervision is achieved without compromising young people's need for privacy. Young people are encouraged to think about their own safety. An excellent example includes the service's engagement with regards to local police recruitment, whereby new recruits visit the service and give safety talks to the young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

A safe and secure physical environment is achieved through the diligence of all staff members with regards to their health and safety responsibilities. Any perceived hazards are swiftly reported and the turnaround for maintenance and repairs is swift. Routine checks are regularly conducted and fire safety drills are well practised. There are some arrangements which could and sometimes do, impact upon young people's freedom of movement within and around the building. The service's policy and protocol guidance is routinely reviewed and shared with parents in this regard, in order to keep such restrictions to a safe minimum.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Sound recruitment processes serve to protect the young people from potentially unsafe adults. The authority's recruitment practice regarding obtaining references when staff transfer internally could present a potential risk. However, the diligence and tenacity of the Registered Manager in chasing this information ensures this is not the case.

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Leadership and management outstanding

The service is expertly led by a suitably qualified and very experienced Registered Manager. She has been registered since 2009 and possesses a wealth of experience and expertise. Effective deputising arrangements further complement the management structure of the service. Staff are very well supported and encouraged to achieve excellence in terms of their care delivery.

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Leadership and management outstanding

A well trained staff team provides high quality support and care for the young people. In addition, regular, good quality supervision and appraisal processes are very well used by the Registered Manager. These meetings are targeted, well documented and effective. The Registered Manager supports, guides and develops the team. She also sets high expectations and holds people to account. The impact upon the quality of care provided is impressive and this continues to improve.

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Leadership and management outstanding

Since the last inspection, the service has experienced some periods of staffing shortages. The remaining team have worked extremely hard to maintain consistent staffing levels by working additional shifts, so as to keep bank and agency staff use to an absolute minimum. Any potential negative impact upon the young people has been significantly minimised due to this dedicated approach.

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Leadership and management outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were made from the previous inspection. 9 of 10 Complaints are sometimes received from parents and third parties. These invariably relate to specific one-off occurrences which are swiftly resolved. Any potential themes and emerging patterns are shared at regular team meetings to ensure the service learns and improves. Serious incidents are very rare but any such occurrence is swiftly reported to Ofsted and other external agencies as required. The service is open, honest and transparent.

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Leadership and management outstanding

Internal and external monitoring systems are very well understood and effectively implemented. The strength of these processes demonstrably drives improvements. The Registered Manager routinely scrutinises records and observes working practices. High standards are maintained and any potential slippage is quickly identified and remedied. This is an efficient and effective service which is run in the very best interests of the young people and their families. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management outstanding

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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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