Children's Home run by The Drive Care Homes Ltd in Kent

Unique reference number SC063689 Inspector Sophie Wood Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person The Drive Care Homes Limited Registered person address Cyrinus House 18 Hatherley Road Sidcup Kent DA14 4BG Responsible individual Emmanuel Okon Akpan Registered manager Zeshan Shahzad Khan Date of last inspection 05/03/2014 2 of 11 Inspection date 16/01/2015

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Previous inspection satisfactory progress 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 support in this home from staff who understand their needs. This starts with thorough initial assessment processes. Ordinarily, young people are placed on a longer-term basis but some regular short breaks are offered to a small number of young people. Good quality admissions processes ensure the individual and collective needs of the young people are fully considered before new admissions are agreed.

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Overall effectiveness

Over time, young people become familiar with their surroundings and this includes a stable and reliable staff team. Familiar routines and safe working practices help the young people to settle and make good progress across all areas of their personal growth and development.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff demonstrate a thorough understanding of young people's individual traits and personalities but this information is not always fully captured across all areas of their individual care plans. The on-going safety and welfare of the young people is highly prioritised. Staff understand the extreme vulnerabilities of young people with complex care needs and limited verbal communication. Young people demonstrate much warmth and genuine affection towards staff and this is appropriately reciprocated. Young people are highly valued and regarded; as are their parents and other relatives. 3 of 11 Young people influence the daily operation of the home through a range of consultation processes. Their input and therefore impact, is variable and reflective of their individual complex needs and communication difficulties. Staff work hard to overcome such potential barriers. However, additional specialist communication

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Overall effectiveness

Sound monitoring processes are identifying the immediate areas of strength and weakness but there are occasions where some checks lack rigour and evaluation. This is already recognised by the responsible individual and clear plans are in place to implement more challenging and ambitious development plans for the home.

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Overall effectiveness

No breaches of regulations are identified from this inspection but there are areas where recommendations are made to further strengthen a number of areas. These recommendations are included within the main body of the report and do not negatively impact upon the safety or welfare of the young people. 4 of 11

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is privately owned and registered to provide care for up to six children who have learning and/or physical disabilities.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/03/2014 Interim satisfactory progress 17/04/2013 Full good 30/01/2013 Interim good progress 30/05/2012 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's location and design promotes children's health, safety and well-being and avoids factors such as excessive isolation and areas that present significant risks to children (NMS 10.2)  ensure the learning and development programme for staff is evaluated for effectiveness at least annually and if necessary is updated. This is specific to regular communication training (NMS 18.2)  ensure there are clear and effective procedures for monitoring and controlling the activities of the home (NMS 21.1)  ensure that entries in records are legible, clearly expressed, non- stigmatising and distinguish as far as possible between fact, opinion and third party information (NMS 22.4)  ensure information about the child is recorded clearly and in a way which will be helpful to that child when they access their files now or in the future. (NMS 22.5) 5 of 11 6 of 11

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people enjoy relaxed and settled routines and activities. They become increasingly confident in their familiar surroundings which are very important to them. This enables young people to develop trusting relationships with the staff and each other.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

All of the young people demonstrate very unique behavioural and communication traits which are not always readily understood by third parties. The time, patience and understanding demonstrated by the staff shows the young people that they are highly valued. Young people respond very positively to this approach. One young person says, 'yes, they know what I do and don't like and they always want me to be happy’. A comment from a family member includes, 'very caring staff, well organised and run.'

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Outcomes for children and young people good

The staff team places high importance upon the effective promotion of young people's good health. Some of the young people have difficulties in recognising and managing their own health needs. They are enjoying the benefits of good health because the staff work in strong partnership with relevant external health agencies. Young people eat well, partake in regular exercise and attend all of their required and necessary health care appointments.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Such importance is also placed upon young people's educational needs. All of the young people attend the schools which are most suited to their needs. Young people are also provided with a good range of activities and pass times when they are at home. This aspect further aids their growth, development and experience of the wider world. Older young people are enjoying their college placements and say the staff give them good advice about their future plans.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people benefit by maintaining regular contact with their friends and wider family members. Staff place very high value on this aspect. There are no set rules about family members visiting the home. This open door practice instils trust and confidence. Comments from relatives includes, 'my child is always happy when we visit and so are the other young people.'

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people practise and learn new life skills in line with their needs and abilities. Good progress is made because staff show patience, determination and belief in young people's abilities. Progress, no matter how seemingly small is richly celebrated through high praise and rewards. Confidence and self-belief develops as a result.

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Quality of care good

7 of 11 Young people trust the staff because they provide on-going good quality, consistent care and support. For some of the young people, this strict attention to reliable routines is vital to their feelings of well-being and safety. With this achieved, young people demonstrate much affectionate behaviour towards the staff and some young people are developing friendships with each other.

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Quality of care good

Many of the young people experience difficulties with verbal communication. Staff are able to read the young people’s behaviours well and take the time to repeat and explain events, actions and why things are occurring. Some use of additional communication aids is in place but it is not embedded. When used, such methods are effective and they enable young people to express themselves. However, although staff undertake some communication training, greater guidance and more use of systems such as the picture exchange communication system (PECS) and using objects of reference would strengthen communication even further.

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Quality of care good

Individual care plans provide clear and instructive guidance for staff to follow. Staff understand these documents and say they are particularly valuable when describing the practical arrangements for specific health care tasks and support. Step-by-step guidance leaves little room for error with regards to these important tasks.

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Quality of care good

Staff demonstrate a very detailed understanding of young people’s unique personality traits and behaviours. However, this information is not always fully captured within their written care plans. This reduces the best possible impact of key working which is otherwise very regular and clearly prioritised.

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Quality of care good

Young people receive good quality support with regards to their wide and varied health needs. Staff use an educative approach. Through good role modelling and practical support, they teach the young people the importance of good personal hygiene and eating healthy meals. Some young people receive external support in response to their additional psychological and mental health needs. Excellent communication, coordinated by the staff between the general practitioners’ , child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and school nurses achieves a consistent approach and understanding which benefits the young people.

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Quality of care good

Young people enjoy excellent school and college attendance. They are well prepared for the day ahead. Effective liaison between the home and schools ensures consistent approaches are implemented. This increases young people's acquisition of skills and learning. Staff provide additional experiential opportunities when young people are at home. They understand the importance and impact of fresh and new activities but they do not receive specific guidance or training with regards to how they can fully maximise young people's learning potential.

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Quality of care good

Young people present as being content and comfortable within the home. Its location lends itself to ready access to a wide range of community and leisure resources. Some of the young people maximise their independence skills by using public transport. The building is situated on a busy main road. This factor, combined with 8 of 11 some young people's lack of safety awareness, results in a number of physical restrictions for the young people, including locked front gates and coded internal doors. This restrictive element is currently being considered within the home's developing location risk assessment and its use is clearly communicated to parents, relatives and placing authorities. Individual bedrooms reflect the young people's personalities and preferences and the home is suitably equipped with any required equipment, aids and adaptations. The general décor looks tired in some communal areas, particularly the lounge.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people present as feeling safe and well cared for and their relatives make positive comments about safety aspects and practice. Comments made by some of the young people include, 'we all have to be nice and kind to each other' and 'I do really like living here’.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The young people are learning to live harmoniously alongside each other. While significant relationships between the young people are not particularly evident, there are many occasions of group activities, such as mealtimes, where they are encouraged to respect each other’s space and individual needs. Staff are good at creating a safe and trusting culture of tolerance and acceptance.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff understand the wide range of presenting risks for the young people and themselves. Good quality safeguarding training is routinely refreshed and it is underpinned by clear and effective policy and procedural guidance. The home fully recognises the impact of the age range of the young people accommodated. To this end, the staff training and guidance fully incorporates both the child and adult protection procedures of the local authority.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff effectively implement this guidance which is focused into clear individual risk assessments and behaviour management plans. Such documents also reflect any relevant professional guidance, such as specialist input from CAMHS workers. They know what to report and to whom. When necessary, they do so and their actions provide effective safeguards for all concerned. A current investigation is being effectively managed through joint working with the local adult protection team. Comments received from partner agencies include, 'the home takes all concerns very seriously' and 'this home works openly and transparently with us, in the very best interests of the young people.'

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Keeping children and young people safe good

There are occasions where young people display behaviours which place their own and others' safety at risk of potential harm. Such incidents are rare. Staff are good and intuitive at recognising young people may be upset, anxious or frustrated. Thus, there are no sanctions recorded for a long period of time. Staff use their energy to try to understand the underlying reasons for such behaviours. They spend much time exploring these issues at regular staff meetings. Similarly, the use of physical 9 of 11 restraint is rare. Its use is typically to assist a young person to move away from an area into a calmer environment and lasts for seconds. Written records of such incidents are usually clear but there are some examples where a more detailed explanation of the reason for its use would provide more robust safeguards.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people do not routinely go missing from the home. One recent incident was more likely opportunistic and inquisitive as opposed to a genuine effort to run away. The home's immediate implementation of its own procedures very quickly secured the young person's swift and safe return.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people are suitably protected by robust and rigorous recruitment procedures. All prospective employees are thoroughly vetted and they do not start work until all of the required checks are returned and deemed satisfactory. Visitors to the home are suitably chaperoned. Routine health and safety checks are regularly conducted and this ensures a safe and secure physical environment. Staff and young people regularly practise fire evacuation procedures and all such equipment is regularly checked and serviced. Current maintenance works are underway with regards to the lounge ceiling, caused by a water leak. More seriously, there are current concerns with regards to possible subsidence. This has led to the conservatory being out use. Plans are in place to remedy this before the warmer months when the young people will want more access to this area and the rear garden. The use of restrictive measures, such as

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Keeping children and young people safe good

coded doors and locked front gates are clearly communicated to parents, relatives and placing authorities.

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Leadership and management good

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 2013. He makes good use of his relevant qualifications to provide inclusive and supportive leadership. Many staff members are long standing; 25% of the team already possess suitable qualifications, those remaining are either working towards the Level 3 Diploma or have recently registered to do so.

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Leadership and management good

Young people receive consistent, good quality care. Staff absences are rare and any gaps in the duty roster is supported by the organisation's own regular bank staff. Every staff member receives regularly updated mandatory training. Core subjects include safeguarding, first aid, medication and communication. Regular workshops provide staff with the knowledge and skills they need to effectively meet the young people's needs. Their safety and welfare is effectively promoted. Additional courses can be requested in order to further enhance the quality of the care provided. It is recommended that consideration is given towards adding to the mandatory training list. This to include more specialist communication training and the promotion of young people's educational needs.

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Leadership and management good

Staff say they feel very well supported by the management team of the home and 10 of 11 wider organisation. Comments from staff include, 'the directors and managers are on call 24/7 and are approachable at all times.' Staff are very positive about the support, training and supervision they receive. One staff member states, 'my performance has considerably improved due to continued appraisal by my manager.'

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Leadership and management good

Parents, relatives and social workers are reliably informed about the aims and objectives of the home through its statement of purpose which is regularly reviewed and updated. Young people are encouraged to understand the operation of the home through regular key work sessions. External complaints are rare but the complaint's mechanisms are widely advertised.

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Leadership and management good

This transparent approach is further demonstrated by the home's routine practice of sharing information with appropriate external agencies. Notifications of significant events are swiftly shared with Ofsted. These are detailed and updated where necessary.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager understands and embraces his role and responsibilities. He is a strong advocate for the young people and holds others to account in their best interests. Examples include his chasing of placing authorities for young people's information and pursuing late visits or annual reviews. He positively engages with the inspection process. The two recommendations from the previous inspection in March 2014 have been fully implemented.

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Leadership and management good

Processes and systems regularly monitor the quality of the care provided for the young people. The Registered Manager's internal monitoring reports examine the effectiveness of the home's practice, systems and procedures. The manager takes subsequent action where he highlights the need for improvements. The independent Regulation 33 visitor provides reports which also describe the strengths and weaknesses of the home. The recommendations resulting from these visits are drive improvements, but some areas are less rigorously explored than others. The responsible individual understands that the Registered Manager would benefit from greater inclusion within the wider organisation's development discussions. Plans are already in place to rectify this, with the aims of driving more challenging and ambitious development plans.

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Leadership and management good

All written records are securely held and regularly updated; updates to individual care plans are very timely and reflect the changing and developing needs of the young people. Some of the written language and terminology is potentially de-valuing and stigmatising. Although this practice is not reflected in the actual care delivery or the verbal dialogue with young people, its use should be reviewed. 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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