Children's Home run by Suffolk County Council in Suffolk

Unique reference number SC037256 Inspector Michael Mulvaney Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Suffolk County Council Registered person address Suffolk County Council, Endeavour House Russell Road IPSWICH IP1 2BX Responsible individual Clifford Martin James Registered manager Anthony William Gill Date of last inspection 04/12/2014 2 of 6 Inspection date 26/03/2015

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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 Registered Manager has complied with the requirement made at the previous inspection. He has acted to address repairs to the fabric of the building, which have improved the appearance and the décor of the home. This inspection has highlighted shortfalls in the administration of medication, the recording of physical interventions and the attendance at school for some of the young people.

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This inspection

Young people say that they are safe within the home and point to the positive relationships that they have with staff. Some young people engage in risk taking activity, such as going missing from the home. Staff use regular key work sessions with the young people, aimed at helping them to minimise this behaviour. The key work sessions also help to minimise the potential risk in the community, as young people feel confident to contact the staff to organise a return to the home. When a young person does go missing, staff follow the home’s procedures, which are compatible with statutory guidance.

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This inspection

Despite the high priority the staff place on educational achievement, some young people are not making the expected progress at school. They are offered support but are not attending regularly. This compromises their potential educational attainment. Staff engage with schools and professionals to work towards addressing this and key work sessions also provide some emotional help for the young people.

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This inspection

The staff have positive and effective relationships with a number of agencies, including the police and fire service. All regularly visit the home and are developing good relationships with the young people. Social workers comment on the commitment from the staff and the consistency of care that is provided to the young people.

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This inspection

There is a clear written policy for managing behaviour; staff use incentives to 3 of 6 encourage positive behaviour. Sanctions are reasonable and fair and understood by all staff and young people. Staff work hard to de-escalate conflicts. Restraint is not used but there are times where staff have physically intervened when de-escalation tactics have not worked. The Registered Manager has not reviewed or reflected on some of the interventions used. This prevents him from being able to confirm the effectiveness or suitability of the intervention.

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This inspection

Some young people are prescribed medication that requires careful monitoring. Recently, errors were made in the administration of some medication, which has resulted in the staff needing to review their processes. Some young people continue to smoke and need support to access cessation projects to help them to end this habit.

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This inspection

Mostly the quality of recording in files is good. Risk assessments are detailed and shared so that staff are up to date with individual’s care plans. There have been seven notifiable incidents, all managed well. The Registered Manager has reflected upon these with the staff group in team meetings. Notifications are sent to Ofsted, in line with regulatory requirements, which helps in providing a clear picture of the activity in the home.

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This inspection

There have been no complaints made to the provider since the last inspection. There are robust safe recruitment processes in place. Regular supervision and training support the work of the staff. Young people benefit as a result because staff have the skills and knowledge to meet their needs and care for them. 4 of 6

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care and accommodation for seven young people from the age of 11 to 18 years old. The home looks after young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is owned by the local authority.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/12/2014 Full good 13/03/2014 Interim good progress 17/12/2013 Full good 25/02/2013 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

17B (2001) ensure that within 24 hours of the use of any measure of control, restraint or discipline in a children’s home, a written record is made in a volume kept for the purpose, including the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure (Regulation 17B (3)(f)) 24/04/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) promote the educational achievement of children accommodated in a children’s home, in particular by ensuring that the routine of the home is organised so as to further children’s participation in education, including regular attendance at school and participation in school activities of children of compulsory school age, regular attendance at college where applicable (Regulation 18 (1)(b)) 24/04/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

21 ensure any medicine which is kept in a children’s 24/04/2015 5 of 6 (2001) home is stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child accommodated there having unsupervised access to it. (Regulation 21(2)(a))

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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 that young people are encouraged to participate in a range of positive activities that contribute to their physical health to help them to engage in smoking cessation plans (NMS 6.3)  ensure that physical restrictions on normal movement within or from the home are not used unless this is necessary to safeguard children and promote their welfare and development. With specific regard to locking areas of the home as a means to manage behaviour. (NMS 10.4) 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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