SC 040491

Unique reference number SC040132 Inspector Guy Mammatt Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Registered person Cornwall Council Registered person address County Hall TRURO Cornwall TR1 3AY

p.1

Responsible individual Katherine Margaret Brown Registered manager Jennifer Jean Massey Date of last inspection 18/03/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 24/03/2015

p.1

Previous inspection satisfactory progress Enforcement action since last inspection There were two compliance notices issued following the last inspection; therefore, a monitoring visit took place on 5 March. The Responsible Individual had taken satisfactory action to address both of the compliance notices at the monitoring visit.

p.2

Overall effectiveness adequate

Outcomes for children and young people good Quality of care adequate Keeping children and young people safe inadequate Leadership and management adequate

p.2

Overall effectiveness

The Responsible Individual has taken action to address the majority of the requirements from the last inspection. Some areas for improvement remain incomplete and others required embedding into the home’s practice.

p.2

Overall effectiveness

The Responsible Individual has updated the care plans for the children to include their personal care needs. She has decreased the amount of agency staff employed and now provides professional supervision for all of the agency staff who still continue to work at the home. The staff receive the necessary training to support the children’s needs. The monitoring of the home has been addressed to ensure that it is more robust and challenging. All of the significant events for the protection of children are reported to the appropriate parties.

p.2

Overall effectiveness

The further areas for improvement are to ensure that: all of the children have taken part in a fire drill; the children’s individual risk assessments contain all necessary 3 of 10 information; the recruitment information for agency staff is thoroughly audited and the statement of purpose is up-dated to include all of the required information. Also, the location risk assessment does not ensure that the position of the premises has been adequately assessed.

p.2

Overall effectiveness

The staff provide an adequate level of care to the children and have embraced the changes since the previous inspection. The identified shortfalls have not had a detrimental impact upon the children’s welfare. The children benefit from attending the home as it offers them many good opportunities which they would not otherwise have. 4 of 10

p.3

Information about this children’s home

This children's home is run by a local authority and provides short breaks for children on the autistic spectrum. At any one time it provides regular, short-break care facilities for a maximum of four children. Children stay for varying lengths of time and frequency, depending on their assessed needs.

p.4

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/03/2014 Interim satisfactory progress 29/04/2013 Full good 18/12/2012 Interim satisfactory progress 17/07/2012 Full good

p.4

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.

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

5 (2001) review, and where appropriate, revise the Statement or Purpose and the children's guide and notify HMCI of any such revision within 28 days (Regulation 5 (a) & (b)) 30/04/2015

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the children's home is conducted so as to promote and make proper provision for the safeguarding and the welfare of children accommodated there; with particular reference to ensuring that individual risk assessments are up to date with the necessary information(Regulation 11 (1) (a)) 30/04/2015 5 of 10 (2001) ensure that full and satisfactory information is available in relation to staff in respect of each of the matters specified in Schedule 2; with particular reference to agency staff (Regulation 26 (3)(d)) 30/04/2015

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of those premises at least once in each calendar year. (Regulation 31 1A (a & b)) 30/04/2015

p.5

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that the persons working at the home and, so far as practical, children accommodated there, are aware of the procedure to follow in case of a fire. (Regulation 32 (1) (e)) 30/04/2015

p.5

Recommendations

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

p.5

Recommendations

 ensure that each home regularly reviews incidents of challenging behaviour, examines trends or issues emerging from this, to enable staff to reflect and learn to inform future practice (NMS 3.21)  ensure that the home provides a comfortable and homely environment and is well maintained and decorated. Avoidable hazards are removed as is consistent with a domestic setting (NMS 10.3)  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. Such restrictions for one child do not impose similar restrictions on other children. (NMS 10.4) 6 of 10

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people good

The outcomes for children using the short break service are good. The children enjoy attending the home and benefit from the many opportunities it provides them with to enhance their personal development. They have good opportunities to socialise and play with their peers which would otherwise not be possible. The children develop their independence skills and build their confidence to spend time away from their family home. The children and the families report that they always look forward to their planned stay at the home.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people good

The children’s health needs are well promoted. They also acquire further self-care skills as a consequence of the quality of the care from the staff. This ensures that they are well looked after and that they learn important life skills for themselves. The children are also involved in choosing their own meals and sometimes they will help to cook the dinner for everyone.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people good

The children enjoy taking part in a wide range of social opportunities and leisure facilities within the community. They benefit from being able to choose from a good variety of options, either with other children from the home or by themselves. Some of the children may not be able to take part in such activities if it was not for them attending the home.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people good

The children also benefit from the activities and the facilities which are in place at the home. They can choose from a variety of games, musical instruments and art equipment to suit their interests. The children have a good relationship with the staff. They have lots of fun together and learn to overcome personal difficulties through the use of specialised communications methods.

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people good

In many cases the children’s family relationship benefits because of their time at the home. It provides them with new skills to use at their family home and also gives their family opportunities to focus on other important matters. In some cases the children’s attendance at the home ensures that they can continue to live at their family home and do not have to move into full time residential care.

p.6

Quality of care adequate

The quality of care has improved since the previous inspection. There has been a robust response by the Responsible Individual and the staff team to address the shortfalls which were identified. The children’s care plans are now well-ordered and contain the required information to support their personal care needs. A suitable policy covering intimate care is also now in place. However, some of the children’s 7 of 10 individual risk assessments do not include all of the relevant information including their perceived risk to others. Therefore, the control measures and the strategies to manage such risks are not accurate.

p.6

Quality of care adequate

The home is not maintained to a good standard throughout. The staff do not have sufficient storage facilities for all of the equipment required by the home. As a result, the children’s living space and bedroom facilities are compromised. The external door into the garden is routinely locked regardless of the children’s capabilities. This does not ensure that they all have access to the garden of their own accord. Also, the computer, which the children use, is broken. Therefore they do not have access to the internet during their stay.

p.7

Quality of care adequate

The staff work well alongside health and education professionals and this supports positive outcomes for children in these areas. The staff are assigned key worker roles for a group of children. This ensures that they advocate for the children and provide good communication with their families and other professionals.

p.7

Quality of care adequate

The staff are enthusiastic and energetic. They have a good relationship with the children and understand their needs well. As a result, the children engage with the staff and learn new skills. The staff support the cultural and diversity needs of the children well. The children are involved in learning about different cultures from around the world as well as supporting their own local heritage.

p.7

Quality of care adequate

The arrangements for storing and recording medication are satisfactory. The staff have made improvements to the weekly food menu. As a result, the options are healthy and involve less processed food. The staff promote the physical health and well- being of the children through lots of play; for example, swimming, community parks, roller skating and activities on the beach.

p.7

Keeping children and young people safe inadequate

The arrangements for safeguarding the children and promoting their welfare remain inadequate. The Responsible Individual has taken action to obtain the necessary recruitment information for the agency staff that are employed. This includes no longer using an agency which would not provide this information. The key information for agency staff is now in place; however, shortfalls remain in the quality of the checking of the information. This is because it is not always clear what the level of the disclosure and barring service certificate is, gaps in employment have not been explored and some references do not have dates on them. Therefore, children are exposed to staff, who do not have full and satisfactory recruitment information in place.

p.7

Keeping children and young people safe inadequate

The Responsible Individual has ensured that all of the children now have an up-to- date personal emergency and evacuation plan. However, she has not fully addressed the requirement to ensure that all of the children have taken part in a fire drill. 8 of 10 Therefore, not all of the children have practiced what to do in the event of an evacuation of the building.

p.7

Keeping children and young people safe inadequate

The location risk assessment of the home is unsatisfactory. The manager has not explored the safeguarding risks of the wider area and does not include the children’s access to local services, other than education. As a result, the location of the home has not been fully assessed. There has been no detrimental impact to children as a result of this shortfall.

p.8

Keeping children and young people safe inadequate

The staff have decreased their use of physical restraint since the previous inspection. There have been no incidents of children going missing from the home and there have been no sanctions used by staff. The staff implement positive behaviour management strategies well to avoid the children becoming over-excited or anxious. However, the monitoring of the incidents does not always include a de-brief with staff, which does not ensure that each incident is evaluated and learnt from.

p.8

Keeping children and young people safe inadequate

The Responsible Individual ensures that all of the significant events for the protection of children are reported to the appropriate authorities. This ensures the independent oversight and monitoring of each event. The Responsible Individual also now ensures that all new staff employed by the provider have their references verified by telephone for their authentication.

p.8

Leadership and management adequate

The Responsible Individual has been managing the home since the previous inspection. She has met both of the compliance notices which were issued, eight out of the eleven requirements and both of the recommendations.

p.8

Leadership and management adequate

The statement of purpose has been updated to include the details for the provision and support of children with complex health needs and physical disabilities. However, the document does not include a description of all the areas listed in schedule 1 of The Children’s Homes Regulations (2001). Consequently, the stakeholders and regulatory body are not fully informed of the service which is provided.

p.8

Leadership and management adequate

The amount of agency staff used at the home has decreased. The Responsible Individual manages their use efficiently by employing the same individuals regularly, mainly as waking night staff. This ensures that the children have contact with staff who are familiar to them. The Responsible Individual also now ensures that the agency staff have professional supervision, which means they are guided to fulfil their role properly and receive opportunities for reflection on their practice.

p.8

Leadership and management adequate

The Responsible Individual has addressed the staff training shortfalls. A clear training plan is now in place and the children are supported by staff who have the necessary training. 9 of 10 The Responsible Individual has used an action plan in response to the last inspection as an immediate development plan for the home. The monitoring by the independent visitor continues to take place at the required intervals. The provider has been monitoring the effectiveness of this exercise for the last twelve months and has made changes over this period to the person carrying out the visit. The Responsible Individual has met with the current independent visitor and asked for the report to be more robust.

p.8

Leadership and management adequate

There has not been sufficient time for another quarterly monitoring exercise in the intervening period. However, plans are in place to include how consultation comments from the stakeholders will link to improvements in the service provided, as well as ensuring that appropriate analysis of the issues raised in the monitoring takes place.

p.9

Leadership and management adequate

The staff have been consulted about the recent changes undertaken at the home. The staff provide largely positive feedback. They state that they feel supported and empowered to do their role. Also, important environmental changes have been made to provide staff with the facilities and space to complete their paperwork duties. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.9

Leadership and management adequate

This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

p.10

Judgement Description

Outstanding A service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements.

p.10

Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

p.10

Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

p.10

Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

p.10

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.

p.10

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.

p.10