Children's Home run by Kent County Council in Kent

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The Registered Manager values the skilled staff group and strives to develop the service and drive forward improvements; however a medication error highlighted a need to review policy, including simplifying procedures, making the lines of accountability clearer between nursing staff and shift leaders and a need for retraining.  Children and young people are encouraged to make choices using a range of communication methods, for example, by using picture exchange methods to choose food and ‘thumbs up’ symbols to fill in children’s questionnaires. Staff are enthusiastic about the children and young people, staff talk positively about them and spent a day making a sensory garden so that they have a multi-sensory place to enjoy.  The Deputy Manager and Team Leaders work closely with professionals and parents to ensure that they have up to date information at the beginning of each child and young person’s short break stay. Parents and staff fill in an

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The children's home provision is good because:

assessment form prior to the child or young person’s stay so that they can share any changes since the last stay. This means that the children and young people are cared for by staff that know them well.  The Team Leaders forge good links with local schools to provide consistency, promote the child or young person’s academic achievements and share knowledge. They are able to strengthen the professional relationships by visiting schools regularly to discuss each child in detail and feeding back any information shared. The children and young people benefit from staff who show a high level of interest in their education.  The Registered Manager is committed to ensuring that the staff are well trained. They participate in a twice yearly training week. The home is closed at this time so that staff can concentrate on training as a staff team. This means that they have consistent knowledge and are able to work together to

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The children's home provision is good because:

improve their team identity. The staff are an experienced, professional staff group who work together for the benefit of the children and young  Children and young people are able to make good use of a range of resources, including a spa pool, soft play, sensory room and an amazing fully equipped wooded area.

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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 (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

13. The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

2 (c )ensure staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. 15/07/2015

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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

Ensure that the Registered Manager has a key role in seeking to develop the home’s effective working relationship with each child’s placing authority and with other relevant persons which may include services, individuals (including parents). (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 52, paragraph 10.3)

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Information about this children's home

The home is jointly funded by the health authority and the local authority. The home provides six residential places for children and young people who have physical disabilities and/or learning difficulties. It is fully equipped to meet the needs of the children and young people who require short break care.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

25/03/2015 CH - Interim Sustained Effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

18/02/2014 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

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good

Staff develop close, enjoyable relationships with the children and young people. They love coming to stay for short breaks; a parent said ‘my child uses his communication book to ask to go there when he isn’t due’. Another parent says ‘he loves attending, staff are brilliant with him’. I observed the staff to be calm, cheerful and to enjoy being with the children and young people.

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good

Staff put the children and young peoples’ care at the centre of their practice, improvements have been made both internally and external to the home, that are child centred and imaginative, for example, a multi-sensory garden space has been created and a newly decorated night scene has been designed for the communal area. Staff are enthusiastic about improving the quality of the children and young people’s lives and take an active role to achieve this.

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good

Children and young people engage in purposeful activities within the home and local community. They attend a craft workshop at a local adult service day care unit, go out on shopping trips, visit local parks and places of interest. Children and young people enjoy a range of resources within the home including, soft play, a sensory room, spa and use of computers. This provides a stimulating range of new experiences for the children and young people and successfully engages them in constructive use of their leisure time.

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good

Children and young people are able to demonstrate their achievements through the 'Aim of Stay' programme, which reduces complex tasks to achievable and measurable goals. Staff review these during every stay and focus clearly on developing success. The children and young people are able to gain a real sense of attainment, which increases their self –esteem.

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good

The Registered Manager is committed to increasing the children and young peoples’ ability to make choices and participate in the running of their home. The innovative role of the communication lead has helped the staff to expand on the use of communication methods and forums. She has introduced photographs, toys and a variety of items that act as objects of reference, which means that the children and young people are more able to make choices and express their wishes and feelings. This means that the staff are more able to effectively respond to their needs. Specialised feedback forms help the children and young people to clearly indicate that they enjoy their stays by circling the ‘thumbs up’ symbol.

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good

The Team Leaders forge strong links with local schools, A member of staff liaises directly with each school and creates strong partnerships with school staff and are part of the multi-professional team involved in the children and young people’s care. The children and young people are given goals that can be measured and adapted to both home and school.

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good

Staff are dedicated to increasing the young peoples’ independence and preparation for transition to adulthood. The ‘teenage group’ is specifically for a group of young people who can access activity based weekends. They are a vibrant group, who are adventurous in their choice of activities. Staff embrace the young peoples’ challenging choices with creative ways to fulfil these, for example, a recent kayaking trip. All young people have clear goals to increase their independence, for example, using the washing machine, making clear choices. A parent said 'the staff are able to get my child to do more than he will do for me at home'.

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good

The health authority and local authority jointly fund the service, this means that the children and young people are able to access specialist health care easily. Staff have specific training that helps them to be able to care well for children and young people with complex health needs. Children and young people newly admitted to the home undertake a robust and individualised induction into the home tailored around their specific needs. Children and young peoples’ care plans are effective and holistic; they are subject to continual review. Staff provide an excellent level of care from the start.

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good

An investment in decorating the ‘night lounge’ means that this is a calming space and indicates a visual difference between the stimulating activities during the day and the peacefulness of bedtime.

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good

Staff meet parents to complete a thorough admissions process before each short break stay. This means that parents are confident about staff knowledge of their children and their commitment to safety. Staff take individual responsibility to review and amend risk assessments, which are shared at weekly team meetings. Consequently, staff are able to manage any risks identified in relation to the children and young people’s specific needs.

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good

The Registered Manager prioritises safeguarding and ensures that all staff are regularly trained and increase their knowledge about policy and procedure, staff were able to demonstrate that this has been effective by demonstrating a clear understanding of safeguarding practice. Staff carry around a safeguarding policy prompt card to refer to immediately. This means that the children and young people’s safety remains paramount.

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good

Arrangements for recruiting and vetting of staff are effective and ensure that those selected are suitable to work with children and young people. Personnel files meticulously demonstrate safe recruitment decisions. This protects children and young people from unsuitable staff gaining employment. Children and young people have effective supervision so do not go missing from the home. The staff are clear about the procedures in place if a child did go missing. The Registered Manager consulted the Police Community Support Officer and other professionals in order to complete the local risk assessment. The use of local knowledge means that the Registered Manager and staff are fully aware of the potential hazards that children face in the community.

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good

Staff are clear about safe internet and promote this with the children and young people. Staff engage with the children and young people so that they are not unsupervised whilst they are using the computer, there is a clear internet safety policy that all the staff are aware of and are able to implement. The children and young people have signed an agreement in regards to safe use and restrictions are in place to ensure that they can only access trusted sites. Staff have a good understanding of the children and young peoples’ safety, which is paramount.

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good

There have been no sanctions used since the last inspection. Staff record and evaluate any positive handling incidents. The Registered Manager analyses this information to inform behaviour support programmes, update risk assessments and care plans. The Registered Manager shares any learning with staff at team meetings. A transparent and open culture is fostered, staff reflect on the meaning of children and young peoples’ behaviour. This means that lessons can be learnt and staff can recognise potential triggers and prevent them occurring. Children and young people are able to learn to self –regulate their behaviour with the support of competent staff. Judgement grade

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requires improvement

The Registered Manager has obtained a level 5 diploma in leadership for health and social care. He aspires to lead a strong, experienced staff group. He is committed to ensuring that the staff group increase their knowledge and keep up to date with research, policy and practice. The induction training programme and commitment to continual staff training build on the staff knowledge base. The staff report they are committed to learning the skills to ensure that they are a highly experienced staff group that can offer the best service possible to the children and young people in their care. This gives them pride in their work and increases staff morale.

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requires improvement

The Registered Manager monitors the quality of care provided in the home and responds promptly to any issues raised. He completes audits to identify any areas of improvement needed, for example, he reviewed staffing levels and recognised that there was a need to recruit more permanent relief staff during the latest recruitment drive to prevent the need to use agency staff. This ensures that staff can be recruited and trained to meet individual children and young people’s needs

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requires improvement

The Statement of Purpose accurately describes the aims and objectives of the home, which are followed in practice. The Children’s guide is easy to read, simple words, photographs and symbols are appropriate for the children and young people who access this resource. External monitoring visits take place monthly, and are suitably challenging of care practices to promote continual improvement.

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requires improvement

Supervision is of a high calibre, regular and effective. Accountability and reflection underpins the learning for supervisees, which increases their confidence and competence. Staff team meetings held weekly focus on the children and young people and any changes since their last stay. This keeps children and young people at the forefront of practice.

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requires improvement

The Registered Manager is approachable and available to staff and encourages experienced staff to take on new roles and opportunities within the service, such as promoting an employee to a new role of relief shift leader. This increases staff morale and fosters ambition within the staff group.

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requires improvement

The Registered Manager generally works closely with other professionals and services. A multi–professional team approach reinforces effective links with school and health professionals. A social worker comments ‘we have a good working relationship with the Registered Manager and staff’. A social worker was not informed on one occasion about an incident relating to a child. The child’s parent also did not receive feedback from the Registered Manager. This did not have a negative impact on the child and the Registered Manager immediately addressed this. The Registered Manager recognises that there are improvements needed and was clear that he would improve practice.

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requires improvement

The Registered Manager informed me that a recent medication error had occurred during medication training, the staff responded by seeking immediate medical advice. The staff monitored the child and there was no impact on his well-being as a result. Analysis of this incident highlighted some shortfalls in relation to the management of the situation, for example, staff were given different advice and there was no clear management oversight, policies were unclear and needed simplifying and there were weaknesses in the training given to the member of staff administering the medication. The Registered Manager has a development plan in place to review the medication error policy and ensure that it is clear and concise and that the staff involved undertake some retraining. The Registered Manager is clear about the strengths and weaknesses highlighted. He is keen to put systems in place to improve responses and minimise risk.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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