Children's Home run by Keys Group Progressive Care & Education Limited in Hampshire

Requires improvement

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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because:

 Staffing within the home has been inconsistent. There has been a reliance on staff from other homes in the organisation and staff from external agencies. The situation is improving, but is not yet ideal. Additionally, all required pre-employment checks have not been made available to the home prior to agency staff commencing employment.  Pre-placement planning information for the most recent referral is not sufficient. The former Registered Manager did not ensure risk assessments or placement plans had been updated for this placement. Placing authority statutory documentation is also not available in the young person’s file. This has led to inconsistencies in approach to his care in the initial weeks of placement.  Staff have had not had sufficient e-safety training in order to keep young people safe on-line. Systems within the home have failed, allowing an individual to view age-inappropriate material.

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because:

 Young people who require the use of listening monitors overnight have not had this agreed in writing with their placing authority or the individual. Further, it has not been adequately assessed to ensure it provides a reasonable level of privacy. Similarly, the use of an electronic key pad to exit the front door has not been assessed and included in individual plans to determine the need to keep them safe over their right to freedom of movement.  The home environment is not well maintained in all areas. Toilet seats were noted as requiring replacement during the inspection. While there is a major refurbishment and remodelling programme under way, this has taken a long period to start. Additionally, the decked area to the rear of the property was identified as a safety risk in 2014, but was only being removed during the inspection.  Records within the home have been confusing and inconsistent. The area

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because:

manager and temporary deputy manager have been reformatting these and they are becoming much clearer. This remains a work in progress and requires further consideration and action.

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The children's home strengths

 Key staff have a strong understanding of young people’s needs and work effectively to ensure they have positive experiences both in the home and in the community.  Young people enjoy a range of activities. Staffing ratios are high to enable them access to the community, where they learn both social and independence skills. Individuals choose the activities they undertake, which include train spotting, going to parks and swimming. In the home they are able to engage in pastimes they enjoy such as using and watching the washing machine, playing on video games and cooking.  Young people appear to feel safe in the home and confident around those who care for them. Parents and social workers are complementary of the care provided in order to keep young people safe from avoidable hazards and risks they pose to themselves, such as self-injurious behaviour and lack of road safety awareness.

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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

5 Engaging with the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met.

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the engaging with the wider system standard the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

(c) challenge the placing authority if they consider its performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role.

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Requirement Due date

This is with specific regard to accessing to relevant placing plans and agreements producing by the placing authority. 30 October

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Requirement Due date

12 In order to meet the protection of children standard with reference to staff understanding of e-safety and standard of maintenance within the home, the registered must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(b) that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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Requirement Due date

(d) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. 30 October

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Requirement Due date

14 In order to meet the care planning standard with regards to pre-placement planning and risk assessments the registered person must ensure children:

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Requirement Due date

(1)(a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; 30 October (2)(b) that arrangements are in place to

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Requirement Due date

(i) ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

(c) and that each child’s relevant plans are followed.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children; the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance; so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 30 October

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. The registered person may only employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home if the individual is of integrity and good character; the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform; the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. This is specifically in relation to agency staff. (Regulation 32 (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Reports produced by the independent visitor must be clear on who has been consulted with during the visit and use language which is relevant to children’s homes and children’s homes regulations. Additionally, every effort must be made to gain the views of young people irrespective of their communication style. (Regulation 44 (4)) 30 October

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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

 Children must be consulted regularly on their views about the home’s care, to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. Due consideration should be given to the child’s cognitive ability in the development and implementation of any consultation processes. Children should be able to see the results of their views being listened to and acted upon. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 22 paragraph 4.1)

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Recommendations

 Ensure where children’s homes caring for children with complex care needs and restraint may be necessary as a consequence of a child’s impairment or disability, each child’s EHC plan contains detail about planned and agreed approaches to restraint or restraint techniques to be applied in the day-to-day routine of the child. This is with specific regard to the key pad lock on the front door. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 47 paragraph 9.43)

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Recommendations

 Ensure staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. This also includes clear recording of placements within the homes register. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 62 paragraph 14.4)

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned by national private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 4 children and young people with learning disabilities and associated behaviour difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

29/12/2014 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

31/10/2013 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

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requires improvement

Young people are confident in the home and around key staff. They have some very good relationships with staff who understand their needs and communication styles. Staff take a keen interest in young people, ensuring individuals engage in a wide range of activities and learn life skills. Staff are interested in how young people’s days have been at school and help them to work through any issues they may have. An example includes reassuring an individual staff would call school to ensure an incident of bullying had been appropriately dealt with ready for the next day. Some staff are not skilled in when to move on and change the subject when individuals were becoming heightened and anxious. Consistency within the team has been an issue, but staff feel they are working together much more, and this is benefiting young people, who increasingly know what is expected of them. Pre-placement planning is thorough and parents comment on how comfortable

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requires improvement

they felt with their child moving into the home, and their involvement in the transition. They felt staff were genuinely interested in their views and the routines they had in place for their child. However, pre-placement planning information for the most recent referral is insufficient. The former Registered Manager did not ensure risk assessments or placement plans had been updated for this placement. Placing authority statutory documentation is also not available in the young person’s file. This has led to inconsistencies in approach to his care in the initial weeks of placement. Young people are treated with dignity and respect and their differences celebrated. Young people are increasingly being held central to all practice and are actively encouraged to have their views heard. Key communications or comments are not always effectively recorded. Newly introduced ‘Av a chat’ forms have aided in this

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requires improvement

area as staff were previously unsure where to record discussions. All young people have their own ‘YOURS!!!!’ file, which contains all the information they require about the home, how to make a complaint and external advocacy agencies. This has led to a less institutional feel within the home as much of the information formally on notice boards has been included in the file. Young people attend education as programmed and are achieving in line with their peers. Staff work closely with schools to ensure targets are in line with those in the home and approaches are consistent. In addition to formal education, they are involved in a range of emotionally and physically stimulating activities, which include train spotting, cooking, swimming and messy play. Individuals are encouraged to learn socially acceptable behaviours and how to keep themselves safe. This includes how to live as part of a group, and recognising where private

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requires improvement

spaces are within the home. Young people are encouraged to understand healthy lifestyles and what this means for them. They are encouraged to eat a range of fresh produce and home cooked meals. All attend routine and specific medical appointments with staff support and guidance. Staff training ensures practice when administering medication is appropriate within the home.

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requires improvement

Young people’s demeanour and confidence around staff indicates that they feel safe within the home. They approach staff with any worries or concerns they have, directing them to what their concerns may be. Key staff have a strong understanding of how to keep young people safe in their day-to-day lives. This includes supporting them to reduce their self-injurious behaviour; keeping safe by roads and from other avoidable hazards in the home. Staff are clear on what action to take should they be concerned for an individual’s safety or well-being, including contacting external agencies when appropriate. The home responds swiftly to any child protection or safeguarding concerns. The person responsible for safeguarding within the local authority comments they have had appropriate contact with the home’s manager’s, who will also contact them for advice. There have been several disclosures by a young person which have been

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requires improvement

investigated appropriately by the home and the local authority. There have been some delays in reporting while the home was establishing suitable management arrangements, but this is now resolved. The area manager is sourcing external child protection training to ensure all staff are clear on local practices and expectations. Staff have had insufficient e-safety training in order to keep young people safe on-line. Systems within the home have failed, allowing an individual to view age-inappropriate material. Staff are becoming increasingly confident in managing young people’s behaviour. There were initial difficulties in supporting the most recent individual to move into the home. Staff struggled to adapt practice to meet his needs and planning and responses were poor. Close liaison with external professionals has meant this has dramatically improved over recent weeks. Restraint is used within the home and

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requires improvement

the need for physical intervention is reducing as staff are adapting styles and approaches, responding to negative behaviours effectively. They are developing the use of restorative approaches and spend time restoring relationships post incident. Records of incidents and restraint have been streamlined to ensure greater clarity. Previously documents and records were muddled and recorded in several places. Staff are skilled in supporting young people who display self-injurious behaviour. They recognise signs and indicators of distress and redirect individuals through engaging in activities that sooth them or through the use of agreed management plans. Young people respond well and take themselves to ‘safe’ places, such as a bean bag when directed by staff. Young people have not been missing from the home, but all staff are clear on emergency responses should this happen. High staffing ratios and an electronic keypad on the front door reduce the risk of young

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requires improvement

people leaving the house unaccompanied. Individual plans do not assess the need for the electronic key pad to determine the need to keep them safe over their right to freedom of movement though. Risk assessments are robust and reflective of individual’s abilities and skills. Young people are increasingly allowed to take age-appropriate risks in line with their understanding and abilities. The staff team is continuing to develop an enabling culture rather than being risk adverse. Young people who require the use of listening monitors overnight have not had this agreed in writing with their placing authority or the individual. Further, it has not been adequately assessed to ensure minimal invasion of privacy. Young people are protected from avoidable hazards through the design of the home and regular checks of fire detection and firefighting equipment. The physical environment is generally well maintained and meets the needs of those who live in

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requires improvement

the home. This does lead to an institutional feel in some areas, particularly the vinyl floor coverings in all bedrooms. Maintenance concerns have not been noted, including toilet seats requiring immediate replacement as noticed during the inspection. There is a major refurbishment and remodelling programme under way, which has taken a long period to start. The decked area to the rear of the property was identified as a safety risk in 2014, but was only being removed during the inspection. Recruitment practice is robust, including staff undergoing a range of pre- employment checks. Evidence of safety checks for all of those who are employed by external agencies was not available in the home.

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requires improvement

The home has been without a Registered Manager since July 2015. A new manager has been appointed and is due to start late September 2015. In the interim, the home has been managed by various staff from the wider organisation. This has been inadequate and an agency member of staff known to the home was appointed a deputy manager in mid August. This, in addition to the area manager’s presence within the home since late August, has improved oversight and provided stability to the staff team. Staffing within the home has been inconsistent. There has been a reliance on staff from other homes in the organisation and those from external agencies. The situation is improving, but is not yet ideal.

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requires improvement

Managers utilise reports in relation to visits undertaken in line with Regulation 44, which provide an appropriate level of evaluation and challenge. However, the language used is not always clear or relevant to children’s homes. Additionally, inclusion of the previous month’s consultation with partner agencies and parents causes some confusion. The deputy manager and area manager are using feedback from external professionals in order to improve the service for young people. In addition, manager’s checks give oversight into the quality of service provided. More recently, the information has been used to drive improvement and formulate the home’s development plan. The current management team have identified many areas for improvement and are prioritising those in greatest need. It has been recognised that records within the home have been confusing and inconsistent. The area manager and temporary deputy manager have focused on

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requires improvement

streamlining key documents. This remains a work a progress.

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requires improvement

Staff are increasingly working as a team, providing consistency in care for young people. In-house placement plans are clear and mostly written in the young person’s voice. Plans provide an insight into individual’s lives and identity. Key staff are skilled in recognising and understanding young people’s needs and plans are reflective of the care provided. Progress is celebrated and young people receive certificates for positive behaviour and reaching significant milestones in their skills. Some statutory documents are not available in the home and manager’s attempts to gain this information have not been robust. For one young person, plans and risk assessments are from their previous placement within the organisation. This is recognised as an issue and is being remedied.

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requires improvement

Joint working is evidenced throughout young people’s records and day-to-day working. External professionals and specialists are invited to give comment on care and practice and the management team seek feedback. Complaints are responded to appropriately and to the complainant’s satisfaction. Social workers comment that care is good and that communication with the home has improved in recent weeks. They had previously raised concerns at an operational level, and in response senior managers have arranged six weekly meetings with placing authorities.

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requires improvement

Staff now benefit from regular, challenging supervision and team meetings, where staff can and do share their views and ideas. Regular meetings have improved consistency within the team and working towards the ethos of the home as set out in the Statement of Purpose. Staff are being encouraged to be open about their concerns and issues with practice to reduce a former divisive atmosphere between some working in the home. Staff feel this has been successful. They also comment that training is useful and helps them to improve their skills and practice in supporting young people

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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

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Information about this inspection

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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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