Children's Home run by London Borough of Croydon in Croydon

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:

 This short breaks service offers young people a good quality of care.  This home provides young people with a warm and welcoming environment; young people are happy and relaxed during their stay.  Young people have opportunities to engage in fun activities in the local and wider community.  Young people are making good progress from their starting points.  The staff team are qualified and experienced. They know the children well and are committed to ensuring they have a fun and safe experience.  Partnership working and care planning ensures good matching of young people, enabling stable friendships and enduring relationships.  There is robust support for young people approaching 18 to learn independent skills, engage in community activities and develop their own personalities.  The staff team offers holistic support to young people and parents both in and out of the home.  Three-monthly progress reports for all young people using the service are

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The children's home provision is good because:

completed. This enables parents and professionals to measure progress and where necessary allocate further resources.  The Registered Manager has updated many of the policies and procedures in line with new regulations and Quality Standards.  Young people make good progress in line with behaviour support plans, but some need updating to reflect this progress.  The home’s Statement of Purpose reflects the ethos of the agency, but requires further updating to reflect the Quality Standards and new regulations.  External monitoring of the home is effective, but is not robust in monitoring the safety of young people and the promotion of their well-being.

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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

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement of purpose which covers the items listed in Schedule 1; and (2) provide a copy of the statement of purpose to HMCI. (Regulation 16 (1) (2)) 02/11/2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the independent person produces a report about a visit which sets out, in particular, the independent’s person’s opinion as to whether- (a) children are effectively safeguarded; and (b) the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (4) (a) (b)) 02/11/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Ensure the policy for the protection of children from abuse and neglect includes arrangements in relation to dealing with allegations involving management in the home. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 44, paragraph 9.19)  The behaviour management strategy should be understood and applied at all times by staff, and must be kept under review and revised where appropriate. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 46, paragraph 9.34)

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Information about this children's home

The local authority owns this short-break unit and the service is part of the children with disabilities team’s resource. The service currently provides residential short breaks for up to seven children who have a severe learning disability. Children using the service usually live in the community supported by carers. The home can also provide emergency short-term care. The duration and frequency of the short break children receive varies based on their assessed needs.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

10/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

19/02/2014 Interim Satisfactory progress

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Good

Young people enjoy their short breaks in a home which is making a positive difference to their lives and where they are achieving good outcomes. The home is warm and welcoming, displaying a range of pictorial evidence of activities.

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Good

Young people engage in and enjoy a range of purposeful activities; these include activities in the sensory room, doing arts and crafts, music and dance. Carefully planned assessments allow young people to enjoy a range of activities in the wider community, for example boat trips, visits to Chessington Zoo and community shopping. A parent comments, ‘My children are able to enjoy fun days out that as a lone carer l am unable to provide for them.’ These activities encourage young people to be active as well as encouraging interaction with their peers. This promotes young people’s engagement and the development of their communication and social skills.

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Good

The Registered Manager engages with the local authority from the initial identification of the need for a short break. This ensures that rigorous assessments on whether the home can adequately meet young people’s needs are undertaken. Care planning and risk assessments are individualised, comprehensive and address the diverse and complex needs of young people. Plans include information on culture, religion, diet and health needs.

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Good

All young people have an allocated keyworker, who works closely with parent to ensure established routines in the home are mirrored in their short break plan. This results in young benefitting from consistent care during their short break.

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Good

There is careful planning for stays and the grouping of young people; this ensures young people undertake and enjoy similar activities resulting in stable friendships and enduring relationships.

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Good

A key strength of the home is the introduction of a transitions group. Staff support young people between the ages of 16 to 18 to focus on independent living skills, engage in community activities and develop their own personalities outside of the family home, with supervision. This enables young people to engage with same- age peers, build self-confidence, improve the quality of their lives and prepare for adult living.

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Good

Keyworkers demonstrate strong and effective partnerships with parents and other professionals. The introduction of three-monthly reports enables parents and all the key people involved with their children to monitor progress and celebrate achievements. Relationships between staff and the young people are warm and relationships are valued. A parent comments, ‘l can pick up the telephone when l am struggling to cope, all the staff team will go that extra mile to support my child and me.’

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Good

Staff recognise the importance of young people and their parents ‘having a voice’ in the day-to-day running and decision making processes in the home. They use a variety of communication methods to seek the views of young people, many of whom have communication difficulties. A number of young people are able to use Picture Exchange Communication (PECS) and this has helped them contribute their views on activities, menus and any other specific requests.

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Good

The staff team encourage young people and their families to complete questionnaires which staff use to improve the service and promote improved enjoyment for the young people.

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Good

The Registered Manager has recently developed an informative child-focused DVD and colourful brochure on the home, enabling young people, parents and professionals to have an interactive view of the home prior to staying for their short break.

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Good

The home is good at keeping young people safe in a nurturing, stable and safe environment. Individual risk assessments and behaviour support plans form part of the short break care plan for each young person. Staff are knowledgeable about plans and are fully aware of individual needs. However, some plans lack revision and update to accurately reflect the progress made by young people.

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Good

The use of physical intervention is rare, with staff using praise and diversion techniques as alternative methods. Staff record all incidents and the reasons for the intervention and analyse these for underlying causes. High levels of staffing minimise the risk of bullying and negative interactions between young people.

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Good

Activities are comprehensively risk assessed. High staff ratios and good levels of supervision when out in the community ensure that young people do not go missing and the good management of potential risks. Young people live in a safe environment which is subject to regular health and safety checks. Premises risk assessment, fire safety and fire evacuation methods are current and well planned. Servicing of equipment and regular hazard checks are in required timescales.

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Good

The local authority robust recruitment policy and procedures ensure the careful vetting of staff before they start work ensuring the safety of vulnerable young people.

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Good

Training for staff is of a good standard with individualised training plans in place. Staff have attended a range of training, including child protection, working with autism and medication. Training focuses on the safety and the care of young people with disabilities.

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Good

Staff protect young people through their knowledge, experience and by following robust procedures. However, there is no systematic procedure in place for staff to follow in the event of an allegation against the management of the home. This could lead to inconsistency and put vulnerable young people at risk of harm.

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Good

The Registered Manager has a social work qualification and holds the level 4- Registered Manager’s qualification. She is experienced, provides good leadership and has been in post for 12 years. A qualified, experienced and competent deputy manager supports her.

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Good

There has been a number of new initiatives implemented since the last inspection to support the development and improvement of the service for young people. These include the implementation of progress reports, a positive focus on the involvement of young people in the development of the service, engagement with parents through training coffee mornings and effective safeguarding training for the staff team to better protect young people.

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Good

Young people’s care is enhanced by the use of effective and informative care plans and good management communication. Staff value and are committed to ensuring good outcomes for all young people. Effective and regular supervision ensures staff remain updated of changes and provide quality care to the young people. A staff member says, ‘Supervision is through, and managers are always happy to support me to ensure our young people are happy.’ Staff are well qualified and all have a minimum level 3 qualification. Appraisals enable staff to reflect on their work, set goals and address any practice issues. Effective working with internal and external partners, particularly social workers, schools and health professionals, promote the best interests of young people. A social work manager comments, ‘The staff team work well with my team, they are informative about the young people and are committed to ensuing they have a

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Good

good and fun experience during the short break.’

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Good

The Registered Manager is committed to developing a culture of improved outcomes and good quality care for young people. She has a clear vision for development which home’s business and workforce development plans reflect.

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Good

Policies and procedures are clear and reflect new regulations and Quality Standards; however, the home’s statement of purpose requires some revision to reflect recent changes. The children’s guide summarises the purpose of the service and is available in varying forms of communication to ensure all young people have access to information. Internal monitoring of the home is effective. The Registered Manager uses feedback from young people, parents and other professionals to improve practice. Example of these are the introduction of three-monthly progress reports for social workers and parents, analysing young people’s achievements.

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Good

Independent monthly monitoring of the home is not robust and does not adequately reflect the progress of young people, discussions with parents and staff. The independent visitor does not record a view specifically on the effectiveness of safeguarding children and the promotion of their well-being in line with regulations.

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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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