Children's Home run by Anderida Adolescent Care Ltd in East Sussex

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:

 Young people develop a sense of stability and security in their lives. They form positive relationships with staff and feel valued and cared for. Over time, young people reduce their level of unsafe behaviours, such as substance misuse and going missing.  Management and staff work effectively with other agencies to address the issues leading to young people going missing or absent without authorisation. Innovative approaches are taken to reduce the risks of young people becoming sexually exploited.  Clear and consistent boundaries are maintained. Staff deliver care in accordance with the home’s therapeutic model. They have good opportunities to reflect on their practice and benefit from specialist guidance on how to meet young people’s needs.  The safety and well-being of young people is prioritised. Staff advocate strongly to ensure other professionals act in the best interests of the young people.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people make steady progress in school or college. They receive encouragement and support to achieve well. Over time, they acquire age appropriate independence skills, which helps them prepare for the next stage in their lives.  Staff support young people to develop their hobbies and interests, and offer them a range of recreational and leisure facilities. Community engagement is encouraged, and staff are alert to the potential for young people to become isolated.  Good working relationships are maintained with parents and carers. This enables effective planning of contact visits, which meet the needs of young people and promotes their emotional well-being.  Although safeguarding practice is generally robust, improvements are required in how management and staff respond to young people disclosing historic abuse.

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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

In order to meet the protection of children standard with particular reference to assessing risk following a disclosure of abuse and implementing agreed actions when there are concerns for a child's welfare, the registered person must ensure that staff: (2)(a) (i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare 31/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must implement a policy which sets out the procedure to be followed, including timeliness of reporting and records to be kept, in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect. This specifically relates to ensuring the home's safeguarding policy and procedure is followed when abuse is disclosed and that all relevant records contain the necessary information. (Regulation 34 (1) (b) (2) (c) (d)) 31/03/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s): Lead and manage the home in a way that delivers the approach set out in the home's statement of purpose; this specifically relates to undertaking impact assessments before young people are admitted to the home. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 52, paragraph 10.4)

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Recommendations

Ensure that staff can access appropriate resources to meet their training needs; specifically, ensure staff update their training in relation to the needs of the young people. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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Information about this children's home

This is a privately owned home. It is registered to accommodate two young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

25/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Good

Young people benefit from living in in a stable environment, where they feel valued and safe. They form trusting relationships with staff and experience improved self- esteem and emotional well-being. As a result they make good progress across all aspects of their lives. One young person said ‘I love it here, it has changed my life’. Young people begin to reflect on their past difficulties and address the negative impact these have had. As a result they reduce the severity and frequency of risk taking behaviours, such as substance misuse and going missing.

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Good

As they begin to trust the adults caring for them, young people develop the confidence to express their views and engage in decision making processes. This is encouraged by staff, who listen to young people and involve them in the day-to- day running of the home. This includes young people being involved in staff recruitment procedures. Young people know how to make a complaint and engage in the process to resolve any issues they may have. The manager recognises that gathering young people’s views on how effectively complaints are dealt with will improve the system and is addressing this.

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Good

All young people attend educational placements and make steady progress with their studies. Some have had past negative experiences of education, but gradually learn to engage and take advantage of the opportunities they are given. One young person said that teachers at the organisations school have really helped her in finding the right further education course. Staff offer encouragement and practical assistance to ensure young people do well in their education and attend professionals meetings to discuss young people’s progress and resolve any difficulties.

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Good

A good range of leisure and recreational activities are available to young people. Some have accessed local community resources, such as youth clubs, but have not always sustained their interest and enthusiasm. Staff recognise the potential for young people to become socially isolated and seek ways to avoid this happening. This includes arranging leisure activities that will bring young people into contact with their peers.

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Good

The need for young people to gain age appropriate independence skills is prioritised. Consequently young people learn how to complete domestic tasks within the home and some have been able to secure part-time jobs. Young people’s progress is monitored so that staff quickly identify if a young person is struggling with any aspect of their independence programme. Effective support is then provided, so that the young person does not become disillusioned. A Social Worker said ‘young people are enabled to make progress at their own pace’.

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Good

Young people learn the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and are able to access specialist support and advice, on sexual health for example, when needed. Staff ensure young people have a well-balanced diet, particularly when they begin cooking for themselves as part of their independence plan.

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Good

The emotional well-being and mental health needs of young people are assessed, and these are taken into account in their individual care plans. The organisations clinical psychologist supports staff to implement therapeutic approaches to caring for the young people and also undertakes individual work where appropriate. This ensures young people benefit from early access to specialist mental health support.

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Good

Skilled and committed staff treat young people with dignity and respect. They encourage young people to develop their own identity and celebrate difference. Meeting the needs of young people is at the centre of practice, and staff remain professional no matter what challenges they may face.

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Good

A pro-active approach is taken to supporting young people maintain positive contact with family and former carers. Young people’s views and wishes are taken into account, while effective planning ensures contact arrangements are safe. Staff are sensitive to the anxieties young people may have over contact arrangements and ensure young people are given the opportunity to express these. This approach ensures contact visits increasingly become positive experiences for young people.

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Requires improvement

The safety and well-being of young people is prioritised and underpins practice in the home. Some excellent work is undertaken with young people, which ensures that over time they become increasingly safe. However, this good level of practice was not sustained on one occasion when a young person disclosed historic abuse.

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Requires improvement

This disclosure was not reported in a timely manner to the placing authority, in line with the organisations’ safeguarding procedures. Initially, information was shared in a document sent electronically, addressing a range of other issues. The matter was poorly recorded. Discussions and decision making processes were not recorded chronologically and a clear audit trail of actions taken was not kept.

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Requires improvement

This resulted in delay and confusion as to who was taking agreed actions. Further discussion with the young person concerned, which was originally planned to take place three days later, was delayed for nearly three weeks. At the end of the process, no risk assessment was undertaken in respect of the information disclosed by the young person.

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Requires improvement

In all other respects, safeguarding practice is more robust. Young people build strong, trusting relationships with staff. They feel listened to and reassured that staff are concerned for their safety and well-being. This ensures young people have the confidence to discuss their concerns. Recently a young person informed staff about contact with an adult on a social media site. Staff were able to ensure this relationship was managed safely. The young person described the staff’s approach as ‘amazing’.

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Requires improvement

Managers and staff are familiar with the particular vulnerabilities of young people and, generally, their associated risks are understood. Risk assessments are kept under review and updated whenever an incident which may cause concern occurs. This enables effective monitoring of young people’s risk levels which is used to develop strategies for caring for them safely.

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Requires improvement

Staff have a thorough understanding of the potential for young people to become sexually exploited and can describe the warning signs that might heighten their concerns. Good partnership working with the local authority child sexual exploitation team ensures vulnerable young people are better protected. A worker from this team said ‘staff have a good understanding of the measures that need to be in place to protect young people’. Effective communication and information sharing with relevant professionals further enhances multi-disciplinary working.

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Requires improvement

Detailed planning ensures a well-co-ordinated response when young people go missing from the home. Risk assessments and associated strategies provide staff with clear guidelines on the actions they must take. These are implemented in practice and staff make strenuous efforts to ensure young people return safely at the earliest opportunity. They receive a welcoming and positive response on their return; this helps young people reflect on the incident. Pro-active steps are taken to ensure young people have an independent return home interview.

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Requires improvement

Clear and consistent boundaries are maintained by staff and this contributes towards young people developing a sense of security. Individualised behaviour management strategies focus on rewarding positive behaviours and de-escalating confrontational situations. Records indicate that staff employ a restorative approach when young people demonstrate challenging behaviours. Young people express the view that when sanctions are used they are fair and proportionate.

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Requires improvement

Thorough recruitment procedures, including background checks, minimise the possibility of unsuitable adults being employed in the home. Young people take an active role in recruitment and their feedback is taken into account before staff are appointed. This approach ensures young people contribute towards making the home a safe place to live. Regular health and safety checks are made and prompt action is taken to rectify any risks to the well-being of young people and staff. Fire safety equipment is appropriately maintained and the fire risk assessment is kept under review. Staff are aware of evacuation procedures and young people regularly take part in fire drills. These measures ensure young people live in a safe physical environment.

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Good

The home has a Registered Manager who holds the level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare. Since October 2015 the home has been managed on a day-to-day basis by a very experienced deputy manager. At the time of this inspection the deputy manager was in the process of applying to Ofsted for registration as the current Registered Manager is taking on a new role within the organisation. Managerial oversight during this transitional period has been strong and effective.

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Good

There is a stable and consistent staff team who provide young people with a sense of stability and continuity. Staff feel well supported and benefit from regular supervision which provides them with the opportunity to reflect on the needs of young people. Annual appraisals and personal development plans identify staff members’ strengths and weaknesses and set targets for professional development. Staff are given excellent opportunities to reflect on the effectiveness of their practice and develop new strategies during group supervision meetings with the organisations clinical psychologist.

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Good

Systems are in place for monitoring the quality of care being provided. Generally, these identify any weaknesses which are then addressed through the homes’ development plan. However, these monitoring systems did not identify the shortfall in safeguarding practice, referred to in this report. Quality of care monitoring reports are comprehensive with detailed descriptions of events. The manager is reviewing the content of these reports with a view to ensuring they are more evaluative and analytical. External independent monitoring visits are undertaken each month.

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Good

Young people and other stakeholders are given opportunities to comment on the quality of the service. Leaders and managers learn from mistakes and any serious incidents that occur. The procedure for administering medication to young people has been amended following an incident where a young person had the opportunity to misuse medicines stored in the office.

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Good

Any concerns that arise as a result of complaints from neighbours are acted upon. Management have investigated all complaints and taken steps to build positive relationships with local residents. One minor complaint had not been responded to and this was addressed on the day of the inspection.

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Good

The manager and staff communicate well with other professionals, a Social Worker said ‘I am always kept informed, so I know what is happening’. This approach facilitates good multi-disciplinary working, which in turn ensures young people’s needs are clearly identified. Care plans clearly address needs. One Social Worker commented, ‘staff always plan ahead for his needs’. When leaders and managers are concerned that other professionals are not providing effective support they challenge and advocate strongly for the best interests of the young person. For one young person this has ensured better planning for contact visits.

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Good

The homes’ statement of purpose is a good reflection of the services being delivered. Staff work in accordance with the therapeutic model and are familiar with the associated techniques and interventions. Training on the therapeutic model is being rolled out to all care staff. This will ensure they have a more detailed insight into the rationale that underpins their practice.

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Good

Effective planning ensures that the vulnerabilities and needs of young people new to the home are understood. This planning does not yet include undertaking impact assessments in relation to new admissions as detailed in the statement of purpose.

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Good

The organisation provides a range of training courses for staff, both classroom based and on-line. This ensures staff have sufficient skills and knowledge to keep young people safe. Some minor shortfalls were identified in terms of staff undertaking refresher training. In one case, this included training on child sexual exploitation and substance misuse.

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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

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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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