Children's home run by Care Today (Childrens Services) Ltd

Inspector Maria McGranaghan

Inspection date 04/10/2016 and 05/10/2016

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Inspector Maria McGranaghan

Previous inspection judgement Sustained effectiveness

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Inspector Maria McGranaghan

Enforcement action since last inspection None

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Good

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

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This children’s home provision is good because:

 Young people benefit from clear placement aims and objectives and are suitably helped to achieve their individual goals.  Educational attendance and attainment is well promoted in the home. Staff work hard to ensure that young people have suitable educational placements that are supported by bespoke support packages.  Regular key work sessions and one-to-one support plans ensure that young people are provided with the care and support required to succeed in the placement.  Family contact is suitably arranged and supported by staff. Young people are happy with the level of contact that they receive.  Relationships between young people and staff are securely formed. Young people feel safe in the home and work well with staff to add personal touches to the premises to make it feel like home.  Young people’s wishes and feelings are regularly sought with regard to how the home is run and how individual plans are progressing.

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This children’s home provision is good because:

 Positive behaviour is rewarded in the home. Young people receive valuable recognition and praise for the smallest achievement.  Young people benefit from regular healthcare checks and visits to the home by the looked after children’s nurse. Guidance, discussion and advice on a range of healthcare topics provide young people with the knowledge required to make good healthcare choices.  Episodes of young people going missing reduce while living in this home.  Young people with a history or concern regarding child sexual exploitation are closely reviewed and monitored. Regular information sharing meetings ensure that the most appropriate action is taken to reduce risk in this area.  Physical intervention is rarely used in the home. Staff use good distraction techniques to de-escalate potentially explosive situations. In the past 12 months, there has been one minor use of physical intervention.  Young people feel well listened to and feel that any concerns or complaints are

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This children’s home provision is good because:

acted upon quickly and fairly.  Young people benefit from a small, consistent staff team. Strong relationships are formed between young people and staff.

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Areas for development

 The exterior of the home presents as unkempt. Paintwork is dirty, flaking and dull and the front door is scratched and dirty. Consequently, it does not present as a warm and welcoming home. Although the registered manager can evidence consistent contact with the council in which the home is located, the home experiences difficulty in getting their refuse collected regularly. Consequently, an overflowing bin and bin bag remain at the front door of the property.  The upstairs staff office/sleep in room requires a refit. It is cramped, untidy and difficult to manoeuvre within. The second staff sleep in room is situated in the downstairs dining room. Staff use a bed settee in this room to sleep. Arrangements for suitable sleeping accommodation need to be addressed within the home.  While the registered manager has taken appropriate action to secure children looked after placement documentation, including the process for

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Areas for development

representations and complaints, this is not always received in a timely way.

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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 within the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

12 (2) (d) Ensure 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, with specific regard to refuse collection. (Regulation 12 (2) (d)) 04/12/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  The registered person must challenge (under Regulation 5 (c)) any placing authority that asks them to accept a child in the absence of a complete and current relevant plan, as the expectation that a placement of a child without necessary information would go ahead is inadequate in relation to their role. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.5)

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Recommendations

 Maintain the home as a homely, domestic environment. This specifically relates to the external presentation of the property, the current staff office and broken double glazed seals on misted windows. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Recommendations

 The design of the home should provide staff who are required to sleep in the home overnight with appropriate accommodation and facilities to do so. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.26)

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is one of a number of homes run by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties or learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 21/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 05/05/2015 Full Outstanding 04/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Good

Since the last interim inspection in January 2016, two young people have moved on from the home in a positive manner. One young person has returned to the care of her parents, while the other young person commenced independent living in her home community. Both young people made exceptional progress in the home, particularly in areas of education and a significant reduction in their risk-taking behaviours. There have been two new admissions to the home. Both young people are provided with one-to-one staff support to assist them to achieve their individual goals and targets. Staff worked hard to ensure that suitable educational placements were secured for the start of the new school year. One young person is now attending full- time college undertaking a BTEC in food and hospitality, while the other young person has been accepted into college to resit GCSE examinations. A young person said, ‘I love college, it is so cool. I love the course and I am doing well. I am looking

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Good

forward to driving lessons and [I will] hopefully attend university in the future.’ Staff understand the importance of contact with family and friends. Firm arrangements are in place. Contact is supervised to ensure that young people have a positive and worthwhile experience. Likewise, friends are regular visitors to the home. Staff facilitate film nights and pamper nights and this enables young people to build good friendships and feel that the children’s home is their own home. A young person said, ‘I bring my boyfriend home all the time. The staff really like him. We make food together and watch films and it is really nice.’ Individual residential care plans highlight the aims of the placement and how young people are helped to achieve their personal goals. Although young people do not always comment on their plans, they are clear on what they are and how they are progressing. A young person said, ‘Since I have lived here, I don’t go missing, I have

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Good

better behaviour and I am going to college. Staff listen to me and help me. Nobody has ever really listened to me.’ On the whole, the registered manager and staff work well with local authorities and ensure that the correct and up-to-date placement documentation is received prior to, or at the point of, a placement being made. However, despite numerous emails and a formal complaint, one local authority failed to supply this information within reasonable timescales. The registered manager must ensure that even when the placement is deemed to be a ‘bridging placement’, it is a requirement that the home holds agreement from the placing authority. This includes the agreed plans in order to safely accommodate the young person. A recommendation is made to address this matter. Young people are registered with local healthcare professionals to ensure that their individual healthcare needs are suitably addressed. In addition, the home receives

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Good

regular visits from the looked after children’s nurse who works with young people on topics such as sexual health, drugs and leading healthy lifestyles. Staff provide suitable guidance for young people who are developing independence skills. This helps them to make good choices when shopping for food and cooking wholesome meals for themselves. A young person said, ‘I love cooking. I love food. Sometimes I will cook for everybody and they say they really like what I cook, so I must be good.’ Young people confirm that they know how to make a complaint and say, ‘Staff really listen to us and understand if we are unhappy or angry about something. I have no complaints. I really like it here and hope to stay until I can live on my own.’ There has been one complaint made since the last inspection. Records evidence that this is suitably recorded and includes the investigation, outcome and young person’s comments.

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Good

Weekly consultation meetings take place with young people. This provides young people with an opportunity to discuss their individual progress, plans, activities, contact and make suggestions for areas of development. Regular activities are arranged and enjoyed by most young people. They include visits to the cinema, trampolining, gym and bowling. Each young person is encouraged to make suggestions and try something different with the support of staff. As a result, some young people complete unique and valuable recreational activities.

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Good

Young people living in the home have a previous history of being missing from home or concerns regarding child sexual exploitation. The registered manager and staff work very well with external safeguarding services to ensure that risk management processes are relevant and consistently applied. Risk assessments are reviewed monthly and show a significant decrease in risk-taking behaviours. This is because risks are well managed. For example, a young person who was frequently missing and returning to her home community can now visit her community under a joint risk management plan. When a young person is missing from the home, prompt action is taken to report, seek and return the young person safely to the home. A young person said, ‘I used to stay out all night before. I haven’t done that while I have lived here. I don’t want to do that anymore.’ Behaviour management arrangements are good. Young people understand what is

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Good

acceptable behaviour and receive regular praise and reward for their continued progress in this area. Consequences are agreed with young people and this ensures that unacceptable behaviour is managed fairly and consistently. Young people understand the impact of bullying. Regular consultation and information displayed within the home and in the young people’s information guide support a zero tolerance to any form of bullying. Young people confirm that they would know what to do if they were being bullied either in the home, college or community. There have been no incidents of bullying since the last inspection. Staff are suitably trained in the use of physical intervention. However, staff use a proactive de-escalation and redirection approach to manage potential challenges in the home. This has proved successful. Only one minor physical intervention has been applied in the past 12 months. Records evidence that staff have such good

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Good

relationships with young people that they are able to use sound interpersonal skills to calm young people down and talk matters through. New admissions to the home are suitably assessed with regard to free time in the community. During the initial settling period, free time is limited with staff providing one-to-one support. However, dependent on the assessed risk, young people are allowed structured free time that is closely monitored by staff, and where applicable external agencies. This helps young people to maintain a cycle of positive community engagement and decreases the likelihood of them becoming involved in risk-taking or criminal activities. Privacy and dignity are respected in the home. Young people learn to respect each other and the staff team. One young person said, ‘I was so shocked when staff knocked on my bedroom door and asked if they could come in. I froze and wasn’t sure what to do. I was so used to people just barging in my room and taking what

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Good

they wanted. I really like that they do that.’ The interior of the home is clean and suitably furnished, providing suitable space for young people. However, the exterior of the home requires updating. Paintwork is dirty and flaking. The front door is scratched and dirty and it does not present as a warm and welcoming home. Likewise, several double glazed windows in the home are misted due to broken seals, making visibility difficult. A recommendation is made to address this matter. Refuse collection is problematic. This results in an overflowing refuse bin at the front of the property. Adjacent properties also leave bin bags on the street, which are also not collected. The registered manager is in regular contact with the local council but states that this is a continuous problem. A requirement is made to address this matter. The registered manager has completed a community area risk assessment. This

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Good

provides good information about amenities, leisure, health and crime in the local area.

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Good

The registered manager holds suitable experience and qualifications and uses both to inform her positive practice within the home. Young people live in a home that is managed in their best interests. The home meets the aims and objectives of the statement of purpose, and young people, social workers and families are clear about the service and support that the home provides. Good internal and external monitoring systems provide the home with a clear approach to the overall monitoring of care. Monitoring records highlight some areas for premises improvement. However, due to the home being a rented property, there are delays in getting some improvement work undertaken. The registered manager is aware of the current shortfalls and is working with the organisation to address these matters. The home employs a committed and enthusiastic staff team. All staff team members are qualified at NVQ level 3. The training of staff at this level ensures that they are

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Good

suitably qualified in the care and management of young people. Likewise, staff receive consistent and relevant training within the home. Staff members say, ‘Training is good and we can request specific training if necessary.’ Staff receive consistent supervision and support from the registered manager. A staff member said, ‘Things are good. I like working here.’ On the whole, the care and support of young people is consistent and this enables young people to achieve in all areas of their individual plan. The registered manager and staff demonstrate commitment to developing and improving practice. The effectiveness of this approach is measurable in the progress that young people make from their initial starting points. The manager is aware of the procedure for notifying Ofsted of incidents under Regulation 40, and has been consistent in the reporting of incidents occurring in the home. This practice ensures that information is shared with the regulatory agency in

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Good

order that the actions and outcomes for young people can be suitably assessed. Young people are provided with one-to-one support in the home. They have access to a large living room, dining/activity room and kitchen on the ground floor. However, the dining/activity room is also a staff sleeping in room during the night. This is because the home does not have available space for staff to have a designated bedroom. The staff sleep in arrangements on the first floor comprise of an extremely small office space which includes a bed. In accordance with the quality standards, staff should be provided with appropriate accommodation to sleep in the home and facilities to do so. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

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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.

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What the inspection judgements mean

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.

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What the inspection judgements mean

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

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What the inspection judgements mean

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 harmed or at risk of harm or that 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.

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Information about this inspection

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 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.

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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