Children's Home run by Roundhouse Care in Staffordshire

Good

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

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The children’s home’s provision is good because:

 The young person felt safe and protected while living at the home.  Staff are skilled and knowledgeable in providing specialist care.  The registered manager is long-standing in his position. He is passionate and dedicated to improving outcomes for children and young people.  Educational attainment and achievement is recognised and attendance was excellent during placement.  The young person maintained good health and well-being during his placement.  Transition is sensitively planned. Movement into adult care is managed well with little disruption to the young person.  There are some identified shortfalls. They are in relation to: fire safety, environmental safety, notifications, complaints and record keeping.

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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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Requirement Due date

12. The protection of children standard:

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to hazards, the registered person must ensure that: 12 (2)(d) the premises used for the purpose of the home are maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child. 28/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)) 28/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (2)(b)) 28/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (3)) 28/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must take adequate precautions against the risk of fire. (Regulation 25 (1)(a)) 28/02/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36)

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 25/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 04/01/2016 Full Good 30/12/2014 Interim Sustained effectiveness 31/07/2014 Full Good

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Good

There were no children or young people living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Good

A young person had recently moved from the home after being resident for over six years. During that time he left the service for a few months before returning. After his return he sustained his placement for over a year before transitioning to adult care. While he was living at the home, the staff provided him with a good level of care that helped him manage his autistic spectrum disorder. The staff knew him well and provided him with a structured and familiar routine. This helped him to feel safe. As a result, he was able to complete his routine tasks with little disruption.

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Good

The young person formed good relationships with staff. Staff understood his individual needs well. The staff provided a consistent approach that supported his care plan. Staff worked hard to help the young person to accept and adapt to changes in his daily life. The young person built a good relationship with the independent visitor. The manager wrote in the young person’s ‘positive notebook’, ‘He is always happy to see and chat to her. He appears to be very comfortable around her and is able to ask her lots of questions about whatever is going through his mind at the time.’ This demonstrates that the young person trusted the visitor and, over time, formed a good strong relationship.

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Good

The young person chose friends that he liked to spend time with. The staff provided a welcoming environment for friends to visit the young person. This gave him the opportunity to form strong bonds with people who were important to him. As a result, his social circle increased. A staff member said, ‘He made friends at school and had contact with his brother. His friends did come to the home. They had a barbeque and on another occasion watched a film.’

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Good

Staff engaged with the young person through regular daily discussions. Additionally, house meetings also provided an area for discussion. This helped the young person to share his views about the home. A staff member said, ‘He did start to verbalise more. This was a breakthrough for him.’ As a result, the young person was listened to. The staff continually supported the young person to engage about specific topics in key-work meetings. Subjects such as moving on, sexual health and relationships and consequences were often discussed.

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Good

The young person remained in good health while living at the home. Staff supported him to attend all his routine health appointments, such as the opticians and dentist. During his time living in the home, staff confirmed that the young person had a good balanced diet and was fit and well. When the staff noticed a dip in his weight, they began to monitor it. The support they provided resulted in him gaining weight. This means that staff were proactive when they saw signs of concern.

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Good

The young person sustained his placement at college up until he left the home in December 2106. His attendance was excellent. A staff member said, ‘His attendance was excellent. He also completed all of his course work. This was a remarkable achievement for the young person.’ As a result, the young person’s opportunities for further education and employment increased.

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Good

Transition arrangements for the young person were handled well by the manager and the staff. The young person successfully moved to his adult placement. The manager and the staff worked together, in partnership with the adult service, to make the move as smooth as possible. The staff were sensitive to the impact that the change may have on the young person. They gradually, over time, began to introduce the plan of him moving to allow him to process the information. Although at times this did result in some displays of anxiety, the young person eventually was able to accept the new arrangements. This helped him to move with little disruption to his emotional well-being.

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Good

While the young person lived at the home he was provided with good levels of staff supervision to keep him safe. The staffing levels were one-to-one. The young person did not go missing from care while living at the home.

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Good

Staff regularly reviewed the young person’s risk. This kept everyone up to date with any significant changes. Risk was evaluated and reviewed well. For example, following an incident in the car when the young person assaulted a staff member, a car ban was imposed. This was later reviewed and reinstated when there had been no further events. However, following a further incident in November, the ban was reintroduced. This means that risk is evaluated and managed accordingly.

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Good

Staff worked closely with the local police. The police were aware of the young person who resided at the home. This made sure that any incidents that required their support were responded to urgently. This kept the young person safe from harm.

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Good

The young person knew how to complain and used the procedure to do so while he was resident. He used the grumbles form to let the manager know he was unhappy about staff changes. The manager acknowledged and responded in writing to help the young person to understand the staffing arrangements. This means that the young person was confident in raising his views and he was listened to.

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Good

Physical intervention was only used twice since the last full inspection, as a last resort and by trained staff. Due to the escalation of physical assaults on staff, the risk assessment for the young person who previously resided at the home was reviewed. This made sure that the behaviour of the young person was better managed, without him being criminalised. The police worked exceptionally well with the manager and staff in supporting the behavioural needs of the young person.

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Good

Praise and reward helped the young person to recognise his achievements. Staff gave praise regularly. Sometimes sanctions were imposed, but they were not always consistent, depending on the staff on duty. For example, when the same incident occurred, a different length of sanction was imposed by two different staff. This means that the approach was inconsistent and did not give continuity of care from one member of staff to another.

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Good

Although there are no residents currently living in the home, food is still being stored in the fridge and freezer. The routine daily monitoring of the fridge and freezer temperatures has not been kept up to date in line with the home’s policy and procedures. The lack of daily monitoring does not guarantee food is being kept at the right temperature.

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Good

Fire safety checks are not taking place because the home has no residents. Monitoring of fire safety equipment is not competed in line with the home’s policy and procedures. Routine checks are out of date. Although there are no young people living in the home, it is still in operation. This does not guarantee that the fire equipment in place is safe and free from fault. This compromises the safety of those who live, work or come to live at the home.

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Good

The home is undergoing some redecoration, maintenance and repair while it is empty. This means that the home will be ready to take new admissions in the future. As a result, the home continues to provide a welcoming and relaxed environment. A new carpet and cooker have been provided since the last inspection.

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Requires improvement

The home remains open, although at the time of the inspection there were no residents living in the home. The registered manager is suitably qualified to level 4 in leadership and management for children’s services. He has been in post for seven years and remains dedicated and passionate about his role. He is supported by a skilled and knowledgeable workforce. Those who are not qualified are expected to complete their qualification within the given timescales, in line with regulation.

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Requires improvement

The manager provides staff with good support through effective induction, supervision and appraisal. Staff continue to develop their knowledge by attending training. This enhances their skills and makes sure that young people continue to receive good quality care.

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Requires improvement

The manager and the team establish good strong relationships with partner agencies. This kept everyone informed and up to date about the progress the young person was making during his placement. The manager challenged the appropriate services when difficulties arose. This helped to ensure that the young person moved sensitively and appropriately into adult services.

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Requires improvement

The statement of purpose is kept up to date. The manager regularly reviews it and amends it accordingly. The successful transition and sustained placement of the most recent young person placed is a testament that the home achieved its aims and objectives.

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Requires improvement

The registered manager has not taken action to address the two requirements made at the last inspection. The manager has not notified Ofsted following a complaint about the young person who previously resided at the home. Furthermore, the complaint has not been recorded in the complaint log. As a result, the requirements have been raised again.

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Requires improvement

The lack of recording complaints received about the home means that data collected misrepresents actual events. This means that the records are not kept up to date.

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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 children looked after 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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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

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

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