Children's home run by Surrey County Council

Good

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

p.2

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

 The management has worked hard to build confidence and to change the culture in the staff team, and to promote a child-centred approach in the home; this is now evident in practice.  Parents and professionals are very positive about the care offered. They describe the home as a big, lovely family.  Young people show genuine affection for the care staff; they are consistently relaxed and happy in the presence of staff.  Since accessing the short-break service, young people have grown in their confidence and independence, and have improved their peer relationships.  Young people are able to access a range of social opportunities outside and inside of the house, which for some young people would not have been otherwise possible.  Young people are supported by a staff team that is familiar with their needs and individual vulnerabilities. Safety is central to all aspects of care planning, shift planning and staffing arrangements and young people feel safe.

p.3

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

 Staff are consistent in their management of behaviours; positive behaviour is consistently promoted through appropriate role-modelling.  The introduction of parents’ evenings and newsletters for parents and carers enables everyone to be kept up to date with progress in the home and to have an input into further developments.

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure: (2)(a)(i) that staff assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans and to make arrangements to reduce the risk. (Regulation 12 (2)(a)(i)) In particular, ensure that staff are working to up-to-date individual risk assessments and care planning. 31/03/2017

p.4

Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

p.4

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, (2) the registered person is required to: (c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (2)(d)(h)) 31/03/2017

p.4

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Revise the location assessment to ensure that the review includes comprehensive identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1).  Ensure that there are clear audit trails to evidence compliance with fire risk assessments to ensure that the home complies with health and safety legislation (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9).  Ensure that the managers proactively implement lessons learned and sustain good practice (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24). This specifically refers to ensuring that recommendations following internal investigations are implemented.

p.4

Recommendations

 Ensure that there is a strong safeguarding culture in the home (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.8). This specifically refers to ensuring that when allegations are made against staff, the decision-making is fully recorded in a timely manner.

p.5

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is run by a local authority and provides a short-break service for children and young people who have learning and/or complex disabilities. The home offers overnight care for a maximum of six children and young people. The home also offers day-care packages.

p.6

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 01/08/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 16/02/2016 Full Requires improvement 02/09/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/03/2015 Full Requires improvement

p.6

Good

Young people enjoy care from staff dedicated to providing them with positive, life- enhancing experiences. Comments from parents about the service offered include, ‘It’s like a big lovely family. It feels like another home,’ ‘He sees it as a treat coming here, he looks forward to it.’ Parents, carers and professionals are very positive about this short-breaks service and the impact that the care has on both their children and them. They describe it as ‘a guilt-free break’ as the young people love coming and they express highly positive feelings about how the service has an impact on their lives, enabling them to gain time to give to other family members, while knowing their child is safe and happy and well looked-after.

p.7

Good

The atmosphere in the home was found to be much more relaxed (than at the previous inspection) and this had a positive impact on the care being provided to the young people. Young people show affection for the care staff and enjoy their stays. The team, led by the managers, has worked hard to change the culture in the home, with the managers investing quality time with the staff and young people. Young people are supported to build positive relationships with staff and each other. Relationships were seen to be very nurturing, staff were attentive to young people’s varying support needs and clear boundaries were seen to be consistently reinforced.

p.7

Good

Since accessing the short-break service, young people have grown in their confidence, independence, peer relationships and ability to access a range of activities on-site and within the local community. This is developing young people’s social interactions and their self-confidence.

p.7

Good

Short-break placement plans are in place for the young people. In addition, the home has working documents, which include individual risk assessments and health and emergency care. The placement plans vary in quality and in some cases do not give staff clear enough direction on how to support young people fully. Risk assessments have not been updated following significant incidents outside and inside of the home. They are not consistently informative and do not detail information in relation to individual vulnerabilities. However, on discussion with staff they were clear on the risks, although the lack of documentation means that staff may not be fully aware of how to minimise the risks for some young people. Targets are now incorporated into care planning documentation. These targets are now more specific and achievable. This is enabling progress to be demonstrated.

p.7

Good

Young people benefit from having their general health needs and specific care needs promoted to a high standard by the staff. The staff team demonstrates a good understanding of young people’s individual disabilities, and as a result they are able to offer the best experiences they can for the young people who access this service.

p.7

Good

Staff work closely with each of the schools that young people attend to ensure consistency and to enable young people to work on specific targets across both the settings. There is a very close working relationship with parents. The managers have introduced parents’ evenings and newsletters to ensure that everyone is kept up to date with progress in the home and to have an input into further developments.

p.8

Good

Young people are supported and guided in developing a range of practical skills for independent living as well as self-care skills, when appropriate. These range from young people being able to manage time away from parents through to assisting with the preparation of meals. Since the last full inspection, staff have worked hard to manage transitions into the home in a sensitive and nurturing manner and have had successful transitions out from the home. Transition weekends have been introduced, which have been a way to further develop independence and prepare young people for the next step after leaving the service. This relieves anxiety and promotes positive endings. The staff team works to ensure that the well-being of the young people is at the centre of all decisions made.

p.8

Good

Young people's body language shows that they are comfortable and happy when they visit. Parents are confident that their children are looked after safely and have confidence in the staff’s ability to keep their children safe. Feedback from parents includes, ‘He feels safe, he would say if he didn’t feel safe,’ and ‘I love bringing him, knowing he’s going to have a great time in a fun and caring environment.’ Staff know the young people well and can identify if they are unhappy or worried.

p.8

Good

Individual risks are understood by staff and this enables young people to feel safe. Staff are aware when young people may have concerns and will act promptly on their behalf to identify and resolve any issues. This is achieved in a calming manner, and has the desired effect of relieving young people’s anxiety. The routines in place for young people support them in feeling secure and comfortable in their surroundings.

p.8

Good

Young people who access the service are not currently assessed as displaying high risk in the areas of self-harm or going missing. Managers and staff are aware of risks in relation to child sexual exploitation and have received information to enable them to act on concerns. Information is displayed on noticeboards to enable staff to refresh their knowledge in this area. The supervision levels provided by staff minimises the risk of young people going missing. There have been no instances since the last inspection. One young person managed to go through a bedroom window into the enclosed garden area; this was investigated and actions taken to ensure that this does not happen again. Staff are clear on the processes to follow should this occur and are vigilant of the individual risks for some young people who access the service. The support needs of young people are considered prior to visiting the service and this enables any particular vulnerabilities to be taken into

p.8

Good

Staff are consistent in their management of behaviours, and positive behaviour is therefore consistently promoted. There have been no physical interventions used since the last inspection and all incidents are thoroughly recorded and available for review. Information is comprehensive. Trends and patterns can therefore be fully evaluated. Staff have been using restorative ways of working with young people to increase their sense of personal responsibility and respond with appropriate boundaries about what is safe and acceptable. There has been no use of sanctions in this inspection period.

p.9

Good

The peer groups are considered when young people first access the service; this enables any particular vulnerabilities to be taken into account. Young people were observed to get along well together and to have friends. Young people are encouraged to treat each other with respect through appropriate role-modelling and reinforcement of boundaries. This has enabled a relaxed and happy atmosphere to be created.

p.9

Good

The home has effective links with the Local Safeguarding Children Board and any concerns are passed on appropriately. Team meetings and supervisions now focus on any safeguarding concerns and give an opportunity to discuss necessary information and advice.

p.9

Good

Safeguarding training for staff has not been easy to access due to availability. However, the majority of staff have now received this training. The assistant manager and registered manager take joint responsibility as the designated safeguarding lead. The manager has now completed additional training to be able to cascade safeguarding information to the staff team. In discussions with staff, they are confident about their responsibilities in this area.

p.9

Good

There are sound health and safety systems in place to minimise unnecessary risks to the young people, staff and visitors. Regular fire alarm tests and drills take place. However, there are limited audit trails to demonstrate compliance with the recommended actions following the last fire risk assessment. Through observation it was clear that some have been rectified. However, the home was unable to supply clear evidence that all have been addressed, and information available was confusing. Staff recruitment is undertaken thoroughly and safely.

p.9

Requires improvement

The registered manager obtained her registration with Ofsted in February 2014. She is currently completing a level 5 qualification in leadership and management. She has the experience to provide effective leadership. Staff describe the management team as approachable and always available and willing to help them out. The registered manager and the staff team are focused on improving the quality of care in the home. Since the last inspection, the managers have focused on moving the staff team forward and have been successful in this area. They recognise that there are still areas they can continue to improve further.

p.10

Requires improvement

The home is adequately staffed and resourced to meet the needs of the young people accessing the service. Managers undertake shifts to ensure that they are monitoring practice but also to enable a low use of agency staff and therefore consistency for the young people. There have been some changes of staff since the last inspection; this has not had an impact on the quality of care being provided. New staff are enthusiastic and state that they ‘feel lucky to work at the home’. Managers have been working closely with the senior staff to equip them with the necessary skills and to support them in their roles. They have introduced regular monthly improvement meetings to be able to support this.

p.10

Requires improvement

There are some training opportunities for staff to develop their skills further in supporting the young people. However, training has been insufficient. Recommendations identified in relation to training needs in an internal investigation, carried out in August 2016, have not been met. This includes training in autistic spectrum disorder and, following a medication error in October, training in the safe administration of medication. The latter was recommended by internal review. In addition, the training in moving and handling has been delayed. This lack of training for staff does not give them all the necessary skills to undertake their roles.

p.10

Requires improvement

The registered manager has now completed a sufficient level of training to undertake her role. She now has an understanding and knowledge with regard to the legal status of young people.

p.10

Requires improvement

There are some young people who access the service outside of short-break arrangements. Their files now contain a copy of the plan for the care prepared by the young person’s placing authority. This now ensures that staff have an indication of the outcomes to be achieved and have a clear understanding of the progress that young people are making in respect of the wider plans for them.

p.10

Requires improvement

When internal investigations have been undertaken following incidents in the home and community, there is a lack of oversight by managers on progress of the recommendations made. It is not always evident if any action has been taken. In addition, when there have been allegations made against staff, managers have not taken immediate action to document their decision-making.

p.11

Requires improvement

The location risk assessment is not comprehensive and relies on staff and placing authorities having local knowledge. It currently contains limited information and requires consultation with professionals to be able to determine the suitability of the location of the children’s home and how risks have been assessed. It would benefit from being strengthened in order to evaluate whether placements are suitable in terms of the location.

p.11

Requires improvement

There are regular quality assurance monitoring visits to review the conduct of the home, and a new independent visitor has been appointed. The reports of the independent visitor are now providing challenge and focus on working with staff to achieve good outcomes for the young people. The manager undertakes internal monitoring. However, the internal monitoring has not identified the training needs or the failure to implement recommendations made following internal investigations. There needs to be consideration of whether the manager’s review systems are effective in identifying weaknesses.

p.11

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’.

p.12

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

p.12

What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

p.12

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

p.13

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 .

p.13

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,

p.14

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.14

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.14

Information about this inspection

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

p.14