Children's Home run by Idem Living Limited in Devon

Inspection report children’s home: SC468747 1 SC468747 Registered provider: Idem Living Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company, and provides care and accommodation for up to two young people who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties. During this inspection period only one young person has been accommodated.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 29 November 2016

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Improved effectiveness

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff place the needs of the young person at the centre of their practice. The young person enjoys living at the home and has developed good relationships Inspection report children’s home: SC468747 2 with staff. She feels listened to.  The young person has access to a wide range of social and leisure opportunities that she enjoys. This has increased her confidence and enabled her to develop positive friendships with other children in the wider community.  Staff promote positive behaviour, and a rewards system is in place that is understood by the young person. Restraint is rarely used, and the registered manager undertakes close scrutiny of the use of sanctions and their appropriateness.  The registered manager ensures that the young person’s placement plan and risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated. The young person and the staff team have a clear understanding of her plans for the future.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff are led by a registered manager who ensures that they receive regular support, supervision and training. Staff speak very well of the support that is provided.

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Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development

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Key findings from this inspection

 Areas for further improvement are in relation to promoting a homely and safe environment, the use of homely remedies and record-keeping.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/11/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 20/05/2016 Full Requires improvement 12/02/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 13/05/2015 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children’s home: SC468747 3

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the home maintains a domestic rather than an ‘institutional’ impression. In particular, review the need for the use of electric monitoring devices in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations and quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  Ensure the home supports children’s safety and well-being. In particular, ensure that access to and from the rear of the garden is reviewed due to some fence panels becoming loose. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations and quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.23)  Ensure that staff are aware of suitable arrangements to manage and administer any medication. In particular, ensure that staff are provided with clear guidance in the use and administration of ‘as required’ homely remedies. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations and quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)  Ensure that all staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and

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Recommendations

understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. In particular, consider reviewing the format of the recording of accidents to ensure the records are detailed, clear and concise. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 9.60)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person thoroughly enjoys living at the home. She has built trusted relationships with staff and has a sense of belonging. She says that she feels listened to. She receives good-quality care from staff, who provide her with new experiences and opportunities. They place her at the centre of their care. She has a clear understanding of the plans for her future care, and has actively ensured that her views are heard in relation to these plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person gave 10/10 for how much she likes the staff, and 10/10 for the activities. She said, ‘I have made new friends and love going to rugby.’ She also said, ‘I loved my surprise birthday party, and my friends came to my party at home.’ Her mother also provided positive feedback and said, ‘Me and my family think the staff are doing a fantastic job, they really care for her. She does lots of activities and she’s matured.’ In consultation with her social worker, staff ensure that the young person maintains contact with her family and friends.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff commented that the young person’s confidence has increased, she is more mature and is learning to manage her feelings much better. The young person undertakes household chores with enthusiasm, and is keen to help around the home. The young Inspection report children’s home: SC468747 4 person has access to an advocate if this is required. Her independent reviewing officer is positive about the young person’s experiences and said, ‘She has a voice, is making friends and is doing well at school.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person is in good health and visits her doctor, dentist and optician as necessary. Following a medication error, the registered manager reviewed the management of medicines and has introduced a more rigorous audit system. However, staff would benefit from further detailed guidance in the administration of ‘as required’ homely remedies. Accident records are well maintained and audited by the registered manager.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

With staff support, the young person has compiled a variety of documents that depict her life while she has been living at the home. These include an electronic presentation of the day she came to live at the home, her activities, her social life and her achievements since she has been living there. In addition, she continues to make new entries into her ‘making memories’ book and a ‘book of firsts’. She is very proud of these documents.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The registered manager takes robust action and notifies all appropriate agencies if there are any allegations or suspicions of harm. This includes informing the local authority and the designated officer. There have been no concerns raised by the designated officer in respect of the action taken following referrals. The registered manager ensures detailed records are maintained to demonstrate a clear audit trail.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There are no concerns relating to bullying, and there have not been any episodes of the young person going missing, or of restraint used. The young person does not misuse substances. A detailed risk assessment identifies the known areas of risk, and staff are provided with guidance in how to manage and reduce the risks. These assessments are regularly reviewed and updated. The young person said that she feels safe at the home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Positive behaviour is promoted and the young person is supported to manage her behaviour and feelings. Staff are clear and consistent in their approach and set reliable boundaries. They are provided with detailed guidance in how to support the young person to manage her behaviour and feelings. A rewards chart has been devised in consultation with the young person that results in an extra financial reward for positive behaviours. This approach is regularly reviewed by the registered manager, to evaluate the effectives of the measures used. Staff say that the young person is now learning to manage her behaviours and feelings more effectively. The young person said, ’I have learned to manage my behaviour and feelings better.’

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Sanctions/consequences are not regularly imposed. If they are used, they are fair, proportionate, clearly recorded, and audited by the registered manager. On two occasions a sanction/consequence has been imposed following negative behaviour at school. The registered manager said that this approach is not usual practice, but this had been agreed with the young person in order to address certain incidents at school. Such Inspection report children’s home: SC468747 5 measures have not been used since. The young person’s views of the measures used are recorded.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The physical environment is safe. However, it was noted that access to and from the rear of the garden may be a health and safety concern, due to some fence panels becoming loose. The registered manager said she would review this and take appropriate action.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed effectively by a registered manager, who has the appropriate experience and qualifications. She has recently completed the level 5 diploma in leadership and management for residential childcare (England). Following a recent course in relation to reflective practice, she has introduced a ‘reflective practice management tool’ to identify how service delivery can be improved. There is evidence of this being used at a recent team meeting to reflect and develop a management action plan, in relation to a specific aim of the young person’s care plan.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home, and ensures that there is regular and robust external scrutiny of the home. Any recommendations that are made by the independent visitor are responded to efficiently. One of the two recommendations made at the last inspection has been met. The unmet recommendation has been reinstated, as some documents are not clearly dated, and the recordings in ‘keyworker records’ are not always detailed and concise, to reflect the discussions held with the young person.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The responsible individual and registered manager have recently met with the placing authority to review the aims and future plan of care for the young person living at the home. The staff have a clear understanding of the aims of the placement, and are working in conjunction with the placing authority to meet these. Following the young person’s review in February 2017, the local authority has not provided the staff with the minutes of this meeting. The registered manager has been proactive in requesting that these are provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager ensures that the young person’s placement plan takes into account the local authority care plan. It is a comprehensive document that provides staff with clear guidance on how to meet the young person’s needs. It includes the agreed aims as requested by the placing authority, and how these are progressing. Staff have a clear understanding of the needs of the young person and are passionate about the care and support that they provide. The registered manager provides the social worker with regular updates about the young person’s progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager ensures that she maintains good contact and communication with other professionals. This includes the young person’s social worker, education staff and her independent reviewing officer. A member of school staff said, ‘Communication between staff and school is excellent.’ The registered manager ensures that any significant events in the home are notified to the appropriate authorities as required. Inspection report children’s home: SC468747 6 Staff receive effective support and supervision, and speak highly of the support that they receive from the registered manager. One member of staff said, ‘She provides us with support and is always contactable if needs be. She will address our practice and how it can be improved.’ Another member of staff said, ‘She gives us praise and I get regular supervisions. She will tell us what can be done better.’ All staff have received mandatory

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

training and specific training in areas such as equality and diversity, supporting children at risk of child sexual exploitation, internet safety and supporting children who have attachment needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff provide the young person with a homely environment. It is furnished, decorated and maintained to a good standard. The young person said that she likes her bedroom. However, there are electronic monitoring devices fitted to some doors and this can detract from providing a homely environment. The registered manager said that such devices are not required at present, and she will take steps to isolate or remove these items after undertaking risk assessments.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Inspection report children’s home: SC468747 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Newlands, 1a Huyton Hey Road, Liverpool L36 5SE

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Inspector(s)

David Kidner, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC468747 8 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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