Children's home run by Icare Children’s Services Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 1164379 1 Registered provider: Icare Children’s Services Ltd

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to four young people who have emotional and /or behavioural problems.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 2 November 2016

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Sustained effectiveness

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

 Young people receive individualised care from a committed and caring staff team.  Young people develop positive, nurturing relationships with staff. Inspection report children’s home: 1164379 2  Managers make sure that impact assessments are thorough and ensure that young people’s placements remain stable when new young people join the home.  Staff ensure that young people’s safety and welfare is prioritised at all times.  Leadership and management is strong and enables young people to receive a good standard of care.  Young people are involved in the development of the home as far as possible.  Managers and staff work closely with young people, their families and professionals.  Young people are positive about their lives at the home. They spoke highly about their relationships with staff.  Professionals gave uniformly positive feedback about the home.

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Some areas of the home need redecoration and repair to ensure that high standards are maintained.  Managers and staff do not always complete all parts of a physical intervention report.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/11/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/05/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 1164379 3

p.2

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person must take to meet 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 must comply with the given timescales.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, the registered person must ensure that staff— (c) ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to (i) meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6(2)(c))

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, repair damaged tiling and flooring in the bathroom areas, replace damaged flooring in one young person’s room, and ensure that the young person’s clothes are hung up in wardrobe. 30/06/2017

p.3

Recommendations

 Ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. In particular, ensure that all aspects of physical intervention records are completed. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report children’s home: 1164379 4

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people make progress in all areas of their development as a result of living at the home. Staff take every opportunity to support young people to make progress. Care is individualised and the relationships between staff and young people are good. One young person told the inspector, ‘I really like it here and I would not change a thing.’ Another young person said, ’We do nice things like going out on our bikes. Staff asked me how I want my room, and they helped me with it.’

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people’s admissions to the home are positive. Young people visit the home prior to moving in, with the aim of easing their worries and anxieties about the move. Staff talk to young people about new admissions so that they are prepared for potential change. Since the last inspection, no young person has left the home, reflecting a settled period for all.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All young people are in school or college full time. One young person is attending a full- time college placement after an unsettled period of education. Feedback from teachers is very good. One teacher told the inspector, ‘The young person thrives in the home environment and is developing well socially and academically.’ Another teacher commented, ‘Regular contact between the staff and school is very constructive. Staff are very supportive of her social and academic needs.’ Another teacher highlighted the difference that the home had made for one young person’s academic progress: ‘His levels have improved drastically and he has 100% attendance at school.’

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff work hard to identify suitable activities and resources that will enrich young people’s lives. For example, one young person attends football club, others use local facilities such as the swimming pool, the cinema and parks, and they enjoy games and activities in the home. All of the young people have their own bikes and go for cycle rides with staff. One young person told the inspector, ‘It is really good here because there are always things to do. I asked to help paint the playhouse, and staff helped me. We all get on.’ Young people enjoy new experiences, and they recognise their progress and are proud of their achievements.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people attend routine health appointments and, when necessary, access specialist services. This helps to ensure that their global health needs are met. Young people are encouraged to lead a healthy lifestyle, including eating well and taking part in exercise. Meals times are sociable events with young people and staff enjoying their meals together and reflecting on their day. Young people all take responsibility for helping with chores such as washing up and keeping their bedrooms clean and tidy.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help young people with their transition to independent living. They work with staff and learn about budgeting, shopping and cooking. Young people open a bank account and develop confidence in travelling on public transport. One young person has started to go to college on his own on the bus, promoting his self-confidence and self-esteem. Inspection report children’s home: 1164379 5

p.4

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

Staff prioritise young people’s welfare and safety. Young people who have presented high levels of risk-taking behaviour in the past become safer because these behaviours reduce. For example, incidents of young people going missing from care have reduced considerably due to staff support, and with the help and advice from other professionals. Staff discuss themes such as child sexual exploitation and safe relationships with young people in their meetings and in one-to-one sessions. Staff work tirelessly to help young people understand risks and dangers. Young people learn how to keep themselves safe and to better manage their own behaviour.

p.5

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

Young people experience consistent boundaries from staff because staff know each young person well and recognise the triggers that may heighten behaviour. Staff regularly discuss their approaches to young people in team meetings and supervisions and they receive good guidance from managers. Since the last inspection, the frequency of physical interventions has decreased. Staff approach potentially difficult behaviour with a calm, reassuring manner, and employ a wealth of de-escalation techniques to distract young people and avoid incidents. Staff told the inspector, ’We work well as a team, and know when to step in and support and when to stand back. This helps to maintain a calm home for the young people.’ Since the last inspection, the recording of physical interventions has improved, but in a small number of instances, not all parts of the record is completed. This means that the full details of the action taken by staff is

p.5

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

not formally captured and cannot be revisited at a later date.

p.5

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

Managers carefully vets new staff to ensure that they are suitable to work with vulnerable young people. In addition, staff undertake regular health and safety checks of electrical, gas and fire equipment. Fire drills take place regularly to help ensure that everyone is knowledgeable about what they should do in an emergency.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has been in post as an interim manager since March 2016 and became the registered manager of the service in March 2017. The registered manager is undertaking her level 5 diploma in leadership and management of children and young people’s services. The registered manager provides good leadership by setting high standards of staff and by having effective monitoring systems that review all aspects of young people’s care.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager strives to continually improve and develop the service for young people’s benefit. She vigorously promotes the welfare of each young person in her care, and staff reflect her commitment and energy. The registered manager prioritises young people’s welfare and challenges other agencies when necessary.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A range of mandatory staff training means that staff develop their knowledge and skills Inspection report children’s home: 1164379 6 to protect young people, support them and encourage their progress. All staff have either gained the level 3 diploma in caring for children and young people in residential care or are completing the course. This reinforces staff skills and experiences and supports young people in their care. All staff discuss their development and training needs in their supervision sessions, and they have opportunities to reflect on the progress of each young person living in the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff work closely with young people, their families and other professionals. There is regular communication between managers and staff at the home and schools, which help break down barriers to learning for the young people. One teacher commented, ‘His placement is brilliant. Since living there, he has had full attendance. Staff understanding of his needs has supported his receiving a stable education and we have seen significant progress in his results.’ A social worker added, ’I have found that communication with the manager and staff is particularly strong. I am kept informed about all events.’

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The statement of purpose informs local authorities, parents and young people about what the service sets out to do and what they can expect from it. An associated children’s guide is accessible to the young people living at the home, and they say that they find it helpful.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

At the last inspection, three requirements and two recommendations were made and most have been met. The registered manager has ensured that staff have undertaken anti-bullying and anti-radicalisation training. This means that staff have the knowledge to recognise and understand the risks posed to young people. Staff recording of physical interventions has improved. However, there are still small gaps in the records that may lead to misunderstandings about whether, for example, debriefs with staff have taken place following an event. The registered manager completes the six-monthly review of care in the home and includes the views and comments of young people. This means that young people feel involved and understand their views are important. The registered manager has recently reviewed the location risk assessment and the views and opinions of relevant professionals and young people have been sought.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff refurbished some areas of the home following the last inspection. However, this inspection found that additional areas need attention to maintain the good standards enjoyed by young people. These include the bathroom, the toilet and one of the young people’s bedrooms. In addition, staff are not always storing young people’s clothing appropriately. These matters need attention to ensure that young people retain a sense of pride in their home and to respect their surroundings.

p.6

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. Inspection report children’s home: 1164379 7 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.

p.6

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: 1164379 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Icare Children’s Services Ltd

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 24 Milton Road, Smethwick B67 7HT

p.8

Inspector

Julia Wright, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1164379 9 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9