Children's home run by Alicie Enterprises Limited

Inspection report children's home: SC464532 1 SC464532 Registered provider: Alicie Enterprises Limited

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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 is a private children's home registered to care for up to three young people who have emotional and/or behaviour difficulties.

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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: 10 November 2016

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Sustained effectiveness

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people are proud of their home and enjoy good levels of care from an experienced, stable staff team. Inspection report children's home: SC464532 2  Young people reduce their risk-taking behaviour, such as running away from the home, and in doing so enjoy improved stability and safety.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff are ambitious for young people and support them to enjoy new experiences and make progress in education.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Excellent partnership work with key local agencies, such as the police, keeps young people safe.

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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

 There is currently no workforce development plan.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Records of restraint incidents lack detail and evaluation.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The young person’s guide fails to provide the contact details of the Children’s Commissioner.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/11/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 16/05/2016 Full Good 13/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 29/09/2015 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC464532 3

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Recommendations

 Ensure that a workforce plan is in place which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). The plan should:

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Recommendations

- detail the necessary management and staffing structure, (including any staff commissioned to provide health and education), the experience and qualifications of staff currently working within the staffing structure and any further training required for those staff, to enable the delivery of the home’s Statement of Purpose;

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Recommendations

- detail the processes and agreed timescales for staff to achieve induction, probation and any core training (such as safeguarding, health and safety and mandatory qualifications);

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Recommendations

- detail the process for managing and improving poor performance.

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Recommendations

The plan should be updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff while working at the home, and used to record the ongoing training and continuing professional development needs of staff – including the home's manager. This is also with reference to ensuring staff training in radicalisation and refresher training in safeguarding. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the children's guide contains contact details for the Office of the Children's Commissioner. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 23, paragraph 4.19)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that when a restraint occurs young people are given the opportunity to express their feelings about the experience of the restraint as soon as is practicable, ideally within 24 hours of the restraint incident, taking the age of the young person and the circumstances of the restraint into account. The staff member discussing the incident with the young person should not have been involved in the restraint incident in question. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.60) Inspection report children's home: SC464532 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are very proud of their home and make good progress. Young people who used to live at the home regularly socialise with those currently resident. They keep in regular contact with staff and are ‘bonded’ by shared experiences and the continuing affection they have for them. Achievements such as ‘placement birthdays’ or good school attendance are shared with former and current young people. Young people feel proud of their achievements, and this supports warm and trusting relationships with staff. One young person commented, ‘They [staff] care about me and understand how I feel, I know they love me.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people enjoy a broad range of activities. This includes trips to the theatre and to amusement parks. Staff encourage the use of board games within the home. This supports a family-style atmosphere. Young people recently prepared cakes for a bake sale to raise funds for a local cancer charity. These group activities help to support a strong peer dynamic and promote a sense of belonging within the home. As a result, young people engage well, develop a sense of community and explore new horizons.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Educational achievement is prioritised. Young people are encouraged to engage in their learning through the appropriate use of incentives. One young person is taking three GCSE examinations this summer. This is supported by the effective levels of communication that exist between staff and the school. Presently, staff are exploring the possibility of summer employment for the young person concerned. Staff consistently go the ‘extra mile’ by providing transport to school and supporting homework study in the home. Staff make good use of extra government funding to support attainment through the purchase of laptop computers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When young people struggle in education, staff act quickly. Staff push placing local authorities for extra resources and alternate provisions if appropriate. Records indicate staff recommending early reviews of education plans to expedite progress and ensure that young people receive the correct amount of support. This supports improved attainment and helps young people raise their self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide effective support and guidance to help young people learn and develop independent living skills. Young people share household cleaning tasks with staff and enjoy cooking for staff and their peers. This helps young people to develop an understanding of healthy eating. Trusting relationships allow young people to purchase food, bring home the correct change and prepare meals for the home with minimal staff support. Since the last inspection, one young person has successfully moved on to independent living, benefiting from the broad range of skills provided by the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Feedback from placing professionals is very positive. One social worker referred to the ‘very nurturing and tailored service, sensitive to historical vulnerabilities [of the young people].’ Professionals referred to excellent communication and good levels of progress Inspection report children's home: SC464532 5 achieved by young people. Staff work well in partnership with specialist resources, such as a clinical psychologist provided by the local authority to support work with young people. This ensures that professionals work in a holistic, focused manner to care for young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are listened to and have their views and opinions taken seriously. Staff recently supported one young person to access independent advocacy and legal advice to challenge the absence of a court order application from their placing local authority. Young people are proactively engaged in their care. Residents’ meetings occur regularly and are convened and chaired by young people, often without any staff input. Young people are presently helping staff to plan a summer holiday abroad. This helps young people to feel empowered and listened to. The young person’s guide does not currently contain the contact details for the Children’s Commissioner. This will offer further independent support and advocacy for young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote access to health care resources to ensure that young people receive the services they require. A recent visit from a local sexual health charity supported young people to understand and discuss a very sensitive topic with trained and independent professionals. Staff communicate regularly with child and adolescent mental health service professionals to track progress and share any concerns. Staff maintain good levels of communication with other professionals outside of the home. This allows care professionals to prepare appropriately, share consistent behavioural management strategies and support young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support safe, managed contact with friends and family. Visitors are encouraged to attend the home. Staff explore appropriate extended family contact, seeking new means of support and engagement for young people. This supports a reduction in the number of times young people run away from the home and helps them gain an increased awareness of their own culture and identity. Family contact allows young people to develop relationships that will sustain them into adulthood and beyond. Staff support young people in understanding their difficult histories. Recently, one member of staff drove a young person to the address of their former foster carer as part of a planned strategy aimed at helping them understand their past. This provided a window for them to discuss her feelings in a safe environment.

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

A caring ethos is clear in the home. Staff are well trained and develop an insightful, thoughtful approach. Staff use clear and simple strategies to help young people find the best ways to deal with their feelings, for example not maintaining eye contact with young people when they are struggling, and choosing to communicate through a shared activity such as completing the washing up. Staff regularly give appropriate ‘hugs’ and ‘cuddles’ with young people as a useful de-escalation tool. One young person commented, ‘They know how I am feeling and help me.’ Young people are not judged on their presenting behaviours, attention is focused on the reasons why the behaviour occurs and support mechanisms designed to address the cause of the behaviour. Inspection report children's home: SC464532 6 A strong staff team supports good behavioural management. Staff understand that a refusal or simply the word ‘no’ may provoke poor behaviour, yet remain consistent and

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

deal with any negative consequences effectively. Over time, young people understand the behavioural limits and boundaries and, as a consequence, their negative behaviour reduces.

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

Staff understand the importance of the home as a place of safety for young people. When police involvement is required, staff ask for an appointment at the police station. This avoids unnecessarily criminalisation of young people or the possible re-enacting of any painful memories from their early childhood.

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

Young people feel very safe in their home. When asked what changes they would make if they became manager for the day, one young person replied, ‘I would not change anything. I am safe here.’ There are no reports of bullying. When allegations or disclosures occur, these remain handled sensitively and via the correct procedure. Professionals commented on the excellent levels of communication and prompt response from staff. This supports safe care for young people.

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

Excellent partnership work with the police keeps young people safe. Police provide information on known associates, and this helps staff to risk assess thoroughly and inform young people of the possibility of negative peer-group influences. Local police regularly risk assess young people and place their names on the child sexual exploitation risk register if deemed necessary. This ensures a priority response if required.

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

Young people reduce their risk-taking behaviour, such as running away from the home. There have been no reports of missing behaviour since the last inspection. Close and trusting relationships with staff allow young people to manage their anger more appropriately. Where previously they would have chosen to have left the home, young people now choose to discuss their issues with the staff team. When young people leave the home they remain in consistent phone contact with staff. Staff are attentive to their whereabouts. Furthermore, the good relationships developed by staff with family members, coupled with the close knowledge of peer group associates, support staff members’ knowledge base and assessment.

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

Trusting relationships with staff allow young people to be open and honest about their use of social media. This allows any concerns to be shared with professionals and promotes good safeguarding. Internet use is well controlled. Young people understand that the connection is turned off at 10.30 each evening to allow them to gain sufficient sleep. E-safety is provided with parental controls and filters, which protects the young people’s associated online risks.

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

Young people recognise progress and the value of staff input. In some cases, they learn to role model good behaviours to younger peers. One young person commented, ‘I used to be bad and hurt staff. Now, thanks to them, I am a better person.’ Behavioural incidents, such as young people swearing at staff, have reduced. When restraints occur, the registered manager now actively seeks feedback from the young person and debriefs Inspection report children's home: SC464532 7 the staff member involved. However, on one recent occasion the registered manager conducted a review/de-brief of a restraint in which she herself was involved. Although no young person was placed at risk by this shortfall, her actions raise the risk of a conflict of interest and a loss of objective scrutiny.

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

Staff engage young people inventively through regular key-work sessions or day-to-day interactions. Progress is easy to follow through good levels of case recordings and use of clearly written chronologies. Staff assist with hair care or daily routines and recently used a television programme on the risk of child sexual exploitation as a topic for lively debate within the home. This promotes good relationships and allows young people to feel settled.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is also the owner of the home. She has been in post since the opening of the home. She qualified as a social worker in 1994 and completed her Level 5 management qualification in July 2016. Succession planning and management support is good. The registered manager is well supported by a deputy manager who is also a qualified social worker and qualified to Level 5. A senior residential care worker provides additional support; this senior worker plans to commence the Level 5 qualification in July 2017. One placing social worker commented, ‘The registered manager is hands on with a good therapeutic approach.’ The registered manager is a senior member of a local group of care home providers. These contacts provide a useful forum for exchanging ideas and practice with other providers. Managers provide strong leadership and are well respected by staff and young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has strong child-centred principles. She uses her experience as a qualified social worker to advocate strongly on behalf of young people. She has a firm oversight of case recordings and risk assessments and ensures that allocated social workers fulfil their statutory duties on behalf of young people. She is a consistent presence in the home, often to supplement the staff team. This provides increased levels of support for staff and young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff morale is very strong in the home, and there is a feeling of collective ownership. Staff understand the statement of purpose and work consistently and effectively. The staff team members value each other. Staff recognise the importance of consistency and ensure that there is no use of agency staff by offering to complete extra shifts. They report excellent levels of training, clinical supervision and appraisal. Training is ‘bespoke’ and specifically tailored to meet the needs of the home, therefore increasing effectiveness and relevance to staff and support for their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When staff experience difficulties at work, extra support, such as counselling, is provided. There have been no staff departures since the last inspection; two former staff members have returned to the home. Staff derive a strong sense of job satisfaction from the progress achieved by young people. One staff member said, ‘That is why we are here, just to watch them grow and progress.’ This promotes a happy, family-style Inspection report children's home: SC464532 8 atmosphere for young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have yet to develop a workforce development plan. However, this does not impact negatively on the running of the home. Managers are inventive and proactive. The registered manager has acted immediately on suggestions during this inspection, for example by amending the sanction book to capture the wishes and feelings of young people. Managers are continually seeking to develop and improve the home. This is supported by the strong, consistent scrutiny offered by the independent visitor. She is a useful source of inventive ideas and suggestions. For example, managers have recently introduced a shift review form. This allows staff to review and reflect on particularly difficult shifts or incidents and formulate strategies and responses to avoid a further repetition.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers control admissions well. Given the high level of need of current young people, all admissions this year have been planned. This ensures a full assessment of each young person and their possible effect on the existing peer-group dynamic. As a response to the poor level of information contained in recent referrals, managers have altered the home’s admission requirements to ensure that full information is provided and specific questions asked. This ensures a complete assessment before any new young person moves into the home and supports the ongoing stability of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers ensure that the home is in a good state of repair with all of the necessary risk assessments and checks undertaken in respect of the building.

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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: SC464532 9

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Alicie Enterprises Limited

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Inspector(s)

Barnaby Dowell, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: SC464532 10 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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