Children's home run by Quantum Care UK Limited in North Northamptonshire

Inspection report children's home: SC417387 1 SC417387 Registered provider: Quantum Care UK 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

The home is registered to accommodate up to two young people. It provides accommodation for young people who have generally not responded well in larger settings. It is one of a number of children’s homes owned by a private organisation.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account good

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Overall experiences and progress of

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people make good progress, especially when bearing in mind their starting points. Their self-esteem and confidence develop considerably and they Inspection report children's home: SC417387 2 learn to manage their own behaviour more effectively.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Members of staff advocate strongly on behalf of the young people, especially in areas such as education. This enhances young people’s life chances.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The core team of staff has worked with resilience and determination to make sure that the young people are well cared for. Despite the demands and pressures that staff have been exposed to, their motivation for doing the job has remained steadfast.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff ensure that young people are involved in making key decisions about their lives.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Very good communication is maintained between the staff, parents and local authorities. This ensures that everyone is working together for the young people’s benefit.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Managers have recognised the need for change and stability in the staffing complement. They have a plan which clearly states what progress needs to be made.

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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

 The staff team is depleted and is relying on agency staff to cover any staff shortages. This undermines consistency and stability for the young people.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Supervision is inconsistent. This means that not all members of staff are suitably supported, or have their performance assessed on a formal basis.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people have been able to gain access to the staff office and cause damage to important documents.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/03/2017 Full Requires improvement 21/12/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 17/12/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 27/08/2015 Full Outstanding Inspection report children's home: SC417387 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) 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(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the employment of any person on a temporary basis at the children’s home does not prevent children from receiving such continuity of care as is reasonable to meet their needs. (Regulation 31(1))

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Requirement Due date

This is in relation to ensuring that the core team is increased and dependence on agency staff minimised. 31/08/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development and receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33(4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This is in relation to all members of staff receiving formal planned supervision. 31/07/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records for each child which must be stored securely in the children’s home during the period when the child to whom the case records related is accommodated there. (Regulation 36(2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This is in relation to preventing young people from damaging records. 31/07/2017 Inspection report children's home: SC417387 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Members of staff work very hard to support the young people in their care. A depleted staff team means that agency staff are required to ensure that sufficient numbers are available to meet young people’s needs, and to keep them safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The core staff have had to work exceptionally hard to ensure that the quality of care and consistency for the young people remain good. Despite these demands they have remained committed to their task, and young people benefit and make progress when they live in this home. Young people have developed trusting and meaningful relationships with the core members of staff. The manager has tried to use consistent agency staff, but this has not always been possible.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people’s views are valued and they are able to raise their concerns and opinions about how their home is being run in a free and open manner. The manager is readily available for support, and the young people seek out her company and advice. Consultation with the young people, on a formal and informal basis, ensures that they have an impact and influence on how the home is run. This is particularly relevant in areas such as day-to-day routines and activities. Young people are also actively involved in the development of their care plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people’s attendance at school has improved since the last inspection. Members of staff and the manager advocate strongly on behalf of the young people, and their efforts have enabled young people to gain entry into local schools. This has benefited young people in a number of ways, including encouraging their academic progress, establishing meaningful and positive routines and widening friendship groups.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Members of staff help the young people to develop their interests and activities. They take a supportive parental role and help the young people to attend activities such as army cadets and swimming, as well as taking them on outings. Participating in these activities supports young people to develop their interests and helps them to expand their social skills and grow in confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people’s health care needs are met to a good standard. All members of staff know if young people need any specific guidance or help with long-term medical conditions, and medication is appropriately administered and recorded. Staff arrange specialist appointments, for example with therapists or psychologists, so that young people receive the help they need.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide very good support to the young people in enabling them to maintain contact with their families and friends. As a result, relationships between the young people and their families have improved greatly. ‘I’ve got my son back thanks to them,’ a parent said. Additionally, young people are encouraged to have friends to visit so that they do not become isolated due to being in care and living away from their home areas. Inspection report children's home: SC417387 5

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

Good arrangements are in place to keep young people safe, and to ensure that any risks are identified and plans put in place to manage them. ‘I feel safe and can talk to the manager if I need to,’ said a young person. All members of staff have received safeguarding training and understand their role in reporting any concerns.

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

The young people have clear protocols in place to be followed should they go missing from the home. These outline the young people’s vulnerabilities and what steps to take. The level of supervision and support has ensured that there have been no incidents of young people being missing since the last inspection.

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

As young people’s confidence increases, members of staff assess their abilities and risks. This information forms a basis in allowing the young people to increase their independence in line with their vulnerabilities. For example, one young person now travels independently to and from school, and has unsupervised time away from the home with his friends. This is a considerable improvement in his self-management and responsibility, especially bearing in mind his behaviour and vulnerability when he was first admitted to the home.

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

Behaviour management plans are developed using the young people’s opinions and insight into their behaviours. Young people work with members of staff to identify what strategies should be implemented if they are struggling to maintain positive behaviour, and what situations may trigger their anger. This approach has been very successful and has enabled the young people to develop better self-control. In turn, incidents requiring restraint have lessened and young people are more able to discuss their feelings without a need to express them inappropriately or aggressively.

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

Physical restraint is used appropriately, and the manager reviews records of any incidents. Young people discuss incidents with an adult who has not been involved in the restraint, and this enables them to reflect on their behaviour and explore how to move forward. It also helps them to voice their feelings to a neutral adult.

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

Sanctions imposed for poor behaviour are appropriate, and records include the young people’s views. Where possible, emphasis is placed on restorative sanctions. This gives young people an opportunity to put right their wrong. Examples include clearing up a mess after a young person has caused some damage, or writing a letter of apology if a young person has been rude to someone. Positive behaviour is rewarded, and young people can earn extra privileges such as special outings and extra spending money. This approach encourages positive behaviour and helps young people to develop their self- control and responsibility for their own actions.

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

The home is suitably maintained and safe. The manager has encouraged a young person to help members of staff to carry out weekly fire checks. This is innovative practice which has raised the young person’s awareness and knowledge, and enabled him to develop a sense of responsibility. Inspection report children's home: SC417387 6

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home is undergoing a period of transition. The current manager had been working in the home since February as a deputy, and took up the post of acting manager at the beginning of June. She is establishing herself in the role and has applied to Ofsted to become the registered manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

At the last inspection in March 2017, six requirements were made. Five of these have been addressed, and improvements have been made in areas such as updating the statement of purpose and improving the medication policy. The home’s local area risk assessment also includes references to the risks of extremism and radicalisation. Members of staff are clear as to their obligations regarding the reporting and identifying of any safeguarding issues to the correct agencies. Since the last inspection there has not been a need to use this process. Staff are acutely aware of the dynamics between the young people in their care and ensure that their behaviours are managed and they do not harm each other. Young people who are moving into the home or moving on receive the support that they need. This process is completed with due consideration to each young person’s ability and understanding to cope with the change.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

One requirement has not been met. This is with regards to the provision of regular planned supervision for all members of staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Since the last inspection the previous registered manager, her deputy and three members of staff out of a total staffing complement of eight have left. This has meant that the onus of maintaining consistency and continuity of care has been placed on three members of staff, which include the newly appointed acting manager. There is a current reliance on agency staff, and while this has provided support to the core team, the stability and consistency of staffing has not been maintained. Nevertheless, all members of staff have worked very hard to ensure that the young people are kept safe and have made progress. The established staff have shown strong resilience and commitment to their task, and this has benefited the young people. A recommendation made at the last inspection regarding this issue has not been addressed, and this shortfall has now been raised to a requirement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Senior managers have identified this shortfall, and there is an action plan in place which includes reducing the occupancy of the home once one of the young people has moved on. This move was imminent at the time of the inspection. The management plan is to keep the occupancy level down to one young person until recruitment has increased the permanent staff team to 90% of the full complement. This will enable the staff team to establish itself and to develop consistency and stability.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

During this unsettled time not all members of staff have received regular formal supervision. There have been team meetings which have included supportive group sessions. However, not all individuals have been able to discuss their performance, or concerns of how the dynamics in the home have been affecting them, in a one–to-one Inspection report children's home: SC417387 7 forum with their manager. This requirement is repeated from the previous inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The core staff have received training in key areas such as child protection, first aid, child sexual exploitation and physical restraint. All full-time staff have the qualifications needed at level 3 or above. This means they have the knowledge and understanding to work with the young people in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Managers regularly review the progress of the young people living in the home. They are good at keeping relevant stakeholders up to date with the young people’s progress and any incidents or issues. Comments from young people’s social workers are very positive about the level of liaison and standard of care. ‘The staff have been very nurturing and understanding,’ was one comment made. A young person’s mother reported that, ‘we work together. He’s getting the help he needs. I’m very impressed. It’s the best home he’s been in.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The good standard of joint working with stakeholders ensures that young people’s needs are identified and plans put in place to meet them. Management review of young people’s progress also means that managers are able to accept that at times some young people’s needs may be better met elsewhere. When this has been the case, the managers work closely with placing authorities to ensure that the young people are appropriately supported to move on.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Since the last inspection any significant events which occur at the home are passed on to the relevant agencies promptly. This ensures that practice is open and accountable, and any plans for young people can be amended with everyone involved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There have been occasions when young people have gained access to the staff office without permission and caused disruption and damage. This has included young people tearing up documents and throwing paperwork around. The cleaning up of the mess has meant that some key information has been mislaid, or documents filed in the wrong areas. While there has been no risk to the young people as a result of this disruption, the storage of key information and its security has been compromised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Young people’s opinions and views are sought and respected. They are seen to seek the company of members of staff and to be confident in expressing their views. They are able to influence the running of their home and choose what activities and interests they participate in, and they help plan menus or changes to the décor. It is also apparent that all members of staff, including the manager, make themselves available to the young people so that they have the opportunity to express their feelings. This enables them to feel valued, and to feel that they have meaningful influence on the direction their lives are taking.

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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 differences made to the lives Inspection report children's home: SC417387 8 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 whom 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: SC417387 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Quantum Care UK Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: C/O Castlecare, The Manor House, Squires Hill, Rothwell, Kettering, Northamptonshire NN14 6BQ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Wells

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Inspector

Paul Taylor, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: SC417387 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

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Inspector

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Inspector

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