Children's Home run by Aspris New Education Services Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report children’s home: SC443959 1 SC443959 Registered provider: Priory New Education Services Limited 07221650

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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 owned by an independent company. The home is registered for up to eight young people who have learning disabilities, three of whom can be accommodated on a short-break basis.

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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: 30 January 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Sustained effectiveness

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Enforcement action since last inspection

None Inspection report children’s home: SC443959 2

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people experience a full and fulfilling lifestyle, with disability not recognised as a barrier to integration into community life.  Levels of care are high, with individualised plans, strategies and areas of personal risk in place that allow specific needs to be addressed.  Good educational arrangements, coupled with good levels of attendance, help young people to make good educational progress.  Young people feel safe and are kept safe. Challenging, disruptive and unsafe behaviours are well managed and usually reduce as young people settle into the home.  The number of permanent staff in full-time employment has increased, meaning that agency staff are no longer required on a regular basis. The continuity of care provided to young people has therefore improved.  Staff at the home develop strong relationships with parents, carers and other professionals, creating inclusive working partnerships that reflect the team-

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Key findings from this inspection

centred approach taken by the home.  Managers have worked through a difficult period and used the experience positively to review, develop and implement a practice in the home that is designed to improve outcomes for young people.

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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

 Following an unsettled period, the home requires a period of stability. This should allow managers the opportunity to be more proactive in their planning as they look to move the home forward.  Staff at the home are now in the position of being able to concentrate on the future development of the home. The staffing and components to move the home forward are in place.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 26/07/2016 Full Good 29/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 22/06/2015 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children’s home: SC443959 3

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Recommendations

 The home needs a period of consolidation following recent disruption to allow for staff morale and the home’s ethos and culture to be fully refreshed. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.4)  Review and develop the current training for staff regarding medication, to ensure that staff are confident and are fully competent when handling, administering and recording medication. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, section 10.11)  Include the wording ‘last employer’ in the section inviting applicants to provide references on the employment application form. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, section 13.1)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Recent months have been difficult and frustrating for the home. However, those difficulties have been fully resolved and the home finds itself in the position of being able to look ahead and plan for the future. Throughout this period, no evidence has been found to suggest that the care of young people had deteriorated in any way. The overall care of young people remains as good as it was when the last full inspection took place.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home accommodates a dependent group of young people with varying needs and disabilities. This does not preclude them from experiencing a full and meaningful lifestyle. Disability is not accepted as a barrier to experiencing what the local community has to offer. All of the young people enjoy a rich and varied lifestyle by fully utilising local community facilities for activities and developing their own interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All of the young people are making good progress in all areas of their lives, with some making exceptional progress, based on where they were and how they were when first admitted to the home. For example, one young person who was reclusive and challenging when first admitted has transformed into a confident young person who has developed the social skills and social network that allow for full use of community facilities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This is recognised by other professionals responsible for the young person. For example, the social worker reported, ‘He is making really good progress. He is now in such a settled period and contact with family has improved; he is achieving at school and benefiting from the consistency of care he is receiving.’ This view is supported by a mental health worker, who told the inspector, ‘He is in a considerably better place than Inspection report children’s home: SC443959 4 he has ever been and his social interaction has improved significantly. He is in the best place for him at this time regarding the care he receives. He can now concentrate better and will follow instructions.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The progress of young people can be tracked and seen in the individualised planning documentation, coping strategies, assessments of individual risk and reports prepared monthly for social workers and families. More detailed reports are prepared for reviews. The home also retains a lot of photographic evidence that gives insight into young people’s quality of life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff develop strong relationships with young people, which provides a strong foundation regarding daily life in the home. For example, staff do not penalise or punish. This creates harmony and trust as staff work with young people and support them during difficult times. It also sets the tone for a home where young people make continued progress. A parent commented, ‘Overall, based on how she was in her previous placement, she is a lot happier and interacts well with staff and the other children. She has made loads of progress since moving to this home.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Each young person is in full-time education, attending a special school operated by the Priory group. Attendance levels are high and reflect the good progress that young people make in education. The school acts as a hub to this and other homes by providing education, along with specialist input, for example, speech and language therapy and occupational therapy. In addition, young people benefit from the support of a behaviour analyst, learning disability nurse and cognitive behaviour therapist.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The arrangements made to promote young people’s health continue to be good. Young people’s everyday health needs are addressed appropriately through community-based services that are well established and work well with the home. More specialist support, such as mental health and paediatric services, is brought in when required. The practical arrangements for storing, administering and recording medication meet with current guidance and are well managed. Only staff who have undertaken basic training administer medications to young people. However, as the medication for some young people is complex, the manager has been asked to consider bringing in more specialised training that can enhance and develop the knowledge of staff who administer medication.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The promotion of fitness and good health is an area that overlaps with the activities and interests enjoyed by young people. High staffing levels allow for individual needs and interests to be pursued, many of which are community based. For example, activities proving popular include trampolining, swimming, visits to parks and other recreational areas. Young people make choices regarding activities that form the basis of their individualised weekly activity programme.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff communicate very well with young people on lots of matters. For example, the home had a month focusing on healthy eating and diet, allowing young people to gain knowledge and make more informed choices about the food they eat. This helps to educate them and promotes a healthier lifestyle. Inspection report children’s home: SC443959 5 Formal meetings with young people are held monthly. Minutes show how young people are asked for opinions and influence some of the decision-making that takes place in the home. For example, young people have been heavily involved in choosing and planning the forthcoming summer holiday at an outdoor centre that specialises in activities for children with disabilities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Preparation for transition to adult life is good. Reviews take place to ensure that there are effective plans in place as young people move towards adulthood. Staff advocate strongly on behalf of young people in an effort to secure future placements that can meet their needs. Staff encourage young people to develop independence skills soon after they are admitted to the home. For example, young people are asked to undertake household chores, take on responsibilities such as keeping their room tidy, and develop practical skills that will benefit them in adulthood, such as washing clothes, managing money and cooking.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people live in a purpose-designed environment that has been conceived to meet the needs of those with autistic spectrum disorder. The home has areas where young people with different needs and tolerance levels can live safely and happily. Bedrooms are all single occupancy with their own bathrooms and are personalised to suit the taste of the occupant. The overall quality of the state of repair, decor, furnishings, fixtures and equipment is high. Young people are relaxed and at ease in their environment, with one young person taking particular pride in showing the inspector his bedroom, where he houses his own tropical fish tank.

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

Vulnerable young people are kept safe at all times. They demonstrate that they feel safe in their movement and actions as they move around the home and in their willingness to explore new experiences with staff. Their reluctance to move from their comfort zone diminishes quickly, which has the benefit of stretching their personal boundaries which can be limited due to their autistic spectrum disorder. Up-to-date assessments of risk, the regular servicing of safety equipment and good working practices contribute towards the environment being kept safe.

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

Staff are well trained in safeguarding and have regular refresher training. They have also received training in other areas of associated areas of risk, for example, in child sexual exploitation and the ‘Prevent’ duty. Staff are able to demonstrate an understanding of their role and responsibility in keeping young people safe.

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

Good professional working relationships and high levels of communication remain in place with the external agencies charged with keeping young people safe. For example, the home is working closely with external agencies and follows an agreed multi-agency strategy that addresses the historical behaviour pattern of a young person who makes allegations against staff. The procedures are thorough in protecting all parties concerned, without having a negative impact on daily life in the home. Inspection report children’s home: SC443959 6 Staffing levels are high, which helps to keep young people who can be prone to impulsive behaviour safe. They operate within clearly defined boundaries that they are comfortable with. For example, the home has not had any young person going missing. Despite this, appropriate risk assessments and clearly laid-out practices are in place for staff to follow should someone go missing. The presence of a staff group whose

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

members understand the needs of the young people in their care, along with their associated behaviours, creates a non-punitive environment. This results in good behaviour being rewarded, while challenging and damaging behaviour draws greater levels of support from staff without reverting to the use of sanctions.

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

Behaviour management is monitored effectively by senior staff. For example, all incidents that require physical intervention are reviewed individually and again on a monthly basis. This is to detect trends and reasons why incidents have occurred and what can be done to reduce them. This helps to improve practice and reduce the number of incidents occurring.

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

The number of permanent, full-time staff has increased significantly, with few staff leaving. This has expanded the number of staff in post, which has had the benefit of reducing the need for agency cover. This move is welcomed and seen as a positive move by the home in its determination to move forward and develop practice further. Recruitment practice and clearance procedures are thorough and meet regulatory requirements and current guidance. However, it is not made clear on the employment application form that the applicant’s last employer should be one of the referees sought.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An experienced and suitably qualified registered manager provides strong leadership and is well supported by a senior staff team that shares and supports the ethos and culture created in the home over the years. Collectively, and along with the staff group, they have navigated the home through a difficult period, but have come out of this stronger and more purposeful. For example, many of the staff team commented about the team being stronger and working together with greater cohesion. All will benefit further if the home can implement a period of consolidation to allow for staff morale and the home’s ethos and culture to be fully refreshed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are consistent in the view that they feel well supported by senior staff. A formal programme of supervision takes place, along with annual appraisal. This allows for issues, working practices and staff development to be reviewed and discussed. This level of support and the review of performance help staff to understand the implications of their actions, giving them a greater appreciation of their responsibilities and of the impact that their working practices have on young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff confirm that they have good opportunities for training. An active core staff training programme provides them with new skills and refreshes others. For example, safeguarding, first aid and physical intervention training are implemented quickly as new Inspection report children’s home: SC443959 7 staff take up post and are refreshed regularly to keep staff updated with any developments and to maintain their skill base. Close monitoring by senior staff ensures that staff undertake training that allows them to meet the ever-changing needs of young people in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring is an area that senior staff have sought to improve on. For example, senior staff are having a greater presence around the home by dropping in at any time of day or night. Aspects of internal monitoring have improved, with information collated monthly forming the basis of the home’s development plans. Both the internal and external monitoring of the home meet with regulatory requirement. As a result, managers have a clear understanding of the home’s strengths and areas that require development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has a good record of compliance. Since the previous inspection, a lot of work has been put into getting staff to improve their recording skills, which has improved record-keeping. Senior managers have tried to use the recent difficult period positively and have reviewed a number of areas of practice, which has resulted in a number of new initiatives and developments being introduced; for example, with improved assessment and better use of the impact risk assessment, which is maintaining a better balance of young people within the home. Other initiatives include the creation and introduction of the core team, following ideas put forward by staff, and with staff now having their own section on agendas for staff meetings, allowing them to raise issues of their choosing.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The issues that have affected the home recently have been addressed and there are no ongoing issues or concerns. The home finds itself in a position where it can look forward and continue to develop and grow. The needs of young people are being met and all of those currently in the home are progressing well in all areas of their lives.

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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 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: SC443959 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Priory New Education Services Limited 07221650

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 80 Hammersmith Road, London W14 8UD

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Katherine Bridon

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Inspector

Graham Robinson, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC443959 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.

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Inspector

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