Children's Home run by Park Blue Homes Limited in Durham

Inspection report children‟s home: SC453372 1 SC453372 Registered provider:

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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 children‟s home provides care and accommodation for up to four children or young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a private provider.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: 11 January 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: None

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Key findings from this inspection

 The young people are supported by a caring and committed staff team.  The involvement of the young people in their plans is a strength of the home.  Education is well supported and the young people achieve high attendance. Inspection report children‟s home: SC453372 2  Behaviour is well managed.

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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 manager should have his supervision sessions carried out by an appropriately qualified person.  Management tasks need to be completed in line with requirements.  The manager would benefit from additional training in best practice within current residential care.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/01/2017 Full Good 17/11/2016 Full Inadequate 01/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 03/11/2015 Full Good Inspection report children‟s home: SC453372 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children‟s home that— (a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and (b) promotes their welfare

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(2)(f),(g) and (h)) 01/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered manager must undertake such continuing professional development as is necessary to ensure that the registered manager has the skills needed for managing the home. (Regulation 29(4)) 01/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to the manager‟s supervision sessions. 01/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person‟s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person‟s opinion as to whether— 01/09/2017 Inspection report children‟s home: SC453372 4 children are effectively safeguarded; and the conduct of the home promotes children‟s well-being. (Regulation 44(4))

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating— the quality of care provided for children; the feedback and opinions of children about the children‟s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45(2)) 01/09/2017

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Recommendations

 Children must be consulted regularly on their views about the home‟s care, to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. Children should be able to see the results of their views being listened to and acted upon. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 22, and paragraph 4.11)

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Recommendations

 Staff supervision must enable staff to reflect and act upon how their own feelings and behaviour may be affected by the behaviour of the children they care for. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 39, and paragraph 8.15)

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Recommendations

 Supervision of staff practice should ensure that individual adults in the home are engaged in the safeguarding culture of the home so they understand what they would need to do if they found other staff misusing or abusing their position to the detriment of the safety of a child. Specifically by including safeguarding as an agenda item in staff meetings. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 43, and paragraph 9.14)

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Recommendations

 The home‟s policies and procedures around the protection of children should reflect any requirements of other relevant legislation. Specifically in relation to internet safety. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 44, and paragraph 9.22)

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Recommendations

 All staff must have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised at least once annually. This appraisal should take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and children in the home‟s care. As part of the performance management process, poor performance should be addressed by a timely plan to bring about improvement. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 61, and paragraph 13.5) Inspection report children‟s home: SC453372 5

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people are happy and relaxed. They have built up trusting relationships with the adults caring for them and are achieving in all areas of their lives as a result of the individualised care they receive. A young person said: „I have good relationships with the staff and they make me feel safe.‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is well supported and those young people in school have attendance figures of 100%. For one young person education is facilitated in the home via a tutor and the staff team. While it is recognised that this is not an ideal situation, it is of current benefit to the young person and meets their needs taking into account their starting point. All learning is supplemented by staff taking the young people out on educational visits and by projects undertaken by the young people with staff support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Progress can be seen both in the presentation of the young people and through the range of plans and records. The plans and documents show the clear progress of the young people from their starting points, and are accessible to the young people, their families and other professionals. The young people regularly contribute to their plans and are aware of the targets that they are working towards. Completion of targets is rewarded through incentives identified by the young people. Staff and young people work together to produce a memory scrap book called, „A year in the life of (name)‟. The visual result gives confidence to the young people and raises self-esteem in a safe and secure atmosphere.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Each young person has a key worker with whom they review their plans and discuss issues of importance. In these sessions, the young people can reflect on past experiences and learn to address their own behaviours. This enables them to develop resilience, equipping them to address emotional issues in the future. Staff are supported in the planning of such sessions by consultation on a monthly basis with a clinical psychologist who also delivers relevant training to staff. This approach has led to some excellent work with young people in addressing issues in their past and enabling them to move forward emotionally.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff understand the importance to the young people of contact with family and friends. A parent said: „The staff are brilliant and keep in contact with me on a regular basis. She is doing really well. I have no issues with the home.‟ The contact with family is supported and facilitated by staff transporting the young people or their families or by supervising the visits. A social worker said: „The staff have all been brilliant, they have a good awareness of the family dynamics and how it affects (name).‟ Friends stay overnight at the home, when appropriate, enabling the young people to replicate the experiences of those of a similar age in the community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people are healthy and are supported to access the services they need, including specialist services. Meals are varied and nutritious. The young people are active Inspection report children‟s home: SC453372 6 in the development of menus and in the preparation of meals with the assistance of staff. Most young people enjoy an active lifestyle. Regular activities include horse-riding, playing rugby, walking and other outdoor pursuits. This improves the emotional and physical well-being of young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people and their families are consulted regularly about the running of the home. This is achieved through monthly group meetings with the young people, when topics such as holidays, activities and decor of the home are discussed. However, the notes of such meetings do not evidence that issues raised by the young people are addressed by staff and that the outcome is fed back to them. By including these responses the young people will be able to reflect on the fact that their views are heard and listened to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Transitions to and from the home are well planned, risk assessed and managed. The staff use the admission process to introduce the young people to the home and create opportunities for important relationships to develop, such as those with appointed key workers. The result is that the identified plans at the point of admission are supported and outcomes achieved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The overall appearance of the home has improved. It is large, homely and well maintained. There are several rooms available for group or individual activities and young people have personalised their own spaces. This enables a sense of belonging to develop.

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

The young people are safe and state that they feel safe in the home. Risk assessments clearly identify indicators and triggers, as well as strategies for mitigating against the risk. Such assessments and care plans are updated regularly by staff.

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

Boundaries and expectations regarding the behaviour of the young people are clear, and behaviour is well managed. When behaviour needs to be addressed, the use of a restorative approach continues to develop, while the use of physical intervention and sanctions is being reduced. The young people are aware of how to complain and can each identify a trusted adult in the home. This contributes to the feeling of trust, well- being and security of the young people.

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

Episodes of short-term absence or returning late are reducing in frequency and missing episodes do not occur at all. Staff have a clear process to follow in such circumstances, which involves actively searching known areas and contacting family and known friends. This contributes to the young people feeling cared for and safe.

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

Safeguarding arrangements in the home are clear, as are the processes to follow should a member of staff be concerned about a young person. Incidents of a safeguarding nature are clearly recorded and shared with relevant professionals. The guidance in relation to internet safety is informative but would benefit from outlining the monitoring of devices that takes place. In addition, it should include the steps taken to enable Inspection report children‟s home: SC453372 7 young people to use the internet safely rather than preventing access.

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

Recruitment practice is robust, and records clearly identify the actions taken during the recruitment process to protect the young people. Such measures limit the access of unsuitable adults to the young people living in the home.

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

The manager and staff ensure that the young people live in a safe environment. They regularly carry out health and safety checks and fire drills, adding to the measures taken to keep the young people safe. The staff vet all visitors to the home and ensure that checks are available in relation to all professionals who regularly visit the home, such as those from the associated psychological service.

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

The manager has been in post since the home was registered by Ofsted in April 2013. He previously worked in adult services, but has used his transferable skills to good effect in supporting young people to achieve positive outcomes. He completed his diploma in leadership and management for residential childcare in April 2017.

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

The strengthening of the management team seen at the last inspection has enabled the continued development of the home. Regular meetings with the full management team, including the responsible individual, have improved communication and enabled the changes seen previously to continue. A member of staff said: „I have seen lots of changes in the paperwork, things are much better now and you can see the journey of the young person.‟

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

The manager has taken responsibility for his own learning and has visited other children‟s homes to improve his skills and knowledge. However, this improvement could be further developed by a commitment to additional sector-specific and leadership training. The manager‟s supervision, while regular, is not carried out by a suitably qualified professional. Addressing this issue will enhance his management practice and the development of the home.

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

Revised staff duty rotas continue to identify those responsible on each shift and the recruitment of two new staff has meant that the overall number of staff has improved. Both members of staff have completed shadowing activity and relevant training prior to starting work at the home. The changes in staffing arrangements are positive and limit the possible impact of the rota on the needs of the young people.

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

The manager‟s shift patterns continue to compromise the management of the home. While the number of staff employed at the home is sufficient to meet the home‟s minimum staffing levels, there remains limited capacity to cover holidays or training days. By working shift patterns, the manager ensures that his relationships with the young people are positive and effective. While it is recognised as positive practice that a manager works alongside staff occasionally, when it is full-time, as in this case, there is an impact on their primary role. The rota does not allow the manager to work with all staff. Consequently, his ability to complete tasks, in relation to evaluating their practice Inspection report children‟s home: SC453372 8 and the progress of the young people, is limited. In particular, those reports prepared in response to Regulation 44 and 45 of The Children‟s Homes Regulations 2015, written by

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

an independent visitor and the manager, that outline the quality of the service given to young people and their families, need to be developed further to include all of the required elements. Monitoring processes are in place, but are often evidenced by a tick box rather than evaluation that leads to action and development.

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

Staff meetings take place monthly. The minutes of such meetings are brief and do not contain reference to safeguarding matters or discussions in relation to individual young people; this needs to be addressed.

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

Staff receive supervision on a monthly basis by a member of the management team and have their performance appraised annually. However, supervision records do not evidence that staff undertake reflective practice opportunities or discuss plans for young people on a regular basis, and this needs to be addressed. In addition, appraisals should include the evidence used to make the judgements in relation to the performance of staff.

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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: SC453372 9

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Inspector

Susan Atkinson-Millmoor, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC453372 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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