Children's Home run by Resicare Alliance Limited in Birmingham

Inspection report children’s home: SC463639 1 SC463639

p.1

Registered provider: Aston Children’s Care Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The service is operated by a private company, and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four young people who have learning and/or physical difficulties.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC463639 2

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

 Young people are well cared for by motivated and nurturing staff.  Young people make good progress and feel settled in their home.  Managers and staff develop ways of helping young people to understand their environment.  Managers and staff help young people to understand how to keep themselves safe.  Young people make excellent progress with their communication and self-care skills.  Young people enjoy an extensive range of activities in the home and in the wider community.  Young people make good progress at school. Communication between school staff and home staff is very good.  Feedback from professionals and families is very positive.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Risk assessments are not always reviewed and updated and some young people’s files are difficult to navigate, as they contain duplicated documents.  Managers and staff do not always ask visitors to the home for their identification and they do not always explain the fire procedure to them.  Staff do not have access to a separate controlled drugs register, in line with good-practice guidance.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 13/09/2016 Full Outstanding 08/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 22/09/2015 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC463639 3

p.2

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.

p.3

Recommendations

 Ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and arrangements are in place to protect them (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5). In particular, in relation to the televisions being boxed in and risk assessments being updated.  Ensure that the registered person builds a strong safeguarding culture in the home (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.8). In particular, ensure that staff always check visitors’ identification and explain the fire evacuation procedure.  Ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policy on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4). In particular, consider how documents in children’s files are

p.3

Recommendations

named and avoid over-duplication of documentation.  Ensure that staff make appropriate records of controlled drugs that have been administered to residents. The care home staff responsible for administering the controlled drug and a trained witness should sign the controlled drugs register. The staff member administering the controlled drug should also sign the medicines administration record. (Managing medicines in care homes 2014, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, page 32, paragraph 1.14.16)

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people receive good-quality care. They make progress in all areas of their Inspection report children’s home: SC463639 4 development. Staff take every opportunity to support young people and to help them develop their skills.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is well presented. There are visible displays that help young people to understand their environment. Managers and staff have developed various communication techniques to help young people communicate and engage in making everyday decisions.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are innovative and creative in developing resources for young people’s benefit. Young people enjoy participating in a garden project, growing vegetables which are then harvested and eaten for meals. An associated display in the house explains the food cycle, reinforcing young people’s understanding of food, diet and health. Young people help staff to look after the chickens and rabbit by feeding them and cleaning out the pens. They develop a sense of empathy and responsibility, as well as enjoying working with staff.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people’s day-to-day life experiences are fun and enjoyable. They enjoy a fantastic range of activities in the home and the community. Activities include horse riding, music sessions, clubs, sport and cinema. In addition, young people enjoy local resources, such as walks to the park, or games and activities in the home. Staff organised a fun day at the home in the summer. Families, friends, professionals and young people all enjoyed spending time together at the home. One young person is raising funds for a charity through sponsored trampoline jumps. He is justifiably proud of his achievements and his contribution to helping others.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people enjoy each other’s company, and are very settled. There are pictures and photographs throughout the home of past and recent events, including family photographs. These help young people retain a sense of their family identity. Parents are full of praise for the work undertaken with their children. One parent told the inspector, ‘The staff are fabulous. They treat my son as if he is their own. I cannot praise them enough.’ Another said, ‘I know that my son is in safe hands. They make me feel welcome when I visit him.’

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All young people are at school full time, and have excellent attendance. School staff and home staff communicate well with each other. This promotes young people’s educational progress, as well as ensuring that staff are prepared if a young person needs additional help when they return from school. Young people travel to school with staff, and then the staff help young people settle in their classrooms before they leave. Young people are supported to start their day in a positive way. A teacher said, ‘We have good communication with staff. Staff attend all meetings with us and the way they talk about him shows that they care about him.’

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people’s transitions from the home are well managed. Staff advocate for young people, communicating with a wide range of professionals. This ensures that young people make progress in line with their plans. Inspection report children’s home: SC463639 5

p.4

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

Safe and suitable staff care for young people. Managers ensure that any new staff have undergone all of the necessary checks to ensure that they are suitable to work with young people.

p.5

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

There have been no incidents of young people being exploited or being at risk of radicalisation. Staff ratios are high and young people are always supervised within the home and the community. Staff adhere to safe working practices. They are up to date in their knowledge about safeguarding and child protection procedures. This includes knowing what to do if they are concerned about another staff member’s conduct.

p.5

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

Young people learn about how to keep themselves safe. Managers and staff prioritise and promote young people’s safety at all times. Staff help young people to learn about personal safety and safety within the home. For example, they involve young people in undertaking fire checks. Young people develop an understanding of how and why these are done.

p.5

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

Young people make excellent progress with their behaviour. Incidents, including those needing physical intervention, have reduced in number significantly. Staff know young people well, and are skilled in observing the signs of any escalating behaviour. Staff use a range of de-escalation techniques that are appropriate to young people’s individual needs. These include, for example, redirecting a young person or stroking their hand to help them relax. Consequently, young people enjoy a calm, peaceful atmosphere.

p.5

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

If staff need to restrain a young person, they complete each record thoroughly. Staff have developed a communication tool that helps young people to add their views to the record. Staff have discussions with young people about why a physical intervention took place. Young people add their comments about the event in different formats, including Widgit. This makes the process accessible for all.

p.5

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

Managers and staff ensure that the home is well maintained. Regular checks are undertaken of electrical, gas and fire equipment. Inspectors found minor defects in the home environment during the inspection. The registered manager ensured that work was immediately completed. Staff undertake fire drills in line with organisational requirements. They prepare young people for these taking place. As a result, young people’s knowledge and self-confidence improve.

p.5

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

Staff follow a clear process for the storing and administration of medication. However, staff do not record controlled drugs in a separate controlled drugs register, as recommended by good practice guidance.

p.5

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

Managers and staff do not always ask visitors to show their identification, and do not always explain the fire evacuation procedure to them. As a result, visitors are not well informed about the emergency procedures. Inspection report children’s home: SC463639 6

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is appropriately experienced and qualified. He holds a level 5 diploma in leadership and management in health and social care with children and young people.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager tracks young people’s progress, and identifies areas where young people need more support. This helps to make sure that young people’s individual needs continue to be met.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager works with the independent visitor and responds to any identified actions. He welcomes suggestions about how to improve the service for the benefit of young people in his care.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers ensure that individual risk assessments are on young people’s files. However, these assessments are not always kept up to date. This means that it is not clear whether information is relevant or not. Young people’s files are sometimes difficult to navigate, as there is a lot of duplicated information. This can be confusing, particularly for new staff. One young person’s file did not contain all of the information required by regulations, specifically an annual healthcare assessment. This missing information leaves staff without all essential information to help inform their care practice.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers prioritise staff development. They recognise that this has an impact on the quality of service that young people receive and the progress they make. Staff receive comprehensive training, which includes most having attained their level 3 diploma in the care of children and young people in residential care. Staff without the award are completing the qualification within the regulatory timescale.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision, offering them support and development opportunities. Managers are aware of the home’s strengths and areas for development. Priorities include seeking accreditation with the National Autistic Society, the development of a portable communication tool and helping staff to achieve higher-level qualifications.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Parents and professionals speak positively about the communication they have with staff about the well-being of their young people. A social worker told the inspector, ‘I get regular updates from staff, and feel that they keep me in the loop. Any problems and they make sure that I know about it.’

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers challenge professionals if they think that information is not correct, or if information is outstanding. A health professional said that following discussions with staff, a young person’s health needs were going to be reassessed to make sure that he received all of the appropriate support that he needs.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Two recommendations made at the last inspection are met. The registered manager now reviews physical intervention records. The registered manager has developed a method of helping young people to express their views following a physical intervention. This means that young people are reassured that adults take their views seriously. Inspection report children’s home: SC463639 7

p.6

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences 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.

p.7

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: SC463639 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aston Children’s Care Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 73 Dudley Road, Dudley, West Midlands DY3 1TF

p.8

Inspectors

Julia Wright: social care inspector Balsinder Jaspal-Mander – social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC463639 9 achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.8

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspectors

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

p.9

Inspectors

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

p.9