Children's home run by Virgin Care Limited in Camden

Inspection report children’s home: SC458430 1 SC458430 Registered provider: Virgin Care 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 home is privately operated by a nationwide organisation, which also has other homes in the area. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children. Children may have a physical disability and/or learning disability and/or sensory impairment.

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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: 15 February 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: SC458430 2

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Key findings from this inspection

 The registered manager is child-focused and has high aspirations for the children when they come to stay at this short-break service. She places their well-being at the centre of her and the staff’s practice.  The registered manager has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and closely monitors the quality of care.  Regardless of children’s communication needs, they are consulted in relation to their likes, dislikes and what they would like to do when they stay at the home. Results of this consultation is displayed in the home, and is acted on.  Children enjoy a wide range of social and leisure opportunities when they stay at the home. Parents consider that their children get opportunities to do activities that they may not be able to do otherwise.  Parents speak highly of the care and support that their children receive when they stay at this short-break service. They say that there is good communication between

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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 registered manager must ensure that the improvement work that was recommended following a fire risk assessment is completed.  Ensure that the arrangements for the use of monitoring devices in children’s bedrooms are regularly reviewed.  Ensure that staff receive training in augmented communication.  Ensure that there is a clear audit trail to demonstrate that parents are informed of all accidents or incidents.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 13/10/2016 Full Good 15/12/2015 Full Good 03/11/2015 Full Inadequate Inspection report children’s home: SC458430 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, the 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

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home. In particular, following the independent fire risk assessment ensure that all recommendations made to improve fire safety are acted on as identified in the home’s fire risk assessment. (Regulation 25(1)(a)) 30/11/2017

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the specific responsibilities supporting the health and well-being of each child are agreed with the placing authority and recorded in the child’s placement plan. In particular, regularly review the arrangements for the use of monitoring devices in children’s bedrooms. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.7)  Ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs. In particular, staff should receive training in augmentative communication. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)  Ensure that all staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. In particular, ensure that there is a clear audit trail to demonstrate that parents have been

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Recommendations

advised of their child being involved in an incident or accident. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report children’s home: SC458430 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive high-quality and individualised care and support. Staff are enthusiastic and committed. They place the well-being and safety of children at the centre of their practice and strive to improve children’s experiences. Children are treated with dignity and respect. A parent said, ‘The staff are excellent; they know my son so well such as his sensory needs. He gets the one-to-one time he needs.’ Another parent said, ‘I am very happy with the care. Staff are helpful and knowledgeable.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who cannot communicate verbally or use alternative methods to communicate are encouraged to express what they like about the home, what they are not so keen on, and what they would like to do when they next come to stay. They take part in a meeting to seek their views and to suggest what they would like to do when they stay. These views are recorded in an accessible format and are displayed for children and staff alike. Following a meeting in September 2017, all requests made by children of what they would like to do when they next stay were addressed. These included buying a DVD, having cauliflower cheese for dinner, and going shopping.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

In addition, children are consulted in the choice of the duvets that they would like on their bed, and on the colour and design of furniture in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are welcomed to this short-break service in an individualised and well-planned way. They come to visit with their parents and have planned tea visits and overnight stays. A parent said, ‘I visited with my son and we discussed his needs. They have attended his review, and other meetings.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a wide range of play opportunities and social and leisure activities. Parents say that there are improved outcomes for their children. A parent said, ‘He is more happy and open to us. He has lots of activities such as messy play and walks. We cannot always do these things.’ There is an abundance of photographs of children and the activities that they take part in, as well as their art and craft work, displayed around the home.

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

There is a positive culture of safeguarding and promoting the well-being of children. Safeguarding is included on the agenda at staff meetings where any issues or concerns are discussed.

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

All staff receive safeguarding training and demonstrate a good understanding of safeguarding protocols and processes, including whistleblowing. Since the last inspection, there have not been any referrals made to the designated officer or to children’s services.

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

There are no concerns in relation to children going missing, inappropriate use of the Inspection report children’s home: SC458430 5 internet and child sexual exploitation. In addition, bullying, self-harm and radicalisation are not a concern. Parents say that they consider that their child is safe when they stay at the home. A parent said, ‘I have no worries or concerns.’

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

Staff and children are involved in fire drills and there are regular tests on the home’s fire alarm system, emergency lighting and firefighting equipment. In addition, there is regular servicing of the fire system and firefighting equipment. However, following an independent fire risk assessment in December 2016, not all the recommendations made to improve fire safety have been completed. All areas identified as high risk have been actioned, and there are planned works in November 2017 to complete the remainder. Leaders and managers have completed a local fire risk assessment to identify and reduce risks, while waiting for the planned work to be completed.

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

Physical intervention is used as a last resort. Since the last inspection, there have been three recorded incidents of physical intervention. These are all recorded as ‘low level’ interventions and are methods used to free staff from incidents such as having their hair pulled. The registered manager has a good oversight of these, and reviews the records to ensure that the interventions used are fair and proportionate. Sanctions are not imposed.

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

Detailed support plans and positive handling plans guide staff in how to assist children to manage their feelings and emotions. Children’s risk assessments identify the known risks and there are risk reduction plans in place. These are regularly reviewed.

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

Some children’s placement plans and risk assessments identify the need for the use of monitoring devices in relation to their healthcare needs. However, not all plans identify that the use of these is reviewed on a regular basis.

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

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has reviewed the format of the body maps that are used to record injuries to children, and there is improved management oversight of these records.

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

The registered manager has good oversight in relation to incidents and accidents. She evaluates these records and identifies learning points that are then discussed at team meetings. However, not all records provide a clear audit trail to confirm that parents have been informed of all incidents and accidents.

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

Since the last inspection, there have not been any newly appointed staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is effectively managed by an experienced and well-qualified registered manager. She ensures that she regularly updates her knowledge and understanding of matters relating to child protection and the safety and well-being of children. She is committed to ensuring that children have an enjoyable experience, with positive outcomes, when they stay at the home. Inspection report children’s home: SC458430 6 The registered manager has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and has effective systems in place to monitor the quality of care. Regular visits are undertaken by the independent visitor and recommendations made to further improve are acted on.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s statement of purpose is kept under review and clearly sets out its ethos, aims and objectives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are provided with comprehensive placement plans and risk assessments that provide clear guidance on how children’s needs are to be met. Parents are involved in the development of these plans and sign their agreement. This demonstrates good collaborative working. The registered manager monitors the progress of children and can demonstrate the positive impact that staying at the home has on individual children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is good communication with parents and carers. A parent said, ‘I get good paperwork. Staff write informative reports. I can recognise my son.’ Another parent said, ‘We keep in touch and always speak.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are supported by a consistent staff team who, as well as receiving mandatory training, receive specialist training to meet the individual needs of the children. However, the planned training in augmented communication did not take place. This training is essential and the registered manager is proactive in ensuring that this training takes place. Most staff have achieved the level 3 diploma, while others are working towards this qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager ensures that notifications of all significant events that relate to children’s welfare and protection are made to the appropriate authorities. The electronic management system that is used by the home alerts associated professionals of any matters affecting children, such as accidents and incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children stay in a home that is welcoming and child-friendly. Each child’s bedroom is furnished and decorated to meet their individual needs. They have access to a wide range of play facilities both indoor and in the rear garden.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have not been any complaints since the last inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are mindful to address the gender balance of staff employed in the home when vacancies occur.

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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 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 Inspection report children’s home: SC458430 7 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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Virgin Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Lynton House, 7–12 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9LT

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Inspector

David Kidner, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC458430 8 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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