Children's home run by Ownlife Residential Limited in Kingston upon Thames

Inspection report children’s home: SC483779 1 SC483779 Registered provider: Ownlife Limited 02932099

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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 provide care and accommodation for up to four children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 30 November to 1 December 2017

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: Sustained effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: None

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Key findings from this inspection

 Referral processes and admission risk assessments carefully consider the impact of new residents on the existing young people in the home. The registered manager and staff team prioritise this approach to ensure the stability of young people already living in the home. Inspection report children’s home: SC483779 2  Creating and maintaining positive relationships with young people is at the centre of good practice in the home.  Young people feel attached to the home when they move on and some continue to visit.  Young people make progress from their starting points, often where they have not been able to do so before.  Staff prioritise educational attainment. They work effectively with schools and placing social workers to help young people find the appropriate educational provision.  Staff effectively guide young people through bespoke independent skills training.  Young people receive good support, help and protection from an experienced

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Key findings from this inspection

and stable staff team.  Young people say that they are happy and feel safe in the home.  Parents and professionals are very complimentary about the staff’s care of the young people.  Effective partnership working between staff, professionals and families is a strength of the home.  Leaders and managers have addressed all of the requirements and recommendations set at the last inspection.

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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

 Young people’s particular snack and drink choices sometimes get missed.  The home’s use of external CCTV does not receive placing authorities’ signed consent.  Records of young people’s financial sanctions do not always make clear the nature of the reparation.  Leaders and managers do not consult placing authorities when there are concerns that young people’s placements may be ineffective.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 07/06/2016 Full Good 20/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 22/06/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC483779 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

Monitoring and surveillance The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring and surveillance of children if— the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring and surveillance. (Regulation 24(1)(b)) In particular, signed consents from the placing authority must be in the young person’s case file. 31/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plan is requested, if— the child is, or has been persistently absent from the home without permission. (Regulation 14(1)(2)(e)(ii)) 31/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

Behaviour management and discipline The following measures may not be used to discipline any child— imposing a financial penalty, other than a requirement for the payment of a reasonable sum (which may be by instalments) by way of reparation. (Regulation 19(2)(f)) In particular, ensure that any reduction in pocket money is clearly recorded as an appropriate reparation. 31/03/2018

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Recommendations

 Children should be supported to develop understanding and empathy towards each other. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.11.). In particular, staff must ensure young people’s individual snack and drink purchases are not consumed, without permission, by other young people. Inspection report children’s home: SC483779 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people make good progress in the home. Young people’s care plans and monthly reports identify their progress. Staff prioritise young people’s educational achievement. For example, a young person now attends school full time after being a persistent refuser. The young person has gained educational qualifications and has received certificates for excellent attendance and achievement. The placing social worker wrote, ‘Getting (X) into education has been a great struggle. However, due to staff’s persistency and consistency (X) is now attending daily.’ An independent reviewing officer also complimented the staff team, saying, ‘The key worker made considerable effort to engage (X) in education.’ If young people struggle to engage in education, staff work very hard to source alternative provision such as apprenticeships. As a result, young people are enabled to reach their full potential. Staff always consider young people’s hobbies and interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Examples include a car maintenance project and staff’s support to enable a young person to perform music at school. This enhances young people’s overall experiences and development. Young people settle well in the home and enjoy positive relationships with staff. A young person said, ‘The staff are really friendly.’ Young people benefit from a caring and positive home environment. As a result, young people develop greater self-confidence. An independent reviewing officer, when describing a young person’s progress, said, ‘(X’s) positive relationships have resulted in more confidence and self-esteem and is able to engage more with staff and increase his social skills.’ The home is large and comfortable. It provides a welcoming and homely environment. There is a happy and relaxed atmosphere in the home. The garden provides opportunities for young people to grow fruit and vegetables. Young people contribute to the running of the home. Staff actioned young people’s

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

recent suggestions for a new carpet and sofa covers. This provides the young people with a sense of ownership of their home. A placing social worker described a young person as, ‘Taking pride in the home and keeping his bedroom clean and tidy.’ Young people and previous residents contribute to the young people’s welcome guide. As a result, the guide is a suitably accessible document for young people. Young people attend their weekly house meeting and contribute to the home’s suggestion box. The caring staff team responds to young people’s individual requests. For example, requests for new bicycle parts or a television stand were purchased without hesitation. Staff provide young people’s preferred choices for breakfast, such as croissants or smooth orange juice with ‘no bits’. The registered manager emphasises that, ‘It is these small things that reinforce to the young people that they are important

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

to us.’ However, a number of young people said that their favourite drinks and snacks go missing. Young people are concerned that other residents are taking their food without permission. Young people said that this is ‘not fair’. The registered manager is actively Inspection report children’s home: SC483779 5 considering the measures needed to prevent this from happening. Young people and staff collaborate in weekly meal planning. Young people’s favourites, particular requests and takeaways are provided. During the inspection, staff prepared a young person’s favourite dinner of oxtail stew. Young people’s family and friends are welcome in the home. Staff support young people to prepare and cook their chosen meal when their families and friends visit them. A parent said, ‘(X) really enjoyed his sisters’ visit to the home.’ Staff provide young people with informal opportunities to progress their independent

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

living skills, such as laundry, cooking and tidying their bedroom. Young people also engage with a more formal independent skills training programme. Young people complete a ‘skills handbook’. They engage in tasks, from changing a fuse and safe food storage through to budgeting and completing a CV. This supports young people’s successful transition when they move on. A young person summed up their experience in the home by saying, ‘I am happy here, everyone gets on. There is always something to do, and I can talk to staff about anything.’

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

Admissions are handled very well. Thorough pre-placement impact risk assessments carefully match the needs of young people already resident in the home. Careful thought is given to young people’s age, previous care history and any behavioural challenges. This meticulous approach ensures that staff are able to meet the needs of all of the young people. A fully staffed and stable team provides young people with continuity of care. Staff know the young people extremely well. Young people live in a safe environment. During the inspection, young people said that they feel safe. Young people’s individualised risk assessments are in place. Staff identify young people’s vulnerabilities such as gang membership, going missing from the home, or substance misuse. Clear plans are in place that guide staff to help minimise any risks. Young people’s monthly updates record any change to risks. Young people are encouraged to

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

engage in key-work sessions. These sessions provide focused opportunities for staff to provide young people with advice and support regarding any risks. Where needed, staff actively support young people to access additional professional support. This approach, combined with an appropriate use of community police team visits to the home, is effective. Staff deal appropriately with any unauthorised absences from the home and placing authorities are informed. Since the last inspection, there have been a number of absences involving a few young people. Many absences tend to be young people returning back late to the home. Staff and managers retain clear processes and emphasise to young people their vulnerability if staff do not know their whereabouts. An independent reviewing officer said, ‘The placement has been very supportive, they keep me updated and are proactive in calling the police when (X) is missing.’ With staff’s

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

encouragement, a young person’s missing from home episodes have significantly Inspection report children’s home: SC483779 6 reduced. Staff pursue placing authorities to offer independent interviews for every young person’s missing from home episodes. However, these do not always routinely take place, despite good challenge from staff. Robust staff recruitment processes are in place. The company’s head office conducts appropriate checks on all staff before they start to work with the young people. This helps protect young people from exposure to unsafe people working in the home. Managers ensure that the home is in a good state of repair with all the necessary risk assessments undertaken. The home’s premises are appropriately secure, therefore offering a safe environment for young people. Safety equipment is in place and there is evidence of regular and compliant checks and fire drills. External CCTV is used to

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

enhance the safety of young people, staff and the home’s outside environment. However, while placing authorities are aware of this surveillance, there is no formal signed consent to this monitoring on young people’s files. The home has a ‘no physical restraint’ policy. Staff training in managing challenging behaviours is effective. Staff’s use of rewards to promote young people’s positive behaviour is successful. Sanctions are used on occasion. Young people receive financial sanctions for reparation. However, sanctions records do not make clear that any reduction of pocket money is for reparation. This runs the risk of young people misunderstanding the purpose of any sanction.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is a qualified social worker with many years’ experience in childcare practice. Staff reflect the diversity of young people in the home and the majority of staff have worked at the home since it opened. Staff training is comprehensive. Training includes child protection and managing challenging behaviour, and all staff are qualified first aiders. The registered manager sources additional training to enhance staff skills. For example, to help encourage young people’s bedtime routines, staff met with a mental health nurse to share ideas and successes in a ‘sleep initiative’. Staff morale is strong in the home. Staff feel well supported to undertake their jobs confidently. A staff member said, ‘This is a fantastic team.’ Regular supervision, annual appraisals and individualised personal development plans ensure that staff have the skills to carry out their roles confidently. Staff recognise and appreciate the value of leaders’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

and managers’ encouragement and knowledge. A member of staff said, ‘I enjoy working at the home and know that I am supported to do my job.’ There is good networking between staff, placing authorities and professionals working with young people. Communication is frequent. A parent said, ‘Staff communicate well with me,’ while an independent reviewing officer added, ‘Staff work very well with social care, (X) and mum.’ Collaborative working relationships ensure that care plans are dynamic and updated to meet the changing needs of the young people. Good monitoring systems are in place. The independent visitor’s reports are comprehensive and challenging when appropriate. The monthly reports highlight Inspection report children’s home: SC483779 7 evidence of good practice and recommendations for improvement. For example, the registered manager actioned a recent recommendation for a young people’s suggestion

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

box. The registered manager considers every recommendation and draws up an action plan with target completion dates. The registered manager’s review of the home’s quality of care is thorough and makes clear recommendations for areas of further development. This ensures the home’s continuous progress. The registered manager and staff team have addressed the shortfalls from the previous inspection. The requirements and recommendation made at this inspection do not significantly impact on young people’s safety or well-being.

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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 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: SC483779 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Ownlife Limited 02932099

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 8 Poole Hill, Bournemouth BH2 5PS

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Inspector

Victoria Jones, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC483779 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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