Children's home run by Albrighton Care Ltd in Cannock Chase

Inspection report children’s home: SC484830 1 SC484830 Registered provider: Albrighton Care Limited 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 for two young people. The home provides care and accommodation for young people who have learning disabilities. The home is privately owned.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 18 to 19 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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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people make good progress in all aspects of their development. Inspection report children’s home: SC484830 2  Young people grow in confidence, self-esteem and ability.  Young people benefit from consistent care from a team of staff who know them well.  Young people stay safe through staff implementing detailed risk assessments that are followed by all staff.  Daily communication between staff and teachers helps young people to make good educational progress.  Staff make sure that young people have access to a range of health services that help to promote their well-being.  Young people develop age-appropriate skills to help them to progress towards semi-independence.  Managers and staff work effectively with family members, placing authorities and other professionals to promote the welfare of young people.  Young people’s contact with their family is encouraged and supported.  Staff receive regular practice supervision and annual appraisals.

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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

 Some areas of the home require attention to maintain good standards.  Managers have not ensured that the statement of purpose is up to date.  A full employment history is not always secured for agency members of staff before they commence work with young people.  Young people’s wishes and feelings are not always obtained.  Managers have not ensured that staff are competent in the administration of medication.  Managers have not ensured that the policy regarding the use of surveillance equipment in the home is kept up to date.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 15/11/2016 Full Good 01/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 18/09/2015 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC484830 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 protection of children standard is that the registered person must ensure that the premises used for the purpose of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12(2)(d)) 23/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (‘the statement of purpose’) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation 16(1))

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Requirement Due date

This is with specific reference to detailing how young people’s linguistic needs will be met and ensuring that staff qualifications are correct. 23/02/2018

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Recommendations

 Ensure that any use of CCTV or other monitoring equipment has a written policy describing how this will support the safeguarding and well-being of those living and working in the home in accordance with regulation 24. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.16) This is with specific reference to ensuring that the policy contains guidance on the use of audible monitors and video recording equipment.  Ensure that children are consulted regularly on their views about the home’s care, to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of the care provided. Due consideration should be given to the child’s cognitive ability in the development and implementation of any consultation process. 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,

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Recommendations

paragraph 4.11)  The registered person must ensure that staff have the relevant skills and knowledge to be able to respond to the health needs of children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page Inspection report children’s home: SC484830 4 34, paragraph 7.12) This is with specific reference to ensuring that staff are competent in administering medication.  Ensure that the registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

High staffing levels mean that young people receive dedicated and individualised care from staff who know them well. A patient and nurturing approach from a committed permanent staff team ensures that young people make good progress and are comfortable and relaxed at their home. A family member told the inspector, ‘I couldn’t wish for him to be anywhere at all better. It puts our minds at rest as a family. He is so happy there.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both young people attend school on a full-time basis. Consistent daily routines ensure that their attendance and punctuality are good. Daily liaison between staff and teachers helps to make sure that support is in place at school and at the home, as young people need it. A teacher told the inspector, ‘We are in regular contact whether there is a problem or not. They emailed yesterday to say what had happened over the weekend. It was really helpful. He always has everything he needs. We have a good relationship.’ Young people’s education targets are included in their plans at the home. This enables a joined-up approach to young people’s development. As a result, young people’s learning opportunities improve through a shared understanding and approach to meeting their needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people have support from staff to attend routine appointments with the general practitioner, dentist and optician. Young people have help to access specialist services to meet their physical and emotional needs. For one young person who has epilepsy, staff have worked closely with the epilepsy nurse to ensure that clear protocols are in place so that staff can meet his health needs. For another young person, staff have worked with the child and adolescent mental health services. This close partnership working means that he no longer requires face-to-face sessions, as the home environment has raised his self-esteem and reduced his anxiety. Managers and staff are alert to the emotional health needs of young people and gain advice when needed to secure young people’s emotional well-being. For example, staff gained advice from a psychologist about the best way to talk to a young person about bereavement. Careful planning and

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

thoughtful delivery meant that the young person received sensitive information in a way that was helpful to his overall welfare. Young people have a good quality of life and enjoy a range of activities, including daily exercise. Young people take part in swimming, climbing, shopping and regular holidays. Young people enjoy laying the table and sharing mealtimes together. Staff ensure that Inspection report children’s home: SC484830 5 fresh fruit is readily available and that the young people contribute to planning a varied menu. This helps young people to maintain good physical and psychological well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Person-centred planning ensures that young people are gradually prepared for adulthood. Young people have developed the skills to undertake a range of independent tasks, including toileting, shaving, sorting their laundry and preparing their own breakfast and drinks. Staff support young people to learn to use knives and cleaning products safely. A social worker told the inspector, ‘His life skills and personal care tasks have improved. They have managed to put in place a structured routine, which has really helped him in his preparation for moving onto more independent care.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Good relationships between staff and family members support young people to enjoy contact with those who are important to them. Staff encourage young people to spend time with family and develop their communication skills to help them to keep in touch. A family member shared with the inspector, ‘They are always there if you need to find out if he is OK. They are fabulous. There are no faults. If me or my mom can’t get there, they will bring him down. They are helpful and caring in every way. He wouldn’t speak on the phone, but now he will.’ This helps young people to feel connected with the people who matter most to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

In the lounge, two resident fish and some pictures of young people contribute to a warm and homely environment. A small and tidy back garden has a trampoline for young people’s use. However, some aspects of the physical environment require improvement. For example, the door to a young person’s bedroom sticks, a door is missing from a bathroom cupboard, an external shed is not secure and a drawer is missing from a young person’s chest of drawers. The lack of prompt attention to maintenance detracts from young people living in the most comfortable and secure environment possible.

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

The registered manager and staff have a good understanding of the risks to individual young people’s safety, which takes account of young people’s experiences and levels of understanding. Individualised and detailed assessments identify the risks to young people and the management strategies. This means that staff are clear about potential dangers and are active in taking steps to minimise the potential for harm to happen. Young people are not at risk of radicalisation or child sexual exploitation. There have been no incidents of young people going missing from the home or of bullying.

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

Young people are happy in the company of each other and have good relationships with staff, which they have built at their own tempo. This has helped to give young people a sense of safety and security. A consistent approach by staff, underpinned by praise and rewards, helps young people to understand expectations and to behave well. Incidents are rare, because young people have increased their skills in communication and self- regulation. When behaviour does escalate, staff use their relationships with young people and de-escalation to help to defuse situations. On two occasions, physical intervention has been necessary to help to support the safety of a young person. Subsequently, the young person’s risk management plan was revised to take account of Inspection report children’s home: SC484830 6 the learning. A reflective approach to behaviour management helps to increase the safety of young people and staff.

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

Staff benefit from a comprehensive programme of safeguarding-related training, and they talk confidently about how to protect and keep young people safe. Staff receive training in the area of medication and follow guidance in relation to the safe receipt, storage and administration of medication. However, managers have not assessed the practical competency of staff in relation to the handling of medicines. This means that it is not known if staff have any development needs in relation to administering medication safely and effectively.

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

Young people regularly use their electronic tablets to access the internet. Staff training in online safety, parental safeguards on devices and staff supervision all help to ensure that young people do not have access to unsuitable sites, materials or people.

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

The registered manager has completed an assessment of the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the children’s home, and staff are alert to any risks posed to young people in the local community. Good oversight of health and safety by the registered manager and regular safety checks by staff ensure that equipment poses no risks to young people. Regular maintenance checks are undertaken on gas, electrical and fire safety systems to ensure that they are in, and remain in, good working order.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has been in post since 2014. She has a diploma level 5 in leadership and management in residential care of children and young people. In addition to the manager, there are eight members of staff. Of these, three hold the level 3 diploma in childcare. Four are working towards the level 3 award and are scheduled to complete it within the required timescales.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has an enthusiastic, child-centred and reflective leadership style. She receives regular supervision, independent of the company, which helps her to consolidate her understanding about the strengths and development areas of the home. Effective use of the information from monthly independent monitoring visits and reviews of the quality of care result in positive changes to the delivery of care. For example, the education targets incorporated into the young people’s residential plans now help to support young people’s progress at school and at home. This means that the service continues to develop for the benefit of young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Young people are encouraged to express their views through one-to-one work with their key workers. Both young people’s verbal communication is limited and, to help to secure participation, staff use communication tools such as social stories and Widget to help young people to express their opinions. Despite this, not enough research has been completed to see how staff can further capture and use the views of a young person who has a significant learning disability. This creates a missed opportunity for the young person to influence their care. Staff say that they feel very well supported. When talking about managers, a member of Inspection report children’s home: SC484830 7 staff shared with the inspector, ‘They really care about the kids and they are knowledgeable about the standards. They care about the staff. This is one of the closest-knit teams I’ve been in.’ There is an induction programme for new staff, and this

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

includes a gradual introduction to the young people before taking on individual work with them. Staff have the benefit of good-quality supervision, which helps them to reflect on their practice in the context of the needs and progress of the young people. Annual appraisal gives staff an opportunity to reflect upon and plan their own professional development. Staff meetings happen regularly and a clinical psychologist helps to support team development and reflection. In combination with a good-quality training offer, the support for staff ensures that they are equipped to meet the young people’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers regularly evaluate young people’s care and are proactive in ensuring that there are adequate resources to ensure that young people have the support that they need. For example, an increase in seizure activity for one young man resulted in the use of agency night staff, in addition to the permanent staffing complement. This ensured that diligent monitoring of the young person’s health was in place throughout the night. However, in two instances the manager did not ensure that the agency worker had provided a full employment history. This compromises the organisation’s safe recruitment procedure, because the fitness of staff to work with vulnerable young people is not sufficiently tested.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers regularly review young people’s plans and statutory documentation to ensure that they are accessible and up to date. Staff are conscientious in making sure that they have read and understand the information available to them. This means that, in practice, staff have a good understanding of young people’s individual care arrangements. For example, staff understand that audible monitors and video recording equipment oversee a young person’s seizure activity. However, managers have not updated the organisation’s policy to include the use of this equipment in the young person’s bedroom. This means that staff do not have written guidance on its use to ensure the safety of young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have developed relationships with a range of other agencies, including police, health, education and social care. Professionals speak positively about communication. A social worker told the inspector, ‘The manager keeps in good contact. The responsible individual is also really good. He comes straight back to me.’ Good-quality professional relationships, which give scope for constructive challenge, help to ensure that plans appropriately meet young people’s needs. For example, through recent advocacy the registered manager has been able to ensure that plans for a young person to move to supported living ensure that he has the right support in preparation for his move.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager regularly reviews the statement of purpose. However, the most recent update did not include details about meeting young people’s linguistic needs. In addition, the qualifications of one member of staff were incorrect. This means that up-to-date and accurate information about the service provided is not available to parents and professionals. Inspection report children’s home: SC484830 8

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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: SC484830 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Albrighton Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 4, Bermar House, Rumer Hill Business Estate, Rumer Hill Road, Cannock, Staffordshire WS11 0ET

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Inspector

Alison Cooper, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC484830 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. 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

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Inspector

terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit 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 .

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Inspector

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Inspector

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