Children's Home run by Anderida Adolescent Care Ltd in East Sussex

Inspection report children’s home: SC028526 1 SC028526 Registered provider: Anderida Adolescent Care Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned setting is registered to accommodate two children and young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. Children and young people are able to access the organisation’s school. Therapeutic counselling is also provided.

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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 requires improvement to be 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

 A committed staff team has the skills to build strong, trusting relationships with young people and, when appropriate, works effectively with parents.  Young people who live at the home for an extended period make significant Inspection report children’s home: SC028526 2 progress in terms of their emotional well-being and reduction of unsafe behaviours.  Thorough planning and sensitive support ensure that young people are well prepared for moving on from the home as they approach adulthood.  Highly effective action is taken to ensure that young people receive an appropriate education, and receive the support that they need to engage well.  Young people have access to specialist counselling, which improves their prospects of overcoming past traumatic experiences.  Managers and staff have a clear understanding of each young person’s vulnerabilities and these are addressed through good-quality care planning.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Strong links have been developed with child protection agencies and this ensures that relevant information, particularly in relation to child sexual exploitation, is shared in a timely manner.  There is a culture of high expectation for young people; their achievements are recognised and celebrated.  Young people receive effective guidance on how to manage peer relationships, keep themselves safe and resolve conflicts amicably.  There are many opportunities for young people to experience new activities, develop their personal interests and learn new skills.  There is a strong commitment to ensuring that young people can access external advice and support agencies when needed.

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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 assessment and management of risk.  The effectiveness of support systems for staff who are managing challenging or potentially unsafe situations.  Implementation of the young people’s complaints procedure.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 06/10/2016 Full Outstanding 29/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 06/01/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC028526 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

12: The protection of children standard In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure that staff— (2)(a)(i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; (2)(a)(vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and (2)(d) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to prevent each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. This is with specific reference to the assessment and management of risk, ensuring that there are sufficient staff to supervise a child who may be at risk of harm and ensuring that health and safety risks in the home are minimised. 23/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must— ensure by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire. (Regulation 25 (1)(d)) 23/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

7: The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard In order to meet the children’s views, wishes and feelings standard children must receive care from staff who— (1)(c) take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the child’s care and welfare and their lives. Specifically, ensure that the home’s complaints procedure is fully implemented when a child makes a written complaint. 23/02/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC028526 4

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Recommendations

 Most health services that a child needs to access will be provided by other organisations. If these services are not available, or are withdrawn, staff should inform and engage with those who also hold a responsibility for the child’s health to ensure their health needs are met under regulation 5 – engaging with the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.11) Specifically, when a child is not able to access a smoking cessation service, consult the designated nurse for looked after children to identify alternative support mechanisms.  Staff should encourage an enthusiasm for positive behaviour through the use of positive behaviour strategies in line with the child’s relevant plans. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.13) Specifically, ensure that children’s behaviour management plans contain clear

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Recommendations

strategies for staff to follow to address challenging behaviour and consistently promote positive behaviour.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff are skilled at building trusting and nurturing relationships with young people and, over time, this has a positive impact on young people’s emotional well-being. Since the last inspection, two young people, who were settled at the home for an extended period, have successfully moved on to independent and semi-independent settings. Two young people have subsequently been admitted to the home. Staff are using their skills to build positive relationships and help these young people to settle into their new environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This period of transition has presented challenges, particularly in relation to managing unsafe behaviours and responding to mental health needs. Managers and staff have demonstrated a strong commitment to understanding the needs of the young people and to adapting their style of communication and practice accordingly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are many examples of good practice in relation to ensuring that young people can express their views and feel that they have been listened to. For example, one young person was given excellent advice and guidance on how to access legal advice and the support of an advocate. Despite this good practice, young people currently living at the home do not have confidence in the home’s complaints process. This is partly attributable to the complaints process not being fully implemented. As a result, young people feel that they have been persuaded to withdraw their complaint or that their complaint was not investigated.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Highly effective action is taken to ensure that young people are provided with an Inspection report children’s home: SC028526 5 appropriate education and they receive the support needed to engage positively. This includes liaison with education professionals when suitable education is not being provided. Staff provide support that is tailored to meet the individual needs of young people. In one case, this has included staff being present in the school to provide support during periods when the young person feels particularly vulnerable. A social worker described staff as going ‘above and beyond what you might expect’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The health and well-being of young people are given high priority. Staff take a sensitive approach to promoting relationships and sexual health education. This includes building peer relationships based on mutual respect. Young people have access to professional counselling provided by the organisation. A flexible approach is taken to ensuring that young people are linked to a counsellor with whom they are most likely to develop a therapeutic relationship.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff consistently promote healthy lifestyles but have had limited success in assisting young people to give up smoking. Although they have explored the availability of local smoking cessation services, they have not sought the advice of the designated nurse for looked after children in relation to this issue.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are encouraged to develop their personal interests and hobbies, and staff engage young people to explore a wide range of activities. Through this process, staff build a rapport with the young people and relationships become stronger. Many of the activities on offer provide an opportunity for young people to take exercise and learn new skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The support that young people receive in preparation for moving on to semi-independent living is exceptional. This begins at an early stage in a young person’s placement, with an emphasis on learning basic practical skills. The young people who have moved on since the last inspection, in March 2017, were prepared both practically and emotionally for this major transition. This was partly attributable to ensuring that young people’s placing authorities were fully engaged in the process. The organisation continues to provide outreach support to these young people, and this has been key to ensuring that the young people’s transition has been successful.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are committed to ensuring that young people’s contact with family members is a positive experience for all concerned. They have the skills to engage family members sensitively, so that contact plans are negotiated and agreed in advance. Effective communication between staff and family members helps minimise the potential for young people to engage in unsafe behaviours, or be at risk of harm, during home visits.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Throughout this inspection, staff were observed to provide individualised, nurturing care, while maintaining clear boundaries. There is consistency of care in sometimes challenging circumstances. There are indications that this approach is having a positive impact and young people are beginning to manage their behaviour and emotions more effectively. One social worker gave a positive account of how a young person was now, for the first time, able to reflect on incidents of challenging behaviour and apologise to those who may have been harmed by these. Inspection report children’s home: SC028526 6

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improvement to be good

Practice relating to keeping young people safe and protecting them from harm has been variable. Weaknesses were identified in the assessment and management of risk. The impact risk assessment, undertaken prior to one young person being admitted, failed to address key aspects of the unsafe behaviours that the young person was known to engage in. The young person was admitted in an emergency, making it difficult to complete a thorough assessment at the time. However, the assessment, particularly in relation to how another young person’s needs and behaviours could affect both young people, was not updated in the days following admission.

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improvement to be good

In one case, the unsafe behaviours demonstrated by a young person, both historically and recently, have not led to a formal risk assessment being undertaken. For example, no risk assessment was undertaken after a young person had engaged in dangerous behaviour while being transported in a moving vehicle. Not all recreational activities have been risk assessed, despite there being evidence that a young person could be vulnerable in certain situations. No risk assessment was undertaken in respect of an adult, who is not an employee of the organisation, staying in the home overnight.

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improvement to be good

The deficiency of risk assessments means that staff do not have clear strategies to follow in order to minimise the potential for young people to come to harm.

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improvement to be good

Although the organisation provides a comprehensive staff training programme, with an emphasis on safeguarding young people, insufficient priority has been given to ensuring that all staff receive specialist training to meet the specific needs of young people. In one case, a member of staff providing one-to-one care for a young person had not received the training necessary to ensure that she could manage an emergency situation. Consequently, when a serious incident did occur, the member of staff’s response was not as effective as it may have been.

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improvement to be good

On one occasion, a member of staff was not offered an adequate level of support when she expressed the view that a situation she was managing, while away from the home, was unsafe. The young person being supported at the time had engaged in very dangerous behaviour. Despite this, the member of staff was left to manage the situation alone.

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improvement to be good

Insufficient priority has been given to ensuring that the premises are maintained to a standard where young people are not exposed to health and safety hazards. In one of the young people’s bedrooms the window fittings have been poorly maintained. No window opening restrictors have been fitted. The nature of the young person’s behaviours makes this a significant risk. Damage to the interior of the home that had been caused just prior to the inspection taking place was not rectified in a timely manner, thus increasing the potential for a young person to be injured. Inspection report children’s home: SC028526 7 Although fire drills are regularly undertaken, no evidence was found to demonstrate that effective action is taken if a young person declines to take part. A young person has not taken part in a fire drill despite living at the home for three months. No records were produced to verify that this issue has been addressed with the young person. The fire

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improvement to be good

safety risk assessment is kept under review and equipment is regularly checked and serviced.

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improvement to be good

No young people have been harmed as a result of these shortfalls, and many aspects of safeguarding practice are stronger. Child protection concerns are quickly identified and information is appropriately shared with relevant professionals. Managers and staff are vigilant to the signs and potential for young people to become exploited. Partnership working with the police and social care professionals is well established, and intelligence relating to the potential sexual exploitation of young people is reported in a timely manner. A relatively new member of staff was able to speak confidently about risks to young people in the local community.

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improvement to be good

Staff are familiar with the home’s procedure for responding to young people who go missing or are absent without permission. They work tirelessly to locate young people who have gone missing and return them safely to the home at the earliest opportunity. Currently, there are few incidents of young people going missing from the home. Staff follow young people who leave the home without permission, and are tenacious in their efforts to bring them back. A social worker commented that a young person who was admitted in recent months has significantly reduced his episodes of going missing.

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improvement to be good

Positive behaviour is consistently promoted and a restorative approach is taken to addressing unacceptable behaviour. Young people’s plans contain clear descriptions of the unsafe and challenging behaviours they could present, and the triggers for these behaviours are identified. However, one plan examined during this inspection did not contain detailed strategies for managing the young person’s behaviour. As a result, the written guidance that staff can refer to in preparation for managing highly challenging situations is limited.

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improvement to be good

Young people receive guidance on how to remain safe when accessing the internet, and staff know which social media sites young people are signed up to. Wi-Fi access in the home is monitored, and software has been installed to minimise the potential for young people to visit inappropriate websites. There is also an expectation that young people’s personal devices with internet access will have security applications installed.

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improvement to be good

Staff recruitment procedures are rigorous and focused on preventing inappropriate adults becoming employed in the home. The interview process is thorough and explores an applicant’s motivation for working with vulnerable young people, and their ability to care and support young people in accordance with the home’s practice model.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home does not currently have a registered manager but is managed well by the registered individual who has significant experience of supporting vulnerable young Inspection report children’s home: SC028526 8 people. She holds the level 5 diploma in leadership and management for residential childcare. Initially, the registered individual submitted an application to Ofsted to become the registered manager. However, a delay occurred in communicating that this arrangement cannot be approved. The organisation is now planning to recruit an internal candidate to the role of registered manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are established systems for monitoring the quality of care being provided. Many of the weaknesses described in the help and protection section of this report had been identified prior to the inspection taking place. The manager was open and honest in terms of acknowledging the shortfalls and had clearly identified areas for improvement and learning from serious incidents. For example, managers have reflected on why practice relating to young people’s mental health needs has not met the usual high standards, and have taken action to address this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a strong commitment to securing young people’s views as part of the quality of care monitoring process. This includes young people’s meetings which focus on the development of the home’s service plan.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager maintains oversight of young people’s care plans. She ensures that they clearly identify the young person’s needs and specify how these will be met. Partnership working with placing authority social workers is strong. Social workers spoken to during this inspection consistently said that information is shared in a timely manner and that communication is good. Managers and staff are solution focused and often initiate creative approaches to resolving any difficulties. Social workers are consulted as part of this process. The manager advocates strongly for young people where it is perceived that delays in the care planning process are having a detrimental impact on the young person’s well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

In recent months, the admission of new young people to the home has resulted in more frequent challenging behaviour. Some of this has had a negative impact on the local community, and there have been complaints from nearby residents. The local police have also been contacted in relation to these matters. The manager has responded sensitively and made efforts to open a dialogue with neighbours. During this inspection, the manager was able to identify further action that will be taken to resolve this issue.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a comprehensive induction programme for new staff. This includes training focused on promoting the safety and well-being of young people. New staff are also introduced to the home’s practice model and learn the basic principles underlying the approach before undertaking formal training. As a result, new staff feel well prepared and confident enough to commence direct work with young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are excellent opportunities for staff to reflect on their practice and examine the impact of practice on the young people. This includes both individual and group supervision, where the needs of young people are considered and the effectiveness of agreed strategies discussed. Managers recognise the emotional impact that the work may have on staff, and ensure that they have access to professional support when needed. As a result, staff feel valued and are motivated to provide good, individualised Inspection report children’s home: SC028526 9 care to young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a detailed knowledge of the background circumstances and needs of young people. She is a positive role model for young people and staff and promotes a culture of high aspiration. Throughout the inspection it was observed that staff gain real satisfaction from young people’s achievements, and ensure that these are both recognised and celebrated.

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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: SC028526 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Anderida Adolescent Care

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 6a Neville Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN22 8HR

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Inspector

Stephen Collett, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC028526 11 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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