Children's home run by Southern Adolescent Care Services Ltd in Crawley

Inspection report children's home: SC487196 1 SC487196 Registered provider: Southern Adolescent Care Services Ltd

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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 children‟s home is one of three operated by the same private provider. It can accommodate up to five young people on a planned or emergency basis. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The provider has education and therapy services to support young people‟s needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children's home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: Sustained effectiveness

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Key findings from this inspection

This children's home is outstanding because: Inspection report children's home: SC487196 2  Young people make progress in every aspect of their lives and clearly enjoy living here.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Thoughtful care from the staff enables meaningful relationships to develop with young people.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people‟s views are seen as important and are acted on appropriately

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Key findings from this inspection

 Every opportunity is taken to improve young people‟s safety.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Partnerships with other agencies are quickly sought when needed and are maintained very effectively.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Strong leadership and management focuses the staff team on young people‟s needs and sustains reflective practice.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The culture in the home promotes continuous improvement.

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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 staff do not always complete their level 3 diploma for residential childcare (England) qualification in suitable timescales.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/03/2017 Interim sustained effectiveness 23/11/2016 Full outstanding 22/01/2016 Interim improved effectiveness 28/07/2015 Full requires improvement Inspection report children's home: SC487196 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

(2) The registered person may only— (a) employ an individual to work at the children‟s home; or (b) if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). (3) The requirements are that— (b) the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform; (4) For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained— (a) the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or (b) a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma. (5) The relevant date is—

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Requirement Due date

(a) in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or (b) in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (6) The registered person may defer the relevant date if the individual— (a) does not work, or has not worked, in a care role in a home for a prolonged period; or (b) works, or has worked, in a care role in a home on a part-time basis. (Regulation 32(2)(3)(b)(4)(5)) In particular, the registered person must review whether the staff who are undertaking their Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) qualification will or have completed their qualification by the relevant date. The registered person must ensure that the member of staff gains their qualification as soon 31/03/18 Inspection report children's home: SC487196 4

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Requirement Due date

as possible if they have not attained this within the given timescale and monitor effectively any delay that occurs in the future.

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outstanding

The needs of young people who live here are matched well. The managers identify and plan for any areas of potential tension. Where additional staff training is needed managers quickly meet put this in place.

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outstanding

The support provided to young people is carefully planned so that when the young person arrives the staff spend a lot of individual time with them talking through what it is like to live here and what the young person wants to achieve. In one instance records showed that 22 discussions were held with a young person in the first month that she lived here. This good practice has resulted in most young people settling quickly with minimised disruption to the group of young people already living here.

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outstanding

Young people who live here speak very positively about the staff and the ways that they support them. One young person gave the home nine out of 10. She said that the only reason she did not give it 10 is because it is not in [name of city]‟. Three of the young people have lived here for over a year each; one young person said, „This is the best place. I managed to break all of my other placements. Not here.‟

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outstanding

Care is successful because it is led by the young people‟s needs. The staff reflect on „the journey‟ that they are on with each young person. They recognise that at times young people‟s behaviours may regress; they understand that a young person maybe exploring issues which he or she has previously supressed and that in itself this is progress. The staff carefully monitor young people‟s needs and note any signs of change so that they can prepare for these as a staff team. One young person has been accepted for who they are and has been allowed to explore their identity. This has enabled them to develop more self-confidence.

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outstanding

Positive engagement with education is a significant improvement for several young people. One young person‟s attendance improved from 63% to 85% in the last school term. Another, who has spent a significant amount of time outside of education, is attending three days a week. All young people have aspirations for their futures which the staff tap into to promote the young people‟s interests and enjoyment of learning.

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outstanding

Young people‟s health needs are met well. Young are encouraged to eat healthy meals and are helped to develop healthy routines such as regular exercise. The Inspection report children's home: SC487196 5 support that staff provide for young people to manage their emotional needs is particularly effective. Young people are offered several different types of therapeutic support. This flexibility allows for young people‟s individual preferences to be met well. For example, one young person used the weekly art therapy session to produce a map of how to reduce different kinds of stresses to promote emotional well-being.

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outstanding

Staff make links with relevant health agencies such as the substance misuse team. The substance misuse worker told inspectors that he was impressed with the level of interest and engagement he had with the staff; this strengthens their knowledge of substance misuse and has supported young people to engage positively with the substance misuse worker. As a result young people are more able to reflect on their substance misuse and how it affects their lives.

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outstanding

Support for developing self-help and independence skills is thorough. One social worker said that the staff have a good understanding of which independence skills the young person needs and how to meet these needs.

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outstanding

Time is dedicated to listening to young people and taking account of their views. Young people said, „They [the staff] really listen to you and take you seriously‟. The young people are encouraged to talk about the things that matter to them and the staff recognise and adopt ways of encouraging young people to talk, such as going to the shops with them or for a drive. Regular young people‟s meetings are held and one young person produces a bi-weekly newsletter for all at the home.

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outstanding

The staff encourage young people to develop a range of interests. Young people can struggle to identify activities which they wish to engage in. However, two young people have recently taken up sporting activities which they said they are enjoying. Young people enjoy having fun with the staff. There is a fun atmosphere at the home, with a lot of laughter and young people enjoying telling jokes to each other and to staff. The home‟s Christmas decorations involved everyone making a Hansel and Gretel environment where gingerbread houses, a forest and hanging sweets filled the home.

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outstanding

The time young people spend with their friends and family is promoted and results in positive change for young people. One social worker confirmed that the relationship between a mother and young person had improved after changes to the way that the staff maintained their contact with the young person‟s mother. Managers are currently reviewing how well they develop and maintain young people‟s relationships with their families. Managers ensure that care plans document how to develop these relationships from the time a young person comes to live here.

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outstanding

Increasing young people‟s safety is a priority for the staff. The staff continually identify ways to address particular areas of concern. At the current time the Inspection report children's home: SC487196 6 managers are concerned about risks from self-harm. Appropriate risk assessments are in place and staff actions such as care of old scars and first aid are well documented. The managers reflect widely on how to create a safer environment. They are working with the police to reduce the potential for young people to easily obtain razors from local supermarkets and to take action about known drug dealers in the area.

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outstanding

A positive culture of tolerance and equality flourishes within the home. Any indication of bullying is quickly dealt with and support is provided for young people to develop positive relationships with each other. Young people‟s ability to empathise with others is encouraged. There have been several complaints from neighbours have been managed well with young people making personal reparation to the complainant.

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outstanding

Positive behaviour is encouraged and difficult behaviour is managed well. Clear goals effectively encourage young people to change their behaviours. There are very few restraints. A young person who recently came to live here has quickly reduced the number of times that she has gone missing. If a young person does go missing the staff take the right steps to learn more about what happened so that they can prevent a reoccurrence.

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outstanding

Young people‟s risks are understood and minimised by well-written and up-to-date risk assessments. The risk assessments provide the staff with appropriate guidance on how to manage young people‟s behaviour. A traffic light system on each risk assessments helps the staff to identify the most important risks. One risk assessment regarding a young person‟s use of his bicycle, whilst clearly understood by the staff, was not recorded. It was completed during the inspection.

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outstanding

Staff knowledge about safeguarding is kept up to date and the staff induction programme effectively ensures that the staff have a good working knowledge of safeguarding.

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outstanding

Recruitment procedures include all possible steps to consider the suitability of an applicant. Interviews focuses on both generic questions and those for specific roles, such as their suitability to be a night-time member of staff. Young people and other staff are asked to comment on an applicant‟s suitability and are involved in asking questions of them. This enables the home to form a rounded picture of a person‟s suitability.

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outstanding

Health and safety matters such as accident and fire records are up-to-date and appropriately maintained.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers are thorough and they make a real difference to young people. The managers have a strong vision for the home. Planning, review and Inspection report children's home: SC487196 7 monitoring systems are good and the managers challenge any deficits in practice. For example, the managers are instigating more evaluative and analytical monthly visits by the independent visitor. The managers lead by example and make every effort to become well-informed about new developments that are relevant to the care of young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staffing levels meet young people‟s needs and provide plenty of opportunities for the staff to spend time with young people and to keep up-to-date plans and records. Records are well written and one-to-one sessions with young people are very child focused. These records are written as letters to each young person and are respectful and celebratory yet challenge the young people about areas of their lives that they find difficult.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The level of staff support is appreciated and valued by the staff who work as a cohesive team. The staff use the managerial systems in place, for example team meetings and handovers, to talk about how to achieve the best care possible. The staff are very complimentary about the level of support that they receive and how this helps them to progress

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Training programmes are well established and have a positive impact on staff. The staff are able to reflect on how their training has improved the care they provide to young people and which courses have been of particular assistance. They demonstrate a good knowledge of a range of issues affecting young people‟s care and a strong commitment to continual learning. However, not all of the staff have completed their level 3 diploma for residential childcare (England) qualification within relevant timescales.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Partnership working is well embedded within the home. The staff work collaboratively with all concerned with the care of young people. If necessary, managers actively challenge decisions which they consider are not in the young people‟s best interests.

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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 Inspection report children's home: SC487196 8 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: SC487196 9

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Southern Adolescent Care Services Ltd

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Room 8, Worth Corner, Turners Hill Road, Pound Hill, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 7SL

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Inspector

Ruth Coler, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: SC487196 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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