Children's Home run by Roundhouse Care in Staffordshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC478852 1 SC478852 Registered provider: Roundhouse Care Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this home

This home is operated by a private provider and is registered to provide care and accommodation for three young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and learning disabilities.

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC478852 2 Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home is outstanding because:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people make exceptional progress from their starting points.  Young people feel safe and are protected from harm.  Staff are extremely dedicated, motivated and passionate, and deliver high- quality care to young people.  Young people are given nurture in a home where they thrive as a result of the therapeutic approach used by the staff.  The manager drives improvement that improves life chances for children and young people.  Young people enjoy exceptionally positive experiences because of the care that they receive and the different opportunities they have.

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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 manager does not always record the effectiveness of any consequences used.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 10/11/2016 Full Outstanding 30/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 05/01/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC478852 3

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What does the children’s home need to do to improve?

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the behaviour management strategy is kept under review and revised where appropriate. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.34) Specifically, ensure that the manager records her evaluations of any sanctions used.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Relationships between staff and young people are excellent and built on trust. The young people live together in harmony because placements are exceptionally well matched. The staff fully understand how to meet young people’s needs and do this effectively. Staff go the extra mile to ensure that all young people get the best out of their experiences while living in the home. For example, staff have taken a real interest one young person’s hobbies and encouraged him to take these further. As a result, the young person secured a part-time job with a haulage company where he can gain experience in an area that is of interest to him.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people live healthy lifestyles that promote their well-being. A young person said,

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

My health is good. The staff support and guide me around my sexual health. I do have a girlfriend. I attend all my appointments, my diet is very good. I have to keep fit to do my football, this means a lot to me. I use my activity money to attend the gym, this keeps me fit.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are strong advocates for young people. For example, the manager persisted with arranging psychological help for a young person when she realised that he needed specialist emotional support. The staff make important links with particular organisations that hold social events for young people who have specific needs. This gives young people who see themselves as different a chance to meet others that they can relate to. This enables young people to develop their identities, feel accepted and see that they are not alone.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The manager and the team continue to use a model of attachment theory to inform their practice. Staff nurture young people extremely well. The home is warm and welcoming; there are lovely soft furnishings around and soft toys for young people to cuddle up to. Inspection report children’s home: SC478852 4 There is soft lighting that can be used at night to calm the atmosphere. Young people, staff and visitors feel this sense of nurture when they are in the home. Staff have an understanding of the young people’s journeys. They compile lovely memory books for young people that they can take with them and treasure when they move on from the home. The staff team is tuned into the feelings of the young people and staff can quickly de-escalate situations. Young people recognise that the staff care about them and this helps them to develop trusting relationships with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people receive excellent care from dedicated staff who are passionate about the care that they provide. Staff arrange for young people to move into the home in a sensitive and well-planned manner. A young person said,

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

I knew I was coming here. [Name of the manager] came to visit me after the social worker told me. [Name of the manager] talked to me about the home. She gave me a guide that told me what to expect. My social worker took me to the placement and I was given the choice about how I would like my bedroom decorated.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

For young people who have experienced an extremely difficult time, this caring approach reassures them and helps them to settle into the home quickly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people make incredible progress from their starting points. Staff work extremely hard to deliver outstanding outcomes for them. Young people’s confidence, maturity and self-esteem flourish. A social worker commented on how much progress a young person has made. She said,

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

[Name of the young person] attends the Children in Care Council. At Christmas he was mentor for the younger children. There was an awards evening and he presented who was coming up for the award. Staff went to see him and were so proud of him. He delivered the event perfectly and was so confident, he made people laugh.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people make significant progress with their education. The staff work tirelessly with external professionals to ensure that young people get access to an education that meets their individual needs. As a result, young people’s attainment and attendance are remarkably improved. A social worker commented,

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

[Name of the young person] is a very bright young man. He has really changed over the last six months. This is due to the small home he is living in. This has helped relationships to develop by nurturing and mentoring him. It has been so important to him, he has made great strides. He found a job and is doing well with his education and work. This placement is the key to his success. He now engages so well in his education placement. He has maintained 100% attendance and wants to be a physio, he could easily achieve this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people participate in regular meetings, key-work sessions and daily conversations Inspection report children’s home: SC478852 5 with staff. Their views, wishes and feelings are taken seriously and acted on. For example, a young person approached the manager because he wanted the manager to spend time with him like she does when staff have supervision. This request was taken to the managers’ meeting. Following the meeting it was agreed that young people would have meetings with the manager. The young person helped to devise questions to ask the manager at these meetings. The manager gains valuable feedback from young people at these meetings and uses this to develop the service.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Well-planned contact arrangements enable young people keep in touch with their families and friends. Staff promote positive relationships between families and children. The attention to detail helps young people to see and understand the importance of these relationships. As a result, family bonds are strengthened. A parent said,

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Since he has been living at the home, communication with him is much better. We have phone calls from him when it is our birthdays and special occasions. It is easy to get in touch with the staff. Contact is much better now and we have more information shared with is. The staff are absolutely wonderful with my child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people participate in a range of leisure activities of their choice. Young people learn important social skills and enjoy a variety of experiences that help them to grow and mature. A young person wrote a letter to the manager expressing how happy he is to be living at the home and said,

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

I enjoy activities that [name of the manager] arranges. I feel safe and comfortable around the manager and the team. I feel able to talk to her if there is a problem. [Name of the manager] always attends my meetings and in those meetings she always helps and supports me and cares for me the best she can. She is always fighting my corner all of the time. She always tries to be helpful and is delightful to me.

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

Young people are extremely well protected and safe living at the home. High staffing levels ensure that young people are supervised appropriately.

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

Occasionally, young people go missing from the home. The staff work exceptionally well with the police, social workers and support staff from the local authority to return young people to the home safely. The staff’s quick responses and excellent partnership working mean that young people are located and returned quickly. The manager said, ‘We have the vulnerability hub involved to support our working relationships to keep [name of the young person] safe, when she goes missing from care.’ When young people return home, the staff support them well. For example, when a child returned home following a missing episode, a staff member had prepared a warm bath, dimmed the lights, warmed her tea up and laid out her clothes for her. This loving, nurturing approach sends the message to young people that staff do care about them, and are glad that they have Inspection report children’s home: SC478852 6 returned safely. In turn, this helps young people to begin to talk to them about any

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

Young people learn to manage their behaviour appropriately because staff implement routines that they respond to. Routines and boundaries are consistent and fair. Young people know what is expected of them and they feel safe because they live in a calm and predictable home.

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

Young people learn that behaviours have consequences. They receive rewards when they do things well and sanctions when they have behaved in an unacceptable way. This helps young people to begin to take responsibility for their actions. A young person said, ‘When I need help the staff help me. The staff don’t hold grudges. I always apologise and we move on.’ As the result of an incident in the car, a young person subsequently missed out on attending an activity he enjoyed. The sanction imposed helped the young person to reflect on his behaviour. Sanctions are rarely used because young people’s behaviour improves and they make the right choices more of the time. The manager does not always record the effectiveness of the consequences that are imposed. This is a recording issue, and has not had a direct impact on children.

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

Staff only use physical intervention as a last resort. The use of physical intervention has considerably reduced because staff use therapeutic techniques that help young people to manage their emotions better.

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

Young people know how to complain. They are provided with a young people’s guide upon admission. The guide outlines how they can raise concerns and make a complaint. Young people actively use the complaints system when they are unhappy. For example, a young person made a complaint to his social worker about his future plans. As a result, the young person’s voice was heard, his complaint was dealt with appropriately and he received a positive outcome. This shows that young people are taken seriously and listened to.

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

The manager continues to meticulously assess risk through her effective monitoring and review of young people. Impact risk assessments are completed before new young people come to live at the home. The manager scrutinises young people’s histories and carefully considers how a new young person’s arrival may impact on the safety of those already living in the home. This ensures that young people can live together safely.

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

There is no evidence of bullying in the home. Staff promote a respectful and loving culture in the home. They lead by example, demonstrating positive, honest and trusting relationships between each other. Providing positive role models for young people helps them to develop respectful relationships with others.

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

The home is maintained to an excellent standard. This means that young people are protected from accidents because the home is free from hazards.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Inspection report children’s home: SC478852 7 The registered manager is suitably experienced and qualified. The manager is supported by exceptional staff who are passionate and dedicated. Staff are empowered to develop in their roles. Staff speak highly of the manager. A staff member said, ‘I would not have got this far without her mentorship, vision, support and guidance. She really does just want the best for everyone. She is amazing.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager’s hands-on approach means that she is fully aware of the young people’s individual strengths and needs. The manager strives to ensure that young people continue to receive high-quality care from a committed and professional staff team. Each young person makes considerable progress from their starting point. The manager said,

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Each child is unique. It is about finding what works for the child and promotingwhat they do well. For example, [name of the young person] used to cover his face. We always say, ‘Hi beautiful’, this helps his self-esteem. He does not cover his face now. This is incredible. I am so proud of these kids.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and the staff team strive to meet the objectives of the home’s statement of purpose. They recognise the value of providing a service that significantly improves the lives of young people. The manager and the staff know that the home is meeting the objectives of the statement of purpose because young people tell the staff, their social workers, parents and the independent visitor how much they love living in the home and the improvement it has made to their lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive high-quality supervision, training and appraisals that promote their learning and development. This keeps staff up to date with legislative changes. A staff member said, ‘The training is brilliant.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager implements rigorous monitoring systems for assessing the home’s strengths and weaknesses. The additional monitoring carried out by an independent visitor further supports the home’s development. The manager uses these monitoring systems to continually drive improvement. Young people contribute to the home by sharing their views. A staff member said, ‘They help to shape the home and its future.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has addressed the one recommendation made at the last inspection. Risk assessments now outline how young people’s privacy requirements will be met when they go on holiday. One recommendation has been raised as a result of this inspection.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the children’s home Inspection report children’s home: SC478852 8 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: SC478852 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Roundhouse Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Ventura House, Ventura Park Road, Tamworth, Staffordshire B78 3HL

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Inspector

Michelle Spruce: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC478852 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 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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