Action For Children

Unique reference number SC800004 Inspection date 28/10/2014 Inspector David Kidner Type of inspection Full

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Registered person Action For Children - North Somerset Registered manager Kirsty Preen Responsible individual Lee Furniss Date of last inspection N/A Action For Children Inspection report for residential holiday schemes for disabled children Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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Brief description of the service

This residential holiday scheme for disabled children is a charitable trust. It provides a variety of residential holidays throughout the year to children and young people with complex needs, including learning and physical disability and complex health needs. The scheme operates from offices at another registered residential provision that the charity operates.

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The overall experiences of children and young people

The overall experiences of children and young people is judged to be good.

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The overall experiences of children and young people

This is the first inspection of this holiday scheme since it was registered with Ofsted in April 2014.

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The overall experiences of children and young people

Young people thoroughly enjoy their stay at the residential holiday scheme. The scheme provides young people with a wide range of social and recreational experiences that may not be able to access otherwise. One young person said ‘It doesn’t matter if you’re a child in a wheelchair; it gives you the opportunity to experience new things’. Another young person said ‘I’d like to come here again’. Commissioners are very positive about the holidays that the scheme provides and state ‘We carried out a consultation in respect of the scheme. The feedback from parents, carers, school and social workers is that it is a very valuable experience for children and offers children access to activities that they couldn’t access in any other way’.

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The overall experiences of children and young people

The holiday venue provides excellent activity facilities for people with disabilities. Young people benefit from new experiences and are offered a wide range of leisure opportunities including, canoeing, abseiling, horse riding, walks and indoor games. The holiday provides young people with the opportunity to build their confidence and try lots of new things. One young person said ‘I tried abseiling and canoeing, I didn’t really like it that much, but I gave it a go’. Another young person said that an activity they tried ‘Gave me confidence, it made me feel big’. Young people’s views and opinions are taken into consideration whilst on holiday. This includes their care and support and making choices in what activities they wish to do.

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The overall experiences of children and young people

Leaders and helpers place the well-being of individual young people at the centre of their practice and demonstrate a very supportive, caring and professional approach. Young people’s dignity and privacy is promoted. Young people receive good quality care and support. Detailed care and support plans alongside comprehensive risk assessments ensure that young people’s needs are clearly identified and met. Some young people require support with their communication needs and staff are skilled in using alternative methods of communication to inform young people of the activities of the day, and to seek their views in all aspects of the holiday. Young people enjoy extremely positive relationships with leaders and helpers. They are able to request specific leaders and helpers to support them and assist them in their activities and personal care needs. One young person said ‘The staff that look after me are doing

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The overall experiences of children and young people

Young people make friends whilst on holiday and they are considerate and helpful towards each other.

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The overall experiences of children and young people

Young people are protected by safe care practices and robust policies and procedures. Leaders and managers ensure that comprehensive risk assessments are completed in respect of the venue for the holiday. Young people state that they feel safe and are able to identify staff they can speak to if they are feeling worried or concerned.

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The overall experiences of children and young people

The leadership and management arrangements are effective. The holiday is very well planned to meet the needs of the young people. Leaders and helpers meet with parents and carers and involve them in the planning of the holiday. In addition, parents and carers sign their child’s care plans and risk assessments. This demonstrates good partnership working. Young people are able to keep in touch with their parents whilst on holiday if they so wish. The helpers are knowledgeable of the young people and ensure that young people receive a great holiday. Helpers are enthusiastic and committed to ensuring young people experience new activities and have a great holiday.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, the Residential Holiday Schemes for Disabled Children (England) Regulations 2013 and the National Minimum Standards. The Registered Person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

Reg The person carrying out the visit must inspect the premises and sites used by the scheme to provide care and accommodation for children and records of any complaints (Regulation 29 (4) (b) (i) (ii) )

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Reg. Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a statutory requirement notice.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 review the system used to demonstrate, including from written and electronic records, that it consistently follows good recruitment practice, and all applicable current statutory requirements and guidance, in staff recruitment and carers selection (NMS 9.2)

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Recommendations

 ensure the scheme has a system in place to monitor the adequacy of record keeping and take action when needed. In particular, the signing and dating of documents (NMS 15.1).

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protected

The service is good helping and protecting children and young people.

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protected

The scheme has robust safeguarding practices and procedures. Leaders and helpers demonstrate a good awareness and understanding of safeguarding practices and protocols and have all received training in child protection. Leaders and helpers have are clear understanding of the action to take if young people go missing. However, the scheme has not required the need to make formal contact with the local safeguarding agencies or police. The local area designated officer confirms that they have not been approached by the scheme in respect of any child protection referrals. The scheme ensures that young people are provided with good levels of support and supervision at all times.

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protected

Young people receive good quality care and support. Care plans clearly reflect the individual needs of the young people and these have been devised in collaboration with parents and carers. In addition, comprehensive risk assessments identify known risks and actions taken to reduce risk. These are signed by parents and carers. Leaders and helpers are committed in providing young people with new opportunities and experiences. They have high aspirations for all the young people to enjoy their holiday but at the same time respecting young people’s views if they do not wish to partake in activities.

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protected

Young people’s behaviour is extremely good. Helpers are provided with detailed care and support plans that include positive behaviour management plans and the action to be taken in the event of behaviours that may become challenging, and identifies the intervention that has been authorised to use if needed. However, restraint has not been used. All leaders and helpers have received training in the schemes chosen method of de-escalation and restraint.

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protected

Helpers are very supportive when young people are upset and may be missing their families. Leaders and helpers ensure that good communication is maintained with parents and carers in the event of a young person becoming upset or unwell. Young people are kept safe and feel safe. The scheme has robust systems for managing, administering and recording of medication. Young people’s health needs are well promoted. Leaders and helpers have a detailed understanding of young people’s individual health care needs. The medical needs of young people are well known and there are systems in place should a young person require medical assistance. All leaders and helpers have received first aid training.

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protected

The holiday takes place at a suitable location with excellent facilities for people with disabilities. The scheme ensures that the accommodation meets the needs of young people. The accommodation has adapted showering, bathing and toilet facilities. All bedrooms for young people are of single occupancy and are accessible to young people who have the use of a wheelchair. Hoist and stair lifts ensure that young people’s mobility needs are very well met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The effectiveness of leaders and managers is good

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers lead by example and provide effective leadership. They are committed to providing disabled young people with high quality care and an enjoyable holiday.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers regularly monitor the quality of care provided and consult with young people and their families about their views and experiences. The scheme has received very positive comments from young people and their families. One young person said ‘The holiday was too short, should have been longer’. Another young person said it was ‘Amazing and mint’. Leaders and managers monitor matters relating to safeguarding and reflect on their practice. They review the outcomes for young people and identify areas of development. However, is not always clear that leaders and managers have recorded that they have monitored and evaluated matters relating to premises, sites and complaints. However, this does not negatively impact on the safety and well-being of young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The scheme’s statement of purpose is clear and is in line with regulation. The young person’s guide is presented in a child friendly format. Parents, carers and commissioners are clear on the aims and objectives of the scheme.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The scheme ensures that parents and carers are provided with the objectives of the planned holiday and have provided them with a variety of pamphlets, brochures and leaflets of the holiday venue. Holidays are thoroughly planned and wherever possible parents and carers are fully involved in the planning of the holiday for their child. Leaders visit young people and their families at their home and liaise with other professionals such as teachers, to ensure that full assessments of young people’s needs are established before the holiday commences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The scheme ensures that the recruitment and vetting of newly appointed helpers meets regulations. However, the vast majority of helpers have been employed by the charity for a number of years and some helpers are employed in other roles within the organisation. The scheme ensures that a record pertaining to their recruitment demonstrates that all appropriate checks have been undertaken. However, not all records are clear and accessible.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers ensure that there is sufficient number of suitably skilled and experienced helpers to meet the complex needs of young people. Helpers receive the required mandatory training including safeguarding, first aid and de-escalation and restraint training. Other training they receive includes training in the use of medical aids and equipment, medication, alternative methods of communication and moving and handling. Leaders and managers ensure that helpers receive regular support, supervision and appraisal. Helpers state that they receive good training, support and supervision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Young people’s written records and plans are comprehensive and clear. However, not all records are signed and dated.

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children and young people

The service is good at working in partnership to improve outcomes for children and young people.

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children and young people

Since registration the scheme has provided two holidays. Leaders, managers and helpers establish good and effective relationships with young people, their families and school. Through collaboration with parents, carers and other appropriate professionals the scheme ensures that a thorough assessment takes place to ensure that the scheme can meet the needs of the young people. As a result leaders and helpers have a good understanding and awareness of young people’s individual diverse needs. Commissioners are complimentary of the scheme and state they have no concerns about the quality of care provided.

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children and young people

The scheme attends a local multi-resources panel to discuss referrals to the scheme. The panel consists of representatives from health, social care, education, family liaison workers and staff from the charity. This demonstrates good partnership working to ensure the young people’s needs are clearly identified and agreements made for young people to attend the scheme. This has improved partnership working.

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children and young people

Leaders, managers and helpers gain a good awareness and knowledge of the local facilities and maximise the use of the wider community to provide young people with stimulating and enjoyable activities. Leaders and managers seek the views of parents and carers, this informs their future practice.

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children and young people

Leaders and managers have effective links with the local safeguarding children’s board and the local authority designated officer. There have not been any matters relating to safeguarding since registration.

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to inform children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against Residential holiday schemes for disabled children: The inspection framework, evaluation schedule and grade descriptors.

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