Children's Home run by Action for Children Services Ltd in Buckinghamshire

Inspection report children‟s home: SC424089 1 SC424089 Registered provider:

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is a short-break service for children and young people with learning disabilities, sensory impairment and physical disabilities. It can accommodate up to 14 children at a time, although the needs of children mean that the occupancy rarely reaches this level.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

A national children‟s charity runs the home. It comprises two units: one specifically for children and young people who may have challenging behaviours associated with their disability and one for children who require some degree of nursing care.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since October 2016.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children‟s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children‟s home: SC424089 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/08/2018 Full Good 25/07/2017 Full Good 21/12/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 17/08/2016 Full Good Inspection report children‟s home: SC424089 3

p.2

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who- understand the children‟s home‟s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; use this understanding to deliver care that meets children‟s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(i)) 30/09/2019

p.3

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children‟s home that— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(h)) 30/09/2019

p.3

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. The registered person must— notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(b)) 30/08/2019

p.3

Recommendations

 The home should work in partnership with relevant people as appropriate to ensure that each child is provided with support (appropriate to their age and understanding) to communicate their views, wishes and feelings and participate Inspection report children‟s home: SC424089 4 as fully as possible in all aspects of their care planning and daily care. This may include the use of and support to use communication aids, equipment and/or any necessary language support. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 22, paragraph 4.6) This is with specific reference to using communication aids that are used with the children in school.  In some cases, such as in residential special schools that are also registered children‟s homes or children‟s homes caring for children with complex care needs,

p.3

Recommendations

restraint may be necessary as a consequence of a child‟s impairment or disability. A child‟s EHC plan or statement of special educational needs may contain detail about planned and agreed approaches to restraint or restraint techniques to be applied in the day-to-day routine of the child. This could include, for example the use of a device such as outlined in paragraph 9.46. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 47, paragraph 9.43) In particular, ensure that relevant plans are held on file for the use of safety beds.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The stable and experienced staff team is a significant strength in this service. Staff are highly attuned to the children‟s needs. They swiftly respond to the children when they show signs of distress and offer them immediate comfort and support. Children observed during this inspection were smiling happily and looked relaxed and comfortable. This shows the level of trust they have developed in the staff caring for them.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff use a range of communication methods with the children, including Makaton, PECS symbols and social stories. The simplicity of the children‟s guide and complaints procedure make them clear and accessible. Staff are supportive in helping children make a complaint. As a result, all of the children have a voice.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have established positive links with schools. This involves attending „keep-in-touch‟ meetings, children‟s reviews and classroom observations. While most measures used in schools are adopted by the home, some methods such as touch cues have not yet been introduced.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Weekly circle time provides children with a forum to express their views, wishes and feelings. A range of themes are covered which inform and enhance their visits and raise their awareness of the wider world. For example, one group of children were helped to recognise and respect each other‟s personal space, helping develop their friendships and appreciate each other‟s company.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy an extensive range of on-site activities. This includes helping look after the fruit and vegetable garden, playing on the ship climbing frame, or using the well- Inspection report children‟s home: SC424089 5 equipped play and sensory rooms. Outings during the weekends and holidays, such as swimming at a lido and visiting a zoo, extend their experiences beyond the home. This provides the children with a range of stimulating, fun and educational activities which promote their social and physical development.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The decor is homely and welcoming. Volunteers are involved in undertaking projects to enhance the environment. The home is generally well maintained; however, it has taken too long to complete some essential maintenance. For example, a hoist remained out of action for several weeks, while waiting for a control to be replaced.

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the children to work towards set goals, and progress is reviewed at regular intervals. This enables the children to develop new skills, whether this is working on their grip, mobility, self-care or life skills. Parents spoke positively about the opportunities their children receive, which have helped them to become more independent.

p.5

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

Staff provide a safe and secure environment for children to visit. They are highly committed and thoughtful in how they care for the children and the level of support they extend to their families. This was confirmed by a parent who spoke of the „exceptional support‟ and the „passion staff displayed‟ in helping her to attend a health appointment with her child.

p.5

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

Staff have good knowledge of how to keep children safe under their care. They explore all unexplained injuries or marks on a child and record these clearly. Staff recognise the vulnerability of the children and remain alert to signs of abuse. Any concerns are appropriately escalated and referred to the relevant safeguarding professionals.

p.5

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

Behaviour is exceptionally well managed. Incidents are carefully analysed to identify the antecedents to gain a fuller understanding of what measures are needed to reduce the risk of reoccurrence. As a result, the use of physical intervention is extremely rare, with only one incident having occurred since the last inspection.

p.5

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

Impact assessments and matching processes have been strengthened to include ongoing assessment which considers the best match for each child. This has resulted in adjustments being made to the groups of children in line with their needs and level of vulnerability. For one child, this had led them to developing new friendships, improving their behaviour and increasing their independence. These changes have had a positive impact on all the children, who are now very settled.

p.5

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

When incidents occur, there is a rigorous approach to understand what learning can be taken forward to keep children as safe as possible. This is supported by detailed risk assessments which contain measures to reduce risk. The use of safety beds is set out clearly within children‟s care plans. However, some case files did not contain the initial occupational therapy assessment setting out the arrangements for their safe use.

p.5

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

The staff are closely supported by two registered nurses who form part of the team. The Inspection report children‟s home: SC424089 6 nurses oversee training related to medication and delegated healthcare tasks. Comprehensive internal and external training, and a stringent assessment process, ensure that staff are competent and confident in undertaking these tasks. In-depth health plans provide clear follow-on guidance for staff to adhere to.

p.5

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

Medication monitoring is good, with any deficits being carefully investigated. Great care is taken to learn from mistakes and reduce the number of errors made. Staff are diligent in reporting any discrepancies or incidents without delay, seeking appropriate medical advice, and notifying the parent and relevant professionals.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is energetic and passionate, with a clear vision for the home. The staff share this view and have high standards for themselves and each other. They recognise their individual strengths and weaknesses and understand the importance of supporting each other to deliver the best care and outcomes they can for the children. The service manager works closely with the team and is supportive, sharing responsibility with the manager for the ongoing development of this service. The children‟s experience is central to their practice.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has just been through a tender process with the commissioning authority which is now complete. However, this caused a period of uncertainty for staff. A range of events on the topic of well-being were planned to support the staff during this process. Workshops in mindfulness skills, team building, and other related topics were well received and enjoyed by all the team.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has established strong links with schools and the wider professional network. Liaison meetings with the placing authority provide a forum to review the progress of children, discuss referrals and wider operational matters.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A number of children receive care packages of over 75 days a year. In these circumstances the child is „looked after‟; an independent reviewing officer should be appointed, and a short-break care plan drawn up. Leaders and managers have escalated concerns when this process has not been followed in order to ensure that statutory services are provided for these children.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager hosts events for the children and their families. This provides a welcome opportunity for parents to socialise with each other. One parent spoke of the positive skills she has learned through observing staff during these events, where their „skills have been clearly on display‟. Another parent spoke highly of the support provided to her and her family, valuing these occasions where she feels comfortable to relax and have fun.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team members are highly experienced and skilled. Training is extensive and provides a broad spectrum of interesting courses for staff to extend their knowledge. The emphasis on supervision allows staff to learn and grow through reflective practice. Staff said they find this a useful process in which they are suitably challenged. Inspection report children‟s home: SC424089 7 Subsequently, they are helped to develop skills enhancing their career.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Effective monitoring systems help identify the strengths and weaknesses of the home. In addition to this the independent visitor completes thorough audits, which provide further challenge in developing this service. Systems which record the analyses and evaluation of incidents are complex and variable in their depth and quality. The development plan is informed by these monitoring processes and identifies clear areas for improvement.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The statement of purpose has been regularly reviewed. However, this has not always been made available to Ofsted following changes in the staff team.

p.7

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.

p.7

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: SC424089 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Action for Children, 3 The Boulevard Ascot Road, Watford, Hertfordshire WD18 8AG

p.8

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Shelagh Frankcom

p.8

Inspector

Joe Davys, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC424089 9 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.

p.8

Inspector

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

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9