Children's home run by Surrey County Council

Inspection report children‟s home: SC405933 1 SC405933 Registered provider: Surrey County Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This short-break home is run by a local authority and provides care for children who have a range of disabilities, including those with autism spectrum disorder.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 11 February 2014.

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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 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

Date of last inspection: 23 October 2018

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children‟s home: SC405933 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/10/2018 Full Good 25/07/2017 Full Good 15/02/2017 Full Good 01/08/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children‟s home: SC405933 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

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. (3) The registered person must — (b) notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1)(3)(b)) 14/10/19

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

The requirements are that full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1)(3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

With specific reference to ensuring that all gaps in employment have been satisfactorily explored through the interview process. 14/10/19

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Recommendations

 Children must be consulted regularly on their views about the home’s s care, to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. Due consideration should be given to the child’s s cognitive ability in the development and implementation of any consultation processes. Children should be able to see the results of their views being listened to and acted upon. ( ‘Guide to the children’s ho s homes regulations including the quality standards’, , page 22, paragraph 4.11)  Although there is not a legal requirement for non-looked-after children to have access to an independent advocate, homes caring for these children should ensure that children can access advocacy support (as described in paragraph 4.4) and should also consider the use of an independent advocate where necessary. (‘Gu Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality st andards’, , page 23, paragraph

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Recommendations

4.18)  In some cases, such as in residential special schools that are also registered children’s s homes or children’s s homes caring for children with complex care needs, restraint may be necessary as a consequence of a child ’s impairment or disability. A child’s EH s EHC plan Inspection report children‟s home: SC405933 4 [education, health and care 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. (‘Gu Guide to the children’s s homes regulations including the quality standards’, , page 47, paragraph 9.43)

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that relevant plans are held on file for the use of safety beds.  The registered person is responsible for leading a team which provides high quality care for all children living in the home. They must lead and manage the home in a way that delivers the ethos, outcomes and approach set out in the home‟s Statement of Purpose. They should also play a key role in shaping the ethos of the home through developing a culture of high aspiration for children which is demonstrated through the care, resources and opportunities offered to the children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.4)

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Recommendations

With specific reference to embedding the goals detailed in the education, health and care plans into care plans setting out clear targets and aspirations for each child.  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 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)

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Recommendations

With specific reference to ensuring that communication methods used in school are translated to the children’s care plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and their families benefit greatly from this short-break resource. They value the service and what it offers. One parent fed back that the service is ‘100% reliable and an amazing resource.’ Another parent described the service as ‘vibrant, open and always striving to do their best.’ Parents commented that their children love going there and are happy and settled.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are responsive and attuned to the children’s individual needs. A range of methods, which include Makaton, Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) symbols, and objects of reference, aid communication. However, staff do not use the full range of communication systems that are detailed in the children’s education, health and care plans. This limits the scope to reinforce these approaches and to provide consistent methods of communication with the children between school and the home. Inspection report children‟s home: SC405933 5 Children enjoy regular outings which form part of their daily routine, such as going for a walk on the beach at the seaside, catching a train to London to visit the Natural History Museum or enjoying one of the National Trust sites that they regularly visit. Children are encouraged to pursue healthy lifestyles through walking, playing and engaging in various sports. For example, children enjoy riding their tricycles around the

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

local athletics track and go swimming regularly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health is well managed. Staff receive excellent support and training to administer medication and undertake health tasks. As a result, errors rarely occur. A specialist nurse who is commissioned by the local authority provides training and guidance to staff to ensure their competency in performing delegated healthcare tasks. She undertakes assessment of new referrals alongside the manager, aiding her to inform care planning. This enables staff to care for children with complex health needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff consult with children and help them to make choices related to their care. For example, children’s wishes and views were gathered and used to develop the garden. Staff advocate on behalf of children. However, they have not considered how they could further empower them by making a complaint on their behalf. Children do not have access to an independent advocate. This limits opportunities for the children’s voices to be heard.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The accommodation is light, colourful and spacious. Children’s bedrooms are themed, making them fun, individual and welcoming. Children benefit from a range of resources. This includes the opportunities to relax in the well-equipped sensory room or enjoying online resources in the computer room.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Funding has been secured to develop the garden and to expand the current play equipment. New features will include a boat filled with sand, raised flower beds, water play and an additional cushioned seating area decorated by colourful artwork. This will enhance its appeal and provides a range of new resources chosen specifically to help stimulate and aid the children’s development.

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

Staff are confident in their knowledge of the organisation‟s safeguarding procedures and whistle-blowing policy. Staff receive training in a broad scope of topics relating to safeguarding children. This enables them to recognise indicators of concern and raises their awareness of risk. Systems used to record injuries, bruises and unexplained marks are excellent and evidence how incidents of concern are explored and reported.

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

Children’s care plans are simple, regularly reviewed, clear and informative. However, they do not incorporate all the targets set out within the children’s education, health and care plans or set out the aspirations for each child. This limits the staff’s ability to work towards clear outcomes and measure progress.

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

Risk assessments provide clear guidance for staff to follow. Children are closely supervised in order to manage their safety and to promote positive behaviour. Staff work Inspection report children‟s home: SC405933 6 closely together to ensure that they deliver consistent boundaries and care. Children’s behaviour is well managed. Staff use techniques such as diversion and distraction to avert negative behaviours. They offer a high level of praise to reinforce good behaviour. As a result, incidents are rare and there is no use of restraints or sanctions.

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

The manager undertakes a thorough analysis of all incidents and accidents. Her evaluations are used to inform future practice and to enable further safeguarding measures to be implemented in order to reduce the risk of reoccurrence. When required, she escalates concerns, consulting with senior managers and safeguarding professionals to address any shortfalls in care practice.

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

The use of safety beds is set out clearly within the children‟s care plans. However, some case files did not contain the initial occupational therapy assessment which sets out the arrangements for their safe use. However, this has not compromised the safety of the children.

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

Staff help children make progress, whether this is helping a child to develop friendships, learn cooking skills or to eat with a knife and fork. This helps children to develop social skills, independence and to develop good table manners.

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

As children approach adulthood, staff provide a range of opportunities to help prepare the children for the next step in their lives. These include providing voluntary work opportunities for some children or helping them take part in the popular transition activity weekends.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team has a clear vision for the service. The strategic improvement plan outlines how they will develop the service to support their aims. Staff speak positively about the management arrangements and level of support they receive. The managers are highly visible and supportive towards the team. As a result, staff are empowered to provide good-quality care, centred on the children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the service. Of particular note is the progress made to increase the resources available to improve the quality of the environment and also the number of community-based activities provided for the children. The independent visitor is a key part of the monitoring and evaluation of the service, identifying areas for improvement within their monthly reports. The manager uses these recommendations in addition to her internal monitoring process to drive improvements in line with the home’s statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is stable and experienced. Unqualified staff are making good progress in working towards the completion of their level 3 diplomas. Induction of new staff and ongoing training is extensive. This provides scope to upskill the staff. One new staff member commented on her experience, stating that the ‘training is unbelievable’ and she is ‘impressed by the quality of induction, mentoring and supervision provided’. She reports that this has enabled her to feel ‘welcomed and valued’ by all the team. Inspection report children‟s home: SC405933 7 The manager is a strong advocate for the children and her service. This has involved challenging professionals when necessary to promote effective partnership working. This enables her to receive regular updates from the social care team keeping her informed of new developments and updates from staff who link with the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Safer recruitment processes are in place. However, there has been a shortfall in checking gaps in employment history. Records do not demonstrate how these have been explored through the interview process for two new starters.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The statement of purpose has been reviewed following the last inspection. However, it does not fully reflect the matters detailed in Schedule 1. While updates in staff changes have been added, the revised statement of purpose has not been sent to Ofsted as required. Therefore, the regulator has not been able to review changes or revisions to the home’s service.

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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

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Information about this inspection

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: SC405933 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Quadrant Court, 35 Guildford Road, Woking, Surrey GU22 7QQ

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Inspector

Joe Davys, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC405933 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 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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