Children's home run by Purple Oak Support

Inspection report children‟s home: 2504775 1 Registered provider: Andover and District Mencap

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Rainbow Corner is a four-bed children’s home providing overnight short breaks and day care for children and young people, aged three to 19 years, who have additional needs.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since the home opened on 12 February 2019.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 24 to 25 September 2019

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

Date of last inspection: not applicable as this is a newly registered children’s home

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children‟s home: 2504775 2

p.1

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.2

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)) 30/11/2019

p.2

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. The registered person may only— employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or 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). 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)(2)(a)(b)(3)(d)) 30/11/2019

p.2

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. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(c)) 30/11/2019

p.2

Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out— 30/11/2019 Inspection report children‟s home: 2504775 3 how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home. The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it. (Regulation 35(1)(a)(b)(2))

p.2

Recommendations

 A record of supervision should be kept for staff, including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33(4)(b). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are cared for by a team of committed and enthusiastic staff. The relationships that have been developed between the staff and the children’s parents and carers are positive. It is evident that the adults who care for the children are committed to working collaboratively with families. This helps the staff to gain a meaningful understanding of each child’s individual needs. Children’s needs are met effectively as a result. The plans that are in place for the care of children are child centred and specific to their individual needs. These plans are based on the staff working effectively with children’s services.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Social workers were, overall, positive about the home and the care provided. The staff responded proactively when plans changed for one child. This ensured continuity of care for an extended period beyond the length of time the child usually stayed at the home. Staff understand the health needs of each child. Working with health services, staff provide effective support for children who have a complex range of health needs. Children’s education has been supported well through the good links adults have made with teachers. Staff regularly attend school meetings and advocate well for children.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Although no children were at the home at the time of the inspection, at the end of the inspection the inspector met children as they arrived for their overnight stays. Staff interacted warmly with the children, who were observed to be relaxed.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Parents were consistently positive about their children’s experiences at the home. They particularly appreciated the care provided by staff, with one parent describing the staff team as ‘an absolute lifeline’. Another parent said, ‘I can’t praise them enough.’ One parent had been unhappy with their child’s previous experience; this was addressed by the registered manager and the child is continuing to access overnight stays at the Inspection report children‟s home: 2504775 4 home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has a particularly child-centred feel throughout. The colour scheme is bright and cheerful, which is important in providing a welcoming home for children when they arrive. Staff have improved the garden by providing an outside play area, which the children enjoy. Children are supported by staff to take part in a range of fun activities, both inside and outside the home. Children are helped to understand what to expect from their stays through a detailed, child-friendly booklet that explains this. Staff help children to personalise their own bedrooms during their stays, guided by the principle of providing ‘a home from home’.

p.4

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

Staff understand children’s individual risks well. Effective plans are in place to address these risks. Overall, these plans are reviewed well by staff when new risks are identified. The plans were not reviewed for one child on one occasion. However, adults had put in place effective strategies for addressing the risks, and these strategies appropriately safeguarded the child.

p.4

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

Adults are knowledgeable about how to safely hold children if their puts them or others at risk of harm. The staff team’s approach to care has resulted in children not needing to be held to keep them safe. This reflects the child-centred way of thinking.

p.4

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

The registered manager has a detailed plan in place to manage any risks in respect of children coming into contact with the home’s dog, Dexter. The registered manager has ensured that Dexter has completed training as a ‘therapy dog’ to support children’s emotional well-being. Staff talk with each child’s parent or carer about Dexter before the child stays. Children were seen to be comfortable with Dexter being in the home.

p.4

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

There is a comprehensive plan in place for the two parent-and-toddler groups which use the communal space for a few hours during term-time only. Due to no children currently accessing day care in the home, there is no impact on children who have overnight stays. Parents and carers are consulted on this. There are clear expectations in place for the groups. The inspector did not observe any noticeable impact when a group accessed the space prior to the start of the inspection.

p.4

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

Recruitment of new staff joining the home generally follows safer recruitment practice. However, the reference checks for one new staff member were not fully complete. The individual was a previous employee and therefore this shortfall did not have any impact, due to the information that was already available about them. The induction process for new staff who join the home is not consistent. The new staff have relevant experience, so this has not impacted on the quality of care provided, but induction arrangements would benefit from further improvement. Staff are given time to reflect on their practice. However, this reflection is not consistently recorded. The recording of supervision has significantly improved over time. Inspection report children‟s home: 2504775 5

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager demonstrates a firm commitment to the service. She leads by example, enabling staff to develop well in their individual roles. The responsible individual supports the registered manager to put the vision for the home into practice. The staff team feels supported by the registered manager and the responsible individual. The leadership of the home enables a cohesive team approach to the provision of care.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Together, the registered manager and the responsible individual have undertaken a review of most of the home’s policies and procedures. The policy describing how to support behaviour has not yet been reviewed. It does not consistently refer to residential settings and the references to school settings mean that the policy provides unclear guidance for staff.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s development plan has been reviewed and further improvements have been made to some areas, including the garden. There is a separate area in the home which has not yet been utilised. The registered manager and the responsible individual have identified that plans for this need to be decided upon. A plan to employ a deputy manager has been proposed by the responsible individual. This will further support the quality of care provided.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring of the quality of care has helped to inform the development plan. The monthly monitoring of the home by the independent visitor has also informed this plan. The registered manager is reflective and has utilised feedback to inform practice. This has included learning from the one complaint received. Managers responded effectively to the points that were raised, and put changes in place in response to the feedback received. The registered manager is a strong advocate for the children.

p.5

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.5

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: 2504775 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Andover and District Mencap

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Andover and District Mencap, The Wellington Centre, Winchester Road, Andover, Hampshire SP10 2EG

p.6

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Newman

p.6

Inspector

Maria Lonergan: social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: 2504775 7 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.

p.6

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.7

Inspector

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

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7