The Paddock Care Home Service
The Paddock Bardarrock Ochiltree Cumnock KA18 2RR
Telephone: 01290 700027
Type of inspection: Unannounced Inspection completed on: 14 November 2017
Service provided by: Service provider number: Radical Services Ltd SP2003002568
Care service number: CS2015335573 Inspection report
About the service
The Paddock is provided by Radical Services Ltd, part of the Pebbles Care group of companies. The house is located in a rural location in East Ayrshire and provides 24-hour residential care to young people referred by their local authority under "Looked After" and "Accommodated" arrangements. At the time of this inspection visit, the service was supporting four young people, all girls.
The accommodation comprises four bedrooms, one with en-suite facilities, a large kitchen and dining area, two lounges, separate bathrooms for young people and for staff and office accommodation. Staff sleepover accommodation comprises fold-down beds in the lounge and quiet room.
The Care Inspectorate regulates care services in Scotland. Prior to 1 April 2011, this function was carried out by the Care Commission. Information in relation to all care services is available at www.careinspectorate.com.
This service registered with the Care Inspectorate on 17 July 2015.
What people told us
Young people confirmed their satisfaction with the service and especially its staffing and management. One young person said that the manager and assistant manager "are amazing. They do the best for me and I always feel I have support". (My key worker) "is the best keyworker that I could have; she's firm but airf .... and all the staff do their best for me and they're like a **** family in a good way!" Young people raised issues concerning computer access after this had been damaged during an incident. We confirmed appropriate action had been taken to remedy this as quickly as possible and that suitable arrangements were in place to support continued internet access in the staff base.
Self assessment
No self-assessment required for 2017 inspection. However, the service provided us with an up-to-date and comprehensive development plan. This confirmed the service's commitment to a process of continuous evaluation and improvement.
From this inspection we graded this service as:
Quality of care and support 5 - Very Good Quality of environment not assessed Quality of staffing 5 - Very Good Quality of management and leadership not assessed
What the service does well
The Paddock is a well-managed service which provides evidence-based therapeutic care and support within a predictable and consistent structure characterised by friendly but firm staff.
The service works closely with other professionals including social work, health and education to ensure person- centred and well-coordinated personal plans. Personal plans and risk assessments are informed by the
Inspection report for The Paddock page 2 of 5 Inspection report provider's trauma pathway approach to assessment with its emphasis on Safety, Emotional functioning, Relationships and Self-esteem (SERS). Key workers use information gathered through SERS assessments to compile a personal plan within the framework of the Scottish Government's SHANARRI (Safe, healthy, achieving, nurtured, active, responsible, respected and included) outcomes indicators. This approach helps to ensure young people feel safe enough to begin to address with staff the aims and objectives for their placement, as identified by placing local authorities. A social worker told us that, since a young person's placement, they had "noted a marked improvement in her levels of maturity" and attributed this to "the input from the service and how they have tried to promote (the young person's) resilience and security."
The service has worked closely with the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) and Mental Health Foundation's 'See Me' initiative (MHF). This is intended to end mental health stigma and discrimination and the service had worked to ensure an environment which promotes good mental health for young people and staff. This has included staff participation in the 'See Me in Work' survey leading to a very positive report on the service. The manager and young people had participated in a national consultation groups which led to See Me's "What's on your mind?" pack being completely redesigned (a publication described as "supporting teachers and young people to learn about mental health and develop core skills and confidence to tackle stigma and discrimination in school and the wider community").
Staff comments and questionnaires confirm they are well motivated and supported by managers. There is a comprehensive training calendar and staff have very good opportunities for training and development. Staff are either qualified or are undertaking training leading to appropriate qualifications.
The service provider had now secured the services of a psychologist based in Scotland who was available to support staff with their work with young people. They had also secured the services of a life-coach which was described as achieving positive outcomes with young people, e.g. helping them to look at themselves and identify personal goals.
As well as the provider's own day-school at Muirkirk, the service had established strong links with local schools and colleges and all four young people were in education and achieving according to their ability. In addition, the service made active use of local services and amenities to ensure young people's inclusion and citizenship.
What the service could do better
Records of staff's daily observations would be improved with a closer link to the content of care plans and risk assessments rather than the provider's check list. See Recommendation 1.
Managers should ensure that notifiable events are notified to the arC e Inspectorate without delay and update notifications made as events progress. See Recommendation 2.
Requirements Number of requirements: 0
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Recommendations Number of recommendations: 2
1. Radical Services should ensure that managers and staff link their daily observations with the aims and objectives of individual placements and the content of care plans.
National Care Standards, care homes for children and young people - Standard 4.3: Support arrangements.
2. Radical Services should ensure that managers notify the Care Inspectorate of notifiable events without delay and make updated notifications as events progress.
National Care Standards, care homes for children and young people - Standard 4.3: Support arrangements.
Complaints
There have been no complaints upheld since the last inspection. Details of any older upheld complaints are published at www.careinspectorate.com.
Inspection and grading history
Date Type Gradings 11 Apr 2016 Unannounced Care and support 4 - Good Environment 4 - Good Staffing 4 - Good Management and leadership 4 - Good
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To find out more
This inspection report is published by the Care Inspectorate. You can download this report and others from our website.
Care services in Scotland cannot operate unless they are registered with the Care Inspectorate. We inspect, award grades and help services to improve. We also investigate complaints about care services and can take action when things aren't good enough.
Please get in touch with us if you would like more information or have any concerns about a care service.
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Other languages and formats
This report is available in other languages and formats on request.
Tha am foillseachadh seo ri fhaighinn ann an cruthannan is cànain eile ma nithear iarrtas.
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