Kites Corner

Kites Corner is operated by James Hopkins Trust. This is part of the James Hopkins Trust. The service offers respite care for children who are severely disabled, have life limiting, or life-threatening conditions.

We last inspected the service in July 2019 when we issued 3 requirement notices. These related to breaches of the essential standards of safe care and treatment in relation to transporting children, good governance and staffing in relation to supervision, appraisal and training. This inspection found those requirements had been met.

We inspected the service under our framework for Hospice services for children, young people and families using our comprehensive inspection methodology. We carried out a short notice announced inspection on 18 October 2022. To get to the heart of children’ experiences of care and treatment, we ask the same 5 questions of all services: are they safe, effective, caring, responsive to children's needs, and well-led?

We have not previously rated this service. We rated it as good because:

• Staffing levels met children’s needs. Staff were well trained and knowledgeable about their roles and the care the children needed.
• Systems and processes were in place and closely monitored so the service was safe and well run. The registered manager and staff had robust risk assessments in place and acted appropriately to mitigate identified risks.
• Children’s rights were upheld. Parents and carers were involved in all discussions pertaining to the care of their child and staff ensured that children, parents and carers were given choice.
• Staff effectively reported safeguarding matters and the registered manager thoroughly investigated all concerns and complaints and ensured that lessons learnt were embedded into practice.
• Staff and parents’ views were gathered and used to inform developments for the service
• There were clearly defined and embedded systems, processes and standard operating procedures to keep children safe and safeguarded from abuse, using local safeguarding procedures whenever necessary.
• Staff recognised and responded appropriately to changes in the risks to children who used the service.
• Staff involved partner agencies and parents / carers when sharing information.
• Staff managed medicines consistently and safely. Medicines were stored correctly and disposed of safely. Staff kept accurate records of medicines.
• Openness and transparency about safety was encouraged. Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and report incidents and near misses; they were fully supported when they did.
• Childrens care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with current evidence-based guidance, standards, best practice, legislation and technologies. This was monitored to ensure consistency of practice.
• Staff were supported to deliver effective care and treatment, including through meaningful and timely supervision and appraisal. Where relevant, staff were supported through the process of revalidation. There was a clear and appropriate approach for supporting and managing staff when their performance was poor or variable.
• The service had effective policies and processes for recruiting, training and supporting volunteers where necessary. These were implemented and volunteers felt supported and understood their roles and responsibilities.
• The children were treated with dignity, respect and kindness during all interactions we observed with staff and relationships with parents were positive.
• Staff communicated with parents / carers and provided information in a way that they could understand. Parents and staff worked together to plan care and there was shared decision-making about care and treatment.
• Facilities and premises were innovative and met the needs of a range of children who used the service.
• Care and treatment were coordinated with other services. This included liaising with schools and community services ensuring that all stakeholders were informed of any diverse needs to be addressed.
• The board and other levels of governance in the organisation functioned effectively and interacted with each other appropriately. Structures, processes and systems of accountability, including the governance and management of partnerships, joint working arrangements and shared services, were clearly set out, understood and effective.
• The service made full use of multimedia assisted technology in its sensory room and we were shown a sensory appliance that had been developed with an assisted technology company to meet the needs of the children.
• During the pandemic when the centre was closed, the service kept regular contact with the families, ensuring that families were provided with personal protective equipment (PPE), undertaking welfare checks and delivering food hampers.
• The service made use of multi-media technology both within the building and in the garden area to enrich the child’s experience. We were shown a multi-sensory garden which included a sound wall and a forest walk that provided the children with a multi-sensory experience.
• The service had very close connections with the local community and local businesses. These were involved in the maintenance of the environment and contributed to the development of the service.

However:

• The staff supervision records were accurate and up to date however a central matrix would make reviewing records more efficient.