The Banyan Tree

Unique reference number SC396186 Inspection date 15/03/2011 Inspector Jacqueline Dunster Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 01/09/2010 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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You can obtain copies of The Children Act 2004, Every Child Matters and The National Minimum Standards for Children’s Services from: The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Crispins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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About this inspection

This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcomes for children set out in the Children Act 2004 and the relevant National Minimum Standards for the service.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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Brief description of the service

The home is a large terraced town house located within an established residential community. It is close to recreational, educational and health facilities.

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Brief description of the service

The communal areas of the home include a lounge, dining room, games room, kitchen, utility room and garden. Young people have their own bedrooms. In addition to staff sleeping facilities and an office in the main house, there is an annexe in the garden which provides office and meeting space.

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Brief description of the service

The home offers services and care for up to four children and young people from 10 to 17 years of age who require support with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Young people remain in the home on a long-term basis.

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Brief description of the service

Two young people currently live in the home and contributed their views to the inspection.

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Summary

This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Summary

During this unannounced interim inspection, national minimum standards relating to protecting children and young people from harm or neglect and helping them to stay safe were inspected. The inspection also considered progress the provider has made on five recommendations imposed following the last inspection.

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Summary

Staff continue to offer good standards of safeguarding to young people. Good quality risk assessments and behaviour management plans are put in place which enable staff to protect young people from harm and ensure they feel safe in the home. Excellent practice ensures young people are closely involved in developing their own behaviour management strategies. Staff are confident about their responsibilities in relation to protecting young people. They securely implement policies and procedures designed to protect young people from harm in the home and the community. As a result of these strong practices, young people and their families can feel confident staff will prioritise their well-being and help them to feel safe and secure.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Following the last inspection the provider was recommended to make changes to the disciplinary records, activity risk assessments and monitoring practices. These have all been completed. As a result, measures to protect young people from harm in the home and the wider community are more robust. The provider submitted the home's safeguarding procedure to the Local Safeguarding Children Board for comment as recommended but are still awaiting the comments. In the meantime the manager has further strengthened the staff's knowledge of safeguarding principles to ensure young people are protected from harm and abuse as far as possible.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The provider now ensures there are copies of young people's care planning reviews in the home which are available to the young people. This allows young people to develop a better understanding of the plans for their care and to have a say in those plans.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff show respect for young people's privacy. They keep their records safe and secure. They allow young people to have private time in their rooms and only breach their privacy when there is genuine concern about their safety. This practice helps young people to feel secure in the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff treat young people's concerns and complaints seriously. Young people feel they are listened to and feel safe raising their concerns. Staff deal with minor issues immediately to prevent them escalating into more serious issues. In the same way, they deal with minor differences between young people quickly and constructively. This helps to maintain low levels of bullying and supports young people to live sociably together. As a consequence, young people can feel confident they will be protected from bullying.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff have a good knowledge of safeguarding procedures and are confident in applying them. They attend training updates to ensure they remain familiar with processes to protect young people from neglect or abuse. This increases safeguards to protect young people from harm in the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Plans to manage young people's absence from the home without permission are clear. They guide staff effectively on how to deal with absence and ensure young people return to the home safely. Staff talk to young people about how to protect themselves in the wider community. They increase young people's independent time in the community carefully and in line with risk assessments and care planning. In helping young people to understand plans to keep them safe when in the wider community, staff reduce the likelihood of them suffering harm. Young people's behaviour improves significantly while they are living in this home. Staff build strong, nurturing relationships with young people. They take time to understand their concerns, points of view and patterns of behaviour. They develop behaviour management strategies which focus on reinforcing positive behaviour through praise and reward. Staff rarely use sanctions and restraint. Staff engage

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

young people directly in their own behaviour management. For example, they involve young people in deciding the appropriate sanction for their unacceptable behaviour. This allows young people to take responsibility for their behaviour and for putting things right. Through this process young people learn about the consequences of behaviour and begin to develop their own self-control techniques. Young people feel staff are fair with them and take time to discuss worries which may be affecting their behaviour. These excellent practices support young people to develop positive, rewarding behaviour and to avoid unacceptable behaviour.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home provides a safe environment for young people because staff understand their duties in relation to health and safety and carry them out carefully. Staff complete environmental and individual risk assessments which support them to minimise risks as far as possible while allowing young people to challenge themselves and take managed risks. As a result, staff minimise the risk of harm to children and young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provider operates safe staff recruitment practices which reduce the likelihood of young people being exposed to those who would wish to cause them harm.

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