Children's Home run by Calcot Services for Children Limited in Wokingham

Unique reference number SC054468 Inspection date 16/02/2012 Inspector Bridget Goddard Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 07/12/2011 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The home, run by a company, is for up to three children and young people, aged between five years to 17 years. There is therapeutic input available and the aim of the home is to achieve permanency within a family. The children and young people usually remain at the home for up to two years before they move on.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

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Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making good progress.

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Progress

At the previous, full inspection which was in December 2011, the home received an outstanding judgement. One recommendation was made at this inspection.

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Progress

The recommendation was for a risk assessment about a specific issue in the house, which would balance issues about privacy with issues about health. This risk assessment has been completed and all parties have been fully involved in discussions about it. This recommendation is, therefore, fully met.

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Progress

In the limited time since the full inspection, young people have made very good progress. This is particularly the case in educational attendance and achievement. All young people have maintained excellent attendance and the home is proactive in engaging with their schools. For some young people joint school/home meetings are held fortnightly. These have been highly effective in monitoring progress and noting significant improvements. Other young people are described as ' star students' and have overcome minor issues about timekeeping. These young people are preparing for examinations later this year. The home is effectively supporting them by successfully advocating for necessary equipment and buying other resources themselves. Some young people excel at sport and have recently been chosen to represent their school in competitions.

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Progress

Young people have made good progress in staying safe. Staff continue to have excellent support from a psychologist to help them better understand and work with young people's behaviour. This is clearly effective in that, for some young people, the level of physical interventions has reduced, and schools confirm that young people are now much more able to manage their own behaviour. Other young people no longer need physical intervention to keep them safe and are now able to advise others on safe behaviours. Social workers think that the home manages behavioural issues very well, with clear routines, consequences and persistence. Staff are also very aware of young people’s physical health needs and have recently received updated training on a young person's specific health needs. This helps further in keeping young people as safe as possible.

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Progress

The home continues to offer highly-personalised care, and young people's individual views and needs are central to decision-making in the home. There is a specific forum for young people's views which is carefully minuted and suggestions are responded to in writing. Recently, young people have voted on possible wall colours and furniture choices for the planned home update this year. Some young people have asked for specific furniture for their room and this has been delivered. Other young people have expressed views about how the garden should be developed and these views have been acknowledged.

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Progress

Young people benefit from a good range of activities inside and outside the home. Some young people have a close circle of friends that they socialise with; for some this is the first time that they have had friendships with young people of a similar age. Some young people are able to attempt domestic furniture construction themselves for the first time, while others prefer riding their bike or playing electronic games.

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Progress

The home has reviewed its 2011 development plan, and has put together the 2012 plan with good input from staff and young people. This means that the home continues to have very good plans to maintain and improve further the outcomes for young people.

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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 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011).

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