Children's Home run by North Yorkshire County Council in North Yorkshire

Unique reference number SC034235 Inspection date 22/08/2012 Inspector Ann-Marie Born Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 09/02/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This local authority children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six young people, of either gender, who have emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements Adequate : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be outstanding .

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Overall effectiveness

Young people feel safe and are protected by pro-active practice to safeguard them. There is a significant reduction in the majority of risk-taking behaviours which is recognisable to all involved parties. Young people remain in contact with the staff team after leaving and continue to refer to the setting as 'home'. A social worker said, 'It’s a considerable achievement for the home to have young people who see this place as their home.'

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Overall effectiveness

Young people make significant progress from their starting points in all aspects of their lives. They benefit from tailored, individual care which fully incorporates their holistic needs. Excellent assessments comprehensively inform plans, including assessing the impact of past experiences on presenting behaviours. Young people consistently express views of how well they feel cared for and listened to. Young people, including those with experience of being looked after in a number of other settings, report that this is the best home they have lived in. A young person stated, 'Out of all the homes I have been in I would say that this one was outstanding.'

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Overall effectiveness

The staff team are excellent role models and consistently demonstrate positive, warm relationships between themselves, as well as towards young people. Young people are consulted daily about events in the home and encouraged to make their own choices and increase their own responsibility for their futures. Young people are valued, respected and fully understood as individuals. Young people report staff do not give up on them and that they are not judged on their behaviours or anger.

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Overall effectiveness

The innovative and proactive management team have a thorough understanding of the strengths and areas for development within the home. They continually strive to improve the individual care and outcomes for young people. For example, ensuring all staff attend sexual exploitation training events and devising an excellent self-harm risk assessment tool.

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Overall effectiveness

There were no breaches of regulation or shortfalls in practice identified at this inspection.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are outstanding .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make exceptional progress in all aspects of their lives. Young people recognise and are proud of their progress which effectively improves self-esteem and positive feelings of self-worth. Young people feel valued, worthwhile and that they are individually important. This sense of belonging and interest enables young people, including those who have been looked after in a number of other settings, to settle and form sustainable attachments. A social worker commented, 'certainly young people have done much better here than they have in other homes.' A young person spoke about how it was really hard being new, not feeling you belong, but stated that now ‘I belong here.' Young people significantly reduce some presenting difficulties which impact upon their health and welfare. One young person reported, ‘Since I have been here I have stopped all drugs and stopped drinking and am keeping out of trouble with the police.’

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make good use of the time, energy and attention the warm, patient staff provide. As a result, they grow in confidence, which raises their self-esteem and improves their emotional resilience, while building necessary life-skills. Young people benefit from individually tailored preparation for transition to independence and adult life. They are supported to increase their independence outside of the home and engage in skills and activities which are important for the future. A young person wrote, ‘I have written this letter to say thank you to every member of staff for helping me through the hard times. I will miss you all when I move on to independence because you have all cheered me up and made me into the young man that I am today.’ Such is the homely environment, that young people maintain frequent contact when they move on, and as a result benefit from consistent emotional support and advice when they need this. A social worker said one young

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Outcomes for children and young people

person they work with ‘calls here home.’ They went on to say, ‘For them to describe a children's home as home is amazing'.’

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are supported to understand dynamics and roles in relationships to increase their resilience and combat their vulnerabilities to negative influence. Consistent, effective use of restorative justice practice is coupled with daily opportunities for young people to express wishes, fears and concerns. As a result, young people develop emotional resilience and confidence in their skills and abilities. A young person said, ' I have learnt how to compromise and I have a better understanding of how things I say or do affect other people’. Tailored discussions enable young people to develop a strong sense of their family histories and culture. They develop an understanding of how past experiences and events affect them in the present. A member of staff commented, 'We are all here to provide a safe environment so they can achieve the best outcomes they possibly can. We recognise the impact their past lives have had on them and we are committed to

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Outcomes for children and young people

Educational outcomes are very good. Young people are motivated, attending schools, colleges and work placements. They achieve good results, for example, improving school attendance, completing their GCSE examinations and graduating from senior school. A member of staff said, 'We had three young people graduating from school this term and going to their graduation ceremony. It was fantastic.' Young people value the opportunities and aspire to continue learning and to achieve further recognised qualifications; for example, in equestrian studies or preparation for a military career. Young people take evident pride in their academic achievements. A young person said, 'I have improved my behaviour as I have stuck to a full course where I have achieved qualifications in motor vehicles’.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from improving and sustaining important relationships with family members and other significant people in their lives. This effectively promotes a sense of belonging while building important support networks for their future. A young person said: 'One of the things I really like here is that it is my home and my friends can come and visit and spend time here with me. They are welcomed and I am treated with respect. That means a real lot to me.'

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

Young people are consistently positive about the support and care they receive within a homely, caring environment. A young person said, 'I really like the praise I get from staff, it makes me feel better about myself and makes me smile.' The experienced, committed management team and staff members genuinely care about and respect each individual young person. Young people recognise and benefit from this strong commitment and high aspirations staff hold for them. As a result, relationships are excellent and young people are fully supported to make good progress. A social worker said, 'There is a good atmosphere here always. The staff here never get down.’

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Quality of care

Listening to young people's views and feelings and consulting and negotiating decisions, is a major strength and integral to daily practice. Young people fully understand their views are important and they will be listened to. As a result, they are actively involved in their plans and reviews. One young person commented, 'they talk to me and trust me.’ Another said he could, 'talk to staff, they are funny. It makes a real difference being able to laugh and they let me laugh.' Staff clearly explain the reasons why any requests or action cannot be taken in ways which are meaningful to young people. Staff place the well-being of young people at the centre of their practice, irrespective of the barriers they present. Young people feel valued as individuals and their sense of self-worth and belonging are enhanced. A social worker stated, ‘Here they make the communication work and he feels part of the home.'

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Quality of care

Young people feel secure in the home as management and staff know all of the young people in their care very well. Excellent, thorough and detailed plans outline comprehensive assessments for each young person. These accurately reflect young people's needs, starting points and chart their progress. Staff are proactive in updating plans to enable young people to fully benefit from the progress they have made. An innovative, new progress report is completed regularly with each young person; these enable them to recognise and build on any achievement, no matter how small. This makes young people feel cared for and important. A social worker said, 'They have got to know her really well and know what she needs. She has a member of staff on every shift which is just for her which is really, really good.’

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Quality of care

Close and persistent liaison with specialist agencies ensures young people receive any necessary additional services, including health services, assessments and provision. For example, the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), dieticians and sexual health services. In addition, all young people have access to a local teenage drop-in clinic, providing support on body image, peer pressure, bullying and alcohol and substance misuse. This inclusive arrangement allows young people to experience community provision, further increasing their sense of belonging. Education is highly valued and excellent links with a number of learning and training providers exist. As good parents, staff attend open days and parents’ evenings to support young people. Further support is provided, if necessary, to enable young people to make the best of their abilities, for example, arranging for a one-to-one tutor. A young person said, 'They really supported me with going to school and

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Quality of care

Needs relating to young people's cultural, religious and personal identities are comprehensively identified in care planning and actively addressed in day-to-day living. A grand-parent said: 'They understand and are putting things together for her needs. I am happy with all they are doing for her.' Young people are provided with excellent opportunities to participate in a range of inclusive outings and holidays, introducing them to new experiences and ways of life. Young people feel this has opened new horizons for them in comparison to previous experiences. A parent said, 'They give him lots of opportunities to do things, like going to London. I can’t think of anything bad to say about here.' Young people's self-esteem, confidence and sense of belonging are further enhanced by involvement in inclusive local clubs and organisations. A social worker said: 'It's a real credit to them to get her involved in

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Quality of care

things. They are coming up with things all the time.’

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Quality of care

Young people enjoy living in a large, comfortable, well-furnished home within walking distance of local amenities. They each have their own lockable bedroom which is personalised to their taste. Photographs of young people on shared events and activities adorn the walls. There are a range of spaces where young people can spend time together, watching television or playing pool, as well as quiet rooms if they wish to be alone. The detached house has large grounds where young people can play football or participate in gardening. Young people take pride in their home where they report they are happy and feel they belong.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is outstanding at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Excellent safeguarding procedures, including processes to protect young people from sexual exploitation, are readily available and fully understood by staff. The proactive manager works closely with the local safeguarding children board to ensure that this good practice is shared with other professionals. This provides young people with further protection within the community. Young people's welfare and safeguarding is central to practice and young people, their parents and professionals report that they feel, and are, safe in the home. A young person said, 'I feel really safe here because this is my home.'

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Safeguarding children and young people

Extensive individual risk assessments are developed with young people, providing them with an understanding of the risks their behaviours could pose to them. A member of staff stated: 'We engage them in preparing the risk assessments and that way they understand the risk they are putting themselves in and the things you can do to help them. They identify risks as well and say, this could happen to me, and then they learn and I think that is a good way to go about things.' Staff have a thorough knowledge of the diverse needs and abilities of individuals and allow young people the independence to mature, which promotes a strong sense of safety and security.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Innovative self-harm risk assessments are comprehensively completed providing further safeguards. A member of staff said: 'The main point is getting them to talk to you so they can tell you if they are thinking of self-harming and distracting them from doing that. I would say yes definitely young people are safe here. All of us staff here do everything we can to keep them safe, we treat every young person as an individual and take on board their needs and the risks they place themselves in.' Strong relationships are developed with young people by committed and caring staff enabling trusting relationships. As a result, young people make strides in building self-esteem, their well-being is further enhanced and any self-harm incidents are well-managed.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Excellent personalised behaviour management strategies are coupled with the exceptional use of restorative justice practice. This enables young people to develop social and life skills. As a result, restraints are not used and young people learn safe, appropriate and positive ways to manage their disappointments, frustrations and anger. A young person commented, 'it gave me a chance to reflect on my past without being judged or criticised’, and another young person said, 'Here, I know the boundaries and if I stick to them I get more freedom. I get to make choices.'

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are safeguarded by outstanding procedures that ensure that the reasons for any episodes of going missing are identified and addressed. Vigilant management and staff work very closely with local police to identify locations which may pose a risk to young people and prevent their access to those premises. Staff encourage young people to come home responsibility at the end of evenings out. The staff have gone out looking, knocked on doors and talked to people where they think young people are, until they know they are safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people feel valued and cared for by the proactive actions of staff to protect them, leading to a reduction in young people going missing. A social worker stated’ 'In comparison to what things were like around missing in previous placements the improvement is brilliant really.'

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are safeguarded by the good attention paid to safety and equipment checks which maintain a healthy environment. Frequent fire drills ensure young people can safely exit the home and they understand the importance of this.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are outstanding .

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Leadership and management

The experienced and dedicated manager and deputy manager provide excellent management and know the young people in their care well. Individual care is monitored on a day-to-day basis and the management team regularly canvass the views of young people, their parents and professionals about the service provided. Positive comments are built upon and any identified shortfalls promptly addressed. This fully contributes to young people's explicit sense of belonging and being valued. As a result, exceptional standards are maintained and the positive impact on young people's progress and life chances over their time in the home are demonstrated. A parent said, 'I can’t think of anything bad to say about here.'

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Leadership and management

Independent monitoring visits systematically contribute to improvements and include ascertaining young people's views about their care and experiences. The management team ensure practice is current, relevant to young people's needs and accountable by maintaining a strong overview of key documents, policies and procedures. There were no requirements or recommendations from the previous inspection; however, continued improvements have consistently been achieved. Examples of this include the introduction of the progress reports and the development of the self-harm risk assessment. The management team communicates with and notifies agencies, including Ofsted, of significant information; ensuring young people are protected by multi-agency decision making. Records are diligently maintained and securely kept.

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Leadership and management

Goals are specifically set out in an excellent development plan for the service. The comprehensive Statement of Purpose clearly outlines the aims and objectives of the home; how young people's equality and diversity needs are met and of the care to be provided. This results in young people being appropriately placed enhancing their well-being, experience and opportunities.

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Leadership and management

Young people benefit from high staffing levels. All staff are suitably qualified or are undertaking professional training. Regular, core and specialist training ensure staff are qualified to meet the needs of the young people in their care. The enthusiastic, strong and patient staff team hold high aspirations for all the young people. They feel very strongly that young people should have every opportunity, not be stigmatised because they are looked after and take real pride in young people's achievements. Members of staff report positively about working in the home and the relationships they build with young people and each other. A staff member stated, 'I always keep in my mind that this is a place of work but this is their home and we are their role models.’

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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 main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the Inspections of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011) and the evaluation schedule for children's homes.

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