Children's Home run by East Riding of Yorkshire Council in East Riding of Yorkshire

Unique reference number SC035543 Inspection date 11/10/2012 Inspector David Martin Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 21/12/2011 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The children's home is provided by a local authority and it cares for up to six young people. It focuses on supporting young people with emotional and 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 good .

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Overall effectiveness

This setting continues to provide young people with good outcomes and has measures in place to ensure that it continues to develop and improve. Young people’s health care needs are met well and specialist input is available as the need arises. Young people are making good progress in their education and have good attendance. The way in which the home manages difficult and challenging behaviours is one of its key strengths. Young people are actively encouraged to contribute their ideas and opinions both within the home and in the wider community. Young people are looked after safely and enjoy a sense of security and stability. Leadership of the home is good and staff are working hard to improve and develop their practice. One recommendation is made as a result of this inspection. It concerns the management of risks when young people are missing from home.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure that individual risk assessments for young people fully address all safeguarding concerns. (NMS 4)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are good .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are well supported to explore their personal histories and develop a sense of their own identity. They are encouraged to find self-belief and to have confidence in their own abilities. This approach helps young people build their self- esteem and gain emotional stability as they move towards adulthood. The work being undertaken by the home in this regard is valued by professional colleagues. One social worker said, ‘What they’ve managed to do is unbelievable and I’m more than happy with the service.'

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people’s health care needs are met well. Health care plans are well written and demonstrate that routine and more specialist health care input is accessed by young people as the need arises. Young people are aware of the potential harmful effects of smoking tobacco and have participated, with varying degrees of success, in smoking cessation activities. Young people are responding positively to guidance on living a healthy lifestyle and eating well.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Many of the young people have long histories of poor engagement with their education. However, the home has a developed a strong culture in which school attendance is expected and learning is valued. Young people have responded well and all have good attendance in alternative provision to mainstream schooling. They are achieving well given their low starting points. Young people quickly re-engage with their education on admission to the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are making the most of their opportunities to share their views and opinions. There are a variety of forums which enable them to make a positive contribution to the way in which the home is run. Some young people are involved in the children in care council and are making a well-received contribution to the way in which the local authority meets its obligations to looked after children. On an individual basis, young people benefit from one-to-one work which helps them shape their own personal future. Young people know that their views are taken seriously.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are having contact with their families in accordance with their wishes. Many young people have difficult relationships with people who are significant to them but they are supported well to re-establish contact when it has broken down. The staff are actively engaged with parents in helping them to understand the impact of their behaviour and their role in maintaining positive relationships with their children.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are making good progress in acquiring the skills and emotional resilience to live independently. They are learning how to accomplish daily living tasks and have good guidance and support to assist them in making a positive transition to adulthood.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is good . Young people enjoy warm, positive relationships with staff. Their interactions are good humoured, sociable and mutually respectful. Young people feel that the staff are consistently concerned with their welfare. This was exemplified by one young person who said that, ‘When you’re in crisis the staff are always there for you – all of them.' The home has established an environment in which young people are able to mature and make good progress in their personal development.

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Quality of care

As noted above, young people have a variety of opportunities to share their views on the way in which the home is run. Staff explain to them why it is not always possible to implement their suggestions. Young people are encouraged to make personal choices on a day-to-day basis and to influence decision making on such things as activities, menus and décor. Young people participate in their review meetings and are confident about expressing their wishes for the future. Young people’s views are taken seriously.

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Quality of care

The home is proactive in seeking to manage young people’s concerns and complaints at an early stage. There are good processes in place to resolve issues informally, using restorative techniques where appropriate. Complaints requiring formal investigation are infrequent. The home’s approach ensures that young people are positively engaged in processes to resolve their grievances quickly.

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Quality of care

Placement plans are effective, live documents that are regularly reviewed and up- dated to reflect the changing needs of young people. As a matter of good practice they have been shared with young people as appropriate. The plans set out clear strategies for the way in which young people are supported which ensures a consistent approach.

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Quality of care

The staff are proactive in ensuring that young people re-engage with their education. Young people are supported well to attend and staff work hard to challenge any barriers that may prevent young people from achieving. The home’s approach is very effective and is appreciated by young people. One said that, ‘The staff have really helped me with my education – and I absolutely love it.'

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Quality of care

The house is well maintained and provides young people with a comfortably, homely environment. Bedrooms have been decorated in accordance with young people’s wishes and reflect their individual tastes and interests. The premises have a welcoming feel and this contributes to young people’s overall sense of well-being.

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Safeguarding children and young people

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

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Safeguarding children and young people

Without exception young people said that they feel safe and protected from harm. The home responds robustly to incidents of bullying. It has clear and effective strategies in place to promote an environment in which young people do not feel intimidated by others. This contributes to the home’s overall responsibility to protect young people from harm. Staff have a good understanding of their individual and collective responsibility to safeguard young people. They have confidence in themselves to ensure that any child protection concerns are reported promptly and are familiar with the local safeguarding procedures. This helps to keep young people safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The number of incidents of young people going missing from home is at a relatively low level. It has reduced during the course of the previous 12 months. When incidents occur the staff actively look for young people and attempt to maintained telephone contact. This approach is successful in ensuring that young people are returned safely as quickly as possible. There are well-established, post-incident debriefing processes in place which assists staff and young people in exploring any precursors. This is very good practice. Related risk assessments are of a good standard but do not address concerns regarding the risks of child sexual exploitation.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Incidents requiring the use of restraint or physical intervention are infrequent and have reduced significantly over time. This is attributable in large part to the good use staff have made of behaviour management training. They have a sound understanding of the theoretical basis underpinning their approach and have embedded in their practice techniques for avoiding confrontation. All incidents are evaluated well, enabling staff to identify key learning points. This promotes good social behaviour and keeps young people safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

All staff are subject to robust vetting prior to appointment. Checks are carried out periodically to ensure that staff continue to be suitable adults to work with young people. This makes a contribution to the overall safety of young people. The premises are safely maintained.

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Leadership and management

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

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Leadership and management

The home has a full-time Registered Manager who is employed on a permanent basis. This provides continuous and consistent leadership.

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Leadership and management

The home has strong, well-established monitoring processes in place. This includes detailed monthly reporting by the manager which effectively evaluates activity within the home and identifies areas for improvement. The home has an annual development plan which also contributes to the improvements in the way in which the home is run. The home has a good track record of implementing recommendations and requirements from previous inspections. Overall, the home is monitored effectively ensuring that it continues to operate in the best interests of young people.

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Leadership and management

The home is operating in line with its conditions of registration. Its Statement of Purpose also complies with legal requirements and provides an accurate account of the way in which the home is run. This means that young people and adults acting on their behalf know what to expect from the home and can hold it to account. The home has sufficient numbers of suitably qualified and experienced staff to ensure that it is run safely and can meet the individual needs of all young people. The staff have good access to wide range of training which enables them to up-date their knowledge regularly. Supervision of staff is effective in identifying in their professional development and promoting reflective practice. The measures in place ensure that young people are supported by well-motivated and thoughtful team.

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Leadership and management

All records are maintained well, are up to date and stored securely. This ensures that confidential information is kept safe.

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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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