Children's Home run by Luton Borough Council in Luton

Unique reference number SC033120 Inspection date 13/02/2014 Inspector Natalie Burton Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 15/10/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This home provides short-break care and accommodation for five young people. A local authority owns and operates this setting.

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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 satisfactory progress .

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Progress

The home was judged as good at the last inspection in October 2013. Since that time, the manager has addressed the two requirements and one recommendation that were raised at the previous inspection. The Registered Manager has updated and implemented the behaviour management policy to ensure guidance is clear regarding permitted measures of control. For example, the use of time away from the peer groups under the supervision of staff. This ensures that measures of control used within the home do not restrict children’s liberty and are permissible. The Registered Manager carries out regular reviews of the conduct of the home. This includes gaining the view of placing authorities, children and parents. The service successfully incorporates children’s views. However, despite seeking the views of social workers and parents there continues to be minimal feedback. The staff and manager continue to be creative around different arrangements in which to gain

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Progress

these views. Written reports are kept within the home, however they are not sent to HMCI as per the regulation. This currently has no impact on the quality of care provided for children. The standard of accommodation has improved. This is because children’s bedrooms have been refurbished. For example, all bedrooms are newly painted, colour co- ordinated and sensitively decorated in line with children’s individual complex needs. Children have been involved in the choice of colour for bedrooms, and continue to have a say in which room they will sleep in. Communal areas are more welcoming with colour delicately introduced into rooms through the use of small murals. Therefore, the house provides a homely and welcoming environment. During the inspection it was noted that some recording of measures of control do not consistently have all the required information. On occasion, measures of controls are not recorded, or they do not include the date. The Registered Manager does not

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Progress

have a robust system for monitoring of incidents. Therefore, there is a lack of identifying and addressing potential trends and patterns, or the effectiveness of the measures of controls used. The actions taken by the manager to meet the requirements and recommendation from the previous inspection demonstrate a clear commitment to continuous improvement. The staff are able to reflect on the progress the service has made. A staff member reported ‘we make sure that children are more involved.’ The connection between staff and young people observed during the inspection was warm, appropriate and supportive. One parent said of the service ‘they have made a huge improvement to our family life.’ Other developments since the last inspection include involving parents in staff recruitment, life skills course for children, and improvements in children’s social skills. For example, some children are now eating

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Progress

meals with other children. A social worker said ‘the manager has done an amazing job, I like their new ideas. These children do get the best.’

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

17B (2001) ensure that within 24 hours of the use of any measure of control, restraint or discipline in a children's home, a written record is made in a volume kept for the purpose (Regulation 17B (3)(a-i)) 31/03/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) supply to the HMCI a report in respect of any review conducted by him for the purpose of paragraph (1), and make a copy of the report available on request to placing authorities where the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home. (Regulation 34 (2)) 31/03/2014

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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

 shall regularly review incidents of challenging behaviour, examines trends or issues emerging from this, to enable staff to reflect and learn to inform future practice. (NMS 3.21)

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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.

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