Children's Home run by Leicester City Council in Leicester

Unique reference number SC039025 Inspection date 04/03/2014 Inspector Caroline Brailsford Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 07/08/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The home is run by the local authority and registered to provide care and accommodation for six young people. The home offers care and accommodation for young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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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

This home was judged as adequate at the last full inspection in August 2013. Since that time, the manager and staff have demonstrated significant improvement in the management of the home. The home has addressed and met all the five requirements and two recommendations made at the previous inspection. This reflects the manager and staff’s commitment to improving the home.

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Progress

Improvements include staff training which is more organised. There is now a senior staff member who holds the responsibility to ensure that all training is up to date. It is now clear that all mandatory training is completed including safeguarding, behaviour management and first aid. This ensures that all staff are appropriately trained to use the home's procedures and to safeguard the welfare of young people. A training matrix allows the training profile to be viewed for each staff member and assists in identifying when refreshers are needed. In addition to the mandatory training, staff have also attended extra training focused on the individual needs of young people. For example staff have undertaken self-harm training since the last inspection. There have also been improvements in relation to sending the required notifications to Ofsted. All the required notifications have been received by Ofsted. The policy on

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Progress

behaviour management has also been reviewed. Young people have been involved with the amendment of this policy in relation to sanctions, showing that their views are seen as important. Young people now only receive sanctions that are appropriate. Improvements include the arrangements for financial reparation, which are now used more reasonably and in line with Regulations. In addition, staff report that the door to the games room is now not locked. This now gives young people full access to all areas in their own home.

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Progress

Young people enjoy open and positive relationships with staff which promotes improved outcomes and safety. Young people participate well in their key worker sessions. As a result, their views and concerns can be aired and responded to promptly. In addition, young people are involved in the running of the home and in changes to policy, for example the recent changes to behaviour management. They make their own choices in relation to food, participate in the shopping and are listened to in their choices about education.

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Progress

Staff at every level are enthusiastic about the improvements in the home. They say that young people's safety and welfare has improved. Other professionals also agree that young people are safer. For example where young people maybe at risk of child sexual exploitation, young people learn about their own safety and about how to reduce their own risk in relation to this. Where young people have not previously accepted help or advice from staff, they are now learning to take responsibility for their own safety because they are engaging well with staff. In addition, where young people had been missing very regularly prior to this placement, their incidents of missing have now significantly reduced. Also young people's contact with the staff while they are missing has increased. This assists staff to make important decisions about the safety and welfare of young people. Joint working with other agencies in

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Progress

this area is good. This is confirmed by other professionals such as social workers and the police.

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Progress

The Registered Manager leads a team of committed staff who are focused on the needs of the young people. Young people say that the best thing about the home is the staff. Regular quality time with young people promotes positive relationships and allows young people to openly discuss their worries problems and learn about their own safety.

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Progress

Progress in the home is celebrated and young people have recently been to an award ceremony where they have gained awards for significant progress. For example young people have gained awards for a reduction is going missing and engaging well with staff.

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Progress

Young people's files are very well organised and it is easy to see key information. The risk assessments are particularly detailed in relation to specific risks to individuals. Actions to be taken by staff are clear and these work well to reduce risks on a day-to-day basis. Placement planning is well organised and encompasses any particular safety or welfare aspects. The files present a clear picture of young people's progress and difficulties they face. This will help young people to look back on their own records in the future.

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Progress

Staff encourage young people in their interests and create suitable learning opportunities. Young people have been involved in college courses such as catering and 'managing your own home'. This has promoted their independence and allowed them to develop their own skills and interests for the future. Independence planning is a strength in the home. One social worker confirmed that progress is significantly better in this area for young people since coming to the home.

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Progress

Despite the progress that has been made there are three requirements in relation to this inspection. One relates to delays in notifications being sent to the regulator, Ofsted, as several have been delayed for up to two weeks. Whilst this has not impacted on young people’s safety or welfare, this does not allow for prompt regulation on significant issues in the home. A shortfall has also been found in relation to the safeguarding procedure. Local authority social workers are very clear that safeguarding procedures are always followed by staff and this fully protects young people. However, it is not clear in the actual policy that staff should always refer a safeguarding issue to the local authority safeguarding team during 'out of hours'. In addition, the records of the home passing safeguarding issues to the local authority are not kept in the home all of the time and are therefore not readily accessible. Whilst this has not impacted on the safety or welfare of the young people

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Progress

to date, this has the potential to cause confusion in the future as this does not allow for staff, at all levels, to see the audit trail and actions taken.

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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

(2001) ensure that the safeguarding procedure sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of any allegation of abuse or neglect (Regulation 16,1(b)) 29/03/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that written records are kept of any allegation of abuse and of the action taken in response (Regulation 16,2(d)) 29/03/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that if any of the events listed in column 1 of the table in schedule 5 takes place, the Registered Person shall without delay, notify the persons indicated in the table, this is in particular relation to delays in notifications to Ofsted. (Regulation 30,1) 29/03/2014

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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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