Children's Home run by Roundhouse Care in Staffordshire

Unique reference number SC425859 Inspector Elaine Cray Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Registered person Roundhouse Care Ltd Registered person address 28 Lichfield Street Tamworth Staffordshire B79 7QE Responsible individual Marilyn Mayer Registered manager Maurice John Ryley Date of last inspection 16/01/2014 2 of 6 Inspection date 07/05/2014

p.1

Previous inspection good Enforcement action since last inspection There has been no enforcement action since the last inspection on 16 January 2014.

p.2

This inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

p.2

This inspection

Children and young people have extremely positive experiences as a result of living at this home. They continue to make new and excellent progress across all aspects of their lives. They say they like the staff, the home is good and they are unanimous that the best thing about the home is the range of activities. Social workers present very positive perceptions of the home and say ‘Progression and development – this is what we want for children and that is exactly what happens.’ Children and young people feel looked after because the home provides nurture and clear boundaries. They learn how to develop trusting and positive relationships and as a result are able to engage meaningfully with the therapeutic ethos of the service. Children and young people grow in confidence and develop emotional resilience. This home makes a significant difference to the lives of children and young people due the high quality of care. The effective care planning framework ensures children

p.2

This inspection

and young people’s care is organised, contemporary and needs-led. The strong onus on assessment of need and compatibility matching is exemplified by the stability of the children living at and recent admissions to the home. The manager and staff are skilled in building relationships with parents, social workers and other professionals. They are sensitive to and tenacious in exploring the diverse needs and backgrounds of children and young people. This essential information gathering is effective because it takes place at the earliest stage of referral. Sharing and discussing detailed information is an integral part of working in partnership with social workers, families and other agencies. The manager and staff listen to and address the needs, feelings and anxieties of children, young people and families. There is a positive impact on children, young people and their families because individually tailored approaches are in place to welcome children and young

p.2

This inspection

3 of 6 people to the home. Children and young people settle well at this home because compatibility matching is effective. The management team take the existing children’s needs into full consideration and give these equal priority to the matching of new children’s needs to the staff skill-set. As a result new children and young people have clear assessment of need, immediate care and safeguarding strategies and are welcomed and embraced by the other children living at the home. Children, young people and staff thrive in this extremely positive and nurturing environment. Effective transition planning is also exemplified with how children are supported to manage changes in education and prepare for re-joining family life. For example staff see the step from middle to high school as a crucial step for children. Their insight and empathy enables staff to embrace the excitement yet apprehension experienced by children. Forging partnerships with schools, the school nurse and

p.3

This inspection

social workers early on is a clear strength. This insight and planning ensures the intricacies of the child are valued, their anxieties reduced and all parties are realistically prepared for transition. Improving the effectiveness of the care planning framework is achieved with the recent introduction of an additional monitoring tool. The process ensures staff evaluate the aims for children and young people in line with placement planning goals. They also routinely and regularly look at their own practice and measure this against the progress children and young people are making. This tool improves effectiveness. Staff are able to adapt and adjust their approaches accordingly. As a result staff respond to the diverse and individual needs and on-going responses of the children and young people. Exploring and meaningfully capturing the impact of the care in the home and partnership working drives improvement of the service and outcomes for children

p.3

This inspection

and young people. Staff embrace the importance of looking outside of their own therapeutic practice and focusing on the actual experiences of the children and young people. For example staff understand that nurture and stability within the home may impact on children disclosing historic concerns. This understanding fuels effective working partnerships with placing social workers and the local safeguarding children team. Children and young people experience a strong sense of safety and protection as a result of proactive and effective partnership working in safeguarding. Staff also understand and plan for how children’s current positive experiences and perceptions may shed light on and result in confusion and frustration about past childhood experiences and attachments. This insight and forward planning enables sensitive and timely interventions. Insight and effective behaviour management reduces children and young people’s anxieties and positively impacts on challenging

p.3

This inspection

behaviours. Staff’s reflection skills enable them to identify positive and unexpected outcomes. Staff quickly capture children’s enjoyment and responses to activities or ideas as a by-product of staff practice, family contact or other experiences. They embrace and share these events; sometimes as part of the child’s care plan and/or to enable improved understanding of the child. This pragmatic approach is particularly useful in engaging families in a greater understanding of their children and improving relationships. 4 of 6 Children and young people experience and greatly value the improvement in their behaviour and relationships. These improvements mean they can enjoy and achieve better in school, make new friends and actively join in a range of activities and clubs. In turn these positive opportunities lead to greater self-confidence and proud self-esteem. Improving effectiveness includes on-going work to ensure the inclusion and

p.3

This inspection

participation of children and young people in their care. This home currently looks after children of a younger age and with extremely complex needs and presenting behaviours. Staff work tirelessly to explore and facilitate the communication, learning and understanding needs of these children. Care and therapeutic staff continue to creatively develop strategies and work in partnership with agencies. They work tenaciously to find meaningful ways for children to unravel their past experiences and current feelings. Using visual and social stories enable children to begin to practically understand the challenging concepts of growing up. Work with the Looked After Children nurse further enables children to manage complex medical needs and look at puberty, adolescent changes and building better self-esteem. Leaders, managers and staff have a good understanding of the changing landscape of the legislative and regulatory framework. Adjusting systems, procedures and

p.4

This inspection

practice show a good awareness of the recent changes in the Children Home’s Regulations. The manager liaises well with the local authority with regard to children from other areas coming to live at the home. This engagement also extends to the local police and education facilities and authorities. While the home’s Statement of Purpose is updated in accordance with the new regulations, a copy is yet to be forwarded to Ofsted. The home and outcomes for children and young people continue to improve due to formal monitoring and regular managerial checks. Monthly visits and reports by an independent visitor to the home are in place. It is positive that children and young people sign an agreement for the visitor to view their records. This is further evidence that the services understands the finer points in changes to the legislative framework and value the rights of children living at the home. Recommendations from the previous inspection to review some of the home’s health

p.4

This inspection

and safety outcomes and processes are addressed. The provider has liaised with a range of agencies, including fire and environmental services, to verify that current practices in the home are satisfactory. 5 of 6

p.4

Information about this children’s home

This home, which is operated by a private provider, is registered to provide care and accommodation for three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.5

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/01/2014 Full good 28/11/2013 Interim good progress 29/11/2012 Full good 31/07/2012 Interim satisfactory progress

p.5

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.

p.5

Reg. Requirement Due date

4 (2001) provide a copy of the statement of purpose to HMCI. (Regulation 4.- (2)) 30/05/2014 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.5

Reg. Requirement Due date

This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

p.6

What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

p.6

Information 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.

p.6

Information 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 framework of inspection for children's homes.

p.6