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

Unique reference number SC035543 Inspector Michael McCleave MBE Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person East Riding of Yorkshire Council Registered person address County Hall Cross Street BEVERLEY North Humberside HU17 9BA Responsible individual Pamela Allen Registered manager Richard Martin Burrett Date of last inspection 21/01/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 15/07/2014

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Previous inspection good progress Enforcement action since last inspection None.

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Overall effectiveness good

Outcomes for children and young people good Quality of care outstanding Keeping children and young people safe good Leadership and management good

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Overall effectiveness

This home provides young people with a stable caring environment. It is operated by a manager and staff who are committed to supporting young people to achieve their potential. Young people make very good progress in their complex lives. Staff demonstrate a strong passion for their work. They operate as well as a close knit team. There is a culture at the home of always aiming high for young people and no one is deemed unable to achieve personal outcomes. This is a good demonstration of the commitment of staff to equality and diversity.

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Overall effectiveness

Care planning forms the basis of all work with young people and case records give a good indication of their achievements at the home. These are well laid out and information is readily available. However, these are generally factual and do not always show the richness of the work being undertaken by staff with young people.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff work actively to encourage young people to value education. The majority of whom achieve good outcomes at school or college. This compares very well to their low level of achievements before they moved to this home. Some young people however, are not engaging with their education programme and do not currently receive any education. This is likely to limit their opportunities for future higher education or employment. Staff are nevertheless, actively involved in partnership with the education service to identify alternative resources. 3 of 10 Young people feel safe living at this home and a significant feature is the positive link that has been established with the local police service. This promotes a better understanding between the police and young people on how to behave within the community.

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Overall effectiveness

The home is well managed and staff are supported and supervised to ensure that an effective and caring service is provided for young people. Areas identified for improvement include the need to ensure that all young people are in education, and for more evaluation of the work undertaken by staff in case records. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

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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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/01/2014 Interim good progress 05/09/2013 Full outstanding 06/02/2013 Interim good progress 11/10/2012 Full good

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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 children are supported to attend school, college or alternative provisio regularly (NMS 8.3)  ensure that information about the child is recorded clearly and in a way which will be helpful to the child, in particular that periodic summaries are evaluative and clearly show how and why change has been achieved. (NMS 22.5) 5 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Staff work proactively with young people to improve their self- confidence and to give them the opportunity to develop their potential as individuals. The relationships between staff and young people are excellent. This helps create a more harmonious environment where young people can discuss any issues or concerns with staff in confidence. This is a significant achievement for most of the young people who lacked the ability to relate to adults prior to moving into the home. Young people therefore, have a sound basis from which to develop and sustain attachments with people who can positively influence their lives now and for the future. The benefit of these positive relationships is already helping young people to develop emotional resilience and to move forward in their lives positively. The manager said, 'We work closely with the young people to help them overcome their negative experience of adults who

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people's health has improved since coming to the home. They are actively encouraged to take ownership of their health. They have access to the local gym and other sports facilities. Some young people are able to pursue a sport they enjoy. For example, the home has purchased some mountain bikes and canoes. Young people are encouraged by staff and other professionals to take care of their health with advice and guidance on drugs, substance misuse and smoking. The looked after children's nurse provides guidance on personal health and sexual health matters. This improves the young people's understanding of the risks they take to their health if they indulge in such activities.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

The majority of young people have benefitted greatly from a full time education. Their development and achievement is significant in relation to their previous records of non cooperation with education before coming to the home. For those young people who have a history of irregular or non-attendance in education, they receive support and encouragement to try and improve their education prospects.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people learn how to be good citizens in the local community. They have access to a pre-independence flat in the town where they can stay and become familiar with the demands of independent living. This is an excellent resource and provides the young people with the experience of taking care of themselves with staff supporting from a distance. This resource coupled with the input from other professionals prepares young people very well for the time when they move to their own accommodation.

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Quality of care outstanding

6 of 10 Staff are extremely passionate about their work on behalf of young people. They are excellent advocates for them and will challenge any barriers to ensure that young people are given the best chance of success in all areas of their lives. Young people enjoy and benefit from very positive relationships with staff. These are built upon trust, respect and strong attachments have been developed between young people themselves and with staff. This has helped young people to learn how to trust adults again. Young people say that they are confident that staff listen to them. The manager said, 'The team really go the extra mile for our young people.' Young people enjoy living at the home and they say that staff genuinely care about their welfare. One young person commented, 'Whatever we do they won't give up on us.' There is a warm relaxed atmosphere at the home where young people and staff regularly engage in friendly dialogue. A noticeable feature is the open door policy for

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Quality of care outstanding

the office. Young people behave appropriately and they have access to staff at all times. They behave in a polite and responsible manner as a direct result of the positive input of staff to teach young people trust and respect.

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff place an exceptionally strong focus on the welfare of each young person. They work effectively as a team to support and encourage young people to bring about positive changes in their lives. Young people benefit from the dedication and commitment of the staff who provide a stable and safe environment for them. For example young people said, 'I think it's like a big family here but with different mums and dads,' and 'There is always something going on here.'

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people play a significant role in the day-to-day life at the home. Their views are taken seriously by staff who encourage them to put forward suggestions on how to make the home a better place to live. For example, the young people decided on the decoration of the extension building to the home. They influence the planning of trips out to places of interest and activities. Young people are actively involved in the staff appointment process through the young people participation group. This encourages and promotes a sense of responsibility in key areas of life at the home. Young people take an interest in the wider community and have organised a bike ride to raise funds for charity.

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff ensure high levels of support for young through the very strong partnerships they have established with other professional agencies. For example, there are close contacts with the psychology team at the health service clinic, with the local police, education, health care services and young people's participation team. These relationships enable staff to effectively advocate on behalf of young people. Staff achieve exceptional outcomes for young people through these strong contacts. For example, in setting up bespoke education packages for some young people who were initially not academically motivated. These young people have made remarkable progress educationally. They are achieved academic outcomes in line with their abilities. This flexible approach enabled those young people to demonstrate achievement thereby improving their confidence. A social worker commented positively, 'I am very confident in the ability of the staff to manage complex and

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Quality of care outstanding

difficult young people.' 7 of 10 Young people enjoy and are provided with excellent opportunities to participate in a number of social and leisure activities of their choice. Young people say they are asked what activities they wish to take part in each week. These include biking, canoe racing, going to the cinema, going for walks and trips out to places of interest. One young person said, 'We go camping and I even went to the Wembley cup final.' The cup final ticket was provided by the home as a reward for the exceptional progress this young person made at school.

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Quality of care outstanding

The progress of the young people is very effectively monitored through their statutory reviews. Independent reviewing officers (IRO) ensure that young people are supported and encouraged to make a contribution to their care plans. Reports submitted to the review are of a high quality and include input from young people. This is a further example of the way the service is proactive in ensuring that young people take responsibility for key aspects of their lives.

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Quality of care outstanding

The high quality of care is enhanced with the clean and well maintained homely environment. The new extension has added to the space available and provides a modern kitchen, dining and computer area for the young people to enjoy. Young people live in a home, situated in a residential neighbourhood, with good access to the town centre amenities.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people are well protected by clear safeguarding procedures and care practice that gives their safety and well-being a high priority. Young people feel safe living at this home. All staff are clear about their safeguarding responsibilities. Staff manage the balance between protection and enabling young people to take age appropriate risks very well. This approach allows them to enjoy the same social experiences as their peers in the wider community.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Safeguarding matters are always discussed at staff meetings. This reflects the importance attached by the management to ensuring the safety of the young people. This is further enhanced through the robust staff recruitment and selection process. This requires a full detailed assessment and checks of all applicants for work. No appointment is confirmed until all checks are completed. These measures positively promote safety at the home by preventing unsuitable adults from working with vulnerable young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Case records identify any safeguarding concerns among young people. These are regularly updated by key workers. There are robust procedures in place if young people go missing from home. Positive links have been established with the police which provide staff with advice and guidance on any issues of concern. Additionally, police officers spend quality time with the young people at the home improving their understanding of the risks in the community and consequences of offending. 8 of 10 Staff follow protocols that have been agreed with the police. These are based on an assessment of each young person’s risks and vulnerabilities. There has been a marked reduction in young people going missing and in most cases this is just being late home. As a result, their risk taking behaviour is reducing.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Bullying is not currently an issue at the home. Young people have formed good friendships and this is reflected in the low incidence of tensions between them. All staff are trained in behaviour management, they are proud that restraint is not a common feature at the home. Young people respond positively to staff when issues about their behaviour are raised. This is based on the trust and respect that has been established between staff and young people. Staff encourage socially acceptable behaviour, putting great emphasis on reward, praise and encouragement. When sanctions are used young people say 'staff are fair and explain what the sanction is for.' Behaviour management plans provide staff with safe responses to managing young people's sometimes difficult and challenging behaviour. Staff make very good use of positive relationships and de-escalation techniques to manage conflict and confrontation. No young person has been restrained since the last inspection.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Overall, young people respond well to the structure, boundaries and the strategies that the staff implement. This in turn means that young people learn to cope with difficult situations more positively.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The building is physically safe and well maintained. All fire safety procedures have been correctly carried out and equipment fully checked by authorised contractors.

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Leadership and management good

The registered manager has been in post for over nine years. He has a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in management of children and young people at Level 5.

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Leadership and management good

There were no requirements or recommendations made at the last inspection.

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Leadership and management good

The home is well managed and operates to the Statement of Purpose for the home. The children’s guide provides young people with good age related information about the home and what services young people can expect. This ensures young people and stakeholders are clear about the purpose of the home and the service and support provided. The welcome pack given to young people on arrival at the home contains details of the complaints procedure. The manager is committed to an open culture where young people can be confident in raising any issue that they feel concerned about. Young people confirm this.

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Leadership and management good

The manager is supported by a deputy and both ensure that the staff are supported and supervised to provide an efficient service to the young people. The management team work in partnership to ensure the efficient operation of the service. 9 of 10 The staff team demonstrate a positive approach to their work. They are enthusiastic advocates for improving the life chances of the young people. This is a team that pride themselves on having a strong team approach to their work. This is actively supported by managers. The management team provide staff with direct support through formal supervision and day-to-day oversight. Training and development opportunities for staff are available with access to both internal and external training courses. This promotes the knowledge and competences of staff to enable them to work with young people who come with complex challenges. The home is fully staffed and this ensures that the young people are looked after in a consistent way.

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Leadership and management good

This is a stable staff team who perform their duties with professionalism and sensitivity.

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Leadership and management good

The operations at the home are subject to regular monitoring by the management and external visitors in line with regulations. Young people's case files provide a good account of their life at the home. These are overall, well maintained records. However, the monthly summaries are generally factual in detail. A more meaningful account of their progress could be achieved with more evaluative summaries. This would reflect the high quality work clearly being undertaken by staff with young people.

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Leadership and management good

The home is located in a quiet residential community. The manager and staff work actively with the young people to ensure that good relations are maintained with the neighbours. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management good

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Judgement Description

Outstanding A service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

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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.

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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.

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