Children's Home run by Knossington Grange School Limited in Lincolnshire

Unique reference number SC436386 Inspector Tracy Murty Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Knossington Grange School Ltd Registered person address The Grange Therapeutic School 15-17 Somerby Road, Knossington OAKHAM Rutland LE15 8LY Responsible individual Paul Ivor Emmerson Registered manager James Michael Proctor Date of last inspection 09/10/2013 2 of 7 Inspection date 23/09/2014

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Previous inspection good Enforcement action since last inspection None

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This inspection

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

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This inspection

At the last full inspection of this service in October 2013, an overall effectiveness judgement of good was made. Three recommendations were set as a result of that inspection, which had all been met at the time of this inspection.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager has ensured that young people are encouraged to read and contribute to all relevant records. Young people contribute to the completion of various plans and contracts relating to the care they receive. Staff also take considerable time to prepare young people for their looked after reviews. They are fully consulted with prior to review meetings and their views are clearly recorded and shared.

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This inspection

Each young person has an allocated key worker. This person now ensures that clear and specific targets are set for each young person. Staff work with young people to ensure that identified targets are met on a daily basis. Recording of agreed plans is detailed and reflects the work done by staff to support young people in meeting their complex needs. The staff team celebrate the successes of all young people, who respond very positively to the use of reward and incentives.

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This inspection

Young people receive good support and preparation for their eventual move to independence. Staff undertake focused sessions with them, to ensure that they have the necessary skills for a smooth transition to adult life. Staff offer practical and emotional support to young people on a daily basis. This has included accompanying them to appointments with housing providers, benefits agencies and in completing application forms with them. Young people learn how to manage their own finances with staff support. They learn how to plan for and prepare their own simple meals. Since the last inspection, some young people have made successful and well planned transitions to semi-independent accommodation. 3 of 7 The staff team work closely and imaginatively with young people and placing authorities to ensure a smooth transition to independence. This is achieved through very positive and close working relationships with a range of involved agencies. The

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This inspection

planning for admissions to this home is also very detailed and fully involves those young people already in placement. The Registered Manager discusses any potential admissions with young people, arranging visits and ensuring that the matching of needs of all young people is fully considered before new placements are agreed. The staff team display a real commitment to ensuring that all young people are well prepared for their move to the home and have the necessary skills to make a successful transition to their own accommodation.

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This inspection

From their starting points, young people make good progress in all areas of their lives. All young people placed in this home have educational placements. Their attendance and attainment has improved, with some moving on to further education and college courses. Young people have all of their complex physical, emotional and psychological needs met by the staff team. Some young people have managed to stop smoking since moving to live in this home. This has been achieved through the commitment and support of the staff team and local smoking cessation services. Staff and young people meet together every week to agree the menus. Young people assist staff in shopping and preparing meals and are provided with a healthy and nutritious diet. The home also ensures that any specific dietary requirements are met for young people. This includes the provision of halal food.

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This inspection

Young people enjoy regular and positive contact with family members and significant others. The staff team display a detailed awareness and understanding of each young person's contact and care plans. They work closely with placing authorities and family members, to ensure that young people enjoy direct and indirect contact on a regular basis. This includes overnight and longer stays with family members, in line with agreed contact plans for some young people.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager undertakes regular and detailed monitoring of the services provided to all young people. Clear targets are set for each young person and their achievements clearly recorded and celebrated. The staff team uses a series of rewards and positive consequences with young people to support their progress. Managers demonstrate a detailed awareness of the needs of each young person and how any concerning or risk-taking behaviours have reduced over time. Management oversight of all aspects of the services provided is supported by very comprehensive and detailed monthly reports from the independent visitor to the home.

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This inspection

Each young person has a detailed behaviour management plan in place and a range of risk assessments. These receive regular reviews and updates by the staff team, to ensure they continue to meet the complex needs of each young person. The home devises and implements its own care plans for each young person, setting out monthly goals and targets and how these will be achieved. These are produced in consultation with young people and provide a real sense of how young people have progressed since moving to live at this home. Not every young person has an up-to- 4 of 7 date care plan from their placing authority. Managers have failed to ensure that the placing authority has provided them with the most recent care plan for some young people in a timely manner.

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This inspection

Young people seldom make formal complaints and feel able to discuss any concerns or issues they may have with the staff team. They have details of how to make a complaint provided to them on admission and are able to speak with the independent visitor each month during their visits to the home. The use of physical restraint is minimal and only used to prevent harm to a young person or others. Managers ensure that any incidents are reported to relevant agencies in a timely manner. There has been an increase in the number of reported unauthorised absences and missing episodes since the last inspection. Managers work closely with placing authorities, police and other agencies to ensure clear risk assessments and plans are in place to address such concerning behaviours. The Registered Manager has also been very proactive in ensuring that protocols and procedures are followed and that multi-agency meetings take place to review plans and progress made.

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This inspection

Records reflect that young people have their holistic needs well met. Health appointments and assessments reflect a commitment by staff to meeting young people's needs in a timely manner. Reviews of education plans and attainment enable young people to increase in confidence and move on to further education or employment with the necessary skills. Looked after reviews take place at the required intervals and include active participation and consultation with young people. Managers have failed to ensure that formal minutes from all looked after reviews have been received and placed on young people's records. This could undermine their ability to undertake identified actions from review meetings in a timely manner. 5 of 7

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care and accommodation for up to four young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties and usually takes boys. The home is owned by an independent provider with a school site nearby; young people may also attend the school.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/10/2013 Full good 08/04/2013 Interim good progress 17/10/2012 Full good 01/05/2012 Interim good progress

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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 home maintains a copy of the care plan prepared by the placing authority for each child, and that it is kept up to date. (Regulation 28(a)(b)) 14/11/2014

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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

 ensure that the result of all statutory reviews are recorded on the child's file, and individuals responsible for pursuing actions at the home arising from reviews are clearly identified. (NMS 25.8) 6 of 7 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Recommendations

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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.

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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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