Children's Home run by Friends Therapeutic Community Trust in Cambridgeshire

Unique reference number SC025733 Inspector Louisa Bayley Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered manager Peter David Clarke Date of last inspection 17/02/2014 2 of 9 Inspection date 28/10/2014

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Previous inspection good progress Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness outstanding

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

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Overall effectiveness

Young people benefit from exceptional, inspirational and unique care. They are each valued as individuals and as part of the therapeutic community. All young people experience an intensive and holistic support package. This helps them to understand, acknowledge and address offending behaviour.

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Overall effectiveness

All of the young people have an extremely positive view of their care experience in this home. They build strong attachments with staff that make them feel loved and cared for. They develop strong peer relationships. Young people live in a well- ordered community. This is because they learn to use positive challenge to explore negative behaviour.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people both pose and are vulnerable to significant risk. Staff manage this exceptionally well. Individuals learn to take responsibility for their risky behaviour.

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Overall effectiveness

Managers in this home have demonstrated unfailing commitment to secure consistent and continuing improvement. They have taken account of the previous inspections and taken action to address the minor shortfalls. Consequently, there were no shortfalls at this inspection and significant evidence of progress. 3 of 9

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Information about this children’s home

The service is run by a charitable community trust and provides a therapeutic programme and treatment for up to 17 young men with emotional and behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities. The service caters for a specific range of needs and ages as detailed in the Statement of Purpose.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a semi-independent bungalow on the premises. The wide range of facilities includes on-site education and vocational workshops to support accredited work- based learning courses.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/02/2014 Interim good progress 09/10/2013 Full good 26/02/2013 Interim good progress 08/11/2012 Full outstanding 4 of 9

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Young people access a range of therapies within the home. They engage in individual and group sessions, committing to full participation. Consequently, they develop an understanding of their history, background and of their offending behaviours. They become able to see themselves as someone who has offended, rather than an offender. This enables them to develop a positive self-image.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Young people complete questionnaires about themselves when they arrive in the home. This helps them to focus on aspects they need to develop. They complete the same questionnaires midway through their stay and at the end. This provides tangible evidence of improvement. Aspects such as health are a central part of this focus. Over time, young people take responsibility for their diet, physical exercise, smoking cessation and emotional wellbeing.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

All young people in the home engage in a programme of education. They develop their numeracy and literacy skills, access GCSE and A level qualifications and on-site vocational qualifications. Individual education plans demonstrate the measurable progress for each young person within their education. Some young people were not engaged in education prior to their admission to the home. Other young people have had significant learning disabilities that were undiagnosed in any previous provision. These individuals have accessed education and health assessments to identify their needs. Young people access work experience and courses, both in and outside of the home. The opportunities include horticulture, painting and decorating, motor vehicle studies and catering. As a result, young people develop valuable skills that will enhance their life chances and ability to secure work.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Interaction and integration with the local community is an important part of daily life for the young people. They maintain the churchyard next to the home. Young people work on a community project to repair and maintain cycles for a charitable trust. They welcome visitors to the home and host regular events for the local community. Young people are currently preparing for a bonfire night, expecting 600 guests. The strong community links support young people to develop positive relationships and to consider how they can help others.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Young people enjoy a wide range of social and leisure opportunities. They participate in group holidays; for some, the first time they have seen the sea. They swim, use a local gymnasium, grow their own vegetables and play football in the community. Young people access an extensive range of on-site activities, based around their individual interests and skills.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

There is a significant focus on the preparation for the transition to independence and adulthood. The opportunities and outcomes for young people in this respect are 5 of 9 exemplary. They learn how to cook, budget, shop, apply for benefits, complete their curriculum vitae, apply for jobs and learn to drive. They experience semi- independent living in separate accommodation on the premises. This provides a stepping-stone towards moving to independence post placement.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Young people who have previously lived at the home return and talk to current young people about their transition experiences. The young people say this is helpful to them. They feel more able to understand what to expect when they move on. Young people apply and interview for positions of responsibility in the home, such as chair of community meetings. This provides them with valuable experience of interview situations. Young people have presented lectures to university students in respect of the role of chair at community meetings in a therapeutic environment. This helps to build their confidence and enables them to develop skills to speak publicly.

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Quality of care outstanding

The multi-disciplinary staff team have exceptionally high regard for the young people. There is a culture of open and positive challenge, trust and mutual respect. Parents said, ‘there is nothing better for him right now’ and ‘they could not do any better than they do.’ Another parent said ‘I have a lot of praise for the home.’

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people say they are integral to the way the home is run; they affect decision making about every aspect of the provision. One young person said, in reference to the staff said, ‘it is our home, not theirs. We really feel that.’ Young people take an active and valid part in recruitment. Young people are included in interview panels. They ask questions such as ‘how are you going to see me as a person and not just my offending behaviour?’ Young people confirm that managers respect their views on the appointment of candidates.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people take part in the therapeutic community meetings three times each day. They each have a voice; the meetings are fully inclusive and provide regular opportunities for individuals to express their views and wishes.

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Quality of care outstanding

Individual therapy programmes and care planning are comprehensive. Staff are acutely aware of the disadvantages and barriers young people face. They fiercely advocate for them, promoting their rights to equality of opportunity to access services and resources. Young people fully contribute to their care planning. This supports their commitment to and investment in making progress.

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Quality of care outstanding

The provision of specialist resource within the home is exceptional. Social workers and clinicians form part of the multi-disciplinary team. This enables young people to readily access psychological and emotional support.

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Quality of care outstanding

There is an embedded expectation of educational engagement. Staff have high aspirations for each young person. There is a wealth of educational and vocational 6 of 9 support in the home and links with external education provision. Consequently, young people are able to develop their skills, interests and educational ability.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people benefit from excellent facilities. Managers have continued to improve the décor of the home, in full consultation with the young people. Dedicated staff tend to the grounds, providing a welcoming and expansive outdoor space. The on- site theatre, driving track, workshops, education base and independence bungalow enhance young people’s experiences.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Young people feel safe. This is because there is a culture of open challenge of unsafe and damaging behaviours. The nature of young people’s needs means risks are high. Staff ensure control measures are in place to reduce risky behaviours and to acknowledge and address issues as they occur.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Young people say bullying is not an issue. When verbal or aggressive incidents do occur, young people and staff hold immediate communications meetings. This forum tackles the behaviour and acts to re-stabilise the group. Young people say they find peer challenge to be highly powerful. They are more accepting of peer comments and suggestions because of the empathy within peer relationships.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Managers are creative in their approach towards bullying and power imbalance. They arranged for a theatre group to have a weeklong residency in the home. They worked with young people to develop and act out performances on this subject. Young people found this thought provoking and powerful.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Young people have access to independent advocates. They utilise advocacy services to raise concerns or mediate with external services. Young people have monthly opportunities to speak to the independent visitor. They are aware of the complaints process and have details to contact Ofsted. This ensures that all young people have a number of options to seek support.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

An in-house safeguarding team manages safeguarding concerns. This team consists of six qualified social workers. There is a designated safeguarding person within this team. That person is clear about referral routes to the local and placing authorities. The safeguarding team work cohesively to identify concerns, put actions in place and to engage additional support for young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

There are systems in place to monitor and record incidents of self-harm. Staff use body maps so they can monitor the prevalence of harm for individuals. The in-house clinical team, including a psychiatrist, provide holistic support for young people to manage self-harmful behaviours.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Young people do not go missing. This is because they understand the consequences 7 of 9 of such incidents.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Staff use restraint as a last resort to prevent injury or harm to young people and others. Staff use recognised techniques, record incidents fully and ensure they debrief young people after an incident of restraint. Manager’s use debriefs with staff to reflect on incidents. This helps to safeguard young people. Sanctions are recorded in line with regulatory requirements. The records include young people’s reflections on their behaviour.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Community meetings provide a safe environment for young people and staff to challenge each other. The level of challenge evokes reflection on how individual behaviour makes others feel.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Staff take health and safety in the home seriously. There is an excellent system in place to prioritise maintenance in direct relation to levels of risk. Fire procedures and risk assessments are robust and regularly reviewed. This promotes young people’s physical safety.

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Leadership and management outstanding

There is a Registered Manager in post. He has been registered with Ofsted since 29 April 2010. The manager has a level four qualification in leadership and management, a Master’s degree in psychosocial studies and a diploma in social work. He is highly experienced, providing consistent leadership in the home.

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Leadership and management outstanding

There have been no concerns or complaints received by Ofsted about the service

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Leadership and management outstanding

The drive for improvement in practice and care delivery has been significant over the past year. Managers understand the importance of recording developments so that progress is demonstrable and measurable. Staff have increased their skills, with an accreditation for one with the Royal College of Psychiatry. There have been improvements to the physical environment of the home and improvements to reporting formats. Improvement is wide ranging, significant and enhances young people’s experience in this environment.

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Leadership and management outstanding

Internal monitoring is comprehensive, robust and well documented. It highlights areas for improvements and provides managers and staff with clear aims and targets to secure continued improvement.

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Leadership and management outstanding

The management team have absolute understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. They have responded robustly to previous inspection findings. They have demonstrated total commitment to driving improvement, with tangible evidence of the changes.

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Leadership and management outstanding

There are excellent systems in place to measure the progress young people make 8 of 9 because of their experience of living in this home. Measures include; monthly monitoring, reviews, feedback from young people and social workers, community meetings, longitudinal study and continued contact with young people who have moved on.

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Leadership and management outstanding

Staff numbers meet the needs for each young person, given their specific supervision requirements. The staff team is well established and experienced. The team demonstrates commitment towards meeting young people’s needs.

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Leadership and management outstanding

Staff receive good levels of support and supervision. They access external professional support and regular in-house supervision. One member of staff said, ‘I have never experienced this level of support before.’ Records in the home are clear, fully recorded and provide comprehensive audit trails of the support, progress and achievements for young people.

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Leadership and management outstanding

There have been a minimal number of notifications. When significant notifiable events do occur, managers supply comprehensive detail to Ofsted. This supports Ofsted, as a regulator, to have a clear understanding of events in the home. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management outstanding

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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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