Children's Home run by North Yorkshire County Council in North Yorkshire

Unique reference number SC034235 Inspector Ann-Marie Born Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered manager James Andrew Cliffe Date of last inspection 25/09/2013 2 of 11 Inspection date 13/01/2015

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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 outstanding

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Overall effectiveness

Exceptional care planning ensures that all of a young person’s holistic and diverse needs and vulnerabilities are identified and planned for. The young people currently resident in the home are at different stages of their time there and their personal development. However each can identify areas where they have made make good progress, for example, ceasing the use of ‘legal highs’; reducing the number of missing episodes; identifying a career path or rebuilding a relationship with an important family member. This effectively builds self-esteem and feelings of self- worth empowering young people to strive to achieve in other areas of their lives. A young person said, 'I feel much healthier now and am able to do much more than I could before.'

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Overall effectiveness

Such are the positive relationships between staff and young people that young people who have moved on to independence maintain regular contact as they would with a family home. They, and young people currently resident in the home, speak very positively about the care they receive and the relationships they have with individual staff members. Young people feel valued, cared for and cared about which enhances their sense of security and belonging empowering them to make sense of negative past life experiences. A social worker said, 'They see (name) as their second home if not their home.' 3 of 11 Young people report they feel safe in this home where stringent attention is paid to all safeguarding matters. The proactive management and staff team carefully and comprehensively identify young people’s individual vulnerabilities and how to address them. Although not all young people fully engage with the services provided

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Overall effectiveness

all of the time, they are safeguarded by these measures. A parent said, 'He’s a lot safer there than he would be at home or anywhere else' and a young person stated 'I have thrown a lot at staff and they are still there and so I feel safe.'

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Overall effectiveness

The skilled, enthusiastic and nurturing management team strive for continuous development to improve care and outcomes for young people. The manager keeps up-to-date with changes in legislation ensuring that staff are kept fully informed. There were no breaches of regulation identified during this inspection. The management team use internal auditing processes, including the newly developed ‘Monthly Progress Charts’, work with young people to identify any areas of weakness and swiftly take action to address those. Consistent, persistent liaison with partner agencies ensures that positive communication is maintained and young people receive all appropriate services. A social worker stated, '(Name) is absolutely first class in keeping in contact with me and other social workers and you feel you can walk in at any time.' 4 of 11

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six young people, of either gender, who have emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/09/2013 Interim good progress 15/05/2013 Full outstanding 19/11/2012 Interim good progress 22/08/2012 Full outstanding 5 of 11

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people form good, sustainable attachments with staff in this home. These positive relationships provide young people with a secure and consistent base. As a result, young people are fully supported to develop emotional resilience at their own pace. This allows young people to rebuild relationships with family members and develop the confidence to form appropriate friendships. A young person reported, 'I think I'm likeable as an individual now.’

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people do not always recognise the importance of the relationships they have with staff while they are resident in the home. However, they fully benefit from those positive relationships once they move in to adulthood and independence. An ex- resident said: 'I ring up to talk to the manager, he’s always there for me. (Name) is a good place, you get a lot of help.'

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people’s physical and emotional health improve as a result of the consistent, proactive approach employed by staff. This effectively allows young people to engage in positive activities as they 'feel better in themselves'. The direct intervention by the manager, in partnership with a number of agencies, led to the reduction of access to ‘legal highs’ for young people. These concentrated efforts both informed and supported young people about all aspects of substance misuse. Consequently, although some young people still persist in smoking cannabis, they no longer use any other drug. A young person wrote, 'I don’t use legal highs anymore and feel a lot better.’

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are all enrolled in a range of appropriate education provisions. The staff work tirelessly to promote young people’s attendance at school and to identify suitable courses in line with their future career choices. For example, on a child care course or within the fishing industry. This encourages young people to recognise their strengths and increases choices and ambition. However not all young people currently resident in the home fully avail themselves of these opportunities.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people’s increased self-confidence empowers them to participate in activities that make a positive contribution. For example, hosting a coffee morning to raise funds for a cancer research charity, volunteering in a charity shop and wrapping donated Christmas presents for distribution to young children. Young people develop empathy and gain an understanding of their importance as individuals in the home and community as a result.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are fully supported to rebuild positive, enriching relationships with family members as a result of the persistent and sensitive interventions by staff. A young person said: 'I feel a lot more settled, I am now seeing mum and dad on a regular basis.' Consequently young people are able to maintain the important cultural 6 of 11 and community links which will sustain them now and in their future independent lives. A social worker commented: 'The work they do with families to make sure contact takes place is of a really good standard and they retain those relationships with brothers and sisters as well.'

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are prepared for transition to independent living, or further supportive accommodation, in line with their individual skills and vulnerabilities. Robust partnership working with appropriate community organisations ensure that young people are provided with a range of supportive opportunities, including continued outreach support from the home, once they move on to independence. Not all young people engage with all of the support provided which could potentially inhibit their future successes. However, the young people who fully avail themselves of the opportunities provided are very well prepared for adulthood.

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Quality of care outstanding

The resilient, skilled and experienced staff team are excellent role models for the young people in this home. As a result of their sensitive and consistent care, young people feel valued and accepted and behave appropriately for the majority of the time. A social work team manager commented, 'The care aspect is of a really good standard, both children want to be there' and a young person said, 'I am very happy here.'

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Quality of care outstanding

The proactive and committed staff team enable and empower young people to share their wishes and feelings about all aspects of their care and plans for their future. Young people use their residents meetings, the innovative ‘Children’s Handover Meetings’ and the newly instituted ‘Moans and Groans Box’ in addition to one to one sessions with their key worker to express their views. Young people gain confidence in their ability to make requests positively and feel listened to as a result building self-esteem and feelings of self-worth. A young person said, 'I like it that staff listen to me and want to understand me.'

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Quality of care outstanding

Comprehensive complaints processes are available and well known to young people. Young people use the range of options available to share any dissatisfaction before they become a major issue. As a result young people feel valued and heard and there have not been any complaints.

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Quality of care outstanding

Exceptional and detailed care planning incorporates every aspect of young people’s individual, cultural and holistic needs. Innovative monthly progress monitoring sessions, conducted and recorded together with young people, identify their achievements, what has not gone well and the plans to meet care needs in the forthcoming month. As a result all young people, even those who are resistant to professional intervention, benefit from the consistent, tailored care provided.

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Quality of care outstanding

Proactive partnership working between the home and all health professionals ensure 7 of 11 that all of a young person’s holistic and specialist health needs are identified and met. Careful 'emotional well-being plans' identify specific health interventions. The persistent approach employed by staff ensures that appropriate services are provided for young people. For example, those young people who need such interventions have regular appointments with the child and adolescent mental health services and specialist substance misuse agencies. In addition, the regular drop-in service provided by the local authority’s looked after children’s nurse allows young people to build positive relationships with health professionals. A social worker said, 'They have engaged with an awful lot of doctors on her behalf and worked with her to engage with medical services.'

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Quality of care outstanding

The enthusiastic staff team are passionately committed to ensuring young people engage with appropriate education provision. They robustly liaise with schools, colleges and pupil referral units to be able to provide young people with every learning opportunity. This is not always successful due to the problems within the education system in the local area and some young people's reluctance to engage with what is available. However, staff persist in their efforts. A youth justice service professional stated: 'I think (name) go that extra mile every time and try so hard to get these young people in to education but they are not supported by the schools. But (name) never give up and are always there.'

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people’s horizons are broadened and their life enriched as a result of the range of activities and experiences provided by the home. At young people’s specific requests these include short breaks and holidays to Edinburgh, Dublin and London, as well as regular involvement in inclusive pastimes in the community. The manager commented that: 'All the trips that we take young people on is a way of introducing them to the multi-cultural country they live in and providing then with a more rounded picture of society.'

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people enjoy living in a spacious home located in large grounds. It is comfortably furnished with a number of rooms where young people can share time together with each other and staff or relax alone. Young people decorate their rooms to their own taste. The nurturing and resilient staff team do all they can to effectively promote young people’s sense of security and belonging. One young person said, 'I feel at home at (name) and I know that people care about me' and another stated, 'This is my home, I live here.'

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people feel safe in this home where diligent attention is paid to safeguarding procedures. The proactive staff team are fully aware of the potential for bullying behaviours in this group of young people and productively use restorative practice sessions to prevent them. Young people do not report any bullying. A young person said: 'I have settled in and I know all the staff and the kids as well. I know I am safe here.' 8 of 11 Comprehensive missing person procedures are robustly followed by the experienced staff team. Excellent partnership working between the home and local police mean that proactive interventions, for example, harbouring notices, are effectively imposed and enforced. In addition staff actively search for young people and attend all known addresses to find them. This safeguards young people from unsuitable people. A staff member said: 'We do everything we can to keep them safe. I’ve been out at 2.30 in

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Keeping children and young people safe good

the morning banging on doors looking for young people and I get them to come home.' Notwithstanding these actions and a steady decrease in episodes, there are still a large number of missing episodes from the home.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

A range of positive interventions are effectively applied to promote positive behaviours. These include life space interviews and restorative practice as well as appropriate sanctions. Young people are given the further opportunity to learn the consequences of their behaviours in discussion with staff. Some of their recorded comments following these sessions demonstrate young people’s increased understanding of the impact of their behaviours. They include ‘I’m very, very sorry it won’t happen again’ and ‘ I feel sorry for the way I behaved towards (staff name).' As a result the use of physical intervention is very rarely needed and only used to protect young people from harm. For example, preventing a young person from climbing in to an unsafe building.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Robust local authority recruitment and vetting procedures are effectively applied. Young people are safeguarded by not being cared for by people who may pose a risk to them. Parents and professionals speak very highly about the skills and resilience of the staff team. A parent said, 'They need medals there with how they cope and look after children.'

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people are protected by stringent attention to robust health and safety procedures. The effectiveness of regular fire evacuation drills was demonstrated following a fire in the home. All young people and staff safely evacuated the premises with no injuries to anyone. The home has been refurbished since then with smoke and heat detectors fitted in all rooms, including young people’s bedrooms. Young people are physically safeguarded by these measures.

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Leadership and management outstanding

The experienced, capable and skilled manager is well qualified to meet his role and has held Registered Manager status of this home since October 2013. He is ably supported by an equally qualified and enthusiastic deputy manager. This excellent management team are consistently good role models for the staff team and aspirational for all of the young people in their care to be happy, safe and achieve to the best of their ability.

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Leadership and management outstanding

There were no requirements or recommendations made at the previous inspection. 9 of 11 Nevertheless the home has demonstrated its continued capacity for improvement. The introduction of the ‘Moans and Groan’s box provides young people with another avenue to express their wishes and feelings. A young person reported, 'I feel listened to here and that they guide me.'

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Leadership and management outstanding

In addition, the manager’s new ‘Progression Maps’ effectively demonstrate the impact living in the home has had on young people. They also enable young people to see for themselves the value engaging with the home has for them. The maps are developed by the manager together with the young person and provides them with a ‘visual check-in’ of their progress. This exceptional practice allows young people to forge a positive relationship with the manager, grade their ‘happiness scale’ since they have moved in to the home and formally recognise their own achievements. Young people report that they have moved from a 'two to a six; a two to an eight and a one to a nine' in happiness and that they now ‘feel a lot more settled.’ One young person wrote: ‘I don’t hurt myself anywhere near as much as I used to. I now make plans for the future.'

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Leadership and management outstanding

The comprehensive Statement of Purpose and Children's Guide provide young people, their parents and professionals with a detailed picture of the care to be provided. As a result young people are appropriately placed enhancing their opportunities for success. Young people are protected by strong partnership working arrangements and robust auditing procedures which ensure that all significant events are notified appropriately.

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Leadership and management outstanding

Both internal and external monitoring processes are used effectively to ensure young people’s care is of a high quality and any development areas are swiftly identified. This information is used to inform the home’s detailed development plan. For example, arranging for the deputy manager to train as a ‘Child Exploitation and Online Protection Ambassador’ to ensure that staff are fully trained to support young people in safe internet use. In addition, as ‘part of the drive and vision in making it better for kids’, the manager has submitted plans for the home to be completely refurbished over the next year which will provide all young people with en suite facilities to their bedrooms.

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Leadership and management outstanding

An excellent ‘Review of Location Assessment’ is complemented by a robust contingency plan for the relocation of young people if the home needs to be evacuated. The forward thinking manager ensured that all partner agencies were involved in strategy meetings to prepare the location assessment. This provided him with a thorough understanding of any risks within the locality. Young people therefore stay in a home where all potential risks are known and planned for providing them with good safeguards. A young person said, 'I feel safe here because nobody could get in to hurt me and staff watch out for me.'

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Leadership and management outstanding

High staffing levels ensure that young people’s diverse needs are met. All of the staff hold appropriate qualifications and a robust training programme enhances specialist skills. In addition, the management team audit the impact training has on staff 10 of 11 members’ confidence levels and abilities and the benefits that has for young people. As a result young people are cared for by a resilient, nurturing and skilled staff team who work well together. They report that they are fully supported through regular, high quality supervision from the management team. A staff member said, 'I absolutely love my job.'

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Leadership and management outstanding

Outstanding care plans and records are compiled together with young people and they fully contribute to young people’s plans for the future. They are stored securely. They are complemented by excellent memory boxes and photograph albums which provide young people with a record of their time in the home, their individual and shared experiences and all achievements. These are kept safely for young people until they are ready to move on and given to them as part of their leaving plan. A young person said, 'I'd forgotten how many happy memories there were until I went through my photo album.' 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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