Children's Home run by Sunflower Children Care Services in Leicestershire

Unique reference number SC449099 Inspector Caroline Brailsford Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Quantum Care UK Limited Registered person address The Manor House Squires Hill Rothwell Northamptonshire NN14 6BQ Responsible individual Shelley Frances Whiting Registered manager Lisa Jane Martin Date of last inspection 11/08/2014 2 of 5 Inspection date 12/02/2015

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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 improved effectiveness .

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This inspection

At the last inspection this home was judged as good. There was one requirement made which has been met. This has secured improvements to the vetting of staff prior to their employment to ensure that adults are suitable to work with young people in the home.

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This inspection

Further improvements since the last inspection include aspects of the paperwork in the home. For example, where a younger person has been admitted, a new individual debrief form for use after a physical intervention ensures that their views are captured and that information is asked in a way which is meaningful to them. This shows that the manager wants to listen to young people, especially about issues regarding their safety.

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This inspection

There is careful consideration of admissions into the home, ensuring good compatibility and the safety of young people. Where things are not going well for a young person, the manager is not afraid to make difficult decisions about the need to move on. This is especially the case if any young person’s progress is hindered in any way. Careful consideration is given to the wishes of young people. Where young people are not happy to move in line with their placing authority decision, they are supported to engage with children’s rights organisations in order to represent their views. There is an example of a placement decision being overridden as a result of listening to young person’s views. Staff make sure that young people can have their say, this assists them to develop their confidence and equips them with the skills needed to express their own views in the future.

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This inspection

When young people move in to the home, they quickly learn the rules and boundaries. Staff commented that one young person had ‘settled remarkably well’ since their recent admission. Where young people initially have issues with the firm boundaries, they show definite improvement at an early stage with their behaviour 3 of 5 and quickly learn about what is acceptable. One young person said ’I have stopped being so aggressive when I am angry', demonstrating the positive difference that the staffs’ approach has had on them. Staff offer good consistency to enable young people to make good progress. Staff comments include ‘we are a good, close, consistent team’.

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This inspection

Young people’s significant improvements to their behaviour allow them to lead a more fulfilling life. They are able to go on activities that would previously have been difficult for them. For example eating out at restaurants and going on a holiday for the first time. This is seen as extremely good progress. Staff comments include, that they young person ’was treated like a princess’ and ‘the holiday was fantastic for the young person’.

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This inspection

Young people have very positive relationships with staff and managers. One young person said ‘staff are good’. Very positive relationships were observed by the inspector showing that there is a kind, caring and nurturing approach. This means that young people feel very able to talk to and receive support from staff in relation to what's happening in their life.

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This inspection

Young people's safety and welfare has a very high priority in this home. Staff are good at ensuring that young people understand their own safety needs as much as possible. There is a reduction over time of episodes of missing. When young people go missing, the management team lead the subsequent work effectively. They strive to find young people as soon as possible and work very well with other professionals such as placing authorities and the police. This ensures that all professionals have the most up-to-date information to make important decisions about a young person’s safety. In addition, staff look for opportunities to promote young people’s further learning in this area. They create opportunities depending on the young person’s learning style so that young people learn about protecting themselves. For example, staff have downloaded resources from the internet such as learning tools and questionnaires about personal safety. Young people have also watched DVD’s

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This inspection

on child sexual exploitation to learn about what could happen to them if they go missing. This adds to the young people’s knowledge about how to keep themselves safe and as a result helps protect their welfare. In addition, where young people have displayed self-harming behaviours, this reduces over time so that young people feel more settled.

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This inspection

All young people make good progress with their education from an early stage. Education has a high profile and is seen as essential for young people to regularly attend, so that they can make as much progress as possible.

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This inspection

There are no requirements or recommendations made as a result of this inspection. 4 of 5

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Information about this children’s home

The service is a privately-operated children's home, registered for up to three young people aged from 9 to 17 years. Children and young people may have emotional and behavioural difficulties. There is also a registered school attached to this home.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/08/2014 Full good 24/03/2014 Interim good progress 13/09/2013 Full adequate 05/12/2012 Full good Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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.

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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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