Children's Home run by Our Place (2008) Limited in Worcestershire

Unique reference number SC407929 Inspector Carole Moore Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered manager Lena Greatwich Date of last inspection 02/10/2014 2 of 5 Inspection date 17/02/2015

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Previous inspection adequate Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

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

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This inspection

The Registered Manager returned from maternity leave following the full inspection and a new Head of Facilities was recruited. They have both worked together and have fully responded to the requirements and the recommendation that were raised at the last inspection. The Statement of Purpose has been reviewed in line with the regulations. The policies and procedures relating to medication have been reviewed and all staff now follow safe procedures. There are no shortfalls relating to health and safety and a locality risk assessment is in place. All staff receive effective and timely supervision and the Registered Manager has submitted her Regulation 34 report identifying the progress that has been made over the past 3 months. The regulation 33 visitor has reviewed her documentation and carries out consultation with families and professionals.

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This inspection

Young people benefit from a service that is warm and welcoming. The home has been extended to provide valuable extra space for the young people and provides a nurturing and stimulating environment that keeps young people safe. There has been extensive redecoration and refurbishment which has very much included the young people.

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This inspection

Young people show they feel safe by telling staff they are happy. They use their voice, body language, vocal sounds or signs to communicate to staff their feelings. The staff team use a variety of practice to enable young people to contribute their thoughts and feelings and these include activity books, young people's meetings and key work sessions.

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This inspection

Since the last inspection two young people have left the home and moved into adult placements. In both instances these were planned discharges. The home has worked collaboratively with other services in these instances to ensure the transition for young people goes smoothly and key information is shared. The transition has 3 of 5 worked at the individual pace of the young people. This helped avoiding the destabilising of young people’s progress.

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This inspection

There are more opportunities for core training. This includes skills in communicating with young people with complex needs.

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This inspection

Reflective practice forms have been introduced to enable staff to reflect on their own practice as well as feedback from observations of their practice. This then feeds into supervisions and appraisals and further promotes best practice. This in turn ensures a good quality of care for the young people.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager has a good grasp of the strengths of this service and areas for development. Monitoring occurs through her monthly checks and the challenging independent visitor. Monitoring reports are submitted to Ofsted in line with regulations.

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This inspection

Partnership working is good. For example, there is regular contact with the young people's social workers and placing authorities. There are regular meetings with the schools if there are educational concerns. Families are very happy with the communication. One parent has said, 'Thank you for looking after my son. You have all made such a difference to him.'

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This inspection

As a result of the improvement made, there has been no requirements or recommendations made as a result of this inspection. 4 of 5

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home is registered to accommodate eight children and young people with learning disabilities. The home has a school and offers planned short and long-term placements. The school is registered with the Department for Education.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/10/2014 Full adequate 07/01/2014 Interim good progress 15/08/2013 Full good 17/12/2012 Interim good progress 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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