Children's Home run by East Riding of Yorkshire Council in East Riding of Yorkshire

Unique reference number SC035543 Inspector Ann-Marie Born Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person East Riding of Yorkshire Council Registered person address County Hall Cross Street BEVERLEY North Humberside HU17 9BA Responsible individual Pamela Allen Registered manager Richard Martin Burrett Date of last inspection 15/07/2014 2 of 6 Inspection date 16/02/2015

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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

This home has demonstrated its' capacity to improve and has improved effectiveness for young people. Both of the recommendations from the previous inspection have been met. Young people all have comprehensive Personal Education Plans (PEPs) and identified education provision. In addition the proactive manager sits on a group with education providers to promote further learning opportunities. Information about young people is recorded in a way that is helpful to them now and in assisting their future aspirations. However, although the majority of the young people’s summaries are suitably evaluative, there are some inconsistencies in detail. Staff would benefit from training to promote uniformity.

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This inspection

New developments which positively benefit young people include the introduction of a safeguarding practitioner specialising in child sexual exploitation (CSE). At the request of young people, this input has recently expanded to include direct work with them on CSE, sexual health and personal safety. The deputy manager stated that ‘As a direct result of him coming, some of the young people have requested that he come and speak with them individually about some of the concerns they have and they are safer.’

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This inspection

Closer working relationships with the local police community support officers (PCSOs) has had a positive effect on young people’s relations with authority figures. The deputy manager said, ‘ We now have the PCSOs dropping in for tea and one of the PCSOs went with our kids and staff bowling. After any missing from home the kids feel quite open to talk to them when they get back.’ Young people are safeguarded by these measures.

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This inspection

Young people that have moved on from the home since the last inspection have done so positively. They have successfully made the transition into appropriate accommodation in line 3 of 6 with their needs and abilities. This has been underpinned by effective joint working with partner agencies. Some young people have moved to supported lodgings in a location of their choice which sustains positive relationship while others now live independently. A senior social worker said, ‘It’s one of those successful plans, really good partnership between us and (name) staff.’

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This inspection

Young people that have moved on to independence maintain contact with the staff and home. One young person came back to the home for their Christmas dinner, as they would with their family. Young people can access continued support if they need to and have a sense of security and belonging as a result. A senior social worker said, ‘She still pops in to see them. She is in regular contact with them.’

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This inspection

Good care planning ensures that all of a young person’s holistic and diverse needs are identified and addressed. This includes careful assessment of young people’s educational and health needs, for example, a link worker supporting a young person to maintain a college placement. In addition young people benefit from the ongoing treatment they receive from specialist health providers including the child and adolescent mental health service.

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This inspection

As a result of the specific training staff have undertaken with a consultant psychologist on attachment theory, young people’s emotional health and well-being improve. The psychological insight provided on building ‘neuro bridges’ assists staff to tailor the support offered to the young people. Consequently young people are able to form trusting relationships with staff which sustain them now and in their future independent lives. One young person said of a staff member, ‘I call him granddad because he is what I think a granddad should be.’

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This inspection

Young people confidently express their wishes and feelings in this home and report that they feel listened to and valued. Complaints and compliments procedures are readily available and well known. There have not been any complaints. One young person wrote, ‘‘I would like to compliment (name) on being the best staff member ever. She’s always there when I need her and never lets me down. I have never met anyone so kind.’

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This inspection

Positive behaviour is consistently promoted by the consistent and nurturing staff team. Detailed ‘life space interviews’ are completed after any display of negative behaviours. This provides young people, and staff, with the opportunity to learn from the incident and identify more positive coping mechanisms. Consequently there has not been any need for physical intervention as young people respond to the ethos within the home. A young person said, ‘I’m much happier here than I was at my previous home and I’m doing better. I like all of the other kids and I think we get on well together.’

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This inspection

There have been a number of missing episodes since the last inspection. However, young people are safeguarded by the close adherence to locally agreed missing person protocols. The proactive and committed staff team actively search for young 4 of 6 people and visit known addresses to locate them. Further protection is provided by the improvements in reviewing each absence. This allows potential triggers to be identified and appropriate risk assessments to be updated. A young person said, ‘I feel safe here.’ 5 of 6

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Information about this children’s home

The children's home is provided by a local authority and it cares for up to six young people. It focuses on supporting young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/07/2014 Full good 21/01/2014 Interim good progress 05/09/2013 Full outstanding 06/02/2013 Interim good progress

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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 all staff are familiar with home’s policies on record keeping, trained to maintain them and to understand the need to be careful, objective and clear when making records. (Children Act 1989, Guidance and Regulations, Volume 5: Children’s Homes, paragraph 3.28) 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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