Children's Home run by Suffolk County Council in Suffolk

Unique reference number SC430022 Inspector Fiona Littlefield Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Suffolk County Council Registered person address Suffolk County Council, Endeavour House Russell Road IPSWICH IP1 2BX Responsible individual Clifford Martin James Registered manager Lorraine Ann Ratcliffe Date of last inspection 20/11/2014 2 of 6 Inspection date 26/02/2015

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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 sustained effectiveness .

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This inspection

The Registered Manager has addressed the two recommendations raised at the full inspection. Written references for prospective members of staff are now verified verbally, signed and dated by a manager. This ensures that all staff working with young people in the home are appropriately checked. Key worker sessions are recorded in the young person’s file. However, there are still some gaps in recording.

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This inspection

Since the last inspection, the current Registered Manager has been offered a new post within the local authority. A new manager has been recruited from within the present staff team. This ensures continuity of management arrangements in the home. The newly appointed manager will have support from the current Registered Manager and other senior managers from within the organisation. The care of young people accommodated within the home has not been affected.

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This inspection

When young people are first referred to the home, their needs are carefully scrutinised by the Registered Manager. She works with the young person, their family and social workers to ensure that all risks are understood and can be managed. The manager focuses particularly on the views of the young person about the proposed move. One young person said that she wanted to come to the home because ‘families don’t work for me’. As a result, young people feel listened to and settle more easily into the home.

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This inspection

On occasion, the behaviour of some young people when they first come to the home has been challenging. Staff are committed and determined to help them feel comfortable in the home. A social worker said about one young person: ‘There have been risks as the young person had been living rough. They are now settled, happy and feel part of the home and safe.’

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This inspection

Young people benefit from developing close relationships with staff who are 3 of 6 attentive to their needs. Each young person has an allocated key worker who they see regularly, however, not all individual sessions are fully written up. This is a lost opportunity to reflect on the young person’s progress. This is an existing recommendation.

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This inspection

Staff view education as key in promoting young people's self-esteem. Most of the young people in the home have full-time educational programmes; staff actively support them to make progress. They attend school reviews and ensure attendance at work experience options. As a result, most young people make progress in their educational plans.

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This inspection

Some young people in the home are preparing for adult life. In liaison with social workers and parents, staff have developed a special programme on site, to help prepare young people for this transition. However, the records which provide evidence of whether young people are ready to leave the home are not complete. As a result, it is not possible to assess progress.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager and staff demonstrate a thorough understanding of the needs and vulnerabilities of all the young people in the home. Staff demonstrate skill and purpose in establishing routines and boundaries and managing the dynamics between the young people. There is an emphasis on de-escalation and building trust and tolerance between the young people. There have been no incidents of physical intervention since the last inspection. Staff have received specialist training with a focus on communication and positive role modelling. Sanctions are used regularly as a way of resolving problems. Young people are given the opportunity to record their views on any sanction that they have been given and generally say that they found the outcome fair. As a result, young people are able to reflect positively on the impact of their behaviour on others.

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This inspection

The manager and staff see their role as building trust and confidence with young people in the home. One member of staff said: ‘We see our role as advocating where necessary to get the right support. We use mealtimes, which young people are usually good at attending, to talk to them.’ If a young person needs extra support, staff are persistent and vigorous at identifying appropriate resources. Consequently, young people make progress in building relationships and their self- esteem is improved.

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This inspection

Some young people continue to go missing and put themselves at risk. The staff group take this extremely seriously. When young people go missing they are contacted frequently and consistently until they are returned to the home. After each incident, staff speak to the young people about what triggered this behaviour, what the risks were and how to avoid this happening again. This high level of engagement from staff has reassured the young people that they are valued. Most young people keep to a plan once they have agreed this with a member of staff. As a result, the number of incidents of going missing has stabilised. 4 of 6 Feedback from parents and social workers is positive, in particular when referring to partnership working. An example is the effort that staff make in promoting positive relationships between young people and those who are close to them. Where possible, parents and friends are invited to use the home as a base. This has been

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This inspection

very successful in facilitating contact. Young people are and feel safe and secure, knowing that both staff and their families are working together.

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This inspection

The home provides a warm and nicely decorated environment with ample room for communal living. Young people are able to relax in surroundings that promote their well-being and comfort. 5 of 6

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides medium- and long-term placements for up to seven young people who have emotional and or behavioural difficulties. The home is owned and operated by a local authority.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/11/2014 Full good 24/02/2014 Interim good progress 18/11/2013 Full adequate 04/10/2012 Full adequate

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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

 contribute to the development of each child's care plan, and work collaboratively with the young person's social worker in implementing the plan. This is with particular regard to assessing young people's progress in independence training whilst in the home (NMS 12.2)  ensure that entries in records are legible, clearly expressed, non- stigmatising and distinguish as far as possible between fact, opinion and third party information. This is raised with regard to completing full records of key worker sessions. (NMS 22.4) 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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