Children's Home run by Channels and Choices Kent LLP in Kent

Unique reference number SC385631 Inspector Paul Taylor Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Channels and Choices Kent LLP Registered person address 10 Clanwilliam Road Deal Kent CT14 7BX

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Responsible individual Martin Anthony Scholfield Registered manager Kate Readings Date of last inspection 23/07/2014 2 of 5 Inspection date 04/03/2015

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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 in July 2014 the home was judged to be good. One requirement and three recommendations were made at that inspection. These have all been addressed.

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This inspection

The home now has more detailed information in the statement of purpose regarding the process and criteria in which admission are to be accepted. This means that referring agencies are now clear as to what information is required before an emergency admission can be considered. The home has also implemented an admission impact assessment. This means that the potential influence of new young people can be assessed and planned for and therefore disruption to the established resident group minimised.

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This inspection

Members of staff are now clear and confident in the process of calling the police for assistance if they have concerns about the levels of behaviour displayed by young people. As a result of this process being clarified, the police have not been called to the home to assist staff, since the last inspection. This has meant that no young people have been criminalised as a result of behaviour they have displayed in the home.

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This inspection

The home now keeps records to show that employment references have been verified. This provides written evidence that the home has underpinned the thoroughness of its recruitment procedure and also gives recruiting managers an opportunity to check on any discrepancies. For example, if dates of employment are not clear in the applicant’s reference. Additionally, comments made by young people involved in the recruitment process, about prospective members of staff, are now recorded and kept on file. This shows that the young people have an active role in recruiting new members of staff. 3 of 5 Since the last inspection, young people have made significant progress. For some this has been a successful transition to being fostered. For others it has meant improved levels of attendance at school. One young person said 'I'm happy living here, the staff make it a cheery place to be'.

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This inspection

Support offered to the young people is planned specifically around meeting their individual needs. This is underpinned by young people having the opportunity to meet therapists on a regular basis. This approach enables the young people to make sense of their life histories and to reflect upon their behaviours. As a result they develop more positive coping strategies as well as improving their life and social skills.

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This inspection

Young people are confident in expressing their views and complaints. If a young person makes a complaint it is investigated thoroughly and a record kept of the findings. However, a record of how the complaint has been resolved or whether the young person is happy with the outcome is not consistently recorded in the complaints file. This information is kept elsewhere, for example in a record of individual work with the young person, is not formally recorded in the literature relating to the complaint. This minor shortfall has not had an impact on young people’s welfare or well-being. 4 of 5

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care for no more than four young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is run by a partnership company.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/07/2014 Full good 11/03/2014 Interim good progress 18/12/2013 Full adequate 19/03/2013 Interim satisfactory progress

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that a written record is made of any complaint , the action taken in response, and the outcome of the investigation. (Regulation 24 (5). (This is in relation to ensuring that a record is made of whether the complainant is satisfied with the outcome of the complaint investigation and the record is kept in the complaints log.) 31/03/2015 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Reg. Requirement Due date

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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