Children's Home run by Essex County Council in Essex

Unique reference number SC044975 Inspector Gwen Buckley Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Essex County Council Registered person address County Hall CHELMSFORD CM1 1QH

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Responsible individual Geoffrey Darwin Registered manager Sally-Anne Slade-Watts Date of last inspection 27/01/2015 2 of 5 Inspection date 17/03/2015

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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

In the short time since the last inspection, the manager has fully met or made significant progress to address the five requirements and recommendations raised at the last inspection.

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This inspection

Systems are now in place and known by staff which means all staff are aware of action to take if there is any child protection concerns. Although there have been no restraints in the home since the last inspection, staff are very clear when they can and cannot restrain a child. The Registered Manager has made improvements to records held in the home. This includes staff recruitment checks and education information for each child. Staff are now enrolled on level 3 training, with one member of member of staff awaiting a start date. Staff have received fire and Makaton training and a range of further training is booked over the coming weeks. Risk assessments are in place if bedsides or locked doors are needed to keep young people safe and a pictorial board in different formats have been developed to help young people with communication difficulties understand what is offered and decide if they want to see a medical professional following a restraint. Three fire drills have

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This inspection

taken place and young people have taken part. Décor in the bedrooms is to a high standard, bathrooms are clean with further work scheduled to improve these in near future. These changes ensure the young people have a safe and pleasant place to stay when they visit.

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This inspection

The manager is well qualified and experienced she has a clear vision for the future with plans in place to enhance and improve the resources available to children and young people. The space needed to make these improvements is from a planned reduction in the registered numbers. Improvements include an additional sensory room and garden. There are no areas for development raised at this inspection.

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This inspection

Family members consider the manager and care staff are extremely child focused 3 of 5 and keep they children and young people safe, staying, ‘Staff go above and beyond what is expected of them and they will advocate strongly for the children.’ Children and young people have a good range of activities and recently took part in red nose day, raising money for charity. A young person known to have difficulty in-group situations, with the support of staff was actively involved in the charity event. These good standards of care ensure young people, feel safe and are included in community events, raising their self–esteem and confidence and reduce isolation.

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This inspection

Family members consider their children are safe at the home and they trust the staff who they consider know the children and young people well. Staff understand individuals’ behaviour and identify triggers. They then share this information with schools and others to ensure consistency of care. Young people have benefited greatly from the time they spend in the home, and improved outcomes are evident, both, at home and in the community. As a result, of the respite care provided, the young people make good progress, which leads, to improved outcomes and improves their independent skills and inclusion in the community.

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This inspection

The home provides a welcoming environment where young people feel safe and comfortable. The local authority child protection professionals say they have no concerns about the safety of the young people at the home and when needed the home take appropriate actions. Young people arriving from school were seen to be happy, almost running into the home, they were smiling and made very welcome by the staff who met them. Relationships between staff and young people were very positive. Young people were proud to show off their rooms, they feel safe and receive help to communicate by the use of various communication methods in line with individual needs. 4 of 5

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Information about this children’s home

This children's home provides respite care and accommodation for up to 12 children with disabilities or learning difficulties and with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The children are cared for in three separate flats. The home is managed by the local authority.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/01/2015 Full adequate 11/03/2014 Interim good progress 19/09/2013 Full good 08/11/2012 Interim satisfactory 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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