Children's Home run by Children and Family Services Limited in Luton

Unique reference number SC028599 Inspector Natalie Burton Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered manager Ruth Kirchner Date of last inspection 03/02/2015 2 of 5 Inspection date 19/03/2015

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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 sustained effectiveness .

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This inspection

Since the last inspection in February 2015, the Registered Manager has addressed the three requirements and two of the recommendations that were raised. The home has continued to make sufficient progress, which has led to positive outcomes for children and young people.

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This inspection

The service has made improvement to the external monitoring visits to the home. This is because an independent organisation is now completing visits to the home. This provides an overview report to the service, identifying areas of positive work, and areas for improvement. As a result, young people have access to an independent person they can communicate with and staff have identified areas to improve the quality of care provided to the children and young people.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager has made improvements to the internal monitoring within the home. The new format focuses on monitoring of records and on how to improve the service provided to children and young people. For example, what the current level of children and young people’s physical exercise is, and if required, what intervention may be necessary to increase that level.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager has developed a system to notify the local authority of all children and young people placed at the home. This ensures that the local authority is aware of the children and young people placed in their area.

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This inspection

Staff have made improvements to the children’s and young people’s records. They have attended a workshop on recording and reporting information. Staff understand and produce information that is clearly detailed and provides for a better understanding of the events for the child, young person and placing authorities. Therefore, staff have a good understanding of the needs of children and young people, and how best to meet those needs. 3 of 5 The Registered Manager has made changes to how information regarding children and young people is held. There is now one individual file that contains information for the management to consider action on. The management ensure that all required information is provided to the placing authority. This sharing of information ensures that children and young people are effectively safeguarded.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager has delivered some training to staff regarding supervising family contact. Staff have received training on recording and reporting information observed. Detailed reports include areas such as how the young person’s behaviour was managed and what activities occurred. However, due to time constraints since the last inspection, the service has not provided training on observations to consider during the contact. The management have a date scheduled for all staff to attend.

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This inspection

During the inspection a shortfall was noted. On occasion, staff interaction with young people during incidents lacked a clear understanding of the emotions that the young person was trying to communicate. As a result, young people lack a consistent and appropriate approach from staff, to help them to manage their emotions.

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This inspection

Children and young people continue to make good progress in social skills and reducing anxiety and challenging behaviour. They have good attendance and achievement in their educational placements and their health needs are well met. A social worker said: ‘The staff are all very approachable, they have a very good knowledge of the young person.’ Children and young people enjoy contact with their families and contact is well supported by staff. 4 of 5

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately-owned children’s home which provides residential care for up to seven young people with learning difficulties who may also have a physical disability. It is operated across two adjacent houses.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/02/2015 Full good 24/02/2014 Interim satisfactory progress 21/01/2014 Full good 14/02/2013 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 staff understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the emotions and behaviours presented by children and understand how past experiences and present emotions are communicated through behaviour (NMS 3.9)  ensure staff have appropriate training if they are required to supervise and facilitate contact. (NMS 9.2) 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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