Children's Home run by Capstone Care Provider Limited in Nottinghamshire

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people are learning independent skills. This helps to build confidence and helps them prepare for adult life.  Young people enjoy a range of community events that support their cultural identity and promote their feelings of self-worth.  Contact arrangements have improved with families. As a result, the young people have a better understanding of their families and the community that they are from.  Staff and managers are engaging with some young people who engage in risk taking behaviours such as being absent from the home without permission. They are working with multi-agency partners to develop ways of minimising this behaviour  An enthusiastic and knowledgeable manager inspires the staff.  Some shortfalls and areas for improvement are identified as a result of this inspection. These are in relation to the use of direct work and the revision of the Statement of Purpose.

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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 (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirements Due date

6 The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirements Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard the 29/07/2015 registered person must;

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Requirements Due date

2 (a) understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose

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Requirements Due date

(i) understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose

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Requirements Due date

(iv) provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background

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Requirements Due date

must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation 16(1)) 29/07/2015

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Information about this children's home

 This privately owned children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for three children with emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

26/03/2015 CH - Interim Improved effectiveness

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people living in the home are

Some of the young people have made good progress as a result of living in this home. They have completed course work and sat examinations for recognised qualifications at school and college. Some are attending work experience placements and go out with staff to look at alternative options such as apprenticeship schemes. This helps to prepare them for the next stage of their lives, whether it is further education or the world of work. Other young people have not progressed as they and the staff would like. Despite the continuous efforts of the staff, these young people have not been able to maintain education post 16 years-of-age. Staff’s local knowledge helps to provide a range of alternative provisions for these young people. They look at incentives to redirect them back into education or work experience and make every effort to understand their choices and plans for the future. The young people at this home are working towards further independence. Their

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people living in the home are

detailed pathway plans provide a framework and structure that enables staff to encourage them to make as much progress as possible in this direction. Staff respond to the changing needs of the young people and provide an environment that promotes independent skills. Their rooms are personalised and they have independent facilities in their room, once suitably risk assessed, such as a kettle and microwave, to help them to practice these skills. One commented ‘it’s like having my own flat’. The relationships that young people have with staff help them to focus on achieving their goals. These relationships are good and young people say ‘I can talk to any of the staff and they will listen, that’s the best thing about this home’. There are regular meetings between the young people and the staff to discuss how the home is meeting their needs. These take place in a planned way. For instance, there is a regular meeting on a Friday evening to look at activities and plans for the

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people living in the home are

weekend and the week ahead. As well as this regular meeting time, there are opportunities to meet as and when requested. This flexibility is good for some young people as they want to have their views heard sooner, rather than wait for the planned meeting. These meetings consider plans for activities such as ice skating, going to the gym, cinema and contact with families. This helps the young people to have their say in the plans and to ensure that there is support available if needed. There have been some gaps in the frequency of key work sessions. Also when key work has taken place the recording has not happened in a timely way. This prevents the staff from knowing how the young people are dealing with their feelings and understanding how they are progressing. This could have an impact on the quality of care that the young people receive, as staff will not be up-to-date with developments and changes in the care plan. The Registered Manager has

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people living in the home are

identified this shortfall and implemented an action plan to improve this aspect of the work. There is support for young people to make and keep appointments with health professionals. The looked after children nurse is in regular contact with the staff and is readily available to give advice and guidance on all aspects of health, including sexual health, smoking cessation and drug and alcohol misuse. There is access to specialist resources as needed and in line with individual care plans. This helps young people to keep in touch with those professionals who will help them to keep healthy. One of the strengths of this home is helping young people keep in touch with their community. They do this through cultural events such as carnivals, religious and non-religious events. There is regular contact with their extended family, which has improved because of intensive work with the young people. This helps to build on

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people living in the home are

their understanding of their past and themselves. There is a helpful young person’s guide given to young people when they arrive at the home. This details the activities available at the home as well as contact numbers for advocacy agencies. The booklet also has details of how to make complaints. The booklet is clear, uses appropriate language and there is a recording in each file confirming that young people have received it.

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people are helped and protected

Young people say they are safe in the home and community. One commented, ‘I have had time with staff to talk about being safe in the city’. They are aware of the safety issues regarding use of the internet and the home has an internet blocker to prevent any inappropriate use. The home has a good safeguarding approach, with good open lines of communication with all relevant agencies. The Registered Manager encourages staff to look at behaviours and reflect if these could be signs of concerns. For example, a young person disclosed that an adult not known to the staff was contacting him in the community. They quickly saw that this could be a sign of exploitation and a multi-agency meeting was organised. Staff spoke to him and this helped to protect him from the potential risk. Some young people engage in risk taking behaviours such as being absent from the home without permission. Appropriate missing persons' risk assessment

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people are helped and protected

documents, clearly set out what is to happen, who to contact and what steps to take should this behaviour continue. These are easily accessible, along with the agreed protocol, which the staff put into action when these incidents occur. The home has been instrumental in coordinating and fully participating in multi-agency strategy meetings when this behaviour occurs. This shows the commitment of staff in ensuring a reduction in these incidents. Staff will follow young people when they leave the home if this is an unauthorised absence, and try to encourage them to return safely. If they do not return, staff remain in contact using mobile telephones, complete safe and well checks on known addresses and liaise with families. This keeps young people as safe as possible. Restraint and sanctions are rarely used. The last restraint and negative sanction was prior to the last inspection. Instead, young people work towards incentives to

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people are helped and protected

reward their positive behaviour, for instance, earning extra pocket money for attending college and extra activity money for continuing to follow the pathway plans. This has improved engagement in these activities, which in turn leads to positive outcomes.

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people are helped and protected

There are safe recruitment practises that help to prevent inappropriate adults from gaining work in the home. This helps to protect these vulnerable young people.

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people are helped and protected

The home is comfortable. There is a need for some re-decoration in the communal areas to brighten these areas up. The environment is safe for young people as checks and servicing of equipment are completed. This includes regular health and fire safety monitoring. Young people know what to do in the event of a fire. They have taken part in drills and discussed the safety procedures in young people's meetings.

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leaders and managers

The Registered Manager has a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children's and Young People's Services, which he obtained in January 2014. He has been working at the home since 2012 and therefore he is suitably qualified and experienced to hold this post. He is enthusiastic about improving the quality of care in the home. He has an effective working relationship with the independent visitor. The independent visitor has been regularly, reporting on any shortfalls and supporting the home to take action in addressing them. For example where there had appeared to be a gap in the supervision records, these have now been recorded and reviewed by the Registered Manager.

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leaders and managers

The Registered Manager uses risk assessments and daily records to ensure the focus of staff is on meeting the young people’s needs. He is keen to draw attention to the changes in behaviour that may indicate a safeguarding issue, and equally he records positive changes and ensures young people receive incentives to reward these changes.

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leaders and managers

The provider records how young people are progressing in their development across eight areas. This helps staff to monitor their work and assess if this is improving outcomes or if plans need to change. The gap in key work does not help the staff to monitor fully, the progress made, but the sessions and observations that are recorded show a steady progression across all areas.

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leaders and managers

The Statement of Purpose does not follow the format as laid out in regulations. This inspection makes a requirement to ensure the correct detail is included. A further requirement is made to ensure the Registered Manager and staff understand and implement the Statement of Purpose. This is an important document that helps young people, families, placing authorities and the provider to understand the type of work carried out at the home and the expectations they can have of its quality.

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leaders and managers

The Registered Manager provides regular, good quality supervision. This helps staff to focus on the needs of the young people. He has developed good relationships with the young people and ensures he spends time observing staff with them. This means he can see and hear first-hand how relationships are developing and if there are any concerns.

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leaders and managers

The Registered Manager has shown resilience in constantly contacting local authorities for information and feedback regarding the young people, as this has not always been forthcoming. This has recently improved as he has escalated his concerns appropriately to senior managers in the local authority. This has also seen a better, more open relationship flourish where communication is more effective and of benefit to the young people.

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leaders and managers

There have been no complaints made since the last inspection. No requirements or recommendations concerning this home were set at the previous inspection. This inspection has set requirements in regard to the Quality of Care Standard and the Statement of Purpose.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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