Children's Home run by North East Lincolnshire Council in North East Lincolnshire

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 who are new to the home are enabled to settle in quickly  Young people feel secure and valued, building self-confidence and self- esteem  Young people are engaged in a range of positive activities which promote social and life skills  Young people’s educational achievements improve as they are fully supported to attend mainstream schools  The enthusiastic and committed staff team encourage young people to have aspiration to learn  Positive joint working with other agencies benefits young people  There are many positive aspects to leadership and management but overall this area requires improvement

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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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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child (Regulation 13 (2) (c)). In particular, that all staff attend lone working training in line with the local authority policy. 31/10/2015

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13 (2) (d)) 18/08/2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home and the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home. The registered person must keep the policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it. (Regulation 35 (1) (a) (b) (2)) 31/07/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Homes should also consider the frequency of incidents and judge whether their cumulative effect makes notification appropriate even if in isolation each event would not warrant this. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 63, paragraph 14.11)

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Information about this children's home

This local authority home is registered to provide care for two children or young people of either gender. These young people may have a learning disability.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

10/03/2015 Interim sustained effectiveness

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good

Young people enjoy living in a home which does not have an institutionalised feel since a number of improvements have been made. The bathroom is still accessible to young people with disabilities if necessary, yet is now a more welcoming space. Re-decoration and the introduction of soft furnishings and photographs of young people give the house a homely feel. Young people decorate their bedrooms to their taste and thoroughly enjoy choosing their own bedding, lamps and colour schemes. A young person said, ‘I love having my own bedroom and I love my bedroom.’

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good

Good care plans incorporate all aspects of a young person’s diverse, individual and holistic needs. The ‘Positive Evidence’ file records all young people’s achievements, often enhanced by a photograph. For example, painting their bedrooms or proudly standing in their uniform on their first day back at school. Young people’s growth in self-esteem and social and life skills is evident. A social worker reported, ‘Acknowledgement is always given to how well the young person is doing.’

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good

Young people experience good, nurturing relationships with the skilled and experienced staff team. They like the time they spend with staff relaxing in the home or out on activities in the community. Young people use the social skills they develop in the home to build positive new friendships. This enhances their future life opportunities. A staff member said, ‘Children enjoy living in the home and are happy to invite their friends to the home.’

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good

The improvement in young people’s emotional and psychological health empowers them to engage with education and make future positive life choices. As a result they have career aspirations and want to make the most of the opportunities they are being offered. For example, identifying and gaining a place on a specific college course or being able to attend the mainstream school of their choice. An education access manager said, ‘The team have met with the school to develop a shared package to support him back and he’s been able to re-establish his friendship groups. I’m confident they will give that support to the school for as long as they need.’

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good

Staff recognise that for some young people just being able to go out and have fun and play safely with their friends is a major achievement. Young people previously described as ‘feral’ are able to learn the benefits of being at home and having a regular bed-time. Their improved sleep pattern contributes towards a healthier lifestyle. A staff member said, ‘I think we’ve unlocked the doors and he’s opened them himself. It’s about giving him that little bit of freedom so he can do that.’

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good

The committed and warm staff team use every opportunity to capture young people’s wishes and feelings. Formal monthly meetings and the complaints system are complemented by just talking over a mealtime or while on an outing. For example, young people chose corned beef hash rather than lasagne for tea and having a games console for the home. Young people’s future dreams are listened to and carefully planned for. As a result young people feel valued and empowered, allowing them to progress. A young person said, ‘They do listen to me. Like they arranged for me to go back to my favourite school and I have a television for my room.’

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good

Young people benefit from being cared for by a consistent and capable staff team who genuinely care about them. They recognise and respond to this care which allows them to settle quickly and feel they belong. Daily activity planners ensure that all staff and young people know what is expected of them. Young people participate in after school activities and regularly go on outings which broaden their horizons and introduce them to new positive interests. A social worker said, ‘To be honest (name) has settled in better than we thought he would because he has had a very troubled childhood. Staff have been absolutely brilliant with him and he is progressing so far.’

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good

Preparation for transition is a strong point in this home. Planning for the future commences from point of admission. As a result some young people are successfully reintegrated back in to full time education prior to moving to foster placements, which enhances the opportunities for that placement to succeed. Others learn the necessary life and social skills they will need to manage in semi- independent living. A staff member said, ‘It has been a really positive move for him. He has settled in really well and loves it there.’

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good

Young people learn appropriate ways of behaving both at home and in the community while being safeguarded. Very good individual risk assessments and behaviour management plans detail young people’s vulnerabilities. The committed and enthusiastic staff team know the young people in their care well and plan carefully for any risk taking behaviour. Consequently young people’s sense of security and belonging are enhanced. They are then able to engage with the care provided and take age appropriate risks safely, as part of their growth and development. A young person said, ‘I am really happy and feel safe.’

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good

The home’s Statement of Purpose states that ‘For the majority of the time young people behave well in the home and respond positively to the boundaries and care’ which is evident in the house. A staff member said, ‘Training helps to diffuse the situation before an incident occurs. Just by talking to the child and understanding why they are showing negatives behaviours, as most of the time there is a reason why.’

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good

The individual behaviour management plans, developed together with young people, enable them to develop appropriate ways of expressing any anger and frustration. They learn how to voice their wishes positively, enhancing their social and life skills.

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good

The positive examples set by staff and the warm nurturing atmosphere in the home mean that physical intervention is rarely necessary. The one restraint since the last inspection was managed appropriately with the young person being provided with the chance to learn from the experience. Staff all undertake the requisite training in restraint techniques and they and the young people benefit from the manager’s advanced knowledge as a tutor. Young people are safeguarded by these measures.

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good

Locally agreed missing person protocols are appropriately followed providing protection for young people. All staff are well trained in identifying and addressing the risk of child sexual exploitation (CSE). None of the young people currently or recently resident in the home have been assessed as being vulnerable to CSE. The home has good relationships with local and specialist police officers. Much improved recording ensures that all missing episodes are comprehensively detailed and any patterns are identified and addressed. This has led to positive improvements in young people’s engagement with the home and a marked reduction in absences. A staff member said, ‘We haven’t had a missing since the 18 th May. There was massive progress and it was about keeping him safe and reporting him missing and we turned that around and he worked with us as well.’ Judgement grade

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requires improvement

The Registered Manager has been the manager of this home since October 2013 and has held Registered Manager status since 2008. She holds a relevant management qualification and is a National Vocational Qualifications assessor as well as a physical intervention tutor. She is ably supported by two senior care officers.

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requires improvement

The home has demonstrated its capacity to improve in that all three recommendations raised at the last inspection have been met. The Statement of Purpose has been updated in line with the new regulations. Reports following missing episodes now record all appropriate information. The bathroom is a more welcoming and homely space.

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requires improvement

Young people make consistent progress from their starting points. For some this is demonstrated by their re-engagement with school, for others it is being able to move in to semi-independence and start their chosen college course. The manager uses her monthly monitoring processes and the new ‘evidence file’ together with careful reviews of care plans to detail this progress.

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requires improvement

There has been a marked change in the number and needs of the young people placed in this home since the last full inspection. They have been cared for by a skilled and enthusiastic staff team who are ambitious for them all to do well. However, staff have been lone working with more than one young person without having had specific training. The staffing level has not had a detrimental effect on young people’s progress, development or safety at this time. Extra staff are drafted in when necessary but this is not always consistent.

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requires improvement

The manager’s monthly auditing processes complement and inform the team plan and identify the home’s strengths and areas for development. For example, at staff’s request all team members will be attending training on ‘legal highs’. The development of the in-house ‘champion’ system empowers staff members to take responsibility for different areas enhancing their knowledge and the skill base within the team.

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requires improvement

All staff report that they are well supported to conduct their role. Supervision is timely and of good quality. Young people benefit from being cared for by staff who are confident to meet their needs. The manager is in the process of incorporating the new regulations and quality standards in to day-to-day practice. A team day was held to ensure that all of the staff were equally confident and knowledgeable. However confusion relating to the notification of incidents to Ofsted has meant that the regulator has not been kept fully informed.

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requires improvement

The home’s Statement of Purpose clearly details the ethos and culture in the home and how care is to be provided. Young people make consistent and continued progress demonstrating that the home’s aim, ‘to provide stability in a sensitive and structured environment where each young person feels valued and is able to gain control of his behaviour’, is effective.

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requires improvement

However, at this time the home does not have a behaviour management policy which details how this ethos is to be applied in practice. Young people each have individual plans but they would benefit from having an overarching policy.

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requires improvement

The comprehensive and colourful Children’s Guide can be made available to young people in a format they understand. It contains all of the information they would need to inform their stay. Plans to update and review this document include input from young people.

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requires improvement

Consistent, positive communication between the manager, staff team and fellow professionals is a strength. The proactive contact, regular updates and commitment to partnership working ensure that young people receive consistent care to meet their holistic needs. A social worker reported, 'There is excellent communication from the staff. I’m kept up-to- date on events concerning the young person and staff evidence that they care and encourage the young people to achieve and make appropriate changes to their lifestyle.’

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requires improvement

Leaders and managers effectively challenge other services to ensure young people’s needs are met. The persistent, robust actions of the registered individual (RI) ensured that a young person was able to attend the school of his choice despite having previous problems in that school. An education access manager said, ‘I’ve worked very closely with the RI, he actually went up to chief executive to get him back in to school.’ As a result the young person is thriving. A staff member said ‘He now bounces out of bed to go to school.’

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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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