Children's Home run by Barnardo’s in Oxfordshire

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:

 Staff use the expertise of other professionals to improve outcomes for young people and enable them to progress.  Staff provide young people with individual and consistent care that effectively supports and nurtures their personal development, leading to improvements in their behaviour, confidence and communication.  Through the relationships formed with staff, young people are relaxed and feel safe and external professionals confirm this.  Staff are equipped with the skills to recognise when young people are upset or worried and are proactive in acting on concerns.  Young people understand the routines and boundaries in the home. This results in socially acceptable behaviour and encourages effective group living.  Views of the young people are central to how the home operates with young people being listened to and able to participate in day-to-day decisions as a matter of routine.  Transitions are individualised and adapted to ensure anxieties for young

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The children's home provision is good because:

people are reduced.  There is a range of extra-curricular activities on offer to the young people which has improved social interaction and developed young people’s confidence.

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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

In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person is required to ensure;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. Specifically, ensure compliance with its own policies and compliance survey in relation to health and safety and fire risk management. (Regulation 12(2)(d)) 15/08/2015

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the positive relationships standard the registered person is required to ensure that staff;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding. In particular use behaviour management plans to accurately document intervention and collect and consider young people’s views about this. (Regulation 11(2)(a)(iii)) 15/08/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  ensure that staff have the relevant skills and experience to keep young people safe, particularly in relation to e-safety.  ensure assessments in relation to competency in administering medication are embedded in practice.

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Information about this children's home

This children's home is registered to accommodate six children and young people who have a learning and/or physical disability. The service is delivered and managed by a national charitable organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 02/03/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness 21/10/2014 CH - Full Adequate 20/03/2014 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress 15/08/2013 CH - Full Good

p.5

good

Young people enjoy care from staff dedicated to providing them with positive life- enhancing experiences. Staff utilise a range of play situations to introduce both leisure and learning opportunities. Young people are supported to develop socially acceptable behaviours through consistent messages and role modelling from the staff team. Young people show warmth and affection for the care staff and there is a very relaxed atmosphere in the home. It is evident young people have fun and develop as a result.

p.6

good

Young people thrive in an environment where they take part in a wide range of activities and events. Activities are extremely creative and are tailored to the needs of individual young people. Young people are encouraged to take up new challenges and activities such as youth clubs and working in the organisations shop. This involvement has enhanced and developed social interaction.

p.6

good

Progress for young people at the home is good and they have all made considerable progress given their starting point upon arrival at the home. Staff are proud to report on achievements and how young people continue to develop skills and grow in confidence. Some examples of progress includes; the reduction in incidents of challenging behaviour and the development of effective communication skills using a variety of verbal and non-verbal communication methods. Due to these changes in behaviour one young person is now ready to move onto a foster placement; this would not have been possible a year ago. Social workers report positively with comments such as, ‘her behaviour is challenging but compared to when she started she is so far forward;’ and, ‘she is now accessing opportunities in the community which is something that wouldn’t have been possible previously.’

p.6

good

Young people receive sound support to lead a healthy and active lifestyle. Young people are able to access the services they need through multi-agency relationships which the staff have developed with medical professionals. Young people receive appropriate support from health consultants and have access to an adequate range of information and advice on health issues. This enables young people to begin to make informed choices and start to develop independence. Medication arrangements have been enhanced with the provision for the management and administration of medication much improved. The home has gained advice and training from a Registered Nurse within the organisation following medication errors. This has enhanced competence and confidence for staff team. A competency-based assessment has been introduced, this however has not been completed or fully embedded in practice. Staff fully support young people’s education and they have good attendance at

p.6

good

school. Staff work closely with teachers to ensure consistency is achieved. These relationships help young people to be supported in meeting their individual goals. Looked After Child review minutes commend staff on their relationships with other agencies and the positive impact this has had on the young person’s care.

p.7

good

Young people's views are gained on all areas of their care at the unit. Staff are able to communicate extremely effectively with those young people with communication difficulties and actively seek the views of all young people as part of their everyday practice. Staff have an excellent knowledge of each young person's needs which enables them to tell if someone is unhappy and to respond accordingly.

p.7

good

The home has involved an independent advocate since the last inspection. Training has been provided to staff and this has enhanced their knowledge in this area. This has resulted in staff now proactively recording and acting upon young people’s views in a range of areas. For example, one young person has requested that he is permitted to be more independent in self-care skills at night. This has resulted in progress for this young person.

p.7

good

Maximising each young person's ability to be independent is central to how the home operates and they have all made progress in this area. Encouragement is given at every level of achievement, this enables young people to have the confidence to try new skills and make progress in their personal and social development.

p.7

good

The staff team have a heightened awareness of the need for careful and individualised transition planning. Work preparing young people moving on is individualised with young people’s anxieties fully taken into account. Social story work is introduced carefully to each young person; this enable’s young people to begin to understand what is happening. Staff are supportive and respond to emotional needs at these times; this promotes positive endings.

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requires improvement

The routines and structure in place for individual young people during their stay support them in feeling comfortable in their surroundings. This means young people are able to achieve in their personal development as a result of feeling safe. Staff maintain a safe environment by being vigilant at all times.

p.7

requires improvement

There are no concerns regarding young people going missing from care. The risk of young people going missing is minimised by the high level of staff supervision. Staff spoken to are aware of the procedures to follow in the event of young people going missing, there is a written procedure specific to the home available to staff. This enables staff to be clear on their expectations should the need arise.

p.7

requires improvement

Young people are closely supported by a staff team, who recognise their diverse needs and take steps to address them. Staff are sensitive to young people’s need for privacy and dignity. Care planning documentation identifies risks for each young person and preventative measures. These are consistently implemented and communicated within handovers and staff meetings and contribute to keeping young people safe. Staff promote positive behaviours by giving consistent messages to young people alongside a focus on encouragement, reward and de- escalation. As a result, behaviour is well managed and there has only been four incidents involving physical intervention since the last inspection. Young people have individual behaviour management plans in place; however, these do not detail when young people have either chosen or are taken to a quiet area to calm down as a response. These strategies are seen to be implemented in the physical

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requires improvement

intervention documentation. Young people’s views have not been taken into account in behaviour management documents when young people are able to make a choice and take responsibility for their behaviours. This has not been acted upon following the last inspection.

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requires improvement

Staff are trained in safe care practices and supported by policies and procedures. Staff training covers how to recognise and respond to any suspicions or concerns should they arise. Young people feel safe and well cared for. They have very good relationships with staff who understand and recognise changes in behaviours. The young people currently in placement do not have any known risks associated with child sexual exploitation (CSE). Staff have received training to recognise any signs (of CSE); the training has increased confidence for the staff team in this area. Young people have access to the internet and they are supervised during this time. Staff have not received any training on the risks the use of the internet may pose to young people, nor were they clear on their responsibilities in this area. This lack of understanding means staff do not communicate safe internet use to young people.

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requires improvement

Young people and staff are not fully protected by the homes arrangement for health and safety. The home is not compliant with its own policies and a compliance survey in relation to health and safety. This specifically relates to gas safety checks for the cooker and following legionella risk assessments. Remedial work has not been carried out in the given timescales. There are weak audit trials in relation to health and safety and fire risk assessments.

p.8

requires improvement

Allegations or suspicions of harm are promptly and appropriately shared with external safeguarding agencies. Staff attend relevant professionals meetings and share appropriate information about young people's well-being. This demonstrates effective partnership working. The child protection policy has now been revised and is awaiting final approval before being available to all staff. Staff have access to a range of information to support them in making decisions to keep young people safe. The home has a sound recruitment process in place, which ensures all the necessary checks are completed before a member of staff starts works. This protects young people from having contact with unsuitable people.

p.8

good

The Registered Manager and staff team are committed to and focused on improving the quality of care in the home. The manager has an active role within the home both working with the young people and working in partnership with parents and outside agencies. The manager has worked hard to identify and redevelop practice and processes in recent months. The Registered Manager has been in post in the children’s home since April 2014 and holds an NVQ 4 management qualification and a degree in social work. Staff describe the management team as approachable and knowledgeable.

p.9

good

A clear and comprehensive Statement of Purpose is in place. This is informative and outlines the service’s aims and objectives. Staff and management are very familiar with the aims and know how they are implemented in practice. As a result they have a strong understanding of the impact the home has had on young people’s progress.

p.9

good

The staff team are enthusiastic and passionate about their work and they know all the young people well. They work together and provide young people with consistent care. The young people benefit from good staffing ratios, ensuring they are sufficient to supervise young people and engage them in purposeful activities and leisure interests.

p.9

good

Staff benefit from regular supervision and staff meetings provide them with the opportunity to raise any issues arise, to discuss strategies for supporting young people and to share good practice. The service has begun to embrace any new training required to meet individual needs and to extend their knowledge and skills as a team. This programme of on-going training equips staff with most of the skills necessary to support young people. In addition to the training programme, most staff are working towards, or have completed, a formal social care qualification at level three. Four staff are due to enrol on this course shortly.

p.9

good

Monthly quality assurance monitoring of the quality of care is completed by the manager and a designated person from the organisation. There is clear evidence that the manager seeks the views of the young people and uses this to further improve the quality of care. There are comprehensive development plans in place which focus on improving outcomes for young people. The management team is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. They work very closely with the young people, staff and professionals to make sure the young people are the priority and they develop and achieve as a result of this placement. Young people benefit from highly effective working relationships between staff, parents and professionals from a range of other agencies. This includes health professionals, independent reviewing officers, the local authority designated officer and social workers. For example, following a ‘recent injury to a young person’

p.9

good

incident, a meeting was held and this this led to an agreed response from the independent reviewing officer about a delays in health procedures. The managers advocate and challenge on behalf of young people in all aspects of their life when responses are not effective.

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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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