Children's Home run by Amicus Residential Care Ltd in Reading

Requires improvement

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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because:

 Although all the young people have made considerable progress since coming to the home in recent months this has plateaued or declined. An inability to develop strategies to address this has allowed young people to drift and one in particular remaining unsafe.  The staff group feel thwarted by the attitude of the young people.  Sanctions and rewards used have not been effective in improving behaviour or assisting the young people to engage in education, training or employment.  Several policies and procedures of the home need to be updated.  Policies regarding missing from care and the use of sanctions need to be applied consistently to ensure young people have a consistent message about behaviour and not being able to ‘get away with things’.  Substance misuse, episodes of young people being missing or absent from the home and lack of engagement in education are stubborn problems that the efforts of staff and management have not been able to change over the long

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The children's home strengths

 Staff have built warm, nurturing relationships with the young people who appreciate the care they receive.  Instances of assaults, physical damage and anti-social or criminal behaviour have decreased dramatically for all young people from the point at which they were referred.  Restraint is rarely used as a measure of control and has never been used with any of the current residents.  Several professionals and family members referred to how well the staff ‘held on to’ young people, continuing to care for them when others may have given up.  Family members were unanimous in praising the staff and manager of the home for the level of information sharing and cooperation with them.

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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 quality and purpose of care standard the registered person must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

staff protect and promote each child’s welfare, specifically by not allowing young people to access the rooms of other’s without invitation. (Regulation 6 (2)(b)(ii)) 31 July 2015

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the positive relationships standard the registered person must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

staff communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 11 (2)(v)) 31 July 2015

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

staff are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies, in particular that regarding missing from care. (Regulation 12 (1)(vii)) 31 July 2015

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the education standard the registered person must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

children develop independent study skills, particularly those not engaged in formal education training or employment outside of the home. (Regulation 8 (2)(ii)) 31 July 2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep under review and revise the home’s child protection policies. This is in relation to those for restraint, missing from care, anti-bullying and responding to allegations and suspicions of abuse. (Regulation 34 (6)) 31 July 2015

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Requirement Due date

{an asterisk is added in the table above where Compliance = 'Y'} * These requirements are subject to statutory requirement notice.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s): contact the local authority to request a review of the child’s care plan where it is considered that a child is at serious risk of harm, such as when they are persistently missing from their placement (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations 11.12, page 57) inform young people how to contact the Office of the Children’s Commissioner for advice and assistance about their rights and entitlements and include this information in the home’s Children’s Guide (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations 4.19 & 20, page 23-24) challenge poor behaviour, including playing 18 certificate computer games underage and smoking in bedrooms. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations 8.11, page 39)

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Information about this children's home

The home is privately run and provides emergency as well as long-term placements for up to three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

28/01/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

13/01/2014 CH - Interim satisfactory Progress

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requires improvement

Every professional and family member spoken to had a positive view of how young people had progressed since living at the home with several comparisons made with how they used to be: ‘he was in trouble all the time before’, ‘he was in grave danger in the previous placement’, ‘he is not involved with any criminal activity now’. Such improvements should not be lost sight of when considering the current issues faced by the home but staff and management accept that they have not been maintaining or continuing this progress.

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requires improvement

Despite great efforts to find appropriate resources and the provision of support no young person is in education, training or employment. This has become the culture within the home and young people expect to be able to decide for themselves how they will spend their day; the home has no structure for them to have a routine (such as a time to get up), or participate in constructive activities (such as personal study in the home).

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requires improvement

Incidents of missing or absent from care are high with young people indifferent to the sanctions imposed. All young people smoke tobacco and two regularly use cannabis. This is not condoned at all, but intervention has not had any impact and there have been worrying instances of experimentation with stronger substances and dealing.

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requires improvement

Good relationships with staff (who have been a very stable group up until recently) have contributed greatly to the young people not displaying the aggressive, even violent behaviour experienced in previous placements, but has not been enough to go on to engaging constructively with wider society or make significant achievements. One young person said that sanctions had no impact and that “now I am older I can do what I want; well, almost… staff have no choice”. The evidence is that he can do things without appropriate challenge, in having 18 rated computer games, avoiding being reported as missing and sanctions not being followed through.

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requires improvement

A range of activities are offered by the home for young people although only one regularly participates. He hoped a younger male member of staff could be employed to do more but the home has been unable to attract such applicants to vacancies.

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requires improvement

Attempts are made to consult with young people to obtain their views wishes and feelings; although asked to contribute comments about sanctions and rewards and to participate in house meetings young people often have nothing to say. Informal conversations are occasions where views are more likely to be expressed and the introduction of a ‘significant conversations’ section to daily logs facilitates their recording but they are not always used. That said, staff do act on what young people say, such as the activities arranged. The possibility of having an Independent Visitor has been offered but young people have not taken this up. Young people have rotas to do their own washing and have the skills to cook themselves a meal. Staff help with shopping on a budget and food preparation but young people do not often take advantage of this, admitting it is from laziness or because they think they ‘have better things to do’.

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requires improvement

Young people tend to spend much of their time away from the home and are often out until late at night, frequently beyond their curfew. Much is done to keep in contact with each young person so it is known where they are, who they are with and to establish times that they will be back. Good relationships do mean that calls from staff are not ignored, nevertheless guidance and deadlines often are. Those relationships also mean that young people feel they are able go to staff about problems they are having. It was to a member of staff that one was able to say he was in trouble for owing money leading to the situation being resolved. Staff check how young people are on returning from being missing and independent return home interviews are requested, although not consistently.

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requires improvement

One young person has been regarded as almost impossible to keep safe for many months; discussions with social workers and professional meetings have been held at the instigation of the home’s manager but no change in strategy has resulted. The young man has been at risk from being involved in hazardous behaviour and being absent from the home for extended periods. No formal requests for a risk management meeting or review of the care plan have been made.

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requires improvement

The home’s policy on missing from care does not reference the statutory guidance on children who go missing from care.

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requires improvement

Young people have keys to their own bedrooms but if they lock themselves out staff have spare ones. On at least one occasion keys were handed over with no supervision and it is suspected a theft subsequently took place.

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requires improvement

The home no longer locks external or internal doors as a measure of control and restraint has not been needed to be used at all since the last inspection (and longer). Whilst the age of the young people in placement means that it would be difficult to implement, it is the skilful way staff manage a situation that avoids the potential from arising. Diffusing through humour, suggesting that time is given to think about requests (rather than giving a ‘straight no’) and providing choices are used effectively. Conflicts between young people are managed well with incidents that could result in physical confrontations de-escalated by young people being distracted through involvement in different activities and given sufficient time away from each to calm down.

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requires improvement

Safe recruitment procedures are used in the appointment of new staff with records of interviews now kept.

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requires improvement

Relationships are established with local agencies including the police and youth offending service to reduce or prevent anti-social behaviour.

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requires improvement

The home has chosen to work with some very challenging young people and has been successful in some aspects of their support. There is, though, a sense that the task staff and manager currently face is beyond their resources. The team have little satisfaction in the work they are doing with comments made such as ‘the job that was in the advert is not the job I am currently doing’ and ‘it can be quite demoralising when young people do not engage’. The resources available in a small organisation mean it is hard for the manager (who is also the Responsible Individual here) to stand back from this and lift the organisation.

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requires improvement

There was an incident recorded in which a young person damaging property was told ‘if he wanted to break property then he should go outside and break his moped’. This was read without comment or missed by the manager. The possession of 18+ games by one young person and repeated smoking in bedrooms by another was responded to by ‘but all 17 year olds / smokers do that’. Lack of response from other agencies, particularly placing authorities has compounded the lack of engagement. There is a comprehensive development plan for the home in place but this too is hampered by the same problems so, for example, the objective of each young person shopping for, preparing and cooking a meal twice a week has not been implemented.

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requires improvement

Limited time is also the reason given for several policies being out of date; that for anti-bullying should include cyber-bulling, the need to make a written record and timescales in which actions should be taken should be added to ‘suspicions of abuse’ and complaints should reference to the Children’s Commissioner. A service including provision of policies and procedures has been brought for employment matters, which has been a useful method of keeping abreast of developments.

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requires improvement

The home attempts to engage with the wider system for the benefit of the young people, providing information and requesting it when missing from other agencies. Young people are encouraged to attend Looked After Child reviews or at least speak to their IRO. Good relationships have been forged with providers of education and training so that tailored opportunities have been available for young people to participate in. It was emphasised by professionals and family members that the fact that they are not taken up or breakdown is not a reflection on the efforts made by staff.

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requires improvement

Staff say the provider is a good employer, flexible over shifts, ensuring supervision and training is given. A recent team day focused on the new quality standards for children’s homes, ensuring staff are aware of regulations that apply to their work. Induction is provided for new staff, including mandatory courses. They feel equipped and able to work with those young people willing to engage and make the most of what they can offer. There are always sufficient staff on shifts. Files are structured well with ‘daily routines’ as a front sheet that gives a ready overview of issues such as contact, free time and sanctions to be used. There are also comprehensive risk management assessments in each. Those taken at referral include consideration of the impact of a new admission of young people already resident, enabling staff to be aware of and act on any risks foreseen. Potential bullying of one young person by others more able has therefore been carefully

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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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