Children's Home run by Plymouth City Council in PlymouthOfsted inspection, 2 Jul 2015

Good

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

p.2

The children's home provision is good because:

The manager and Responsible Individual take action to ensure that the service responds to the needs of the young people. Young people are suitably matched together during their stay.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

The staff provide a good level of care to vulnerable young people. They ensure positive outcomes for young people and provide parents with confidence in the service.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

The young people enjoy attending and access a wide range of opportunities when staying at the service. Parents comment that young people feel safe in the care of the staff and comment that they wish there were more facilities like this one.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

The young people receive co-ordinated and high quality services, which promote social inclusion.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

The manager effectively challenges other services young people access, which ensures that the young people receive the services and support they need.

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

(4) The registered person must ensure that all employees— (b) receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 31/08/2015

p.4

Requirement Due date

(2) When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person (a) if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (2)(a)) 31/08/2015

p.4

Information about this children's home

This section should outline:  The short break service is run by the local authority. It provides care and accommodation for up to six children and young people who have learning and or/physical disabilities. The service also provides evening and daytime only sessions.

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

Recent inspection history

13/02/2015 CH - Interim improved effectiveness

p.5

good

The young people benefit from using the short break service. They look forward to their stay with enthusiasm and take part in a variety of stimulating opportunities. The young people have good experiences and make notable achievements in their personal development.

p.6

good

The staff provide care which meets the complex and challenging needs of the young people. They are able to communicate with all of the young people and represent their views at meetings. Staff also support and help families even when young people are not attending the service.

p.6

good

The staff promote the health needs of the young people during their stay. The young people have access to local health services and specialist help is made available according to their individual needs. They are given food which they like and do not eat food that has a poor nutritional value. The staff also engage the young people in various physical activities; for example, swimming, walking and trampolining. Many of the young people are looking forward to the summer surf school.

p.6

good

The young people are treated with dignity and respect. They experience care which is sensitive and responsive to their identity and disability. Staff deliver intimate care routines which maintain the young people’s privacy and promotes their independence.

p.6

good

The manager takes effective action to ensure that the mix of young people during each stay is appropriate. This ensures that the staff have the resources to engage all of the young people and look after them safely. The manager challenges the local authority when there are concerns about the future plans young people. As well as highlighting any concerns about their current care package.

p.6

good

Many of the young people have been attending the service for a number of years. It is a consistent factor in their lives which they depend upon. They have developed good relationships with the staff team and have also learnt to be around other young people. All of the feedback from parents is positive. They state that the ‘staff are brilliant’ and ‘cannot praise them enough.’ They feel that their children are safe and they can relax knowing that staff will contact them if necessary. Parents report that communication from the service is good, they are always kept informed of any significant events for their child and complaints are resolved to their satisfaction. The physical environment is maintained to a high standard. Young people stay in rooms which are personalised to their tastes. Staff ensure that the young people feel at home by providing them with a homely and well-furnished house to stay in.

p.6

good

Placing authority representatives and health professionals are all impressed and pleased with the service. They comment that the care is ‘very good,’ ‘child focussed’ and ‘flexible around the needs of the young people.’ Also, that it is an ‘invaluable resource for families’ and the young people receive a ‘good multi- agency package of support.’

p.7

good

The staff provide good help and protection for the young people. They have a good understanding of the needs and routines of the young people. This ensures that challenging situations are avoided wherever possible.

p.7

good

The young people who may run away from the staff have a clear plan in place to reduce its likelihood and also protect them if they do. As such, there are no recorded incidents of young people going missing.

p.7

good

The manager takes decisive action to ensure that the mix of young people at any one time does not cause a unmanageable situation. The young people can be managed in separate environments throughout the service to ensure that they do not negatively affect the experience of others.

p.7

good

The amount of physical interventions since the interim inspection has increased since the previous inspection. However, the manager and staff have worked alongside families and education professionals to reduce its use significantly recently. All incidents of restraint are monitored by the manager or the deputy manager. This ensures that the records are accurate and that the well-being of young people is promoted following an incident. The monitoring has also enabled the manager to identify patterns and reduce the use of restraint.

p.7

good

The young people have good behaviour support plans, which clearly describe the actions and response staff are to take. The young people’s families are consulted about their behaviour support plan, which ensures that their views are incorporated into managing the young people safely. The manager has effective links with the Local Safeguarding Children Board. The designated officer is informed of investigations that involve the service. The manager is also on the panel for disabled children’s services, which promotes good communication with the local authority and informs their decision on admitting young people.

p.7

good

The manager has been in post for 18 months and has the necessary qualifications for the role. She uses good monitoring processes to regularly review the quality of the care provided and to ensure that the service is continually evolving to meet the needs of the young people. The manager and the Responsible Individual have a good working relationship. They work collaboratively to ensure that any shortfalls highlighted in the monitoring processes are swiftly resolved.

p.8

good

The manager ensures that the young people have good multi-agency support. The manager and staff link well with the families and other care agencies to help ensure consistency of care for the young people.

p.8

good

The staff are well trained. They have recently spent time improving their skills with a professional who specialises in working with individuals who are autistic. As well as receiving advice from the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service of how to further improve their practice. The staff comment that this is beneficial and it is evident that they use this training in their practice.

p.8

good

The manager leads and motivates the team to ensure that they collectively meet its stated aims and objectives. Consequently, young people benefit from accessing a service which reduces the risk of family breakdown, supports the quality of their family life and increases their prospects of a stable future.

p.8

good

The manager also has suitable information for young people available throughout the service to help them understand how to let staff know if they are feeling unhappy.

p.8

good

The manager monitors the progress which young people make and can demonstrate the positive impact that attending the service has on their lives. There are effective relationships with parents in place so that they understand what the service offers. The parents feel involved in the operation of the service and are able to raise concerns and complaints, which are dealt with effectively. The staff are accessible and keep parents informed about their child’s stay. The manager does not ensure that all staff receive adequate levels of supervision, which includes the agency staff who work at the service regularly. Consequently, staff do not have sufficient opportunities for reflection and feedback on their practice. There are also occasions when the independent visitor does not consult with staff during their visit. Therefore, staff do not always have the opportunity to share their views on the quality of the care.

p.8

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.

p.10

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

p.10

What the inspection judgements mean

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

p.10

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

p.11

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 .

p.11

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,

p.12

Information about this inspection

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

p.12

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.12

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

p.12