Three Gables

Good

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

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the home

 Relationships between staff and young people are very good. Staff provide consistency, boundaries and good care for young people. This means young people feel safe and secure.  Young people benefit from a well-rounded lifestyle. They experience individualised care that enables progression in education, social skills and participation in a wide range of activities.  The identity needs of young people are central to care planning and provision. This means their family heritage, sexual identity; religious and cultural needs are continually addressed and reviewed.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected

 Managers and staff have excellent levels of understanding of safeguarding practice and processes. This ensures young people are protected from potential harm, both inside and outside of the home.  Managers and staff look at the reasons underlying challenging behaviours. They work with therapeutic and social care professionals to address the root cause of any risk taking behaviours.  The home has very low levels of safeguarding incidents. Where they occur they are well managed and all agencies are appropriately notified.

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The impact and effectiveness of leaders and managers

 Managers create a culture of high aspiration for all young people. They work hard to ensure all young people achieve their individual potential and receive full support to accomplish this.  Excellent professional relationships between the home and partner agencies mean young people receive cohesive and well-coordinated care provision.  The registered manager is highly knowledgeable. He leads by example and expects the highest standards of both his deputy manager and his staff team.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation:

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Recommendations

For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases be homely, domestic environments. This is with specific reference to the seating in the lounge area providing an institutionalised impression. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 1, paragraph 3.9)

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Information about this children's home

This registered children's home is operated by a local authority to provide care and accommodation for no more than four young people. The home provides care and accommodation for children 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

27/01/2015 CH - Interim Improved Effectiveness

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good

Young people who live in this home experience medium to long term care in a nurturing family style environment. One professional said: ‘These young people have their own families and this home is not their family – but it has a family feel. Staff make a tremendous investment in young people.’ The stability that the home brings to young people means they develop attachments to staff and consequently they feel secure. This means that over time, they are able to concentrate on other areas such as education, activities and social skills.

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good

All professionals commend staff on how they provide high quality care for young people in line with their care plans. They comment on the quality of staff relationships with young people as being essential for their progression. A social worker described the strong bonds and relationships that one staff member has developed with a young person: ‘The keyworker is particularly fundamental in ensuring that this young person is able to settle and progress. He is one of the best keyworkers I have worked with. He is very committed and a major factor in enabling the young person to progress.’

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good

Educational attendance and progression are highly valued in the home. All young people have bespoke educational plans that meet their individual academic and learning needs. Particularly impressive is the work of a member of staff to secure a placement at a specialist residential provision for one young person. The social worker for this young person said, ‘this placement is exactly what this young person needs and wants.’ As a result, all young people are achieving in line with their potential, with some excelling above national average performance.

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good

Young people benefit from the home being in a rural location. Staff ensure they have access to a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities. Some young people attend extra-curricular activities, with local clubs on every day of the week and weekends. Other young people prefer solitary activities, such as walking, cycling, swimming and going to the local playground. The extensive range of activities not only provides exciting opportunities for young people but the physical nature of some of the activities improves their health. One young person is an accomplished artist and works with a creative mentor to expand her artistic skills. Staff ensure that whatever a young person’s interests are, they are fully supported to have structured and enjoyable activities.

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good

A range of professionals, including health specialists, works closely with the staff team. This ensures there is well-coordinated care planning which contributes to meeting the social, health, psychological and identity needs of young people.

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good

Young people benefit from agreed contact arrangements with their families and friends. This enables them to develop and sustain positive relationships with those people who are important to them. One social worker said: ‘The young person’s mother was previously just a photo in a box. Since he has lived in this home, staff have helped them to re-establish a relationship. Staff make sure that contact is organised with creative venues and activities to get the best out of the young person.’ The staff team work sensitively and flexibly to promote positive contacts, according to the needs of those involved, for the benefit of the young people.

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good

This home is a vibrant family style home, with large lush gardens, play equipment, bat boxes and a well-maintained interior. Young people personalise their bedrooms to their own tastes and preferences and are involved in decisions about the home décor. It is a very comfortable home that has benefitted from ongoing improvements to décor, fixtures and fittings; however, this could be improved further with the replacement of lounge furniture, which is not wholly domestic in appearance.

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outstanding

The safety and protection of young people is of paramount importance in this home. Young people say that they feel well protected in the home and can talk to staff about any worries or concerns.

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outstanding

A well-trained and competent staff team effectively implement robust safeguarding policies and procedures. Staff have a very clear understanding of safeguarding risks, needs and responses. They consistently review safe working practices to ensure they meet the changing individual needs of young people. Staffing levels are consistent and the dedication of staff ensures the safety and welfare of the young people through continued high levels of monitoring and support.

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outstanding

Some recent group dynamics have led to incidents of disruptive behaviours in the home. Young people have demonstrated challenging or destructive behaviours. In these circumstances, young people are involved in creative behaviour management strategies to enable them to recognise the impact and consequences of such behaviours. As a result, behaviours are less frequent. One independent reviewing officer said, ‘The staff work in an empathetic way with the children and young people. Young people are challenged in a good way – a way in which young people can hear what is being said.’ Incidents of young people who are away from the home without authorisation or missing from care are exceptionally rare. Where young people go missing from the home, staff work in full accordance with missing from care policy and protocols. This means the safety and wellbeing of young people is maximised and their location quickly identified. Valuable information about the reasons for such

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outstanding

behaviours is collated with managers ensuring return interviews with children’s rights workers. Safeguarding practice is highly effective in deterring young people from unauthorised absence.

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outstanding

The registered manager and staff team have built exceptionally effective and cooperative links with the local police service. Consequently, the police have positive relationships with the staff and young people. This means the home share potential concerns about the safety or welfare of young people in a timely manner. A local police officer commented: ‘Safeguarding issues are dealt with very well. Staff have the skills and experience to work well with these young people. The relationships with young people are so positive they sometimes ask us to pop in and have a chat. We do this and are always welcome.’

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outstanding

Physical interventions are appropriately used for the purposes of keeping young people safe from harm. There has only been one physical intervention since the last inspection. All staff are suitably trained to undertake any physical intervention with regular refresher training. Records of physical interventions are of a high quality. They demonstrate that the manager evaluates the impact and effectiveness of the intervention. This scrutiny ensures interventions are safe and appropriate.

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outstanding

The home has very low levels of safeguarding incidents, with one incident since the last inspection. In this case, the registered manager ensured robust action to safeguard young people. Notification to relevant bodies enabled safeguarding services, placing authorities and Ofsted to review the home’s response to this incident. This level of multi-agency analysis ensures appropriate action is taken to follow procedures and protect young people.

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outstanding

The health and safety of young people, staff and visitors within the home is prioritised. Detailed and regularly reviewed generic and specific risk assessments cover all aspects of daily living. The home has a continual programme of maintenance, which ensures timely repair and remedial work. Health and safety checks, including fire equipment and drills, are current and environmental risks assessments ensure the safety of young people and staff.

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leaders and managers

The quality of the leadership and management of the home is excellent. The registered manager is highly knowledgeable and committed to delivering the highest standards to the young people who live in this home. The manager became registered in this post in July 2012. He is suitably qualified and has substantial relevant childcare and managerial experience of residential childcare within this service. A committed, experienced and knowledgeable deputy manager provides additional managerial support. The deputy manager has successfully completed the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership in Health and Social Care. Consequently, a strong and well-qualified management team lead the home.

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leaders and managers

The registered manager has been instrumental within the local authority in implementing legislative changes relating to children’s home reform. This level of understanding means meticulous attention to detail in formulating the homes own development plan. He has a clear vision for the direction of the home, which is dedicated to improving life chances for young people. The registered manager understands the strengths of the home and how the home can be improved. This critical insight enables the home to develop continually to meet the changing needs of the young people.

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leaders and managers

Rigorous internal monitoring arrangements further reinforce the effective operation of the home. These processes are further enhanced by regular monitoring visits from the local authority’s quality assurance team. These combined processes ensure that any weaknesses are identified in a timely manner and that the home continually improves.

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leaders and managers

Staff feel supported and enabled to progress their own professional skills and knowledge. They receive consistent and regular supervision. Staff training needs are well met through the provision of a high quality training programme. All staff hold a recognised qualification, or are working towards one, to enable them to support young people effectively and continue to improve the quality of care provided. Young people achieve significantly improved outcomes because of the highly competent staff team.

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leaders and managers

Leadership is inspiring and stimulates the enthusiasm of staff. Comments from staff include: ‘The manager is fantastic, really child-focused; all decisions are made for the young people. If a young person does something he looks beyond the behaviours to find out ‘why,’’ and, ‘I honestly feel genuinely lucky working in such a rewarding environment with such a positive management team.’ This level of commitment means staff work cohesively and consequently care provision is well coordinated.

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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

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

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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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