Children's Home run by Ownlife Residential Limited in Lewisham

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:

 From their starting points , young people make good progress in all areas of their development. They receive consistent care from a stable and experienced staff team.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people reduce their risk-taking behaviour and enjoy positive relationships with the staff. Staff balance care and safety well; this ensures their practice is not oppressive.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The environment is homely and well furnished. Young people are encouraged to personalise the home and this is evident throughout.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Placements plans and risk assessments are clear and detailed and assist staff to easily recognise what young people need to do to meet their individual goals. The Registered Manager tracks the young people’s progress and modifies plans accordingly.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people feel listened to. They feel that their views are regularly sought and that they can contribute to changes within the home. They are encouraged to express their wishes and feelings in all aspects of the care they receive.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people experience a planned transition into this home. The manager completes detailed matching assessments and arranges meetings with young people prior to any agreement to move into the home.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff encourage and support contact with families where appropriate. Support continues when young people move on from the home to ensure that they receive continuity of care. This assists young people to integrate into their new placement.

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Information about this children's home

The home may provide care and accommodation for up to four children of either gender with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take of the following recommendations(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure the following elements of the workforce plan are included in the statement of purpose: (in accordance with Schedule 1 (paragraph 19 and 20) the staffing structure; experience and qualifications of staff. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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Recommendations

 ensure there are clear lines of accountability and effective management continues when the manager is absent or on leave. (The Guide to the Quality Standards page, 54, paragraph 10.20)

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

good

This is the first inspection of the home since its registration. Young people make progress in this home. Where they have recently moved-in there is evidence that good planning prior to placement has enabled a smooth transition from home to placement. A young person said, ‘I was scared to come here, but the manager came and told me everything about the house and who lives there. When l came in l had a meal with everyone and that helped me to feel less anxious.’

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good

Young people receive good quality care from a stable staff team. Staff work collaboratively to provide young people with consistent care. This furnishes young people with stability and security which assists them to progress and develop towards adulthood. A young person said, ‘All the staff know what is happening for me and what l should be doing, so l am not always being asked the same thing or having to repeat myself, it’s a good thing though.’

p.6

good

The home has a warm, friendly environment. On admission, staff provide young people with personal items, which help them feel welcomed. They are encouraged to personalise their room and other areas of the home. For example, one young person is currently redesigning the garden area. Another successfully requested that a sink be removed from her room.

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good

Staff are committed to young people and develop effective working relationships. They successfully support and encourage them to achieve their goals. Young people who, on admission, did not attend school, have fully participated in home tutoring and have a determination to move on to mainstream school. Considering their starting points, young people have made significant progress, for example, achieving BTEC certificates and sitting GCSE exams. This success has enhanced young people’s self-confidence and self-belief which has driven them to work towards their future careers. For example a young person is working towards a career as airline cabin crew. One young person commented, ‘The staff have helped me to grow and mature and do things independently, they are helping me to achieve my goals.’

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good

Young people are engaged in the local community and are involved with a number of community-based activities ranging from police cadets to local wildlife and running marathons for voluntary organisations.

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good

Staff use planned and impromptu key-work sessions and the regular young people’s meetings to seek and record young people’s views. The manager asks young people to complete questionnaires and uses these to inform practice improvement and change within the home. Young people say they are listened-to; the staff are approachable and act on what they say. Staff ensure young people are aware of their rights and have confidential access to the complaints procedure.

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good

Positive relationships with family and the key people in young people’s lives promote a consistent care experience.

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good

Young people live in a home where they are effectively protected from harm. Locality risk assessments identify areas which may pose risks to vulnerable young people. Robust risk assessments and procedures ensure that staff take appropriate action should a young people go missing from the home. The home cultivates good relationships with community police; they work in collaboration with a number of agencies to ensure young people are safe.

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good

Effective work and good relationships between young people and staff has meant that young people choose not to go missing. Young people say they feel safe at the home and a young person comments, 'Staff talked through with me why l need to stay safe and keep them informed of where l am, they also told me what happens if l go missing. They talk to me about why l may feel the need to break my curfew. I have only gone missing once and l don’t really want to now.’ Young people benefit from consistent boundaries provided by a staff team who are well trained in all aspects of safeguarding. Staff are knowledgeable and confident in implementing the home’s policies and procedures and take a highly proactive approach in ensuring young people’s safety

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good

Staff recognise the specific vulnerabilities relating to young people’s diverse needs. Interventions are thoughtful and underpinned by clear individual risk assessments and behaviour management plans. This enables young people to take managed and considered risks in preparation for independent living. This includes actively working towards increased free-time for young people who fully understand the need for protection. This gives them a sense of trust and respect. Some young people who are unhappy with plans made for them go missing as a means of demonstrating their frustration. The home acts in accordance with the local authority care plans and risk assessments to ensure their safe return. This does not reflect on the care and progress the young people make while in the home. The manager and staff team work closely with external professionals in respect of risk evaluation for the young people. This assists in promoting their safety and

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good

well-being. Positive behaviour is encouraged with clear and consistent boundaries to help young people understand the effects of their behaviour on themselves and others. As a result young people learn appropriate strategies and the use of physical intervention is not used and sanctions rarely applied.

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good

Young people enjoy a safe and secure environment. There are effective health and safety systems in place.

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good

The Registered Manager is qualified, experienced and provides strong leadership to the staff team. He has previously managed another home for the same organisation. The manager is very child-focused. The needs of vulnerable young people are at the heart of every aspect of work within the home.

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good

The manager ensures that the staff team is stable, consistent and suitably qualified. The staff team are committed and positive, and feel well supported and valued. Good arrangements are in place for the regular supervision and support of staff. An annual appraisal process promotes professional development. All staff are up to date with mandatory training requirements, including child protection and child sexual exploitation. A member of staff said, ‘We receive lots of training and are very supported by the manager. He listens to new ideas, follows it through, and acts on them. We have regular formal supervision, but also ongoing informal discussions.’ Another member of staff commented, ‘The positive thing about our manager is that he does not believe there is such a thing as a stupid question.’

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good

Care planning is of a high standard and tailored to meet young people’s individual needs. The Registered Manager is knowledgeable of the new regulations and guidance. Training for all staff as well as discussions in team meetings and supervision ensures that the staff team are continually leaning and improving. The manager undertakes detailed matching assessments prior to admitting any young person to the home. He meets with referring professionals and liaises with key people to ensure his assessment is an informed one. He arranges visits to young people and encourages them to visit the home where possible. Young people are positive about this process. One young person said ‘it really helped to meet the manager and know about the home before l came’.

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good

The manager and staff receive praise for their work and communication with external agencies. They have developed positive relationships with social workers, independent reviewing officers, therapeutic and education services. Young people’s best interests are central to the manager’s decision-making processes. He maintains a good oversight of their experiences. A senior social worker comments, ‘The manager will always go the extra mile to ensure young people’s best interests are met. When my young person moved in, due to his hard work, all potential anxiety and distress for the young person was alleviated. The staff work closely with me and l am really well informed.’

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good

The manager uses effective monitoring systems to understand the young people’s experiences. He uses monitoring and young people’s and staff views to identify areas for improvement.

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good

The provider has a n independent person who visits the home on a monthly basis to monitor what goes on. Their reports are of a good standard and accurately reflect the views of young people and staff. Relevant documentation is reviewed to ensure it complies with legislation.

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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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