Children's Home run by The Caldecott Foundation Limited in Kent

Good

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

p.2

The young people's home provision is good because:

 Young people are safe and feel safe living here. They enjoy positive relationships with staff that enables them to reflect upon their history and identify ways in which they can move forward.  Young people report that ‘it’s alright’ and do not wish to change anything about their home. There is a real sense of the home sticking with young people as they develop and grow uniquely.  The staff are appropriately skilled to meet the needs of the young people. They develop effective and sensitive relationships with the young people. The staff team are secure in their awareness and understanding of each young person’s needs. They work hard to consider and address young people’s needs fully. This has led to a reduction in concerning behaviours, such as incidents leading to the use of restraints and missing from care.  Young people make progress in this home. All young people are engaged in education and receive the health services that they require. They take part

p.3

The young people's home provision is good because:

in leisure activities and community projects that build their self-esteem. Young people are able to recognise and take pride in their achievements.  Staff value young people, they talk proudly of their achievements and progress. Young people develop trusting relationships with staff. They share their worries and concerns and receive the help that they need.  Staff have relished a range of workshops and training organised by the Registered Manager and demonstrate where this has made a difference to their practice.  Staff said they feel very well supported now by the management team. They recognise that a more challenging shift in the management style has improved the home. Staff said that they have the time to think and plan whereas before they were reacting to each incident. This has enhanced their professional development and effectiveness. They said ‘we work well together now as a team for the best outcomes for our young people’.

p.3

The young people's home provision is good because:

 The Registered Manager has worked hard improve partnership with her staff team, other professionals and families. She understands the strengths and weaknesses of the home and forms a meaningful improvement plan where weaknesses are addressed and practices developed further. One independent reviewing officer says ‘I am really pleased with the home and how well the young person is responding to its style of parenting’.

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.5

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Continue with the development of a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 ( paragraph 19 and 20) ( The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 53, paragraph 10.8).

p.5

Recommendations

 Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. In particular, to maintain clear records on young peoples’ meetings that are helpful to the young people. ( The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 62, paragraph 14.4).  Ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure they are recorded correctly and reviewed in line with the young person’s plans. ( The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 46, paragraph 9.36).  Include within each young person’s placement plan the permissions that their placing authority has delegated to the home. ( The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 31, paragraph 6.2).

p.5

Recommendations

 Staff need to have the knowledge and skills to understand each child’s education and training targets and their next steps for learning. Including setting learning objectives for each child for any educational visits or work out of school. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 28, paragraph 5.11)

p.5

Information about this children's home

The home is registered to provide care for up to four young people with emotional behavioural difficulties. The home is a charitable organisation.

p.7

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.7

Recent inspection history

16/03/2015 CH - Interim improved effectiveness

p.7

Recent inspection history

11/03/2014 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

p.7

good

Staff speak warmly of young people, take pride in their achievements and reward their progress. Staff members undertake frequent and effective level of key working that demonstrates the young person’s journey and progress. Young people know that staff are interested in their individual lives, interests and dreams. As one young person says ‘my keyworker helps me to think about the future and the choices I have which are exciting now’.

p.8

good

Young people report feeling safe and do not wish to change anything about their home. They have multiple opportunities to participate in the operation of the home through their selection of the types of sanctions and rewards, making rules and discussing issues at their meeting. Staff, however, need to record the feedback and context within the logs more fully. Many photographs around the home capture the essence of young people having fun. Young people look after pets including fish and hamsters and arrange for their care when away at camp. Relationships built between staff and young people are sensitive and caring.

p.8

good

The Registered Manager takes action and ensures resolution of young peoples’ concerns. Effective procedures are in place for investigating any concerns young people may have. For example, one young person raised a worry regarding physical holds which was resolved satisfactorily and staff attended refresher training because the young person suggested this action.

p.8

good

Education outcomes for young people are good. Most of the young people attend regularly and make progress in reaching educational goals despite previously having been out of school. Young people’s learning achievements were celebrated at an open day. This included delivering an award in hair and beauty as well as a project on the seaside. One young person said ‘I’m better at school and I want to achieve well’. Another young person who has had multiple exclusions from schools is having a bespoke educational curriculum put in place to start from the next term. This will support this young person’s his placement. Staff have set pieces of work and taken the young person on frequent educational visits. However, staff have not planned or recorded the learning objectives and achievements to ensure the visits or work have achieved the young person’s educational targets or next steps of learning.

p.8

good

The health provision for young people is good. This includes the management of medication. Some young people relish the opportunities to cook. One young person is now trying a wider range of meals and is happy to sit with staff during meal times.

p.8

good

The home extends and increases opportunities for young people to socialise with others and choose activities alongside their peers. Young people are able to participate in activities in the local or wider community. For example, young people enjoy attending horse riding lessons and competition in dressage, football clubs, basketball clubs, and working at the dogs trust. They make decisions, including their summer holiday destination of Alton Towers and Paris.

p.9

good

Young people are increasing in maturity. They are more able to manage conflicts and consider how their behaviour and the behaviour of others impacts upon them. They are also progressing in their emotional health, awareness of feelings and resilience to ride over some of life’s ‘dips and bumps’.

p.9

good

Young people are being well prepared to move on into adulthood taking into account their age and stage of development. For example, young people enjoy the opportunities to plan and budget for meals. They also relish cooking. Young people further develop their independence skills during camp trying archery and other activities.

p.9

good

Staff have a good knowledge around child sexual exploitation. Recent training on child sexual exploitation has been valuable to staff. They said the course opened their eyes to the good practice they promote and empowered them to continue to challenge other parties when necessary. Staff support young people to use social media and electronic devices safely while maintaining links with their peers and friends.

p.9

good

Staff maintain positive working relationships with the young people, their families and partner agencies to address any potential or actual risk taking behaviours, especially with regard to criminalisation.

p.9

good

Young people do very occasionally go missing. The incidents of this have significantly decreased in frequency as well as geographical distance. As one young person stated ‘I’m done with running away to (different county) and in fact I’m not going to do it anymore’. Young people know that staff will actively search for them and in the majority of cases know exactly where they are likely to be so that they return home quickly and safely. Young people are aware of the dangers when they go missing and recognise that there are alternative ways to communicate their feelings to staff.

p.9

good

Young people show increasing maturity in managing their own behaviour. They are much more able to reflect upon their behaviour and understand the consequences of their actions. Staff are skilled at providing clear boundaries for young people. Behaviour management systems ensure young people are safely managed. A calm and measured approach is adopted to successfully diffuse incidents.

p.10

good

Recruitment arrangements are robust. All checks are completed. Health and safety checks are up to date. Fire drills take place at regular intervals and all young people have taken part in a fire drill.

p.10

good

A permanent and suitably qualified Registered Manager with extensive experience has undertaken a significant amount of work to become a more robust manager and now effectively manages this home. Through this process, the Registered Manager has been able to assessed and increased staff members level of competence, skills and practice to deliver the home’s stated aims and good quality care to young people.

p.10

good

There are now sufficient staff to care for and meet the needs of the young people. Most staff members now have appropriate and challenging levels of accountability to make sure they deliver on the home’s vision and improve young peoples’ experiences and outcomes. The Registered Manager’s workforce plan tracks staffing numbers and skills to ensure that this meets the changing needs of young people. Areas of training identified which include autism, food and food safety now need to be delivered. Staff morale is good. Staff are supported through regular individual and group supervision as well as debriefs after specific incidents. They describe supervision as very helpful. Staff say they can freely raise issues with the Registered Manager knowing she will support, listen and taken action.

p.10

good

Monitoring of the service is good, this includes internal and the external monitoring completed by an independent visitor. The Registered Manager does effectively acts on recommendations made as a result of independent visitor’s reports. . However, records of restraint did not match the actual events and had not been adequately scrutinised to identify these errors. .

p.10

good

The statement of purpose sets out the approach to care that this home provides, accompanied by an up to date young people’s guide which young people are currently reviewing. The homes statement of purpose clearly demonstrates the type of care and support young people can expect to receive and is delivered in practice.

p.10

good

The Registered Manager is proactively involved in monitoring individual care arrangements, which supports the good progress made by the young person. For example, the Registered Manager consults with professionals and adjusts planning when required. She is very aware of the progress and of any limitations or specific issues for each resident. Placement plans are now more child friendly and ensure individualised care and consistency for young people. There is a need however for the plans to include any aspects of delegated authority.

p.11

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.12

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.12

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.12

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.13

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.13

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.14

Information about this inspection

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

p.14

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.14

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.14