Children's Home run by Reflexion Care Group Limited in Shropshire

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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:

 Young people who are usually admitted to the home in crisis, benefit from supportive and structured care arrangements. This quickly achieves participation in a well-defined programme of outdoor activities and residential routines.  Young people benefit from being looked after by a skilled team of staff who help lessen the impact of a sudden change in circumstances and living arrangements.  Although most placements are short in duration, staff consistently achieve a good standard of care because they quickly get to know each young person.  Young people understand the purpose of the home and the role staff play in helping their social workers identify a more permanent placement for them to live.  Young people benefit from detailed, individualised care planning and practices that result in their needs being clearly identified and consistently met.  Young people have good relationships with staff; they feel able to contribute

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The children's home provision is good because:

their views and wishes regularly about their own needs and plans for the future.  Young people have an equal stake and involvement in life at the home. Staff are fair and treat young people with respect.  Young people feel safe and secure, staff regularly discuss important matters that help promote everyone’s safety, welfare and comfort.  Although arrangements for education have improved, young people do not benefit in full from the home’s vocational learning and awards programme.  Incidents of missing from care are low but young people do not benefit from being seen by an independent person when they return to the home.

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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 education standard, children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure:-

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Requirement Due date

(i) help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans. 30/09/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  ensure each child has an independent return interview following every missing from care incident. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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Information about this children's home

The home is operated by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care for up to three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The provision of outdoor activities is a key feature of the service. Most young people are placed on an emergency basis following a placement breakdown and usually stay for about three months.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

21/05/2014 CH - Interim Improved effectiveness

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people living in the home are

Young people experience positive and constructive relationships with their carers. They receive supportive and helpful care at a time when they are experiencing significant change in their lives. The staff team create an environment where stable and successful placements are expected for all young people, irrespective of their circumstances or length of stay.

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people living in the home are

Young people usually arrive at the home in an emergency because of previous placements ending suddenly. Staff successfully help young people settle into routines and living arrangements that offer lots of opportunities to help them overcome recent difficulties. Because of this, young people are able to engage in a wide range of challenging outdoor activities that help them build confidence and self-control. They also gain a great sense of achievement and enjoyment through their outward-bound experiences.

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people living in the home are

Young people say that their experiences have been ‘terrific’ and ‘exciting.’ They experience a positive and inclusive approach to care and support that helps them engage in planning for their next placement. Staff place the health, safety and well-being of each young person at the centre of their daily practice. They demonstrate this clearly through the time they spend with each young person and the attention given to learn about their lives and experiences.

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people living in the home are

Staff use their developing relationships to positively influence attitudes and behaviours. Young people recognise how beneficial this has been in helping them move forward in their lives. They express pride in their achievements and how they have made progress since arriving at the home. Young people say, ‘I’m calmer now, I stop and think about things instead of just reacting’, ‘my behaviour is getting better’ and ‘I feel I’ve done well, I’m ready to move on.’

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people living in the home are

Young people are consistently and frequently involved in the planning and review of their care. They fully understand the temporary nature of their placement and the core aim of helping them and their social workers identify a more permanent home. They fully contribute to the assessment process that culminates in a written report being produced. This reflects their views about what they feel would be best for them in the future and how they should be looked after.

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people living in the home are

Young people’s educational and learning needs are met by the provision of a nationally recognised vocational award scheme, which is being continually developed. This offers all young people the opportunity to have their achievements formally recognised through an external awarding body. The programme is monitored and verified through the provider’s registered school. The flexibility of the programme means that young people can gain awards irrespective of their circumstances, how long it takes them or how small the learning steps may be. Some young people go on to gain instructor level qualifications in particular outward-bound disciplines. However, opportunities for young people to grow their awards portfolio dwindle the longer they stay at the home. This is because the vocational programme does not take account of young people who stay past the usual assessment period. Although still engaged in a range of purposeful activities

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people living in the home are

these are not necessarily underpinned by any further vocational assessments or awards.

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people living in the home are

Young people benefit from effective partnerships with families and other people in their lives to ensure important and close relationships are maintain and supported. This helps to combat any feelings of isolation because of living so far away from their home area. Staff pay particular attention to planning and organising positive family contact. They do this by listening to young people and family members in order to achieve arrangements that are appropriate and safe. Families who visit the home are welcomed and experience a positive an encouraging atmosphere in support of their visits. Where contact may sometimes be challenging or difficult staff are patient and understanding, they provide sensitive emotional support in these circumstances.

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people living in the home are

Young people benefit from opportunities to develop age appropriate life skills and knowledge. This supports their overall development and safely encourages self- reliance and responsibility. Such skills include self-care, preparing meals and managing relationships responsibly. Practical help, tailored to individual needs and circumstances encourages the growth of new skills, which effectively contributes to a young person’s personal development.

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people are helped and protected

Young people feel safe in the home and with the staff who look after them. Staff use established procedures and practices to help protect young people and promote their welfare. Detailed assessments are in place, which identify areas of individual risk and vulnerability. Staff use this information to shape their daily work with each young person which is also underpinned by child protection training for everyone. Consequently, staff know how to respond to allegations or suspicions of abuse or report concerns about an individual’s safety.

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people are helped and protected

Some young people who have significant histories of being missing from care are at less risk now. This is because staff create the right home environment where the need for young people to behave in this way has greatly reduced. On the few occasions when this has happened staff have acted quickly to gain a young person’s safe return home. They work in partnership with other agencies and use individual risk assessments to inform their practice and reporting procedures.

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people are helped and protected

When young people arrive back at the home, staff discuss these events to help determine future actions that may prevent further episodes from occurring. Currently, arrangements are not in place for young people to talk to someone who is independent of the home about being missing. The registered manager has requested information about this from placing authorities but is no further forward in terms of this task being carried out. Information is not being gathered from an independent source about these events. Consequently, approaches taken by the home to promote young people’s safety in this area are not complete.

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people are helped and protected

The staff team quickly embraces young people’s individual circumstances and behavioural needs. The short-term nature of their placements means that staff have to build effective relationships quickly. Staff successfully do this. Where young people continue to experience emotional and behavioural difficulties, they experience patient and consistent care. Young people are encourage and supported to behave well and say staff are fair when it comes to helping them manage their relationships and social interactions. Bullying is not tolerated and challenged quickly if it happens. Although formal sanctions are sometimes used for poor conduct, staff tend to focus on praise and rewards to encourage good or improving behaviour. As staff get to know young people, they are able to develop individualised approaches that effectively help to change more risky behaviours. The use of physical intervention is sometimes

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people are helped and protected

necessary but staff used their training and experience to minimise the use of this method of control. The registered manager closely monitors staff practice to ensure the appropriate use of agreed behaviour management strategies and approaches.

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people are helped and protected

The home provides young people with appropriate levels of physical safety and security. Safe outward-bound activities are delivered by qualified and trained staff who are well informed about the risks associated with each activity. This is achieved through an established risk assessment process that is overseen by the registered manager. Outdoor equipment is checked frequently by competent staff and regular audits take place to inform the manager of any replacement needs. The home continues to be licensed to provide a range of outdoor activities through its ongoing registration with the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority.

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people are helped and protected

Young people’s home environment is safe. Risk assessments are in place and reviewed regularly to ensure everyone is informed about the necessary measures needed to manage any health and safety concerns. Routine checks are undertaken on all fire safety equipment and everyone knows what to do if they need to evacuate the building as this is practised regularly. Young people's protection is further supported by safe recruitment, selection and vetting practices for all new staff. The home has a clearly defined system in place that ensures all necessary checks have been completed and that these are acceptable prior to any staff member starting work in the home.

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leaders and managers

Young people benefit from living in a well-managed home that is effectively and efficiently organised. They make good progress in compassion to their previous circumstances. Managers and staff are clear about the aims and objectives of the service, which are communicated effectively to placing social workers, young people and their families. This process is underpinned by an informative statement of purpose and young people's guide. Both documents have been enhanced by the production of short information films to improve the accessibility of information about what the home does. Every effort is made to ensure all young people and stakeholders have a full understanding of how the service operates and what can and should expected from the team.

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leaders and managers

The partially qualified staff team are very well informed about each young person and clearly understand their roles and responsibilities. Staff know who they are accountable to and what tasks and responsibilities are delegated to them. They feel well supported by the registered manager and seniors. There are effective support structures in place such as regular supervision that ensures continuing staff development and good quality practice. Day-to-day support is good as senior staff are always around to help and guide the team.

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leaders and managers

The staff team have access to a wide range of training and development opportunities and are positive about what is available to them. Staff training is monitored to ensure all mandatory and refresher training is completed within defined timescales. In addition, the staff team have access to a further range of more specialist training that relates directly to young people’s needs and the stated purpose and function of the service. The registered manager closely monitors staffing levels and adjusts these where necessary. This ensures that young people receive the right support and supervision that matches their needs and circumstances.

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leaders and managers

The home's quality assurance and monitoring systems have been developed and improved to take account of recent changes in regulation. This includes a range of management activities that draw together information about how well the home is operating in terms of meeting young people’s needs. Social workers, young people and staff are encouraged to express their views about the quality of care provided. Staff are continually encouraged to reflect on their practices and to discuss their effectiveness as individuals and as a group during team and management meetings. This practice is embedded into the routines of the home in support of problem solving and agreeing strategies to support each young person’s progress and achievement.

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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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