Children's Home run by Individual Specialist Care Limited in Sandwell

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:

 Relationships between staff and young people are positive and constructive.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Sessional work conducted by staff with young people is frequent and informed by issues that are current for the young person.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people enjoy access to a range of social, educational and recreational opportunities in and outside the home.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people have considerable health needs and these are managed sensitively by the staff team.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Behaviour is modified by encouragement and rewarding positive actions.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The care provided helps young people to develop a positive self-view and an ability to form and sustain attachments.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people state they are protected from harm. Staff work with other agencies to ensure that young people are protected.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff are trusted and listen to and act on what young people say.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff members manage the occasional conflict firmly and directly.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Robust vetting of newly recruited staff avoids the opportunity for harm to young people.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff are effectively supported by regular good quality supervision and team meetings.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 There are some shortfalls: consultation with local services about risk in the locality is not clear; staff training has been delayed too long, and the registered person does not evidence their monitoring of behavioural records.

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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

The registered person must ensure that all employees - (a) undertake appropriate continuing professional development. (Regulation 33(a)) 31/08/2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”) has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(b)(ii)(c)) 31/08/2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person when conducting the review (of premises). (Regulation 46(2)) 31/08/2015

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Information about this children's home

The home is run by a private provider and it provides accommodation for up to three young people who have learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

good

Relationships between staff and young people are positive and constructive. Both residents have been in placement without any new arrivals since late December. Young people’s disparate levels of functioning, socially and linguistically, occasionally leads to frustrations, but these are managed effectively by staff. As a result, both young people have learned to live together and understand each other better.

p.6

good

Sessional work conducted by staff with young people is frequent and informed by issues that are current for the young person. The work includes issues such as staying safe, expression of emotions and use of public transport. Staff encourage young people to attend their review meetings. Regular consultation meetings with the young people are well attended. Again, these meetings focus on issues raised by the young people themselves such as activities, menu preferences, transitions and readiness for relationships. Young people have their say and are listened to fully. Feedback to requests is provided immediately, wherever possible.

p.6

good

Young people’s opportunities to air their grievances formally and informally mean that they have not made any complaints about the standard of their care since the last inspection. The only complaint received has been from a neighbour about staff parking their cars locally. This issue was resolved with apologies in person and by letter. Staff now have alternative arrangements for their parking.

p.6

good

Neither of the young people receive a formal mainstream education. Staff at the home provide an informal life-skills based programme of education that equips the them to achieve practical domestic tasks that will offer a degree of independence as they approach adulthood. They enjoy access to a range of social, educational, and recreational opportunities in and outside the home. Although young people do not have interests and activities in common, they are each actively encouraged to pursue a diverse range of hobbies and pastimes that appeal to them as individuals, including painting, walking and mechanical work on cars.

p.6

good

Young people have considerable health needs. Arrangements for managing medication are safe and effective. Recently a serious illness required one resident to have a prolonged stay in hospital. Staff at the home visited regularly and worked closely with health staff to ensure the transition back to the home was safe and appropriate.

p.6

good

Managers are clear about the importance of arrivals and departures on the atmosphere within the home and continue to hold a place vacant pending the identification of a suitable placement that would be compatible with those young people currently resident. Staff members have been pro-active to ensure that arrangements are already underway to prepare young people for their transition to placements within their home authorities. Young people are getting accustomed to the transition with plenty of advance notice, supported by staff to reduce any associated anxiety.

p.6

good

Behaviour is modified by encouragement and rewarding positive actions. Sanctions are not applied as they are regarded by staff as perpetuating the original negative behaviours. Adult workers model good behaviours. Staff make young people aware of the expectations in relation to behaviour. A clear and meaningful reward system is in place. Young people respond to this approach and understand what is acceptable behaviour and what is not.

p.7

good

The care provided helps young people to develop a positive self-view and an ability to form and sustain attachments. Staff help each young person individually according to their assessed needs. Consequently, young people build emotional resilience and develop a sense of their own identity.

p.7

good

Young people state they are protected from harm. Staff work with other agencies to ensure that young people are protected. Regular and effective contact with the young persons’ families and their allocated social workers means that risks are assessed and minimised.

p.7

good

Staff are trusted and listen to and act on what young people say. The individual nature of the care and the high quality of the relationships with staff mean that young people have ample opportunities to express their views, wishes and preferences. The ways in which staff respond, makes young people feel listened to, supported and valued.

p.7

good

Young people are regularly and effectively the subject of risk assessments. Leaders and managers regularly review and act on any known risks to young people, taking advice and guidance from local partners and agencies. A community risk assessment is in place, but it is unclear from the recording which agencies have been invited to contribute to its creation.

p.7

good

The few episodes of missing from home since the last inspection have been efficiently and appropriately dealt with by staff members, who are aware of the importance of such incidents. The vulnerability of residents means that such episodes are dealt with urgently. Staff members manage the occasional conflict firmly and directly. Police are not required to maintain order in the home and as a result, young people are not criminalised.

p.7

good

Robust vetting of newly recruited staff avoids the opportunity for harm to young people. The staff and managers have good relationships with other agencies and professionals. Staff work effectively in accordance with the placing authority’s care plans. Consequently, young people are clear about what the plans are for their futures.

p.8

requires improvement

There is not a registered manager in post currently. The previous manager left at short notice in May 2015. A replacement has been appointed and is currently serving notice with her current employer. She is expected to start work at the home in August 2015. Since May, the deputy manager has maintained a level of continuity for the staff and young people by providing interim management cover.

p.8

requires improvement

Apart from the departure of the registered manager, the staff team has remained consistent since the last inspection. Each shift provides at least one-to-one staff to resident ratio. This means that the young people receive the individual attention and support that they require, throughout the day and night.

p.8

requires improvement

It is unfortunate that in a relatively young service that there has been a change of registered manager already. However, the deputy manager’s commitment to the service and to supporting staff has provided stability. Her good leadership has assured staff and young people alike of the continuity of the provision and the quality.

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requires improvement

Staff members undertake regular training; some of which is core mandatory training and some of which is identified in supervision sessions according to the needs of individual staff members. A training event is being delayed until the arrival of the new manager so that the whole team can receive the same messages in the same way at the same time. Although there are benefits to this approach, if staff were to acquire the specialist techniques in autism sooner, then young people would benefit from their increased skills sooner.

p.8

requires improvement

The quality of care is monitored and adapted. An example of this is the development in the care of one young person. Efforts to engage with him have had mixed success, but through this process of trial and review, the team have arrived at a process that works. The use of the Widgit language system and a visual representation of the week’s routine, means that the young person’s anxieties are reduced because now he has a better understanding of what is happening in the home. A formal quality of care review is expected in the coming weeks to reflect on how the home is developing.

p.8

requires improvement

Staff are effectively supported by regular good quality supervision and team meetings. Fortnightly team meetings led by the acting manager are well attended and cover a wide range of relevant issues. Such meetings aid consistency in team working and deliver a more unified standard of care to young people.

p.9

requires improvement

The provider has been prompt by recruiting to replace the outgoing registered manager. The Deputy Manager intends to study for her level 5 qualification following the end of her interim acting role as manager.

p.9

requires improvement

As the service establishes itself, there has been a conscious decision to hold one place vacant. This has enabled staff to concentrate more effectively on the support required by the current residents.

p.9

requires improvement

The statement of purpose clearly sets out the ethos and objectives of the home. The service operates from a large extended semi-detached house. It is located next to a busy junction of a dual carriageway and is close to amenities. The decorative state is good, clean and in parts, necessarily sparse, to meet residents’ needs not to be overstimulated.

p.9

requires improvement

Case records accurately reflect the everyday lives of the young people and the work that is undertaken with them. However, records on physical interventions are lacking some required detail of the manager’s scrutiny of such events.

p.9

requires improvement

The one statutory requirements arising from the previous inspection has been met in full. Supervision of staff is now regular and effective. Two of the three recommendations have also been addressed. As a result, formal consultation systems have been established with young people, parents, and stakeholders, and the young person's guide now includes the telephone number of the Children's Rights Director. The third recommendation, regarding training is not fully met and is the subject of a requirement for this inspection.

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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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