Children's Home run by Jamores Limited in Greenwich

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:

Quality and purpose of care.  Young people are making progress from their starting points, there is an expectation that young people will be engaged and staff are ambitious for them.  Managers understand the importance of stability and security for existing children and young people in the home and have a clear admissions and matching process in place.  The home is welcoming and has a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The staff are friendly and interactions with young people are observed to be positive.  Young people feel safe and are encouraged to engage in activities to keep them occupied. Clear boundaries are placed around them.  Work with children and their families are promoted to encourage positive relationships and some innovative ideas have been used to encourage progress.

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The children's home provision is good because:

Effective Leadership.  The home is effectively managed by a Registered Manager and two deputy managers, this ensures continuous cover including over the weekends.  Leaders and staff are working well with other agencies and professionals to progress positive outcomes for children and young people.  External monitoring of this home is effective and reports are provided to the regulator in a timely way. This has helped the current Registered Manager ensure appropriate planning is in place and issues are addressed quickly.  Leaders and staff are working pro-actively with the community to address concerns from neighbours; this has involved a neighbour’s forum and has included local councillors to facilitate this process.  Staff training and development is given high priority, staff are aware of the new quality standards and regulations and the Registered Manager has devised monthly summaries that reflect the quality standards.

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 Where there is a possibility that a child will run away or go missing from a children’s home placement, their placement plan should include a strategy to minimise this risk. If the child is looked-after, their care plan (arranged by their placing authority) should include such a strategy. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 45 paragraph, 9.24)

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Recommendations

 When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 45 paragraph, 9.30)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair and the above principles as set out in 9.35 are respected. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 46 paragraph, 9.36)

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Recommendations

 Where the registered person considers that a child is at serious risk of harm, such as being persistently missing from their placement, they must contact the local authority to request a review of the child’s care plan (regulation 14(2)(e). Local authorities must give serious consideration to such requests. Where a review does not take place, the Registered Person must escalate this concern under regulation 5 (engaging with the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met). (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 57 paragraph, 11.12)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20) The plan should:

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Recommendations

 Detail the process and timescales for supervision of practice (see regulation 33(4)(b)) and keep appropriate records for staff in the home. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 53 paragraph, 10.8)

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Recommendations

 Regulation 40(4) requires the registered person to notify Ofsted and other relevant persons if one of the situations specified in regulation 40(4)(a)-(d) occurs, or if there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living in the home which the registered person considers to be serious (40(4)(e)). The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 63 paragraph, 14.10)

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Information about this children's home

Shaw House’s unique reference number is SC459354. This is a privately run home which is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

16/03/2015 CH - Interim improved effectiveness

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good

There are currently two young people living in this home, who have been there respectively for two months and three months. They have both made positive progress, from their starting points despite their complex needs.

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good

Staff have worked hard to engage with the professional network and gain places for both young people to start at the pupil referral unit in September, which for one young person is a significant improvement, having been excluded from school previously. Liaison with the virtual school has secured home tuition for the other young person pending starting at the pupil referral unit in September. The staff are pushing for continued funding for tuition throughout the summer holidays to allow this young person to catch up and also to provide some structure during this time. The home also buys an online educational package which offers access to the national curriculum and is available to young people with support from staff, one of whom is a qualified tutor. There is an expectation to be involved in education and to establish a routine which helps develop young people’s sense of worth and creates positive self-esteem.

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good

Young people have a range of activities they can engage in. One younger resident struggled initially to take part in activities but has been encouraged to join a local snooker club and was observed playing out with local children in the community, with staff support. Friends that had been made in the local community were welcomed into the unit and this young person was invited back to play at his new friends home in the street. Given the age of other young people, they prefer to have more autonomy over activities and are provided with money for cinema and swimming provided they are engaged and completing basic chores such as tidying their rooms. There are regular meetings at the home to allow young people to make a positive contribution to how the home is run, to say what activities they want and what menus they will plan for the week.

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good

Young people enjoy good general health. Additional health services are sought where necessary with one young person being offered drug testing and counselling and another attending sessions with a psychologist and having a specialist asthma nurse. There are good links to the looked after children nurse who visits the home and offers health advice including on sexual health issues.

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good

Positive relationships are encouraged, for example one young person has regular weekly contact with family members at the home and his siblings and young uncle have been included in supervised activities. One parent told me how she felt her dignity and authority as a parent had been respected. She said, ‘to be honest Shaw House have been brilliant, they ask for advice, ideas and take on board what I say. X had stopped eating, so we got together and did a themed food chart, since then his eating has come on a lot.’

p.7

good

Young people have mixed views about their home but they got on well together and do not experience any bullying. One young person didn’t want to be in care but said he felt safe here and observations showed the development of strong relationships and trust forming with staff members. Young people know how to complain and are aware of networks of people around them whom they could trust to support them if they were worried.

p.8

good

Young people’s identity and individual needs are promoted by staff. There is a diverse staff team working at the home; however the home is striving to employ additional staff to ensure they reflect the identity of the current young people. There are no current religious needs expressed by the young people however staff say they would support religious needs for young people if required.

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good

There is a location assessment for this home. It is in a residential area and being a terraced property is in close proximity to neighbour’s homes. There are positives to this arrangement in that young people can enjoy living in a family-style house, in a Close where children and young people play out together and enjoy football, basketball and playing together. It also presents a challenge and has generated a number of complaints from neighbours about noise and disruption. On a number of occasions neighbours have felt it necessary to call the police for assistance. This has not assisted relationships between the home and the local community.

p.8

good

The Registered Manager and staff have taken a pro-active approach to this matter and have recently set up a neighbour’s forum. Local councillors also attended as did the local authorities anti-social behaviour team in an effort to facilitate more harmonious relationships. The home is doing what it can and is considering sound proofing in the home, but given the close proximity to one another, this is likely to be an ongoing feature for this home.

p.8

good

Young people feel safe in the home. Staff are confident in their knowledge of how to protect young people and a recent child protection allegation was appropriately dealt with via the safeguarding system.. Staff show good knowledge of potential symptoms of child exploitation and gang association and are confident about how they would protect young people if they are worried about concerns in this area. There are good networks with the local safeguarding board, the missing person’s team of the police and the local authority designated officer, all of which promote young people’s safety.

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good

Staff are appropriately checked which helps to safeguard vulnerable young people as far as possible and ensures applicants are safely vetted prior to working at the home. There is a visitor’s book and visitors are required to sign-in which ensures a record of who has been in the home.. There is a risk assessment in place for the erection of a summer house in the back garden and a plan to increase staffing during this time to ensure young people’s safety. This work will benefit young people once it is completed.

p.9

good

Restraint is used as a last resort for managing behaviour; however restraint has been used frequently with one young person. This is slowly reducing as boundaries are established. All staff are trained in restraint and de-escalation techniques and restraints are being clearly recorded. Debriefing and intervention has begun to work as this young person understands the consequences for negative and risky behaviours. Restraint records are completed and include the views of staff and young people; however there needs to be more rigorous oversight by the Registered Manager to ensure compliance with regulations.

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good

One young person was missing from home during the course of this inspection. All necessary safeguards were triggered to minimise risk. External risks when young people are missing are recognised and partnership working is present, with youth justice, police and the placing authority being invited to a review of this young person’s situation and the risks posed. There is a positive professional group around this young person who are trying to ensure safety, working to the runaway and missing from care and home protocol but managing this as realistically as possible by offering options and choices for the young person involved.

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good

There has been more police intervention at this home than the Registered Manager and staff would like, due to the neighbour situation, however there is no evidence to suggest that young people are being criminalised. Notifications of serious incidents have been made to the regulator, however on occasion these have not been timely and a recommendation is made to address this concern.

p.9

good

Staff know the young people well and have created a positive structure for them to keep them as settled as possible. Due to the high, complex needs of the young people the home has not admitted any further young people and has increased staffing to provide two staff support to one young person.

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good

Risk assessments on files are clear, using a traffic light system which is easy to understand and contains information as to what triggers behaviours, strategies to manage and reduce risks and what actions to take if situations escalate. These have been regularly reviewed and updated whilst behaviour has been unsettled.

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good

Adequate precautions are taken to prevent fires. Safety equipment is in place and there is evidence of regular and compliant checks and fire drills.

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good

The home is effectively and efficiently managed by a permanent Registered Manager who has suitable experience and is working towards achieving the recommended qualification. She has been in post since the home opened. The Registered Manager has other business interests and has made suitable arrangements for two deputy managers to be present during any absence. She has a vision for the service and understands the strengths and weaknesses well. A regular monitoring report is sent to Ofsted which keeps the regulator updated about what is going on. There is good external monitoring and reports are provided to the regulator in a timely way, which allows for understanding of the service provision and keeps Ofsted informed. The external person who provides the monthly reports has been constructive in identifying shortfalls which has helped the service to improve.

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good

The young people’s involvement in providing feedback about the quality of care in the home and the recruitment processes is less evident and staff are not yet engaging young people in this process. There is mixed evidence of young people being involved in their reviews and care plans. With one young person staff are not making robust enough challenge to the placing authority, although some challenge was evident.

p.10

good

Staff understand the plans for young people in the home and are driving plans forward on their behalf. Evidence of how the home measures progress is more difficult to find. The Registered Manager has adapted a system called ‘Outcome Star,’ from a housing model, which maps progress for young people and is about to begin a pilot of this in the home during the next six months. Young people’s files were up to date and contained the information necessary to keep them safe and record their time at this home.

p.10

good

There is a very experienced and well qualified staff team working at this home. Staff are expected to follow an induction programme which introduces them to the home, policies and basic safeguarding. All staff are being supported, however there are some gaps in supervisions which are not as regular as they could be, therefore a recommendation is made in relation to this. Staff say they get good training and development opportunities and are either working towards or have level three qualifications. Both deputy managers are working towards level five qualifications.

p.10

good

All the home’s policies were updated to reflect the new regulations and quality standards recently. The statement of purpose also reflects these changes and the staff changes that have occurred. The Children’s Guide includes useful information and makes it clear how to make contact with an independent advocate or Ofsted if required.

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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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