Birch Cottage

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:

 The young people in this home are making good progress in all areas of their lives.  Education is a particular strength on the home. The young people are educated on site by an education coordinator and by staff. Their engagement in education from their starting points shows significant improvements.  There are a number of systems in place which support and reward young people for attendance and participation in education and this affects their attitude towards education and their engagement improves.  The home has developed strong relationships with partner agencies which help young people to keep safe. Some young people are at high risk of child sexual exploitation and robust plans are in place to address and reduce the risks posed to them.  Young people are educated about risk and plans are in place to support them to move on to be more independent in the community whilst maintaining their safety.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people benefit from positive contact arrangements with their families. The staff at the home work towards supporting young people and family members to have unsupervised contact where this is appropriate.  Parents report positive relationships with staff and good communication. They report being made welcome in the home and believe their child is getting the right support.  The home is decorated and furnished to a high standard. It is personalised with the young people’s art work and photographs and very much feels like a ‘home’.  The staff team is becoming increasingly skilled in delivering personalised care to young people. Newly recruited staff have benefitted the team by providing diversity and a different set of skills.  Staff feel supported in their role and speak positively of their supervisions and appraisals. They feel listened to and report that there is a culture of learning and developing within the organisation.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Management of the home is strong and the staff report that the manager ’leads by example’. The manager is aware of the home’s strengths and weaknesses and has a clear development plan in place to address any issues. The Statement of Purpose requires updating as there are some inaccuracies within it.

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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

6: The quality and purpose of care standard 6(2)(b)(i) Ensure that staff understand and apply the home's statement of purpose; specifically that staff are trained in the therapeutic approach cited in the statement of purpose. 10/07/2015

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard;12(2)(d) ensure that the premises used for the purpose of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards; specifically that window restrictors are fitted where there is an assessment that a young person requires these (or that they are removed where a young person’s risk assessment stipulates they do not require them). 10/07/2015

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Requirement Due date

16: Statement of purpose16(3)(a) the registered person must keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it 11/07/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  children should be supported to understand how to build friendships with other children. They should be able to spend time with their friends in the local community, in their home area, and by having friends visit them at the home, in line with the child’s plans, age and understanding. (The Guide 8.8)

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Recommendations

 children should be able to maintain and develop their cultural or religious beliefs as far as practicable and where appropriate. (The Guide 3.22) 

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Information about this children's home

The home is one of two owned by a private company. It is registered to accommodate four young people with emotional and behavioural problems. It offers emergency, medium and long term placements for young people.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

02/03/2015 CH - Interim improved effectiveness

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GOOD

The home provides a high quality of individualised care to young people that allows them to make good progress. From their starting points and from their previous experiences of care, the young people are making significant advancements in their development. One social worker said “They are doing a fantastic job……they’ve been really very good, very proactive”.

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GOOD

The quality of the relationships between the staff and young people is very high and relationships observed were warm and friendly. Staff support the young people to conform to what is required and expected of them in a calm and non- confrontational manner which gets the best out of the young people as well as preventing conflict and escalation.

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GOOD

As a result of the positive relationships with their keyworkers having a trusted adult is allowing the young people to develop positive attachments and trusting relationships. This adds to their sense of security and belonging and they really feel that the home is their home.

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GOOD

Young people benefit from the involvement of a range of professionals and agencies to ensure their holistic needs are met. They enjoy good health and the looked after children’s nurse has a positive relationship with them. They are supported to take some responsibility for their own health by being allowed to self - medicate and being supported to make their own health appointments, developing useful skills for their future independence.

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GOOD

The home employs a counsellor who works alongside staff to provide emotional support to the young people and who also provides advice and guidance to staff in ensuring they provide appropriate emotional support to young people. Although young people do not always elect to enter into formal counselling sessions they benefit from the therapeutic input which is part of their day to day activities. Where it is appropriate the home commissions specialist therapeutic input from private providers.

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GOOD

Education is a particular strength in this home with a very high level of participation evident. The young people benefit from having a variety of people deliver their education and having educational targets and expectations developed in line with their individual needs. As a result of this young people’s educational attainment has improved. Young people know how to make complaints and clearly have positive relationships with staff members who they could approach should they have any worries or concerns. Their views and wishes are gathered at regular young people’s meetings and through meaningful keyworker sessions.

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GOOD

There are a wide range of activities on offer to the young people who each have a weekly activity planner. Young people are fully consulted about the activities they wish to participate in, and the balance of activities shows a good mixture of healthy active activities, nurturing activities, personal preferences and special treats/rewards.

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GOOD

Young people are supported to learn independence skills at a pace that is suited to their needs. Young people attend a local college and work placement to assist them with the transition into more independent learning and work. This also serves to promote their social skills. One young person has very limited peer contact due to the risk levels and this is an area to be developed.

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GOOD

Staff are knowledgeable about the cultural needs of the young people, and culture and religion are addressed through PSHE. Further work could be done to support a young person with her cultural identity and a recommendation is made in this area.

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GOOD

Missing from home and the risk of Child Sexual Exploitation are identified as high risk factors for some young people. Although there have been some missing from home episodes, there has also been a co-ordinated and consistent approach to these, with staff being highly pro-active in trying to follow or locate young people when they go missing. Strategies have been implemented to reduce the number of missing episodes which include young people being allowed to go out for walks alone, but staying within sight of staff. A missing from home coordinator stated “the registered manager has put in place strategies to stop the girls from going missing and these seem to be working well at present”. At the time of the inspection young people had not been missing for seven weeks which for one young person in particular was a significant achievement.

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GOOD

A new recording system has been implemented regarding missing from home episodes following a monitoring inspection where missing records were found to be difficult to follow. This new system should allow for increased clarity in the chronological recording of events. Staff work hard to educate the young people in ways that they may be at risk and how to keep themselves safer or to reduce or minimize risks. Outside agencies have been brought in to do workshops with the young people to increase their awareness in certain areas.

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GOOD

One social worker commented “I had lots of questions about how they were going to keep her safe….they anticipate what she is going to do next and they put measures in place when they identify issues”.

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GOOD

Risk assessments are up to date and analyse the level of risk in a number of areas. The assessments are clear and easily accessible to staff. Managers are prepared to undertake risk assessments and facilitate strategies that enable young people to participate safely in activities that they would not previously have had access to. One example of this is a risk assessment which enabled a young person to have a sleepover at a friend’s’ house.

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GOOD

Behaviour is well managed. Staff are trained appropriately in physical intervention strategies but young people have not been subject to such interventions. Staff utilise their good relationships with young people alongside de-escalation techniques to avoid this where possible. Staff are clear that they would avoid the use of physical intervention because they did not feel it was the most effective or appropriate method of behaviour management. Sanctions are used at times and the effectiveness of these is properly reviewed, often followed up with staff discussion about appropriate and effective sanctions in team meetings. The home uses sensors to alert staff if young people exit their rooms or the building at night time, although on one occasion the young people had managed to de activate the sensors. This has been addressed to prevent further occurrence.

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GOOD

The home provides a safe physical environment for the young people. Some bedroom window restrictors have been removed and this is an area to be addressed, either by replacing the restrictors or re-evaluating their necessity for the young people.

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GOOD

Concerns and allegations against staff are thoroughly investigated and even if the allegation is not substantiated the young people’s views are taken into account. For example where young people have reported being uncomfortable with certain members of staff the staff have been moved to different homes which protects both the young person and the staff member and provides an opportunity for the concerns to be fully considered by the Registered Manager. Demonstrating that the opinions and views of young people are fully considered.

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GOOD

The selection and recruitment of staff is in line with policy and prevents any unsafe or unsuitable adults from working with young people.

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GOOD

All staff spoken to during the inspection were confident about safeguarding procedures and reported they had had sufficient training in this area. They were also able to identify the whistleblowing policy and reported that they would feel confident to whistleblow if they saw any practice that gave them cause for concern.

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GOOD

The home is led by a registered manager who has been in post for less than 12 months. He has suitable qualifications and experience for the post. Staff spoken to during the inspection reported feeling well supported in their role and believed strong leadership had resulted in the home making significant progress since the last full inspection.

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GOOD

Induction, training and supervision are all rated highly by staff who also report feeling that they are supported to learn and develop by the manager. The manager recognises strengths in members of staff and allocates specific tasks according to their identified talents. Team meetings evidence that staff are able to make suggestions and are encouraged to offer their views.

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GOOD

Record keeping is of a good standard and is kept under review with changes made to improve accuracy and detail where necessary. The records are up to date and clearly evidence targets and progress for young people. Policies and procedures are kept electronically and managers ensure that staff keep themselves updated to any changes.

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GOOD

There is a development plan in place for the home which clearly identifies areas for progress. The home generally works towards the aims and objectives set out in the statement of purpose, however, some deficits were identified in this document which need addressing therefore two requirements are made in this area.

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GOOD

Leaders and managers have a clear understanding of the needs of the young people and are knowledgeable about the progress they are making, they place great emphasis on ensuring that the young people’s needs are prioritised and that the care they receive is fully in line with their evolving needs.

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GOOD

Regular monitoring activity takes place which allows the manager to identify trends, strengths and weaknesses. There is evidence of effective action where areas for improvement are identified, an example of this being the home developing much stronger relationships with the local police following some concerns about the effectiveness of communication between the home and the police.

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GOOD

Positive relationships are developed between the home, families, placing and host authorities, independent reviewing officers, police and health to ensure that young people’s needs are fully met.

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GOOD

Three requirements and one recommendation were made at the previous inspection and these have all been met.

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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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