Children's Home run by Westgate Lifestyle Project Limited in Hounslow

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:

 Managers have a clear vision for the development of the home. They have acted upon the previous inspection’s recommendations and have put an improvement plan in place.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The home is focused on developing young people’s semi-independence skills. Key work focuses on the benefits of engaging in education and developing cooking and budgeting skills. Young people respond well to this.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 There is a genuine family atmosphere in this home. Young people feel comfortable and well cared for. They enjoy positive relationships with staff. They make progress. Staff have a good understanding of young people’s behaviour and work as a unified team to develop strategies to enable young people to progress.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people respond well to the behavioural management scheme. This offers clear incentives to respect the house rules and engage in education and key work. Staff work hard to ensure that sanctions are used consistently and young people benefit from this.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Admissions to the home are rigorously controlled by managers. Risk assessments are thorough and consider the impact on those already in the home. This helps to ensure the stability of the home.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Safe contact with friends and family is prioritised. Family members are regular visitors to the home and staff ensure that they are consulted and updated with regards to young people’s progress.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people do not go missing from the home. They engage well with keep- safe key work sessions and keep in touch with staff when they are outside of the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33(4)(c)) 2 October

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Recommendation Due date

The evaluation of missing incidents should be undertaken to identify any gaps in training, skills or knowledge for staff or to record and retain evidence of what worked well. This evaluation should inform the review of the quality of care. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, pages 45 and 46, paragraph 9.31) 2 October

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Recommendation Due date

Children should have access to computer and the internet to support their education and learning, unless there are specific safeguarding reasons why this would be in appropriate. In such cases the home should consider whether it can support the child to access a computer and the internet safely. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 29, paragraph 5.19) 2 October

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Recommendation Due date

The registered person is responsible for leading a team which provides high quality care for all children living in the home. They should also play a key role in shaping the ethos of the home through developing a culture of high aspiration for children which is demonstrated through the care, resources and opportunities offered to the children. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 52, paragraph 10.4) 2 October

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Recommendation Due date

It is good practice for a note of the content and/or outcomes of supervision sessions to be kept and to ensure that both the person giving supervision and staff member have a copy of the record. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 61, paragraph 13.4) 2 October All children must have access to appropriate advocacy support and where possible this should be provided by a person that the child chooses. Looked-after children are entitled to an independent advocate to advise them and ensure that they have the support to express their views, wishes and feelings and their care and lives. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 23, paragraph 4.16) 2 October

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Information about this children's home

 This children's home is registered to care for up to four young people. The home is owned and operated by a private provider.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

13/02/2015 Interim declined in effectiveness

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good

Young people are happy and settled in the home. They each make progress from their individual starting points. Young people thrive on the support and structure that staff offer. They enjoy individualised care plans and staff consistently prioritise their needs.

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good

Staff use strong visual aids such as time lines to allow young people to plot their own progress and focus on future goals and achievements. Young people are proud to show their achievements to friends and family.

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good

The home is specially focused on preparing young males for semi-independence. Young people feel a common sense of purpose and encourage each other to achieve their respective goals.

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good

Young people successfully move on from the home. One professional commented, ‘They really stuck with him, through thick and thin and finally gave him the skills he needs to succeed.’

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good

Previous residents who have successfully moved on to live in the community return to visit the home. These visits act as a source of mentoring support and guidance to young people living in the home.

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good

Attendance and engagement with education is prioritised in the home. Key workers use the provision of bursary money, free travel and the behavioural management system to promote the importance of education. When young people refuse to attend education, staff continue to be proactive and supportive in seeking alternate provision.

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good

A strong focus is placed upon building self-confidence and self-esteem prior to seeking alternative education provision. A positive example of educational progress is that one young person recently completed GCSE examinations in maths and English after a six year absence from mainstream education. This is huge achievement for him and a source of admiration for his peers.

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good

Safe contact with family and friends is prioritised. Young people are proud to bring their friends to the home. On special occasions, family members visit the home to enjoy meals that young people have prepared for them. This has helped re- establish broken relationships and will be of great use to young people when moving on from the home. Key workers regularly update families on the progress of their children. One parent commented ‘I know my son is alright because I get phoned by staff and he tells me that they look after him well.’ Family members are able to suggest behavioural management techniques to staff and help to implement these. This ensures that there is consistent approach to care from both the staff and families.

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good

Young people do not go missing from this home and enjoy authorised overnight contact with friends outside of the London area. They are encouraged to keep in regular phone contact with staff and behave in a safe and responsible manner.

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good

Young people trust keyworkers and introduce them to friends and family. This enables risk assessments to be completed for overnight stays which may then be agreed by the local authority. This increases the level of co-operation between staff and young people.

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Good

Behaviour is good and there is no use of restraint. Young people report, ‘We trust staff because they do what they say.’ Staff use their strong relationships with young people and good verbal skills to challenge poor behaviour.

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Good

The behavioural management scheme works and is consistently applied by the staff group with the full support of managers. When sanctions are imposed they are enforced one day later; this allows young people to fully reflect on their behaviour and strategies to avoid a repeat.

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Good

Young people are able to earn extra money by completing household chores such sweeping the front garden. Each week, key workers produce planners for young people. These planners offer simple, achievable tasks which are linked to the care plan. Successful completion of the week’s tasks is promoted by a financial incentive for young people.

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Good

A family atmosphere is encouraged by communal areas being left open and staff offering trust and support to young people. One commented, ‘It doesn’t feel like a care home, it feels like one big family.’

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Good

Risk assessments and care plans are robust and reviewed on a regular basis. Each young person is risk assessed four weeks following their arrival in the home. This is completed with the young person’s full knowledge and consultation. Consequently young people understand the purpose of key work and the outcome that it intends to achieve. Young people feel that an initial period of four weeks allows them to settle in home and not to be judged on previous behaviour. Risk assessments are reviewed every three months by managers and staff. Managers ensure that these assessments focus on specific areas of concern such as social skills and personal safety.

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Good

Key workers are matched to young people following the initial assessment of four weeks. This ensures that the relationship is established and is dependent on the wishes and feelings of the young person concerned. Key work is regular and planned.

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Good

Case records show that staff engage young people in a variety of activities such as shopping, food preparation and attending the local gym. Staff are presently compiling a list of folder of activities available to young people in the home. Young people will discuss their choice of activity at the weekly resident’s meetings.

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Good

The use of CCTV is not obtrusive in the home. It is reviewed only when required and was recently used to clear young people of any involvement in an offence committed near to their home. Young people feel safe and are reassured by this.

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Good

Young people are able to obtain advances on their weekly financial allowance. This is achieved in conjunction with their keyworkers and subject to good behaviour and a specific payment plan. This promotes good financial planning, the development of negotiation skills and the benefits of working in partnership with staff.

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Good

There is a strong focus on planning for young people’s semi-independence. For example, all allowances and financial rewards are paid directly into young people’s bank accounts. Key workers plan meals and expenditure each week. This has helped to reduce cannabis use in one case, as the young person has preferred to save money for moped lessons. This proved an example to other residents and a source of great pride and self-esteem for the young person concerned.

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Good

Young people do not have access to independent advocacy support in the home. This means that they are not fully supported with difficult decisions to be made with regards to moving on from the home.

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Good

Young people enjoy safe access to the internet. A security device or ‘fire wall’ restricts all access from inappropriate material. Attendance at school is encouraged as the internet is restricted during school hours.

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Good

A new computer to assist young people with school work is due to be provided by the home in time for the new school term in September.

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good

The Registered Manager is the home’s owner and has been in post for fifteen years. She is currently completing a level 5 management award. She is passionate and committed to achieving for the young people in her care. One professional described her as, ‘A conscientious and driven person, who really cares, she never gives up on young people.’

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good

The Registered Manager is an important presence in the home and a source of support for both staff and young people. She adopts an ‘open door’ policy. Young people view her as ‘a mother figure and someone to look up to’. She values the importance of retaining staff by developing their skills and providing a source of consistency for young people. She describes her main focus as ‘allowing staff to understand young people and getting young people to think about changing their behaviour’.

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good

Admissions to the home are strongly controlled by managers. This ensures that young people are kept safe in their home and that behaviour remains good. Referrals are prioritised from the local area to promote the possibility of safe family contact and more appropriate permanent housing upon discharge from the home.

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good

When a referral is received, managers consult with young people to minimise the possibility of confrontation as a result of previous associations or gang affiliation. This ensures young people are consulted and provides stability in the home.

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good

Managers have addressed the shortfalls identified at the previous inspection. A programme of decorating has improved the physical appearance of the home. A formal programme of staff training has been introduced. Staff report that the training is ‘great and really helps me think about why children behave in the way they do’. This has helped improve staff retention and consistency for young people.

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good

Managers have accepted the recommendations of this inspection and are anxious to develop and improve the home. Statistics with regards to recording episodes of young people’s behaviour when they are missing are not recorded properly. These statistics need to reflect the pattern of missing behaviour for all of the young people together and not on an individual basis.

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good

Case files show regular management audit. This means that managers have a clear idea of the needs and issues affecting young people in the home.

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good

Managers are presently developing a new assessment tool for semi-independent planning and the provision of life story work in the home. There is a strong permanent staff team in this home. Presently there is no use of agency staff and there are two ‘bank’ staff well known to young people.

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good

Staff access regular training. They report that ‘supervision is great and a time to sort things out’. Alternate supervision sessions are provided by an independent person; this offers staff an opportunity to discuss issues safely away from the home. However, some of these supervision sessions and staff appraisals are not being recorded in a timely way. Managers are taking steps to address this.

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good

Recruitment practices are robust. All staff have up-to-date checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service and all references are verified prior to any person starting work in the home. This ensures that unsuitable persons do not gain easy access to the home.

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good

The home is a safe environment. Fire drills are undertaken on a regular basis, as are fire tests. Safety checks on fire, gas and electrical equipment are regularly completed.

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good

Managers have established positive working relationships with professionals outside of the home. They access advice and guidance on education and activity planning through local specialist services.

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good

There is an established link with the local authority for consultation on specialist issues such as child sexual exploitation. The local community police officer is a regular visitor to the home and reports, ‘The home works really well to safeguard young people, they achieve great things.’

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good

Managers attend a local forum for sharing ideas on the development of practice and seek regular advice on risk management from the local youth offending team. This ensures that there is comprehensive understanding of the issues affecting young people in the local area.

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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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