Children's Home run by Lincolnshire County Council in Lincolnshire

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:

 Young people report being happy and well cared for by the staff team in this home. From their starting points, they make very good progress in relation to their self-confidence, educational attendance and achievement, and increased maturity. Young people achieve well academically and have aspirations and goals for their futures.  Staff provide high quality support to young people and celebrate their achievements and successes. They provide highly personalised and individualised care at all times. This provides young people with a real sense of security and belonging. Young people feel listened to by staff and managers, and have a real and positive influence on how the home is run.  The staff team works closely and proactively with a range of involved agencies. This has led to noticeable improvements for young people in relation to their educational attendance and attainments. It also assists young people in relation to any concerning behaviours they may display.

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The children's home provision is good because:

Over time, young people learn about the consequences of their behaviours and actions. This is achieved by the consistent care, boundaries and support offered to them by the home staff, education, health, police and other professionals.  Staff feel very well supported by the registered manager in this home. They receive regular and good quality supervision and a range of training and development opportunities. As a result of this, staff develop their skills, confidence and competence. Young people benefit from being cared for by a very committed, skilled and competent staff team.  Incidents of young people going missing have reduced. This is in part attributable to the excellent working relationship the staff team has developed with local police. Staff, police and placing social workers work closely to prevent the criminalisation of young people wherever possible. Young people respond well to this coordinated approach and consider their

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The children's home provision is good because:

own actions and behaviours.  The registered manager is skilled and highly competent. She has ensured that all previous requirements have been fully met. She has clear and robust management oversight and monitoring systems in place. This increases the potential for all young people to succeed and to make good progress. There have been no shortfalls identified from this inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six young people. It is owned and run by the local authority. The home provides care and accommodation for young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/02/2015 Interim Declined Effectiveness

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Good

Young people form very close and positive attachments to staff during their time living in this home. Staff demonstrate real dedication to the young people in their care. One virtual school professional praised a member of staff stating: ‘They came into work on their day off to support a particular young person who had asked for them. This shows how much they care and want to be there for the young people. I cannot sing their praises high enough.’

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Good

Staff spend time listening to the young people and genuinely want them to succeed and be happy. Staff and young people routinely sit at the dining table to chat and discuss their wishes and feelings. They all share meals together, with the home having a real family feel to it. Young people state that they like the staff and can speak with them about any concerns they may have. Their successes are also celebrated and staff help them to set goals and meet them. One young person proudly spoke of overcoming a personal fear of enclosed spaces, through engaging in an outdoor pursuit activity during the summer holiday. Photographs of such events are on display in the home and young people clearly feel valued and proud of their personal achievements.

p.5

Good

Young people present as confident and know how to make a complaint or raise a concern. They have access to independent advocacy services, with information displayed on a noticeboard. The young people asked for the noticeboard to be erected and staff responded to this. They can easily access information on support services and agencies now. There have been no reported complaints since the last inspection. One young person stated: ‘There is always someone I can talk to, I like all of the staff and the manager and will go to them if I have any worries.’

p.5

Good

Young people have made excellent progress in relation to their educational attendance and attainments since moving to live at this home. For some, their previous attendance was very low. They have gone on to achieve good examination results and secured places at local further education colleges. This is due to the dedication and support provided by the staff team and also close working with education colleagues. Young people thrive through the consistent support and guidance they receive at home and in education. The staff team place great value on education, with positive feedback from virtual school staff. One education coordinator stated: ‘The emotional and academic progress made by one particular young person is some of the best I have seen in the nine years I have been at this school.’ Education colleagues praise the staff team at the home for attending all relevant meetings and parents’ evenings. Young people learn to see the value of education

p.5

Good

through this support and feel motivated to achieve and set goals for their futures. Young people have asked for internet access in the home, which the registered manager is addressing. This shows that young people have a voice and that their wishes and feelings matter and are responded to.

p.6

Good

Young people learn skills to assist them in their eventual move to independence. They take part in chores around the house and learn how to cook and wash their own clothes. Staff demonstrate a commitment to enabling young people to learn new skills, to take age-appropriate risks and to consider the reality of moving on. Staff work closely with placing social workers to ensure that young people’s transitions to adult services take place in a timely and well-planned manner. One social worker praised the staff for their work: ‘One particular member of staff has done some amazing life story work with a young person. This is really helping them to make sense of their past and will be invaluable for them as they get ready to move on.’

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Good

Young people enjoy good health, with staff ensuring that their holistic health needs are well met. The staff team has forged close and positive working relationships with a range of health professionals and agencies in the local area. They demonstrate a real commitment to ensuring that young people receive the help they need in a timely manner. Staff will and do challenge any perceived or actual failing by other agencies in providing the services young people need. Records for each young person reflect clearly how their specific health needs will be met. Staff have also attended training in specific areas, to ensure that they have the necessary skills to support young people with identified health needs.

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Good

There is real and positive focus by the entire staff team to assist young people to consider any concerning or risk-taking behaviours they display. Staff and managers work very closely with police and local youth offending services to consider young people’s specific needs. The local police officer regularly visits the home to meet with young people informally and has had meals with them. She discusses any concerning behaviours with them and enables them to consider their actions and possible consequences. She stated: ‘The staff work really well with the local police, we all try hard not to criminalise young people. The manager has also been to the police station to meet with my colleagues and discuss how we can work effectively together. I attend review meetings and monthly risk assessment management meetings with the home staff, social workers and education colleagues.’

p.6

Good

Young people enjoy regular contact with family members and others. This increases their sense of value and belonging. One placing social worker praised the staff team for how well they work with parents, to build positive contact and support young people to understand the reasons for them being in care. A parent stated: ‘I have really valued the support the staff and manager have given, not only to my child, but to me and the rest of the family. We feel very involved and included in the care provided.’

p.6

Good

Young people live in a safe and well-maintained environment. There is clear evidence of concerning behaviours for some young people reducing. Detailed risk assessments and plans reflect the current and changing needs of each young person. Staff use incentives and rewards to encourage young people to consider and address any concerning behaviours they may display. The registered manager monitors and tracks the progress made by each young person and is able to evidence the positive improvements made by them over time.

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Good

The home has clear systems for considering and addressing any bullying behaviours by young people to others. Direct work is undertaken with both parties to eradicate such behaviours. Young people learn that such behaviours will not be tolerated and how to act in more acceptable and tolerant ways with each other. Such proactive work is also supported by the regular young people’s meetings which take place. Young people discuss with staff any concerns they have and staff appropriately challenge them about their behaviours and the impact on others. This promotes a real sense of respect between young people and staff.

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Good

Staff clearly know and respond to any identified risks. Risk assessment management meetings take place every month for each young person. A team around the child approach ensures that any known or potential concerns are considered and clear action plans set to address and respond by all involved agencies. Staff and managers work closely with police to minimise the potential for young people to become involved in the criminal justice system. Imaginative practices are considered and used as alternative methods to criminalising young people. An example of this related to a young person being involved in fund raising and charity events, to assist them in considering the impact of their behaviour on others. This reflects the ethos of the staff team, in enabling young people to consider their actions and in becoming a valued member of their local community.

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Good

There have been very few incidents of young people going missing from this home since the last inspection. Missing person profiles are completed for each young person and clear and detailed risk assessments reflect their current and changing needs. Staff present as confident and highly competent in their response to any potential or actual missing from care incidents. They routinely go out into the local community to search for young people, and make contact with all known associates before calling the police. A local police officer praised the staff team for their response to any unauthorised or missing from care incidents. She stated: ‘The staff do all they can to try and find a young person before calling us and work closely with us during their period of absence from the home. They never make inappropriate calls to the police and follow protocols very well.’

p.7

Good

The local authority has commissioned the services of a charitable organisation to undertake return interviews for those young people who have been reported as missing. This provides them with an opportunity to discuss the reasons for going missing with someone independent of the staff team. The registered manager monitors and tracks all incidents and considers any patterns or trends which may arise. The monthly risk assessment management meetings then consider the known and potential risks for each young person, leading to amendments to risk assessments being made. This ensures that the risks to each young person are known and considered on a very regular basis.

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Good

The selection and recruitment of staff to this home are robust and prevent unsuitable adults from having the opportunity of working with vulnerable young people. The administrative support person for the home has detailed and clear systems to monitor all checks during the recruitment stage. The local authority also uses a ‘champion’ system, where a manager from outside of the home verifies and checks all documentation prior to new staff starting. This further provides security for young people in relation to staff.

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Good

Staff undertake regular training in relation to safeguarding and child protection matters. Those spoken with during this inspection presented as very confident and competent in the identification and response to any disclosures or allegations which young people may make to them. Young people have not raised any allegations or concerns in relation to staff since the last inspection.

p.8

Good

A very efficient and effective registered manager runs the home. She has the skills, knowledge and experience necessary to perform the role. Since the last inspection, staffing vacancies have all been appointed to. Staff report high levels of satisfaction in their roles and in the support they receive. They feel valued by managers and receive good quality supervision and training opportunities. This leads to young people receiving care and support from a highly motivated and competent team of staff. This has led to noticeable improvements for young people in all areas of their lives since the last inspection.

p.8

Good

There is a real learning culture within this home. Some staff started their time working in the home as social work students, and continued working at the home at the end of their placements. One member of staff is now embarking on the practice educator training, in order to be able to support future social work students on placements in the home. Senior residential care staff are all undertaking management training. The staff team has also been actively involved in using specific models of support and practice with young people, supported by a suitably qualified person. All of these initiatives have led to a highly motivated and skilled workforce in this home. Staff feel they have development and career opportunities. They also can see the value and improved outcomes for young people in relation to the new theoretical and practice models they have adopted.

p.8

Good

Young people fully understand the methods used by staff to assist them, and report feeling that it has helped them to overcome fears, anxieties and to increase in confidence. Young people work closely with staff to consider and reflect on their needs and concerns and set plans to address them. An example of this relates to a series of activities undertaken with young people during the recent summer holidays. Activities were devised and agreed with young people to consider personal targets and challenges. The registered manager took part in an activity with a young person, to overcome the manager’s fear of heights. The young person supported the manager in this activity and reported how positive they felt about their role. This promotes a shared experience and enables young people and staff to work closely and proactively together to overcome issues in a very supportive manner. One young person stated that they felt much closer to the staff

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Good

and manager as a result of these activities.

p.9

Good

Staff and managers work closely with a range of other agencies to improve the experiences and progress made by each young person. Education, social care and local police all praise the staff team for their commitment to working as a team around the child. Consistent care and approaches to each young person has resulted in them making good progress in relation to their education, health and concerning behaviours. This increases young people’s chances of making a successful transition from this home to independence.

p.9

Good

At the last inspection, six requirements were made, all of which have been fully met. Young people feel and are actively consulted with about all aspects of the care and support they receive. They have a strong and positive influence on how the home is run. Bullying systems and work have been addressed and provide a robust response now to any concerns for young people. The independent visitor now ensures that they consult with young people, parents and others involved in their care during their monthly visits. Management monitoring reports have been sent in to Ofsted at the required timescales. All relevant incidents have been notified to Ofsted in a timely and appropriate manner. Staffing levels reflect the needs of the young people placed and all staff have now completed their restraint training. This ensures that staff have the necessary skills and competence in their roles.

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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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