Children's Home run by Action for Children Services Ltd in Buckinghamshire

Requires improvement

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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because:

 Staff were unclear on the missing from home policy.  Staff have not received training regarding child sexual exploitation.  Not all physical interventions have been recorded.  There are no risk assessments in place for young people who have access to the internet.  It is not always clear what action staff have taken if there is a safeguarding concern.  Parts of the home are in need of redecoration.  Young people do not always complete feedback forms making it difficult for staff to evaluate their stay.  Young people are not regularly consulted on the running of the home.  The home has failed to notify Ofsted of some reportable incidents.  Weekly activity planners are not always completed.

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The children's home strengths

 Staff have built and maintained good relationships with young people and their families.  Staff have built and maintained positive relationships with education providers.  Young people have a wide variety of activities both in the home and in the community.  Young people are supported and encouraged to meet individual goals and targets.  Staff understand the importance of a good transition for young people and families.  There are comprehensive placement plans in place.  The manager understands the strengths and weaknesses of the home.

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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

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Requirement Due date

6. To meet the quality and purpose of care standard the registered person must ensure: (d) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. In particular ensure that they are maintained to a good homely standard. 30/11/15

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Requirement Due date

7. The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard

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Requirement Due date

7. In order to meet the views wishes and feelings standard the registered person must: (2)(a) ensure that staff— (ii) help each child to express his or her views, wishes and feelings; and (iv) regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care. 30/11/15

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Requirement Due date

11. To meet the positive relationship standard the registered person must ensure (2)(a) that staff: (xii) understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and (xiii) have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them. 14/11/15

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Requirement Due date

12. In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person must ensure (2)(a) that staff: understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. 14/11/15

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that the registered person notifies HMCI without delay of any relevant, serious event. (Regulation 40 (4)) 15/10/15

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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 given a choice about how their personal space is decorated. This is in relation to the personalisation of bedrooms. Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, Page 16, paragraph 3.19  The home’s staff should recognise and celebrate the achievements of their children. Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, Page 31, paragraph 6.7  Children who cannot or choose not to verbalise, have the right to have their views and feelings heard and respected in the same way as other children. Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, page 24, paragraph 4.24  Staff skills for safeguarding should include being able to identify signs that children may be at risk. This is in relation to young people using the internet. Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, page 43, paragraph 9.10

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Recommendations

 Children must be consulted regularly on their views about the home’s care, to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. Children should be able to see the results of their views being listened to and acted upon. Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, page 22, paragraph 4.11  

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Information about this children's home

This is a short breaks service run by a national charitable childcare organisation. The home accommodates up to eight children and young people with disabilities. The young people’s needs range from moderate to severe learning disabilities with associated physical, health and sensory impairment and/or complex multiple needs.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

25/03/2015 CH - Interim declined in effectiveness

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requires improvement

The young people have developed good relationships with staff that know and understand their needs. Young people arriving from school are welcomed into the home and asked about their day.

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requires improvement

Staff spend individual quality time with the young people. Some young people were observed painting whilst other were dancing to their favourite band and another was playing on the wii with staff; they seemed happy and relaxed. A parent commented ‘X loves coming here, he loves being outside and spending time in the sensory room.’ Another commented ‘X doesn’t need entertaining all the time, she likes down time and the staff really understand her.’

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requires improvement

The young people have planners which help them know when their planned activities are happening. However, these are not always completed meaning that staff and young people can be unclear as to what activity they will be doing when they arrive. A member of staff reported planners need to be completed with young people a few weeks in advance, so they know what they will be doing when they arrive or equipment got ready.

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requires improvement

Young people are supported and encouraged to complete a feedback form about their stay. This is in a visual communication form (PECS) to make it accessible to all young people; these are not always completed so staff cannot always evaluate the young people’s satisfaction with their stay.

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requires improvement

There are PECS boards around the home for young people to take to staff if they are worried or upset but it is unclear if young people know how to complain. An advocate visits the home but the manager reported that she does not get feedback from these visits.

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requires improvement

The staff have built good links with education providers, they attend school reviews and there are copies of these on file. A parent commented, ‘there is good communication between school and the home.’

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requires improvement

The young people are encouraged and supported with independence according to their age and ability, one young person is learning to wash her own hair and another has started to prepare a snack and drink, one parent commented, ‘X loves helping staff in the kitchen and helping to plan the menu.’

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requires improvement

Staff monitor young people’s achievements and complete ‘arrow’ charts which track progress. Staff assist young people to plan an activity when they have succeeded in reaching their individual targets; the manager reported she would like to have more emphasis on young people’s achievements and is looking at a celebration wall where certificates can be displayed so that young people can recognise their own and others achievements.

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requires improvement

Staff understand that transitions for young people can be difficult. They begin with tea visits, there is a meeting with parents and the social worker prior to overnight stays to make sure that everything is in place and parents are happy with the arrangements. Parents are asked to start completing the placement plan so staff have a good understanding of the young people’s needs, likes and dislikes enabling young people to settle.

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requires improvement

As part of the young people’s transition, they get to pick their own bedding and have the same bedroom during their stay. Bedrooms and bathrooms have recently been redecorated, but lack personalisation, some carpets are stained and need replacing. The hallway and dining room look tired and are in need of redecoration to give a homely and inviting environment for young people.

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requires improvement

Staff ensure that young people are placed in appropriate groups taking into account their age, ability and vulnerability. Staff will try to ensure that if there is a friendship at school young people have the opportunity to come in together. This enables them to form and maintain attachments with peers that are important to them. A parent commented ‘X has a friend who she likes to come in with, this is important to her and staff facilitate this’.

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requires improvement

The environment is safe, there is appropriate security on doors and windows, young people can access the garden, which is secure. Young people have personal emergency evacuation plans in place and a copy is by the front door in case of emergencies. A young person who had his first overnight did not have a completed personal emergency evacuation plan in place.

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requires improvement

All health and safety checks are up to date and staff complete fire evacuations with the young people. There are lockable cabinets in the bathroom where staff can keep spare gloves, hand washing liquid and toilet rolls so that they do not have to leave a young person in the bathroom. Staff say that there are no keys to these and they have to carry a small bag with them which they feel is institutionalised. They commented that the use of these cabinets could further safeguard young people as they would not need to be left in the bathroom at any time.

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requires improvement

Young people rarely go missing, there are emergency cards with young people’s details which staff take on activities to give to the police should a young person go missing. These give the police details of the young person including how best to approach them. Although staff were clear who to contact if a young person went missing, some were unclear on the homes policy and the paper work that should be completed.

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requires improvement

Risk assessments are comprehensive and also cover activities in the community. Staffing ratio is high which safeguards the young people. One parent commented, ‘I think this is a really good place, if I had any worries or concerns I know I could just pick up the phone’. Another commented ‘I have never had any concerns; I feel X is very safe there’.

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requires improvement

Young people have recently begun to bring I-Pads into the home. Staff monitor the young people when using these but there is no internet policy in place to inform staff how to safeguard young people and ensure they only use the internet safely.

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requires improvement

There are clear behaviour management plans in place for young people who display challenging behaviour. These have triggers and methods for defusing behaviours. Staff complete quarterly audits so they can map young people’s behaviours and amend plans if necessary.

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requires improvement

A safeguarding incident picked up during the inspection had not been reported in full to the social worker and Ofsted were not notified. Another incident had been reported to the social worker and a strategy meeting held, both social workers and parents were happy with the outcome, Ofsted had not been notified.

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requires improvement

There is a robust medication policy in place; staff have recently updated their medication training to ensure good practice.

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requires improvement

The home has good links with the local authority designated officer who commented ‘there are no concerns with the home, they report issues appropriately and the manager will follow up any actions recommended’.

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requires improvement

Recruitment is robust; all checks are completed before staff begin work. A record of these is kept in the home. Staff as part of the process will complete a tea visit, the manager will then ask young people and staff for feedback. Judgement grade

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requires improvement

The registered manager has been in post since November 2012 and has the relevant qualifications and experience to run the home.

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requires improvement

There are monitoring systems in place so that young people’s progress can be tracked; young people are also helped to complete a questionnaire before their review ensuring that their wishes and feelings are taken into account in this respect.

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requires improvement

Young people are asked for feedback during their stay, not all of these are completed so their views cannot be systematically utilised.

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requires improvement

Staff receive monthly supervision, and annual appraisals are on file. Staff spoken to said that they found supervision supportive. There are monthly staff meetings, young people and care practice are discussed to support staff in being able to give young people good experiences and keep them safe.

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requires improvement

Good concise placement plans are in place in line with the local authorities care plan, parents are asked to start to complete parts of these during transition enabling the staff to begin to complete risk assessments and get to know the young person. Some of the newer placement plans need to have more detail in order for staff to understand potential triggers or concerns.

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requires improvement

There are positive relationships between parents and staff; one parent commented ‘I have a good relationship with the home and I can phone if I need to.’ Another commented ‘there is good communication between us, I am confident that staff know about all her needs.’

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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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