Children's Home, Residential special school run by Kedleston (High Peak School) Limited in Cheshire East

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.2

The children's home provision is good because:

 This home has established a sensitive and gradual admission process so young people settle quickly. Staff provide a particularly nurturing environment.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff place the well-being of individual young people at the centre of their practice, irrespective of the significant challenges they may present.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff have excellent successes in encouraging young people who have previously been excluded from educational provisions back into full time education and securing their excellent attendance thereafter.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Robust daily handovers ensure consistent care in school and within the children’s home.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff and young people benefit from the expertise of a qualified nurse on site and direct access to a therapeutic team.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 There is a high standard of accommodation and excellent facilities on site. These include en-suite bedrooms, extensive grounds, a full sized swimming pool, tennis courts and a gym. In addition, young people are offered a wide range of constructive activities to take part in both inside the home and in the local community.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff have successfully helped young people to re-establish and maintain constructive contact with their families which promote their unique identities.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff team are highly skilled at securing good partnership working with families, who feel involved in the care planning around their child and feel that their views are listened to and respected.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Some young people who were frequently going missing prior to admission have not even attempted to run away from this home.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

There are six areas for improvement. These are to ensure: consistently robust internal and external monitoring processes; timely independent interviews with young people on their return from going missing; timely dental checks; high quality records in general and more specifically in relation to sanctions.

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

To meet the health and well-being standard the registered person must ensure that each child has access to regular dental appointments, advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10(c)) 30/11/2015

p.4

Requirement Due date

Ensure that within 24 hours of any measure of control being used, the duration is detailed and it’s effectiveness is evaluated and recorded and within five days the child’s views have been ascertained and recorded. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(iv) and (vii) and (3)(c)) 31/10/2015

p.4

Requirement Due date

Ensure that the quality of care review report includes the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff and a copy is forwarded to Ofsted within 28 days of the date on which it was completed. (Regulation 45(4)(a) and (5)) 31/12/2015

p.4

Recommendations

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

p.4

Recommendations

 Ensure when a young person returns to the home after going missing that they have the opportunity for an independent return interview. The home should then take account of the information provided by such interviews when re-assessing risks and putting any new arrangements in place to protect the young person. (The Guide, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

p.4

Recommendations

 Demonstrate that the monthly monitoring visits by an independent person are robust and impartial assessments of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the young people in the home’s care (The Guide, page 65, paragraph 15.5)  All staff should understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff must always record information about children in a non- stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third party information and is recorded in a way that is helpful to the child. (The Guide, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

p.4

Information about this children's home

This is a private children’s home registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 28 children and young people who may be experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is part of a company that also provides a school on the same site for day pupils and the residential young people.

p.6

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.6

Recent inspection history

30/01/2015 Registration visit Registered

p.6

good

Young people, families and social workers all highlight the sensitive and gradual admission processes in place at this home which enables young people to settle in very quickly. One young person said, I’m happy here and feel safe. As soon as you arrive, staff make you feel at home’.

p.7

good

All the young people are happy and settled at this home and are developing a strong sense of belonging. They benefit from being well cared for by a relatively stable staff team who know their individual needs and nuances extremely well. They actively listen to them and show genuine interests in their experiences at school, family contact or after activities in the community. One young person’s succinct comments accurately reflect those expressed by all the others, ‘It’s good here. I like everything about it, the activities, the food, the staff and the other young people.’

p.7

good

One young person recently discharged turned his life around in this placement. Prior to admission he was not in education, frequently going missing and getting involved in gang and drug cultures. In sharp contrast, while living at this home, he was up and ready every morning at six to attend his work experience, applied to go to college, visited his Nan every Saturday and volunteered at a food bank.

p.7

good

Young people's wishes and feelings are central to the day-to-day running of the home. All reasonable requests are positively responded to if it is in their best interests. This reinforces the fact that their opinions genuinely matter, which in turn demonstrably increases their self-esteem and confidence.

p.7

good

Staff have successfully ensured that estranged family relationships have been re- established and support ongoing constructive contact. This helps young people to better understand their backgrounds and maintain their unique identities. In fact, staff supported increased overnight stays for one young person to realise his wish to live permanently with his family. One young person said, ‘I really like it here because my family can visit me and we spend time in the pool together.’

p.7

good

Young people previously disengaged with education now have 100% attendance. They also have positive future ambitions. They all attend the company’s school which is on the same site as this children’s home. Robust daily handovers between education and care staff ensures consistent care and support both in school and within the children’s home. Monthly education reports detail progress made on each pupil’s individual targets. One social worker highlighted, ‘In the past my young person would not even enter a classroom. Here, he is going to school every day, looking very smart in a full uniform and is engaging well. This is excellent because he has the academic ability to achieve good results.’

p.7

good

There has been a marked improvement in personal hygiene for some young people at this home which in turn increases self-esteem and confidence. One young person is responding well to the bedtime routines established and is benefitting from improved sleep patterns.

p.8

good

Staff are also sensitively educating all the young people about healthy eating. They now enjoy suitably portioned homemade, nutritious meals and take part in lots of physical exercise. One young person is noticeably trying a much wider range of fruits and vegetables. Two young people particularly enjoy swimming and cycling together. One said, ‘I can keep physically fit here which is great because I want to go in the army.’

p.8

good

There are no current concerns in respect to the misuse of drugs or alcohol. None of the young people smoke. This is outstanding progress given some of their histories. One young person said, ‘I have not smoked one cigarette here even though I used to smoke 30 a day and I have stopped drinking and taking drugs.’

p.8

good

Consequently young people are physically and emotionally healthier. One social worker said, ‘My young person looks so much happier in himself.’

p.8

good

The staff and young people benefit from the expertise of a qualified nurse on site and direct access to the company’s therapeutic team. However, not all the young people have attended timely dental checks to monitor their progress and identify any treatment required.

p.8

good

A key strength of this home is the wide range and frequency of constructive activities young people can take part in both inside the home and within the community. Examples on site include various arts and crafts, chess, gardening, model making, computers, swimming, board games, cookery, hair and beauty, cycling, radio controlled cars and a small pets club.

p.8

good

Young people enjoy each other’s company so are happy to take part in group activities. Over the summer holidays, for example, they had a caravan holiday together and visited a sea life centre, a museum and a donkey sanctuary. Comments from young people include, ‘I have done lots of fun things here like the lazer quest, skate park and crazy golf’, ‘I loved my trip to a farm. Our holiday was great. I really liked going to the disco on the caravan site and being able to stay up late’ and, ‘I enjoy the theme nights trying out different foods and decorating the house.’

p.8

good

Some young people are now active members of local organisations and have made friends outside of the children’s home. This serves to significantly strengthen their sense of belonging.

p.9

good

Individual interests and talents are actively encouraged and supported which further develops their competencies and confidences. One young person is a very talented footballer and plays for a local team and was thrilled to recently win, ‘Man of the match.’ He loves staff watching him which demonstrates the excellent relationships established. Other examples include, baking, art and equestrian care. One young person said ‘I organised a dance and comedy performance for everyone.’ Another young person recently discharged particularly liked drama and was supported to join a local club.

p.9

good

This home and the company’s school are both decorated and furnished to a high standard and offer excellent facilities including a swimming pool, gym, tennis courts, extensive grounds, and highly personalised en-suite bedrooms. Consequently, young people are very proud to show visitors round. One social worker said, ‘This is fantastic accommodation and so homely.’ A family member said, ‘I was very impressed. His bedroom is lovely with an en-suite, a duvet of his favourite football team, family photos and his artwork on the walls.’

p.9

good

This home offers all the young people age and ability appropriate opportunities to learn the practical, emotional and social skills necessary for future successful independent living. They all help with household chores and some like to go with staff to do the weekly food shop. Over the summer two young people enthusiastically got involved in painting the gazebo providing a private outdoor space for them to ‘chill out’ together.

p.9

good

The current group particularly enjoy baking and recently held their own ‘bake off’ competition. The results were excellent. They also enjoyed a long walk in the countryside, picked blackberries then made their own pies.

p.9

good

Feedback on the quality of care provided in this home and the progress young people are making from their individual starting points is consistently positive. Recent comments from families include, ‘I am happy with the care and education provided and I am kept well informed of my child’s progress’ and, ‘Everything about him is different. He is enthusiastic again. He likes the staff and feels he can settle there long term. He loves the pool and gym and is enjoying his art again. He is back to the lovely nephew I once knew.’

p.9

good

This home provides a particularly nurturing environment. All the young people feel safe and enjoy good relationships with the staff and their peers. They are noticeably very relaxed in the company of staff and share mutually respectful banter. Moreover, they all have at least one adult who they feel comfortable enough to share more intimate concerns with. This means they now feel secure enough to discuss, rather than always act out, their intense feelings and emotions. Consequently, there are longer periods between extreme challenging behaviours. One parent said, ‘We are happy with the care our daughter is receiving and this is the calmest we have seen her in a long time.’ One member of staff reflected, ‘It’s a lot more settled here. I have worked here from day one and it has been very challenging at times but we seem to have come out the other end.’

p.10

good

Staff benefit from the expertise of a therapeutic team who will undertake a thorough cognitive assessment of individual young people’s emotional needs and offer strategies and ongoing support to meet them.

p.10

good

At one point there were three young people living in three different homes albeit on the same site, due to risks at that time. All four young people are now living together which has created a more homely atmosphere and is enabling positive relationships to be strengthened. This also gives staff more opportunities to work together and to build on individual strengths in meeting young people’s highly complex and diverse needs. This team have built up a particular expertise in appropriately managing self-injurious behaviours.

p.10

good

This staff team is also highly skilled at securing good partnership working with families which in turn positively promotes young people’s sense of identity. Families confirm that they genuinely feel involved in the care planning around their child and that their views are listened to and respected.

p.10

good

There is good evidence of young people regularly discussing and agreeing house rules and always after a new admission. These include the importance of demonstrating respect for each other, exploring definitions and consequences of bullying, and the challenges and benefits of living together. To their credit, young people are particularly welcoming when a new person is admitted. Moreover, one older young person is proving to be a positive role model for the younger ones. This is exceptional progress given his past.

p.10

good

Staff are all trained in behaviour management and benefit from the expertise of their new manager who has been an instructor for the last five years. He closely monitors patterns and trends and can therefore demonstrate 95% de-escalation and when restraint is necessary this is the least restrictive and for the shortest possible time. He identified that there was a marked increase in restraints for one young person frequently let down by family. Consequently, he is now receiving specialist input to successfully self-regulate his emotions and anger to deal with situations beyond his control.

p.11

good

Young people are empowered to contribute to their own behaviour management plans. One young person wrote, ‘I prefer to talk about an incident when I have properly calmed down, not straight after the incident.’

p.11

good

Good behaviour and effort is acknowledged and rewarded which is clearly having the desired effect on young people’s behaviours. The use of sanctions is demonstrably declining. However, records do not all consistently detail: the duration of each sanction; demonstrate that the effectiveness of each sanction is carefully evaluated; and, that young people’s views are ascertained in a timely manner.

p.11

good

Comments from young people include, ‘I have not been restrained here. I have in other placements. I want to change and I like the incentives to help me do this. I am working towards a mobile and saving some of my pocket money towards it. I can earn more by doing extra jobs around the house’ and, ‘I am doing good in school now because they have small classes here. There is a chill out room that I can go to if I think I’m going to kick off but I’ve not needed to. Because it’s there, I haven’t needed to use it.’

p.11

good

Restorative justice is appropriately used to ensure young people are not unnecessarily criminalised and for them to consider the effects of their behaviour on others.

p.11

good

The police confirm good working relationships with this staff team in managing previous missing from home incidents. However, the arrangements in place were not sufficiently robust to ensure timely independent return interviews. None of the young people currently living at this home have gone missing. This is outstanding progress given some of their histories.

p.11

good

One family member said, ‘I feel so reassured that he is now safe and happy so it is a massive weight off my mind. He used to be missing a lot with no contact for up to five days. He has not even attempted to run from this home.’

p.11

good

Despite their vulnerabilities, all the young people are encouraged to take age- appropriate risks as part of their development into adulthood. They also benefit from regular individual and group sessions where they explore effective strategies to keep themselves safe when online or enjoying independence in the community.

p.12

good

All staff are trained in child protection to ensure an appropriate response to disclosures of abuse. Safeguarding agencies confirm good collaborative working during investigations. The outcomes were ‘unsubstantiated’ and the recommendations made to try to prevent further allegations were efficiently addressed.

p.12

good

The company’s safeguarding committee is now firmly established which oversees and reviews any concerns and reports back to the main board of directors. This is to ensure correct procedures are stringently adhered to and explores any lessons learned to constantly improve upon their safeguarding practices.

p.12

good

All the required health and safety certificates are in place to ensure a safe and well-maintained environment.

p.12

good

The manager regularly reviews the home’s location risk assessment in consultation with partner agencies and it is deemed to be in a low risk area.

p.12

good

Staff recruitment files are in good order demonstrating stringent recruitment and selection processes and timely inductions. This ensures a safe and competent workforce.

p.12

requires improvement

The statement of purpose is regularly reviewed and revised as necessary to ensure it always accurately reflects the aims, practices and staffing structures within the home and wider organisation.

p.12

requires improvement

There have been three managers since this home was registered in February 2015. The registered manager has recently informed Ofsted that he is voluntarily de- registering from this position. The manager replacing him was appointed in August. He is suitably qualified and experienced and is awaiting an updated police check so he can submit an application to register with Ofsted.

p.12

requires improvement

In the last two months, under his direct leadership, there have already been a number of positive developments. For example, the admission process has been strengthened to ensure that young people are not admitted without all the required documentation.

p.13

requires improvement

He also identified that not all staff were receiving the frequency of supervision in line with the company’s own policy so he has increased the number of supervisors to address this. Moreover, the home is now specifically recruiting further afield for senior staff mindful of the current number of unqualified and inexperienced staff. Young people are excited to be involved in the radio advertisement.

p.13

requires improvement

There are always sufficient staff on duty to effectively safeguard, promote the welfare and meet the diverse needs and personal preferences of all the young people. The team have remained fairly consistent and have persevered throughout some extremely challenging times. They are now enjoying a period of stability. They confirm good support and better direction under the current, strengthened management structure. A new member of staff confirmed a good induction process and ongoing support from the team. One member of staff said, ‘It has not been easy. We have definitely been through some difficult times but it is getting better. We are now enjoying a settled period with good support and clear direction from management.’

p.13

requires improvement

Staff particularly benefit from fortnightly training sessions as a full team to ensure their continual personal development. They also feel their views are respected and positively responded to, for example, when recently improving the rota system. Daily detailed handovers with the education staff ensure consistency of care. The manager is accountable to the Principal who is responsible for ensuring a strategic joined up approach to the education and care provided to every child.

p.13

requires improvement

This company is financially viable and the overall governance is more robust. New systems include unannounced internal audits in respect to safeguarding, human resources, finance and health and safety.

p.13

requires improvement

Since registration, there has one internal report produced on the quality of care provided in the home by the previous manager. It provides good evaluation but does not include the views of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff.

p.13

requires improvement

Managers confirm that the monthly external monitoring visits are rigorous, but this is not always reflected in the reports. In particular, they lack evaluation, for example when there is a notable increase in restraints. There are a number of repeated sentences so it is not always clear exactly what was explored on each particular visit. Two sentences in respect to contact and staff supervision are repeated in three consecutive reports. Moreover, the reports suggest that some recommendations made are not addressed, for example, young people signing the recordings of key worker sessions.

p.13

requires improvement

At least one young person’s file is scrutinised each month to ensure they include all the required information. However, there is a general shortfall in the quality of some record keeping. There is a lack of attention to detail in ensuring the careful use of words so the records are always clear and accurate. There is also limited cross referencing of relevant documents, for example risk assessments and behaviour management plans. This has been identified as a training need by the new manager and he has already approached the company’s training lead to produce a bespoke course. The manager’s accept, ‘We make problems for ourselves with some of the paperwork’ and, ‘These are missed opportunities to highlight our good work.’

p.14

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.

p.15

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

p.15

What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

p.15

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

p.16

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 .

p.16

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,

p.17

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.17

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.17

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

p.17