Children's Home run by Cumbria County Council in Cumberland

Inspection date 22/09/2015

Previous inspection judgement Improved effectiveness

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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:

 Leadership is strong and the staff team work cohesively to promote the aims of the service and meet the needs of young people. Greater rigour in monitoring ensures that young people receive consistent care through improved standards of care.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Partnership working with a range of agencies is very effective in providing young people with the necessary support to meet all their assessed needs.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Strong safeguarding partnership working is particularly effective. Robust responses mean young people seldom go missing and are therefore at less risk of child exploitation.  An improvement in school attendance and an enjoyment of academic and social learning, helps young people to achieve their potential as a result of living at this home.  Staff work hard to develop positive closer relationships with parents, carers and siblings which leads to young people enjoying constructive time with their families.

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

ensure any sanction used to address poor behaviour is restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community (Guide to the Children's Home Regulations including the Quality Standards, April 2015, page 46 para 9.38)

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Information about this children's home

This Local Authority owned home is registered for six children and young people with emotional and/or behavioural and learning difficulties. The Statement of Purpose details the age range of children and young people from 8 to 17 years of age.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

12/02/2015 CH - Interim improved effectiveness

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good

All of the young people have been resident in the home for only a short period of time. Despite this, they are settled and have developed trusting relationships with the staff team and each other very quickly. As a result they acquire a positive self- view and in turn develop confidence in their skills. Young people present well and display a pride in their appearance. They make choices about their activities in accordance with their age and interests.

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good

All five of the young people attend school or college or have an apprenticeship and have aspirations to pursue further training or education. As a result, the large majority of young people are likely to achieve their potential which will assist them into future employment. Staff demonstrate a commitment to supporting young people’s education. They ensure young people are ready and prepared for learning and assist with homework and projects. Where there are gaps or issues with educational provision, staff are proactive in seeking alternative provision. A teacher was very positive about the home and of the support staff offer to their particular young person they said,’ firm boundaries and consistent routines, coupled with a positive approach from a key worker, ensured that our student settled quickly into the placement. The work done with our student to support her education and well- being has resulted in her re-engagement with school. Consequently there has

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good

been an improvement in her learning outcomes and a significant improvement in her attendance at school.’ She concluded by saying, ‘Given her starting point, our student has made significant progress in all areas.’

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good

Staff demonstrate their capacity to develop positive and trusting relationships with young people. These relationships assist them in addressing their behavioural difficulties and learn new methods of managing distress. Young people recognise that staff care about them. There is evidence of good consultation with young people to seek their views about their care and the running of the home. Staff assist young people to understand why it is not always possible to act on their wishes.

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good

Most of the young people do not engage in hobbies or scheduled activities, as they prefer to spend time with friends. However, they do enjoy impromptu events arranged by staff such as trips out to the cinema or restaurant, picnics and camping breaks. These activities provide good opportunities for the young people to socialise with staff and the other residents.

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good

Generally contact is going well for young people enabling them to continue to see their families and people of significance to them. This assists young people to maintain emotional ties with important individuals helping to sustain their identity. Some young people have expressed concerns about their contact arrangements. In these cases the home works effectively with the placing social worker to help the young person understand the decisions made.

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good

The majority of young people are following independence plans which vary depending on their age and stage of development. For example, young people travel to school or college independently, prepare meals and obtain part time jobs in the community. They take part in the homes independent programme where they can gain a Bronze, Silver or Gold award.

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good

Overall young people benefit from good health and meet required appointments with their doctor, dentist and optician as necessary. However, some young people arrived with a smoking habit and continue to smoke. This is in spite of efforts by staff to dissuade them from this activity.

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good

Individualised behaviour management plans are in place outlining personal incentives for each young person. These assist staff to provide consistent support to young people to achieve good outcomes. However on occasion sanctions imposed to address poor behaviour are not always restorative in nature and do not help young people recognise the impact of their behaviour.

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good

The home is pleasant and safe and located away from high risk activities such as crime and drug use. Staff provide a homely environment.

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good

Safeguarding policies and procedures are clear and robust. Staff are aware of the increased vulnerabilities of young people and of the need for heightened protection. As a result young people are kept safe by a team of staff who demonstrate good knowledge of safeguarding practices.

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good

Staff are trained in recognising actual or potential harm or abuse and work in accordance with the local safeguarding authority’s child protection and safeguarding procedures. The Registered Manager consults with the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) with appropriate concerns. She has developed good working relationships with the LADO. The Registered Manager regularly reviews the records of any safeguarding concerns and takes appropriate action where necessary. Overall, children and young people are well protected. Behaviour management systems ensure staff care for children and young people safely. Staff practice is calm and skilled in diffusing incidents. Individual behaviour management plans are developed and implemented in consultation with families and other relevant professionals. Plans outline the potential behaviour and the strategies staff should apply to manage the particular behaviour. This includes

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good

proactive strategies such as avoidance, distraction and diffusion, as well as any physical intervention that may be necessary. Staff are trained in the safe deployment of physical intervention. This ensures that risk of its use is minimised and that young people are safe during such incidents.

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good

There have been eleven incidents of young people going missing since the last inspection. A procedure is followed for staff in every event of such an occurrence. These procedures work in line with local police procedures. Staff are aware of the procedures and of their responsibilities to keep young people safe. A partner organisation ensures that all the return to home interviews are conducted in a timely manner.

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good

Staff have good knowledge of e-safety and child sexual exploitation. Staff use one to one opportunities to guide young people to learn safe use of social media.

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good

Recruitment arrangements are robust. All the necessary checks have been undertaken. Only adults assessed as suitable to work with children are appointed.

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good

The Registered Manager has managed this home prior to regulation being the responsibility of Ofsted in April 2007. She has extensive experience and is suitably qualified to carry out his role with a National Vocational Qualification at level 4 and is currently completing the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare.

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good

Managers and staff embrace the recent changes in social care legislation. They are keen to explore and improve the potential for young people to grow up in a nurturing and safe environment. Improvements in the management structure, with a new Local Authority residential manager, have strengthened the monitoring systems in the home.

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good

Children and young people respond positively to the care and professional relationships staff build with them. Staff members are suitably trained with relevant experience to care for young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The Registered Manager constantly reviews the adequacy of staff numbers so adjustments can be made to ensure the changing needs of young people are continually met. Staff morale is good. Staff are fully supportive and praising of the management of the home. They receive regular, good quality, reflective supervision in addition to daily on-going support.

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good

Monitoring of the service is good. Auditing systems in place address any areas that require improvement and inform future planning. An independent visitor provides an objective view with recommendations that the Registered Manager actions.

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good

Young people receive consistent care because delegation is effective. The management team embrace feedback and address issues raised in the independent visitor’s reports, exemplifying their motivation to drive improvement in this service.

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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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