Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Shropshire

Good

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

p.2

The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people are safe and they become increasingly safe. They learn the skills to become safe. Risk taking behaviours, such as child sexual exploitation and missing incidents, reduce.  Young people make progress. They attend education and engage in it. Young people have aspirations for their futures.  Young people are cared for as individuals. Staff support young people to tell them how they need to be cared for. Staff provide personalised and individualised care to young people.  Staff and young people have excellent relationships with one another. Staff provide a warm and nurturing environment for young people. They take time to get to know them and genuinely care for them.  Young people have well planned transitions into independent living. Staff help them prepare for independence and provide support.  Staff embed partnership working into practice. They work with families, the clinical team and other agencies to ensure that young people’s care

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

planning is robust and consistent.  Staff are committed and passionate about providing high quality care to young people. They strive to improve.  Young people receive care from a stable and consistent staff team. An experienced, suitably skilled and trained staff team deliver good quality care to young people.  The registered manager is child focused and has high aspirations for the young people in her care. She overcomes any barriers to ensure that they receive the services and input they need.  Minor shortfalls have been identified and recommendations made. These include young people not receiving return interviews by their placing authorities after missing episodes; the registered manager not escalating concerns regarding transitions and staff not ensuring that they share concerns regarding substance misuse with young people’s colleges. Recording in young people’s case files is an area for improvement.

p.3

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure that staff encourage children to see the home's records as 'living documents' supporting them to view and contribute to the record in a way that reflects their voice on a regular basis. (Guide to the Childrens Homes Regulations, page 58, paragraph 11.19)

p.4

Recommendations

 Ensure that the home plays a full part in promoting the best interests of the child, proactively advocating for the child to ensure that others play their role and deliver the high quality support that is needed. Such partnership working should always take place: before a child arrives; while the child lives in the home and where the child prepares to return home, move to another setting or leave care. (Guide to the Childrens Homes Regulations, page 11, paragraph 2.4)

p.4

Recommendations

 Ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. (Guide to the Childrens Homes Regulations, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

p.4

Recommendations

 Ensure that, as children will spend significant periods of time away from the home, for example in education, any assessed risks should be shared with the education provider the child is attending, if appropriate, so that the service is clear on the action they must take if the child puts themselves at risk while using their service. (Guide to the Childrens Homes Regulations, page 42, paragraph 9.6)

p.4

Recommendations

 Ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (Guide to the Childrens Homes Regulations, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

p.4

Information about this children's home

This is a privately registered Children’s home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home specialises in providing care for young people who have been victim of child sexual exploitation.

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

Recent inspection history

10/02/2015 CH - Interim Improved effectiveness

p.5

good

Young people are cared for as individuals. Staff take time to get to know them so they can provide good levels of individualised care; for example, young people have their own individual bedtime routines. Staff regularly discuss the individual needs of young people within team meetings and review ways of working. Young people have written their own ‘vision statements’ which identify what their aspirations are for their time at the home. One such vision statement says: ‘I want to build good relationships with everyone in the home, I never envisaged doing this and the adults and peers have become part of my life. I want positive memories and be able to look back and see how I’ve changed’.

p.6

good

Young people invest in their placement. Staff support and encourage them to identify what will help them and they then work hard to put these things into place. For example, a young person has identified that animals help her feel calm and so the registered provider is getting pygmy goats for the house. This provides young people with a focus and they feel listened to. A staff member said: ‘We build open relationships with young people. The other week I was saying to a young person that everything was going to be ok, but she then said she didn’t want to hear that and she wanted to be angry. I took this to the team meeting and shared this with the rest of the staff team. It is important we listen to them’.

p.6

good

Young people make progress. Young people attend school and engage; they have aspirations for their futures. Staff encourage and support young people to go on to further education. Whilst young people generally have positive experiences of further education, the registered provider has not always shared updated risk assessments regarding issues such as substance misuse, with education providers. Young people’s placement plans and behaviour support plans are personalised to them, although young people do not always actively contribute to these plans. Staff regularly update young people and plans are used by staff as a tool to work effectively with young people.

p.6

good

Good quality key working sessions address subjects such as keeping safe, abusive relationships and past traumatic experiences. Young people start to recognise unsafe situations they have been in. A young person said: ‘Coming here has changed my life’. Staff seek the support of outside agencies where necessary, such as the local hospice who have provided staff with training in loss and bereavement.

p.6

good

Young people have positive relationships with staff and peers. They learn how to live with other people and staff help them find ways of airing any issues productively and without hostility. Staff are committed to the young people and they consistently provide young people with praise. Staff encourage young people to have age appropriate experiences. For example, young people go to music concerts, they horse ride, and go to cadets.

p.7

good

Young people learn skills which help them for their futures. When young people move into independent accommodation, staff make sure that they are prepared and a transition plan is in place. The registered provider ensures that all information is received prior to placing a young person in the home. Good matching of young people is a priority. On arrival at the home, the registered manager says: ‘All our young people are greeted on the drive; they will never have to knock on the ‘scary’ door when they first arrive. Their bedrooms are all new and fresh, they have a welcome pack and a ‘welcome to your new home’ card signed by all staff individually’. Young people have positive experiences of arriving at the home.

p.7

Good

Young people are safe and become increasingly safe. Staff recognise risks and adhere to robust risk management plans. They know the young people and so are able to identify when they need extra support and care in times of crisis. Staff are aware of their responsibilities in respect of safeguarding. They appropriately refer safeguarding concerns to Children’s Services or the Designated Officer. The registered provider does not always follow up on low level information that young people share with them in relation to issues such as substance misuse, to try to prevent future occurrences.

p.7

Good

Young people learn how to keep safe. Staff complete key working sessions with them regarding substance misuse and child sexual exploitation. Staff talk about sensitive issues openly and honestly. Young people learn to reflect on past abusive experiences and re-evaluate them. They start to recognise the progress they have made as individuals. Staff work closely with the clinical team; they share relevant information with them and adopt joined up ways of working which address risk taking behaviours and support progress. Staff work with young people and the clinical team to identify ways of managing self-harm which are individual to them. For example, using coloured cards to signal to staff their emotions.

p.7

Good

Safeguarding arrangements within the home are robust. Staff work with other agencies, such as the police, to promote young people’s safety within the home and community. Staff follow robust missing from care plans and search for young people. They work with other agencies to ensure their quick return. Missing incidents are rare as staff will pre-empt situations and put into place strategies which allow young people to have space without running away. The registered provider does not challenge placing authorities when they do not make arrangements to talk to young people when they return. As a result, because independent return interviews are not completed, information to reduce risk next time, is potentially lost. Staff are appropriately trained and skilled in the presenting needs of the young people, such as missing and child sexual exploitation. Incidents of child sexual exploitation reduce.

p.8

Good

Young people receive care from a skilled, stable and experienced staff team. They have worked together for a number of years and know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. They are committed to the young people in their care and say they view the young people and home as their ‘second family’. Boundaries are consistent. There are a low number of incidents within the home. A staff member said: ‘We do well as a team. We give consistency and we have been together as a team for such a long time that we know our strengths as individuals’.

p.8

good

There is a registered manager in post. She has been the registered manager of the home since prior to its re-registration. She is qualified up to NVQ level 5 in leadership and management and is experienced in residential childcare. She is committed to delivering good quality care to young people and improving their life chances. The registered manager knows the young people and is involved within the daily running of the home. She monitors the progress young people make and regularly reviews ways of working to ensure that young people are reaching their full potential.

p.8

good

The registered provider is delivering the aims and objectives of the statement of purpose. The registered manager and staff understand the purpose of the young people’s time at the home. They understand the 12 month therapeutic programme and they work with the clinical team to deliver this.

p.9

good

Rigorous assessments prior to admission, containing full and relevant information, mean that new young people are well matched to the existing group. The registered manager is committed to ensuring that staff can meet young people’s needs and she recognises the importance of having full information prior to admission. Whilst the registered manager actively tries to be involved within the arrangements for young people moving out of the home, she does not always escalate concerns when placing authorities do not involve her.

p.9

good

Supervision of staff and training is a strength of the home. The registered manager sources training individual to the needs of the young people. She ensures staff receive ongoing mentoring and supervision and that they are skilled and competent. She does role plays with staff and shares information to enhance their skills, which as a result enhances the experiences of young people. A staff member said: ‘There is so much experience in the team. Since I have started, the team have helped me learn how to talk to young people which you can’t get from theory books.’

p.9

good

The registered manager is child focused. She escalates concerns regarding issues such as education. She is committed to ensuring that young people receive a good education and advocates strongly for this. She is aware of the strengths and areas for development in the home. For example, she recognises that recording of incidents needs improving. She wants young people to become more involved within their records and case files so these fully reflect their journeys and experiences within the home.

p.9

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.10

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.10

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.10

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.11

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.11

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.12

Information about this inspection

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

p.12

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.12

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.12