Children's Home run by Aston Children’s Care Ltd in Birmingham

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 make progress in all areas of their development. They are cared for by a committed and responsive staff team who provide good quality care.  Robust safeguarding practice is in place underpinning young people’s safety and security.  Young people rarely go missing or have unauthorised absences from the home.  Relationships between young people, their family and friends are promoted.  Strong and effective partnership working is well established.  Staff work very well together to support young people’s behaviour.  The registered manager has effective systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of service provided to young people.  Young people are treated with dignity and respect.  The home is led by an experienced and knowledgeable registered manager.  The home environment is well furnished and maintained.  There is one shortfall which relates to staff training.

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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 that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs. Specifically in effective communication, autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. (The Guide to Quality Standards page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is privately operated and provides care and accommodation for up to four young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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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 Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

17/03/2014 CH - Interim Inadequate progress

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good

Young people make progress in all areas of their development and welfare. This progress is underpinned by positive relationships with staff. One young person said, ’It is really good here, the staff are great and I can always find someone to talk to’. Another said, ‘the atmosphere is great. Very relaxed. We are like a big family’. As a consequence of this positive experience young people grow in confidence and maturity.

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good

Individualised care planning promotes clear outcomes for each young person. For example, one young person’s communication skills have increased significantly and they are able to express themselves verbally where previously they relied on enhanced communication techniques. Young people’s self-confidence and self- esteem increases as they are able to join in and know that adults and peers are interested in their views.

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good

The independence and self-care skills of young people continually improves. All young people learn age appropriate skills in budgeting, food preparation, shopping and cooking. This helps young people grow in confidence in preparation for moves to semi-independent living or other provisions.

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good

Education of young people is prioritised. Most young people are at school full time and their attendance and punctuality are excellent. Young people are supported with homework and encouraged to do their best. Where young people are not in education or training, staff give every support to help young people identify suitable courses. Incentives are in place to motivate and reward job/education hunting so that young people do not lose interest or become demoralised. A social worker commented, ‘Staff have supported him through thick and thin. They do all they can to support him’.

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good

Young people receive good primary health care services and where necessary, specialist provision is sourced. This ensures that young people’s health remains good.

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good

Where young people smoke or use cannabis, this is rigorously addressed by the staff team. They ensure that relevant agencies support young people in reduction or cessation programmes. Where young people refuse to cooperate with these, individual one to one sessions with staff, support and encouragement, means that efforts are generally successful. Young people contribute to ideas for the home through attending young people’s meetings, and giving feedback forms to staff. They say that they are confident that their views are heard and they feel involved in the running of the home. In addition, some young people attend their care reviews and staff encourage and support them to express their views about their plans about their lives. Young people learn to participate and express their views in constructive ways.

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good

Good quality day to day life is evident as young people enjoy a wide range of activities in the home and in the wider community. Some enjoy football and other sports, others prefer quieter time at home. They benefit from a variety of leisure pursuits that help them develop self-confidence and a sense of achievement.

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good

Where appropriate, young people’s families are welcomed to the home. One family member said, ‘Staff are very welcoming’. Young people retain connections with important people in their lives enhancing their understanding of their background and identities.

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good

Young people are safe and protected at the home as staff know them well. They develop established and trusted relationships with staff leading to an environment which helps them feel safe and nurtured.

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good

There have been no incidents of young people going missing from care since the last inspection. Where young people are absent without staff authority, they are supported to understand the risks and dangers posed and encouraged to make different choices to improve their safety. Key work sessions, discussions at young people’s meetings and liaison with professionals means young people’s safety is prioritised and any increase in absences effectively addressed.

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good

Robust and effective multi agency partnership working means that young people receive coordinated care from a variety of professionals ensuring that their needs are addressed. A professional commented, ’Staff work closely with us. Communication with the home is very good’.

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good

Placement plans and individual risk assessments identify risks associated with each young person. They are protected as staff are familiar with and understand these and the strategies in place to manage risks including challenging behaviour. Staff work well together as a team and consequently, incidents have reduced at the home leading to a calm and nurturing atmosphere for all. Staff are trained in techniques of physical intervention and de-escalation. Young people remain safe as staff identify triggers of escalation. Staff said,’ we know the young people and can spot by their expression or movements if something is worrying them, and we can step in’. Young people learn to self-regulate their emotions and recognise when they may need time alone, promoting their independence and self-empowerment. Where physical intervention is used, records are completed promptly. Young people are spoken to after the event and their

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good

views are recorded. Young people progress as they are supported to understand why an intervention was necessary and how to avoid this in the future.

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good

Staff have an ethos of promoting positive behaviour. Rewards and incentives are available for young people in response to various achievements. Young people work with staff to identify appropriate rewards meaning that the reward is relevant and of benefit to them. This reinforces a positive atmosphere in the home and underpins young people’s progress.

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good

The home adheres to organisational recruitment procedures in place to safeguard young people. Staff files contain all necessary documentation and information to assess the suitability of staff employed in the home. This means that young people are cared for by staff who are suitably vetted and selected, thus promoting their welfare. Young people benefit from living in a home which has a safe and secure internal environment. General health and safety risk assessments are regularly reviewed to identify and rectify any potential hazards in the home. Fire drills are regularly completed and fire equipment serviced to ensure that it functions properly. All staff and young people are conversant with the fire drills and the need for evacuations from time to time to maintain vigilance and safety.

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good

The home is very well managed by an experienced registered manager who has been in post since March 2014. He has relevant qualifications including a diploma level 5 in leadership and management.

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good

The registered manager works in partnership with families, and professionals ensuring young people receive integrated and well organised care. He has a good understanding of the strengths of the home and the areas for development. The home has recently undergone a period of transition with staff moving within the organisation in response to expansion. Young people have expressed sorrow and disappointment that staff have moved elsewhere, but are knowledgeable of the changes. The registered manager is focussed on strengthening and consolidating the staff team following this period of change.

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good

Staff are well supported. They receive regular good quality supervision and appraisal meaning that young people are looked after by staff whose abilities and competence are assessed and reviewed. Staff have the opportunity to reflect on young people’s needs and how these can be met. Staff meetings generate discussions between staff about new ideas and ensure consistent practice amongst the team.

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good

The registered manager and leadership team ensure that all staff complete their core training which is refreshed periodically. Not all staff complete courses in effective communication with young people, autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This hinders them having informed knowledge of young people’s complex needs.

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good

The manager has effective systems in place to audit and monitor the quality of care in the home. He works with the independent visitor and reflects on the developments needed to improve the quality of care for young people. A new deputy manager is in post who further strengthens the leadership of the home and the focus of developing the service further for the benefit of all.

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good

Records are thorough and complete. Leaders and managers review and audit young people’s files to make sure that good standards are maintained. Any deficiencies in information needed by staff is addressed by managers.

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good

The home is maintained to a high standard. Young people live in an environment which offers them all home comforts. The home itself is large and well decorated and furnished. Young people contribute to the décor and feel of the home. They make suggestions about improvements and these are well received by staff. Young people say that they feel listened to by staff and if something is not possible, they understand why. Accordingly, young people develop a sense of belonging and involvement in home life increasing their sense of self-worth.

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good

Two recommendations made at the last inspection have been addressed. The registered manager reviews the learning and development plan annually to ensure its effectiveness and the home’s child protection policy has been reviewed by the designated officer and the local safeguarding children board. This provides additional oversight of the policy to ensure its efficacy.

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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

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

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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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