The Banyan Tree

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:

 Children and young people with diverse and complex needs are each making good progress. This is because they receive high quality, well-planned care and support within a very nurturing and homely environment. Children and young people are happy, feel safe and are in stable placements.  There are very positive relationships between staff and the children and young people. These are based on trust and mutual respect.  The management of mental health and emotional well-being is a particular strength. Mental health professionals, working within the organisation, work directly with children and young people and provide guidance to the staff team.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Children and young people are developing emotional resilience and starting to become more self-confident. This is linked to the overall quality of care provided and also the access to community activities and experiences such as a holiday camp in America during the summer.  Education is seen as important within care planning. Children and young people are each making good progress from their starting points at admission.  There is strong leadership and management, led from the top by the owner of this small group of homes. The staff team is well established. Staff are committed to their individual and group roles and responsibilities.  The management of healthy eating is identified as an area for further improvement. There is also a need to structure a system to ensure that medication is always readily available to children and young people when outside the home. This inspection also identifies that there are gaps in

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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

In order to meet the Health and Well-Being Standard the registered provider must ensure that: (1) (c) children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles 01/12/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendations:  ensure that the staff have the relevant skills and knowledge to meet the health needs of children, with particular reference to the need to ensure that staff undertake training in relation to healthy eating and nutrition. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 34, paragraph 7.12)

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Recommendations

 ensure that staff skills for safeguarding include being able to identify signs that children may be at risk and support children in strategies to manage and reduce any risks. In particular, this relates to the need to ensure that all staff have undertaken training in relation to internet safety and child sexual exploitation. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 44, paragraph 9.10)

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Recommendations

 ensure that children who wish to keep and take their own medication should be supported to do so safely. In particular this relates to the need to structure and implement a process which ensures that medications, such as asthma inhalers, are always readily available to the child while out on trips or activities away from the home. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 35, paragraph 7.16)

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Information about this children's home

This home is privately owned and is registered to provide care and accommodation for five children with emotional and behavioural difficulties, who may also have a learning disability.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

14/01/2015 CH - Interim Sustained Effectiveness

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good

Staff create a very homely environment which is highly beneficial to the children and young people. For example, the group of staff and residents always eat together. This is a relaxed time when children and young people comfortably talk about their day so far. Children and young people enjoy helping the staff to prepare meals. They make their own drinks and snacks and understand that everyone shares in daily tasks such as washing up and clearing the table. As a result, children and young people feel involved. Professionals also recognise the homely atmosphere as a strength, noting: ‘There is a sense of it being a home. Young people are encouraged to host charity events and want to welcome people into their home’.

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good

Relationships between children, young people and the staff are very positive and are based on mutual respect. Comments from children and young people include ‘I'm really happy here’. Also, ‘I like the staff ‘they are all nice’. Children and young people confirm that they feel listened to and also that they feel the staff really care about them.

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good

Careful consideration is given to any new referral. This means that the group of children and young people is well balanced. While there are still times when they may fall out with each other there is also strong evidence that they enjoy spending time interacting together. Staff are mindful of the potential for bullying and ensure that interactions between children and young people are fully supervised. Regardless of the potential complexities in the relationships, staff manage group dynamics well. As a result, children and young people start to become more tolerant of others.

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good

A particular strength is the careful thought and planning implemented when young people move on to a new placement. This is always at their pace and they receive broad emotional support at this difficult time. Comments from an involved professional include: ‘The whole transition was fantastic, the best ever process we have known’. Professionals also confirm that the support provided by this service has meant that young people have settled quickly into their new placements.

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good

Education is seen as important. Children and young people have good attendance and are reported to be making good progress at school by educational professionals. Comments include: ‘They are not firefighters they look at children’s education strategically’. Also, ‘we have seen huge changes in [young person’s] behaviour and emotional state which has helped in school’. Staff help children and young people with their homework and learning activities are structured within daily routines.

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good

The medication administration system is generally sound. Staff receive training by a pharmacist and the system is also audited by a pharmacist. Staff understand the medication needs of each child and young person. They administer required medication and ensure that medication needs are reviewed regularly. However, one area is noted as needing some improvement: while staff say that medication, such as asthma inhalers, are taken out by children and young people who self- administer, when they go out on trips this is not captured in records. As a result, managers are unable to monitor the effectiveness of current practice to ensure that needs will always be fully met.

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good

Children and young people are comfortable talking to staff about health issues. As a result, staff are able to respond quickly to any emerging health concern. Personal hygiene improves because of the encouragement provided by staff and the consistent approach taken to daily routines. Children and young people are supported to visit health professionals for routine check-ups and for more specific individual needs. As a result, individuals who have not seen a dentist in many years are now receiving dental treatment. Emotional health and well-being is kept under constant review and a range of support processes are made available. The team work closely with the local authority child and adolescent mental health team. A clinical psychologist and assistant psychologist work for the organisation and retain oversight of individual care and emotional wellbeing. As a result children show improved self-awareness and are becoming more emotionally resilient. An area of

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good

weakness in relation to health is that there are times when dietary intake and menu planning is not effectively managed. Staff are very focussed on supporting personal choice and do encourage healthy eating. However, when the children and young people do not readily embrace this, there is a failure to progress this to ensure good health is always maintained. This highlights a lack of understanding within the team about the effective management of healthy eating.

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good

Children and young people are supported to develop their independence. Involvement in daily household chores teaches children and young people the need to maintain routines. They are encouraged to be more independent according to age and personal development. For example, one young person has been riding a bicycle to school. Community involvement is encouraged. For example, children and young people use the local library and are looking forward to attending Christmas services at the local church. They are supported to try new activities and experiences. Examples include a trip to a theme park, walks in the community, use of the local swimming pool and the cinema. A trip to an activity camp in America is an annual event for this service. Comments from children attending this year show they thoroughly enjoyed this experience. For some this was their first time flying in an aeroplane. They made new friends and took part in exciting outdoor based

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good

activities. It was apparent from their comments that this had improved their self- esteem. Judgement grade

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good

Staff have an excellent understanding of the differing and complex vulnerabilities of each of the children and young people. Detailed risk management strategies guide staff practice and are kept under review. Children and young people are safe and their wellbeing is assured. This is because safeguarding arrangements are broad and robust, including high levels of support and direct supervision. Staff spend one-to-one time with children and young people reinforcing guidance which promotes their well-being and general protection. For example, talking to children and young people about the risks of stranger danger and the safe use of a bicycle.

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good

There have been no incidents of children or young people going missing or being absent without consent since the last inspection. This is linked to the stability of their placements. Staff remain vigilant of the potential for children and young people to go missing and have developed links with relevant police officers. They are familiar with locally agreed protocols and strategies to minimise relating to unauthorised absence.

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good

Behaviours are well managed. Incentive schemes encourage children and young people to become better behaved. For example, they receive points that are exchanged with rewards when they show improvements consistently through the week. Because of the good relationships with staff, children and young people have started to reflect and identify learning with staff following an incident. Physical intervention is used in the home but staff know that this is a last resort and use only for safeguarding reasons. The manager is committed to reducing the occasions when physical holds are used and is working with the team to understand early triggers. This is in order to improve the success of de-escalation strategies prior to physical intervention. Children and young people say that physical holds are only used to keep them safe. Involved professionals note improvements in behaviours. One notes that a young person, ‘is now able to

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good

regulate his emotions a lot more, to reason and think things through.’

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good

Since the previous inspection there has been a change of manager. The new manager is appropriately experienced and is now registered with Ofsted. She has a level four qualification in leadership and management and is shortly to commence further training. This will bring her qualification in line with changes in regulation within required timescales.

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good

The manager is now well established in the team and staff report that good support and guidance is readily available. The manager recognised the many strengths of the service when she started, and embraced these rather than make sweeping changes. She has since worked with the team to further strengthen care arrangements. The owner of the home, who is held in the highest regard by the team, oversees the leadership and management of the home closely. High expectations are set and the needs of children and young people are at the centre of management decision making.

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good

There are strong professional relationships between managers, staff and the broad range of professionals involved with children and young people. Professionals hold the service in high regard and are readily able to demonstrate examples of progress made by the children that they work with. Parents also speak positively about the care and support provided to their child. When necessary, the manager takes steps to raise concerns about the responses of placing teams and/or involved professionals. This shows that action is taken when necessary to ensure that care arrangements are fully effective. Leaders and managers understand the plans for individual children and young people and actively drive their care towards achievements and good progress.

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good

Staff are provided with one-to-one time with their supervisor and confirm that this has aided their personal development. There is a core of long-standing staff who provide consistency and a wealth of experience to the team. This is invaluable support for less experienced staff members who are developing their skills. New staff are provided with a structured induction followed by core training which includes safeguarding children, fire safety, and food hygiene. However, there are some gaps in training needs across the team. For example, not all staff have completed training in relation to internet safety and child sexual exploitation. While no detrimental impact is identified this does raise the potential that they will not recognise and respond appropriately to emerging safeguarding issues.

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good

The staff team understand their individual roles and responsibilities and the service operates in-line with the home’s statement of purpose. Staff have a positive view of the quality of care afforded to children and young people. Comments include, ‘it's an absolute pleasure working in the home and being with the children and being part of the positive outcomes that are happening on a daily basis’.

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good

The registered person has employed an independent person to undertake monthly monitoring visits and to report on the quality of care provided. These visits reflect the strengths of the service and report positively on the quality of care provided. They also identify areas for further improvement. These points are always responded to promptly by the manager. This shows a commitment to service development. The manager also monitors the care provided and has recently completed a detailed report after reflecting on the last six months. This has identified areas she plans to target for further development. However, monitoring had not identified the weakness noted during this inspection in relation to the management of good nutrition and dietary intake. This highlights that at times management monitoring is not fully effective.

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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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