Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Lincolnshire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s outcomes have varied since the last inspection. They continue to achieve well in education or work and benefit from living in a calm, warm and friendly environment, supported by a staff team which is now consistent and stable. Incidents of poor behaviour, substance misuse and going missing from care increased for a short period of time. The manager and staff were quick to seek the support of external agencies such as the police, substance misuse agencies and placing authorities. Strategy meetings were called where necessary, and clear multi-agency plans were put in place to help young people manage better. One young person commented that the firmly implemented rules of the home have helped him decrease substance misuse. As a result, young people are now more stable and can begin to make progress again.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The new manager has clear plans in place to achieve improvement in the functioning of the home. The provider has prioritised recruitment, and turnover of staff has decreased. The staff team is now stable and committed to providing young people with secure, stable placements. The manager’s application to register with Ofsted is being processed. New members of staff benefit from a good quality induction and state they feel very supported by other staff members and the manager. They benefit from regular one-to-one supervision, which enables them to reflect on their learning. There has been a recent focus on ensuring all staff maintain a consistent approach in their care of young people. This benefits young people, who are cared for by a confident staff team.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although progress has been made with meeting the two recommendations made at the last inspection, they are not fully met and are repeated. At the last inspection, the provider was asked to ensure young people receive an independent return interview if they have been missing or absent. The manager has been proactive in requesting return interviews from young people’s placing authorities, whose responsibility it is to facilitate the interviews. In addition, she has escalated her concerns and made suggestions to placing authorities about using local advocacy services to provide this service. However, young people are still not consistently receiving independent return interviews when they have been missing or absent.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, the provider was asked to ensure staff have the skills to work with young people’s individual needs. Training for staff about substance misuse has been booked but is not completed yet. Similarly, staff have received some training related to appropriate sexual behaviour and have discussed this in a team meeting, but have not received formal training. Therefore, this recommendation is repeated to ensure staff have the skills to meet young people’s individual needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A shortfall was identified in relation to young people’s access to communal areas. The kitchen door is locked at night time, therefore restricting young people’s access to a communal space. There is no review of this practice and it is not necessary for safeguarding reasons. The practice is not a positive behaviour management technique.

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Information about this children's home

The home is managed by a large private organisation. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties and/or learning disability.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

05/02/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure staff have the relevant skills and knowledge to be able to help children understand, and where necessary work to change negative behaviours in key areas of health and well-being such as, but not limited to, appropriate sexual behaviour and use of legal highs, drugs, alcohol and tobacco. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 35, paragraph 7.18)  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 must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. (The Guide to the quality standards, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  Just as in a family home, children should be able to access all shared areas of their home unless there are specific reasons why this would not meet a child's

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Recommendations

needs. Any decisions to limit a child's access to any area of the home must only be made where this is intended to safeguard the child's welfare. All decisions should be informed by a rigorous assessment of that individual child's needs, be properly recorded and be kept under regular review. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 15, paragraph 3.10)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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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