Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Kingston upon Hull

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:

 The manager gives clear direction to staff with a strong focus on improving the well-being of all young people.  Young people have good relationships with staff helping them feel safe, secure and able to develop their emotional resilience.  There is extra therapeutic support from the provider which improves young people’s emotional health and well-being.  Young people are safe, there is commitment and dedication to keeping it this way. Young people are empowered to reduce previous risk-taking behaviour.  Incidents of aggression and challenging behaviour are responded to very effectively. Promotion of socially acceptable behaviours and values is good.  The home is well managed so that young people benefit from experienced, skilled, motivated, enthusiastic and nurturing staff.

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is registered to a private organisation. Places are offered for up to five young people on a short, medium or long term basis. One of these is a semi- independence flat at the top of the home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

22/05/2014 Interim Improved effectiveness

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good

The service aims to provide, ‘High staffing ratios to ensure that young people receive the care; support and direction they need to benefit from their experiences of being looked after and regain control of their lives.’ This is borne out in reality.

p.5

good

Staffing levels are good. They invest considerable time and effort in young people and give them a caring, nurturing environment. This secure base provides a sense of belonging and stability so that young people can form positive trusting attachments to the adults that care for them. As a result they are safer and their wellbeing improves.

p.5

good

Staff have high expectations for young people and are committed to helping them overcome challenges such a reluctance to engage, previous low school attendance and challenging behaviour. All young people experience an environment that promotes equality, where they are treated as individuals, supported to develop socially acceptable values and behaviours.

p.5

good

Young people are valued, respected and listened to, as one commented, ‘They treat you like a normal kid, not a kid in care.’ Another said, ‘Yeah, staff respect you.’ Young people know how to complain and receive good support to talk about difficult issues, for example their childhood and previous experiences before being in care.

p.5

good

Young people have a wide range of opportunities to make their views known. There is regular daily discussion with staff, frequent key-working sessions, weekly residents meetings, access to advocates and others independent of the home. Young people are listened to and influence their care and running of the home. They decide on the menus, activities and effect decisions about contact and their future living arrangements.

p.5

good

Staff prioritise education from the point of referral. This is individualised to young people’s needs so that all receive education that encourages their potential. This can be in the provider’s own school, mainstream schools, college or alternative provision. When young people are excluded there are strong expectations to complete work at home. The manager works closely with education services to ensure young people return back to full-time education.

p.5

good

There are good opportunities to access social and recreational activities. This includes day trips, outdoor pursuits, ice skating, swimming and football. Young people enjoy taking part in seasonal events such as Halloween and the local annual city fair. Staff support young people to join local clubs such as football and ice hockey, promoting their individual interests and community inclusion.

p.6

good

Most young people are from out of area placements and there is good commitment to ensure they still maintain their relationships with important family members. Arrangements are agreed with placing authorities and staff will regularly transport young people on long journeys home so that important links with their family are maintained and strengthened. This also means that there are good successes with young people returning to live at home or in their home area.

p.6

good

Health is promoted in particular the emotional well-being of young people. The therapeutic ethos of the home helps them talk about their feelings and develop their resilience. Young people take part in physical activities, eat healthily and are encouraged to attend their health appointments. Specialist support from learning disability and mental health services is provided for those that need it.

p.6

good

There is sensitive support for young people moving into the home so they feel welcome and settle quickly. Young people who recently moved in said, ‘Staff are friendly, we were made to feel welcome, I was a bit anxious but staff made it okay.’ Likewise there is a high level of consideration and thought with regards unplanned endings. A strong approach to multi-agency working makes sure this is as positive as possible for young people.

p.6

good

Young people are safe. All risks are effectively assessed and clearly identified. Staff understand these and make sure practice both keeps young people safe and helps reduce risk. For example young people are less isolated, are missing from home less often and avoid criminal behaviour. Compared to pre-admission experiences of young people, this is significant risk reduction.

p.6

good

Good care practice also promotes age appropriate risks as young people grow up and become more independent. For example free-time outside of the home, responsibility for budgeting money and safely controlled high risk activities like walking up Snowdon in Wales.

p.6

good

There is good practice when young people leave the home without permission and do not return. Staff will search for them, go to areas they are known to frequent and are pro-active in getting them home safely. Each young person has an individual missing from home risk assessment, shared with police and followed in practice. The manager is part of the local police force’s missing from home liaison meetings. There is good collaboration with the police, placing authority and parents to keep young people safe.

p.7

good

Where there are concerns about an individual’s safety the manager ensures their care plan is reviewed with other agencies. Practice is altered and different strategies are used based on individual needs. Responses to keep young people safe are proactive and aimed at reducing risk.

p.7

good

The manager is knowledgeable about local risks and hotspots for example in relation to bail hostels and high risk child sexual exploitation areas. This positively influences her decision making about admissions to the home so that young people are not unnecessarily put at risk due to the area the home is in. Impact risk assessments are completed and referrals are well managed so there is minimal impact from young people sharing the same home.

p.7

good

Staff are committed, persistent and resilient in supporting young people with challenging behaviour. Firm boundaries, structure, routines and sensitivity ensures young people feel safe and secure within the home. Staff are experienced, know young people well, and use appropriate strategies that promote belonging and feelings of well-being. Practice upholds the aims in the Statement of Purpose so that ‘young people feel valued, safe and free from harm and enabled to achieve their full potential.’

p.7

good

Therapeutic plans are followed and young people engage in work about understanding their feelings, recognising anger and learn better coping strategies. On rare occasions young people need to be ‘held’ or guided out of unsafe situations. Physical intervention is a last resort to keep young people safe. All such events are thoroughly recorded, reflected on by staff with young people to encourage different reactions and promote resilience.

p.7

good

There is strong, responsive management to any concerns raised about staff practice. The manager has good links with the local safeguarding team ensuring that swift action is taken to promote the safety of young people. Judgement grade

p.7

good

The Registered Manager has considerable experience and has achieved the recommended level 5 qualification. She worked for the provider for a number of years before progressing to be the manager. She has been registered for two years and previously managed another home. She is effectively supported by three senior staff and a hard-working, committed staff team.

p.8

good

Strong leadership, drive and direction has developed a team that are motivated to support young people to succeed to the best of their individual abilities. The focus of care is centred on providing young people with positive experiences, keeping them safe and happy.

p.8

good

All young people make progress across different areas of their development dependent on their abilities and past experiences. There is good planning for when young people move in, so that school placements, relevant health services and other support is in place from day one. Any shortfalls in partner agencies are swiftly challenged by the manager and provider.

p.8

good

The manager and staff have strong relationships and work closely with other professionals to ensure young people continue to receive all the support they need. This includes the police, youth justice, education, health and voluntary sector. Stakeholders unanimously commented, ‘Good communication, share information about risks, understand safeguarding, work well together, open to trying different things, listen to young people, make the placement a success.’

p.8

good

There are good arrangements for recruitment, induction, training, support and supervision of staff. The staff team is very supportive, they enjoy coming to work, morale is high, communication is good and they are motivated to give the best to young people. This results in effective teamwork, consistent standards of care that are nurturing and empowering for young people.

p.8

good

There is robust oversight of the management of the home from the regional manager and independent visitor. The arrangements for monthly independent monitoring have improved and contribute to how well young people are looked after. In addition the manager ensures the frequent completion of various internal checks and systematically evaluates practice every quarter. She has a good understanding of strengths and weaknesses of the service. The comprehensive levels of monitoring keep standards high, put young people at the heart of the service ensure they are safe and their well-being promoted.

p.8

good

The Statement of Purpose discusses the provision of ‘tailored care programmes, therapeutic environments and highly dedicated and experienced staff members to empower individuals to progress towards a better life…’ This is clearly evident in the nurturing home environment and significant investment in the well-being of young people.

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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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