Children's Home run by Mulberry House Care Homes Limited in Staffordshire

Requires improvement

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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The children's home provision requires improvement because:

 Staff do not understand their roles and responsibilities in relation to the homes‟ safeguarding policies and procedures. This places young people at risk of harm and fails to promote their safety.

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The children's home provision requires improvement because:

 Young people are not encouraged to take responsibility for their unacceptably behaviours. Staff do not support young people to recognise the consequences of their actions.

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The children's home provision requires improvement because:

 The home is not maintained to an acceptable standard. Health and safety shortfalls means that young people‟s safety is compromised.

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The children's home provision requires improvement because:

 Staff do not teach young people the emotional or practical skills they need to live independently. This hinders their personal progress and development.

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The children's home provision requires improvement because:

 Staff do not ensure that young people‟s case files are kept up to date. Case files do not include all necessary information and documentation and therefore do not provide young people with a true reflection of their placement.

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The children's home strengths

 The use of physical restraint is rare. Staff practice centres on verbal de- escalation and distraction techniques.

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The children's home strengths

 The registered manager effectively challenges poor practice from partner agencies.

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The children's home strengths

 Staff work with education providers to promote attendance and achievements.

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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

6. The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff— (2)(b)

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Requirement Due date

(vi) help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult. 04/01/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the positive relationships standard the registered person must ensure that staff— (2)(a)

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Requirement Due date

(iii) encourage each child to take responsibility for the child‟s behaviour, in accordance with the child‟s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

(iv) help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone. 04/01/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person must ensure, and must ensure that staff— (2)(a)

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Requirement Due date

(v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; and

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Requirement Due date

(d) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child‟s health. 04/01/2016 The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure.(Regulation 35(3)(a)(vii)) 04/01/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; and are kept up to date. (Regulation 36(1)(a)(b)) 04/01/2016

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Information about this children's home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to two young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is owned and operated by a private organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

12/03/2015 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness

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requires improvement

Young people have mixed relationships with staff. One young person said: „I like some of the staff and I feel that they understand me. They listen to me.‟ Staff complete regular one to one sessions with young people that celebrate their achievements. Sessions also review their internal care plans and risk assessments. These encourages young people to recognise their progress. However, case files do not include up to date statutory care plans and other relevant documentation. This means that staff are unable to confirm that the care they provide mirrors the objectives of the placement. This limits the personalised care that they receive.

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requires improvement

Staff and managers prioritise young people‟s education. Staff identify and challenge the barriers to education that young people face. This enables them to re-engage with formal learning. For some young people, this means that they make significant educational progress as a result of living in the home. They succeed in attaining good qualifications and continue to excel in their achievements. This enhances their self-esteem and confidence.

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requires improvement

Young people are encouraged to attend their primary health care appointments. Their physical health needs are monitored and they are able to access services to support their emotional and psychological well-being. When young people refuse to engage with specialist agencies, such as drug and alcohol abuse services, staff devise one to one keywork sessions to highlight the possible negative consequences of their life-style choices. Young people are provided with relevant information and guidance. They are encouraged to consider the detrimental impact their decisions have on their long-term health. This supports their development.

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requires improvement

Staff consult with young people regarding the day-to-day running of the home and the content of their care plans. Some young people say they are involved in decisions about their care and understand why it is not always possible for their wishes to be acted on. This consultation enhances their experience of living in the home.

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requires improvement

The service operates an independent living programme to assess young people‟s skills and abilities. However, staff do not ensure that these documents are completed or kept up to date. This means that young people are not provided with the support they need to move towards independence and adulthood. This shortfall is detrimental to the success of their transition from the home.

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requires improvement

Young people are able to maintain relationships with their families. Staff facilitate regular contact visits and encourage young people to take responsibility for arranging these. This empowers them and ensures they are not isolated from their family; and supports their feelings of self-esteem and inclusion.

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requires improvement

Young people‟s safety in the home is compromised because the environment is not free from hazards. For example, staff do not ensure that young people‟s bedrooms are subject to regular health and safety checks. This means that bedrooms are not maintained to an acceptable standard; they are untidy, unhygienic and in some cases house electrical equipment with exposed wiring. Young people are at risk of harm because of this shortfall.

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requires improvement

Staff work with young people to devise risk assessments that highlight their support needs and promote their safety when they are away from the home. For example, missing from home action plans include details of young people‟s specific vulnerabilities, such as drug abuse. Staff and allocated police officers work in partnership to maintain contact with young people when they are absent without permission. This comprehensive strategy means that for some young people, this risk taking behaviour has reduced considerably since their admission to the home. Young people currently residing in the home are not deemed to be at an increased risk of exploitation although staff remain alert to the signs and symptoms of possible abuse.

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requires improvement

The use of physical restraint is rare although staff continue to complete regular refresher training in this area of practice. This measure of control is only used as a last resort to protect young people from significant or immediate harm. Records of these events are detailed and include young people‟s comments and feedback. This means that the registered manager is able to review these events to ensure that restraint was necessary. This promotes young people‟s safety.

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requires improvement

Since the last inspection, there has been a significant increase in incidents of unacceptable behaviours. This includes young people causing considerable damage to the home. Staff do not use one to one sessions to encourage young people to take responsibility for their behaviour or consider the possible consequences of their actions. When sanctions are used to chastise young people for their negative behaviours, the effectiveness of these is not recorded. As a result, young people do not view their behaviour to be unacceptable and are not motivated to change this. In addition, young people are not supported to develop alternative strategies to resolve conflicts. For example, when they do not receive their desired response to any requests they make, some young people become challenging towards staff. On these occasions, staff do not work with young people to identify how they can better manage their emotions and frustrations. This hinders young people‟s

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requires improvement

The manager has been registered with Osfted since July 2013. She has a number of years‟ experience of working in residential childcare settings and has management skills in this area. The registered manager continues to work towards gaining her Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare qualification. At the last inspection, a requirement was made to ensure that all areas of the home were maintained to a good standard. The registered manager has failed to ensure that this action has been appropriately addressed. This questions the capacity for the home to continually improve and develop.

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requires improvement

The registered manager is competent in recognising young people‟s progress and works with placing authorities to achieve the aims and objectives of the placement. Internal monitoring tools are supported by reports from the independent visitor. These systems adequately assess the quality of care provided by the home. The statement of purpose details the services provided by the home. Social workers and other professionals praise the commitment of the staff team and recognise the positive impact this has on their progress. One social worker said: „The young person has made real and measurable progress in this placement. The staff have never given up and this is a credit to the placement because at times the young person has been very challenging.‟

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requires improvement

Staff received regular supervision. These formal sessions consider their learning needs, individual practice and young people‟s progress. Although the registered manager uses these meetings to devise training plans for the service, she does not confirm staff knowledge following the completion of training. For example, staff do not have an adequate understanding of their responsibilities in relation to the safeguarding procedures in the home. This is detrimental to young people‟s safety and welfare.

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requires improvement

The registered manager works in partnership with other agencies including placing authorities, local police services and specialist health professionals. These effective working arrangements mean that young people are able to access the additional support service they need and this supports their development. When the actions of other fall short of acceptable standard, the registered manager confidently challenges poor practice.

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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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