Children's Home run by Five Rivers Child Care Limited in Wiltshire

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 home’s registered manager and staff provide high quality, nurturing and consistent care. The children and young people are valued as individuals and receive consistent, clear messages and genuine warmth and affection.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The staff’s intervention has resulted in children and young people with exceptionally complex needs achieving very good progress in relation to their starting points. This has made a significant difference to their life chances.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The registered manager ensures that the young people’s unique cultural needs are respected. She tackles any discrimination firmly, but in a positive, restorative manner.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The manager and staff have highly productive professional relationships with other agencies and services. There is strong and effective challenge when other agencies do not place the children and young people at the centre of their practice.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The registered manager is a reflective, innovative and inspirational leader. She wants the children and young people, as well as her staff team, to achieve the best they possibly can.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The home’s ethos is reflected in the high quality of the environment. Elements of the home’s design and professional practice are highly creative and worthy of wider dissemination.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The staff’s work with the children and young people is evaluated and informed by the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Community of Communities annual peer review. This provides additional checks and balances to enhance the robust levels of internal and external monitoring required by regulation.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

p.4

Recommendations

Ensure that the staff fully understand the risks associated with any restraint technique used in the home. Techniques used for restraint that may interfere with breathing and holds by the neck that may result in injury to the spine are not permissible in any circumstances. In particular, research alternatives to the use of prone restraints (Guidance to the Children’s Homes Regulations (April 2015) paragraph 9.56)

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Recommendations

Ensure that the company maintains good employment practice. The registered person must ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. In particular, record detail of the reference verification conversation with the referee. (Guidance to the Children’s Homes Regulations (April 2015) paragraph 13.1)

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

09/12/2014 CH - Interim improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

31/12/2013 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

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Information about this children's home

This privately-owned children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six girls or young women between eight and 17 years, who may be experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties. Emergency admissions are not accepted. The provider operates a range of children’s services nationally. This home is one of a group of six owned by the provider in the south west of England.

p.5

Good

The children and young people in this home receive high quality care. They are central to every part of the home’s routines, plans and aspirations. One child said proudly, ‘this is my home!’ She said that she feels very well settled and that she is keen to stay for several more years.

p.5

Good

The registered manager supports her staff team in reinforcing clear, but fair boundaries around the children and young people’s behaviour. Because they have very different needs, each child or young person has a tailor-made package of therapeutic care and support. A social worker commented that the staff’s dedicated care and consistent boundaries have helped their young person to progress in many areas of her life.

p.5

Good

The children and young people say that they get on really well with their staff. They have a warm, mutually respectful relationship with their key workers and spend considerable time with them. Staff focus on specific targets to help the young people resolve their difficulties. One young person said that ‘I can talk to anybody in the home, and they will listen. All the staff are nice.’

p.5

Good

The home is decorated with posters and paintings which contain written messages for the adults and children about ‘keeping things real’, thinking before they speak, and ensuring that what they say is ‘truthful, inspirational and kind’. There are many positive images of people of different ethnicities and cultures, to help the children and young people to understand and develop their identities. Despite the children and young people’s very complex needs, they have both made good progress since their arrival in the home. They have increased in self- confidence and self-esteem, and some have dramatically improved their outcomes in most areas of their lives. One young person said that she had difficulties with managing her emotions when she first came to live in the home. This has now improved and she is starting to become friends with other children.

p.5

Good

The children and young people’s healthcare needs are very well managed. Clarity and detail in their health records helps the staff to look after them to a very good standard. This includes providing help and advice on growing up and sexual health issues.

p.6

Good

The children and young people receive very good quality therapeutic services. The staff work together with the social workers, an adoption support agency, the local child and adolescent mental health team and the company’s psychotherapist to provide seamless packages of support. The staff sit in on therapy sessions to ensure consistency of practice. They also receive regular consultation from the company’s psychotherapist to add invaluable insight to support their work. The therapeutic style of intervention and the quality of relationships between the staff and the young people has been instrumental in supporting progress.

p.6

Good

The home works with children in a therapeutic manner, using a specific model of intervention. As part of the Community of Communities, the home has been subject to self and peer reviews each year for the past three years. This provides additional challenge and scrutiny to support the home’s drive for improvement.

p.6

Good

The children and young people have 100% school attendance. For one child, this is a massive improvement compared with when she arrived. It is really positive that they are spared a long journey to school every day, and can walk to the company’s own school nearby. Both children and young people have made very good progress in school. One young person explained that she likes science and art, and that her grades have improved.

p.6

Good

The registered manager and her team are ambitious for the children and young people. They believe that supporting each child to engage with school and reaching their educational potential is the key to their eventual success. To this end, the home has a dedicated education room, which is well equipped with books and computer equipment. Staff are always available to help the children and young people with their homework to support their learning.

p.6

Good

The staff are very child-centred, and the children and young people are fully consulted about every aspect of their day-to-day care. They explained that they have key workers, but can speak to any member of staff to express their views. They know how to raise a complaint, but have chosen not to do so.

p.6

Good

After dinner every day, everyone in the home gathers in the relaxing play room for a short ‘community get-together’. This is an opportunity for children and adults to talk about their day and raise any matter that concerns them. The children and young people, neither of whom liked the old-style house meetings, welcome this informal gathering and participate fully. This shows that the manager and staff have been able to think creatively about how best to engage the children and young people.

p.6

Good

One young person explained that when she first came to the home, she was able to visit before moving in. She was in agreement with the move and is glad that she came to live there. There have been no unplanned endings since the previous inspection. One former resident moved to another home within the group and another young adult moved into an independence flat. The staff maintain and value contact with former residents and are happy to offer support and advice.

p.7

Good

The children and young people have access to a wide range of productive and fun activities. One young person said that they had all been on holiday to Cornwall. This was great fun and she had enjoyed it. Photographs around the home show the children and young people taking part in exciting activities together. One child was at Thorpe Park on the first day of the inspection, and then went to a dancing and gymnastics event on the second day. The children and young people take part in community groups such as the Brownies, and some are making friends of a similar age.

p.7

Good

The staff work hard to provide interesting, well-balanced and culturally varied foods to reflect the children and young people’s ethnic backgrounds and tastes. The children are fully involved in planning their diet and are willing to try new meals to broaden their tastes. The foods prepared during the inspection were exceptionally wholesome and appealing for children and adults alike.

p.7

Good

Two shortfalls were found during this inspection; the use of prone restraints and the lack of recorded detail when references for prospective employees are verified. Recommendations have been made to support improvement in these areas.

p.7

Good

The staff keep children and young people in this home safe from harm through sound knowledge of the home’s child protection systems and well-supervised practice. There have been no safeguarding concerns since the previous inspection, but if a child were to make a disclosure, it the staff are manager are well aware of the need to refer the matter to the local authority designated officer.

p.7

Good

The registered manager ensures that the home’s risk management practices are safe and practical. Risk assessments for the children and young people are realistic, clear and highly individualised. This provides opportunities for the home’s residents to grow and learn, without being subject to risk-averse practice. The company has a good system of staff recruitment which meets regulatory requirements. A shortfall was found at the previous full inspection regarding reference verification. This was resolved at the interim inspection, but a staff file seen on this occasion had the same weakness. The human resources department verify references by telephone, and record this contact with a signature and date, but there is no record of the conversation. Following discussion, the manager undertook to raise this with relevant colleagues to ensure that practice improves. A recommendation has been made to support this.

p.7

Good

The home has robust health and safety processes, with regular and thorough fire safety checks and drills to ensure that the children and young people understand what to do in an emergency. The environment is safe and very well maintained.

p.8

Good

The manager has drawn up a detailed and very well-designed location risk assessment. This shows evidence of consultation with the local police, and has an analysis of crime rates and anti-social behaviour in the area. The risk assessment is practical and useful, in that it contains photos of all the local parks and a description of their location and facilities. This helps staff who may not necessarily know the local area well, to keep the children and young people safe when out and about in the community.

p.8

Good

The children and young people in this home do not usually go missing. They are under close staff supervision, so there is almost no risk of exploitation in the community. There has been only one incident when one young person evaded the staff for a short period of time. The staff followed the home’s agreed protocol, and the young person was located safe and well.

p.8

Good

Representatives from the police confirmed that the manager liaises very effectively with the local force. This regular communication ensures that the missing-from- home protocol is updated and correct, and that there is a good understanding between the agencies. The local community support officer visits the home regularly for dinner and a community get-together, so that she can have a friendly chat with the children and young people on an informal basis. The young people really welcome this contact, and it encourages them to develop trust in the police.

p.8

Good

The children and young people have access to the internet, with the level of monitoring and control set according to their individual needs and risks.

p.8

Good

The staff set very clear and consistent boundaries, and work very closely together as a tightly-knit team. Social workers commented on how effective this is in providing a unified, robust approach to care and behaviour management. This minimises the negative effects of staff changing with each shift, and helps the children and young people to feel safe and secure.

p.8

Good

The children and young people have very different needs. Some young people’s life experiences have caused them to struggle with anger management, and sometimes they hurt other people. At the time of this inspection, one particular member of staff was being targeted, but due to very clear boundaries and excellent direct work with the young people, this is already reducing in frequency.

p.8

Good

Some weeks ago, there were several incidents of racial abuse directed towards a much younger child. The manager has analysed in depth the possible reasons for this, and has observed practice closely. The racial abuse was tackled assertively and very clear warnings were given about what would happen if it was repeated. When there was a further incident, the manager and staff team made the difficult decision to involve the police. This decision was following an analysis of the young person’s motives and level of self-control. This strategy has been effective, and there has been no recent repetition. The young people are beginning to show insight into their behaviour towards other children, which is good progress. Children who are the subject of any form of discrimination are exceptionally well supported.

p.9

Good

The children and young people are closely involved in finding solutions to any incidents of challenging behaviour. Consequences used are appropriate and tailored to the situation. The young people have the opportunity to comment and engage in restorative measures to help compensate for their actions. Rewards are well-chosen, and are clearly effective in helping children and young people to improve their behaviour.

p.9

Good

The therapist, parents, social worker and staff from the home meet regularly to review progress and plan future interventions. When incidents take place in the home, the staff endeavour to de-escalate the situation to calm the young person and avoid physical intervention. The manager explained that restraint is not part of the culture of the home, and is only ever used as a last resort. One child is not restrained at all.

p.9

Good

There have been occasions when other young people’s behaviour has been potentially dangerous to others, and staff have had to hold them to prevent injury. Detailed records clearly show the sequence of events, with staff trying to de- escalate the situation before moving to low-intensity holds. The manager has scrutinised the sequence of events, the staff’s practice and has given clear guidance when required, all aimed at trying to avoid the use of restraint altogether.

p.9

Good

On six occasions which coincided with a planned reduction in one young person’s medication, staff found it necessary to progress to prone holds. The manager is well aware of the potential risk of positional asphyxia when prone restraints are used. She explained that their use has reduced in frequency since the medication was reinstated, and that the young person is now developing relationships and responding to the staff in a more positive manner. A recommendation has been made to encourage the home to research alternatives to using prone holds. Judgement grade

p.9

Outstanding

The home is exceptionally well led and managed. The manager was registered on 11 July 2012. Since that date, she has demonstrated that she is strongly child- focused and ambitious for the home and that she has excellent management skills.

p.10

Outstanding

The manager is very well qualified for her role. She holds a national vocational qualification at level 4 in caring for children and young people, and a diploma in health and social care management at level 5. She also holds a diploma in child development and psychology, and has over 17 years’ experience in working with children and young people.

p.10

Outstanding

At the previous full inspection, the home was rated good with outstanding features. At the interim inspection, the home had improved in effectiveness. No requirements or recommendations were made.

p.10

Outstanding

The manager constantly strives for improvement. The home’s development plan from last year has been fully implemented and this has significantly enhanced the quality of the children and young people’s environment. The home continues to be strongly and effectively managed, with a clear focus on achieving exceptional outcomes for children and young people.

p.10

Outstanding

The ethos of this home is that the children and young people’s needs always come first. They are central to the day-to-day routines of the home, with shared meals and community time to help provide a strong, supportive family atmosphere. The exceptional quality of care ensures that the children and young people have every opportunity to develop resilience and self-confidence.

p.10

Outstanding

The close-knit, mutually supportive staff team comprises a diverse mixture of long- standing, highly experienced and more recently-appointed team members. There is an ethnically-diverse balance of men and women on the team, several of whom are graduates in subjects related to their roles. One member of staff has a Masters’ degree in clinical psychology, and another is a graduate in criminology. This high level of education helps staff to raise children and young people’s aspirations and inspires them to do well. The staff are all qualified at level 3 in the care of children and young people, or undertaking the award.

p.10

Outstanding

The staff receive excellent, focused supervision, and good-quality training which is geared to the children and young people’s needs. All the staff said that they like to work in the home because of the child-centred ethos and the manager’s positive, inspirational leadership style. Some staff had specifically requested to work in this home in order to be a part of her team. The home has a very clear, detailed and informative statement of purpose that meets regulatory requirements. The children’s guide a very well designed and can be adapted to suit children with different communication needs. The company’s web site shows artwork and other contributions from the children and young people, to enable them to help prospective new residents understand what the home has to offer.

p.10

Outstanding

All the professionals in contact with the home confirm that the manager and staff are extremely good at clear and effective communication. The registered manager has excellent relationships with other agencies, but is not afraid to challenge poor practice when this has been necessary to advocate for the young people.

p.11

Outstanding

Social workers receive regular, informative reports on their children’s progress. The home plays a key role in ensuring that there is a close-knit team around each child. This helps children to receive consistent, coherent and supportive services from different agencies to help them make progress. In some instances, this has helped to maintain very challenging placements. However, the registered manager is very clear that if the home cannot meet a child’s needs, it is not in their best interests to stay. When such situations have occurred, the manager and staff have worked constructively to help a young person to move on to a more suitable environment.

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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

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