Children's Home run by Unique Care Homes Support Limited in Cambridgeshire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The organisation since the last inspection has appointed a new manager who, whilst assessment of their suitability has yet to be completed by Ofsted, provides clear leadership and direction to the staff. The new manager has addressed almost all of the nine requirements and three recommendations set at the last inspection. A crucially significant improvement since the last inspection is the provision of a permanent, stable staff team. This means that young people are now able to build trusting and secure relationships with adults working in the home. The provision of a stable group has enabled staff to develop and bond as a team. Staff are beginning to demonstrate a higher level of reflection and understanding of the impact of young people’s experiences on their behaviour. This stability and the implementation of consistent and effective boundaries alongside a change in approach to behaviour management has been particularly successful. The move to

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

a restorative ethos and system of rewarding positive behaviour has been a catalyst for the drastic reduction in physical restraint from an average of fifteen per month in early summer, to one per month within a four month period. Young people are beginning to develop self-management skills and reflect on their behaviour and the impact it has on others. Young people feel valued and benefit from opportunities to explore their emotions and develop tools for appropriately communicating and managing their anger. The improved stability within the staff team has enabled the new manager to ensure that all staff receive suitable training in the vast majority of key areas of practice. A member of staff trained in first aid is now always on duty. Medication training, however, continues to be provided via e-learning with no further assessment of the staff’s ability to safely administer medication. Some young people are not prescribed emergency pain medication, nor is there a homely

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

remedy protocol in place. Therefore, there continues to be a lack of effective systems for staff to administer emergency pain relief should this be requested. Record management has improved and the home now holds a central accurate admission register and records of physical restraint, including evidence of sufficient manager oversight. However, records within the home on occasion continue to provide lack of detail. For example, on one occasion a missing from care record fails to detail that the young person got in to a car and one record of physical restraint does not clearly document what occurred to demonstrate that the threshold for intervention was met. Whilst there are no concerns that staff acted inappropriately, such recording shortfalls potentially impact on understanding the appropriateness and effectiveness of staff intervention to protect young people. The home is suitably maintained, spacious, and safe. Effective maintenance

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

arrangements mean that any damages are swiftly responded, to ensuring a homely environment continues to be provided, despite somewhat regular damage. Young people now have access to appropriate telephone facilities, enabling them to make contact with people who are important to them. The manager has undertaken a review as to the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home, which identifies low risks in relation to criminal activity within the community. However, there is insufficient information and evaluation of any risks and opportunities regarding health and education presented by the home’s location, and strategies for managing these. The statement of purpose is not written in plain English, is some 63 pages long and uses lots of quotes from regulations. Staff find it cumbersome and inaccessible and, as a result, do not always read the document. This has the potential to limit

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

their ability to effectively understand and implement it. When young people are excluded from school for any length of time staff are imaginative in arranging activities with an educational slant, such as, visiting the local science park or developing their independence and baking skills. The manager and staff are proactive in identifying and raising any concerns regarding the quality of educational provision with social workers. However, had the manager been aware of the role of the Virtual School Head Teacher, he could have potentially advocated more effectively in a timely manner. There is no workforce development plan in place, and the review of the quality of service does not clearly outline issues of concern and what strategies the manager has identified to address and promote further improvement. Neither does the review effectively engage partner agencies to understand the strengths. In reality,

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

the manager has gained a strong understanding of the views of partner agencies and has employed this knowledge to drive improvement. Young people have always said they enjoy living at the home, however, it is clear that improved parenting strategies are promoting better emotional stability and resilience. Feedback from partner agencies identifies the positive changes within the home since the last inspection, commenting they are very pleased with the progress. Comments include ‘it’s like a different home, different culture and different attitude’ and ‘it’s lovely to see the change, it’s the best it’s ever been.’ The staff and new manager have worked hard to meet the vast majority of requirements and recommendations set at the previous inspection and, as a result, the quality of care and support young people receive has significantly improved. Whilst one requirement and a number of recommendations have been made at this

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

inspection, they do not impact on the quality of care that young people have received or their overall experiences.

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned by a private company. It provides care and accommodation for up to five children and young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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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

13: The leadership and management standard In order to meet this standard, with particular reference to monitoring, the registered person must: (2)(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 15/03/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s): Provide suitable arrangements to manage, administer and dispose of any medication. In particular, ensure staff training is of suitable quality and their competence to administer is established and ensure an effective system is in place for staff to administer non-prescription medication for requested pain relief in line with young people's relevant plans. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 35 paragraph 7.15)  Ensure staff have an understanding of how schools function, including the processes for admission to schools, the role of designated teachers for looked-after children and the role of the Virtual School Head. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 27 paragraph 5.10)

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Recommendations

Develop a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs19 and 20). (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 53 paragraph 10.8)

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Recommendations

Ensure staff understand the importance of careful objective and clear recording ensuring information regarding the child is recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. In particular, ensure clear records are maintained of the actions taken by staff in the event of a child going missing and the application of physical restraint (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 62 paragraph 14.4)

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Recommendations

Review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home's location and strategies for managing these. Providers should refer to the non-statutory advice about the location assessment process (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 64 paragraph 15.1)

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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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