Children's Home run by Esland South Limited in Kent

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:

 Young people are settled and happy. One young person says ‘I think the home is wonderful, staff have helped me to settle in and I’m happy here’. Another says ‘I’ve experienced issues and this is my happily ever after; staff do their best and they can’t do any more’.  Full consistent staffing ensures that staff who know young people well provide their care. A one to one staff ratio allows young people to have individual time with staff and to develop trusting relationships.  The Registered Manager seeks out specialist training to enhance young people’s safety. Two members of staff have recently trained as Child Sexual Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) ambassadors; they provide online safety training to young people and advice to staff.  Staff work proactively to develop an anti-bullying culture; young people are involved with anti-bullying activities and discussions. One young person says ‘there’s no bullying. I feel safe, safer than I’ve felt in a very long time’.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people develop confidence; they learn independence skills at their own pace and recognise their progress. One young person says ‘I’ve changed without me knowing, we’ve worked together as a team. Staff don’t give up on me so I don’t give up’.  There are shortfalls: the staff training register lacks clarity and some staff require online safety training, staff do not consistently sign and update young people’s reward charts, staff supervision is not always to timescale, actions on the development plan and fire safety assessment require completion and signing.

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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

The registered person must ensure that staff have the appropriate experience, qualifications and skills for the work that the individual is to perform, in particular that the staff training matrix is clear and up to date and that all staff undertake online safety training (Regulation 32(3)(b)) 31/12/2015

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

ensure that staff are familiar with the home's policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording, in particular that the development plan and fire risk assessment action points are signed when complete. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Recommendations

ensure information about the child is recorded in a way that is helpful to the child, in particular, that young people's reward charts are kept up to date. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Recommendations

ensure the registered person has systems in place so that all staff receive supervision of their practice, in particular that all staff supervision is to timescale. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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Information about this children's home

This is a privately owned children’s home offering care and accommodation for up to four young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

09/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

26/02/2014 Interim Satisfactory progress

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Good

Young people in this home and are settled and happy. One young person says ‘I think the home is wonderful, staff have helped me to settle in and I’m happy here’. Another says ‘I’ve experienced issues and this is my happily ever after; staff do their best and they can’t do any more’.

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Good

Careful transition planning and induction allows young people to settle and feel at home. A Social Worker says ‘by the time I did my first visit she was already quite settled; she very quickly said that she liked it there’. Young people talk of a ‘family atmosphere’ and develop a sense of belonging.

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Good

Young people have access to the health services they require. Links with child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and independent therapists support young people’s mental and emotional wellbeing. Specialist training equips staff to meet young people’s specific health needs.

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Good

Staff promote young people’s education and work in partnership with schools. A head teacher says ‘Staff do really well, we have daily liaison. Staff always attend open days and school events and celebrate young people’s achievements’. The Registered Manager has high expectations for young people’s education; she advocates and challenges the local authority where education does not meet their needs. A young person comments ‘I haven’t always been well supported in schooling; since I’ve come here I’m well supported and praised by staff and my teacher’.

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Good

Staff are proactive in engaging young people in activities; they attend the local sports centre, swimming lessons, ice-skating lessons and Girl Guides. Staff promote community training courses; one young person has recently undertaken community fire and rescue training. Young people receive support to follow their faith; staff accompany one young person to church each Sunday. A Social Worker comments ‘they quickly engaged her in lots of activities and that has helped a lot to occupy her time constructively’. Young people are involved in their local community and develop a sense of belonging.

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Good

The home works in partnership with parents and birth families. A Social Worker said ‘I’ve been really impressed with their support of contact’. The home are committed to supporting young people’s contact, including where this involves extensive transportation. Young people speak about the progress staff help them to achieve. One young person learnt to tie her shoelaces and went on to teach her dad to tie his. A young person who was fearful of going outside built confidence and now goes unaccompanied to pre-set destinations. Staff help young people to develop confidence and learn independence skills.

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Good

Staff value young people’s views and encourage their contribution in decision- making. Young people choose their bedroom decoration, the activities that they undertake and the meals that they eat. They know how to complain; the Registered Manager oversees complaints effectively.

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Good

A weekly reward programme helps young people to make positive change to their behaviour. Young people are keen to engage in this programme and know the goals that they are working towards. Inconsistent staff oversight and signing of reward charts leaves young people uncertain of whether they have achieved their goals and diminishes the effectiveness of this programme.

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Good

Young people trust and value staff. A young person says ‘staff care for us a lot, it’s like I’ve got nine parents and I don’t even have to be related to them’. Trusted relationships with staff mean that young people are able to share their concerns and receive help and support. A young person says ‘I speak about different things to different people, me and my keyworker have an excellent relationship, she helps me a lot’. Purposeful open communication helps to keep young people safe.

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Good

Safe staff recruitment protects young people. Staff enjoy their work; one member of staff says ‘the best thing about working here is the kids. The atmosphere is a home away from home and I know that the kids feel that. I spend a lot of time with them, and that for me is important’. Respect and care between staff and young people creates a nurturing environment; staff accept young people for who they are, from this starting point, they make progress.

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Good

Staff with specialist Child Sexual Exploitation and online safety training enhance young people’s safety. A robust online safety policy guides internet use and helps to keep young people safe. Staff supervise internet use and safe search filters are in place. Young people complete training and sign a safe use contract prior to internet use. They have a good understanding of online safety; one says ‘I did the CEOP training; if something happened I would tell staff straight away’. Safeguarding, child sexual exploitation (CSE) and missing young people training are mandatory courses for all staff. Training in the new radicalisation policy ensures staff are aware of risks and know how to report concerns. CEOP ambassadors will provide online safety training to all staff, however, this is yet to take place meaning that staff may lack online safeguarding knowledge.

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Good

Proactive links with police community support officers (PCSO) support young people to build positive relationships with police. Regular PCSO visits to the home provide informal advice to young people and specific training including ‘stranger danger’.

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Good

Young people rarely go missing; robust plans are in place should this occur. Links with the local police missing person’s coordinator provide advice to staff and young people. A clear missing from home policy guides staff and protects missing young people.

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Good

Everybody knows and understands the anti-bullying policy; the home works effectively to develop an anti-bullying culture. During anti-bullying week young people were involved with a number of activities and discussions. One young person says ‘there’s no bullying. I feel safe, safer than I’ve felt in a very long time’.

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Good

Promotion of positive behaviour is the primary means of behaviour modification. Up to date behaviour plans effectively guide staff in managing challenging behaviour. Staff focus upon de-escalation and physical intervention is infrequent; where it does occur it is to regulation and includes management review.

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Good

Risk assessments are up to date and staff follow effective risk reduction plans. Social workers note positive behaviour development, one says ‘there’s been progress in respect of behaviours, missing and CSE risk has not been an issue since being here’. Young people’s risk taking behaviour diminishes and they become increasingly safe.

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Good

Staff are clear about safeguarding procedures. Managers’ report safeguarding concerns and allegations to appropriate authorities without delay. The home has effective links with the local authority designated officer, seeking information and advice as required. The local safeguarding children board provides consultation and safeguarding training for staff, ensuring that the home works to best safeguarding practice.

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Good

The physical environment of the home is well maintained and homely. Health and safety checks are up to date. Staff take health and safety seriously, resulting in a safe environment for all. Judgement grade

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Good

A Registered Manager with 5 years of management experience leads this home. She is suitably qualified with a Level 4 Diploma in Leadership and Management. She is a passionate advocate for young people and demonstrates energetic commitment to young people achieving best outcomes.

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Good

Full consistent staffing ensures that staff who know young people well provide care. High levels of staffing enables everyday one to one time between young people and staff; they receive individual attention develop trusting relationships. The statement of purpose sets out the ethos and objectives of the home. Improved placement matching processes mean that young people are placed only when their assessed needs can be met. This results in stable placements of well- matched young people. A young person says ‘the kids, we all get along; we’re like one big team. We get on each other’s nerves sometimes but we have a laugh at the end of it’.

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Good

Regular management monitoring has a strong focus upon young people’s progress. An initial baseline assessment identifies areas of strength and difficulty at admission. Detailed monthly monitoring of young people follows this, with comprehensive review at six monthly intervals. Careful tracking of young people’s progress enables swift intervention should progress falter.

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Good

Management monitoring of some record keeping lacks scrutiny. For example, the action points of the home’s development plan and fire safety assessment lack sign off. It is unclear whether action points are complete, this risks drift and delay.

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Good

The Registered Manager has good oversight of decision making in respect of young people and challenges where decisions are not in young people’s best interests. Recently, this has resulted in a young person moving from special needs to mainstream education, where she is more able to fulfil her potential. The home promotes advocacy; young people have advocates that represent their views, particularly in respect of move-on planning and decision-making.

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Good

Young people’s care plans reflect and address their individual needs. The home is proactive in supporting them to attend their review meetings and participate in decision-making. Young people’s records place emphasis on their positive achievements; a personalised monthly report with photos of achievements enables young people to review and take pride in their progress.

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Good

Links with the Virtual School enable young people to access education that suits their needs. Child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) provide support and links with independent therapy services allow young people to undertake ongoing counselling. Referral to specialist support is made without delay, a Social Worker says ‘they very quickly referred her to CAMHS and the NSPCC; they are now getting a private therapist for her’. Purposeful links with external agencies ensure young people receive the services and support that they require.

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Good

Improved supervision focusses upon the Quality Standards. All staff receive supervision; however, this is not always to timescale. At the time of inspection, four staff had overdue supervision, this results in missed opportunities to support staff and to oversee their working practice. Appraisal is annual; it effectively reviews staff practice during the year and sets future targets encouraging ongoing staff development.

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Good

New staff receive robust induction including specialised induction training. An ongoing training programme equips staff to meet young people’s needs. However, staff training records lack clarity; it is difficult to see whether staff training is in date and whether training undertaken online is complete. Ineffective oversight of staff training means that staff may lack key training to care for young people.

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Good

One requirement and five recommendations made at the previous inspection have been effectively actioned, bringing improvement to the home.

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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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