Children's Home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Staffordshire

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 service benefits from strong leadership and a consistent team of staff.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff keep children safe and ensure they make good progress.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff establish excellent relationships with children.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Senior staff monitor children’s progress well and strategies are adapted after close communication with other agencies.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Behaviour management techniques are applied fairly and are effective.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Children make excellent improvements in their relationships with their families.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 This inspection makes four requirements and two recommendations. These include some administrative matters. In addition, the presentation of children’s bedrooms is poor. Also, Ofsted receives insufficient notifications about serious incidents.

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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, with particular regard to children’s bedrooms being sufficiently clean and well presented, the registered provider must ensure that staff:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(b)(vii) provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. 01/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 01/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

Keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it. (Regulation 16(3)(a)) 01/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

Notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; or there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40(4)(b)(e)) 01/03/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Take account of information provided by independent return home interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that all staff consistently follow the home's policies and procedures for the benefit of the children in the home's care. This is with regard to ensuring that all staff are up-to-date at all times with any new documentation. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 54, paragraph 10.20)

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Information about this children's home

This home is registered to care for up to six children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is located in a rural area and is operated by a large care provider.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

10/03/2015 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness

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good

For most new children, this home is something of a surprise. The remote moorlands setting is a new experience for them and often an unwelcome one. The fields and sheep are usually a source of wonder to new children from urban environments. As a result, they frequently experience a period of some anxiety, which they demonstrate by negative behaviours. A significant proportion remain for only a short time before moving to other placements, for reasons that were either planned or unplanned. An admission and a discharge occur approximately every five weeks on average. This turnover of children is a significant feature of the service and for those that remain. For all children, the home is a temporary placement designed to offer them safety and time to recover. The vast majority of admissions are of boys.

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good

Once children have settled into the home, they are usually extremely positive about it. One child wanted two new children to know that ‘it’s alright here’. Another said, ‘I like the home. I like everything here. The staff are nice, they’re all my favourites. When you ask for something, they try to do it for you.’ Children receive the Children’s Guide promptly, which describes how to make complaints, and they feel free to express concerns and ensure that their entitlements are provided. They experience a high standard of consultation and engagement. A child has made only one complaint since the last inspection, which was about a travel-related issue.

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good

All the children receive on-site education from tutors in separate accommodation. This works well to re-engage children who have often lost faith in formal education. Levels of engagement naturally fluctuate but high expectations are established and attendance rates are excellent. Children receive rewards for their progress, which is frequently substantial, and their artwork is put on display. Some children helped to prepare the new classroom, which is of a high standard and gives the education service the credibility it deserves. The head of education is taking steps to register the service with Ofsted. Children develop ambitions based on their interests and skills. Currently, several are interested in pursuing building trades and staff have supported them to help with minor jobs on site, such as decorating. This is an important contribution to their opportunities and self-esteem. For some children it is the first time they have found a legitimate way of earning a

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good

living. One told staff that he could now stop ‘looking over his shoulder’.

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good

Children enjoy good health. Staff address their medical needs appropriately, such as administering prescribed medication. Children also make marked progress with routine but important health-related skills, such as cleaning their teeth and washing their hands regularly. Older children often serve as role models, which boosts their own self-confidence. Staff address complex issues, including emotional difficulties and diabetes, under the direction of relevant professionals. Because of the therapeutic approach by staff, children often show clear reductions in their anger, which their families and social workers comment upon. The location provides a natural venue for a range of healthy outdoor activities, which children use fully.

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good

Staff report on many notable improvements in the relationships between children and their families. This is a significant contribution by the team to the safe re- integration of children into their own communities. At this sensitive time of year, several children are visiting their families for Christmas, which demonstrates significant progress. Children and staff were enjoying the seasonal excitement during the inspection; one child spoke about the presents he had bought his siblings. Care and teaching staff also acknowledge and discuss the celebrations enjoyed in other countries and cultures. Children recently learnt about Mexico, for example.

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good

Children gradually learn to keep themselves safe. They feel safe within the home and can secure their belongings. Staff prevent bullying and fighting almost completely. Because of the nature of the service, most children arrive with risky behaviours with which they need help. This poses too much of a challenge for some and alternative placements are obtained, either inside or outside the organisation.

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good

Staff demonstrate a thorough understanding of children’s needs and the causes of their negative behaviours. The systems they use acclimatise new children to the safety provided by competent adults. The behaviour management ethos has become more effective as the service has consolidated and staff apply a high level of consistency. For children, this means they experience a measured response to negative behaviour with very little resort to physical intervention. This serves to retain children in a dialogue about their emotions and the causes. Praise, rewards and their own understanding drive down the frequency and severity of incidents. One social worker said, ‘Good behaviour management techniques are used. Staff work hard to calm children and offer praise, encouragement and comfort.’ Currently, staff record verbal praise as a reward, which is misleading and does not account for the positive work done on each child’s behaviour management plan.

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good

This is an administrative issue that the deputy manager is reviewing. Serious incidents arise from time-to-time and sometimes involve the police. The frequency of such incidents is falling but their notification to Ofsted occurs less often than required. This misunderstanding about what constitutes a serious incident compromises the ability of the regulator to monitor how well the service is protecting children.

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good

Staff assess the risks posed by children to themselves and others well. For individual children, this leads to the frequency of incidents falling, whether they be going missing, misusing substances, or being aggressive. For the service as a whole, the frequency of children putting themselves at risk by going missing has fallen substantially. Staff achieve this through close supervision of children and constructive activities, as well as effective communication with neighbours and the police. No children are currently at risk of exploitation although this possibility is part of the detailed risk assessment procedure. All children who go missing receive an interview afterwards. However, the feedback to staff after these meetings is minimal. This potentially compromises the ability of staff address the causes of such episodes.

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good

Some neighbours have complained about the behaviour of children. The organisation, Ofsted and the police have investigated this thoroughly. No agency has identified concerns about the conduct of the service. However, the manager has taken suitable steps to reduce the likelihood of such complaints occurring.

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good

There has been strong and consistent leadership of the home by the manager and deputy since it opened in 2012. One local authority commissioner said, ‘The manager is very enthusiastic and experienced.’ Recently, the manager has applied to Ofsted to become the registered manager of two other homes in the company and the deputy has applied to become the registered manager here. Staff feel confident that there will be a seamless transition. Overall, this is a positive reflection on the effectiveness of the organisation to plan for the replacement of senior personnel. The manager has ensured that children benefit substantially from minimal turnover of staff.

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good

The service received by children reflects the statement of purpose. The manager has reviewed this document but not in sufficient detail to ensure it fully represents the service. Shortfalls arise, for example, in the description of the education provision on site and of children’s rights.

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good

The last inspection raised no requirements or recommendations. However, the manager has ensured that the service receives a steady flow of feedback from children and other people. These comments are overwhelmingly positive and the proposed manager is investigating ways to improve the service further. Ofsted did not receive any feedback to its surveys this year but another opportunity will arise in the new financial year. The organisation has introduced a new method of tracking children’s progress. The staff team also benefit from direct support from therapists. The organisation initiated both these opportunities, which are improving the service. On the other hand, monitoring by the independent visitor and the manager keep the service at a good standard but the level of evaluation involved is low. This lack of understanding means that the analyses of data results in the maintenance of the service but does not contribute to its improvement.

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good

Staff members rightly pride themselves on a high level of consistency in their care practices. This is the basis of their effective control and care of the children. A parent commented that ‘staff work together closely’. The team are close-knit but remain centred on the needs of the children. A visiting independent reviewing officer wrote, ‘Young people are at the centre of all their decisions.’ Staff members acknowledge that the therapeutic focus of their work has improved the outcomes for children and made their work more rewarding. Their supervisors support them well and they have opportunities for professional progression.

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good

The transfer of information between shifts is adequate although individual staff members are not always up-to-date with amended documents. Monitoring exercises, including this inspection, have repeatedly shown a shortfall in staff reading new documents. Although staff have a working knowledge of the contents, this creates a potential risk to children should staff fail to address important changes.

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good

The organisation has recently made substantial financial investments in the property. These changes have improved the communal areas, windows and the classroom. As a result, the property is warmer, more comfortable and more homely. Children have been involved in the choices and in some parts of the actual work. Nevertheless, children’s bedrooms suffer from a poor standard of presentation. Key workers do not demonstrate sufficient care of these areas on a day-to-day basis. Consequently, decoration is incomplete in some rooms, a curtain was missing in one, rubbish and clothing litters nearly all the bedroom floors.

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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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