Children's Home run by Blackford Education (schools) Ltd in Somerset

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Outstanding at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 Young people progress well with their educational achievement and are supported by the home to attend school full-time. Care staff support young people travelling to and from school, and in the classroom. This helps to ensure full-time attendance, prevent classroom disruption, and it gives young people practical support with their work. One independent reviewing officer commented, ‘School attendance is good and it’s a really stable placement.’ Another placing social worker commented, ‘…he has made progress at school. They take great care to make sure his mum gets invited to school meetings.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 Young people’s emotional well-being is supported by the agency’s provision of therapeutic services. This includes psychological assessment and regular ongoing direct work with a play therapist. The work is firmly based on attachment theory and the therapist attends staff meetings to give staff clinical supervision into individual young people’s needs. An independent reviewing officer commented, ‘They work hard to repair her trauma through equine therapy and play therapy.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 Young people make good progress with their behaviour in relation to their starting points. This is achieved by effective assessment of need and individual risk assessments, which are regularly reviewed, together with a consistent approach to behaviour management. One placing social worker commented, ‘The home has made great improvements in his ability to control his behaviour.’ The use of physical restraint in this home is comparatively low compared to a home of this size, caring for young people with similar needs. Staff receive training in the use of restraint and all such events are effectively recorded and young people complete a ‘self-reflection’ summary of events which they complete after discussion with the manager of the home. This helps to ensure that young people take some responsibility for their own behaviour.  Although the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) reported that there were no current or recent safeguarding concerns about this home, the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

manager drew to the inspector’s attention on the day of the inspection, that a parent had raised a concern about bruising on their child’s arm and that this may have occurred during a recent restraint. The LADO has been informed and is currently investigating. All appropriate bodies have been notified.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 The manager of the home conducts quarterly reviews of the service which draw upon the monthly visits and reports conducted by an independent visitor. These reports are generally favourable. There are examples where the home has made changes to their practice because of issues identified by the independent visitor. This has included the promotion of more outdoor activities to address the garden area been unavailable during building work being undertaken. The manager also takes young people’s views into account when conducting the review. This is achieved by monthly questionnaire surveys of the young people, regular house meetings and young people’s weekly discussions with their key worker. One example of this was a young person’s request to decorate his room differently, and this subsequently happened.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 The manager ensures that all appropriate authorities are informed through notification about significant events that occur. On one single occasion this involved notification of one young person going missing for a brief period. This resulted in the event being clearly recorded; collaboration with the police officer responsible for the oversight of missing young people, who met with the young person to advise them about the dangers that might occur from going missing; and a reassessment of the young person’s risk assessment. It was noted that the home’s record of accidents included detail of a young person being taken to the local Accident and Emergency department for attention to a cut finger. Notification had not been made to Ofsted about this. The manager must ensure that notifications are made whenever one of the situations specified in Regulation 40 occurs. Specifically, if a young person is taken to an Accident and Emergency

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 The home has responded quickly and effectively to the requirement of the previous Ofsted inspection and now all children’s bedrooms have safety caps on electrical sockets.

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is run by a locally-based private company, which also operates another four homes in the area. The company also run a school which is inspected by Ofsted’s education inspectors. The children’s home currently provides long-term and respite care for a maximum of four young people, who may have emotional or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

16/03/2015 CH - Interim declined in effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

25/02/2014 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

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Recent inspection history

18/02/2013 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

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Recent inspection history

25/01/2012 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the registered person notifies Ofsted if one of the situations specified in Regulation 40 occurs. Specifically, if a child requires emergency medical attention. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, page 63, paragraph 14.10)

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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

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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