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

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s progress and experiences have been undermined since the last inspection by a lack of robust planning and assessment of their needs. Some young people have been without education or training provision for a considerable period of time. They do not have assessments of their educational needs in place, with limited management tracking and chasing of missing documentation from the placing authority or education providers. This undermines young peoples’ ability to make, or sustain, progress and reduces their ability to make a positive transition to independence. One placing authority admitted that there was missing documentation and a need to sort this out.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the point of admission of new placements, managers have failed to ensure that all relevant information and documentation is in place. Some young people do not have up to date or relevant pathway plans in place. This further reduces the ability, or effectiveness, of staff and managers to work with placing authorities to plan for a young person’s move to independence or adult services. This could negatively impact on them being able to successfully make the transition from this home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some young people do not have current health assessments in place. Managers and staff have made some attempts to resolve this issue by chasing placing authorities, but with very limited success. Health needs of young people are generally well known and met by the staff team, but the failure to ensure that routine assessments have been undertaken, on an annual basis, could reduce services and support being identified and put in place in a timely manner.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Looked after children reviews take place within the required timescales, but early reviews may be required for those young people due to move on in the near future. This is in order to ensure that robust and clear plans have been formulated with the young person and that all involved agencies work closely and proactively to support transitions. This is especially important for those young people who have particularly complex needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

An independent visitor comes to the home every month to consider and report on the quality of care and support provided to young people. Reports produced by such visits fail to clearly specify and identify any actual or potential safeguarding concerns and do not make clear recommendations for managers to consider. This further undermines managers’ ability to have clear oversight of how the home is running or meeting the specific needs of young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people know and understand how to make a complaint about any aspect of the care they receive and feel confident in using the home’s complaints procedure. Responses to their concerns or issues have been provided by the manager in a timely manner. Independent advocacy for the young people is currently provided by the same person who carries out the monthly visits to the home to report on the quality of care. This could present a conflict of interest and undermine the independence of the advocate in supporting young people with any issues relating to the care they receive from staff and managers.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some young people have experienced bullying on a regular basis from other young people living in the home. The manager has put in place clearer systems to record any such incidents, which staff have followed since the last inspection. Recording is not sufficient however, and does not clearly set out what work has been done with both the victim and perpetrator to eradicate such behaviours. Staff have not received specific training in relation to bullying. This would further support and assist them to develop the skills necessary to support young people. Consequences for those young people who have bullied others have been inconsistently recorded and do not clearly set out the sanctions used on such occasions. Young people do not receive a clear or consistent message from staff that bullying is unacceptable or what actions will be taken. There is also a lack of clear management oversight of incidents of bullying and no clear monitoring or tracking systems evident.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager is relatively new into post, having previously held the position of deputy manager in the home. He has submitted an application to Ofsted in relation to his approval as registered manager, which is currently being processed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager does not have in place clear monitoring or review systems to assist in the oversight of the quality of care provided to young people. There is a need for much more robust systems to ensure that missing documentation is regularly tracked and chased from placing authorities. This would enable the manager to then having a clearer sense of the progress and experiences of each young person and to make improvements in the quality of care provided.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The new manager has introduced therapeutic models of working with young people and uses research informed practice to support them. Life story work is being undertaken with some young people, with staff taking on lead responsibilities for key tasks and roles. This increases staff confidence and competence and is providing young people with an opportunity to consider their histories in a safe and supported manner. Some really imaginative work has been done in relation to helping young people prepare for their looked after reviews. Young people have been supported to prepare PowerPoint presentations for their reviews, with photos and details of what they have been doing since their last review. Young people clearly take great pride in such work and in having the opportunity to present their views, wishes and feelings in such a way.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One requirement and three recommendations were made at the last inspection. The statement of purpose for the home has been updated and a copy sent to Ofsted. Young people have been provided with clear information on how to contact the Office of the Children’s Commissioner for advice and assistance about their rights and entitlements. Managers have clarified the process for young people to have an independent return home interview, following any missing from care incidents. The recommendation made in relation to bullying has not been met. Staff do not have the necessary skills to respond to such incidents consistently and procedures have not been clearly or consistently followed by staff.

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home, which is part of a small privately owned organisation, provides care and accommodation for up to four children and young people with emotional/and or behavioural difficulties. A major variation of the home was approved last year, to increase the registration numbers from three to four.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/02/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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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

5. Engaging with the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality standards the registered person must, and must ensure that staff -

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Requirement Due date

(a) seek to involve each child's placing authority effectively in the child's care, in accordance with the child's relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

(b) seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child's needs;

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Requirement Due date

(c) if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority's or a relevant person's performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child's needs are met in accordance with the child's relevant plans 01/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the independent person produces a report, which sets out, in particular, the independent person's opinion as to whether children are effectively safeguarded and the conduct of the home promotes children's well-being (Regulation 44 (4)(a)(b)) 01/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

7. The children’s view, wishes and feelings standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the children's views, wishes and feelings standard the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(b)(iii) ensure that each child is given appropriate advocacy support 01/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the health and well-being standard the registered person must: 01/03/2016 (1)(a) ensure that the health and well-being needs of children are met

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Requirement Due date

(1)(b) ensure that children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the education standard the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(vi) maintain regular contact with each child's education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child's education and training and to maximise the child's achievement

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Requirement Due date

(2)(viii) raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child's education or training provider and the child's placing authority 01/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the positive relationship standard the registered provider must:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(xii) understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and

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Requirement Due date

(2)(xiii) have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them 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)(f) understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experience of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home

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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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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

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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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