Children's Home run by North Yorkshire County Council in North Yorkshire

Outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceeds the standards of good. The actions of the home contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Staff build trust and make meaningful relationships with young people by providing them with exemplary experiences and support that enriches their lives. As young people quickly realise they can trust staff they learn to take part in what is on offer, helping them widen their horizons.  Young people make exceptional progress taking into account their starting points. Staff work with sensitive persistence helping young people realise the benefits of investing in their education by linking these to training and increased learning opportunities.  Young people have a strong voice and their best interests are at the heart of all decision making within the home. Empowering young people in this way helps prepare them for the increased responsibilities of adulthood, significantly improving their future outcomes.  Young people have direct access to excellent sources of professional support including clinical psychology, speech and language therapy and general

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

health checks. This is another aspect of the home that is hugely beneficial as young people needs are readily identified and they benefit from tailored support to address these straightaway.  There is a highly effective multi-disciplinary approach to young people‟s safety. This means risk management is an integral part of the support that young people receive. As a result young people learn to re-evaluate their self-worth and reflect on their vulnerabilities leading to increased positive choices.  Joint working with other professionals, including a police intelligence officer based at the home, is exceptional. This is a major factor in increasing the safety of young people within the home and wider community.  Leadership and management of the home is inspiring. It is very apparent to professionals, staff and young people that the registered manager runs the home solely for the benefit of young people. Young people experience a

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

culture of determination to enable them to achieve as many positive childhood experiences as possible while living at the home.  Young people who move on from the home continue to receive highly individualised support. As staff already have exceptionally productive relationships with young people they remain open to working in partnerships with staff. This means young people continue to acquire the skills to help them manage their lives with increasing success.

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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 within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes the effectiveness and any consequence of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(vii)) 25/02/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children‟s home at least once each month. The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person‟s 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 The report should rigorous and evaluative. (Regulation 44(1) and (4)). 25/03/2016

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Information about this children's home

The home may only provide care and accommodation for six children with emotional and or behavioural difficulties. The home is owned and operated by a local authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

06/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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outstanding

Staff ensure young people receive innovative, flexible care underpinned by evidence based research and practice. For example, solution focussed approaches to resolving young people‟s needs and attachment theory inform the ethos and approach of staff who are united by a positive attitude. This is most powerfully communicated by the abundant pride staff take in working with young people. This key relational way of working grows young people‟s confidence and helps them feel a sense of belonging and take ownership of their lives and over their home. A senior member of staff said, „I am massively proud of what we do and I know the team are.‟

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outstanding

Young people make major improvements in their social, emotional development and participation in education and training soon after the start of their placements in comparison to their starting points. This significantly increases young people‟s overall life chances. Young people receive a firm message from the home to the effect that no matter what, they will not give up on them. This is underpinned by carefully matching an allocated key-worker to the young person based on their needs. This helps young people invest in this relationship, secure in the knowledge that their involvement will be long term. This is coupled with an attachment based model of care practice providing young people with high levels of structure and supervision. Young people demonstrate an increased willingness to invest in what the home can offer, immensely improving the quality of their lives. This is because they realise staff are genuinely motivated and reliably available to help them.

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outstanding

When asked about living at the home a young person said, It‟s a really good place to live, they have definitely helped me. Staff listen to what young people say.‟

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outstanding

Young people have a strong voice because staff treat them with dignity and respect. This empowers young people by building their confidence. For example, some young people have felt able to share their views about being looked after with those involved in shaping services for young people. Without exception, all young people spoke highly of the help and support they receive from staff. They were all similarly unhesitating about who they would speak to if they needed to raise any matter. Ensuring a strong sense of belonging and purpose helps young people gain a sense of their own identity and meets their developmental needs.

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outstanding

Young people spoke in a matter of fact way about the consistent and productive opportunities to express their thoughts, views and feelings. They are confident that they had a positive influence in matters that were important to them. About influencing change in the home a young person said, „We want the pool room to be a games room and that‟s getting changed its going to be a nice.‟

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outstanding

Staff are creative and dynamic in their approach to helping young people complete work as a result of their involvement with youth justice service. For example, a youth justice worker joined staff and young people in a challenging residential activities holiday. Significantly reducing the risk of their being further criminalised. This experience was life changing for young people leading to major improvements in relationships with staff and vastly improved behaviour from young people. About the impact of this a senior member of staff said, „It‟s the first time I have had the staff ask can we extend the holiday as well the young people.‟

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outstanding

In addition, young people regularly take part in a wide range of varied activities. For example, visits to Blackpool Pleasure Beach, visits to theme parks and cycling. A senior member of staff said, „We have increased levels of activities. It‟s really important so young people get to feel good about themselves. We place a great deal of emphasis on young people being able to achieve through activities and gain qualifications.‟ This builds their confidence, self-esteem and helps meet young people‟s developmental needs.

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outstanding

About living in a children‟s home for the first time a young person said, „It‟s much better than I thought it would be. I have a key-worker. I can‟t think of anything they could do better, I can talk to any of the staff if I need to.‟ A member of staff said, „Each young person has a photographic diary of activities that they were involved in given to them when they leave the home.‟ As if to further underline the importance of ensuring young people receive tangible keepsakes when they leave. On the day of inspection, a young person who previously lived at the home arrived for a visit. Staff were delighted to see him. It was demonstrably clear that staff understood how important it is to ensure young people get the necessary support with recalling their individual memories of the home in a way that helps them move forward with their lives. A senior member of staff said, „That‟s why I keep young people‟s photos on my wall so they can see themselves.‟

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outstanding

Careful planning to create a family type atmosphere helps reduce young people‟s anxious feelings. This means young people are less anxious giving them more time to get on with business of growing up and investing in age appropriate activities and interests. Maintaining a calm environment helps young people relax enabling them to on board expert help and reflect on difficult feelings, increasing their understanding about the choices available to them.

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outstanding

Young people receive dedicated, consistent support from staff resulting in worthwhile relationships in which young people flourish. Young people have a strong sense of community about living within the home. They get on well together, aside from normal sibling type rivalry, are respectful and display a sensitive understanding of one another. A young person said, „You can choose meals and take turns in preparing them, staff will help you, for all us to share. There is no bullying everyone gets on well with each other.‟

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outstanding

Young people gain a useful understanding of their overall needs and what staff can do to help. Staff are highly skilled enabling young people a meaningful understanding of their needs in producing their care and progression plans. As no time is lost in establishing a mutually agreed purpose young people quickly see they see that staff are genuinely invested in them. This transparent approach respects young people‟s right to choices and decisions, helping build trust. A young person said, ‟The best thing they do here is leave me alone for five minutes when I get wound up. Then they come and talk, they definitely help you.‟ Staff capture young people‟s achievements within their written records and share these with them. Young people‟s see that staff notice their progress and accomplishments and instils confidence promoting further aspiration. Staff said, „The care and progression plan, it‟s the tool, it helps raise young people‟s awareness.‟

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outstanding

The extensive and versatile level of support young people receive when they are ready to move on is excellent. As this is delivered by trusted and known staff for most young people this experience is a positive next step. Young people know who they can go to for support. This means they are not overwhelmed by any difficulties significantly reducing the need to seek alternatives ways of coping that may increase their vulnerabilities. The ongoing availability of this robust network enables young people to further develop their independent living skills and learn how to best to meet their needs. About this this support a professional said, „Staff bring their previous knowledge of the young person, they are able to challenge their behaviour. Staff are great at building bridges with young people between independence and meeting their needs.‟ About the outcome of for one young person, a senior member of staff said, „The young person is managing the tenancy

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outstanding

Young people live in a vibrant, homely and highly nurturing atmosphere that enhances their lives in all areas and where they feel wanted. Young people quickly learn that the managers and staff are all there to help them improve their lives and as a result they do. Young people are provided with opportunities to achieve specifically aimed at encouraging them to think about their futures and to aim high. This increases young people‟s belief in themselves and their abilities. A senior member of staff said, „We have high aspirations for young people and want to get them engaged as much as possible. I want every young person to have highly aspirational experiences, we need to think what will hook that child. One young person was interested in fashion so she went to a big fashion event in London. She was chosen to be a short haired model.‟

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outstanding

Young people and their families receive optimum levels of support specifically aimed at helping resolve any difficulties. Restoring families helps reignite young people‟s sense of belonging, aiding their developmental and emotional needs. Increasing levels of family support through further understanding of young people‟s needs substantially improves their emotional, social and physical wellbeing now and in the longer term. This targeted support is carried out by a member of staff known as a portfolio lead who are responsible for rebuilding relationships. This support remains in place for a long as necessary helping to embed different problem solving approaches.

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outstanding

Staff are exceptionally knowledgeable about young people‟s vulnerabilities and what actions they need to take to keep them safe. Young people receive support from a „portfolio lead‟ who is a member of staff tasked with taking overall responsibility for risk assessment. This specialist role significantly enhances all aspects of risk management and increases young people‟s safety and welfare. Young people are actively involved in understanding their risk taking behaviour and are consulted about ways to further reduce their risks. This collaborative and inclusive way of working gives young people a strong message about their value and the lengths that staff will go to keep them safe. Risk management and assessment is a systematic and continually reviewed as part of monitoring young people‟s welfare. This means any changes in circumstances can be swiftly responded to reducing their vulnerability. Multi-agency joint working

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outstanding

is a vital component strengthening this process. A member of staff said, „We get every professional involved with the young person round the table. We use a tool called „signs of safety‟ and we score it and then keep this so we can track the improvements.‟ Young people within the home and those receiving outreach support benefit from additional innovative ongoing measures to safeguard them. A dedicated police presence working hand in hand with staff is an integral part of the service. This benefits young people and their communities in a myriad of ways; foremost by significantly improving their safety and wellbeing.

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outstanding

Police recognise young people‟s underlying needs and how their difficulties can place them at increased risk of being criminalised. This leads to creative restorative outcomes fruitfully enhancing young people‟s life chances. This also furthers young people‟s understanding about how the choices they make can undermine learning to take responsibility for their own actions. This development addresses a previous recommendation.

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outstanding

A police professional said, „Relationship with home is fantastic they play an active part in working with the police.‟ Another said, „Staff and the police use lot of restorative approaches, for example, you have to think do you know how that young person felt about school or was something else going? I have no doubt that if there was any inappropriate practice here that staff would report it. I have seen how staff challenge each other about their practice. I think it is the relationships that keep young people safe, they have a team around them. Part of my role is to break down barriers with young people. Police give young people here a premium service we need to ask ourselves do we need to charge that child.‟

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outstanding

All young people say they feel safe and their behaviour bears this out. Testament to this is the reduced number of incidents of young people going missing. Young people are well informed about the appropriate action that staff take in this event including informing the police if necessary. A young person said, „Staff go looking for you if you go missing.‟ A member of staff said, „He was prolific missing young person and since he has been here we have had hardly any.‟

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outstanding

Young people have open access to excellent in-house psychological services. This means that when young people feel ready, they can initiate this direct support. As a result young people make their own decisions about when and what sources of help they want majorly improving the likelihood of their meaningful participation. A clinical psychologist known to young people as a „life coach‟ is based within the home. This person is a familiar figure to young people providing ample opportunity to establish rapport and build trust. A psychologist said, „Generally looked after children miss out on support from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and I was a bit sceptical at first, but I have found that it works. Alongside the direct work with young people, the majority of my role tends to be with the staff helping them to think about young people‟s underlying needs.‟ Staff‟s understanding of young people‟s emotional needs and difficulties are

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outstanding

continually improved. Staff have outstanding access to clinical supervision and training leading to highly effective work with young people. Underpinning care practice with evidence based approaches enables staff to acquire the necessary skills and improves responses to the needs of young people with complex needs. Ensuring young people equality of access to sources of professional expertise also improves their future wellbeing. A senior member of staff said, „These young people are accessing support services that they wouldn‟t otherwise get.‟

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outstanding

Similarly young people‟s access to speech and language therapy is exemplary as this person is also based within the home and openly available. This brings substantial advantages to young people, staff and other professionals. Addressing young people‟s communication needs brings with it life-long benefits. By significantly improving young people‟s ability to understand the world around them and by making themselves understood reducing the risk of being marginalised in adulthood. A baseline assessment of every young person‟s speech and language needs is arrived at resulting in a precise understanding of what to do to help them. About the difference this made a health professional said, „One young person was receiving lots of complicated letters from courts. We simplified them and made this clear to youth justice service. I think he turned up to more appointments. Analogues clocks in school some schools changed to digital clocks so young people

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outstanding

knew what time it was. A young person had some processing difficulties. We made the young person some pictorial cards to help them understand the sequencing so they could do their laundry.‟ A looked after children‟s nurse visits the home on a regular basis also ensuring accessible general health care support. This promotes young people‟s physical wellbeing and furthers understanding of how they can access health services within the community. A health professional said, „There is a monthly drop in for young people in the home.‟ About young people‟s safety this person said, „I think they are as safe as staff can make them they're good at knowing who young people's friends are.‟ Staff are highly skilled at helping young people manage difficult feelings. This means they seldom need to exercise any physical assistance in response to young people‟s challenging behaviour. So staff only intervene when necessary for young

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outstanding

people‟s protection. Similarly sanctions are not a primary tool employed by staff aimed at changing young people‟s responses. Staff carefully consider the sometimes punitive impact of using sanctions and seek alternative, more restorative approaches to positively manage behaviour. For example, a sanction such as being alongside a young person to help them make positive choices about how to spend their pocket money teaches them about safety and responsibility. While there are no concerns about care practice within these areas; the current format of these logs does not support recording of any sanction or physical intervention in a way that clearly shows the effectiveness and outcome of any measure used by staff. Insufficient records that don‟t capture reflection about the impact of any action taken in response to young people‟s behaviour means any underlying difficulties may be overlooked. Staff are clear about their responsibility to safeguard young people within and

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outstanding

outside of the home including room searches where there is a clear risk of harm. In this event young people are fully informed and detailed records are maintained making this clear and the outcome. This meets a recommendation made at the last inspection. Young people have easy and discreet access to full information about a range of matters that may interest them. This includes how to raise any concerns, leaflets about sexual health and identity and how to access external sources of assistance. Ensuring young people are informed in this way upholds their rights and increases the likelihood that they will know where to get support if needed. Young people have not raised any concerns nor are there any complaints from others about the home. The registered manager and senior staff are aware of what to do if any concern arose including when to involve the local authority designated officer. Judgement grade

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outstanding

The registered manager is a very experienced suitably qualified individual who is passionate about improving the lives of vulnerable young people. He is an outstanding role model for staff, young people and other professionals. Young people are left in no doubt that the registered manager and staff will go all out to help them. This approach values the care team and inspires them to help young people make improvements in all areas of their lives. As a result young people entertain new possibilities increasing their self-confidence and drive to achieve. About the registered manager a professional said, „I think he is superhuman I don‟t know how he does it all. He is the one who is out there with young people and the young people have such respect from him. The registered manager puts lots of effort and lots of love into this service. I feel like it is really happy home. It sounds cheesy and it is not easy, there are issues but as team we work really well.‟

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outstanding

An embedded culture of learning and training delivered by specialists deepens staffs knowledge of attachment, trauma and child development. This increased evidence based theoretical understanding threads through daily care practice directly benefitting young people. As a result, young people feel staff are tuned into their unique needs assuring them that while they live within a group setting they are not overlooked in any way. This helps young people develop empathy and promotes a culture of kindness and tolerance. Young people reap the rewards of creative joint working. Staff act as good parental models by developing and sharing consistent approaches between home and school. This approach maximises young people‟s active participation in school life. A head teacher said, „I have to say that we have an incredibly productive relationship, staff are very open and the heart of discussion is the young person.‟

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outstanding

Also, „A social worker thanked and congratulated staff at our school and the children‟s home as she was incredibly impressed by the work that we had done. She felt we had done all we possibly could to help the young person.‟

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outstanding

Young people have access to information about the staff and the purpose of the home that is written in plain English and child centred. Enabling young people a sound understanding from the start of their placement helps create positive expectations and reduce anxieties at times of increased vulnerability. For example, within this document in addition to outlining their qualifications and experience alongside their photograph; staff make a brief statement about what they enjoy about being alongside young people. This conveys a genuine sense of staff enthusiasm and commitment to working with young people.

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outstanding

Effective systems, including staff handovers and meetings, are in place to ensure a thorough awareness of any matters affecting young people and how these are to be managed. Young people‟s individual support plans are reflected on and staff share anecdotal evidence to identify and monitor progress. This way of working values staff‟s views and results in high quality holistic care. A senior member of staff said, „I make staff aware of what is happening with each young person what is expected of them, and it‟s written down in the staff meeting minutes to ensure staff who have missed a meeting are kept fully up to date.‟

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outstanding

Staff skills are validated during their formal supervision and their development needs are effectively addressed. Supervision sessions are reflective and focussed, which ensures the standard of childcare practice is consistently high. The meetings are methodically recorded providing clarity to staff enabling thoughtful preparation for the next planned meeting. Individual strengths and needs are recognised and their ongoing training needs are identified and met. This comprehensive support significantly enhances each staff member‟s confidence and motivation and is clearly linked to the excellent care delivered to young people. Flexible and creative support as outlined within the homes statement of purpose significantly improves young people‟s lives. Young people have tangible faith in their relationships with staff who support them at times of transition and ongoing within the community. This means young people receive swift help at times of

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outstanding

difficulty, cementing trust and maximising opportunities for young people‟s ongoing development of social and independent living skills. This way of working means young people have a much better chance of reaching true independence. Registered manager reports required by legislation demonstrate how the quality of care young people receive helps them make progress and improves their lives in the longer term. It is clear that there exists within the home a drive for continual improvement. Reports of visits carried out by an independent visitor to the home while very positive are not sufficiently evaluative. Nor do these make clear this person‟s opinion about how effectively the home safeguards and promotes young people‟s welfare. While it is abundantly evident that there are no concerns within the home in relation to this. Less than rigorous undertaking within this area is a missed opportunity to further develop existing good practice and draw attention to

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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. procedures set out in 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

regulates and inspects to 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

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Information about this inspection

Policy Team, 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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