Children's Home run by Esland South Limited in Greenwich

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Good progress has been made since the last full inspection in July 2015. All the requirements and one of the two recommendations from the previous inspection are met. Where one recommendation is not met, progress is being made and there is no impact on or risk to young people as a result.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, leadership and management was judged to be inadequate due to the home being without a Registered Manager for more than 26 weeks. A Registered Manager is now in post. The manager is undertaking a level 5 in leadership and management qualification, due for completion in July 2016.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has improved its referral and admission process. Impact risk assessments show better consideration to the needs of existing residents when new referrals are considered. Both staff and professionals commented on how this improved the ability of the home to manage young people safely and give them the attention they need to make positive progress. For example one social worker says, ‘I called and asked for a referral of another young person and they said no due to matching and impact on others.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has requested a minor variation to reduce the number from five young people to four. This is more realistic, given the size of the home and the complex needs of the young people who live there, which often requires 2:1 staffing ratio.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The Registered Manager has completed an assessment of the location of the home. This evidences the local networks the home has built with safeguarding and support services and shows knowledge of where to source appropriate services. It also identifies local risks and the actions staff can take to reduce such risks for young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recording of staff supervisions is still not consistent. Staff say they feel well supported and manager availability is not an issue. The recording of formal sessions is not always completed in a timely manner. This has not had a direct impact on young people or placed any at risk. However, there is inconsistent evidence of records of discussions about the young people’s complex needs or strategies to manage these needs. Practice issues with actions and timescales are not routinely recorded. The longer-term impact is much good work goes un- recorded and is not captured or accurately reflected upon.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home provides a homely and welcoming environment where young people feel safe and secure. The home is comfortable, well decorated and well furnished. Maintenance quickly address repairs, for example, the maintenance worker was repairing a fence panel recently blown down in the high winds. There are new replacement windows fitted upstairs. The windows are sash style and open outwards at the top, leaving a gap large enough to climb through. The windows need restrictors fitted to ensure young people are safe from accidently falling or climbing out of the window. The home is aware of this issue and the highest room remains vacant until window restrictors are in place.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people in placement are making excellent progress from their starting points. For example, all young people attend educational provision and one young person has improved their attendance by 70%.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people going missing has significantly reduced in this home. While part of this is attributable to the mix of young people in placement, it is also down to the hard work and impact of staff and managers. For example, thinking more carefully about matching and ensuring detailed risk assessments help staff to manage this risk. Staff training in areas such as radicalisation, gang association and child sexual exploitation helps staff to understand risks in the community. One young person says, ‘This is the only home I felt I could make changes in, in others I went missing. It feels homely, I don’t feel the need to go off and go missing.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are more engaged in key work sessions and residents meetings. They have choices in activities and although they are of an age where they are mainly wanting to make their own choices, they have enjoyed a variety of options such as holidays at Butlin’s or camping, a trip to Madame Tussauds and more regular trips to restaurants, bowling or the cinema.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people who were requiring 2:1 staffing ratios, have improved behaviours, significantly allowing a reduction to more relaxed staffing ratios and continued good behaviours. For example, staff say one young person is listening more and does not get so upset over trivial issues. There is a reported decrease in angry outbursts and young people can regulate behaviour more quickly with support.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home works well with parents, supporting their role and encouraging positive contact. One parent says, ‘They make me feel comfortable and at home, they let us have time together. They are treating me with respect.’ Social workers provided positive feedback on progress. One social worker says, ‘They have been fantastic at taking in a young person who was at significant risk. They engaged and worked well with them.’ Risk assessments are thorough and have picked up potential radicalisation issues, prompting appropriate referrals to support vulnerable young people. The home also advocate well for young people, ensuring looked after children paperwork is provided and pressing placing authorities to ensure medical appointments take place.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Independent monitoring of the home identifies areas for improvement and allows the management team to work on improving the service. The Registered Manager has completed a review of the home, which shows a good understanding of service provision and what needs to improve.

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Information about this children's home

This privately run children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to four young people aged from 12 to 17 years with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

25/03/2015 Interim sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  The registered person should ensure that a record of supervision should be kept for staff, including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33(4)(b). (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 61, paragraph 13.3)  Ensure that Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations, in respect of fitting window restrictors to ensure young people’s safety. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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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