Children's Home run by Future In Mind Limited in Staffordshire

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.2

The children's home provision is good because:

 Risk assessments promote young people’s safety and welfare. These documents are comprehensive and consistently applied.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people enjoy positive relationships with staff. This enhances their feeling of safety and security and enables them to make good progress in all aspects of their development.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people grow in self-esteem and self-confidence. They participate in activities that develop their hobbies, interests and interpersonal skills.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff work in partnership with other agencies and professionals. This means that young people experience an integrated approach to meeting their needs and supporting their development.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Personalised therapeutic intervention programmes enable young people to move forward with their lives. They benefit from tailored sessions that encourage them to reflect on their past experiences.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff encourage young people to express their views and opinions regarding their care and the development of the service.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Some areas for improvement have been identified. These include ensuring that all staff have an adequate knowledge of safeguarding referral processes, that sufficient permanent staff are employed in the home and that induction programmes for any temporary staff are robust.

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered provider must ensure that staff—

p.4

Requirement Due date

(2)(a) (vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. 11/03/2016

p.4

Requirement Due date

13. The leadership and management standard

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

(2)(d) ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. 11/03/2016

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction. This specifically relates to temporary staff. (Regulation 33(1)(a)) 11/03/2016

p.4

Recommendations

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

p.4

Recommendations

 The use of agency staff should be carefully monitored and reviewed to ensure children receive continuity of care. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 54, paragraph 10.16)

p.4

Information about this children's home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two young people with emotional and / or behavioural difficulties. The home is owned and operated by a private organisation and provides a specialist programme of therapeutic techniques under the supervision of a qualified therapist.

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

Recent inspection history

27/01/2015 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.5

good

Young people immensely benefit from personalised care and support that is tailored to reflect their complex needs. This means that they make good progress in all aspects of their development. This is enhanced by the positive relationships they enjoy with staff. They are happy to engage in one-to-one sessions to discuss their behaviours, review their support plans and risk assessments, and consider the impact their actions have on others. This approach means that young people are involved in decisions about their care. They understand how these decisions are made and by whom. In addition, staff consult with young people about the activities they would like to do. Young people are encouraged try new activities and learn new skills. This increases their self-esteem and develops their social and emotional skills.

p.6

good

Staff work in partnership with the organisations psychotherapist to deliver individual programmes of therapeutic interventions. This approach is used to address the diagnosed trauma related disorders that are detrimental to young people’s progress. Young people fully engage in these sessions. One young person said: ‘I like the therapy because it’s about me and how I feel. I think it really helps to make me happier.’ Maintaining a healthy physical and emotional life style is central to the culture of the home. Staff encourage young people to take regular exercise and eat a balanced diet. As a result, their emotional and physical well- being is continually promoted.

p.6

good

Education is well supported in the home. Young people have suitable school placements, and staff work with allocated teaching staff to ensure these placements remain stable. Young people say they enjoy school and appreciate the encouragement they receive from staff. One young person said: ‘I want to do well at school and get my exams. I want a proper career so I need to work hard but staff tell me all the time how proud they are of me.’

p.6

good

Young people say they know how to make a complaint. They say they are confident that the manager will address any issues they raise. There has been one complaint since the last inspection. This is recorded in detail and includes written feedback to the young person. This transparent approach promotes young people’s safety and enhances their day-to-day experience in the home.

p.6

good

Staff work with social workers and the placing authorities to ensure that young people maintain positive relationships with their families and friends. When contact restrictions are in place, staff explain the reasons for these to young people. Judgement grade

p.6

good

Young people are safe because staff are competent in identifying and managing the risks that they present. They benefit from personalised risk assessments and behaviour plans that are devised in partnership with the psychotherapist, managers and keyworkers. These encourage young people to take proportionate risks that reflect their age and cognitive function, and to be accountable for their actions and behaviours. As a result, they grow in confidence and gain a level of responsibility for their own safety.

p.7

good

Positive behaviour is promoted and encouraged through individual incentive programmes. These reward young people’s achievements, and track and celebrate their progress. Although there has been an increase in the use of sanctions since the last inspection, emphasis remains on continually rewarding positive behaviours. This means that boundaries are clear and consistently applied. Young people fully understand the behaviours that are expected of them. Physical restraint is rare and only used as a last resort to prevent immediate harm. Records of restraint demonstrate the use of de-escalation and distraction techniques. The registered manager is able to review the appropriate use of this measure of control. This ensures that young people’s welfare and safety is promoted.

p.7

good

Safeguarding and child protection training includes child exploitation and managing missing from home events. There have been no missing from home episodes since the last inspection. Policies and procedures relating to these areas of practice are regularly reviewed and updated. However, not all staff have an informed understanding of the procedures for referring safeguarding concerns. The potentially detrimental impact of this shortfall is reduced because their have been no allegations.

p.7

good

Location risk assessments are comprehensive. Fire safety checks and general health and safety checks are regularly completed. The home is maintained to a good standard. Young people are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms and are involved in decisions about the decoration of communal areas. The environment is warm, welcoming and safe, and creates a family atmosphere in the home. Judgement grade

p.7

good

The manager has been registered with Ofsted in relation to this setting since September 2013. She is an experienced residential childcare practitioner and manager; and holds suitable qualifications for this role. No requirements were made at the last inspection.

p.8

good

The registered manager has an excellent understanding of the young people’s individual needs. Monitoring young people’s progress is embedded in the ethos and function of the home. This is tracked through the continual review and assessment of their internal care and support plans. The registered manager evaluates young people’s development against the defined aims and objectives of the placing authority. This means that young people receive well-planned and integrated care.

p.8

good

Staff receive effective formal supervision and the training plan for the home is regularly reviewed. Staff are able to access courses that reflect young people’s complex individual needs and to support them in their role. However, the service has struggled to recruit suitable staff and has relied on the use of agency staff. Although the registered manager endeavours to reduce the number of individuals undertaking these cover shift, sufficient numbers of staff are required to ensure continued support for young people. In addition, when temporary agency staff are used, their induction to the service is not recorded and their practice is not effectively monitored. The negative impact of this is reduced because agency staff are not left on sole charge of young people.

p.8

good

A clear statement of purpose details the aims and objectives of the home. Other agencies and professionals confirm they understand the services provided by the home and the support available to young people. The statement of purpose emphasises the importance of effective partnership working and the practice in the home reflects this ethos. The registered manager confidently challenges other agencies when their performance falls short of expectations. This supports young people continuing development and progress.

p.8

good

The registered manager is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the service because internal monitoring systems take account of young people’s progress. These documents include an assessment of the independent visitor’s monthly report. As a result, the registered manager is able to identify patterns and trends that may negatively affect young people’s development. This means that the service continues to demonstrate the capacity to improve.

p.8

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.

p.9

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

p.9

What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

p.9

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

p.10

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 .

p.10

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,

p.11

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.11

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.11

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

p.11