Children's Home run by Lincolnshire County Council 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 sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been slow improvement made for some young people since the last full inspection. This is attributable to the lack of progress made by them in relation to their educational and social engagement. Some young people have consistently refused to attend their formal education or training provisions. This is reducing their ability to make positive progress. Despite attempts made by staff to get young people up and ready for school or college each day, some refuse to engage or attend on a regular basis. Attendance figures for one young person have dropped to 11%, which seriously undermines their ability to make progress. Regular risk management meetings take place with all involved agencies to consider such issues, but there has been very limited improvements noted to date. Other young people engage very well in their educational provisions and there is evidence of them making steady and positive progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, some young people have made positive transitions from this home to other placements, including successful moves to foster care. Staff have also planned well for those young people due to move to semi-independent provisions. This has included making visits to such accommodation with young people to familiarise them and enable them to meet with new staff. One young person reported feeling well prepared for their planned move and being fully supported by the staff team. Staff also support and encourage young people to undertake a range of independence skills work prior to them leaving. This includes taking responsibility for their own finances, shopping, preparing meals and making their own health care appointments. This prepares them well for their eventual move to independence and increases their self-confidence.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recording of incidents is clear, detailed and includes the views of young people. There have been no incidents of restraint used since the last inspection, reflecting the ability and skill of staff in working to de-escalate situations with young people. Very few formal complaints have been made, with the registered manager responding quickly to those made by young people and recording actions taken to resolve issues to the satisfaction of the complainant. There is close and proactive partnership working evident by staff and managers in this home. They work to support young people with any concerning or risky behaviours, involving the police, education, youth offending services and health colleagues in a timely manner. Monthly multi-agency risk management meetings also provide all involved agencies and professionals with an opportunity to consider risk assessments and plans of young people and to amend them as necessary. The

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

care plan for one young person has not been amended by the placing social worker to reflect recent changes of placement or education needs. This undermines the ability of staff and managers to follow agreed plans.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team use research informed methods in their work with young people. Various models have been introduced to the home, with all staff receiving training and regular support from a social pedagogue, who is employed by the local authority. Through the use of such models, some young people have made noticeable improvements in relation to their concerning behaviours and the number of incidents for them has reduced.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager routinely undertakes management checks of all aspects of how the home is run and produces detailed and analytical reports. Such reports reflect her awareness of the needs of each young person and the quality of care and support they need to make improvements.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One placing social worker stated: ‘The staff are all great and go above and beyond what I would expect them to do for my young person. They keep in regular contact with me on all relevant issues and I feel the placement is meeting their needs really well.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff respond promptly and proactively to any reported issues of bullying. There are clear systems in place to evidence work done with both victims and perpetrators of bullying in the home. Such work links well with complaints made by young people about such issues and demonstrates staff taking such reports very seriously and working with young people to eradicate such behaviours. One young person stated: ‘I used to get fed up with some of the others behaviours, but the staff have really put a stop to this and I feel much more relaxed now.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There were not shortfalls identified at the last inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six young people. It is owned and run by the local authority. The home provides care and accommodation for young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/02/2015 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

(2) In order to meet the care planning standard the registered person must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

(c) that each child’s relevant plans are followed 08/03/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Ensure that young people are in full-time education whilst they are of compulsory school age, unless their personal education plan contained within the care plan or other relevant plan states otherwise. The home must aim to support full time attendance at school unless the child's relevant plans indicates that this is not in their best interest. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 28, paragraph 5.14)

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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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