Coniston House

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

Since the last inspection there have been two changes to the young people living in the home. Two young people have left, one to a different residential placement and another has moved into independent accommodation. As a result of these discharges, two young people have moved into the placement. Staff are proactive in trying to access educational or work placements for young people over 16 and not in education. This includes in the interim period providing learning in the home. Young people are registered with primary health care and specialist providers. This ensures that they can access services and receive treatment without undue delays. Staff are effective at improving and sustaining relationships between young people and members of their family even when there are challenges with this. This ensures that young people remain close to individuals who are important to them and benefit from being involved in a wider support network outside of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are safe and feel safe. Staff fully understand policies and procedures in relation to safeguarding. A placing social worker reported, ‘staff have managed to keep her safe, whenever there has been an incident the staff manage it really well’. Young people feel able to talk to staff if they have any concerns or wish to make a complaint. When young people are absent from the home or missing there is pro-active response from the home that includes keeping in touch with the young person and liaising closely with the police and other agencies. There are also clear risk assessments and plans in place to address such concerning behaviours. There has been some damage to the home by young people which has not yet been repaired. This leaves parts the home in a less than suitable condition and has an undesirable impact on the young people. Progress for some young people in changing their behaviour has been slow. Staff are working hard to try to implement

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

strategies to enable young people to change their behaviours through key working sessions and access to the in-house therapeutic service. The home continues to be managed by a suitably qualified manager who has been in post since March 2014. Staff are supported through regular supervisions, annual appraisal and training to help ensure they have the skills and competencies necessary to meet the diverse needs of the young people in their care. Young people benefit from a physically safe and appropriately secure environment. Health and safety matters are managed effectively to promote the safety of young people. The staff recruitment and selection process is thorough requiring a full assessment and checks of all applicants for work. No appointment is confirmed until all checks are completed. In response to the recommendations made at the last inspection the home has replaced the front door, reviewed it statement of purpose and behaviour

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

management policy and brought them in line with regulations.

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Information about this children's home

The home is one of three within this private organisation that offers placements for up to five young people who may have a combination of mental health, psychological, emotional or complex care needs that present challenging behaviour. The service is designed to offer medium to long term care placements .

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

09/03/2015 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

28/03/2014 CH - Interim Satisfactory progress

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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

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard the registered person must ensure –

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

(i) meet the needs of each child; 08/02/2016

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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

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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