Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in North Yorkshire

Good

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

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people make good progress in building self-esteem and feelings of self-worth.  The nurturing and committed staff team build positive and caring relationships with young people. This promotes a sense of security and belonging.  Young people’s growth in emotional resilience enables them to make more positive life choices.  Care planning is good resulting in young people’s educational, emotional, health and social needs being met.  Effective safeguarding procedures provide consistent protection for young people.  Effective partnership working ensures that young people get the services they need and to which they are entitled.

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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

12: The protection of children standard 12 (2) In order to meet the protection of children standard, in relation to risk assessments being updated to include the pond in the park at the top of the road and the mere, the registered person must ensure - (c) that the premises used for purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded. 08/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

40: Notification of a serious event A notification made under this regulation must include details of any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter. (Regulation 40 (5)(a)(iii)) 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(s):  Staff should provide a nurturing environment that is welcoming, supportive and provides appropriate boundaries in relation to their behaviour. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 15, paragraph 3.7) In particular, that the old stair carpets are replaced and damage caused by young people is swiftly repaired.

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Recommendations

 Staff should be familiar with the home's policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Information about this children's home

The children’s home is run by a private company which is a national provider of residential care and education for young people. It is registered to care for up to two children or young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

17/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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good

This home is in a residential neighbourhood with easy access to local facilities. It is an older property situated over three floors. Young people state that they ‘love’ the lounge and dining room, which have been newly decorated. These rooms provide young people with comfortable and homely spaces in which to spend time together or with staff. Young people take pride in their individually decorated bedrooms, which they see very much as their own rooms where they can express their personality. However, evidence of damage to the walls by young people is slow to be repaired and the carpets on the stairs and landings are worn. This makes some areas of the home look less welcoming. Within short walking distances of the home are parks and a large mere. Young people enjoy visiting those together with staff or alone when they need some space. One young person uses one of the parks, which has a pond, as the place to

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good

go to when he wants to compose himself. Learning to recognise that he needs to do this is a positive step for this young person, and demonstrates the progress he is making in becoming more self-aware. A parent said, ‘He seems to have calmed down a lot.’ The caring and committed manager and staff team proactively engage with partner agencies in order to provide young people with consistent, nurturing care. Young people thrive as a result of this constant attention which builds their sense of self and feeling valued. This demonstrates that the home is meeting its statement of purpose, which states that, ‘The young people who are looked after at (home’s name) are cared for within an ethos in which they are treated with unconditional positive regard.’ Each young person has a range of files, records and care plans. The number of these files mean that on occasion staff miss completing some sections and are not

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good

always signing and dating the work they have done. The manager is in the process of streamlining those files to make them more manageable and cut down on repetition. Nevertheless, care plans are very good. They cover all aspects of a young person’s development and their care needs. This allows progress to be monitored and all achievements to be celebrated thereby building self-esteem. A staff member reported, ‘We have a positive nurturing approach and strive for progression in all areas of a child’s life.’ For the most part young people enjoy excellent relationships with staff. They feel cared for and valued allowing them to grow and mature in line with their age and development. Individual key work sessions and restorative practice are used effectively, allowing young people to develop necessary social and life skills. These benefit them now and will promote positive outcomes in their future adult lives. A

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good

young person said, ‘I trust staff. I can’t think of any that I don’t like or trust. For me I think that’s saying something.’ Young people attend suitable education provision where they are achieving to the best of their ability. One young person, who attends a residential school during the week, is doing so well in education that he also participates in work experience on a farm. He is ‘on course’ to achieve his goal of becoming an agricultural mechanical engineer. A teacher said, ‘The communication with staff is good. Reports are good and on time and so we know what frame of mind he is in when he comes back to us.’ Young people’s physical and emotional health improves as a result of the tailored approach to their care. This includes the involvement of specialist professionals where necessary and appropriate. For example, the involvement of a psychologist or a specialist drugs worker. As a result of young people’s growth in feelings of self-worth and abilities to make

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good

informed decisions about their care and their lives, they are making positive life choices. For example, one young person has become a vegetarian as he believes that it is healthier for the body. Another young person is being supported in her quest to learn more about her chosen religion. Young people use their key work sessions, the weekly ‘our house get together’ meetings and general chat to express their wishes and feelings. As a result, they learn positive social skills and feel listened to and valued, thereby promoting self- esteem. They understand the complaints and grumbles system, which is readily available to them. There have not been any complaints. A young person said, ‘To be fair it is a very good care home and these listen to me and keep me safe.’ A range of inclusive activities are available for young people to participate in if they wish. They do not always avail themselves of these opportunities but staff persist

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good

in encouraging them to do so. Free time is agreed with social workers as part of individual care plans and is variable depending on young people’s safeguarding needs. Staff enable young people to have positive relationships within the community and their friends are welcomed in to the home. This further promotes the sense of belonging while building safe social skills. Contact arrangements with family members are very well supported and promoted. As a result of the persistent, consistent approach by staff some young people have been able to not only maintain those important relationships, but build them to an extent that overnight stays are now taking place. This sustains cultural and community links benefitting young people now and in their future adult lives. A social worker said, ‘We’ve progressed in to overnight contact and staff have been absolutely fantastic in facilitating that.’ Comprehensive pathway plans clearly prepare young people for independence or

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good

move to a further placement. These have included the needs of a young person who was placed some distance from her home location, and has now returned to live in that area. As a result, young people develop the confidence to return to their community with the social and life skills they will need to continue making personal progress.

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good

A comprehensive locality assessment provides a detailed picture of any concerns in the community. This effectively provides protection for young people and identifies that they are living in a safe location. Robust individual risk assessments are complemented by a range of hazard appraisals. These ensure that young people’s individual vulnerabilities are planned for and suitable strategies employed to keep them safe. However, at present these do not include either the mere or the local pond. Good locally agreed missing person protocols are effectively applied. In addition, staff actively search for young people when they are absent from the home. One young person was protected from an unsafe relationship, which effectively reduced her number of missing episodes, by excellent partnership working with the police. A local police officer said, ‘This is a good home. They worked really well with us about (Name) and putting in the abduction notice.’

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good

The dangers of being involved in child sexual exploitation are well understood. The manager sits on a local multi-agency group, which proactively implements prevention strategies. All of the staff have received suitable training. Young people are safeguarded by these measures. Young people and professionals report that the high staffing levels and consistent boundaries within the home provide a sense of security and belonging. As a result, young people are protected and feel safe. A staff member said, ‘Children are safe here, it’s a fine line between giving them the freedom they deserve at that age and safeguarding them. (Name) has free time as she should and we put everything in to safeguard her.’ Individual behaviour management strategies ensure that staff know how to respond to young people’s sometimes impulsive and aggressive behaviours. There have been a number of violent episodes involving one young person, who was

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good

targeting a member of staff. The situation has now been resolved safely and in a way that provided a number of learnt lessons for the young person and staff. This allows him to maintain positive relationships within the home and will improve his future life chances. A parent said, ‘He is safe there and he is making progress.’ Young people learn the benefits of behaving appropriately through the use of positive and negative consequences. Any sanctions imposed are relevant and suited to the negative behaviours. Young people can identify and work towards their own rewards, which teaches them positive negotiation skills as well as the value of treating others with respect. For example, as a reward one young person now has her own rabbit to care for. The use of physical intervention is sometimes necessary to prevent further violence and to safeguard young people and staff. Young people are provided with the

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good

opportunity to reflect upon these interventions and develop more appropriate ways of behaving, therefore are being safeguarded. The majority of these serious incidents are recorded appropriately and linked with restraint records. On occasions, however this has not occurred and the absence of signatures and dates could inhibit auditing procedures.

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good

The experienced and inspirational manager has been in post since April 2015. His application with Ofsted for registered manager status is almost at conclusion. He holds a degree in Children’s Services and Management. He has twelve years’ experience of working in a local authority children’s home before joining this company. The manager uses weekly outcomes and progress graphs to chart the progress young people are making. This information is shared with professionals allowing all concerned to assess the effectiveness of individual plans. This information allows the manager to access external support for young people if needed, while building up the good work being undertaken in the home. A social worker said, ‘The communication is absolutely fantastic. They email me weekly reports.’ Excellent company recruitment processes are effectively applied. All appropriate staff information is stored in the home in line with legislation and the manager

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good

understands its relevance. This demonstrates that the recommendation raised at the previous inspection has been met. Young people are not cared for by people who may pose a risk to them and high staffing levels are maintained. Staff report positively about the consistency and quality of their supervision. They feel supported within their role, which enables them to provide high standards of care for young people. Training is current and relevant to the needs of young people. Recent training has included the risks of radicalisation empowering staff to recognise the threats such involvement would have for young people’s well-being. Young people are cared for by staff with sufficient skills to meet their needs. A staff member said, ‘I’m happy here. Support and supervision I would say are outstanding. Going off other jobs I’ve had, support from management is flawless.’

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good

Since the last inspection there have been two disciplinary issues relating to staff. Records evidence that these were dealt with thoroughly and effectively ensuring that young people remained protected, and their quality of care was not impeded. The regulator was appropriately advised of these situations initially. However, as the outcomes of events were not notified, Ofsted were not kept fully informed in line with legislation. External monitoring visits comply with legislation and contribute to young people’s well-being and safety. The manager’s internal audits are evaluative and informative. They clearly identify the impact of the approach used by staff. The information gathered from these processes are used effectively to inform the development plan. The home’s informative statement of purpose provides all concerned with a good picture of the care provided. This ensures that young people are appropriately

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good

placed, enhancing their opportunities for success. A social worker said of a young person, ‘He is very happy there and trusts staff.’ The regular contact the manager and staff have with parents and professionals is a strength. As a result of this consistent partnership working, young people’s care needs are carefully monitored allowing their plans to be consistently updated as they progress. A social worker said, ‘If there is any problem or any incidents at (Home’s Name) they always keep me informed. I have no concerns or doubts about care at all, he’s safe there.’

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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. 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

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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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