Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Dudley

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

Two young people live at the home of which one has been in placement for over a year. She is working hard towards living independently and staff are supporting her well with this. She is working hard at college, budgeting, making her own meals and taking better care of her personal space and hygiene. Staff are helping her identify suitable semi-independent living and continue to spend quality time encouraging and developing her social confidence. She enjoys dance and films that relate to her family culture. The other young person experienced a well-planned transition into the home and is receiving well-planned care. Young people who have moved on from the home have continued to make progress in their other placements. Staff and the manager have kept helpful, appropriate contact with them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff and the manager have gradually developed more skills since the last inspection. Their team work is much more effective than previously. The complexity of young people’s mental health and trauma means that self-harm, suicide attempts, allegations against carers, going missing, and sexual exploitation continue to be of real and regular concern. However, staff reflect carefully, promptly and with more insight about their practice. Since December, they have also had on site advice from a qualified psychologist, rather than the temporary psychology assistants they had before. The new psychologist gives staff training on attachment, trauma and mental health. She helps staff produce practical, effective behaviour management plans and risk assessments that clearly guide staff in how to respond and work helpfully with young people. This is making a clear difference to the quality of care and young people are beginning to respond.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff and manager are considering new admissions with much more skill. They are also preparing the young people already in placement more effectively for new arrivals. They now visit young people before the placement is agreed and give them a good sense of what living in the home will be like. They prepare their rooms in the colours and style that young people choose and they pace introductions carefully. This means that young people are more confident about coming and are much more likely to engage with staff they have met. The home now works more effectively with placing authorities, police, other placements, hospitals, and CAMHS services. The manager, senior staff and the psychologist are communicating helpfully on behalf of young people. They do not delegate decisions back to social workers unnecessarily or delay the implementation of plans and agreements that safeguard young people in the face

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

of risky behaviour. For example, the manager works closely with social workers about agreements and behaviour management strategies for young people who self-harm and go missing. The manager worked well with police and local authority designated officer to deal sensitively and swiftly with a series of false allegations made against staff. She ensures that there are regular strategy meetings with social workers when unsafe behaviours keep occurring. She advocated with police so that they did not press charges in regard to some serious damage to the home. She works closely with hospitals, police and known contacts when young people are missing. She ensures that her staff are there to support young people, search for them, share intelligence, collect them and stay with them if they are kept in hospital. A social worker for a young person who is now in foster care said recently, ‘thank you for your continued support to this vulnerable young lady.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and deputy work well with their staff team and have embedded a very accessible leadership style since the last inspection. Their recording is thorough and well organised. Shifts are well prepared and good detail handed over to oncoming staff. Supervision of staff is regular and they all feel well supported in their work. Young people therefore get consistent care and respect the managers and staff alike. The manager and deputy take note of the advice and recommendations of the home’s monthly visitor and have worked hard to address the care practice weaknesses in the home highlighted at the last full inspection. They have gained in experience and skills over the last six months and are focusing well, with the psychologist’s help, on the effectiveness of staff practice. However, the manager has not prioritised completing reviews of care quality in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager is not receiving practice supervision from her line manager. The responsible individual has left the organisation. This change has not triggered a notification to Ofsted. The manager and the deputy manager do not receive good or timely opportunities to develop their professional practice. For example, they have not been able to undertake training in mental health beyond an introduction session. A number of staff are ready to start their professional qualification, but have not yet been afforded the opportunity to formally start.

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Information about this children's home

The home is part of a large limited company. It provides care for up to five children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. At present the home caters for young women in accordance with its current Statement of Purpose.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

22/07/2015 CH - Full Requires improvement

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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

Ensure that notice is given in writing to HMCI, as soon as it is reasonably practicable to do so, if there is any change in the identity of the responsible individual. (Regulation 49 (e) (iii)) 12/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)) 12/03/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure that the registered person decides what each review should focus on, based on the specific circumstances of the home at that particular time and any areas of high risk to the children that the home is designed to care for, such as missing or exploitation. Registered persons should use their professional judgement to decide which factors to focus on. The review should enable the registered person to identify areas of strength and possible weakness in the home's care, which will be captured in the written report. The report should clearly identify any actions required for the next 6 months of delivery within the home and how those actions will be addressed. The whole review process and the resulting report should be used as a tool for continuous improvement in the home. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 65, paragraph 15.4)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. 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 13.2 and 13.3)

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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

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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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