Children's Home run by London Borough of Brent in Brent

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Outstanding 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

Children and young people continue to have excellent experiences and make very good progress as a result of their short break stays at the centre. Staff continue to have a strong focus on target setting and helping young people to meet agreed goals. This enhances the children’s general development, social interaction and level of independence.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff devise person centred short break plans that set goals and targets for individual young people. Staff devise these in consultation with parents, young people and other involved professionals. Goals are wide ranging, but are specific to the developmental needs of young people. The individual needs of young people are well known to centre staff, who consider very carefully the most effective methods to address identified needs. Staff ensure that targets are realistic and relevant, and that young people make steady progress in achieving set targets. Goals typically centre on behaviour management, social interaction and practical skills development.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff monitor progress made against short break plans, using newly devised progress trackers. They consistently document progress made and any emerging issues. Young people clearly enjoy their experiences at the centre. One mother comments, ‘K really enjoys attending the respite unit. His behaviour appears to change when the period of attending SBU draws near. He looks forward to it with excitement. With its commencement, his behaviour seems to have improved.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager continues to make improvements to monitoring systems that enhance the quality of the service. The staff team continue to focus on the impact of the new quality standards and how best their efforts and success with young people can be evidenced. The registered manager has actively been involved in assisting a national voluntary organisation review the impact of revised children’s homes legislation. Team meetings regularly explore the quality of service, with staff commenting on practice issues in relation to meeting the quality standards. The registered manager uses staff supervision as another vehicle to ensure that staff understand relevant legislation and that this is reflected in their care practices. File audits are frequently undertaken to ensure that the standard of care provided remains high and that the experiences and outcomes for young people are positive.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Assigned staff are creative in arranging recreational activities for young people. Frequently these involve centre-based activities and access to fun community events. Recent activities have included trips to the local library for story-telling and a Halloween Party. On the day of the inspection, during the half term, all young people were out with staff on a bowling trip. Without their short break experience, many of the young people would have no experience or access to these activities. Staff have in place a new activities folder, which captures photographically young people’s participation and enjoyment of planned trips and events. The service has also recently made new purchases of equipment and board games to further promote young people’s social interaction.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Safeguarding remains central to the work of the short break service and the staff protect children from harm effectively. The registered manager has recently implemented a safeguarding recording tool that requires staff to record all incidents of a safeguarding nature. This ensures that the service has good insight of any incident that poses risks to children and young people. Staff, for example, routinely complete body maps for some young people that highlight any marks or bruising as a result of known behavioural patterns.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people benefit from clear and effective child protection policies and procedures, with which staff are familiar and strictly adhere to. Staff are skilled in caring safely for children and young people with profound and complex disabilities. Since the last inspection, there has been one complaint, no incidents of a child protection nature, no unauthorised absences or any use of restraint. Staff meetings explore child protection issues in relation to each child attending the centre. The registered manager shares relevant research and theoretical material to support staff care practices in keeping young people safe. Staff have good access to training, which has a safeguarding focus.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff continue to work in effective collaboration with involved professionals. There is consistent communication between field social workers, health care professionals and in particular, school personnel. Staff routinely liaise and visit young people’s schools to ensure that there is consistency in the personalised care offered. Since the last inspection, the service has expanded to include offering a short break service to neighbouring local authorities. Staff communication with local authority representatives in these cases is effective and ensures the careful co-ordination of care and the mutual understanding of short break objectives. This is clearly in the best interest of children and young people. There were no requirements or recommendations made at the previous inspection. This inspection finds that the service continues to enhance the experiences and progress made by children and young people attending the centre. The leadership

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

of the service is strong. Safeguarding remains a priority for the service and is effective. The centre provides high quality care to children and young people living with significant disabilities and as a result, their outcomes are very positive.

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Information about this children's home

This short break service occupies new and purpose built premises. A London local authority owns the centre. The service provides short breaks for up to eight children and young people living with physical and learning disabilities and sensory impairment.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

02/03/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

12/12/2013 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

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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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