Children's home run by Lioncare Limited in Epping Forest

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

The requirements from the last inspection have been effectively met. A referral form now includes allegations against staff. Newly admitted young people have individualised care plans.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been disruption in the home which has affected the young people. Initially staff were able to protect young people from the impact of one young person’s challenging behaviour. However, there was an increase in serious incidents, risk to the young person, staff and damage to property. Young people voiced their concerns. Senior managers made the decision to end the young person’s placement because they could no longer meet his needs or contain the behaviour. No further admissions are planned until the home is more settled and young people feel secure. This indicates thoughtful management planning. Staff have not updated a young person’s combined placement plan since August 2015; this meant that strategies were not based on a recently informed care plan. Staff have consulted with the young person on an informal basis through individual work and daily group meetings; however, staff had not recorded key work sessions

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

for this young person since September. This meant that the Registered Manager could not evaluate the impact of discussions. The Registered Manager is effectively consulting professionals in relation to transitions plans for another young person. The Social Worker said ‘there is very good communication, they are working in his best interests and working with us regarding his next placement’. Young people have made progress since the last inspection. Young people gain in confidence; they enjoy communicating with each other and staff, a significant change for some. All young people are attending education and making good academic and social progress. Staff work closely with parents to promote and facilitate positive contact with family members. Staff have worked with a parent regarding strategies to manage a young person’s challenging behaviour. He now has unsupervised contact. The home is undergoing extensive refurbishment to the interior and exterior of the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

building, including the young people’s bedrooms. They are fully involved in designing their bedrooms and choosing decorations. Young people receive the health services that they require, including therapy. A Social Worker reported that ‘staff supported my young person to attend art therapy, which benefited him’. Young people receive effective interventions to reduce their worries and promote positive outcomes. Good professional relationships between the home and partner agencies result in effective multi –disciplinary working. The Registered Manager has a good relationship with young people’s school and social workers. One Social Worker said ‘there is very good communication with the home, I get regular reports’. The Registered Manager has advocated for one young person’s placement to become long term, previously decisions were made on a month to month basis. The Registered Manager ensures that supervision is evaluative and reflective;

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

however, the frequency is not in line with the organisation’s statement of purpose. This means that staff miss opportunities to discuss concerns regarding young people and personal development. Daily de-brief sessions; group discussions and team meetings reduce the impact of this failure. The deputy and senior staff are undertaking training to supervise staff to ensure that this is addressed. The Registered Manager is keen to manage a home that improves practice. She is aware that the challenges since the last inspection period have affected the young people and that a period of stability is needed.

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Information about this children's home

The home is run by a private organisation. The home is registered to provide therapeutic residential care for seven children and young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

10/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

16/01/2014 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

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

(2) In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person -

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Requirement Due date

(a) lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home's statement of purpose, particularly in relation to supervision

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Requirement Due date

(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home, particularly in relation to key work sessions being completed, incidents recorded accurately and reviews being updated to inform plans. 18/03/2016

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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

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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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