Children's home run by Livability

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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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

This home was judged Requires improvement at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has Declined in effectiveness .

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The manager has failed to report two concerns about staff misconduct and negligence to the Local Authority Designated Officer. The records of allegations and safeguarding investigations are stored electronically at the provider’s head office. During the inspection the records were not accessible for scrutiny, preventing independent oversight of safeguarding concerns and investigations.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The number of staff on duty is not always sufficient. Staff report that, as a result, young people’s access to the community can be compromised and their activities limited. This weakness also impacts on the quality of the one-to-one support that young people receive. Decisions about staffing levels are informally made each day as there are no agreed arrangements with the placing authority about how many staff should be on duty to meet the needs of the young people.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The impact of leaders’ and manager’s work has not been effective to drive improvements and secure consistently good quality of care and experiences for young people. Action is taken in response to inspection requirements, but improvements are not sustained over time. The responsible individual does not take sufficient action to monitor the quality of care provided at the home.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The impact of placing children for short stays alongside children who live in the home on a long term basis is not assessed by the manager. The two services operate within the same building and with the same staff team. This does not equip the staff with the specialist skills required for each role.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Staff carry bunches of keys. They have their identification cards on show and communicate using radios. Such practices are outdated and fail to create a relaxing, homely environment for young people.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The majority of staff state that their training needs are met and that they feel listened to by the management team. However, staff have not received training on how to support young people with cerebral palsy and they rely on sourcing their own information. In response to the previous inspection, the home has undergone significant redecoration and development. The communal rooms and bedrooms are decorated to a good standard. New equipment, such as hoists, enable young people to access the lounge furniture and ensure that they can eat together at a dining room table.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The manager has developed a good new children’s guide. It has been updated with consideration being given to the range of young people’s communication needs so that everyone can use it. The home’s website has a current statement of purpose available for all stakeholders to view. It accurately describes the home’s aims and registration status.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Since the previous inspection, there have been no recorded occurrences of staff using physical intervention. The manager ensures that there is a continuous development programme so all staff are trained to use restraint only when there is absolutely no alternative. Young people have not been reported as missing from the home and staff do not use sanctions to manage behaviour. The manager ensures that complaints are effectively followed up.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The manager consults with families, staff and young people as part of her monitoring of the quality of care provided at the home. She ensures that staff records include the outcome of their disclosure and barring service checks and that the missing from home protocol has been ratified by the local police.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Young people continue to make notable achievements as a result of using the service. They make good progress with their education studies. Young people benefit from good health care arrangements, which help develop their communication abilities and self-care skills. They are also involved in the running of the home through residents’ meetings and choosing the new furniture. A parent recently reported to the independent visitor that she is happy with the care and support her son is receiving.

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 16 children and young people. It offers a short break service and a residential provision to children and young people up to the age of 19 who may have physical difficulties and associated complex learning and care needs. The home is registered as a non-maintained residential special school, but is regulated against the children’s home regulations as it provides 52 week per year placements. The home is operated by an organisation with charitable status.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

25/06/2015 CH - Full Requires improvement

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Recent inspection history

20/11/2014 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

08/01/2014 CH - Interim Inadequate 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 standard, the registered person must ensure –

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Requirement Due date

(2)(c)(i) that the premises used for the purpose of the home are designed and furnished as to meet the needs of each child; with particular reference to ensuring that the short breaks service is separated from the permanent residential service. 31/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leaderships and management standard, the registered person must –

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Requirement Due date

(2) (c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child, (d) ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child, (f) understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experience of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home, (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvement in the quality of care provided in the home. 31/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

34: Policies for the protection of children

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 34 (1) (b)) 31/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

34: Policies for the protection of children

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which provides for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or 31/03/2016 neglect and the action taken in response; with particular reference to ensuring that the records are kept at the home (Regulation 34 (2) (d))

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  For children's homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children's homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislation (alarms, food hygiene etc.); however in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than institutional impression. (Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations including the quality standards 3.9)

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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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