Children's Home run by Suffolk County Council in Suffolk

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 manager has addressed the requirements and most of the recommendations made at the full inspection. Where the manager has not fully met recommendations, he has made some progress in addressing the concerns identified. However, further progress is necessary to ensure these issues are resolved.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The new passport for independence programme has started. The young people and staff are able to talk about how they use this in practice. The manager has updated the statement of purpose to reflect the new staffing arrangements. A bullying log is now in place. Managers review this and there is evidence of challenge to young people in key work sessions. Staffing levels have increased, and the manager reports that this has improved flexibility and access to activities. The young people report being engaged in activities. Work continues on the building. This is not a one off activity and there are on-going repairs and redecoration. However, the new carpet makes a positive difference to the initial impression of the home. The staff now consider the effectiveness of sanctions in placement plan reviews.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager ensures that individual risk assessments are completed. The approach to risk assessing is changing with the introduction of a new format. The manager is alert to the potential for the risk assessments to become unwieldy as differing documents come together as one. Whilst staff are informed via e-mail that there has been an update to a risk assessments, at present there is no formal record that staff have read, understood and agreed with the risk assessments content.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The majority of staff have accessed training in child sexual exploitation (CSE). However, they have yet to access training in missing children and very few have accessed training in sexual health. This means there is still a potential gap in staff knowledge. Despite this, the police report that the home manages the risks associated with missing well. A manual exercise conducted by the manager during the inspection suggested that half the staff have not participated in a drill in the last 12 months. Whilst all young people have experienced a drill and evacuated without issue, the absence of a clear overview of which staff have been involved in a drill does not offer the manager assurance that staff would be able to respond appropriately.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

No young people have moved in or out of the home since the last inspection. The young people have made varying progress since the last full inspection. Whilst some young people have continued with their education, and one young person has made some improvements, four have not. There is no indication of acceptance or low expectations regarding education. The manager celebrates educational attendance and attainment, with two young people having recently experienced a trip to London. The manager recognises educational attainment and attendance generally as an area for improvement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager is open to challenge. He is not defensive, and recognises that there are areas for improvement within the home. An independent person undertakes monitoring visits. They offer challenge and the manager finds them useful. However, they do not routinely include the views of parents of carers. Additionally there has been no feedback from family members in a monitoring report since before the last inspection. As a result, parental views do not inform reviews of practice as much they should.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people report feeling safe in the home. Where staff have had concerns about the safety of young people, these concerns have been notified to the safeguarding manager and the regulator appropriately. The local authorities safeguarding manager was particularly positive about this practice and the communication she has with the home. She said: ‘They are one of the best at contacting me and working with me.’ When young people have gone missing the response has been appropriate. The manager ensures that all young people who have gone missing have had return home interviews. Local police report that the home handles these situations well stating: ‘They do all of the things that they should do when children go missing.’ The police and CSE professionals speak positively about the services work and knowledge in this area. A CSE worker said: ‘They are very good at working with us.’ There has been one complaint against a

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

member of staff that upon reflection the manager recognises he should have shared with the local authority designated officer.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager is highly regarded by the majority of external professionals who link with the home. They see him as approachable, child centred and keen to intervene early to keep young people safe. The majority of professionals report very good communication with the home. The police said: ‘We are in frequent contact; there is good information sharing and regular meetings.’ However, a member of staff from the virtual school whilst stating that relationships with the home were ‘on the whole positive’, felt that communication could improve.

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Information about this children's home

This home provides medium and long-term placements for up to seven young people who have emotional and or behavioural difficulties. A local authority owns and operates the home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

26/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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

The registered person must ensure that when the independent person is carrying out a visit, the independent person interviews in private parents and relatives of young people resident in the home. (Regulation 44 (2) (a)) 31/03/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Explore how the home can improve communication with the local authority virtual school. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 28 paragraph 5.15)

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Recommendations

 Consider introducing a system to evidence that staff are aware of the content of risk assessments, understand them and agree with them. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 42 paragraph 9.5) 

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff gain and refresh skills in safeguarding. This is with particular regard to the provision of training in missing and sexual health. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 43 paragraph 9.12)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that consultation takes place with the local authority designated officer in instances when young people complain about the conduct of a member of staff. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 44 paragraph 9.18)

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Recommendations

 Consider undertaking an audit to identify which staff have experienced a fire drill, and when, with a view to ensuring that all staff have demonstrated their capability to respond appropriately in the event of a fire and follow the associated policy and procedure. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 54 paragraph 10.20)

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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

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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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