Children's Home run by Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited in Kent

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 .

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All the young people have remained at the home since the last inspection; they all wish to continue living at the home for the foreseeable future.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have built effective and robust relationships with the young people. These are evident from the young people’s investment in the home and their progress. Staff complete comprehensive and personalised placement plans to ensure consistent practice. These are now including young people’s cultural needs or identity interests. Staff are able to effectively demonstrate young peoples’ access to cultural events and clubs they wish to be involved in. There is a strong interest in football within the home which staff use to engage young people as well as to create learning opportunities. Young people’s health needs are promoted in the home. Staff have been able to encourage young people to take responsibility for their health and understand through informed choices how to keep healthy. Significant improvements have been made including medication and smoking reduction, which has benefited two young people. Young people feel settled enough to engage with therapy and allow

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

staff to support them through emotionally difficult events such as bereavement.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to make progress educationally from their starting points. Their attendance is significantly improved. One Social Worker commented ‘he has made really good progress at the home with his education which is going really well’. Staff celebrate young people’s achievements; this supports their learning and academic development. Contact continues to be well-promoted for all the young people. Young people continue to engage with age appropriate life skills such as cooking and cleaning.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection there have not been any incidences of restraints being used in the home and there has been only one sanction given. There has been only one missing episode when a young person went missing from a trip to London. Staff consistently promote positive behaviour. Children enjoy working towards their reward charts and learning to manage their own behaviour. The home’s environment is secure and keeps children safe. The manager now ensures that the necessary physical and environmental checks of the premises are carried out at the appropriate intervals. A cleaning rota is completed by staff and monitored by the manager to ensure that young people are protected from avoidable risks.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff understand the statement of purpose and the home is managed in-line with its stated aims and objectives. However, some statements are too generic to enable perspective parents or social workers to make an informed choice regarding placing a young person at the home. There has been minimal impact as the home hasn’t had any new placements recently, this requirement is remade at this inspection. A new workforce plan outlines the staff structure and contains an evaluation of staffs’ skills and training needs. This supports the manager in his workforce planning in order to meet the statement of purpose as well as the needs of the young people in the home. The self-harm policy remains insufficient and not robust. It does not enable staff to clarify the risk, outline links with signs of suicide, or demonstrate effective working together practices with other agencies such as health. Therefore this recommendation is remade at this inspection.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A clear strength of this home is the permanent and committed Registered Manager. He monitors the quality of the care along with an external visitor to learn from the practice of the home. He ensures that partnership working is effective for the young people and is in their best interests. The Registered Manager works well with other agencies and the professionals involved in the young peoples’ care. He has now established an effective working relationship with the local area designated officer. Social workers are kept up-to-date with children’s progress. As one Social Worker said, ‘The staff and manager are all very fond of my young person and I know they treat him with kindness and warmth and make him feel part of a family, they are always thinking of what is in his best interests and they are always willing to try new things to support him. They are great at communicating with myself and keeping me up to date with any changes.’

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has been proactive with the neighbours to build links and this has meant that the children benefit from local friendships as well as social networks.

p.3

Information about this children's home

This children’s home provides care for up to three children with emotional and behavioural needs. It is run by a private organisation.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.4

Recent inspection history

17/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

p.4

Recent inspection history

24/02/2014 Interim Satisfactory progress

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children's home a statement, which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1, in order that parents and placing authorities can make an informed decision about the home (Regulation 16 (1)). 23/05/2016

p.5

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Include within the policy on protection of children from abuse and neglect arrangements to counter the risks of self-harm and suicide. Ensure all linked policies are reviewed regularly and revised to ensure they are robust and effective in practice. (‘Guide to the Quality Standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.19)

p.5

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.

p.6

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.

p.6

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 .

p.6

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,

p.7

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

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

p.7