Children's home run by Moonreach LTD in Dover

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has Improved in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection six requirements and one recommendation were made. The home has addressed five of the requirements. Although progress has been made relating to the other requirement, it has not been fully met and so is repeated at this inspection. The recommendation made at the last inspection relating to individual protocols to be followed when a young person is missing or absent without permission is also repeated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection the atmosphere in the home was volatile and unsettled. Behaviour displayed by young people has resulted in increased police involvement, complaints from neighbours and young people not making sustained progress. This situation has changed significantly. Young people are now making good progress, achieving good attendance at school and enjoying supportive and warm relationships with members of staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Substantial and meaningful steps have been taken to address the requirements made at the last inspection. These include improved behaviour management support and behaviour management plans. These enable young people to sustain positive behaviour and to learn new coping strategies for when they are angry or distressed. As a result, incidents of aggression have reduced greatly. This leads to greater stability and gives the young people the ability to reflect on their behaviours and consider their actions and responses. This has had an additional impact with regards to a marked reduction in complaints from neighbours and hugely reduced police involvement in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Improved care planning and better consideration of new admissions to the home has meant that the members of staff can meet the young people’s needs and provide a good standard of care and stability. The recording of this process still lacks detail or expands on how new admissions may affect the young people already living at the home. However, this is an administrative shortfall and has not had a negative impact on the young people. This requirement from the last inspection remains. Reports from visits undertaken as required under Regulation 44 now include comments from parents and placing authorities. This ensures that the visitor now has a wider source of information when assessing the performance and effectiveness of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The Registered Manager makes sure that previous employers are telephoned prior to a member of staff commencing work at the home, especially when that role included work with young people or vulnerable adults. The discussions cover comments made in the written reference. This robust approach ensures that the recruitment of staff is thorough and careful.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A recommendation was made at the last inspection relating to ensuring that the protocol to be followed in the event of a young person going missing or absent without permission, is more detailed and tailored to each young person. This was in relation to ensuring that members of staff knew which specific areas to search if a young person was missing. This has not been rectified to a sufficient standard. One protocol was not detailed enough about the time a young person is to be reported missing to the police, especially if she is missing during the day. This shortfall has not had an impact on the young person as the number of missing episodes has drastically reduced since admission. However, the protocol needs to be accurate and reflect the level of risk faced.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The overall standard of recording at the home is good. Some key documents, such as sanctions and child protection records, are signed by members of staff whose signatures are illegible. This makes it difficult for external monitoring agencies and young people to know who wrote the report. There are samples of staff signatures at the front of the books containing these documents but they do not always accurately replicate the name or signature of the persons completing the recording.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are seen to be relaxed and seeking staff company. Staff are warm and supportive; it is clear that young people are making good progress and feel safe living at this home. ‘I would give this home ten out of ten’ stated one young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Members of staff show considerable commitment to the young people in their care. This has been particularly noteworthy in the support given to maintain their education placements and to achieve high levels of attendance.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Additionally, staff work closely with young people to prepare them for moving on to their next placement. This is particularly so if the move is to more independent living. The young people are well supported to develop their self-care and independent skills as part of the preparation for adulthood. This increases their chances of success when they are finally independent.

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Information about this children's home

This is a privately owned children’s home which provides accommodation for two young people.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

29/09/2014 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

13: The leadership and management standard.

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, with regard to ensuring the effectiveness of the home’s response to young people’s missing from care and behaviour management plans the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

(2) (f) understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. 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):  Ensure that the registered person specifies the procedures to be followed, and the roles and responsibilities of staff, when a child is missing from care or away from the home. In particular ensure that each young person’s protocol is clear as to when they are to be reported missing to the police. (‘Guide to the Quality Standards’, page 45 paragraph 9.28)  Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. In particular ensure that staff signatures are legible when they complete written records. (‘Guide to the Quality Standards’, page 62 paragraph 14.4)

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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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