Children's home run by Worcestershire County Council in Worcester

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 long standing registered manager of this service retired at the end of January 2016. A new manager started in post after a handover. The new manager is in the process of submitting his application to be registered manager of the home to Ofsted. The Local Authority and home's management team understand the strengths and weaknesses of the home. There is a development plan in place which continues to ensure improvements to the service. This is currently being reviewed by the new manager. Three requirements and one recommendation were set at the last inspection. Two requirements have been met. Work on the remaining requirement and recommendation is on-going. Some good progress has been made. Young people’s education is given good priority. Where young people are already on roll with a school staff support them to re-engage or maintain their education. However, access to schooling and a structured day is sometimes delayed when a

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

young person is not on a school’s roll. The new manager is exploring appointing an educational post that will operate out of the home and support young people to quickly access full time education. The staff team continue to develop the environment to make it feel more homely. This continues to be a challenge because of the range and high turnover of young people moving in and out of the home. Young people in crisis receive good quality support which enables them to re- engage in positive routines, reduce high risk behaviours and focus on what they want to achieve in the future. They successfully move back with their family or onto long-term stable residential or fostering placements. Young people are welcomed into the home. Staff work effectively with other agencies and family members to ensure they have as much information as possible. Where appropriate staff use translators to further support this process.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are actively engaged in the planning and implementation of their care and know in what areas they are making good progress. Staff form positive relationships with young people. These enable them to have difficult conversations and provide the support young people need to move forward. Young people’s safety is promoted at all times. The staff team effectively support young people who often move into the home when they are experiencing crisis in their lives, or they are at risk. In some cases the focus of the service is to keep young people safe and reduce high risks until a specialist service can be found. In all cases historical high risk behaviours significantly reduce. For example, since the last inspection there have been no complaints. Use of physical interventions has been low and missing from care episodes reduce for young people. As a result, young people are able to re-establish more age-appropriate routines and activities.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff know and understand when to report a safeguarding concern and are clear when they would take appropriate action to keep young people safe. Policies and procedures support and promote safe work practices. Staff have a clear understanding of safeguarding procedures and receive regular training to support and refresh their knowledge. The manager and staff team work effectively with partner agencies to ensure risks are reduced. Young people have access to resources that work to educate them to keep themselves safe in the future.

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Information about this children's home

This is a local authority immediate response children’s home. As well as planned placements the service accepts emergency placements and out of hours requests. It provides care and accommodation for up to five young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home’s Statement of Purpose indicates that the age range of young people living at the home will be between 10 and 18 years of age. The home does not employ any specific therapeutic techniques, but does subscribe to attachment theory and staff are trained to employ this approach.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

16/03/2015 CH - Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

20/02/2014 CH - 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

In order to meet the education standard the registered person is required to:- (viii) help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (2) (a) (viii)) 31/08/2016

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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 the home maintains a domestic rather than an institutional impression. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 15, paragraph 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

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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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