–

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.2

The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people have made good progress from their starting points.   Detailed plans provide clarity and practical strategies to enable staff to support young people.   Knowledgeable staff support young people, with effective relationships present, enabling each young person to confide in staff.   The voice of young people is present within the home and within all plans and reviews.   Staff are calm and consistent in their approach with young people, providing support to them at times of high anxiety, conflict and distress.   Staff are persistent and resourceful, encouraging young people to engage in education, health care and activities.   Positive relationships are maintained with those outside of the home, with open and honest communication being present.   Robust safeguarding systems and processes are followed, with a clearly evidenced trail of investigation and with the outcome of concerns and events

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

recorded.   Risky behaviours are well managed through clear risk management plans, which are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect changes in needs.   Previous recommendations and requirements set have been implemented and acted on.   The manager has robust, effective systems in place, which ensure that the quality of care is monitored and that issues identified are acted on.   Staff are well supported through regular effective supervision and the provision of training specific to their roles, the needs of the young people and the environment they work in.  

p.3

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Staff should understand the factors that affect children's motivation to behave in a socially acceptable way. Staff should encourage an enthusiasm for positive behaviour through the use of positive behaviour strategies, in line with the child's relevant plan. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations including quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.13).  Records of restraint must be kept and should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and to be able to respond promptly where issues or trends of concern emerge. (Specifically, staff must be able to evidence the review and monitoring of records.) (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations including quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)

p.4

Recommendations

 The leadership and management standard requires the registered person to lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with its approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home's statement of purpose. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations including quality standards, page 51, regulation 13 (2)(a)).

p.4

Information about this children's home

The home is registered for up to three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and mental disorders. The home is privately owned by a small company that also owns one other home. The home is located in a rural location but it is within easy reach of local services and facilities.  The aim of the home is to offer a therapeutic environment which is safe, nurturing, encouraging and supportive.

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

Recent inspection history

04/11/2015 CH – Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.5

Good

Young people have made progress from their starting points. They state that they feel that they have made improvements and are now more able to manage themselves and to share their anxieties and worries with staff. Staff are persistent and supportive, encouraging young people to engage in education and individualised daily plans. They source varied, purposeful activities and alternative provisions for those not engaging in full-time education. They make requests for review when young people are not progressing with their education. Staff have good and effective relationships with education providers that includes daily communication. Staff support young people to remain in school if they are experiencing a difficult day. Staff attend reviews and meetings, and also encourage young people to attend. This has impacted positively on the home’s relationships with providers, promoting the communication and a collaborative approach to

p.6

Good

supporting young people. This approach has supported staff when working with those young people who have lacked the motivation to engage in education. Staff have explored employment opportunities, with positive outcomes being achieved and young people engaging in employment. Staff are currently continuing to explore training opportunities in areas which young people have key interests in. Relationships between staff and young people are positive, with each young person having a key adult whom they trust and confide in. This was evident when young people had difficulties, with staff quickly identifying issues, de-escalating situations and being supportive to young people, enabling them to explore their feelings and emotions and to avoid conflict. The home is set up to run over three different areas, with each offering its own bedroom, bathroom and living room. The young people share a communal kitchen

p.6

Good

space in which they can gather with staff to socialise if they wish. Young people appear to like the option to be with their peers or in their own space if they choose. During the inspection a meal had been prepared for young people to share but no one space offered a large enough dining area to enable them to sit and share the meal together. Health files provide details of needs and evidence of young people being offered appointments to meet their needs. One young person was lacking a child looked after medical, but evidence was present to show that the manager had pursued this. All young people have been encouraged and supported to seek advice and to engage with services. Specific health services are sought when required, and staff have good relationships with local health care providers. The home has access to a psychiatrist and a nurse who provide support and guidance to staff when needed. Young people who are able to are supported to access medical appointments and

p.6

Good

reviews alone if they wish. Those with poor emotional well-being have risk management and support plans in place. These provide clarity regarding responses and actions needed. Staff were observed to provide a calm consistent approach to supporting young people at times of crisis. Care plans, support plans and risk management plans are detailed, providing clarity on practical approaches to managing risk and to supporting young people. All plans are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect any changes in needs and interventions. All plans are shared with young people in key work sessions, with them signing off reports if they wish. The manager intends to develop a system that provides evidence that young people are regularly informed of changes to plans. The ‘Young Person’s Guide’ is individualised for each young person. Each has key contact numbers relevant to each individual and they are stored privately in each

p.7

Good

young person’s lounge. They offer lots of information about the home, outside support agencies and services that they can access for support and advice. The voice of the young person is present throughout the home, with young people being involved in key decisions about furniture and decoration. Regular key work sessions with young people provide opportunities to explore their views and feelings about key areas and issues which are important to them. Plans and reports are shared with young people and their comments are sought prior to reviews and meetings. Their comments are also sought following incidents and sanctions being applied. Staff offer a variety of activities to young people with a varied level of uptake. Staff have been resourceful in accessing local activities to supplement education. They have completed projects including a furniture repair, and plans are in place to do more outside activities in the garden.

p.7

Good

Young people are being supported to develop independence and life skills. They complete basic household and shopping chores. One young person manages his own budget and prepares all of his meals with support. Young people are also learning to self-regulate their behaviour, emotions and feelings. Progress is slow but they are making good progress from their starting points. Targets and objectives worked towards are focused and detailed, with young people knowing their individual goals. All achievements, big and small, are celebrated through photo books, achievement certificates and one-to-one time with staff and with praise. Conflicts within the home are well managed, with key work sessions focusing on important issues raised. Boundaries are in place, with staff choosing key areas to focus their attention on. Staff have been inconsistent regarding the expectations and routine of the home and in choosing which key areas to focus on with young

p.7

Good

people. Contact with families and friends is promoted in each young person’s plan and risk assessments. Staff request reviews of these when required. Staff maintain positive working relationships with families and carers and involve them in many aspects of care planning.

p.8

Good

Each young person has a key adult whom they trust and confide in and request help from when needed. Systems and procedures in the home provide a robust safeguarding ethos and approach. The home is well maintained, with areas of damage swiftly repaired and with plans in place to address larger aspects. All required maintenance checks have been completed and systems are in place to ensure that regular monitoring and checks occur. All concerns are well recorded and reported, with referral to others when required, as set out in the home’s policy and procedures. Records show robust intervention from staff and good detail of investigations and outcomes. Young people know how to make a complaint and they share their worries and anxieties with key trusted adults. There has been one complaint since the last inspection, which was robustly investigated, reported and recorded. Evidence of the outcome has been provided to the complainant.

p.8

Good

There have been no safeguarding allegations made since the last inspection, but procedures are in place if or when this does occur. Staff are trained in the home’s preferred method of behaviour support. Physical intervention is avoided, with a wide range of de-escalation and distraction strategies being used. There has been no physical intervention in the home since the last inspection. Incidents are recorded, with the young people being asked to make comments, but this has not been recorded consistently. There is no clear system currently in place to review, monitor and evaluate incidents. Staff reflect and review incidents at handover and in reflective group supervision sessions. These sessions are not currently recorded or evidenced, but the manager has plans in place to address this. Staff are clear with young people regarding expectations of behaviour but ‘house rules’ are not evident in the home or the guides.

p.8

Good

Good relationships exist between staff and police, with the police visiting the home regularly to meet with staff and young people. All key stakeholders have an input into reviews and plans, providing effective collaborative plans which manage risk. Sanctions are linked to the cause or trigger, with restorative approaches being used. The financial sanctions do not all clearly state how much is to be applied and for how long weekly amounts are to be withheld. Risky behaviours have clear risk management plans, with detailed practical approaches and strategies to assist staff in minimising risks and supporting young people. Staff respond calmly to incidents with referral to others when needed, with debriefs and reviews explored in key work sessions. Risk assessments reflect the needs and risks which are present for each young person. Young people are encouraged to take age-appropriate risks. There is evidence of staff advocating on

p.9

Good

behalf of the young people, ensuring that they are not overly restricted and are able to learn through every-day, low level risk taking. Young people regularly discuss their risky behaviours with staff in key work sessions, and staff have supported young people by reviewing their behaviour and exploring more positive options and choices. Currently no young person has an identified risk level associated with child sexual exploitation. Plans are in place to address and minimise known risk factors, with staff trained and having knowledge and insight into them. Episodes of young people going missing have been well managed and coordinated, with clear responses to incidents thoroughly recorded. Missing plans address individual risk factors and the varied responses needed, with regular reviews and updates as required. Staff refer incidents on to statutory agencies as the plans dictate, with requests for ‘return to care interviews’ being made. The frequency of

p.9

Good

missing episodes has varied, with the manager reviewing the trends and patterns in the monitoring systems. Staff have robust systems in place to manage and minimise risk factors associated with e-safety. Incidents are recorded, with actions and outcomes detailing how to support young people through education, guidance and support. Staff use an online education programme which all young people have completed and then revisit this programme following an incident to remind them of the risks associated with e-safety. An effective pre-admission assessments and impact risk assessments were completed prior to a recent admission of a young person to the home. An evaluation of risk factors, the ability to meet the young person’s need and their compatibility were considered. Robust and safer processes are in place and followed across all aspects of recruitment.

p.9

Good

The home is well managed, and the new registered manager is established in the home. All requirements and recommendations set at the previous inspection have been implemented and acted on. The home is properly staffed and managed, with occasional bank staff being used to supplement staff shortages. The manager has new systems in place for monitoring and evaluating the quality of care provided in the home, but these are not yet embedded. A robust home development plan details areas for improvement, with aims and aspirations, as well as dates by which each area is to be achieved. The plan has been updated to reflect new areas identified from independent visits and internal monitoring and review. The independent visitor attends the home regularly, and the outcomes and issues identified have been acted on. Plans have been developed to address the more complex aspects. The content and style of the visits has been reviewed, and it has

p.10

Good

been concluded that the more robust approach has been beneficial. The manager regularly reviews support plans and risk management plans, completing file audits to ensure that they guide staff effectively for all predictable eventualities.. If young people are not making progress reviews are requested to address and review plans with stakeholders. Staff receive regular and effective supervision and also attend a reflective group session once a month. Staff practice is appraised once a year. Managers have introduced a questionnaire for the staff and young people regarding staff which contributes to their appraisal. Staff debriefs following any incidents that may occur are not evidenced, with staff reporting that they gain support and reflection verbally from colleagues. The manager intends to introduce plans to ensure that staff are offered the opportunity to reflect and review their practice following all incidents.

p.10

Good

Staff have a full curriculum of training available to them, including topics pertinent to their individual practice. Staff have recently received fire marshal training, radicalisation training and attachment training. Following induction and probation, all staff are enrolled on the required training programme, and it is expected that all staff will achieve this qualification within the required timescales.

p.11

Good

The statement of purpose has been updated and reviewed to reflect the recent changes in management.

p.11

What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against ‘Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection’.

p.12

What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

p.12

What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

p.12

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 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

p.13

Information about this inspection

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.13

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, work- based 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.14

Information about this inspection

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

p.14

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.14

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.14