Children's home run by Kisimul Group Limited in North Kesteven

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 effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Prior to admission young people’s need are established through a clear assessment process. This means staff have a good understanding of their personalities, behaviours and needs. Staff use this information effectively to place young people in a house within the service that is best suited to their needs and where they would be most comfortable. As a result, young people make progress particularly in relation to their behaviour. Staff have made young people’s communication a priority within the home. They have provided young people with more opportunities to be able to communicate their needs, wants and wishes. Staff ensure young people have access to their communication aids and use picture exchange communication symbols and communication books to encourage communication. Young people also have access to key work sessions and the home uses surveys to obtain young people’s views on the care they receive.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Additional training and discussions in supervisions have aided the development of staff practice. Staff are now engaging and interacting with young people more positively. They provide encouragement and reassurance to young people and this supports them to feel valued. By communicating with young people and developing a more positive relationship with them, staff are increasing their knowledge and understanding of the young people they support. Staff are able to share their knowledge of young people through discussions in team meetings and through using ‘grab sheets’ which provide information on young people’s needs. This improvement in staff knowledge and understanding means they are able to support young people more effectively. The home has taken action to review its behaviour management policy and staff have been encouraged to reflect on how they support young people with challenging behaviour. There has been a significant reduction in the use of

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

restraint across the home. This includes a reduction in incidents for those young people who regularly require physical intervention to manage their behaviour. This represents good progress. Recordings of incidents are compliant with regulation and evidence that physical intervention is only used as a last resort. Staff support young people to share their views after every incident. There is currently no registered manager in post however, a new manager has recently been appointed and is being supported by the organisations assistant director and operations manager. This has led to an improvement in the oversight of the service as managers have ensured all aspects of the service have been audited and deficits identified and addressed. This has led to all of the requirements made at the previous inspection being met and only two of the recommendations made previously left to implement. The managers have taken

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

action to update the home’s safeguarding policy and to ensure that staff follow the home’s fire safety policy increasing the safety of the young people. Oversight of staff practice has increased and areas of poor practice are being identified and addressed. Staff turnover along with staff vacancies have decreased ensuring the team working with young people are consistent. Managers are introducing a new culture within the home that prioritises the needs of the young people. This is yet to be fully embedded however, changes that have occurred are having a positive impact on young people’s experience. Further improvement is needed to ensure that all staff receive regular supervision as per the home’s policy and to ensure staff support young people to develop their independence skills across the whole site. The managers are aware of these issues and have a plan in place to improve them.

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Information about this children's home

This service is privately owned and provides education, care and accommodation for up to 66 children and young people who have learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

28/07/2015 CH - Full Requires improvement

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Recent inspection history

11/02/2015 CH - 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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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure staff support young people to develop practical skills such as cooking, housework, budgeting and personal self-care. (Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations including the quality standards, April 2015, page 17 paragraph 3.27)  The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. This includes staff having access to regular supervision. (Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations including the quality standards, April 2015, page 61 paragraph 13.2)

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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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