Children's home run by The Caldecott Foundation Limited in Ashford

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Outstanding 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

All the young people have remained living at the home since the last inspection visit. As one young person stated, ‘I’m still here and I’m staying’. Young people benefit greatly from the staff’s sensitive and skilled management of some very personal and complex issues. This is because staff prioritise the young people’s self-esteem and emotional wellbeing. Examples include enabling young people to advocate on their own behalf and the use of transportation. Staff work hard to improve young people’s future life-chances.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Education outcomes are good. Young people attend regularly and make progress in reaching educational goals despite previously having been out of school or having had very low previous attendance. Bespoke educational curriculums are put in place to ease any transitions and these support the young people’s placement. Additionally, rewards are linked to educational attendance and young people were able to earn a trip to Butlin’s over the recent half term holiday. Young people enjoy planning a range of activities and for one young person this included a trip to a ‘build a bear’ workshop.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people know how to complain and what avenues are available to them if they wish to raise concerns. This process supports young people to feel that their views and opinions are valued and taken seriously. However, the record of one child’s complaint did not fully show how this had been resolved to their satisfaction.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people do not go missing from the home. They report feeling safe and do not wish to change anything about their home. Young people have multiple opportunities to participate in the operation of the home through their selection of the types of sanctions and rewards, making rules, choosing how communal areas are furnished and decorated as well as discussing issues at their meetings. Young people present their views effectively as a group as well as individually. As one Social Worker commented, ‘her interactions with peers in the house has increased and she appears more confident’. Safeguarding of young people is robust. All young people have received training and guidance in the safe use of the internet. This has been implemented bearing in mind each young person’s individual abilities and understanding of the related issues. The organisations policy on self-harm now includes the risks of self-harm or suicide and is therefore more robust and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people appreciate time with and the work of the manager. She has met the previous recommendation made regarding the self-harm policy. The Registered Manager is proactively involved in monitoring individual care arrangements, which supports the good progress made by the young people. For example, she consults with professionals and adjusts planning when required. She is very aware of the progress and of any limitations or specific issues for each young person.

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Information about this children's home

This children's home is intended for up to seven young people who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is owned and operated by a registered charity. The home undertakes assessments for a period of three to six months, of young people in crisis and in need of either an emergency or planned placement.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

03/03/2015 CH - Interim improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

04/03/2014 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

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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 responsible person takes responsibility for proactively implementing lessons learned and sustaining good practice. In particular by ensuring that full information is recorded with actions regarding any complaints made about the home. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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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

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

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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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