Children's home run by Physis Quantum Limited in Shropshire

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 .

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

It is over nine months since the last inspection. One young person is approaching 18 and continues to do well. She has received good input from a nurturing care team. She is more confident to talk to staff about her views, wishes and worries, without having to resort to allegations in order to stop a contact visit or an activity. Child Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAHMS) and the home’s therapist work cooperatively to ensure she has the right medication and support.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person moved into the home in August 2015. She is also making good progress. This is despite the fact that she has not engaged in the therapy that is offered. In particular, she has gained in knowledge and confidence about how to stay safe from sexual exploitation. She has plans to return to her home authority area during 2016 and is on track to achieve this. The home’s monthly visitor said that the manager went to ‘extreme lengths to achieve an outstanding match for the existing young person.’ Her social worker said, ‘staff are knowledgeable, they think about her, analyse and reflect on where she is at. It is one of the best settings I have known because they really hold the young people in mind.’

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

However, in Autumn 2015 leaders and managers admitted a third young person who did not match well with the other young people. During November and December 2015 there were a number of serious incidents and the behaviour and progress of all the young people was adversely affected. The third young person’s placement ended prematurely. The manager and staff did not keep in contact with the young person or the placing authority. They do know where she was next placed and have not consulted with her or the placing authority. This means the young person missed out on help to ease her move. The manager and local authority have also missed opportunities to learn lessons from examining the things that went wrong.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The remaining two young people settled again and are making good progress in 2016. Both young people are doing well in education, given their starting points.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A new manager was registered in December 2015. The previous manager moved into an operations role overseeing all three of the organisation’s homes. The new manager is experienced, suitably qualified and confident. She is making sure that all staff have appraisals and development plans. Young people seem able to relate to her and staff feel well supported and empowered to do their jobs. She said, ‘I feel the team are going well and in the time I have been here I have improved it and they have gelled well.’ The manager takes note of the monthly visitor’s suggestions and says she finds the new visitor helpful. She has revisited the improvements needed following the last Ofsted inspection: she ensures all staff are alert to the importance of robust visitor signing in; and she also checks that all staff working in the home have been safely recruited. However, the manager is not targeting her monitoring, reviewing and

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

consultation work effectively enough. She audits records to see if they are complete but does not place enough focus on examining the quality of staff’s skills and practice. In particular, staff practice during serious incidents is not reviewed carefully enough to get learning and lessons for future development of the home. This holds back the quality and impact of leadership and management.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In addition, the manager is not being proactive enough about creating the most effective partnerships with social workers and independent reviewing officers. She does not consult with them enough about staff’s practice during serious incidents or the effectiveness of young people’s behaviour, risk management and placement plans. She does not go direct to the independent reviewing officer to chase up review minutes. She has not always ensured that the right information is obtained from local authorities and thoroughly discussed with all parties to aid matching decisions and learn from placement endings. This holds back the development of best practice and ultimately, young people’s progress.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

From January 2016 the organisation is using a different independent visitor company. Ofsted have not received reports of January and February 2016 visits. The manager has not checked to make sure that the reports are forwarded to Ofsted. This means Ofsted do not have an up to date independent overview of the quality of the home between inspections.

p.3

Information about this children's home

The home is privately owned by a small limited company and provides care and accommodation for up to four children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Education is provided on site in the organisation’s separately registered school.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.4

Recent inspection history

12/02/2014 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the register of children shows the child’s address on leaving the home. (Regulation 37, schedule 4, 1(d)) 10/04/2016

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the independent person provides a copy of the independent person’s report to HMCI. (Regulation 44 (7)(i)) 10/04/2016

p.5

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Ensure that the registered person actively seeks independent scrutiny of the home and makes best use of information from independent and internal monitoring (including under regulations 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. They should be skilled in anticipating difficulties and reviewing incidents. They are responsible for proactively implementing lessons learned and sustaining good practice. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

p.5

Recommendations

 Ensure that the registered person takes responsibility for deciding what each review of quality of care should focus on, based on the specific circumstances of the home at that particular time and any areas of high risk to the children that the home is designed to care for. They will also consider what information or data recorded in the home will form part of the evidence base for their analysis and conclusions. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 65, paragraph 15.4)

p.5

Recommendations

 Ensure that the home understands it is crucial to work in close partnership with all those who play a role in protecting and caring for the child, but particularly the child's local authority and statutory social worker. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 11, paragraph 2.3)

p.5

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.

p.6

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.

p.6

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 .

p.6

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,

p.7

Information about this inspection

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

p.7

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.7

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.7