Children's home run by Pine Forest Homes Limited in Cannock Chase

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 declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home has been without a registered manager since mid -December 2015. There has however, been no one effectively in post since mid –October due to the health absence of the previous post holder. This has had a detrimental impact upon the effectiveness of the leadership and management of the home. Since the last inspection, one young person’s planned discharge has been successfully completed and another young person has joined the home. Their arrival was unplanned and the impact not effectively considered. The admission impact assessment completed did not appropriately consider presenting needs, the possible impact upon the other young people or evidence how the staff team could meet their needs. Risks are not consistently assessed by staff. When young people are placed at the home, for example with histories of risk taking behaviour, their risks assessments have not always been completed. This means their particular vulnerabilities are not

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

addressed and there is an absence of effective strategies and interventions to guide staff or encourage young people to take responsibility for their own safety. Risk assessments are weak and ineffectual. They are not consistently updated following incidents and staff do not always recognise the significance of some young people’s behaviour patterns. This compromises their effectiveness in protecting young people. Young people are currently supported by a small core group of staff, supplemented by agency staff familiar to them. They report they have a good relationship with staff but are frustrated by the lack of continuity. As one young person commented, ’I like consistency. Planned staff rotas are often swapped around. This means that planned activities don’t happen’. These concerns have not been appropriately addressed with the young people and there are no clear records of action taken to resolve these. This is a significant missed opportunity to improve the quality of

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

care. Since the end of January a registered manager from another of the provider’s homes has been overseeing the manager’s role. She has completed a quality of care review and is developing a good understanding of the current shortfalls. She has prioritised re-establishing the home’s monitoring systems and initiating a development plan. She is currently completing an application to the regulator for joint registration of both homes. The acting manager has begun to address the shortfalls identified at the last inspection and has ensured that four of previous requirements have been met. The workforce plan has yet to be completed and will remain as a recommendation. The current staff training records are incomplete They do not demonstrate that sufficient numbers of staff have completed first aid training to appropriately cover rotas or that staff have received appropriate training to meet the needs of young

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

people placed, for example those who display sexually harmful behaviour. The acting manager has acknowledged this shortfall and plans to address this in the workforce plan. Despite these shortfalls there has been progress in a number of areas. Young people continue to make significant progress in education. All regularly attend either school or college, which is a significant improvement on some young people’s starting points. Staff have worked consistently with education colleagues to identify appropriate resources and alternative provisions to ensure young people’s educational needs are met. Both education professionals and social work staff recognise the significant contribution the home has made to improve the educational outcomes for young people. Young people learn the skills needed for adulthood. They are actively involved in the upkeep of their rooms, personal laundry and cooking. Young people are proud

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

of their achievements. Young people are supported to maintain contact with family members. This ensures they remain in touch with important people in their lives. As a result they feel valued. Partnership working with other agencies and professionals is good. Staff work effectively with social workers and schools. Key meetings, such as planning meetings and looked after children’s reviews, are prioritised. This supports agencies to share important information and coordinate plans that benefit the young people. An education professional stated, ‘the communication from the home is very good overall and they keep me well up-to-date with the information I need’. There are some significant improvements in the home’s decor and maintenance. However there remains some outstanding some work identified at the last inspection and the decoration of one young person’s bedroom that requires completion. This requirement will therefore be repeated.

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Information about this children's home

This children's home offers care for three young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is operated by a local private provider.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

26/02/2015 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

14/03/2014 CH - Interim Inadequate 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

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard the registered person must ensure that they :

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Requirement Due date

2(b)(vii)) provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. This is in particular reference to the timely completion of home maintenance. 09/05/2016

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Requirement Due date

7: The children's views, wishes and feelings standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the children’s views, wishes and feelings standard the registered provider must ensure staff :

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(iii)help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for the decision in relation to the child 09/05/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered provider must ensure that staff: (2)(a) (i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child particularly following incidents;

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Requirement Due date

(iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of 09/05/2016 harm, this is in particular reference to children displaying sexually harmful behaviour

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

2(a) ensure that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose, with particular reference to ensuring they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on existing children living there. 09/05/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that at all times ,at least one person on duty at the home has a suitable first aid qualification (Regulation 31 (2)(a)) 09/05/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation.(Regulation 39(3)) 09/05/2016

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure there is a workforce plan in place which can fulfil the requirements of Regulation 16 Schedule 1. (The Guide to Quality Standards, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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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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