Children's home in Tewkesbury

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 .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was last inspected in July 2015 and was judged to be good. A number of requirements were made at this time; condition of premises, continuity of staffing, statement of purpose, supervision of staff, recording of restraint and taking action as noted on reports from the independent visitor. A further recommendation relating to computer access was also made.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has ensured that all requirements have been appropriately addressed. The outside shed has now been made safe and is no longer accessible to young people. Alternative outside storage has been provided and young people are now better able to store their bicycles and other equipment. This has improved the physical safety of the home. Staffing continuity has also improved. The organisation has redeveloped their staffing model to ensure that the home has a more stable and familiar staff team. This affords young people consistency and familiarity.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home’s statement of purpose has been updated and sent to Ofsted as required. Furthermore, recent changes to the senior management of the organisation have also been reflected in this document. As a result, young people, placing authorities, parents and other interested parties are able to view the home’s current offer of service and make an informed choice. The registered manager has also ensured that staff undertaking supervision duties in the home are appropriately trained for this task. This ensures that staff are supported by appropriately skilled individuals and that their practice is appropriately reviewed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This inspection also focused on two concerns received by Ofsted. These concerns partly related to the conduct of staff during a recent physical intervention; this incident was reviewed as part of the inspection. Restraint was used for an appropriate purpose and when other deescalating methods were exhausted. Records from this incident are clear and detail staff involved, as well as confirmation that the young person was spoken to and offered appropriate support. A further concern received by Ofsted was also reviewed as part of the inspection. This concern related to an allegation made by a young person about a member of staff. Both the young person’s social worker and the designated officer in the local authority were involved throughout this allegation. The registered manager ensured that appropriate actions were taken to promote the safety and welfare of the young person. The home’s complaints process, as well as the local

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

authority’s child protection procedures, were robustly adhered to. No regulatory shortfalls were identified as a result of investigating these concerns.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are mostly up to date with their core training. Three staff have not received safeguarding training within the organisation’s prescribed 12 month timescale. There is, to date, no demonstrable impact on young people as a result. However, there is the potential for young people to be cared for staff who are not up to date with their knowledge in this area of practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have, on the whole, made good progress since the last inspection. All young people attend school and in some cases, attendance is 100%. Where young people’s attendance is more sporadic, the staff team encourage young people’s engagement and provide a structured routine with clear expectations. A social worker commented that ‘the staff have supported the young person well.’ Young people are continuing to make some progress with managing their health. For example, medication has reduced in some instances and there has been some progress in supporting young people to eat healthily. A social worker commented that ‘the young person has made some progress with their health.’ Where concerns arise about the progress of young people, the manager ensures that swift action is taken and all relevant professionals are updated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is currently experiencing an unsettled time. This follows a period where there has been some transience in the staff team and an increase in challenging behaviour. There has also been a rise in incidents requiring notification to Ofsted. This is attributed to a period of uncertainty for some young people. The staff team are working hard to provide stability, consistency and familiarity. This is not unduly affecting the operation of the home and the organisation is ensuring that additional support is in place for staff working with young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager is appropriately skilled and has clear improvement plans for the home. The manager has not yet attained the required qualification but is fully aware of the timescales to do so. Regular monthly visits to the home by the independent visitor further drive improvement. Since the last inspection, the registered manager now ensures that actions are taken where improvements are identified by these monthly reports. As a result, independent scrutiny is now a foundation of the manager’s improvement work in the home. Similarly, the manager also ensures that their own monitoring is systematic and identifies areas to further develop. Although consultation with young people is evident in the home, the manager does not fully evaluate such consultation in their reports.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is appropriately furnished and all young people are encouraged to individualise their bedrooms. This ensures that the individual tastes of young people are expressed in the home. Young people enjoy relaxing in the home’s spacious communal areas. Furthermore, a computer is now freely available for young people to browse the internet safely. Access to activities outside of the home is actively encouraged and young people enjoy swimming, fishing, trampoline and trips to the local and wider community. The staff team work hard to create and maintain a family atmosphere in the home. A social worker commented that ‘the home is well kept and maintained.’

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Information about this children's home

The service is operated by a private company and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties and learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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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

 Staff need the knowledge and skills to recognise and be alert for any signs that might indicate a child is in any way at risk of harm. The registered person should ensure that skills in safeguarding are gained, refreshed and recorded in the homes workforce plan. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 43 paragraph 9.12)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should oversee the welfare of the children in their care through observation and engagement with: each child; the home’s staff; each child’s family/carers where appropriate; and professionals involved in the care or protection of each child including their social worker, Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO), teachers, clinicians and other health professionals etc. This specifically refers to ensuring that consultation with these groups is made explicitly clear in the manager’s own review of the service. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 54 paragraph 10.23)

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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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