Setting SC485826

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

The manager has addressed the requirement of the last inspection. Each month, an independent visitor provides a report which comments on the activity in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The ethos of the home is to prepare young people for the transition into adult life. Some young people have now moved onto more independent accommodation. Staff have planned this transition meticulously. They balanced the need to enhance practical skills such as budgeting with providing emotional support during this unsettled period. Staff liaise with college tutors and other professionals to make sure that a young person continues to meet their educational milestones. One young person who has left the home said: ‘Without their support I wouldn’t still be there. They were reassuring and went through the consequences with me. I am ambitious as I didn’t have the best start but they helped me build up.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are no young people currently living full time in the premises. However, on occasion, staff will encourage young people in other homes within the organisation to consider moving to the home when they are older to prepare them for transition to adult life. The management team follow a clear process for admission including assessing risks and balancing these with management strategies. Consequently, staff and managers are clear that they can safeguard them and young people are protected.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people visit the home and during this time, staff will take them through the young person’s handbook and explain how the home works. They have the opportunity to stay the evening, helped cook a meal with staff, completed homework and spent time relaxing. They know what to expect and this helps them make informed decisions about future options.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The management team reviews the quality of care that the young people receive. On occasion this does highlight room for improvement. For instance, recordings of young people’s evening visits is not reflective and does not refer to how this links with goals set out in their pathway plan. The registered manager has acknowledged this and is amending records so that records are linked and staff and young people can concentrate on further improvement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The management team are working to ensure that the home remains safe in the event of future placements. Both the manager and her deputy hold appropriate professional qualifications. The registered manager maintains a training matrix for staff in the home which indicates when any training needs to be refreshed. Supervision between the registered manager and senior members of the organisation is regular and recorded. The management team carries out routine health and safety checks and fire drills take place when young people are visiting. The registered manager provides regular monitoring reports to senior managers in the organisation and feels that she benefits from scrutiny by an external monitor to maintain the quality of the service.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

External professionals speak highly of the commitment of staff and managers to working in partnership. The social worker for one young person said: ‘They have always worked well with me and kept me informed. At one stage the young person was playing us off against one another but we worked together closely and included her in the meetings so it worked well.’ As a result of this careful and coordinated approach, young people have maintained their progress and this has led to improved life chances.

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Information about this children's home

This home is one of a small group of homes run by an independent provider. It offers care for up to three young people. The purpose of the home is to provide semi-independent accommodation and support for young people who are moving out of statutory care. Therapeutic services are available for young people to directly access.

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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):  Ensure that staff are clear about the need for careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non- stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child should always be recorded in a way that is helpful to the child. Records should be reflective, evaluate progress and specify what contributions staff and young people will make to drive improvement for that child. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 62 paragraph 14.4)

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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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