Children's home in Gloucester

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

Since the last inspection there has been a successful transition for the young person to another home within the organisation. This was very well managed with the young person having overnight visits and the opportunity to meet her new staff team. Another young person was supported to move into the home. This move was not well managed. The initial plan was for the young person to move into this home and then move again when the provider re-opened one of their homes which had been temporarily closed. This is not conducive to good care planning for the young person and could have resulted in moving home twice in a short period of time. This decision was reversed after a review of the young person’s care planning by the Local Authority.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to make steady and sustained progress in this home. School attendance remains close to 100%. Staff value education for young people and recognise the importance of this for their development and future. Education is tailored to meet the individual needs of young people who live in this home. A young person commented ‘it is good that they helped me to stay in my own school when I came to live here’. This means that young people benefit from an integrated approach to their education and stability for their learning .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people report feeling safe in this home. They report being able to speak with staff about any concerns they have and that any issues they may have will be taken seriously. One young person reported, ‘the staff are good, you can always talk to them’. Young people understand the complaints procedures for the home and feel able to access and use them if necessary.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff receive safeguarding training as part of their induction to the home. This ensures that they are confident in the procedure to follow should any concerns arise. A staff member commented ‘the induction I had into the company was second to none, I had two full weeks training and then had the opportunity to shadow colleagues’. The organisation has a number of policies and procedures designed to safeguard young people and these receive regular review.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are protected by staff who demonstrate a good knowledge of safeguarding and are experienced in managing high risk behaviours, such as missing from home and child sexual exploitation (CSE). When young people go missing from home, staff try to maintain contact with them, as well as actively looking for them. When there have been concerns that a young person it at risk of CSE, staff discuss this with the safeguarding professionals and work directly with young people to increase their level of understanding of the risks they put themselves at. This shows young people that staff genuinely care about their welfare and safety. This in turn helps promotes trusting relationships. The home ensures that young people access all primary healthcare services, such as doctors, dentist and optician appointments. The home effectively supports all family contact. This ensures that young people remain close to individuals who are

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

important to them and benefit from being involved in a wider support network outside of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Challenging behaviour continues to be well managed. Behaviour management strategies, together with staff knowledge, training and understanding of the young people, means that difficult behaviour is managed well. A young person commented ‘I behave much better now because I get it, if I misbehave or go missing I can’t go horse-riding and I love this’. This results in the young person understanding what is expected of her and keeps her safe. There is evidence that behaviour overall has improved since the last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Activities for young people are planned and varied. One young person loves strenuous activities such as horse riding, walking and swimming. She has learned to horse ride since her arrival in the home, which has improved her health, fitness and personal safety. She explained that she likes to spend time at a project involving horse care, where she grooms a horse and works on building mutual trust and communication skills.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home continues to be managed by a suitably qualified manager. She is available to young people and staff, who confirm that they are fully supported in their day-to-day role. The manager has taken suitable action to address the requirement and both recommendations from the previous inspection. Staff are well supported through regular supervisions, annual appraisals and training and development.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recruitment of new staff to the home is not robust. For example the telephone verification process for staff references. The verification was taking place, but the detail of the conversation was not being recorded on the recruitment files.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The medication procedures within the home are flawed. The administration of medicines book indicated that two staff members had dispensed the medication; however, this was not the case. The registered manager agreed that the entries were wrong and stated that she had been using the book as an audit of medication used at handover. She has agreed to change the procedure and policies to ensure a more robust recording was in place.

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Information about this children's home

This home is one of several homes within a private organisation that provides care and accommodation for up to three children.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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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

In order to meet the care planning standard the registered person must ensure that children

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Requirement Due date

(a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home; and (b) have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. 31/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

23: Medicines (1) The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children's home. (Regulation 23 (1)) 31/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children's safety. The registered person may only employ an individual to work at the children's home; if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). The requirements are that the individual is of integrity and good character; the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform; and full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 32 (1)(2)(a)(3)(a)(b)(d) ) 31/03/2016

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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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