Children's home in Gloucester

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding 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

The home has not sustained the outstanding level of care and support found at the last inspection. This clearly is reflected in a young person’s comments, ‘It’s all gone wrong and it’s not as positive as when you came last time. There have been lots of staff changes and different people working here that I don’t really know. I feel like I’m a burden and the staff have gone cold towards me.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Changes in leadership and staff have contributed to the decline in young people’s care and experience. The home has been without a registered manager for a period of time and suitable interim arrangements have not been put in place. The assistant manager is acting up at this home and, up until recently, at another company home as well. This meant that in addition to her usual roles and responsibilities, including covering shifts, she has taken on extra management tasks. This has affected her ability to manage the home effectively. Despite her commitment to her role, she has not had sufficient time or support to maintain effective monitoring systems where shortfalls, in particular, gaps in paperwork, are regularly addressed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Safeguarding concerns have not always been managed appropriately. Staff did not robustly assess a potential health concern where a young person who is pregnant complained of severe stomach pains and staff did not seek medical guidance. The home’s records show that staff dismissed this as ‘the way she was sitting’. This does not demonstrate staff fully promoting young people’s health needs and welfare.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Furthermore, staff were informed that a young person had been driving a car without a driving licence or insurance. Although staff state that they reported this to the placing social worker as a safeguarding concern, there was no record detailing this incident or evidence to demonstrate they had taken appropriate action. Additionally, the home did not inform Ofsted of this incident that the assistant manager had assessed as serious, which prevents the regulating body from evaluating the home’s safeguarding practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home’s physical environment is not sufficiently safe and the assistant manager was unaware that parts of the building present a risk to young people. For example, a bedroom ceiling was covered in mould and mildew and the room smelt of damp. There was also significantly damaged living room furniture, which the home had not replaced. Appropriate action, is not therefore taken to ensure a hazard free, warm and safe homely environment for young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been a lack of consistency in the staff team, with the sudden departure of two part time staff and a full time member being off sick. Several different staff, from other homes, have been covering the shortfalls in the rota. Some handover records were left blank, which meant the staff coming on had no written information to refer to while on shift. This has impacted on the consistency of care being provided.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Care planning is not fully effective. The home’s documents, including individual care plans, are sometimes inaccurate and, despite being updated, contained outdated information. Staff’s recordings included comments about young people that were stigmatising and subjective, not differentiating between fact and personal opinion. Staff had not considered how this can impact on a young person reading their files.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although staff feel supported, with one staff member informing the inspector ‘we can talk to the assistant manager if we need to she is very supportive and is trying, but with the staff shortages it has been hard for everyone.’ , they had not all received regular supervision or attended team meetings, due to them moving between homes. The assistant manager did not accept responsibility for supervising staff that covered shifts in this home. This does not demonstrate that all staff, including relief staff, are being provided with an opportunity to discuss their professional practice or development and identify any training needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite these failings, several key strengths are identified. There have been improvements in the young person’s overall health and emotional wellbeing. For example; there have been no incidents of self-harmful behaviour, no missing from care episodes and the young person has made the decision to stop smoking. This is due to her understanding of the impact of these factors on her unborn child. The young person, to her credit, continues to attend college on a regular basis. She and has made progress, particularly in her attainment and is clear and focused on her future, planning ‘to go in the police force’.

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Information about this children's home

This private children's home looks after up to two young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties, or learning disabilities. It is owned and managed by a limited company.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

26/01/2015 Interim improved effectiveness

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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

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 person must ensure-

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Requirement Due date

(1) that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

(a) develop positive relationships with them; (b) engage with them; and (c) take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children's care and welfare and their lives. 01/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person must ensure

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Requirement Due date

(1) that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff— (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; (iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; (v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern 01/04/2016 about a child's welfare; and (vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies; (d) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child's health; and

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Requirement Due date

(e) that the effectiveness of the home's child protection policies is monitored regularly.

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person must ensure that

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Requirement Due date

(1) The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children's home that— (a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and (b) promotes their welfare. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— (a) lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home's statement of purpose; (b) ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; (e) ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child; (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 01/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

(1) The care planning standard is that children— (a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home; and (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (b) that arrangements are in place to ensure (c) that each child's relevant plans are followed; 01/04/2016 Ensure that all employees receive practice related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 01/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that the registered person notifies HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if a child protection enquiry involving a child is instigated or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry) or there is a serious incident related to the child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 01/04/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Staff should be familiar with the home's policies on record keeping and understand the importance of 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 must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the 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

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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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