Children's Home run by PCT Care Services Limited in Norfolk

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Requires improvement 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

At the previous inspection shortfalls were identified relating to smoking, young people’s wishes in relation to activities, risk assessments, monitoring, training, complaints and assessment of placements. Currently there is only one young person at the home who smokes. Staff have engaged her in finding out about the risks associated with smoking, but she is clear that she does not want to stop. She is at least better informed about the risks now. Young people are able to express their wishes in the home and have chosen a wide range of activities in which they can take part. These include music lessons, youth club and gymnastics. Being able to choose activities they are interested in and enjoy helps young people to develop skills and self-esteem.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are regular child focus meetings, which include staff from the home as well as parents and other agencies and, when appropriate, young people. These meetings look at the progress that young people have made and any areas that require additional action or support. They help to ensure that plans for young people remain relevant. Staff have had training in areas such as fire safety and have had input from other agencies to help them provide safe and individualised care for young people. The children’s guide has been amended to provide information for young people on how to make a complaint.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are now individual risk assessments for young people. These provide information for staff on how to work with the young person to reduce risk. In one case, a level of risk was assessed as low when the available information indicated it was higher. The placing social worker felt that while the home were in effect managing the risk well, the level was in fact higher than the risk assessment indicated. Labelling a risk as lower than it is can provide a false sense of security.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is a location risk assessment for the home. It is a few weeks overdue for annual review. Despite the home getting advice from other agencies about managing local risks and having a young person move into the home who could be at risk due to some local features, the assessment was not reviewed within the 12 months. Location risk assessments help to ensure that young people are not at risk due to the location of the home, failing to review regularly or when additional information is available limits the effectiveness of the process.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A process and form has been introduced to help assess the suitability of new placements. However, the form is not always completed in sufficient detail to show a full consideration of the impact of a new placement on the existing group. This could lead to inappropriate placements, or a failure to address any potential issues before a new placement is made.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has moved from this home to another one in the same organisation. He was involved in the decision to move and the process allowed him to visit the other home and have a planned move. Young people moving into the home are supported well. A placing social worker spoke about how helpful the home had been, even when the pace of the move had to change due to the placement the young person was leaving. Well planned and supported moves help young people to feel safe and to settle well into the home. Young people do make progress in this home. One young person who moved in recently has made significant progress in reducing her risk taking behaviour. Young people have appropriate relationships with staff and feel settled in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has submitted an application to Ofsted to be registered. This is currently being processed. He has undertaken a review of the quality of care in the home, which includes monitoring of practice and records. The process does not provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. While the manager has obtained feedback from some of these people, the information they have provided has not been included. Consequently, potential areas of shortfall have not been identified in the review and there are no recorded actions to address them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has only been one instance of a young person being missing from care and appropriate action was taken in response to this to help ensure his safety. There have been five physical interventions, all at a time when a young person was struggling with some issues and settling into the home. There have not been any since 24 January 2016. The records of physical interventions do not include details of discussions with the person who carried out the physical intervention or the young person involved. Such discussions can help identify ways of avoiding or limiting future interventions.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is a process of carrying out recruitment checks on new staff, including obtaining references. The process does not always show that sufficient attempts have been made to obtain a reference from a previous employer, before an alternative is sought, nor does it provide sufficient rigor in ensuring that references are from appropriate people. This limits the effectiveness of the overall recruitment process.

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to six young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and learning disabilities. The home is owned by a private company.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

02/02/2015 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

The registered person must ensure that full and satisfactory recruitment information is available in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. This relates to ensuring the veracity of references. (Regulation 32 (3) (d)) 30/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 48 hours of the use of a measure restraint, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so has spoken to the user about the measure; and within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3) (b) (c)) 30/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the quality of care provided for children provides for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (5)) 30/09/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year. (Regulation 46 (1)) 30/04/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure that placements for children are only accepted where registered persons are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child's assessed needs as recorded in the child's relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. This relates to having written assessments, which show that the impact on other children has been fully considered. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 56 paragraph 11.4)  Ensure that where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, includes details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day to day basis. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 42 paragraph 9.5)

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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

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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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