Children's home run by Coventry City Council in Coventry

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 improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people enjoy the short stays. Admissions are thoroughly planned by staff so that stays provide continuity of the care that young people receive at their own homes. Careful placement matching by managers ensures that young people get the chance to meet up with their friends during their stay.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff remain confusion about the different legal status of young people using the service, including the different care planning processes. This hinders staff being sufficiently informed over young people’s individual care plans.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Consultation is achieved informally on an individual basis and formally in young people’s meetings, where plans for group activities are discussed. Staff use sign language, objects of reference, information from families and carers or body language to identify likes and dislikes. This requires considerable skill on the part of staff members to read what can be at times minimal signs of expression. These efforts give a voice to young people and the care they receive is tailored to their preferences.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A recent change of the independent person providing monthly monitoring reports has resulted in a better quality of external scrutiny of the home. The registered manager welcomes this and promptly addresses any issues raised by these checks.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people do not go missing from care because of the close level of supervision and support they receive from staff. Behaviour is managed sensitively and without recourse to physical interventions. Despite these protective factors, managers and staff are not complacent about potential risks. Risk assessments are updated regularly in response to events, or to information provided by carers.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The recruitment process ensures that robust checks are made, which ensure that adults are safe to work with young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The success of short stays in the home is built on the good working relationships between the managers, staff and parents and carers. A grandparent of one young person said of the home, ‘This is a great place for her to come to’. The home is very well resourced. The accommodation is purpose built to meet the complex needs of young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home’s response to the requirements made at the last inspection has been positive and has led to clear improvements. Action taken by the registered manager ensures that Ofsted now receives monitoring reports and updated Statement of Purpose in a timely way. The recording of admissions and departures is now clearer following the introduction of a register. The consents required for certain external visitors to have access to young people’s case records are now in place. Staff members are provided with frequent support in the form of good quality supervision, during which staff reflect on their professional practice. Consultation with partner agencies has strengthened the home’s location risk assessment.

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Information about this children's home

This children's home is owned and operated by a local authority. It provides a short- break service for up to four children or young people with learning and/or physical disabilities at any one time. It currently provides this service for 24 children and young people. Children and young people's visits do not exceed 75 days a year.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

04/03/2015 CH - Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

13/02/2014 CH - Interim Satisfactory progress

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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, with particular reference to staff being informed of designated legal status, the registered person must ensure children —

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Requirement Due date

(a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. 08/04/2016

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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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