Children's Home run by Potton Homes Limited in Southend on Sea

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 requirements following the last inspection. Staff files have been checked for accuracy and are now held in the home. Incidents of restraint are now fully recorded. The back garden has been landscaped and provides an attractive space for young people and staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some young people have left the home, moving into long term placements. Young people can find the transition unsettling and this is reflected in volatile behaviour. Staff and managers understand this and work closely with colleagues in social care and education to alleviate their anxieties. As a result, the majority of placements end positively. One young person wrote to the provider to say: ‘Meeting other kids from care made me realise how lucky I was to live in your home. I’d really like to thank you. I’m not perfect but I’m on the right path.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have complex needs and challenging behaviour so managers are careful when introducing a new young person into their home. They consider background history and balance risks with management strategies. They visit the young person and invite them to meet the team. Young people already in the home are part of the process and one of the group is delegated to act as a mentor for the new arrival. As a result, young people know what to expect and are welcomed into the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are skilled in helping young people reach their educational, emotional and behavioural milestones. Daily routines are organised around the school day and most young people have bespoke educational programmes. These can include time in school running alongside alternative educational provision or work experience. If a young person does not have an education programme, staff are persistent and assertive in challenging this until the situation is resolved. This means that there is a consistent sense of purpose in supporting young people to learn. This improves their self-esteem and motivation.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are skilled in engaging young people in reflective discussions. As a result, young people develop confidence, learning how to manage their emotions and address difficult issues. However, there are gaps in recording of routines and informal work that staff carry out with young people. This makes it difficult to track progress that a young person is making or what action is required. The management team acknowledge this and have started to address this in weekly staff meetings.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The number of negative incidents indicates that this has been a volatile time. In these circumstances, staff and managers have done their best to maintain a safe and stable environment. Young people are protected by close relationships with staff who know where they are and help them manage their free time. Young people learn to negotiate safe arrangements. For instance, the key worker for one young person has recorded: ‘She understands why we wish to stay informed. We ensure that she has credit on her phone and she lets us know that she is safe.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The premises are safe and the locality risk assessment has been updated to include new developments. Safeguarding issues, including bullying or sexual exploitation are raised in meetings for staff and young people. However, there are some gaps in managerial oversight, in particular the recording of return from missing interviews.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Parents and most external professionals speak positively about the home. Some young people are placed some distance from their families and communities. Staff and managers understand the importance of these relationships and support contact arrangements. The grandmother of one young person said: ‘They are very good at keeping me informed. She is making progress but there are still worries, as there are with all young people. I know that she is going to school and is better at keeping calm.’

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Information about this children's home

This home provides long term care for a maximum of six male or female young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. This is one of three residential services operated by this privately run organisation, in addition to a school adjacent to this home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

09/10/2014 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

19/02/2014 Interim Satisfactory progress

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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 record information in a way that will be helpful to the child. This is with particular reference to consistently tracking young people's progress in their personal routines and keeping notes of all significant discussions, whether planned or informal. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 62 paragraph 14.4)  Ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. This is with particular reference to ensuring that these interviews take place and that they take account of any information when assessing risks and putting arrangements into place. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 45

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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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