Children's home SC429242

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 Improved effectiveness . The five young people living in this home continue to experience a particularly warm and nurturing home environment, where a dedicated staff team deliver outstanding care. One young person said: ‘This is my home and these are my family. Everyone here cares about us and wants the best for us.’ Another young person said: ‘No one here disrespects staff, that’s because they respect us and we give it back to them.’ Young people thrive in the care of the committed and motivated staff team who truly make a difference to young people’s lives.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection three young people have joined the home and have moved on. Managers know the individual needs of each young person in placement and consider these alongside the presenting behaviours and needs of those they are considering as a potential new resident. A robustly completed compatibility matrix ensures that only young people considered as a good match are offered a placement within the home. A planned introduction, where mangers meet the young person and they in turn visit the home, helps to lessen anxieties and aids a smooth transition into the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

For young people leaving the home, managers and staff work with partner agencies to secure appropriate services, which meet young people’s ongoing needs. For one young person, a change in behaviour illustrated the need for a specialised therapeutic provision. Managers advocated widely on his behalf to ensure the professional team identified the required package of care. Once identified, managers worked closely with the provision to ensure its suitability and to assist in helping the young person to successfully move on. Another young person who left, did so as he moved on to independent living. He had lived at the home for six years; his learned independence skills and a closely monitored pathway plan significantly assisted in the successful transition. By the time the young person moved in to his own property he was set up financially, had his own transport and successfully engaged in employment. Staff continue to offer him

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A skilled staff team continue to make a significant difference to young people’s care experience and the outcomes they achieve. A mother commented: ‘She is doing absolutely fantastic, staff have made this difference. I wouldn’t want her anywhere else.’ Some of the positive progress made includes young people who are positively engaged in education when previously out of school, cessation of anti-social behaviour, young people who are able to manage their emotions, able to self-regulate and keep themselves safe. A social worker reports: ‘I don’t know where else she would have got this level of care, it’s given her a real chance.’ Managers place young people at the centre of their practice and support the motivated staff team to deliver high quality care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff receive regular and competent supervision where discussion includes meeting young people’s needs and the development of staff. Eligible staff receive annual appraisals, where performance and targets are set against delivering a service as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. Staff receive in depth training to expand their knowledge and understanding of topics relating to meeting the needs of the young people placed. The manager uses staff meetings to share models of good practice to enhance day to day performance, such as reflective practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has effective monitoring tools in place to review and analyse the quality of care delivered to young people. The independent person adds value to this process by their monthly monitoring of the service. However, there is a shortfall in this practice as they fail to seek the views of family members when assessing the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers are proactive in establishing relationships with partner agencies. A local commissioner stated: ‘We are so pleased with the care our young people receive; the staff deliver individualised tailored care. It’s the managers, they are happy to get feedback as they continually want to improve their service.’ The staff work collaboratively with all agencies to ensure each young person receives the best opportunity to succeed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection the one recommendation made was to record the food young people actually ate in order to ensure the intake of a healthy diet. Managers and staff have met the recommendation with gusto. Not only is a system in place to record a healthy diet, managers and staff have fully embraced healthy living. Daily cycling has increased fitness levels for some young people and staff. This has also had the added benefit of healthy weight loss. Staff engaged the services of local nurses to undertake a smoking cessation project and a cancer awareness campaign with young people. Staff and young people collaborated in using pedometer’s to record their virtual trek from Land’s End to John O’Groats, which also raised money for a charitable cause. Young people are fully engaged in local community and charity work. Some work with the local food bank on a weekly basis, money has been raised for cancer charities by the making and selling of

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

cakes as well as undertaking running events. Local and national awarding bodies have recognised young people’s community and charity work and two young people have received presentations for their work. Young people are highly praised and get a real sense of achievement for their work.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff and managers continue to strive to help young people achieve and get the best outcomes. The home continues to improve its effectiveness. One young person said: ‘Before, I never thought about the future, I just thought ‘so what’, I just wasn’t bothered, but now I feel like I have one!’

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Information about this children's home

The home offers care and accommodation for up to five young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. A large limited company owns and operates this home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

12/02/2015 Interim Sustained 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

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person to, if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation (44) (2) (a)) 23/04/2016

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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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