Children's home run by Peterborough City Council

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

Currently 24 young people access this short break provision, which provides respite and day care to them and their families. Parents report that their children are very happy using the service. One commented: ‘He loves it there and I know he is safe and well cared for.’ Having this valuable resource also enables parents to spend quality time with other children in the family.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home presents in good decorative order and a recently refitted kitchen offers young people space to improve their independence skills in cooking and food preparation. Whilst a number of young people will use a particular bedroom during their stay, individualised bedding and private belongings create a personalised space. Specialist equipment ensures that young people have full access to all facilities and enjoy comfortable furnishings. The home has experienced a number of installation problems with a new heating system. This has meant using portable temporary heating systems, which does not ensure young people and staff experience a suitably heated home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home demonstrates particularly good practice when considering young people accessing or leaving the service. Managers follow internal organisational processes to confirm the home as an appropriate resource, after which, a range of meetings take place. These ensure parents and young people are happy to access the resource. Staff work together with a range of professionals around the young person, to agree an individualised care plan. This enables the home to deliver tailored personalised care. Planned introductions also aid a smooth transition into the service.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

For young people moving on to adult services, a similar process is undertaken. Managers and staff work collaboratively with parents and the wider professional team to carefully plan the transition. Well thought out plans very much consider the individual traits and needs of the young person and are tailored to reduce their possible apprehension or anxiety. For some young people, the use of social stories using pictorial symbols further assists their understanding, in a bid to offer a seamless transfer. At the last inspection two requirements and four recommendations were set to improve the quality and standard of care. Since that time the manager has met both requirements and two of the four recommendations.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Where young people display behaviour identified as a high risk, robust risk assessments undertaken by staff clearly identify the potential for harm and make appropriate arrangements for both risk reduction and management. This effectively safeguards young people deemed at high risk. However, this level of robustness does not consistently take into account those behaviours considered as low to medium risk. Whilst these risks are identified, steps to manage them are sometimes lacking, which may leave young people vulnerable to harm and not sufficiently safeguarded.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

New documentation held on case files effectively records both the name of the author and the date of information entered. However, recording often lacks positive comments about the young people, referring mostly to negative behaviours. This style of recording does not give a balanced view; it can contribute to a negative image of the young person and does not celebrate achievement or progress. Whilst the manager has undertaken some recording practice training with staff, it has not sufficiently promoted a change in practice. This recommendation remains in place.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager obtains information from parents regarding young people’s diverse cultural and religious needs. This information now forms part of the initial assessment information. This has created some changes in the home, such as; young people all being able to enjoy preferred foods and a range of culturally diverse music.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has not addressed the recommendation to ensure staff receive supervision in line with the organisational policy. As regular effective supervision is key in ensuring staff have the support required to meet young people’s needs, it becomes a requirement at this inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager recognises the strengths of the service and where it needs to develop. She uses internal monitoring tools and makes full use of the information provided by the independent person, whose monthly audits add value to the development of the home and the quality of care delivered. The manager works well with partner agencies and parents to ensure young people have their needs met. One parent commented on the strengths of the service: ‘The manager is very good. She is visible and wants to work with you.’ Parents feel valued, listened to and an important part of the planning for their child. However, staff do not offer young people a consistent, proactive opportunity to express their wishes and feelings. This relates to their care experience, how the home develops or following an incident within the home. Seeking the views of young people is likely to inform and support improvement in the quality of care provided. Similarly, young people

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

may need helping working through their feelings following an incident. A stable and committed staff team offer young people familiar and reliable care. This consistency enables young people to form trusting relationships with staff and offers them a sense of safety and security during their stay. Staff support them to make progress with life skills, personal care and to experience a range of social opportunities. For some young people this has meant significant progress in gaining control of their bladder and bowel. One parent commented: ‘This has given him confidence and a sense of achievement.’ For other young people it has been smaller but equally significant progress, one parent reported: ‘It’s the little things like, ensuring she picks shoes that match or making herself a drink.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Whilst this inspection sets some requirements and recommendations, managers and staff continue to deliver good care to young people in an environment where they are safe and make progress. The service has sustained its effectiveness.

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Information about this children's home

A local authority owns and operates this provision. The home primarily provides short breaks and day care to children and young people aged six to eighteen years. Specialist care is provided to children and young people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities and sensory impairment. Up to seven children and young people stay overnight in the home at one time.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

19/02/2015 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 all employee receive practice relation supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4) (b)) 29/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard:

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the purpose and quality of care standard with particular regard to the maintenance of heating within the home, requires the registered person to:

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Requirement Due date

(2) (b) (vii) provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. 29/04/2016

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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 requires the registered person to ensure that staff:

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Requirement Due date

(2) (a) (iv) regularly consult with children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care. 29/04/2016

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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 staff are 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 and family. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 62 paragraph 14.4)

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Recommendations

 Ensure staff include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks for each child. (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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