Children's home SC398947

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 .

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has been through an unsettled period since the last inspection. This is because the leadership and management has been variable. The existing registered manager has been planning to leave for some time and the previous deputy manager had been acting as manager. However this arrangement had not worked well and another manager was appointed and started at the beginning of January 2016. This has been a positive move and this manager is in the process of applying to be the new registered manager.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection four young people have been admitted. Two of these young people, who were admitted prior to January 2016, were moved on to secure accommodation very quickly as staff were unable to keep them safe. The two other young people admitted have settled in the home and are making steady progress. Three other young people who were at the home for medium term placements have left. One went to secure accommodation because staff were unable to keep them safe, one went to a more therapeutic residential setting where their needs could be better met and one returned home in a positive move.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The more recent admissions have been well planned. Two other young people have been at the home for longer tem placements. One of these young people has been experiencing increasing mental health issues and has, after sustained pressure from staff, been moved temporarily into a psychiatric hospital for assessment. The other young person has become more settled and is starting to make progress.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

It is clear that the staff were struggling to cope well prior to January 2016 but that things have been much more settled since and the young people are now all making clear progress.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people were not kept safe enough prior to January but are now being kept much safer. The number of missing episodes is reducing significantly. Drug taking has reduced significantly and child protection concerns have reduced substantially. Two of the young people currently living in the home have made good progress with their risk taking behaviour which included going missing and taking drugs and as a result, are much safer. There have been child protection and child sexual exploitation concerns around a number of young people who were previously at the home. These were dealt with appropriately by staff but they have been unable to avoid three young people moving on to secure accommodation for their own safety.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are now offering clearer, firmer boundaries to young people. The new manager has introduced an incentive scheme which the young people say is fair and which works well. Staff have only used one short physical intervention during this period and have used some other sanctions appropriately. There have been no complaints made during this period

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The education record of young people has been poor over the past four or five months but is now quickly improving. Two out of three young people at the home are in appropriate education placements and have started to attend well. One other young person is not back in education yet but staff are working hard to achieve this.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff do support young people well in many ways. All three young people currently living in the home have engaged with external support services after staff have referred them for specialist guidance. The young people are all encouraged and supported to have contact with their family and friends as is appropriate.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have had to deal with a very difficult situation involving the parents of one young person and have worked well with the placing authority, the health authority and the police in recent weeks to address this issue.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The new manager has provided excellent leadership and with the support of the outgoing registered manager has been able to make a clear positive difference to the home and the work they are doing. The manager monitors this well and is actively developing the staff team with high quality supervision and additional training.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and the new manager have dealt well with several issues of staff discipline and capability in the last month and this having a beneficial effect on the staff’s care practice. There has also been an allegation against the previous deputy manager and this is currently being handled appropriately by the registered manager.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Five requirements were made at the last inspection. Four of these have been met. The fifth requirement was around providing key work to young people. Although this aspect of the work has improved, further improvement is again required. A requirement has also been made to do more work to ensure young people get an appropriate education provision.

p.3

Information about this children's home

The home is run by a private organisation and is registered for the care and accommodation of up to six children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties (EBD).

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.4

Recent inspection history

25/03/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard with particular reference to ensuring that appropriate key work sessions take place with young people the registered person must ensure that staff: 2(b)(iv) provide personalised care that meets each child's needs, as recorded in the child's relevant plans, taking account of the child's background. 06/05/2016

p.5

Requirement Due date

8: The education standard In order to meet the education standard with particular reference to ensuring every child has a personal education plan that is being actively used the registered person must ensure that staff- (2)(a)(vi) maintain regular contact with each child's education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child's education and training and to maximise the child's achievement. 06/05/2016

p.5

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.

p.6

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.

p.6

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 .

p.6

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,

p.7

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

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

p.7