Children's Home, Residential special school run by Amberleigh Care Limited in Shropshire

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 home was inspected in January 2016. One recommendation and four requirements were raised. The service has taken sufficient action to address two of the requirements, although further work is necessary to address fully the other outstanding shortfalls.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has resigned from the service. This planned retirement coincided with the recruitment of a new manager. The acting manager has submitted an application for registration to Ofsted, and this is under consideration. Effective leadership succession planning means that the service remains stable, and changes to management structures are not detrimental to young people’s progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The acting manager has reviewed and revised the safeguarding policy. In the event of a young person making an allegation, there is a detailed and unambiguous procedure in place. This ensures that staff record, report and refer these concerns as required, liaising with external agencies when necessary. This promotes young people’s safety and welfare and ensures consistent and transparent practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people make positive and sustainable progress in all aspects if their development. Transitions into the home are well planned and supported and this is a considerable strength of the service. The acting manager and head of therapy visit young people prior to their admission. This forms part of the initial assessment process to ascertain if the setting is able to provide young people with a service that meets their individual needs. When possible, young people visit the home and spend time with other young people and the staff team. This helps to alleviate any anxieties young people face about moving into the home, and smooths there transition.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Education is central to the ethos if the home. Young people benefit from attending the organisations own registered school and make significant progress taking account of their starting point. For some young people this means re-engaging in formal education whilst others progress to full time college courses. This means that young people are able to recognise the importance of education and the positive impact this has on their development.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Compatibility, group and individual risk assessments are detailed and robust. This means that admissions to the home are not disruptive to young people already resident, and their behaviours remain stable. Young people benefit from personalised care and support plans. These identify their specific unsafe behaviours, and detail strategies to reduce these risks. Incidents of unacceptably or negative behaviours are rare and there have been no incidents of physical restraint since the last inspection. The acting manager has revised and amended these records. This means that should physical restraint be necessary, records of these events include the information required to evaluate the use of this measure of control. This promotes young people’s safety.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the acting manager has taken initial steps to evaluate and consider the use of monitoring devises in the setting. However, at this time, the use of bedroom door alarms remains custom and practice in the home. The need for this intervention is not risk assessed for individual young people. Their case records do not determine why the use of monitoring devises are necessary, how these promote young people’s safety or how these reduce known risks without restricting the liberty of other young people. Furthermore, young people are still unable to leave their bedrooms without alerting staff to their intentions. These restrictions compromise young people’s privacy and access. The need for this level of surveillance is not appropriately assessed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The acting manager works in partnership with placing authorities, external professionals and young people’s families. This means that young people receive integrated care and support that meets their needs. Nevertheless, young people’s case files and records are complicated and contents pages are confusing. This means that young people are not inspired to view their case files as ‘living records’ or motivated to contribute to these.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Monitoring systems continue to evolve to identify any patterns or trends that impact in the quality of care provided by the home. These also highlight the strengths and weakness of the service and determine actions necessary to address known shortfalls.

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 12 young people with emotional and / or behavioural difficulties. The home is owned and operated by a private provider and offers an integrated residential therapeutic care and education package to young men. The service provides for single sex occupancy only.

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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 Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

18/03/2014 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

The registered person must ensure that the privacy of children is appropriately protected; and any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home; is necessary and proportionate; and is kept under review and, if necessary, revised. (Regulation 21(a)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)) 30/05/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children; the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24(1)(a)(b)) 30/05/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 Children should be encouraged by staff to see the home's records as 'living documents' supporting them to view and contribute to the record in a way that reflects their voice on a regular basis. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 58 paragraph 11.19)

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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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