Children's home run by Calcot Services for Children Limited in Wokingham

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

Since the previous inspection, children’s progress has been variable. Children have been missing, displayed aggressive behaviour and tried to self-harm. However, they have also developed positive relationships with staff, engaged in more activities and advanced their independence skills. Staff have an excellent understanding of each individual. They are able to demonstrate that children’s increased engagement in negative or risk taking behaviour is caused by external pressures linked to court proceedings, contact and the imminent end of secondary school. Staff are acutely aware of the impact these events are having on children. They work alongside the organisations therapists to provide emotional, practical and therapeutic support to enable children to develop stronger emotional resilience and make improvements in their behaviour. When necessary managers and staff work proactively and positively with other agencies, offering professional challenge

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

to ensure children receive the specialist support they require. Children enjoy nurturing relationships with staff. Staff are highly knowledgeable about their needs and circumstances. They engage exceptionally well with them, providing support and reassurances when needed. Children have regularly opportunities to ensure they have their say and are listened to. They are able to influence the care and support they receive through individual key working sessions. One child has left the home and there have been no new admissions since the previous inspection. The child returned home to his family. To provide consistency and stability the home went above its usual provision and continued to visit the child and his family to provide additional support. Staff recognise the importance of having sound agreements in place for contact. This allows children to maintain relationships with significant family members, providing a sense of belonging

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

within their families and to benefit from their support. Children’s culture is promoted to a high standard. English is not the first language of some children within the home. To ensure these children and their families are not disadvantaged the manager has employed staff who speak their native language to encourage communication. Staff ensure children have opportunities to purchase food and are able to prepare meals or have menu choices from their native countries. As a result, children feel comfortable to express their identities and this has had a positive impact on their confidence and self-esteem. All members of staff are trained in the method of restraint used by the organisation, which runs the home. Emphasis is placed on de-escalation techniques and the development of positive relationships and mutual respect. When incidents do occur, they are recorded well and are consistent in their accounts across the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

home’s two records. This meets a recommendation made at the previous inspection. There have been incidents where police are called to this home in response to children’s challenging or risk taking behaviour. Incident records need to be explicit in the reasons why the police were called to ensure they are not called needlessly and children are not unnecessarily criminalised. However, the home has an excellent working relationship with local police officers and work closely to address children’s challenging or risk taking behaviour and prevent the criminalisation of children. Children have individual and comprehensive risk-assessments, from which strategies are developed so that staff can care for them in the best way. These risk assessments are regularly updated and ensure that staff are consistently aware of their specific vulnerabilities and take appropriate action to protect them. There have been a small number of incidents where a child has gone missing or has not

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

returned at agreed times. When this occurs, staff endeavour to establish their whereabouts and remain in contact with them. They ensure they report incidents to the police and other appropriate authorities. Staff attempt to identify the reasons why the child has left the home to establish how they can prevent this happening in the future. Staff also contact placing authorities to prompt them to carry out independent return interviews however, these do not always take place. This means children are not receiving the support they are entitled too and as a result, has not met a recommendation made at the previous inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has taken action to address five out of the six recommendations made at the previous inspection. This includes providing structured activities for children who are not accessing their full entitlement of education. Staff are now providing educational activities such as trips to museums and supporting children to complete AQA qualifications within the home. This helps children to have a successful transition back into education when a suitable placement is found. Staff are now providing education and guidance to support children to reduce their smoking. The manager has also taken action to update the home’s e-safety policy and its statement of purpose.

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Information about this children's home

This home is registered for up to four young people, and is owned and managed by a private organisation. This home caters for young people who may have a range of emotional and behavioural difficulties. One of the key aims of this service is to offer a measurable difference in helping traumatised young people.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

13/03/2015 CH - Interim improved effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  The registered persons must 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 must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. (Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations including the quality standards, April 2015, page 45 paragraph 9.30)

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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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