Children's home in Charnwood

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 Sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There were no requirements or recommendation’s made at the last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are receiving sensitive, calm and nurturing care from a committed staff group, who understand their needs and how to respond. They make significant progress in improving their social presentation, managing their emotions and engaging in education.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff encourage young people to voice their opinions and views at weekly ‘get together’s’. They discuss matters affecting young people’s daily lives as well as wider issues of topical interest; for example, staff reminded young people about stranger danger to educate them prior to a planned holiday to an unfamiliar area.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff use positive reward systems to promote good behaviour, young people fully engage with this process and recently voted to change the system, staff responded positively to their suggestions. One young person responded in a survey that he wanted his room to be re-decorated, the senior manager agreed to this despite plans for the young person to move to adult services soon.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff prioritise young people’s emotional needs. Key working sessions focus on areas relevant and important to young people. Staff discuss topics such as personal safety, smoking cessation and radicalisation. They implement targeted key working to raise awareness and understanding of keeping safe. Young people who are new to the home have more frequent, sometimes daily, key working sessions to build up positive relationships.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A recently admitted young person has reduced missing from home episodes from seven times last month to only twice this month. Staff respond proactively to attempts to leave the home. They follow and if they lose sight of her they attempt to trace her by contacting people she knows and searching extensively. This shows the young person that they care for her safety, which in turn makes her value herself. The Registered Manager challenges the local authority to undertake return interviews if they are not forthcoming. They work in partnership with professional agencies to locate young people and understand why they go missing from the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff provide a homely, clean environment for young people. They display young people’s certificates and photographs in communal areas. Young people personalise their bedrooms and are motivated to keep them clean by the tidiest room and bathroom award presented at the home’s ‘get together’s’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Admissions into the home are managed well. The Registered Manager is involved in the referral process, matching young people to those already placed to make sure that the move is positive and young people are safeguarded. Young people visit the home so that staff get to know them and they are familiar with staff and peers before admission. Thorough and detailed twenty-four hour management plans, behaviour plans and risk assessments ensure that staff have a good understanding of the young people’s needs before they move in.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are good advocates for young people who move out of the home. They challenge transition plans if they have concerns. One young person has successfully moved to a foster placement as his behaviour has improved to the extent that he is now ready to live within a family. Key work sessions and a visual calendar supported the process. Staff gave his foster carers detailed information, which was positive and informative. His key worker stayed with him for the first night, this and planned outreach, has meant that the young person has been able to start building a positive attachment to his carers. The placement has been a success.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff facilitate family contact and make it a positive experience for all. The Registered Manager stayed in a hotel with a young person who wanted contact with family members living some distance away. Young people are able to see all those who are important to them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff equip young people to be practically and emotionally ready for independence. In consultation with health professionals, staff, enable a young person to better manage his health and his seizures. One young person’s confidence has increased to the extent that they delivered a presentation to a conference about independent visitors, an amazing achievement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff promote a sense of community by encouraging young people to participate in a range of activities. These include a visit to the London Dungeons, Air Hop and Go Ape. All young people are encouraged to participate in clubs. Staff support one young person’s beliefs by sharing awareness of prayer times and supporting attendance at the mosque. Young people and staff were on a week’s holiday on the day of the inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All young people are in school, staff transport young people to and from school to ensure they attend. One young person did not attend school from her previous placement; she is now able to manage part-time schooling. Staff have built up an excellent relationship with school staff and work effectively in partnership with them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The Registered Manager evaluates the home effectively to make continual improvement and develop the service. Multi-agency working is strong. Staff make positive relationships with professionals involved in the young people’s care. A Social Worker reported, ‘staff have a good sense of my young person’s individual needs. I do not have any concerns regarding their practice or communication’.

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Information about this children's home

This section should outline: This home caters for up to six young people who experience emotional and behavioural difficulties and is privately owned.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

09/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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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