Children's home in Stratford-on-Avon

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 improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people enjoy a stable and settled home environment. Since the last full inspection there has been no new young people come to live at the home or left. This has helped to avoid the destabilising effect on young people’s progress. As a result, the young people are making progress in many areas of their lives, well supported by a staff group who know them well, understand their needs and strive to meet these needs. One young person said of the staff group, ‘they are good, listen to how I feel and they try to support me’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is clean, comfortable and reflecting the young people living there. The fabric of the house is homely and inviting. Young people have personalised the home with photographs and memorabilia, young people have been fully engaged in choosing the décor and furnishings of the home. The result is a home that young people can be proud of and fully enjoy.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people benefit by receiving good and positive care from a dedicated staff team. This transpires through good care routines in the home, behavioural boundaries implemented consistently and good communication. The staff team are caring and nurturing, they encourage young people to do their best. The staff have established care routines that young people respond to well. The management of behaviour through good, clear communication, which includes negotiation, compromise and flexibility. This has resulted in no punitive behaviour management, such as physical interventions and sanctions having taken place since the last inspection. This results in a home where praise is fundamental and consequences are rare. A social worker regarding a young person stated, ‘he settled well and has made progress since being at the home, the home ensure there is good communication’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people receive help to prepare them for leaving care. Independent living skills promoted and developed with young people are encouraged to undertake a range of tasks that develop their skills and abilities, including laundry, shopping, money management, decision making and using community resources. Observations of interactions between the young people and staff demonstrate staff members prompt young people, as good carers would, to clean their rooms, tidy after themselves and take a pride in their appearance. Consequently, both the skills of young people to care for themselves improves and they establish daily routines of self-care. This prepares young people for life when they come to leave care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and staff prioritise education and training for young people. Both young people are either attending school, college or training. Both have achieved, to their credit good attendance with an average of 98%. Both young people enjoy education and training and are enthusiastic learners, one young person spoke enthusiastically about enjoying his college course and his plans for the future. Staff members recognise how important for the young people’s future education and training is and as such achievements and successes are celebrated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The relationships between the young people and their families are valued. These relationships supported through ongoing contact arrangements, which are in the best interests of young people. Some young people have extended contact with family, which is parallel to their preparations for independent living. The staff work closely with the young people’s social workers monitoring the quality of contact and supporting young people, at times with the emotional impact of family contact. As a result, the young people’s relationships with their families improve. A young person stated, ‘since being here the relationship with my family has improved- extremely’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Robust multi-agency working supports young people. There are regular meetings with key professionals such as education providers and health professionals. The young people’s plans are subject to regular care planning reviews where the plans that keep them safe and promote their welfare receive updating and amending if required. The registered manager then ensures the staff group understand and consistently implement robust and updated internal risk management plans. Young people are safer and their needs met through good communication and coordination of plans between agencies.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff members praise the skill, dedication and leadership of the registered manager. The registered manager is due to leave the service in the near future, she is a compassionate and trusted manager. Staff benefit from good quality supervision and guidance from the leadership team, staff describe leaders always being available to discuss concerns and offer guidance. Supervision is of good quality and well guided by a clear agenda that places the needs of the young people of paramount importance. Staff members receive training and development to enhance their skills and abilities. This means a skilled and committed staff team is caring for the young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Good and effective teamwork support young people’s progress. Staff members are mutually respectful of each other, they communicate well and share ideas and views. The use of agency staffing is rare as established staff members volunteer to work additional shifts; they recognise that young people do not cope as well with new staff caring for them. Consequently, they will work extra shifts to prevent destabilise the young people’s progress and contentment. This is a home characterised in the relationships between the staff and young people, with fun and laughter, genuinely good and respectful relationships throughout.

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Information about this children's home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to 3 young people who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is privately owned and managed.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

24/03/2015 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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