Children's home run by Thoughts of Others Limited in Birmingham

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

The home was last inspected in October 2015. At that time three requirements and one recommendation were made. The registered manager has taken suitable action to address these shortfalls. Improvements to other areas of practice, such as reflective supervision sessions for staff, means that the service continues to develop. This supports young people individual progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people make positive and notable progress in all aspects of their development. Since the last inspection, they have continued to form suitable friendships, acquire new hobbies and interests and participate in a varied range of social activities. As a result, young people’s self-esteem and confidence has grown as they start to recognise their achievements.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This organisation operates its own school. This ensures that young people’s educational needs and learning styles are adequately assessed at the start of their placements. Professional relationships between care and school staff means that young people experience an integrated and holistic approach to addressing any barriers to education they face. Staff support young people in the classroom and celebrate their achievements in the home. As a result, young people are proud of their accomplishments.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff continue to work with other professionals, including commissioned therapeutic services, to ensure that they support young people’s health needs. When required, they liaise with mental health professionals across local authority boundaries to enable young people to access the specialist services they require. This promotes young people’s health and well-being.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no occasions of young people going missing from the home since the last inspection. Staff work with young people, allocated social workers and other agencies to ensure that supervision levels reflect young people’s individual risks and needs. This partnership working means that young people are encouraged to recognise their risk taking behaviours, adopt strategies to help them to reduce their risks and reflect on the positive impact these changes have on their on-going development.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Incidents of unacceptable or risk taking behaviours have continued to decline. The use of physical restraint has reduced and young people developing alternate strategies of managing their own behaviours. When it has been necessary to use this measure of control to maintain safety, staff now include young people’s views and comments in the records of these events. The registered manager effectively monitors these records to ensure that they include all necessary information. This promotes young people’s safety in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

General records retained in the home are regularly checked to ensure that they meet requirements, and previously noted shortfalls have been addressed. For example, staff now ensure that the visitor’s book includes complete details of those spending time in the home and the purpose and duration of their visit. As a result, young people’s safety is promoted.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager uses a range of internal and external monitoring tools. These review and evaluate young people’s individual progress and the development of the home. Shortfalls previously identified relating to the failure to ensure that independent visitor reports are sent to Ofsted, have been addressed. The registered manager continues to use internal monitoring systems to shape service developments. For example, improvements to staff supervision records means that these sessions encourage staff to reflect on their practice. This is linked to practice and how this support young people’s progress. This demonstrates the home’s capacity for continued improvement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is well maintained and decorated, and provides young people with suitable private and communal space. Since the last inspection, changes to staff rota patterns means that additional ‘sleep-in’ staff are not required. As a result, communal lounge areas are no longer used as staff bedroom areas. This improves the ‘family’ atmosphere in the home.

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Information about this children's home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to two children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. This home is owned and operated by a private company.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

21/07/2014 CH - 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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