Children's home run by Marlowe Child & Family Services Limited in Tewkesbury

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Requires improvement 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 are making good progress in all aspects of their lives, from their starting points on admission. There has been a reduction in the number of incidents involving physical intervention. In addition incidents of self-harm have reduced.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to have very good attendance at school. This is a significant improvement for some young people. Care and education staff meet regularly to ensure a cohesive approach to young people’s care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people take part in a wide range of fun and purposeful activities tailored to individual interests. Young people access clubs in the local community which they really enjoy. At this inspection a young person was celebrating their birthday and was off out with a member of staff for a pamper day before going out with the rest of the group for a birthday meal.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection five requirements and three recommendations were made. These have all been met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s individual plans have been reviewed since the last inspection. These now consistently contain clear guidance for staff on how young people’s identified needs will be met. This approach has ensured young people receive a good level of consistent care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s risk assessments have been reviewed and updated. These now contain the finer details on how staff will reduce the identified risks; they now link with behaviour support plans.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A phone has been installed which young people can now use without redress to staff. All young people now have a phone card which enables phone calls to all relevant family, professionals and external help lines. These can be use both in the home and in the community. Since the last inspection there have been improvements made to the physical environment. The ‘institutional’ style window restrictors have been replaced with ones which are far more discreet. Also the smell of urine is no longer present. Both of these actions increase the homeliness of the environment

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers are now challenging placing authorities where they feel the authority is not fulfilling its duty of care or where agreed plans on not being adhered to. Examples of good advocacy on behalf of young people were seen.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection staff have received additional training to ensure they can meet the individual needs of the young people placed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leader and managers have reviewed the lines of accountability and information sharing when potential safeguarding events happen on the organisations school grounds and involving a member of the care staff and vice versa. This reviewed procedure will ensure that any incident of concern is swiftly reported to the relevant external agencies.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been a number of different independent visitor since the last inspection. There has been an improvement in them seeking feedback from parents and social workers on their view of the care provided by the home. This information is then used as part of the homes developmental work. However the shortfalls in record keeping identified in this inspection were not identified by home managers who monitor or by the independent visitor.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection the registered manager has left. A new manager has recently been recently appointed and is in the process of submitting their application for registration to Ofsted.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

During this inspection there were some minor shortfalls in some of the record keeping. There was limited evidence that staff had read updated policy documents. Restraint records were not clearly recorded in every case. Self-harm records were not completed on every occasion. The new manager has a clear understanding of the importance of monitoring records and has begun this process.

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is registered to provide accommodation for a maximum of four young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is run by a private provider that also operates other children’s homes and a registered school in the local area.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

03/08/2015 CH - Full Requires improvement

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Recent inspection history

05/03/2015 CH - Interim declined in effectiveness

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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

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children's home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1(a, b) (2(h)) 30 June 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):  ensure any child who has been restrained is given the opportunity express their feelings about their experience of the restraint as soon as is practicable, ideally within 24 hours of the restraint incident, taking the age of the child and the circumstances of the restraint into account. In some cases children may need longer to work through their feelings, so a record that the child has talked about their feelings should be made no longer than 5 days after the incident of restraint. Children should be encouraged to add their views and comments to the record of restraint. In particular the restraint record should clearly record who has carried out the de brief with the child. (The Guide to the Quality Standards page 50 paragraph 9.60).

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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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