Children's home in Blaby

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Improvements have been made to the home, which now presents as more welcoming and homely. Young people have contributed to the internal changes made to the home and are now proud of their environment.  Staff assist young people to make good progress in all aspects of their lives. Staff know them extremely well and listen to their wishes, views and feelings. This has led to noticeable improvements in relation to educational engagement, social activities, meeting health needs and improved behaviours.  Detailed care plans and risk assessments are in place. Staff regularly review and update them. As a result, young people receive very good care and support to meet their changing needs. Regular multi-agency meetings take place with the full inclusion and engagement of the young people. This supports them to make positive progress and to inform the care they receive.   The interim manager has made significant changes and improvements to how

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The children's home provision is good because:

the home is run in a relatively short period of time. As a result of her involvement with the home, there have been many positive changes for young people and the staff team.  The home has failed to secure a permanent manager for the home. The position has been vacant since the end of January 2015. Interim management cover is robust and very effective, but there is a need to secure a permanent manager as a matter of priority. This will further assist young people and staff to continue to make progress.

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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

Ensure that the statement of purpose includes accurate details of the management structure of the home. This is with reference to the current manager position (Regulation 16, Schedule 1(20)) 04/08/2015

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that the registered provider appoints a person to manage the children’s home if there is no registered manager in respect of the home (Regulation 27(1)(a)) 04/08/2015

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that the system for reviewing the quality of care includes considering the opinions of young people, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(5)) 04/08/2015

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Information about this children's home

 The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to seven young people.  The home is owned and run by the local authority in the area where the home is located.  The home provides care and accommodation for young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.  Accommodation consists of five bedrooms in the main house and two semi- independence flats, attached to the main house.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/02/2014 Interim Satisfactory Progress

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good

 Young people form close and positive attachments with the staff in this home. They feel able to discuss any concerns or issues they may have. This is particularly evident in their positive engagement in the regular key work sessions which take place. Through this support, young people learn how to better manage any concerning or risk-taking behaviours. They form a clearer understanding of their histories and reasons for being in care.

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good

 The staff team ensures that all young people are fully engaged in all aspects of their care. All young people attend meetings with staff support. They read, make comments and sign all key documentation relating to the care provided for them. As such, they very much influence the care they receive and understand when decisions are made, which they may not agree with. Their maturity increases and they learn to take more responsibility for their own lives.

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good

 The complaints procedure is clearly known to all young people and they feel confident in using it. Staff and managers take prompt action and ensure that young people know how their complaint has been dealt with. They feel listened to and that their concerns are taken seriously.

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good

 The educational attendance and engagement of young people in this home has improved significantly since the last inspection. Staff work closely with education and training providers. This has led to young people now placing greater value on their education and in having aspirations for their futures. Some have undertaken work experience placements and others have secured college places. This reflects their increased maturity and the value staff and managers place on education and training.

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good

 Social activities are widely promoted in the home. Young people consider what they want to do and staff ensure that they have fun and stimulating things to take part in. There is a positive focus on physical activities such as football, outdoor pursuits and swimming. Young people become healthier as a result of such regular activity, physically and emotionally. They form friendships in the local community, which further enhances their sense of belonging and value.  Young people receive support and guidance to prepare them for their eventual move to independence. Staff have devised independence programmes to work through with young people. They form a clear understanding of what their current skills and abilities are, and of what they need to learn in order to make a successful transition from this home. Some young people have made a successful move to independent accommodation since the last inspection and remain in contact with staff. This reflects how

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good

well young people are prepared for such an important move.

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good

 Health needs of young people are very well met. Staff work with young people to consider their specific health needs. From their starting points, young people have improved their physical and emotional health. They have lost weight, had prescribed medications reduced and report feeling much healthier. This helps them to feel more confident and links with their willingness to engage in physical activities. They also consider the benefits of healthy eating and agree on menu plans with the staff team. Specialist and therapeutic support is in place and further assists young people to consider their emotional and psychological needs.

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good

 The use of restraint in the home is minimal. This reflects the confidence and competence of the staff team in using de-escalation techniques with young people. There has been a noticeable reduction in concerning behaviours of young people. They learn to take more personal responsibility for their behaviours and reflect on their past behaviours. This is also supported by a close working relationship with the local police. They visit the home to discuss any relevant concerns. A local officer stated their view that this helps young people to consider their actions and behaviours, before they escalate.

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good

 The staff team are very good at promoting and supporting contact for young people. A placing social worker praised them for the work they have done for one young person. Young people enjoy regular contact with family members and significant others. The staff team fully understand the value and importance of contact with family and friends.

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good

.  Risk assessments clearly set out the specific needs of each young person. Staff regularly review and update them with the placing authority and other involved agencies. Young people fully understand their plans and work well with staff to reduce any concerning behaviours. This has led to a noticeable reduction in concerning and risk-taking behaviours of young people.

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good

 Clear protocols and procedures are in place in relation to young people going missing. The staff team ensure that any such incidents are responded to quickly and with competence. Young people understand their personal risk assessments and have reduced their risk-taking behaviours. They learn to consider the impact of their actions on themselves and others. They feel safe and well supported by the staff team. The local police report no concerns about how staff respond to missing incidents and are provided with relevant information to assist them when young people go missing.

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good

 Young people now respond much more positively to the boundaries put in place for them by the staff team. Through regular multi-agency meetings, they are supported to take age appropriate risks and to prepare for their eventual move to independence. Key work sessions have also improved and increased in frequency. This enables staff to focus on specific issues and behaviours with young people. Over time, this has led to them maturing and taking more personal responsibility.

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good

 The staff team also has a detailed awareness and understanding of the potential risks of the use of social media and the internet. Young people are closely monitored and supported in such use. Any relevant concerns are reported to the placing authority and other agencies.

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good

 The home has responded positively to any allegations made about staff. The interim manager has ensured that clear and detailed records are maintained and that all necessary action is taken. Staff are confident in using whistleblowing procedures and feel well supported by the interim and assistant managers. Staff receive regular safeguarding training, which enables them to perform their roles with confidence and competence. Young people also feel able to report any concerns they may have. They state that they are dealt with well by managers and that they have confidence in being able to speak out about anything they are concerned about.

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good

 The home is safe, secure and protects young people from any actual or potential harm. Managers ensure that regular health and safety checks are undertaken and recorded. This promotes a safe and welcoming home for young people to live in. involved agencies comment on how much the home has improved since the interim manager came into post.

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good

 The selection and recruitment of staff is robust and prevents any unsuitable adults from working with such vulnerable young people. Personnel records demonstrate a very detailed assessment of all potential staff. Judgement grade

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requires improvement

 The home has not had a permanent, registered manager in post for several months. Interim management arrangements are very good, with a registered manager from another provision providing cover to this home.

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requires improvement

 The home has sufficient staff to meet the complex needs of young people placed here. They provide a high level of care and support and report feeling happy in their roles and well supported by the interim manager and assistant managers. The interim manager has brought about significant improvements for both young people and staff since she commenced in this temporary post.

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requires improvement

 The home’s statement of purpose refers to the interim manager as being the registered manager. This is not correct and is misleading. Plans are in place to recruit and appoint to the position of manager for this home but, at the time of this inspection, this had not been achieved. This could undermine the home’s ability to maintain the positive progress it has made since the last inspection.

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requires improvement

 The interim manager has revised, reviewed and made positive changes to the recording systems used in the home. This has led to staff now feeling there is a much clearer focus on meeting the needs of young people. Plans and risk assessments are regularly reviewed and file audits take place to ensure all key documentation is recorded. The staff team also chases placing authorities when documentation is missing or not up to date. As a result of such changes, young people now receive clearer and more focused care and support.

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requires improvement

 There is good management oversight and monitoring of all aspects of the care provided to young people. Managers undertake regular reviews and produce detailed management reports with clear action plans. This work is informs a clear and comprehensive development plan for how the service intends to operate and move forward. These service reviews do not however include consultation with young people, their parents, placing authorities and staff. This would further enable managers to have a better understanding of the quality of care they provide and how their work is helping to improve progress and outcomes for young people.  Young people are now much more involved in the care they receive. Records reflect them being consulted with on all aspects of their care. Staff ensure that they fully understand their plans and risk assessments and that they comment and record their views on their records. This provides a real

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requires improvement

sense of inclusion of young people. Records maintained are clear and detailed and provide real meaning and value to young people, if they choose to read them.

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requires improvement

 The staff team diligently ensures that all relevant notifications are completed and submitted to relevant agencies, including Ofsted. Action is taken to ensure that young people are kept safe and protected from harm. Young people themselves report feeling happy and secure in this home. They can identify a trusted adult who they feel able to speak with.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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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 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

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Information about this inspection

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

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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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