Children's home run by St Christopher’s Fellowship in Wandsworth

Good

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

p.2

The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people enjoy excellent relationships with the staff team. Staff show a strong interest in the experiences and development of the young people.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 The home is a pleasant and homely environment that is well looked after by both young people and staff.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Structures are in place for young people to regularly express their views on the quality of care.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 A well thought through independence training plan is in place and young people are involved with this to varying degrees depending on their abilities.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Children are safe at this home. The staff team manage risk well.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people have an understanding of potential risks to their safety in the wider community and are able to protect themselves accordingly.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Sound decisions are made about the suitability of new admissions.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 The physical environment of the home helps to keep both staff and young people safe. The relative stability of the staff team means that young people are familiar and feel safe with a small group of adults who regularly care for them.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 There is strong leadership at the home. Managers’ monitoring of the quality of care is thorough.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Managers provide good quality supervision on a regular basis.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Care planning and review processes are efficient

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 There are some shortfalls, in promotion of education, complaints management and the quality of external monitoring.

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

8 The Education Standard In order to meet the education standard the registered person must ensure (1) that that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. 07/08/2015

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39(3)) 07/08/2015

p.4

Requirement Due date

The independent person is required to give an opinion on effectiveness of safeguarding and opinion on how well the home promotes the well-being of young people. (Regulation 44(4)) 07/08/2015

p.4

Information about this children's home

This home is operated by a registered charity, and provides care and accommodation for up to three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

Recent inspection history

17/03/2015 CH - Interim improved effectiveness

p.5

Recent inspection history

13/03/2014 CH - Interim Inadequate Progress

p.5

Good

Young people enjoy excellent relationships with the staff team. All are able to identify staff that they are able to talk to if they have any concerns. Staff have a high awareness of the differing needs of the young people, their likes, dislikes, hobbies and issues that are ongoing in their lives. One parent states that, ‘the experience that she has had at (the home) has been brilliant for her, the way that they look after her I couldn’t ask for more.’ The long term stability of the placements helps to enhance these relationships and young people are able to discuss a range of positive experiences that they have had while at the home or on holiday with the staff team. Staff show a strong interest in the experiences and development of the young people. Activities centre on the needs of young people and their interests, including spa sessions, concerts and trips out. Contact arrangements are clear within

p.6

Good

planning and parents report that these are positive, stating that: ‘regular contact which has been really good for her, as her mood seems to pick up while we spend time together.’ Staff consistently support the health and well-being of the young people through ensuring regular appointments are kept with health professionals and subsequently working in partnership with these agencies. A worker supporting a young person’s mental health stated that: ‘since she has moved into the home things have moved on significantly’. Staff promote healthy diets and this is also instilled within independence training. Young people become more confident since coming to the home because of continual staff support. This has made a real difference to their lives and their ability to communicate effectively with adults and their peers. Young people have mixed experiences of educational support. Although all have developed and achieved academically while they have been at the home, some are

p.6

Good

not having their needs met sufficiently, due to a lack of a robust approach from the staff team. This results in them receiving a low level of time within an educational environment and a lack of organised educational experiences when they are at the home. Other young people are studying at A level standard and state that the staff team supports them in achieving while at the home. The home is a pleasant and homely environment that is well looked after by both young people and staff. Communal areas include photos of young people, currently at the home and those that have left, give those currently living here the awareness that they too will leave a mark at the home. An assessment of the home and its location identifies the risks regarding the surrounding area. This supports young people to be become involved with the local community. Staff have formal and informal opportunities to meet with young people on a

p.6

Good

regular basis, gaining their views and then responding to these. The views of young people are discussed at staff meetings to ensure that staff are aware of them and give a consistent response. Young people are aware of how to make complaint. One set of concerns raised by a young person has not been recorded and the management team has made no formal response. This is an inconsistent approach to concerns and does not support young people to have confidence in the home’s systems. A well thought through independence training plan is in place and young people are involved with this to varying degrees depending on their abilities. Some young people are involved with their own budgeting, washing, cooking, and shopping in preparation for leaving the home. Documentary evidence of young people actually completing this plan is limited however. Work experience and part-time jobs are encouraged and help to develop both

p.7

Good

young people’s confidence and independence. Young people due to leave the home have been able to experience independent living through overnight stays at new accommodation. Staff have worked with social workers in ensuring the most appropriate future placements are found to meet the needs of the young people before they leave.

p.7

good

Children are safe at this home. Staff members adhere to the detailed child protection procedures that are in place. The only safeguarding notification since the last inspection showed evidence of good post-incident work between staff members and a partner agency. This work was proportionate and effective.

p.7

good

Young people have an understanding of potential risks to their safety in the wider community and are able to protect themselves accordingly. Within the home, they co-exist safely because of their respect for each other and their understanding of each other’s situations. Bullying does not occur.

p.7

good

Comprehensive assessments balance the needs of potential residents, as well as those already in placement, resulting in sound decisions about the suitability of new admissions. The success of this matching process is demonstrated by the stability of the home. The staff team manage risk well. Staff members are alert to the individual risk factors for each of the young people. This shows in the risk assessments which are routinely updated on a monthly basis, or sooner, if circumstances require.

p.7

good

There has only been one episode of a young person going missing from the home since the last inspection. The reason for this absence was explored as part of a dedicated key working session on the young person’s return to the home. Staff members monitor young people’s whereabouts closely, but not oppressively. This is another example of the good quality of care on offer.

p.8

good

The physical environment of the home helps to keep both staff and young people safe. Monitoring by camera is limited to the exterior of the building. Regular checks on utilities, appliances and emergency procedures mean that risks are minimised and addressed, resulting in a safe environment in which to live and work.

p.8

good

The relative stability of the staff team and the addition of one qualified, experienced staff member from a sister home, means that young people are familiar and feel safe with a small group of adults who regularly care for them.

p.8

good

There is strong leadership at the home. The Registered Manager has been in post since 2013. He holds a level 5 management qualification in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People’s Services. He has over five years’ experience of management in residential care settings. A Deputy Manager with 18 months experience of working as a manager within the organisation ably assists him. Together they also manage a sister home. They are actively involved with the day-to-day running of the home. They are effective and perceptive managers, who work well together. Their regional manager provides additional support and maintains an ongoing involvement in the home.

p.8

good

Managers’ monitoring of the quality of care is thorough. Although young people have given their consent for an independent person to have access to their records, their files do not contain the required consent from their placing authorities. The latest report by the independent person does not include her opinions about whether the home effectively safeguards the young people, or whether it promotes children’s well-being.

p.8

good

Young people express their views in a range of effective ways, about the care they receive. Participation in young people’s weekly meetings is encouraged by the use of a quiz format. The diverse topics for recent quizzes have included elections (to coincide with the general election) and the 1950s (the theme of an upcoming celebration event in the home). The quizzes are both fun and educational. They act as a lead-in to a discussion of matters of common concern to all of the young people and their shared living arrangements, such as weekly activity planners and menu preferences. Young people participate well in these meetings. When straightforward requests are not resolved immediately, these issues feature as separate agenda items in the following staff meeting.

p.8

good

The Deputy Manager describes the relatively stable staff team as excellent and child-centred. The staff members who do not already have a level 3 qualification are due to complete their course of study in the coming year. Managers provide good quality supervision on a regular basis. The staff team’s proficiency in the use of physical intervention is demonstrated at the beginning of each team meeting. Staff members practice at least one type of hold on each other. This usefully refreshes their knowledge, in a safe setting, of situations that occur only occasionally.

p.9

good

Although the managers and the staff have positive relationships with partner agencies, they continue to encounter challenges in relation to securing resources for young people, or information for their own locality assessment. The effectiveness of managers’ advocacy is limited.

p.9

good

Care planning and review processes are efficient. The care provided is in accordance with the responsible authority’s placement and care plans. Staff are aware of the needs of the young people; all of whom are at sensitive and important stages of their lives in care. Their needs are different and so are the staff team’s approaches to offering support. Recording systems used by staff are clear and efficient.

p.9

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.

p.10

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

p.10

What the inspection judgements mean

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

p.10

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

p.11

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 .

p.11

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,

p.12

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.12

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.12

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

p.12