Children's home in Southwark

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:

 Leadership and management has been very effective in tackling weaknesses identified at Ofsted’s last full inspection. As a result, the home has significantly improved and young people now make good progress.  The new director of education has improved young people’s attendance and attainment in education. His leadership is exceptional and instrumental in affecting this change.  Care staff and teaching staff work well together. They are pro-active in encouraging young people’s progress across many areas such as education, behaviour and emotional wellbeing.  Young people have very positive relationships with staff and as a result, they feel able to talk to them easily about their problems and worries.  Young people develop good strategies to manage their behaviour and self- harm.  Young people are pleased with their admission process. They are fully involved and know what to expect. This helps them to settle in quickly.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 There are good records with regard to safeguarding young people in the home, particularly with regard to allegations about staff.  The monitoring of restraints is very effective. A lot of consideration is given to how it feels for the young person and how this might work more effectively next time.  Shortfalls include risk assessment documents, which do not always clearly set out how risks should be minimised. In addition, where independent return interviews happen for young people who have been missing, the information from these interviews is not obtained by managers.

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the home takes into account information provided by return home interviews, when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  Ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned by a private organisation. The home sets out to provide a residential school environment for 24 young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

19/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Good

The home’s therapeutic ethos is set out in the statement of purpose. Therefore, placing authorities, parents and young people can understand the care provided. Some areas of the therapeutic approach had not been apparent for some months. For example, the group analyst approach has now been implemented after a period of several months. The registered manager feels very confident that the approach is now embedded. One young person spoke about how the therapeutic approach suits them well and has enabled them to make progress. They said, ’they have done a lovely job placing me here’. When young people are admitted, their needs are well considered. They report that staff take time to come to visit them at their previous placement and plan with them how their admission should be managed. Young people also expressed they are happy with the fact that their key worker was on duty from the first day to greet them.

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Good

Young people’s attendance and attainment in education is significantly improved since the last full inspection. The new headteacher of the school has been in post for a year and his leadership is exceptional. Young people report that they are doing well at school. One young person talked about their education and how the headteacher had helped her saying: ‘He will do anything for any child and he cheers me up using Grandad jokes’. Staff at the school acknowledge that young people have complex care needs, which can affect their ability to engage in their education. They are creative and pro-active in the way that they engage young people. Education and care staff meet regularly to discuss and prevent any barriers to learning so that young people get the best from their school day. The residential curriculum allows for activities in and out of the home. Young people access and enjoy a good range of facilities such as a pool room, games, art

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Good

and baking. In addition, there have been trips out to the cinema, parks and some young people have enjoyed a holiday. Young people’s health is well promoted. When they come to the home, the good working relationships with their doctor and child psychiatrist ensure collaborative working. For example, they ensure that there is a clear picture of why the young person has been prescribed their medicine and how they should be supported with their health related issues. There have been improvements to medicine administration and there is now a dedicated staff member recruited to ensure that administration and recording is safe and effective. Other aspects of health are also well considered. For example, young people are regularly active through the schools physical activity curriculum, promoting their physical health. Young people’s emotional wellbeing has a very high profile and their moods are closely monitored. Staff build very good relationships with young people from the

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Good

onset, so they find it easier to tell someone if they have a problem or worry. Staff discussed one young person’s progress saying, ‘they are opening up more’. They said that was ‘very positive’ and is allowing the young person to get the help that they need. One young person reported a reduction in their self-harming behaviour. Their comments demonstrate their progress and include, ‘I have different strategies’ and ‘I talk to people and am getting much better at that’. Young people are assisted to ensure that they can maintain contact with family and friends. Staff facilitate these visits and also promote the use of independence skills such as the use of public transport. This enables young people to learn about how to maintain contact with people who are important to them.

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Good

Procedures for safeguarding young people are very good. Records are exceptionally clear in their detail, particularly those relating to allegations about staff. This allows for very good monitoring and for the fine detail of what happened and when to be established. Should young people wish to see their records later in life, or should there be any investigations in the future, these records will be easily understood. Professionals feel that important safeguarding information is shared effectively with them. One professional said, ‘communication is brilliant’. This means stakeholders can work effectively together to protect young people. Behaviour management is good. Staff de-escalate behaviour whenever they can and young people are only restrained when this is necessary. Staff are clear and open in their records which tell the story of the event. Young people’s comments are also added to ensure that they have a voice. These high quality records allow

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Good

for effective monitoring. Managers can see where the trigger points are and think carefully about how this must feel for young people. This improves practice. Risks are generally identified and staff know what they must do in order to protect young people. There is a lack of clarity in some of the written risk assessments with regard to how risks should be minimised. This could lead to important information being missed. Young people’s whereabouts is well monitored. Staffing levels allow for good staff supervision. When young people leave the home, staff know about this and always try to follow and look for them. They call the police when they should do and in accordance with risk assessments and the home’s policies. Therefore the risk of young people coming to harm through being missing is reduced. Where young people have independent return interviews after being missing, staff do not have the information which has been gathered. This has not affected young people to

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Good

date but opportunities to safeguard and protect young people further could be missed in the future. The property and grounds are very pleasant and fully accessible for young people to enjoy.

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Good

The registered manager has been in post for a year and was registered with Ofsted in March 2015. She is a Registered General Nurse and also holds a Diploma in Management Studies. She is very experienced and has worked with young people for several years. There are significant improvements since the last Ofsted full inspection. The management team have been very committed and have worked hard to establish and embed new policies and procedures. Several new managers and staff have been appointed to assist in ensuring that a good quality of care is delivered. Whist this has been an unsettling few months, it is now clear now that there is a momentum of improvement. Staff, young people and leaders all report that leadership and lines of accountability are clear. School and care staff work effectively together to influence positive change. As a result, there has been numerous improvements, particularly to education, behaviour management and

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Good

safeguarding young people. Managers acknowledge that there have been periods of time where young people’s complex behaviour has led to an increase in significant events in the home. They say that there is still some learning to do regarding assessing the compatibility of new referrals. Staff report that managers ‘have learned’ from the recent unsettled periods, particularly over the summer months. The registered manager discussed her own and the organisation’s commitment to keep the numbers of young people at 12, until such time that they feel that the required improvements from the last Ofsted inspection are sufficiently bedded in. This shows careful consideration for young people’s needs and progress. Staff commented: ‘We have had to adapt to the changes but are generally seeing the benefit’. Regular staff supervision sessions ensure that staff performance is fully monitored and that they have an opportunity to have their say. As a result, staff report that

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Good

their morale is improved. They say that they feel able to go to any of the managers if there is a problem or a concern and that ‘there is an open door policy’. They say, ‘managers are more approachable’ and ‘it feels really different’. Most staff have received an appraisal meeting so their performance has been effectively appraised, however, one staff appraisal has not happened. The head of care acknowledges this and has plans in place to address this. He fully understands the importance of the appraisal process, so that opportunities to further develop staff are not missed. Monitoring is effective and ensures that leaders have a clear picture of the running of the home and young people’s individual progress. Where there are barriers to progress, these are identified. For example through the monitoring of physical intervention records, new strategies have been developed. These assist staff and young people to more clearly identify trigger points for more complex behaviour.

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Good

Managers have young people’s best interests at heart and make sure that they are listened to through the home’s complaints procedure. Young people are included as much as possible in the running of the home. One young person has been recently involved in the redecoration and furnishing some areas. Young people also have a suggestions box, where they can put their ideas. The head of care makes sure that he acknowledges all ideas. He is currently looking into developing a quiet room and purchasing some new outdoor play equipment, as a result of listening to young people. In addition, young people complete questionnaires for quality assurance purposes to ensure that they have their say. Young people participate in their reviews and staff make sure that they are supported to get their own views across. Young people learn and practice how to express their views effectively, equipping them with skills they can use in their future.

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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

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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