Children's Home run by Radical Services Limited in Westmorland and Furness

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:

 Staff engage well with the young person, developing good rapport that helps him find stability in the placement and achieve a sense of belonging.  Staff are warm and caring in their approach enabling the young person to feel trust to develop positive relationships  Staff assist the young person to understand the risks associated with certain behaviours and influence him to make positive choices.  Staff provide clear and consistent boundaries that support the young person to feel safe and know what is expected of his behaviour.  Staff effectively manage challenging behaviour, making good use of behaviour management techniques that avoids situations escalating.  Staff and managers regularly consult with the young person to ensure he has good opportunity to express his views and wishes and influence his care and the running of the home.  Staff are effective in promoting the young person’s health and well-being

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The children's home provision is good because:

and ensuring he has good access to a range of health professionals.  Staff encourage learning within the home environment, despite the young person’s recent refusal to engage with education.  Staff assist the young person to re-establish and maintain relationships with those that are significant in his life.  Both professionals and the young person’s parent express satisfaction with the care provided, identifying specific achievements that have occurred during his placement.  The home demonstrates success in reducing the incidence of missing from home events.  Staff and management adopt a reflective approach to their practice that enables them to consistently develop and improve.

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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

44: Independent person: visits and reports

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Requirement Due date

Ensure the independent person's report sets out clearly the independent person's opinion as to whether children are effectively safeguarded and the conduct of the home promotes children's well-being. This relates specifically to avoiding repetitious reporting and including greater evaluation of observations and information gathered. (Regulation 44(4)(a)(b)) 29/02/2016

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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 that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission that the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview and that staff take account of the information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 45 paragraph 9.30)  Decide what each six monthly review should focus on based on the specific circumstances of the home and any areas of high risk to children. The review does not need to address every part of the Quality Standards but should clearly identify any actions required for the next 6 months of delivery within the home and how those actions will be addressed. (The Guide to the Quality Standards,

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Information about this children's home

 the home is registered to provide for one child  it is one of several homes owned by a private company  it provides care and accommodation for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD)

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

11/03/2015 CH - Interim improved effectiveness

p.5

good

The young person has made good progress in many areas of his life while living in this home. Staff have made a positive impact in helping the young person to gain stability in his life, guided by child-centred planning that is detailed and focused. This has enabled staff to provide clear and consistent support throughout his placement. They have successfully helped him to understand and make positive changes in his behaviour that previously placed him at high risk prior to coming to the home. His parent has expressed considerable satisfaction with the placement noting that, ‘He has been in loads of homes. This has given stability, and a feeling that he belongs somewhere.’

p.6

good

The young person feels safe and knows that staff have been effective in helping him to significantly reduce those risk-taking behaviours that include going missing and involving himself in negative peer relationships. Staff have also supported the young person to learn and adopt new strategies to help manage his frustrations and anger. This has enables him to develop more productive and meaningful relationships. His parent said, ‘The placement has achieved a tremendous turnaround. His emotions are completely changed. He would run away for days before and he hasn’t done that here.’

p.6

good

The young person benefits from his care being provided by a small but consistent staff team. Staff are warm and caring in their approach and show patience and interest in the young person and what he has to say. This has helped the young person to develop some very meaningful and trusting relationships in the home and have his voice heard. He commented, ‘All the staff are amazing, I will miss them all. They listen to you and help keep you out of trouble. They always arrange to meet you half way. Staff are always fair and treat me well.’ His mother added, ‘He talks about special staff; his relationship with them and how he can speak with them. He expresses to me that is a big barrier is broken. Now if he is upset he can go to his room; he can control is emotions.’

p.6

good

Staff demonstrate sensitivity and care in promoting the young person’s health and well-being. Staff are persistent in their efforts to ensure that appointments for routine health care are followed up and that there is good communication with health care specialists to ensure that health conditions are appropriately understood, monitored and supported. For example, staff encouragement and support with this young person has been influential in removing the need for prescribed medication and better management of health conditions. His parent recognises the benefit of such support. She commented, ‘They try to give him exercise to help his weight and improve his self-esteem. I have seen that he has more confidence and self-esteem. He will keep himself clean and is interested in nice toiletries.’

p.6

good

Staff promote the value of following a healthy lifestyle, encouraging good nutrition and the benefits of regular exercise. Although staff arrange and encourage the young person to participate in some seasonal activities and outings, such as tennis and fishing, he prefers more sedentary activities such as watching television and playing on a games console. He commented, ‘I like playing on my games console. Staff always ask me if I want to go out and do other things but I can’t always be bothered.’

p.7

good

Although the young person, for his own safety, is some considerable distance from home, staff have ensured that he has been able to maintain good communication with those that are significant to him. This has included advocacy services to promote his rights as well as telephone contact with family members. Their support and encouragement has enabled the young person to re-establish positive face-to-face contact. Staff welcome visiting family members to the home and have more recently provided practical assistance in traveling to and from his home area to promote further time in developing relationships with his family.

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good

Although staff initially made good progress in encouraging the young person to re- engage with education, this has not been sustained for the duration of the placement. However, staff continue to encourage learning within the home to widen the young person’s knowledge and promote independence. For example, staff have stimulated the young person’s interest in current affairs, history and nature through reading newspapers and watching documentaries. Staff encourage the young person’s involvement in a range of household tasks including, cleaning, shopping and cooking to ensure that he is appropriately prepared for adult life.

p.7

good

Overall the placing authority voices satisfaction with the success of the placement, highlighting the young person’s withdrawal from education as the only negative aspect. An Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) stated, ‘He has made some good progress. He had begun to attend school, shared good relationships with staff and obtained good social skills. He now copes well with challenge. He has more recently refused to go to school; the issue is about motivating and encouraging him.’

p.7

good

The young person says he feels safe in this home and is reassured by staff actions that they are committed to keeping him safe. He commented, ‘I like this place a lot. I feel safe here. When I have gone missing, I know that they have been worried about me. They will travel to pick me up so they can take me back. They want to know that I am safe.’

p.7

good

The home has achieved significant success since the point of placement in reducing the occasions of this young person being reported missing. There have only been two occasions when this has occurred and one was during home contact. On each occasion, staff acted promptly and assisted police in ensuring the young person’s swift return to the safety of the home. Although staff routinely speak to the young person following any incidents to gain a better understanding for such behaviour, the placing authority did not have similar discussions with this young person. This meant an opportunity was lost to be reassured by the young person that there were not any concerns about the home or staff conduct.

p.8

good

Staff practice is guided by comprehensive assessment and planning that takes good account of all known and likely risks and behaviours. Staff frequently review and update risk and planning documentation to ensure that they all have a shared understanding of current issues and approaches to be followed to achieve consistent behaviour management. Consequently, the young person has certainty in his life and is clear about expectations surrounding his behaviour and care.

p.8

good

Staff access a range of training and personal development opportunities that supports and guides their child protection and behaviour management practice. Staff identify the importance of developing positive relationships with the young person as critical in their success in promoting positive behaviour. This helps to build trust and positive rapport.

p.8

good

The use of restraint in this home is extremely rare, with only one occurrence since this young person was placed. Staff demonstrate skill in talking through issues with the young person and de-escalating challenging behaviour. This avoids those situations that could seriously compromise either staff or the young person’s safety. A health professional commented, ‘They have really managed him well. He had severe anger management issues, but they have worked hard on strategies for him to recognise his anger. There has been significant improvement. Incidents involving his challenging behaviour have reduced. I also feel he has matured since he has been in their care. He appears to have developed trust and understanding of adult relationships. They have given him continuity and confidence in himself.’

p.8

good

The home provides a safe environment for the young person. Staff regularly check the effectiveness and operation of safety equipment. They are vigilant in checking the identity of visitors to the home, ensuring they have a valid reason for their visit and appropriate credentials before entering the property. The home carefully recruits and selects staff, using safe recruitment practices that ensures staff are suitable and appropriately vetted to work with young people. All these measures promote the young person’s safety and minimise the likelihood of being exposed to adults that may cause him harm.

p.8

good

The home is effectively led and managed by an experienced and qualified Registered Manager that possesses both a level 4 qualification and a Registered Manager Award (RMA). He is supported by a small but sufficient staff team that provide a good consistency of care to the young person placed. The home is operating in accordance with its Statement of Purpose.

p.9

good

Staff express satisfaction in the home’s arrangements, feeling well supported by a good induction programme, regular supervision and training opportunities that assist their personal development.

p.9

good

An annual appraisal process operates to ensure that staff development and performance is kept under regular review. The young person has an opportunity to contribute to this, enabling him to express his views and influence practice within the home.

p.9

good

The Registered Manager encourages his staff team to be reflective in their practice ensuring that they are constantly reviewing and considering the most beneficial options to support the young person’s care. This often occurs informally on a day- to-day basis. However, regular staff meetings also provide a forum for more in- depth reflection and planning to improve the quality of care the young person receives.

p.9

good

Staff demonstrate a clear knowledge and understanding of the young person’s history and activities since being in the home. Consequently, there is a shared understanding of his personality, the issues that have affected him, and the progress he has made since coming to the home.

p.9

good

The home has developed good systems to monitor and chart progress, identifying those behaviour management approaches that are most effective and are likely to achieve good outcomes.

p.9

good

The home has developed positive and effective working relationships with a variety of professionals that have an interest in promoting the young person’s safety and care. The Registered Manager demonstrates confidence in challenging other professionals when he feels practice is not effective or in the young person’s best interest. A good example of this was identified when challenge was made to a placing authority when a significant change to the young person’s care plan was proposed without there having been a statutory review.

p.9

good

Managers and staff shows a good understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. The Registered Manager identifies some concern with the quality of external monitoring reports, noting that at times these are slightly misleading and on occasion factually incorrect. An arrangement to review this with the independent person is yet to occur.

p.10

good

The content of the independent person’s reports received by Ofsted do not suggest a sufficiently rigorous approach in scrutinising the home’s operation and clarifying the author’s opinion to the safety and welfare of the young person accommodated. They tend to be repetitious in their content and lack clear evaluation of the service to sufficiently inform Ofsted and staff working in the home.

p.10

good

The Registered Manager shows greater strength in scrutinising the operation of the home. He has established good tracking arrangements and reliable systems to ensure regular monitoring occurs that enables him to confidently identify progress and achievements.

p.10

good

He appropriately supplied Ofsted with a 6-monthly review report that covered the findings of monitoring arrangements. Although this report contained a high level of detail, it fell short in drawing attention to the key issues and themes. The report did not provide a comprehensive evaluation of these or conclude with an action plan for the 6-month period ahead. Although the home maintains a development plan that generally addresses developments concerning the home and staff team, it was not clear how review findings were consistently used to inform that planning.

p.10

good

Shortfalls identified as a result of this inspection did not result in any major impact on the young person’s safety or well-being.

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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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