Children's home run by The Serendipity Centre Limited in Eastleigh

Outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceeds the standards of good. The actions of the home contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Young people have made outstanding progress from their initial starting points,  they have flourished and benefited significantly from living in the home.  Education attendance levels are high with robust plans in place to address and  support those not engaging in full-time education.  Staff provide excellent support and guidance to young people encouraging them  to address their physical and emotional well-being.  Young people are able to reflect and review their behaviour and the  impact it has on others.  Support plans are comprehensive, providing clarity regarding  practicable ways staff can support young people.  Young people engage in a wide variety of on-site and off-site activities, with  each having made personal achievements in their chosen hobby and interest.  The voice of the young person is visible throughout the home and within all  reviews, plans and debriefs following incidents.

p.3

The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Levels of self-harming behaviour have reduced with young people utilising  strategies and techniques learnt to support and assist them in managing their  feelings and emotions.  Safeguarding records and concerns are detailed, well recorded and documented  with real clarity from instigation to completion. There is a clear rationale behind the decision making and thorough oversight ensuring all concerns being managed in an equally robust fashion.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 All young people are growing in their emotional resilience developing and  learning positive coping strategies while also self-regulating their behaviour  emotions and feelings.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 One-to-one sessions provide essential education and opportunity to explore  key issues whilst also developing positive relationships.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Staff development and training is provided to a high standard with all staff  having received the information regarding current key topics and theories utilised.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Relationships and collaborative working with others through day-to-day communication is a strength; the regular network meetings, with key stakeholders and young people, provide a regular opportunity to review plans and assessments.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  The registered person should oversee the welfare of the children in their care through observation and engagement with: each child; the homes staff; each child's family/ carers where appropriate; and professionals involved in the care or protection of each child including their social worker, Independent Reviewing Officer, teachers, clinicians and other health professionals, specifically improve the monitoring oversight of tasks delegated to other key staff in the home. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 54 paragraph 10.23)

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered for 6 children with emotional and or behavioural difficulties. It is privately owned by an organisation which also owns other homes and a therapeutic educational setting. It specialises in caring for girls who have experienced physical and or emotional trauma in their past. The home provides access to a range of therapeutic services. The home has a vacant manager post; the current home manager has an application in process to be considered as the registered manager. The previous registered manager is also the responsible individual and she continues to have daily involvement and oversight in the home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

Recent inspection history

15/10/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

p.5

Recent inspection history

16/12/2014 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

p.5

outstanding

Young people are making outstanding progress from their original starting points. Those who have been in the home for a short period of time have greatly reduced their risky behaviours and are settling well into the home. Those who have resided in the home for longer periods have made fantastic progress with the development of their social skills and self-regulation of their behaviour. They are engaging in therapies, exploring their thoughts and feelings and are discovering and exhibiting positive ways of managing these.

p.6

outstanding

Young people state they like their home and the staff; they talk confidently about positive achievements and experiences they have had while living in the home.

p.6

outstanding

All young people have positive relationships with staff; their relationships with peers are generally positive with staff supporting them to work through issues of conflict. Staff provide stability and a calm approach in supporting vibrant young people to explore alternative ways of managing situations which they find challenging.

p.6

outstanding

Purposeful one-to-one sessions occur regularly with all staff completing them; they have provided essential education covering a wide variety of topics and themes with young people exploring risky behaviours and their impact. Topics have included substance misuse, underage pregnancy and media safety. They allow opportunity to develop relationships and build on trust. Staff are interested in young people, their individual needs and what is affecting or worrying them. Staff were observed prioritising time to talk with young people and supporting them and exploring ways of managing their worries and anxieties. Relationships are observed to be positive with young people seeking guidance and physical and emotional support from staff.

p.6

outstanding

Young people feel at ease in their home and make a real contribution to it. Each take part in house meetings with all contributing to the agenda. They choose activities, discuss issues and plan menus, parties and house celebrations. Staff have assisted young people to arrange parties and they have invited friends to join them in celebrating key events. The house summer Jamaican barbecue and Christmas celebrations are just some of these that young people talk about. Each young person is supported to follow their interests and hobbies. Those who do not have specific hobbies are encouraged to try out a variety of activities and clubs. Staff offer cooking and art and craft activities with the evidence of this seen around the home in photographs and decorations. Staff also support young people to enjoy going to the cinema, meals out, trips and walks. Young people have a full programme of activities on site and off.

p.6

outstanding

Young people are supported to develop their personal self-care and independence skills by helping with basic chores around the home.

p.7

outstanding

The home is well presented each young person has personalised their bedroom choosing the wall colour and soft furnishings.

p.7

outstanding

Health actions plans provide excellent clarity, with detail and clear actions required to meet identified health needs. Young people are supported with their physical and emotional well-being. Staff support young people to seek and attend medical appointments and reviews when needed. Older young people are supported to attend these appointments alone if they wish.

p.7

outstanding

Young people are encouraged to engage in therapy which is provided in varying forms, for example, ‘My Time’, protected activities and one-to-one sessions with therapists. The organisation employs a specialist who contributes to the overview and planning of individual therapy plans. Young people also write or voice their worries and concerns and staff explore and act upon these.

p.7

outstanding

Young people have made very good progress managing their self-harming behaviour. They are accessing the services provided and implementing the strategies they are discovering to use as alternatives to self-harm.

p.7

outstanding

Each young person has a scrap book and photobook as a visual memory and collection of achievements made during their time at the home.

p.7

outstanding

Most young people are thoroughly engaged in education. Where any young person has refused to engage in education on a regular basis there is a plan which is regularly reviewed with a variety of alternative opportunities explored. Key Managers are persistent in their management of this, regularly meeting to ensure that plan remains appropriate and meet need. Staff also support and encourage young people to complete homework tasks and also attend parent meetings and reviews as needed.

p.7

outstanding

One young person is developing her life skills in preparation for adulthood; there has been sporadic involvement from the young person with staff being persistent in their encouragement. Young people are well cared for and supported in the home, staff have good knowledge and insight into each young person’s needs. Pen portraits and the ‘All About Me’ documents provide thorough descriptions of young people’s likes, dislikes, favourite clothes, activities and other key information the young people feel is important to them. Support plans alongside other documents provide clarity and practical advice and guidance to staff informing them how to meet need.

p.7

outstanding

Contact plans detail the contact arrangements and staff support required to facilitate it. Review is requested when needed and discussed at the network meeting. Staff support young people when plans change working through any emotions and worry attached to this.

p.8

outstanding

The voice of the young person is present throughout the home; staff seek their views and contributions prior to reviews and within plans. Staff share the monthly overview of achievements and areas to develop with young people with them being invited to comment. They are supported and encouraged to attend and engage in all reviews and meetings. The manager plans to develop a more formal system of recording their views prior to meetings as currently these are sought but not documented.

p.8

outstanding

The home provides a safe environment for young people with each stating they feel safe and secure and happy to request help and guidance when needed. Young people are able to talk openly about their individual difficulties and worries and all state they have a key adult they trust. Young people who present with risky behaviours are being successfully supported to reduce these, whilst learning strategies and learning how to make more positive choices.

p.8

outstanding

Incidents of missing are robustly documented and reported with clear plans and risk assessments present, oversight and input from statutory bodies is also in place. On return checks are made to ensure young people are safe and well and staff complete debriefs with young people. Staff assertively request the placing authority to complete a return to care interview.

p.8

outstanding

Those with an identified risk of child sexual exploitation have risk assessments and plans to address and minimise risk levels. A young person who was admitted to the home with a high level of child sexual exploitation risk has reduced these due to a reduction in associated behaviours. Plans and assessments are reviewed regularly with input from all key stakeholders.

p.9

outstanding

Systems within the home for recording and managing safeguarding concerns are very robust and meticulous. Concerns are swiftly acted on with substantial investigation and exploration. Concerns are reported and referred to others when required. The evidence trail from instigation, through investigation to completion is accurately maintained within the home; this has allowed the home manager to apply robust oversight and monitoring of incidents. Concerns remain open until specific tasks identified are completed and signed off. The safeguarding lead provides another level of scrutiny.

p.9

outstanding

Allegations are investigated with all evidence recorded and evaluated to provide clarity regarding how decisions and outcomes are reached. Referral to others is made as required with the home maintaining positive relationships with the local authority designated officer. Complaints are recorded and investigated in the same manner as allegations. There appears to be a high level of complaints because staff apply a low threshold to concerns raised being escalated to a complaint investigation. The manager states it is important for the young people to feel that all of their concerns and complaints are fully investigated and explored. Outcomes are fed back to young people and a record of this made.

p.9

outstanding

Staff use more rewards than sanctions within the home, sanctions are generally linked to the trigger or cause. A restorative approach is used with pocket money being used to purchase damaged crockery or a young person choosing a compensatory activity or task they could complete. One young person chose to mop a floor which was made dirty by items they had thrown in the kitchen area.

p.9

outstanding

Pre-admission impact risk assessments are completed, with careful analysis applied to decision making regarding admissions. Comprehensive initial support plans and risk assessments are drawn up and updated when needed.

p.9

outstanding

Risk assessments provide clarity regarding how to meet need and how to support young people. Age-appropriate risk taking is allowed with staff supporting and educating young people about risk in one-to-one sessions and through materials present in the home study area. Plans are reviewed and amended as needed.

p.9

outstanding

Behaviour management is well managed with clear boundaries and expectations in place. The behaviour support plans consider triggers, de-escalation strategies and management strategies. Debrief and reflection is consistently available to all young people and staff. Risk assessments and plans are updated and reviewed when required. Physical intervention is used occasionally, and all staff are trained in the homes preferred approach. Behaviour support plans clearly identify individual strategies and the levels of intervention to be used within the stepped approach.

p.9

outstanding

Positive behaviour is promoted by staff and young people are aware of house rules and expectations. Conflict is frequent between the girls within the home, staff support young people to learn from these incidents and develop more positive coping strategies.

p.10

outstanding

On occasions incidents can impact on others within the home, young people state that they feel upset and sad that others behave in a negative way. Staff have supported and reassured young people to explore this and work to rebuild relationships has been completed. A recent example of rebuild work completed was to a very high standard and enabled the young person to review the impact of their behaviour on others. The home manager and responsible person are key people in completing debriefs with young people.

p.10

outstanding

Positive behaviour is frequently rewarded and praised through a variety of treats and rewards including trips out and movie nights.

p.10

outstanding

The police involvement policy provides clarity regarding when to contact police and request support. There is a good relationship with police officers who helpfully visit the home informally. The regular network meetings provide a forum to review plans and address risk and need.

p.10

outstanding

E-safety education occurs during one-to-one sessions with this being supplemented with individual contracts detailing expectations of internet use which young people sign. These are regularly reviewed as required with restriction levels being reviewed dependant on need, age and risk level.

p.10

outstanding

The home is well maintained and presented with areas of damage swiftly repaired and addressed. The homes maintenance checks have all been competed as required. Judgement grade

p.10

good

The home is managed by a house manager who is currently applying to Ofsted to become the registered manager for the home. She is undertaking her Level 5 Diploma and intends to complete within the next few months. The home manager is effectively managing the home with daily input from the responsible individual who was previously the registered manager. The application process has been ongoing for several months but is hoped that all issues are now clarified and near completion. The continued involvement of the previous manager has ensured excellent continuity.

p.11

good

The managers monitoring checks of the home follow a new system which as yet is not embedded. The system is a complex one covering many areas of the home and the care it provides. There are some minor areas which have been identified and are waiting to be addressed and rectified.

p.11

good

The independent visitor provides a monthly report and the manager is swift to respond to the areas identified for improvement. The manager is reviewing if the current systems in place are robust and effective.

p.11

good

The recommendations identified at the previous inspection have been implemented and acted on.

p.11

good

All staff now receive regular effective supervision and have had their practice reviewed within a year. The manager has also implemented a new monitoring system which allows any senior staff to monitor, ensuring that contingencies are in place if supervisors are absent.

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good

Regular team meetings occur weekly alongside ‘Pillars of Parenting’ sessions on a three weekly basis. These enable staff to review and reflect on individual young people’s progress and areas to develop.

p.11

good

Training and development opportunities have been provided with staff having received recent inputs in radicalisation, fire, first aid and female genital mutilation.

p.11

good

Recruitment of staff has been robust and in line with safer recruitment policy and guidance.

p.11

good

Staff report feeling well supported by both the home manager and responsible individual.

p.11

good

A home development plan outlines the aims and outcomes wished to be achieved, it does not give specific target dates to achieve aspects identified but does describe how they will appear once complete.

p.12

good

The regular multi-disciplinary network meetings attended by all key stakeholders for each young person provide a purposeful forum to review plans, risk and need.

p.12

good

Key stakeholders report positive robust working relationships with the staff. They state they are well informed regarding young people’s needs and are made fully aware of changes in need and presentation.

p.12

good

The location risk assessment was updated but currently does not consider all of the risk factors within the local area. The manager has this in hand having made contact with other statutory agencies to collate this information.

p.12

good

The medication systems in place are robust with a new system in place for recording errors which provides clarity and consistency.

p.12

good

Staff have delegated tasks and the home manager is yet to provide robust monitoring and oversight to these to ensure completion of these tasks, some minor gaps and inconsistencies were noted.

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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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