Children's home SC418700

The children's home provision is good because:

 The quality of relationships between staff and young people is good. Young people say they really enjoy living in the home and share positive relationships with staff.  Young people generally make good progress, notably in improving levels of independence as they move into adulthood.  Managers are committed to meeting the specific needs of young people and are aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the home.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Managers advocate on behalf of young people and ensure external agencies are reminded of their obligations toward them.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people receive considerable support and guidance when moving on from the home. This enables them to make successful transitions and so move forward in their lives.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 A majority of young people live at the home for long periods of time. This allows them to develop meaningful relationships with staff and make good progress.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Tailored packages of care are provided to young people who require specialist intervention. This means their problematic behaviours are addressed thoroughly through focused work and strategies.

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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

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (’the statement of purpose’) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1; in particular that every aspect of care and accommodation is confirmed including details of specialised packages of care for those young people placed with problematic sexualised behaviour. (Regulation 16 (1)) 27/10/2015

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Requirement Due date

To meet the protection of children standard the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to a child’s health, in particular ensure that repairs to outdoor areas are completed in good time. (Regulation 12 (2) (d) 27/10/2015

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Information about this children's home

This children's home is registered for up to five young people. It is owned and operated by a private company who own seven other children’s homes around the country. The home provides care for young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

03/03/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

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people living in the home are

Young people benefit from meaningful relationships with staff which enable them to engage with the care provided. As a result they make good progress and enjoy the stability from living in long term placements. Young people said they, ‘really enjoy’ living at the home.

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people living in the home are

Young people live in a home that provides them with a generally good standard of accommodation and facilities. The home offers an appropriate amount of space with young people able to decorate their rooms with posters and personal belongings. One new young person was especially proud to show off the furnishings in their room which were of their favourite film character. The home appeared well maintained internally. However a garden wall at the rear of the house was in need of repair and had missing or loose bricks; this had not been reported to the maintenance team. The Registered Manager said the damage was caused when clearing some vegetation with a young person as part of a gardening project.

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people living in the home are

Equality and diversity is suitably promoted with an emphasis on learning about various culture and faiths. This includes staff cooking meals from different parts of the world and using the occasions to celebrate the culture of the country in question.

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people living in the home are

Young people have a clear voice in a home. Regular meetings take place to gain the views of young people. Their requests are taken seriously and inform the running of the home. For instance in helping to choose the weekly menu. The atmosphere is open and young people were confident to express their views and opinions in the presence of staff and managers.

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people living in the home are

Care planning takes a full account of the needs of young people and how these will be met by staff. Admission procedures include an appropriate consideration of the complexities of each young person and the dynamics of the current young person group. This enables a clear emphasis on matching prospective new young people with the needs of the whole living group. This is particularly important given the specialist intervention and therapy now offered to young people with problematic sexualised behaviours.

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people living in the home are

Programmes of care take account of the holistic needs of young people and involve them, and those important to them, in their development. Each young person's identity is valued and any specific needs, whether cultural or religious are known and met to a good standard. The plans utilise the model of care adopted by the home, which focuses on meeting emotional well-being, as a foundation to providing care and intervention. Care plans provide staff with clear guidance as to how to meet the needs of young people.

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people living in the home are

A comprehensive assessment process is in place to review the needs of young people against their initial care plan. Such reviews allow for a detailed review which considers all aspects of individual need. These consultations take place regularly and include the involvement of the whole staff team and psychologists from the organisation. This enables all contributors of the care plan to review its effectiveness and subsequent progress.

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people living in the home are

Young people receive good health care with particular emphasis on meeting their emotional and psychological well-being. Specialist therapeutic interventions and support are readily available through the organisation. Young people are helped to attend routine medical appointments and to lead a healthy lifestyle. This includes staff using their enthusiasm to take them swimming and to the gym.

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people living in the home are

Young people enjoy nutritious meals and a healthy diet is promoted. The home caters for individual dietary needs and preferences. Young people say the ‘food is good’. Weekly meetings take place with young people to plan forthcoming menus and consider different meal options.

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people living in the home are

Education is valued and promoted in the home. There is an established culture that young people attend and engage in their learning. Where necessary appropriate challenges are made to local authorities to ensure education plans are forthcoming. Education is established in the routines of the day. This is especially important given the starting point of many young people when they move in; for some their progress in education has been extremely good. These young people have been supported to sit exams and gain qualifications when previously they had not attended school for long periods of time.

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people living in the home are

Young people are provided with good support to enjoy activities and pursuits. The routines of the home are set to provide structure, but at the same time are flexible and responsive to each young person's individual needs. Young people can choose to participate in sport such as swimming. They are also encouraged to join local clubs and participate in their community. For instance by regularly attending football and youth clubs.

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people living in the home are

Contact with families, friends and those people important to young people are promoted within the confines of placement agreements. Young people have easy access to phones with most having their own. Staff are very supportive of such arrangements with social workers commenting positively about the manner in which visits are facilitated and the caring nature of staff.

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people living in the home are

Young people are given good support and guidance as part of their transition away from the home. Care planning takes account of the longer term needs of young people and in particular pathway plans. The home are proactive at challenging placing authorities who do not have such plans in place with a clear focus on the need to equip young people for their lives once they leave the home. Recent months has seen a majority of the established young person group move on. These young people received considerable support to cope with the stresses that change brings. This included visiting potential placements with them and putting in place programmes of ‘outreach’ support with key staff continuing to visit young people in their new homes once they had left. Such an approach assists in alleviating anxieties and enhances the chances of successful transitions. Young people who have left are continuing to progress well, for example by attending

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people living in the home are

military preparation college and gaining employment.

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people are helped and protected

Young people say they ‘feel safe’ living at the home. Positive relationships between staff and young people are developed that enable them to feel safe enough to discuss their fears and concerns. This has helped young people to come to terms to with their emotions and reduce their challenging behaviours.

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people are helped and protected

Good links with the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) ensure that all child protection policies and procedures are consistent and agreed. The manager maintains appropriate links with the LSCB and the Local Authority Designated Officer. No child protection concerns have arisen since the last inspection.

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people are helped and protected

A suitable ‘Missing Child Policy’, developed in conjunction with locally agreed protocols, appropriately safeguards young people. Individual risk assessments allow young people to successfully engage in activities in the community. This allows them to develop self-protection strategies as well as social and life skills.

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people are helped and protected

A clear behaviour management policy encourages young people to improve their behaviour. Young people who had been subject to criminal orders when they arrived have been assisted to successfully complete them. In some instances they have been able to stop offending and have maintained this for the first time in several years.

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people are helped and protected

Young people with problematic sexualised behaviours are subject to specialist input and intervention which meets their needs. Therapists from the organisation complete initial assessment prior to such young people being admitted. This enables the therapy team and Registered Manager to consider the appropriateness of the placement and indeed the young person’s level of commitment to address their issues. Intervention programmes are provided in a highly professional way with experts in the field overseeing the therapy programme with clinical scrutiny and oversight. Care staff receive initial training with further training planned as they develop their skill base and experience. Young people attend weekly therapy sessions with their keyworkers in attendance so as to ensure a joined up approach. Therapists attend team meetings and closely monitor the impact and effectiveness of strategies. This specific area of care and intervention is new to this home but is

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people are helped and protected

provided through the organisation who have considerable expertise and experience.

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people are helped and protected

Young people benefit from inclusion in an incentive system which allows them to gain appropriate rewards. For example each young person has a set of individualised aims and objectives to attain every day. These include reducing swearing, sticking to supervision agreements and keeping their rooms tidy. Young people take pride in their achievements and all levels are attainable. Young people say the rules are, ’very fair’ with staff being observed to enforce appropriate boundaries. The continual focus on positive reinforcement significantly reduces the need to use sanctions.

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people are helped and protected

Young people’s good relationships with staff mean that physical interventions are rare. Just one incident has occurred since the last inspection and indeed since November 2014. Individual risk assessments, known to all staff, provide further safeguards to young people detailing the forms of restraint that can be utilised. Staff are suitably trained with records of incidents being suitably scrutinised by managers.

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people are helped and protected

The management and staff team are well aware of the potential for bullying behaviours and work proactively to prevent any such behaviour. Young people use opportunities provided for them in their regular meetings to address any issues. No young person raised concerns that bullying was a problem. The high levels of staff supervision further reduces the risk of incidents occurring unnoticed.

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people are helped and protected

Two new staff members have been appointed since the last inspection. Appropriate recruitment procedures were effectively followed. This helps prevent young people being cared for by people who may pose a risk to them.

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leaders and managers

The homes statement of purpose is not accurate. Although it covers most areas of care it does not stipulate the option of providing specific intervention packages to young people with problematic sexualised behaviours. The document also contains the name of the previous responsible individual.

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leaders and managers

As noted some areas of the home are in need of repair. These issues had not been reported to the maintenance team. Despite not posing a significant risk of harm to young people this shortfall meant this area of the home looks neglected.

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leaders and managers

The home is generally well managed in the interests of young people. The Registered Manager shows a commitment to meeting the needs of young people. She has a good level of experience and is currently working towards completing the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare.

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leaders and managers

The two recommendations made at the last inspection have been addressed. Young people are only been admitted once all available information has been thoroughly considered. This includes ensuring the placing authority has submitted relevant documents before any decision is made to accept a young person.

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leaders and managers

Social workers confirmed the home is run in a way that places the individual needs of young people as the paramount concern. This was particular notable in helping young people to move on from the home and into adulthood successfully.

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leaders and managers

The past few months have been a period of change for the home. Several young people who had lived there for many years turned 18 and subsequently made transitions into adult life outside of care. While the moves were successful they marked a significant change for young people and staff alike. Several staff also chose to leave the home during this period with new ones joining. Around the same time the ownership of the home changed hands. As a result the atmosphere, although calm and relaxed, feels one of transition with the home developing a new identity.

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leaders and managers

A suitable complaints process is in place which is followed in practice. Very few complaints have been made with the Registered Manager responding swiftly and appropriately. Young people know how to complain should they wish. The atmosphere is open and young people clearly have a voice in the home.

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leaders and managers

Good levels of inter-agency working are in place to ensure young people are provided with the services they require. For example the Registered Manager has appropriately challenged partner agencies to put in place firm exit strategies and pathway plans at the earliest possible opportunity. Social workers commented positively on the levels and quality of communication between the home and themselves. Such established networks result in joint strategies aimed at assisting young people to settle and progress.

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leaders and managers

Appropriate monitoring processes are in place that routinely assess, review and evaluate the quality of care being provided. The Registered Manager completes regular reviews of care that are objective and reflect the progress of young people. Independent monitoring occurs monthly which provides a useful critique of the home and the quality of care provision.

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leaders and managers

Good numbers of staff are available to care for young people. Some staff have chosen to move on in recent months. New staff have been employed and undertake a suitable induction programme that allows them to shadow more experienced colleagues. Despite such turnover the staff team comprise an appropriate balance of experience and gender. Good levels of routine training are provided with a majority of staff holding a relevant qualification in care; the few that do not are currently working toward obtaining one.

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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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