Children's home run by The Governing Body of Woodlands School in Plymouth

The children's home provision is inadequate because:

 Leaders and managers have not remedied shortfalls identified in previous inspections. This has resulted in poor and, at times, unsafe practice continuing.  Not all children and young people are safe. The registered manager and staff have failed to understand risks for some of the young people. Practice has continued that places them at risk.  Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that the staff are provided with sufficient information to meet the needs of the children and young people or keep them safe.  Leaders and managers have allowed a culture of poor practice to go unchecked. Where concerns are apparent, the registered manager creates documents or memos rather than supporting staff directly to understand what needs to improve to ensure better outcomes for children and young people.

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The children's home strengths

Children and young people benefit from the facilities available to them. They enjoy an accessible swimming pool and trampoline and state of the art sensory rooms. They are able to take part in activities that, for some young people, would otherwise be impossible to. Children and young people are supported by staff to improve their social skills and spend time with other young people. They have made positive relationships with others and look forward to their time together during their short break visits. The majority of the time children and young people are cared for by permanent staff who know them very well. Some staff have worked with them for many years. This continuity helps children and young people to build trusting relationships with staff.

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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

In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person must ensure that

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Requirement Due date

(2)(b) the home's day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm 22/02/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person must ensure that staff

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; (2)(a)(ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe; (2)(a)(iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm 22/02/2016

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person must inspire and lead a culture in relation to the children's home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to (2) (a) lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home's statement of purpose; 22/02/2016 (2)(b) ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; (2)(c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; (2)(e) ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child; (2)(f) understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; (2)(g)(i) demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met;

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Requirement Due date

(2)(g)(ii) and feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; (2)(h) and use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard the registered person must (1)(a) ensure that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home; (2)(c) and that each child's relevant plans are followed 22/02/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children's home (Regulation 23 (1)) 22/02/2016

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Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must— ensure, by means of fire drills and practise's at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire, in particular the registered person must ensure that they can evidence that all children, young people and staff have been involved in this process. In addition fire drills should not be manufactured in a way that allows preparation and planning by all involved (Regulation 25 (1)(d)) 22/02/2016 34: Policies for the protection of children

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which—(a) is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children's home from abuse or neglect and ensure that the home's day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm (Regulation 34 (1)(a)(b)) 22/02/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which (b) are kept up to date (Regulation 36 (1)(b)) 22/02/2016

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Requirement Due date

44: Independent person: visits and reports

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children's home at least once each month. (2) When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person— (a) if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and (b)to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home's records (except for a child's case records, unless the child and the child's placing authority consent) as the independent person requires. (3) A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced. (4) The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person's report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person's opinion as to whether— (a) children are effectively safeguarded; and (b) the conduct of the home promotes children's well-being. (5) The

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Requirement Due date

independent person's report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (2) (a)(b) (3) (4) (a)(b) (5)) 22/02/2016

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Information about this children's home

The home is currently registered as a short breaks service for up to 8 children at a time. The home is run by a governing body. The home may provide care and accommodation for children with sensory impairment, learning disabilities and physical disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

02/02/2015 CH - Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Inadequate

Weak leadership and management have resulted in children and young people not being adequately protected at all times.

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Inadequate

Not all children and young people are provided with a comfortable, safe and nurturing environment. Not all bedrooms are individualised or prepared with familiar items for children and young people’s arrival. The fixtures and layout of the home are more representative of a hospital ward, resulting in a clinical rather than homely setting.

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Inadequate

Care plans for children and young people do not identify all of their needs; key pieces of information about how staff are to keep them safe are missing. Not all staff know what is expected of them when responding to the needs of children and young people. Staff rely on how well they know each of the young people rather than implementing planned care for them.

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Inadequate

The manager fails to ensure that agency and bank staff are provided with key information to ensure that the children and young people’s individual needs are met. This results in inconsistent care for the young people.

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Inadequate

Children and young people enjoy positive relationships with the permanent staff. Some staff have worked with the young people for many years and responses to their needs are natural, nurturing and supportive. However, the lack of information staff are provided with about children and young people acts as a barrier in ensuring consistently good care.

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Inadequate

Good communication between professionals working with children and young people supports a smooth and safe transition of care between school and this some. Children and young people also benefit from the nursing staff working alongside the residential care staff. Children receive better care as a result of these arrangements.

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Inadequate

Children and young people attend school regularly and benefit greatly from doing so. They are making good progress. Relationships between education staff and the staff at the home are excellent. This supports children and young people to feel secure when they are away from their families.

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Inadequate

Staff support children and young people to develop skills and confidence. Some enjoy taking part in activities that would not otherwise be available to them. They have access to outstanding accessible facilities allowing them to participate in sporting activities that would otherwise be impossible. Small, attainable targets are set for each of the young people and staff support them in achieving these outcomes.

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Inadequate

Staff successfully support young people’s development into adulthood. Effective planning is in place to ensure that moving on is arranged in a way that can meet their needs both emotionally and physically.

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Inadequate

Parents report that the home provides them with a service that would otherwise not be available to them. One parent described the home as a ‘life line’ for her and her family. They reported that, ‘Staff are always there for you, they are supportive and really understand what it is like’. As a result of the supportive approach to care, relationships with parents and carers are good.

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Inadequate

Not all children and young people are safe. Staff are not provided with clear direction or appropriate information so that they can keep children and young people safe. Risks for young people are not reflected appropriately in the working documents used by staff. This results in staff not understanding risks for children and young people or managing them appropriately.

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Inadequate

Safeguarding concerns at the home have not always been recognised by the registered manager or by the staff. Concerning behaviours from one young person have resulted in prolonged physical and emotional harm to others. The registered manager has failed to put in place strategies to reduce the risk of harm.

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Inadequate

There have been a number of incidents that have raised concerns about safeguarding children and poor staff practice in the home. The severity of these concerns have not been recognised by the registered manager. These incidents have not been investigated robustly. Consequently, poor practice has not been dealt with and young people are not adequately safeguarded.

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Inadequate

Staff fail to effectively document, assess and review marks or injuries that they observe on children and young people. This failure means that patterns and trends are not monitored and concerning marks have not been managed in line with locally agreed safeguarding policies.

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Inadequate

There have been two medical errors in the home since the previous inspection. While these did not have a negative impact on children and young people, the registered manager failed to tackle the shortfalls thoroughly.

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Inadequate

The registered manager does not effectively lead the staff team and manage the home to ensure all children and young people are kept safe. Leaders and managers have not rectified all of the weaknesses identified at the previous inspection. As a result, the quality of care has not improved.

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Inadequate

Effective investigative steps are not taken when the registered manager is alerted to staff members’ poor working practice. Concerning behaviours are often dealt with by an email or memo to staff, limiting the opportunity to have reflective discussions about how to make improvements. As a result, staff are confused about the expectations of them, and the care they provide to children and young people is of an inconsistent quality.

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Inadequate

The registered manager has allowed a culture of power and control to develop in the home that is based upon the employment status of staff. Key information in respect of children and young people is not being shared with the staff directly working with them. This impacts negatively on the care that staff team provides and results in some staff feeling oppressed and frustrated.

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Inadequate

Leaders and managers have not implemented sufficient emergency evacuation arrangements, despite this being a requirement at the previous inspection. There have been no unplanned fire drills in the home. There is no evidence to show that all children and young people have taken part in fire drills. Not all children and young people’s evacuation plans are fit for purpose; plans do not provide clear direction for safe handling and evacuation of individual children and young people. This means that agency and bank staff who do not know the children and young people well would not be provided with clear and directive information to refer to should there be an emergency.

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Inadequate

Leaders and managers do not ensure that staff are supported and challenged. Supervision is neither effective nor reflective. The poor attendance of staff at team meetings is accepted and not dealt with. Not all individual development plans for staff identify their learning needs. As a result, staff are not given time to consider their practice and how they might do things better. Staff have no forum to challenge the structures they work within.

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Inadequate

Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that visits by the independent person are effective and completed in line with the Children’s Home Regulations 2015. This weakness has been a consistent theme over the previous three inspections. No robust, independent assessment or reporting of the service has been carried out. As a result, leaders and managers have had no independent information to reflect upon to improve the quality of care they provide.

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Inadequate

The registered manager fails to ensure that incidents are recorded appropriately and that all staff are appraised of these situations of concern. When new concerns are identified, the registered manager fails to ensure that these concerns are recorded in the documentation staff use to understand children and young people’s needs.

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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

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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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