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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home’s employment practices meet the majority of the regulations required to ensure that suitable checks are carried out on the staff prior to them working with young people. For example, DBS checks, reference checks and full employment history. However, where information which needs further scrutiny has come to light, the registered provider has not evidenced clearly what considerations and actions it has taken to deem a person suitable to work with young people. The registered provider has also not demonstrated what action is taken to monitor the individuals’ practice over a suitable period of time. Therefore, young people have not been fully protected, as the registered provider has not ensured that the young people are cared for by staff who are appropriate and who meet safe recruitment thresholds.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home has a small core staff team. In recent weeks, the staff team has been depleted. What was a stable staff team has been disrupted. As a result, agency staff and staff from other services are currently rostered to work at the home. The manager is working a number of shifts and undertakes regular sleeping-in duties. Due to the short length of time this practice has been in place, it has not yet significantly affected the care provided. However, this could impact negatively on the quality of care of young people and on management oversight if it continues in the long term.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people live in a home where the environment continues to improve. Some rooms have recently been decorated. Bedrooms and the lounges have new furnishings and accessories. However, the carpet in the hallway and lounge are marked, which detracts from the rest of the home’s facilities.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people experience positive transitions into new services or on their return home to live with their families. Staff work closely with professionals and advocate for young people, to ensure that their views and preferences are taken seriously into account throughout this process. This ensures that these transitions are a success and the voices of the young people are heard. Young people make suitable progress. Risk-taking behaviour, including criminal activity and going missing, has reduced. School and college attendance has increased. Young people have effectively completed youth offending appointments and programmes. A youth offending officer said, ‘This is the first time X has completed an order, this is the third one. X has attended every appointment. Staff in this placement have given X really good support and encouragement, and this has been very beneficial to them.’ Staff quickly build positive relationships, and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

complete direct work on specific areas of concern. For example, the risks that young people can put themselves in when going missing. As a result, young people have a good understanding of dangers and the consequences of their behaviour. This keeps them safer. While young people are beginning to make steady progress from their starting point, this progress still needs to be sustained in the long term.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people enjoy the benefits of regular visits to see their family and friends. Staff actively facilitate these visits. For those who live a distance from the home, staff take and pick the young people up by car to ensure that these visits occur and that they return home safely. This maintains important and positive family networks and sustains friendships.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Significant events are reported to all appropriate agencies. Staff are proactive and respond effectively to safeguarding matters, they demonstrate a clear understanding of the procedures to follow, and they implement these in a timely manner. Consequently, the staff’s prompt actions promote and improve young people’s well-being and safety.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Suitable action has been undertaken to implement the requirement made at the last inspection. A completed pathway plan supports the young people’s preparations for independence and their moves to new services.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Professionals say that the manager and staff work closely with them, sharing and informing them. A professional said, ‘The staff communicate well with us, this helps when supporting X, as we are fully aware of events.’ There is positive collaborative working with professionals, which enhances the support that young people receive to make changes and progress in their lives.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager’s monitoring of the service identifies shortfalls and deficiencies in the running of the home. Staff take part in regular formal supervision, shift handovers and staff meetings. They report that the manager is approachable and supportive, and works closely with them and with young people. This ensures that he has a clear view of care practices and the progress that young people are making.

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is operated by a private organisation and provides up to two medium- to long-term placements to young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

10/02/2015 Interim Declined effectiveness

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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 ensure that the employment of any person on a temporary basis at the children's home does not prevent children from receiving such continuity of care as is reasonable to meet their needs (Regulation 31 (1)). In particular, a full staff complement should be deployed, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. 28/05/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children's safety.

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Requirement Due date

The requirements are that – the individual is of integrity and good character; the individual has the appropriate experience, qualifications and skills for the work that the individual is to perform, the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purpose of the work that the individual is to perform; and full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2 (Regulation 32 (1)(3)(a)(b)(d)). In particular, that the provider demonstrates fully that the staff employed are fit to undertake their role. Full details of the rationale used to employ a person, and how additional information that comes to light about a person is used, must be recorded. This must include any further action taken to support and monitor the suitability of the individual to work with young people. 28/05/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Staff should provide a nurturing environment that is welcoming, supportive, and which meets children's basic day-to-day needs and physical necessities. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 15, paragraph 3.7) In particular, that the lounge, hallway and stair carpet are maintained or replaced to a suitable standard.

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the ‘Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection’.

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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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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, work- based 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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