Children's home run by Sherico Care Services Limited in Westminster

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people continue to make fair progress as a result of their placement at the home. For example, all young people are engaged in educational activities. This promotes their learning outcomes. Most however, continue not to have any interest and do not take responsibility for their own health care. They feel it is their choice and decision not to do so. Staff respect this decision-making for older young people and continue to encourage their engagement with relevant health services.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff do not consistently convene placement-planning meetings. This is important to ensure that placement objectives are established and agreed. Placement plans contain adequate detail; staff base these on comprehensive information received from the placing authority.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have the opportunity to visit the home when placements are planned. This helps settle young people into their new environment and gain an understanding about services provided. Each young person has a key worker, to co-ordinate and manage their care. Young people’s relationships with the staff team is positive. One young person comments, ‘I like the staff here, I can talk to them. They seem to come from the local area, so they’re safe.’ Equally, staff enjoy working with the young people. A staff member told the inspector, ‘I used to care for adults, but I really enjoy working with children. It’s my passion. I like talking with them, helping them, listening to them. They listen to me.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have access to leisure activities of their choosing, such as trips to the cinema, paint balling and go karting. Young people largely prefer to meet with their friends independent of planned activities. Some young people are developing practical independent living skills such as shopping, meal preparation and budgeting. Most are making good progress in preparation for adulthood. Young people have access to their family members and friends when they wish. Since the last inspection, the manager has left the service. Currently there is no permanent manager in place and an interim acting manager is providing management cover. In line with the regulations, the service is required to appoint a manager. The management of the service is adequate. Staff receive good support and supervision. Staff training opportunities requires some attention. For example, the last inspection highlighted the need for all staff to receive training in

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

self-harm and physical intervention. To date, staff are yet to receive this training. This requirement is repeated at this inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home’s monitoring systems, particularly in relation to the quality of staff records are not effective. The quality of staff documentation is an issue regularly highlighted in regulation 44 monitoring reports and was a cause for concern at the last inspection. Key staff records are insufficiently detailed or are incomplete. This is the case for behavioural management plans, risk assessments, return to care forms and the recording of incidents. Staff do not consistently evidence consequences imposed to address poor or challenging behaviour. Staff’s basic recording of some behaviour management plans compounds this situation. This is not in the best interest of young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been no restraints, accidents or incidents of a child protection nature. Young people say they feel safe at the home. Managers within the organisation now have initiated communication with the host local authority Local Authority Designated Officer. This was not the case at the last inspection and was a cause for some concern. Young people are familiar with the home’s complaints procedures. Since the last inspection, staff have supported a young person to make a complaint directly to Ofsted. Staff managed the complaint appropriately and in accordance with complaint policies and procedures.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are occasionally absent from the home without permission. Staff are familiar with relevant procedures and adhere to them. This in an effort to promote young people’s safety while they are away from the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home’s premises is adequately maintained, comfortable and decorated. In some places, carpet edges on the stairs are fraying and exposed. This poses some risk to individuals using the stairs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This inspection finds that the service continues to provide an adequate level of care and young people make fair progress. The service does not have a permanent manager in place and this hampers the effectiveness of the home’s monitoring systems. Staff training and poor staff documentation are also identified as areas of concern. These shortfalls impact negatively on the home’s efforts to improve the quality of its services.

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is privately owned. It provides care and accommodation for a maximum of six young people of either gender. The home caters for young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties and/or learning difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

07/01/2015 Interim sustained 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

13 The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered provider must ensure that all employees;

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Requirement Due date

33(4)(a)) undertake appropriate continuing professional development. In particular, that all staff receive training in self- harm and physical intervention. 01/06/2016

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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 provider must ensure that staff;

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Requirement Due date

36(1)(b)) maintain case records for each child which are kept up to date. In particular, to ensure that that records for return to care interviews, incidents, risk assessments and behavioural management plans are promptly recorded on file. 01/06/2016

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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 provider must;

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Requirement Due date

27(1) appoint a person to manage the children's home. 01/06/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered provider must;

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Requirement Due date

12(2)(d) ensure that the premises used for the purpose of the home are maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child's health. In particular, that carpet edges on the stairs are covered. 01/06/2016 14 The care planning standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care standard, the registered provider must;

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Requirement Due date

14(1)(a) ensure children receive effectively planed care. In particular that placement planning meetings are consistently convened. 01/06/2016

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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, 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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