Setting SC443081

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the full inspection in January 2016. 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 management arrangements for this home remain inadequate. The registered manager’s responsibility for two homes continues to impede his availability to provide effective oversight of the day-to-day running of this home. The registered manager has been unable to prioritise some of his management responsibilities as a result of covering shifts. The registered manager’s monitoring of records and practice in the home continues to lack critical analysis. The records staff write about young people omit essential information; they do not adequately reflect what has occurred that day and the actions taken by staff. At the quality monitoring visits in February and March 2016, the independent visitor also identified these weaknesses. This weakness was raised as a requirement at the previous inspection and has not been met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff’s management of one young person’s behaviour is poor. The impact one young person’s behaviour is having on another is detrimental. Staff report that one young person spends a significant amount of time in her room to avoid the negative behaviours of her co-resident. The registered manager confirmed that bullying continues to be an issue. These concerns were evident at the full inspection and have not been remedied.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The care team are not provided with sufficient direction, guidance and support to manage the anti-social behaviour displayed by one young person. Staff say that on a daily basis they are spat at and verbally and physically abused. Staff say, ‘This is normal behaviour for the young person’. Strategies to promote positive behaviour (targets, incentives and sanctions) do not encourage the young person to make different choices, reflect upon and take responsibility for her behaviours.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The reports of the incidents of anti-social behaviours are not adequately described in the young person’s records. At times staff’s written description of the behaviour is too vague, referring to the young person as ‘being silly’. There is insufficient evidence to confirm that the current shift system is effective. Currently staff are required to work 48 hour shifts, and on occasions this has increased to 72 hours consecutively to cover sickness or annual leave. As a result, some staff report being exhausted and this is exacerbated when supporting a young person that displays challenging behaviour. They say they feel frustrated by the behaviours of one young person and the negative impact this has on the other young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Not all staff have received training in attachment and self-harm. This lack of training restricts their ability to understand, respond to and meet the needs of the young people they look after. In addition, staff are not always provided with an opportunity to discuss their work after restraining a young person. As a result, opportunities for staff to reflect on and develop their skills, are restricted.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people maintain regular contact with their family. One young person enjoys and benefits from having a parent stay at the home for occasional weekend visits. Staff report that these visits are positive, that relationships are developing and becoming more respectful.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A young person who has shared living arrangements is spending less time at the children’s home. Staff members expressed concerns with this arrangement believing it has contributed to the increase in the young person’s negative behaviour. Despite holding this view, the registered manager and staff team have not been successful in challenging the placing authority about the continuation of this arrangement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The school attendance and attainment for one young person is good. Engagement for the second young person has become increasingly problematic. The staff team has worked closely with school to deal with these concerns. As a result, they have supported the young person at school to assist the teaching staff in managing the young person’s behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the previous inspection the registered manager was required to review the management of medication. The young people’s medication is now stored, dispensed and recorded in accordance with the home’s medication policy. In addition, the registered manager was required to improve the recording of complaints to include a description of the action taken and the outcome. Since the previous inspection, one young person has raised two formal complaints. Records show that the head of care has met with the young person to discuss her concerns and has written to her to explain the action he has taken.

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for two children who may 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

28/01/2016 CH - Full Requires improvement

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Recent inspection history

04/03/2015 CH - Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

04/02/2014 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

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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-

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Requirement Due date

(2)(b) 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 29/04/2016

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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, with particular reference to effective management monitoring and oversight, including making a prompt response to inspection findings. The registered person must-

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Requirement Due date

(2)(c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. In addition, ensure that when staff lone work with young people there is a rigorous risk assessment undertaken that determines the suitability of this arrangement (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 the care provided in the home (2)(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 29/04/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure that all incidents of restraint are recorded and reviewed by the registered person and that they respond promptly where any issues of concern emerge. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 49, paragraph 9.59)  Ensure all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair and the principle's as set out in 9.5 are respected. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 46, paragraph 9.36)  Ensure that all staff are familiar with the home's policy on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the

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Recommendations

child. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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

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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