Children's home run by Kent County Council in Maidstone

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good 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

The requirements and recommendations of the last inspection have been effectively met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The Registered Manager is studying for a social work degree. The present acting manager was previously a senior team leader. This situation has led to a change of staffing within the home. These internal changes have not affected the young people. Staff reported ‘there has been a smooth transition from Registered Manager to the current manager, staff have confidence in her’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Clear safeguarding policies are in place; all staff receive comprehensive safeguarding training. Radicalisation and grooming are on the agenda for future training. A safeguarding flow chart has been updated to ensure that staff are clear about procedures. The manager has forged a good relationship with the local authority designated officer.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have a good understanding of e-safety; parents sign contracts agreeing to alert staff to any concerns regarding young people’s mobile telephone use. Staff are considering ways to allow safe Wi-Fi access through links between an iPhone and the home’s iPad. This will allow monitoring of young people’s internet use.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have not been any transitions since the last inspection. Admissions to the home have been well planned and flexible in response to young people’s circumstances. Staff are very warm and welcoming to young people, they settle quickly as a result. Staff liaise closely with social workers and parents to devise a thorough initial care plan, which enables staff to meet young people’s needs. A Social Worker said ‘the admission plan was flexible, staff are creative in ways to engage with parents, who report that the young person’s face lights up when she is going through the door’. A parent said ‘he had a few visits before he stayed the night; it went fine, the staff were very helpful’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff review care plans with parents before each stay to ensure they remain effective. Staff set targets with incremental steps to achieve realistic goals. Young people are able to learn new skills; for example, washing teeth independently or clearing up after meals. Staff reinforce young people’s goals by the use of pictorial charts. They celebrate achievement by displaying photographs of young people with certificates when targets are met; this enables them to reflect on what they have accomplished. This increases their self-esteem.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team focus on young people’s well-being and support them to make progress. For example, staff liaise closely with schools to ensure that they share information about young people to promote their development. Staff offer day care to a young person who is not accessing school. They work closely with teachers in the young people’s best interests.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff consultations and communication with young people are a strength of this service. Young people’s meeting are effective in educating and enabling them to make choices, examples include, keep safe work, activities in the community and choosing who is supporting them. Individualised communication methods, including an iPad application enable those who communicate non-verbally to make their views known. One young person was observed using his picture exchange cards to communicate that he wanted dinner; staff proudly explained that this was a new development.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Inter-agency working is strong. The manager has established close and professional working relationships with the social work teams. One Social Worker reported ‘the manager highlights any concerns, attends reviews and communicates well’. Another said ‘staff offer good multi-agency working, they try to respond to requests for emergency placements, the service is described by one parent as a lifeline’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Activities within the home and the community enhance life experiences. Young people make good use of the service’s facilities, for example, the Jacuzzi, soft play area and sensory room. Initiatives like the ‘pat a dog’ scheme, where young people are familiarised with dogs are effective. Young people engage in activities in the community such as going to the cinema, pantomimes, bowling and visiting local parks.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recruitment arrangements are robust. The vetting procedures ensure that only people who are safe to work with young people are appointed. The induction programme ensures that staff are confident and knowledgeable about the young people prior to working with them. Senior staff have had the necessary induction to prepare them for their new roles and responsibilities.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager is committed to developing the service by learning from external monitoring, internal auditing, and evaluation. Staff report that supervisions are regular; however, staff have not signed supervision logs to evidence this.

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Information about this children's home

This county council service is a purpose built short break unit for six young people with learning and/or physical disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

03/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

A record of supervision should be kept for staff including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33 (4) (b) and the home's supervision policy. (The Guide to the Children's Quality Standards, page 61, paragraph 13.3)

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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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