Children's home run by Plus One South West Ltd

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 improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home continues to provide good quality care and support to young people. The Registered Manager has ensured that the five recommendations made at the previous inspection have been met. This has resulted in improvements including better quality record keeping in respect of young people going missing, partnership working with the placing authorities and the police in the development of agreed protocols for when young people go missing, and promoting a homely environment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person’s placement ended despite the Registered Manager and staff making every effort to encourage the young person to engage and make positive choices in their life. The social worker commented that they were saddened that the placement ended and said ‘staff were a positive role model and were so kind to him’. The Registered Manager and staff worked in collaboration with the young person, their family and social worker to ensure the placement ended positively. The result of this good collaborative working is that the young person was fully supported in the next phase of his life and is currently residing overseas with his parents.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Prior to the young person being admitted to the home the Registered Manager ensured that pre-admission assessments were completed to determine whether her needs could be met. However, documentation was not robust to support this. The Registered Manager acknowledged that although the young person previously lived at the home and was familiar with the house and staff team, this process should have been documented more robustly to demonstrate the new admission process, and their practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The team has developed a comprehensive placement plan that is supported by detailed risk assessments. Staff’s good understanding of this placement plan ensures that the young person’s identified needs are being met and they are safe. Despite encouragement from staff, the young person has declined to sign their placement plan to demonstrate their involvement and agreement of this document. The young person’s social worker said ‘she has a good relationship with the staff and they want what’s best for her’. The social worker commented that she does not have any concerns about the quality of care and support provided by the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff ensure that young people receive regular key worker sessions and use this platform to seek their views and opinions. However, staff have not explored other avenues to further empower young people to express their views and opinions, when they choose not to use the opportunities currently available.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staffs care of young people effectively promotes their safety. There has not been any safeguarding concerns since the last inspection. Episodes of young people going missing is minimal, and if young people do go missing staff take appropriate action to protect them and ensure their prompt return. An improvement since the previous inspection is how the staff team records the action they take when young people go missing. Following discussions with staff team the Registered Manager has devised a system to promote concise and clear recording of episodes of missing. He then countersigns the document and evaluates how well the service has responded to the event.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are good relationships between staff and young people. Behaviours are managed extremely well. As a result of this there has not been any use of restraint, or sanctions since the previous inspection. In addition, there has been no complaints, accidents or injuries. One serious incident has been notified to Ofsted. The service took appropriate action at the time of this serious incident. All staff have received safeguarding training and training in child sexual exploitation.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is a robust approach to recruitment and selection and the home is safe and well maintained. These measures demonstrate that young people are protected.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is good monitoring and evaluation of the service. The Registered Manager ensures that there is regular independent external monitoring and the outcome of these visits are sent to Ofsted in a timely manner. Through comprehensive internal monitoring the Registered Manager has identified areas for further improvement. These include exploring ways to encourage young people to give their views and opinions and improving education provision. In addition, staff work proactively with parents, agencies and professionals to provide good outcomes for young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The Registered Manager has sourced an external course that all staff have attended. This course provided staff with a greater awareness and understanding of matters relating to mental health. In addition, staff have recently undertaken training in Female Genital Mutilation and extremism and radicalisation. Staff said that they have found these recent courses informative and this has raised their understanding and awareness in these areas.

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Information about this children's home

This privately run children’s home is registered to provide accommodation for up to three young people of either gender, who may have emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

11/03/2015 CH - 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):  Ensure children are consulted regularly on their views about the home's care, to inform and support contained improvement in the quality of care provided. Due consideration should be given to the child's cognitive ability in the development and implementation of any consultation processes. Children should be able to see the results of their views being listened to and acted upon. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 22 paragraph 4.11)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the registered person only accepts placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child's assessed needs as recorded in the child's relevant plans. In particular, fully recording the pre-admission assessment to demonstrate a robust process. (The Guide to the Quality standards, page 56 paragraph 11.4)

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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

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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