Children's home run by Medway Council in Medway

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people make progress within a responsive and nurturing environment where they develop an understanding that staff care and are concerned for their welfare.   Extremely positive relationships are at the heart of all practice within the home. The responsiveness, warmth and good humour of staff enable young people to develop a sense of safety, protection and trust in the adults who care for them.   Led by a passionate and committed registered manager, the energetic staff team works cohesively to provide young people with consistent care specific to their individual needs.   Staff work tirelessly to protect young people, especially where there is a high risk that young people may be involved in sexual exploitation. Young people’s well-being is at the heart of all practice.   Young people are relaxed, lively and confident living at the home, and enjoy their experience.   Not all risk assessments provide sufficient clarity and detail to guide staff in

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The children's home provision is good because:

supporting young people to reduce the potential of harm. Not all staff have undertaken training in radicalisation and substance misuse. Young people would benefit from staff having a deeper understanding of attachment theory and practice, and the effects of trauma, abuse and neglect.  

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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

12: The protection of children standard:

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure that staff:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child 31/05/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendations:

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Recommendations

 Ensure that systems are in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 61 paragraph 13.2)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to recognise and be alert for any signs that might indicate a child is in any way at risk of harm, specifically in relation to all staff having training in radicalisation and substance misuse (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 43 paragraph 9.12)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff are prepared and able to listen to children who want to talk about their past experiences, particularly in relation to understanding attachment theory and practice and the effects of trauma, neglect and abuse on children (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 15 paragraph 3.11)

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is operated by the local authority. It provides residential care for up to eight young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

21/08/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

19/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Good

Led by a registered manager who is totally committed to providing high-quality care, the staff team works cohesively and with energy so that young people experience a vibrant, responsive and nurturing environment. Young people are lively, friendly and confident in expressing their views. Staff are quick to respond to their specific needs and young people develop an understanding that staff care, are interested in their opinions, and are concerned for their welfare.

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Good

Weekly young people’s meetings are a regular forum for them to express their views, and to make suggestions and requests relating to the running of the home. The registered manager responds to their comments in writing following each meeting, demonstrating that their opinions are important and are taken seriously. Young people are aware of the complaints procedure. They use the process rarely, yet the registered manager ensures that he considers and investigates any complaint fully, with formal outcome letters to young people to conclude the matter. Consequently, young people develop self-confidence, self-esteem and a trust in the adults who care for them.

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Good

The current group of residents are relatively new to the home, but they are settling and making progress. Effective liaison with the virtual school results in young people having educational placements which promote positive outcomes. Young people who had very poor attendance prior to moving to the home now have much improved educational engagement.

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Good

Staff monitor young people’s well-being closely, ensuring that they receive appropriate health services. Staff’s support in ensuring that they improve their diets, eat healthy, well-balanced meals and have opportunities for exercise is having a positive impact on their physical health and fitness. A close link with the looked after children’s nurse benefits young people as staff access support and guidance to promote good health. Staff refer young people appropriately to the child and adolescent mental health service for support in relation to their emotional and psychological needs.

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Good

Young people engage in a wide range of activities, according to their particular interests. They have opportunities to participate in new experiences and pursuits so they develop confidence, social skills and a sense of identity.

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Good

The home has been refurbished and provides young people with a bright, modern, homely environment, furnished to a high standard. This ongoing programme includes plans to revamp the kitchen to create a less institutional feel. Young people appreciate their spacious bedrooms and they personalise their room according to their own taste.

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Good

Staff support young people to acquire independence and daily living skills as they mature, in preparation for adult life. Benefiting from planned and structured programmes, they develop practical skills and experience, taking more responsibility for themselves. Their transitions from the home are well planned and they are welcomed warmly when they return to visit.

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Good

Extremely positive relationships between staff and young people are at the heart of all practice in the home. Young people are relaxed, knowing they can approach staff with any concerns or queries. The responsiveness, warmth and good humour of staff enable them to develop a sense of safety, protection and trust in the adults who care for them.

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Good

Detailed and comprehensive care plans guide staff to provide targeted support, demonstrating that staff identify the specific needs of each young person. Key working provides focused support linked to their individual needs. Although risk assessments are current, with risk reduction plans directing staff to reduce the potential of harm, some do not provide sufficient detail and clarity for staff to reduce risk in the short and long term. For example, where the identified risk is that a young person is unaware of danger, the strategy is ‘to be supervised at all times’. This does not guide staff to educate the young person to develop an awareness of their own safety.

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Good

Trusting relationships reduce the necessity for physical intervention when young people become distressed. They are confident that staff listen, respect their views and respond to their needs, which enables them to accept the support staff offer. Personalised behaviour support plans recognise triggers, identify diversion and de- escalation techniques, which results in successful management of potentially challenging situations. Incidents involving physical intervention are infrequent. Staff undertake training to provide such support safely, and all incidents are well recorded and closely monitored by the registered manager. Young people and staff receive thorough de-briefs with relevant information used constructively to amend risk assessments and support strategies.

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Good

Staff respond effectively when young people leave the home without permission. In high-risk situations, when young people are in danger of sexual exploitation, staff implement strategies courageously, such as challenging visitors in the vicinity of the home, noting car number plates and passing valuable information to the police. They work tirelessly to protect young people. Return interviews take place in line with protocols.

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Good

Appropriate consultations and referrals are made to external safeguarding agencies. Most staff have received comprehensive training in safeguarding matters, although not all staff have undertaken training on radicalisation or substance misuse.

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Good

Robust recruitment processes are in place to safeguard young people from having unsuitable adults working with them. All checks on prospective employees are undertaken before they commence working at the home.

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Good

Health and safety checks are up to date, and measures are in place to protect young people and staff from the risk of harm. Appropriate fire safety measures are routinely applied, including fire drills during the night, allowing staff to identify issues specific to evacuating the house quickly when young people are in bed.

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Outstanding

The manager has been in post since February 2013 and is registered with Ofsted. He is suitably qualified and experienced for the role. He is supported by an experienced deputy manager and together they provide clear, effective leadership and management of a team of staff who are committed to providing high-quality care to promote positive outcomes for young people. Managers are visible and accessible to young people, who seek them out on their return from school to report on their day, and to receive a warm and genuine welcome. Staff replicate this responsiveness providing young people with a caring, consistent, stable environment where they can develop and fulfil their potential.

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Outstanding

Monitoring of the home has improved, and is now more evaluative and robust. Internal six-monthly reports demonstrate that the registered manager has clear oversight of patterns, trends and areas for development. A sharper focus on assessing the compatibility of potential new admissions with the existing group of young people is resulting in increasingly positive outcomes for young people. Monthly independent visitor reports highlight any shortfalls and contribute to action for ongoing improvement.

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Outstanding

Managers know the young people very well, recognise their individual needs, and provide staff with appropriate guidance and support to promote their development. Day-to-day support is supplemented by regular staff supervision on a monthly basis, with new staff having supervision every two weeks during their probation period. Currently, the registered manager and deputy manager supervise all staff, but team leaders have now undertaken supervision training and will shortly commence supervision of staff. Records demonstrate a focus on managing young people, but there is little evidence of developing a reflective approach to staff practice and a consideration of staff’s professional development.

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Outstanding

Staff undertake a range of training, enabling them confidently and competently to meet young people’s needs. The registered manager has identified that staff require further professional development to advance their understanding of young people with autistic spectrum disorder. Staff are currently undertaking a comprehensive training course to ensure that they have the knowledge to meet young people’s needs relating to autism effectively. Not all staff have received training against radicalisation and substance misuse, which could inhibit their ability to recognise potential safeguarding issues. Neither have they received training to increase their understanding of attachment theory and practice, which would further develop their nurturing and therapeutic parenting approach and benefit young people.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against ‘Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection’.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people, and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed, or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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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 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

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and ‘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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