Children's home run by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust in Dartford

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

Young people continue to thrive and gain much from their stay in the home. The staff team display excellent knowledge of the exceptionally high levels of multiple complex medical needs young people have; Needs that require 24 hour continuing care and supervision.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

An enthusiastic and committed staff team have warm and nurturing relationships with the young people. This makes them feel secure and safe. During the inspection, a member of staff sang to a young person to reassure her and calm feelings of anxiety. Parents comment on the trust they have in the staff team. They felt staff provide safe care, which gives the medical needs of their children the highest priority.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

While the health and social needs of young people remain the focus for staff, moral in the staff team is low. Staff say they would like to be able to have a voice and contribute more to improvements in areas of practice and service delivery. While this is not currently affecting the care of young people, should leaders and managers not address these concerns, they are likely to contribute to a decline in the service.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is now greater focus on progress for young people, the achieving of new skills and enjoying new experiences. For young people who have limited communication skills, targets are agreed between parents and the staff team. For other young people their preferred communication method is used to set individual goals. For example baking cakes, participating in a community activity or just enjoying time away from the family home. This results in young people achieving individual goals in a fun, developmental and rewarding way.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff make good efforts to ensure young people’s views and opinions of the home is understood. However record keeping lacks details of how young people’s views and opinions have been taken into account to shape changes in the service. For example, young people have commented on the lack of age appropriate activities and a wish to have child height mirrors in bathrooms. While it was good to see their views being sought, there was limited evidence of how this was responded to.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Training and care planning for staff focuses on acquiring skills, knowledge and understanding of the continually changing complex health need of young people. Staff also receive training on safeguarding and recognise the particular vulnerability to abuse of those with learning and health disabilities. Recent internal training has enabled better understanding the impact disability may have on young people’s behavioural patterns. A staff member commented, ‘Training is one of the strengths of the home, we have good access to a range of helpful training.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people live in a small purpose built premises that are clean and tidy. Staff endeavour to create a home from home feeling. For instance rooms are personalised prior to young people arriving and reflects their personalities.

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Information about this children's home

A national health service foundation trust runs this home. It provides short breaks for up to four young people with learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities. The home provides nursing care; it is registered with the Care Quality Commission . Young people usually stay from Monday to Thursday morning or during weekends. The home does not offer overnight stays on Thursdays.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

10/03/2015 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

7: The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the children’s views, wishes and feelings standard, the registered person must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(iii) that staff help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feeling have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child . 25/05/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation: Ensure those with a leadership and and/or management role should be visible and accessible to staff. This is with particular regard to:- Adjusting the leadership style so that it is more effective at promoting the staff team morale and giving them a feeling of being listened to. Review the leadership role in effectively consulting with the staff team and promoting a high staff morale. Improve the effectiveness of the management consultation with the staff team and the team morale. Provide opportunities for the staff to share their views and feel more listened to. (The Guide to the Quality Standards Page 52 paragraph 10.7)

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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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