Children's home run by Worcestershire County Council in Worcester

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

Two requirements were made after the last inspection. At the time of this inspection one requirement was met. One requirement was still within timescale and the Registered Manager was making good progress towards meeting it.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are often in crisis when they first move into the home. Staff quickly establish positive relationships with them. They introduce age appropriate routines and listen to young people’s experiences and work in line with the local authority’s plan to support them to move forward.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people make good progress from their starting points because the staff are flexible and responsive in meeting individual needs. Young people are given a good range of guidance and advice about their health and well-being. Staff have effective relationships with a range of health services to ensure each young person can access services according to their needs. Education and learning programmes are varied to suit individual abilities and academic or vocational aims. Staff know about each young person’s education plan which helps them provide the right support to each individual. There is a range of activities on offer to young people. Young people make good use of local facilities and attractions as well as accessing home-based resources and leisure activities.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The Registered Manager and staff work effectively in partnership with parents and other professionals. Where necessary the Registered Manager gives robust challenge to ensure young people’s needs are met. Since the full inspection he has continued to chase and challenge delay’s to education placements or reduced timetables. Where responses to these challenges have been prolonged he has continued to fund educational placements and escalated concerns.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are effectively helped to move in and out of the home. They are supported on their arrival or well prepared for their departure. This helps to reduce the emotional and social impact of changing placements. For example, one young person has successfully moved out into supported living. The staff team helped him familiarise himself with his new flat and routines. The Registered Manager initially kept his bed at the home available to him while he settled in.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have good insight into the challenges of managing dynamics between young people in group living. When a new young person moving in or an existing young person being unsettled causes concerns the Registered Manager will call risk management meetings. Strategies and appropriateness of placement are discussed. Where necessary any more new young people moving into the home will be stopped so good focus can be given to the young people already living there.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The Registered Manager and staff continue to have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities to remain vigilant about safeguarding young people. This involves maintaining strong and productive links with the local police, social workers, schools and safeguarding team. This well-established and productive network means young people receive good levels of support to reflect their vulnerabilities. Young people feel safe because of staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Physical restraint is a rare occurrence. Staff are trained in behaviour management approaches which ensures that they are equipped to support young people who may be in crisis. The team’s key focus is to help young people find more constructive ways of dealing with their difficulties rather than staff having to physically intervene.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The Registered Manager has systems in place that monitor the operation of the home. Information is available about the strengths and weaknesses of the service. He continues to develop the manager’s report that evaluates the home’s operation to ensure quality of care and young people’s needs are being met.

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Information about this children's home

This home is run by a local authority. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six young people 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

09/03/2015 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

26/03/2014 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 complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating –

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Requirement Due date

(a) the quality of care provided for children; (b) the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and (c) any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. This specifically relates to the evaluation of the review.

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Requirement Due date

(3) After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (‘the quality of care review report’).

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Requirement Due date

(4)The registered person must – (a) supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report with 28 days of the date on which the quality care review is completed.

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Requirement Due date

(5) The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (2) (b) (3) (4) (5)) 31/03/2016

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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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