Setting in Birmingham

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The quality of care for young people remains good. They all make progress from their starting points. Young people become more confident, reduce ‘missing from care’ episodes and understand the risks relating to child sexual exploitation. Staff are committed to building young people’s emotional resilience. Young people also improve their education attendance due to a range of arrangements to meet their individual needs. Leadership and staff commitment remains strong. Both requirements from the previous inspection are met and make significant improvement to the good outcomes for young people. For example, effective working relationships with schools support young people to attend and enjoy education. The manager and staff work in partnership and will challenge services to promote young people’s appropriate education arrangements and improve them. Young people make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential. This is helped

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

by the manager, forging a good working relationship with schools and the virtual head. While some young people have reduced education programmes, this is progress, according to their starting points. The reduced programmes meet the current emotional needs of young people and have a positive impact. These young people have received glowing reports from school, including significant improvements in behaviour. Young people also complete independence skills, work on displays and complete work on the computer when they are not in school. Young people are now proud about their developments in education and include these events in their own personal journals. They look forward to building up attendance gradually as part of their agreed personal education plan. Staff value recent training in self-injurious behaviours. This helps them to understand further and manage better the emotional needs of young people and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

meets the requirement from the previous inspection. Improvements in recording have taken place with the full consultation of young people. They are now fully responsible for writing about their journeys and experiences while at the home. Staff help to take photos. Young people’s journals are a vibrant and very personal reflection of their experiences, challenges and achievements while at the home. The registered manager identifies that the home’s paperwork still needs to be ‘reviewed further and perfected.’ Recommendations in relation to recording are repeated from the last inspection in order to drive the momentum of these on-going developments further. Since the last inspection, several young people have been admitted and discharged as part of the 12 weeks assessment process at this service. Young people settle quickly and their comments include, ‘The first day I came to the home I was scared and worried, but staff and young people made me feel welcome and part of

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

the family.’ Some young people remain at the home far longer than initially anticipated. This is as a result of social worker allocation. These young people continue to make good progress due to staff commitment. Staff always place young people’s best interests at the centre of their practice. They are dedicated in their challenge to services and are good advocates for young people. For example, staff chase up social workers to push forward plans for young people. Young people feel supported by staff in finding the right foster carer and this helps them with their delayed transition plans. Placements go well because young people have lots of input into their future plans. Young people’s comments included, ‘The manager listens to where I would like to go when I leave. Very supportive and very helpful.’ Young people have good opportunities to develop their independence skills. They are proud of doing their own washing and managing medication, and cooking

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

meals for peers and staff. Safeguarding procedures and responses remain robust. Staff know how to keep young people safe due to effective staff training and risk management plans. Realistic insight into young people’s vulnerabilities to child sexual exploitation leads to effective intervention in links between drug use and going missing. Young people say they now understand the risks of child sexual exploitation and, with support from staff, are able to keep themselves safer. Reaching out to services and working in partnership are clear strengths of this service. Close partnership working with the police, social workers, drug and missing from care agencies effectively manages on-going concerns about young people going missing and risks of child sexual exploitation. Young people remain safe because they are encouraged to explore the impact of relationships and to understand safe behaviour. This work has been essential in

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

safeguarding young people who choose to have relationships with each other in the home. Clear boundaries and close supervision promote their safety, and enable young people to explore and reflect on the pitfalls of developing relationships and group living. Young people have no concerns about bullying and feel that they all get on well. They feel protected and are confident that staff will not tolerate any bullying in the home, but will stop it. Improvements in behaviour stem from clear boundaries and good quality face-to- work with young people. ‘Talking time’ enables young people to reflect on their behaviours. Staff are skilled at enabling young people to look at the circumstances of others. Young people make progress and become more confident, due to experiencing positive relationships with staff. They develop tolerance and respect for others as a result of living at this home, and begin to take responsibility for

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

their actions. Young people are happy, because relationships with the staff are positive and there is good rapport with the manager. Their comments include, ‘If I could put the manager in my pocket then I would. Don’t always like what he says but relationships with the staff help me.’ Young people also learn about living in a multi-cultural society as a result of living at this home. Greater acceptance of diversity prepares young people for independent living, and their ability to be an accepting and integrated member of society. Young people develop a good understanding of their health. They understand and enjoy the importance of a good diet and have good input to planning menus. A range of activities encourage exercise that helps them to keep fit. Seeking support from child and adolescent mental health services helps some young people to develop a greater understanding of their mental health, emotional

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

wellbeing and behaviour. Staff also ensure that young people explore their family backgrounds in a supportive manner. Young people benefit from improved contact with family members while being at this home, and this builds their self-esteem and emotional resilience. Young people receive good input about their sexual health. Being aware of the benefits of sexual health screening services promotes their health and awareness of safer relationships. Current staffing arrangements make sure that young people are looked after and kept safe, go to school and enjoy a range of activities. Young people live in a well-maintained home. They appreciate recently decorated bedrooms and opportunities to put their personal stamp on their private space. Consultation with young people is a strong and consistent theme. Young people’s views are valued and they are able to influence the operation of the home, including menus, activities and how they would like to record their experiences at

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

the home. Staff value their management team’s hard work, dedication and leadership. This service has maintained good quality of care and outcomes for young people over a period of sickness for one of the managers. This stability was also maintained during a period of change of ownership and a period of uncertainty for staff. The registered manager is measured and strategic in his approach, and makes steady and meaningful progress. He uses independent monitoring, internal auditing, consultation and staff training to drive improvement and sustain the good operation of this home.

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Information about this children's home

This local authority children’s home is registered to care for six children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home’s statement of purpose states that children can be of either gender and between the ages of 12 and 18 years. The intake and assessment service provides assessment for young people in order to determine their short- and long-term needs.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

25/03/2015 CH – Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

09/12/2013 CH – Interim Satisfactory progress

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  record information about the child in a way that will be helpful to the child (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 62, paragraph 14)

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Recommendations

 support children and their parents to understand the nature of records kept by the home and how to access them. Staff should understand their role in encouraging the child to reflect on and understand their history, according to their age and understanding. Staff should keep and encourage children to keep appropriate memorabilia of the time spent living at the home and help them record significant life events (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 62, paragraph 14.5).

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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, 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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