Children's home run by Chartwell Care Services Ltd in Islington

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

The Registered Manager has continued to sustain a good level of care for young people using the service. At the last inspection there were two requirements and one recommendation made. One requirement and one recommendation are fully met and the other requirement is partly met. The Registered Manager now ensures that recent photographs are available on file for all staff members. She has started staff appraisals although three are yet to be completed; the remaining ones are scheduled. Staff have received all mandatory training. The Registered Manager has devised a training matrix, which enables her to see who has been on training and when it is due to be refreshed. Training events are planned up to the end of 2016 to ensure staff have plenty of notice and can be available to attend. The two young people present at the last inspection have moved on from the placement. Both were planned endings with young people and their families well

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

prepared for moves to residential school settings. The Registered Manager and staff supported introductions to the new homes and prepared clear, easy to understand pictorial transition plans for the young people. A strength of this home is the transition process. The manager is very clear with placing authorities on the level of information required prior to any placement being agreed. Detailed risk assessments ensure that all needs are considered, including the impact on existing residents to avoid disruption. Young people benefit from careful introductions. When young people are leaving the home, staff and the Registered Manager support gradual introductions to new placements. This ensures young people understand where they are moving to and when, in a way which they can easily understand. There are a number of young people using the service for short breaks. These young people receive a thorough assessment prior to their admission to ensure

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

compatibility to others. Sensitive transitions allow young people and their parents/carers to familiarise themselves with the home and the routines expected prior to staying for a full weekend. Over the past twelve months the home has gone through some significant changes. In particular changes to the management team, a refurbishment and since re-opening, the re-establishing of its staff team. The home is currently in the process of registering an outside building as a school on site. Most of the young people who have recently stayed at the home have moved on quite quickly to placements which are dual registered for care and education. This prompted the home to consider better ways to provide education on the same site. Much work and organisation has focused on re-establishing the service. The Registered Manager has worked hard and made many positive changes to updating the practice within the home. Despite there being a number of short-term placements since the last inspection,

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

progress is evident. Young people are encouraged to attend education and engage in purposeful and interesting activities within the home. For example cooking, painting and decorating the display boards in the lounge. More structured outdoor activities are also organised for the holiday periods, such as a trip to the park, mini farm or to the seaside. Excellent links are made with families and if care plans allow, positive contact is promoted for young people to stay in touch. Such contact helps maintain identity and supports families to manage complex behaviours more effectively. Young people’s individual needs are given close attention. Staff understand the importance of young people’s health and wellbeing. They work closely with parents and carers and health professionals to ensure these are met. Positive relationships are evident in observations of staff with young people. They consistently encourage positive routines and clear boundaries to support young people who

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

may only stay for a short break. Individual cultural and dietary needs are also met. For example preparing halal food or ensuring music from young people’s origins makes them feel relaxed and comfortable. Safeguarding is central to practice in the home. Incidents, restraints and complaints are rare. Staff are confident in their handling of such issues and recording indicates these are well managed by an experienced staff team and overseen by managers. Child protection concerns have been reported immediately to the appropriate authorities. There has been one incident since the last inspection which was investigated thoroughly with no further action. However, notifications to the regulator are not always made in a timely way. For example confirming the outcome of child protection enquiries. An independent person continues to visit the home once a month to undertake a review of services. A report is provided and sent to the manager and the regulator

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

to help identify where improvements can be made. The Registered Manager conducts suitable reviews of the quality of care. She considers relevant areas and ensures that practice is regularly evaluated and improvements planned. Despite their usefulness copies of these reports have not been provided as required. This means that oversight of practice has not been reviewed consistently or allowed for any concerns to be addressed. Despite this breach, the quality of care is good and no young people have been placed at risk as a result. Good partnership working is evident within the home, for example one placing authority says, ‘this home is our preferred choice of provider for respite placements.’ One parent said, ‘X likes living at the unit, it is a good environment.’ One young person wrote a goodbye letter about their stay, stating, ‘amazing experience’ and ‘had a real impact on my life’.

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Information about this children's home

The home is privately owned and registered to provide care to four young people with a learning disability.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

13/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

26/11/2013 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

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if a child protection enquiry involving a child is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry) (Regulation 40(4)(d)(i)(ii)) 31/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45(4)(a)) 30/04/2016

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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 all staff must have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised at least once annually. This appraisal should take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and the children in the home's care. As part of the performance management process, poor performance should be addressed by a timely plan to bring about improvement. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 61, paragraph 13.5)

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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, 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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