Children's Home run by White Orchid Care Limited in Milton Keynes

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding at the last 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 relationships between staff and children continue to be a strength of this home. All children who were living at the home at the last inspection are still in placement. They flourish in a nurturing and supportive environment where they start to feel safe. The aim of the placements is to prepare the children emotionally for a future foster placement. The home is excellent in determining when and how children will achieve this. They advocate strongly for children when they are not quite ready for this move, and use therapeutic input and advice to support these decisions fully. Children progress as a result of living in this home. Staff recognise that there are times when some progress has been restricted due to children’s emotional fragility and life events that are out of the child’s control. Staff persevere and are very aware when children may need extra support and reassurance. Children describe

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

living at the home as ‘good’ and state ‘we have fun here’. Children choose their own animals to live at the home. This has had a positive therapeutic impact, according to the children themselves. They have started to realise the importance of building attachments, and this has then enabled them to reflect on their past behaviours. One child is still settling into the home, and is starting to find ways to understand and manage difficult and challenging emotions. Staff are supporting him to utilise new skills and, through open and sometimes challenging discussions with staff, all children are beginning to see setbacks as opportunities to learn, and therefore prevent recurrence of certain behaviours. This work is underpinned by individualised behaviour management strategies and there is a focus on incentives. The children understand the different systems in place and are working towards rewards that they have chosen. They are presently working on teamwork, so that

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

all children can learn to live with each other and realise the impact of their behaviours on others. Staff handle any significant incidents with professionalism and an empathetic understanding for the children involved. This has helped situations to be calmed as quickly as possible. Since the last inspection, there has been an increase in the use of physical intervention. The managers are aware of this and are monitoring the possible reasons. A number of ‘high risk’ holds have been used. Children’s risk assessments neither indicate which positive handling techniques are safe to use nor identify any precautions to take into consideration when using more restrictive holds. This does not enable staff to be fully aware of the risks posed to each individual child. In addition, records did not indicate if vital signs for children are checked during these high-risk holds. Recording could be improved to enable clear

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

details of the physical intervention and the actions taken to safeguard the child. The home commissions the use of training in restraint, and staff have their skills regularly refreshed. However, during the inspection, management could not confirm that it had sought evidence to indicate that the restraint techniques have been medically assessed to demonstrate their safety for use on children who are still developing physically and emotionally. There is both thorough and challenging monitoring of the service through the visits by the independent visitor, and six-monthly evaluations and regular monitoring by the manager. These systems are used well. They identify shortfalls, and appropriate action is then taken. There is a constant commitment from the management and staff team to raise further the standard of the care provided to the children within the home. Children are very well supported, with contact visits and telephone calls, and they

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

benefit from the emotional support of staff at these times. Individual contact arrangements are both fully supported and facilitated by staff. Staff are confident during these times and clear on the individual arrangements. This is an area of particular strength in the home. The management constantly reviews these arrangements and advocates for the child. It is also aware that additional staff may be required at these times, so is proactive in facilitating this, which ensures that meaningful and safe contact is promoted. The home has built effective relationships with external professionals, especially in education establishments. This has enabled children to progress. There is all-round support being offered to children, and this includes close working relationships with placing authorities. This ensures that social workers and children are clear about the home's objectives. There is strong leadership and management in this home. The manager knows the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

strengths of the team and areas for development. These are regularly shared with the staff, so they are all working to common goals. Team meetings are used as opportunities for reflection and learning. Children are fully involved in how the home operates and are able to see how their views make a difference. This enables their confidence and self-esteem to be further enhanced.

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Information about this children's home

This service is a 52-week, four-bedded therapeutic children’s home for children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties, aged between six and 14 years old. It is run by a small private organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

05/01/2016 CH – Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

24/03/2015 CH – Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Complete and review the effectiveness of any restraint system commissioned. In particular, check that the medical assessment of the system remains up to date (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards’ page 49, paragraph 9.58).  Ensure that records of restraint contain detailed information to enable review (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59).  Ensure that any approaches to restraint are suitable for the individual child. In particular, ensure that risk assessments are completed, to identify any precautions to take (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards’, page 48, paragraph 9.54).

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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 that 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 ‘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 0300 123 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

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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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