Children's Home run by Blandford House (UK) Limited in Hillingdon

children and young people since the most recent 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 provider has had some challenges in recruiting staff at the pace necessary to meet the demand for the service. This means that the current staff team are stretched and often work long shifts to provide sufficient staffing to meet the needs of young people. The registered manager recognises this may have a negative impact on the quality of the service and she is actively recruiting more staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Robust actions have ensured the previous requirements and recommendations from the full inspection have been completed. This includes updating the homes statement of purpose to better describe the services provided. The registered manager now completes regular monitoring reports on the quality of care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In line with the homes statement of purpose, the provider undertakes detailed impact assessments on young people prior to them coming into care. This outlines their particular vulnerabilities with clear management plans that describe how to reduce risks and keep them safe. These assessments pay close attention to the needs of the group of young people already living in the home and how the group can be managed safely. However, in one instance a young person was admitted without sufficient information being shared with the staff team. This meant that staff were not fully aware of how to meet their needs. This shortfall did not impact negatively on the wellbeing young people in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff use evidence based systemic interventions to provide intensive support for young people and their families. These address the underlying causes of challenging behaviours and reduce the number of placement breakdowns. This approach helps young people make sense of their past as a way of understanding how this impacts on their present. This has made a positive difference to the progress and outcomes for young people. They now engage in education or structured activity, when previously this was not the case. Some young people have significantly reduced offending and cut links that involved them in gang activity. Staff support young people to reflect on the impact of challenging behaviour on themselves and others. Staff teach them skills to enable them to make more positive choices. They set clear boundaries and, on the whole, the young people respond positively to this. When incidents do occur, staff are skilled at de-

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

escalating situations without use of physical restraint and they do not involve the police unless this is necessary.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff support young people to rebuild relationships with family members. They work closely with a full time therapist who undertakes direct work with young people and their families. This provides consultation for staff in effective intervention. Specialist staff provide an outreach service when young people move on to ensure their placements are well supported and stable.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A social worker reported that staff are ‘absolutely amazing’. She cited the particular strength of their ability to build a rapport with young people. She also felt that direct work with keyworkers made a positive difference. She was impressed with the quality of information presented by staff at professionals meetings.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people enjoy living in the home. One young person commented that he had been in other homes, but that this one was the best as he felt that staff ‘made an extra effort’. Another young person commented that ‘staff understand the things you are interested in and help you to do them’. They feel that they are able to take part in a range of positive activities and that staff will always help and encourage them to take part. They speak positively about all of the staff in the home and it is evident that staff work very hard to make sure that young people have a positive experience of care. They seek feedback from young people, pay attention to their individual needs and adjust their approach in response to what young people say.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is well presented and well equipped for young people. This enables them to spend their time constructively and engage with staff and each other. There is a play room with a pool table and a table tennis table. The staff have also created a workshop for a young person who is interested in building computers. He really appreciates this and is developing useful practical skills as a result. Although a positive pastime risks associated with this activities were not fully assessed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has good oversight of the quality of care provided to young people. She provides effective support and direction to staff and intervenes promptly to address any concerns. The home is visited monthly by an independent person. She provides a monthly report on the quality of care and experiences of young people. These reports are of high quality and the registered manager makes good use of them to improve the service.

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Information about this children's home

This private children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to ten children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties and learning difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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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 Leadership and Management Standard: In order to meet the leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— (a) lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the home makes use of all relevant information in order to undertake an impact risk assessment. This should take into account an assessment of factors that are relevant in terms of the existing group of residents. (Regulation 13(2) (a)). 30.6.2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  The home should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than 'institutional' impression. In particular, the provider should review whether the number of health and safety instructions and notice boards on the walls are necessary. In addition, providing this does not impact on the safety of young people, the provider should look at ways of reducing the intrusive alarm noise every time the front door opens. (the guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards page 15, paragraph 3.9).

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Recommendations

 In order to ensure that there are sufficient numbers of staff who are trained in the interventions described in the homes statement. The provider should make sure there are enough staff to meet the needs of all young people, particularly when occupancy is high and that staff are not working unreasonably long hours to achieve this. The registered person should have a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs19 and 20) The plan should: • Detail the necessary management and staffing structure, (including any staff commissioned to provide health and education), the experience and qualifications of staff currently working within the staffing structure and any further training required for those staff , to enable the delivery of the homes Statement of Purpose; • Detail the processes and agreed timescales for staff to achieve induction, probation and any core training (such as safeguarding and health and safety and

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Recommendations

mandatory qualifications); (the guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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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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