Children's home SC022729

The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

children and young people since the most recent full inspection. This home was judged requires improvement at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, the home was 'not judged' . This home has had no children on role since 25 June 2015. On 8 January 2016 the responsible person informed Ofsted that the registered manager resigned his registration on 31 December 2015. The responsible person formally made this notification on 26 April 2016, also informing Her Majesty's Chief Inspector that the home has appointed a new manager. The home has not yet submitted an application for this manager to register with Ofsted. The responsible person is aware that he must give Ofsted three months’ notice prior to accommodating any young people in this setting. This provides sufficient time for him to complete changes to the home and recruit and induct a suitable staff team. The responsible person has improved the decor in the home, repairing areas of

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

damage. He ensures maintenance of the garden, providing a small recreational area for young people’s use. The kitchen is modern and suitable for providing meals for up to three young people. Bedrooms require lockable cabinets, soft furnishings and some improvement to curtains or blinds. Bookcases have a small number of books with two out of three shelves empty. The responsible person intends to involve young people in choosing furnishings, books and ornaments when the home reopens. The responsible person has completed a review of the statement of purpose, which describes some of the proposed ways of working in the home. Due to there being no children accommodated in the home, this does not include details of the staff team. In addition, the statement of purpose does not explain the approach in relation to anti-discriminatory practice or in meeting children’s rights. At the last inspection, the responsible person had not arranged for an independent

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

person to visit the home. He has not met a requirement made at that time as there have been no visits by an independent visitor since the last inspection. This removes an important check for the regulator on the continued suitability of the home to accommodate children. The responsible person has reviewed the suitability of the location of the children’s home. The review lacks focus and clear identification of risks to young people.

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Information about this children's home

This privately owned home may only provide care and accommodation for up to three young people. The home may provide care for young people who display emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home must inform Ofsted of their intention to admit children and young people three months before a child or young person's placement commences.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

14/05/2014 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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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 ensure that an independent person visits the children's home at least once each month and the independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to HMCI (Regulation 44 (1)(7)(a)). 31/05/2016

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Requirement Due date

6. In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, with particular reference to providing a suitable environment for children and young people, the registered person must ensure that staff— (2)(b)(vii) provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. 31/12/2016

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Requirement Due date

Keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b)). 31/05/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:

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Recommendations

 Review the location of the appropriateness and suitability of the home. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home's location and strategies for managing these (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1).

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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

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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