Social care · Social care interim inspection
Children's Home run by Surrey County Council in Surrey
Summary
What we read, and from where
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- Inspection datesingle source
18 May 2016
- Inspectors verified
Jennie Christopher
- URN verified
SC040628
Deep dive
What this report says
In plain English
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Tone of the report
How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.
In line with other reports of this type.
How the report reads, start to finish
Every paragraph in order, sized by length. Tap one to see it on the page.
Strengths
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
- Young people who have moved into the home since the last inspection have benefited from an excellent level of pre-placement planning, including robust impact risk assessments. p.2
- Their consistently strong relationships with staff enable them to make good attachments and respond well to the support that they receive. p.2
Concerns
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No strong criticism found.
Next steps
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
- In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard requires the registered person to p.6
- This relates to the cleanliness and tidiness of young people's bedrooms, and supporting young people to keep their rooms tidy and belongings safe. 30/06/2016 p.6
- 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. p.7
- This is in line with the ‘Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection’. p.7
What the report dwells on
Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.
Leadership & governance5
“behaviour management results in a limited use of restraint and sanctions.” p.3Wellbeing & mental health3
“Young people’s bedrooms are not as tidy as is expected to support positive emotional” p.3
Anatomy of the report
How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.
- Pages
- 8
- Words of findings
- 1,125
- about usual (typical 904)
- Reading level
- Fairly hard
- Flesch 50, typical 48
- Average sentence
- 19 words
- Next steps
- 4
- typical 4
- Hedged sentences
- 5%
- “some”, “not always”, “most”…
Where the words go
Full report text
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 .
p.2
children and young people since the most recent full inspection
Young people continue to make good progress as a result of living in the home. Their consistently strong relationships with staff enable them to make good attachments and respond well to the support that they receive. Young people demonstrate that they are comfortable with staff and were seen to be approaching them with their worries and concerns, as well as to engage and interact in activities or discussion. Young people comment positively about the home and their relationships with staff.
p.2
children and young people since the most recent full inspection
Three young people remain in placement since the last inspection, and they are progressing well. While they may struggle in some areas, such as social interactions, they are engaged in education and their confidence is improving. One young person successfully attended a week-long football course without staff support, which was a real accomplishment.
p.2
children and young people since the most recent full inspection
Young people who have moved into the home since the last inspection have benefited from an excellent level of pre-placement planning, including robust impact risk assessments. Young people have the opportunity to visit the home prior to placement, and to choose the colour scheme for their bedrooms and any soft furnishings. Those who have moved on since the last inspection have mostly done so in a planned manner, to supported placements. The staff in the home provide a sound level of aftercare, including visits to the new placement. Young people continue to visit for Sunday dinner. Some young people who have moved on in recent years continue to visit and know that they can contact the home at any time. One has moved on to be an apprentice for the local authority, and supports young people at the home during house meetings. When a move has not been planned, the management team reflects on why the breakdown occurred and
p.2
children and young people since the most recent full inspection
learn from this. Plans for all young people are robust and include clear, achievable targets and the purpose for their placement. Progress is monitored through monthly reports. Recently revised daily records prompt staff to record reflective and evaluative notes, including the young people’s views. A social worker commented that the home ‘provides good care’ and that the young person she has placed ‘is in good hands’.
p.2
children and young people since the most recent full inspection
Young people mostly say that they feel safe in the home, and all have staff whom they would go to if they were anxious or worried. Staff are confident in their roles, and demonstrate a good knowledge of safeguarding procedures and how to interpret training in sexual exploitation in practice. Incidents of a safeguarding nature are managed well. In the two incidences since the last inspection, the issues were reported to safeguarding professionals and young people were kept safe immediately afterwards. Staff engage in strategy meetings and continually monitor young people and implement agreed actions in order to keep them safe.
p.3
children and young people since the most recent full inspection
Young people, on occasion, go missing from care. When young people are away from the home without staff agreement, there is a coordinated response, including staff looking for them in known locations, contacting them and their friends or family, and liaising with the police as necessary. On return they are welcomed back to the home and staff support them to work through what could prevent them from going missing again in the future. Return interviews are completed by a national charity, and staff feel that these are beneficial to the young people. When required, young people can access substance misuse workers, although this is not a concern with the current group. The nurse for children looked after visits the home monthly, and a child and adolescent mental health worker attends staff meetings to support staff with the management of varied health issues, including self-injurious behaviour. The cohesive approach to unwanted behaviour and
p.3
children and young people since the most recent full inspection
behaviour management results in a limited use of restraint and sanctions. Young people understand what is expected of them, and their views are consistently recorded in response to any measure used. There have been no complaints since 2014, and young people are confident that staff manage any difficulties within the group.
p.3
children and young people since the most recent full inspection
The registered manager continues to run the home to a good standard. With the assistant manager, they continually monitor the quality of care provided, the progress of young people and the competence of staff. The functioning of the home is regularly reviewed through independent visits, in line with regulation 44. The manager views the process as interactive and considers the visitor to be a critical friend. She is confident in challenging the process, in order for it to best scrutinise the service. In addition, the managers regularly review the quality of care and use the evaluation to form part of the development plan. Improvements as a result include the redecoration of communal areas within the home and the development of the garden. Some bedrooms still require modernising; young people have been consulted on how they would like them to be decorated. Young people’s bedrooms are not as tidy as is expected to support positive emotional
p.3
children and young people since the most recent full inspection
well-being and make them a place where young people are happy to spend time.
p.4
children and young people since the most recent full inspection
Since the last inspection, the management team has worked towards meeting the requirements and recommendations set. In response to the shortfalls, daily records have been developed to include young people’s views on their day, and meal time discussions are recorded to demonstrate that young people’s views are heard and valued. Young people’s views are additionally sought in considering how the service should be developed. They will be included in the next draft of the development plan. Staff are now checking first aid boxes monthly to ensure that all dressings are in date and all harmful substances are secured away from young people, dependent on current risk assessments. Finally, all staff are now benefiting from regular supervision and an annual appraisal of their performance.
p.4
Information about this children's home
The home is owned and run by the local authority. It provides care and accommodation for up to seven young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.
p.5
Recent inspection history
Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement
p.5
Recent inspection history
12/08/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness
p.5
Recent inspection history
03/09/2014 Interim Sustained effectiveness
p.5
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 ‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.
p.6
Requirement Due date
6: The quality and purpose of care standard
p.6
Requirement Due date
In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard requires the registered person to
p.6
Requirement Due date
(2)(b)(vii) provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;
p.6
Requirement Due date
This relates to the cleanliness and tidiness of young people's bedrooms, and supporting young people to keep their rooms tidy and belongings safe. 30/06/2016
p.6
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’.
p.7
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.
p.7
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 .
p.7
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,
p.8
Information about this inspection
The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .
p.8
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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