Children's home run by Plus One South West Ltd in Somerset

Good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 The young person feels very well supported and has developed positive relationships with the staff team. He feels listened to by staff and that his views and opinions are sought.  Staff support him in a variety of activities, both within the home and the wider community. He thoroughly enjoys the activities that are provided, taking into consideration his likes and preferences.  The home encourages family contact to ensure that he can maintain contact with significant people in his life.  Staff ensure that the young person is encouraged to develop his self-help skills and he is involved in many domestic tasks around the home. This includes shopping and preparing and cooking some of his meals.  The young person is encouraged to consider his future education and employment opportunities, and is supported to access education and vocational opportunities in order to develop his confidence and decision-

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The children’s home provision is good because:

making skills.  The registered manager collaborates with a wide range of agencies and authorities, such as the placing authority, police and the youth offending team.  The staff team respond appropriately when young people go missing and ensure that they have independent return home interviews.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person 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 must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

Engaging with the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met

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Requirement Due date

5. In meeting the quality standard, the registered person must ensure that: (c) if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to ensure that each child’s needs are met.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the placing authority provides the home with an up-to-date placement plan in a timely manner. 3 June 2016

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Requirement Due date

12. (1) The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure: (d) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the risk posed to children in respect of the hot water supply is assessed and measures are taken in order to reduce the risk. 3 June 2016

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Information about this children’s home

A private company operates this home and provides care and accommodation for up to three young people who may display emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

22 February 2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Good

The young person currently living in the home receives good individualised care and support. He said, ‘It’s good here, staff are nice, and they are respectful and fun to do activities with.’ There are positive relationships between staff and the young person based on mutual respect and trust.

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Good

His health is promoted and staff advise and encourage a healthy lifestyle. He said that he has visited the dentist and his GP and that staff have supported him at his appointments. In addition, young people receive specialist therapeutic support based on their individual needs.

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Good

Since living at the home the young person has been encouraged to attend education facilities and has attended a course to develop his confidence and self- esteem. For example, he has undertaken a course that is aimed at developing awareness, skills and knowledge in applying for future employment. The young person said that one course included matters relating to developing communication skills, character building and CV writing. This has had a positive outcome for him and he is able to identify skills he will need when attending an interview for a job. In addition, staff support and encourage him to attend a voluntary job locally.

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Good

Staff treat the young person with respect and dignity. He feels listened to and is aware of how to make a complaint. He is able to cook meals of his choice and is encouraged to undertake household chores. This develops his independent living skills. He has recently started driving lessons. In addition, he has access to an independent adviser.

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Good

The young person thoroughly enjoys the activities that he is supported to access. The young person said that he particularly likes playing pool, darts, going to the cinema and playing football in the garden. He gave 10/10 for the activities.

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Good

Staff welcome his family to the home when they visit. Family members spend time with him out of the home’s environment and in the home. He said, ‘The staff made my family feel welcome and they had dinner here too.’ This approach ensures that he feels supported by the staff in keeping in contact with significant family members.

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Good

Despite the staff team continuing to work in collaboration with the placing authority, youth offending team and the police, one young person’s placement has ended. This was due to high-risk activities that the young person was taking part in when missing. The placing authority is complimentary of the staff team in the support the staff provided to the young person.

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Good

Staff ensure that young people’s safety is promoted. They have a good awareness of the known risks and the action they should take to keep young people safe. There are clear plans in place to reduce the risk of harm, and these are regularly reviewed. The young person living at the home said he feels safe. His social worker considers that he is safe at the home.

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Good

Staff take appropriate action when young people are missing. They follow the agreed protocols and inform the placing authority and the police. They search for young people on foot and in the home’s vehicle both in the local and wider community, and make efforts to remain in contact with them by mobile phone.

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Good

They ensure that young people are safely returned home when they have been located and that they have an independent return home interview. This is an improvement since the last inspection.

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Good

One placing authority said, ‘Staff respond within their available parameters and are proactive in helping to locate the young person.’ The local missing from home police coordinator said that she has a very good relationship with the home and that they consult with her, and follow policies and protocols. In addition, she has delivered training to staff in respect of young people missing from home and child sexual exploitation awareness training.

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Good

The registered manager ensures that there are good links with the youth offending team and that young people attend their appointments. A youth offending team member said, ‘I am really impressed with the home and the support they provide to young people.’

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Good

Investigations into allegations or suspicions of harm are shared with the appropriate agencies. These are handled fairly and quickly. The local authority designated officer does not raise any concerns about the practice of leaders and managers. Staff have a good awareness of safeguarding policies and procedures.

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Good

There are robust staff recruitment and vetting systems in place to safeguard young people.

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Good

The young person’s behaviour is well managed and there are systems in place to reward positive behaviour. There have not been any recorded restraints or sanctions since the previous inspection. All staff have undertaken training in methods of de-escalation and restraint.

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Good

Fire safety is well managed. The young person has taken part in fire drills and has a good awareness of the action to take in the event of a fire. The registered manager ensures that regular checks are undertaken of the home’s utilities. However, the independent visitor has raised concerns in respect of the temperature of the hot water in the home. Although the registered manager said that this does not pose a risk to young people, a risk assessment has not been conducted to assess this risk and of any action to take if needed.

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Good

The home is decorated and furnished to a good standard and is well maintained.

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Good

The registered manager, who is appropriately experienced and qualified, manages the home effectively. She has been in post since May 2014 and has undertaken a level 5 diploma in leadership and management for residential childcare (England).

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Good

The home’s statement of purpose reflects the current services that are provided by staff. The young person’s guide is currently under review.

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Good

The registered manager has a good awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of the home, and there is regular scrutiny from the independent visitor into the performance of the team. The three requirements made at the previous inspection have been met.

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Good

There is good collaborative working with the wider community. Positive feedback has been received as to how well the staff team engages with other agencies and professionals, including a placing authority, youth offending team and the police.

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Good

The registered manager ensures that young people’s placement plans and risk assessments are regularly updated to reflect their current needs. One social worker said, ‘Communication is excellent. I receive weekly updates and reports without fail, and if they need to do something, they will always complete it.’ They went on to say that they have no concerns about the quality of care provided. Staff help young people to attend their reviews.

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Good

Despite good links with placing authorities, leaders and managers have failed to obtain an up-to-date placement plan for the young person who is currently living at the home. It is not evident that robust action has been taken by the registered manager or responsible individual to obtain this document in a timely manner. A requirement has been made to deal with this weakness.

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Good

Staff now receive regular and effective practice-related supervision. This was a requirement at the previous inspection. Supervision records clearly reflect a balance between addressing practice concerns, constructive criticism and compliments about staffs’ performance. Staff benefit from constructive advice and support, and some said that this approach has contributed to them reflecting on their practice. All staff receive an annual appraisal, and they feel listened to and supported by managers.

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Good

The staff team receive regular mandatory training, including safeguarding and first aid and have received additional training in harmful sexual behaviours, diversity, record keeping, autism, allegations management and drugs and substance misuse. One member of staff said, ‘My approach to difficult situations or making decisions has been influenced by my training.’ Five of the six permanent staff have completed level 3 diploma qualifications. The remaining member of staff is currently undertaking this qualification.

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Good

There has been an improvement in staff record keeping. The importance of clear and effective report writing is discussed at supervisions and team meetings.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against ‘Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection’.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children’s home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children’s home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children’s home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of children looked after is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children’s home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children’s home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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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 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

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Information about this inspection

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 children looked after 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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