Children's home run by Active Ark Limited in Cumberland

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:

 Young people thrive because of the warm, caring and nurturing relationships that they enjoy with staff. The home is making a difference to young people’s lives and provides them with the tools and opportunities to achieve positive outcomes.  Staff have high but realistic aspirations for young people and work effectively to promote their social and emotional development.  The views of young people are central to everything that the home does and is a real strength of the provision. Staff use their knowledge of each young person’s needs to effectively help them to express their views in a positive manner and as a result help them to take responsibility for decisions which affect their life choices.  Young people greatly benefit from the support that they are offered to help them make sense of their past experiences. This enables them to move forward and rebuild previously damaged relationships.  The manager and staff work closely with placing authorities and a

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The children's home provision is good because:

range of other professionals to ensure that young people receive a tailored package of care. This is evident in the feedback received from professionals during this inspection, who confirm that young people greatly benefited and achieved in this placement.  Young people benefit from good-quality care that promotes their physical, emotional and psychological well-being and supports them to develop a safe, healthy and active lifestyle.  The registered manager is a good advocate for young people and actively puts their needs and wishes first. This shows young people that they are supported and cared about. Contact arrangements are positive and the home go over and above to facilitate important family links.

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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

Ensure that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home's statement of purpose (Regulation 14 (2)(a)). Specifically, the registered person must be consulted as part of the admission process. 30 April 2016

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that, in order to meet the leadership and management standard, with particular reference to staff attendance at staff team meetings, the registered person must ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate (Regulation 13 (2)(b)). 30 April 2016

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. This relates specifically to the registered manager receiving regular formal supervision in accordance with the company’s agreed frequency (Regulation 34 (4)(b)). 30 April 2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Ensure that a record of supervision is kept for all staff, including the manager, and that a record detailing content and outcomes of any supervision session is provided to the relevant staff member (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraphs 13.3 and 13.4).  Ensure that the independent person makes a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home's arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home's care. This relates to the visitor reporting more fully an evaluation of their findings to support their opinion as to whether children are effectively safeguarded and that the conduct of the home promotes children's well-being (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5).

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Information about this children's home

This is a private home that provides care and accommodation for up to four young people irrespective of gender with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

Good

Staff see young people in a positive and realistic light. They have high aspirations for young people and celebrate their achievements. Staff demonstrate commitment to enabling young people to overcome any difficulties that they may face in order to help them to lead happy and fulfilling lives. Young people respond positively to this individualised, nurturing care and as a result, they make good, and in some cases outstanding, progress. For example, over the summer months, two young people returned home to the care of their families. A social worker said, ‘Practice in the home is exemplary. Staff engaged the young person in individual work to increase self-esteem and self-confidence. The manager worked with all family members to improve relationships, allowing them to address and confront issues which had caused tensions.’ Another social worker stated, ‘Following a family breakdown in relationships nine months earlier, relationships have been renewed

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Good

and cemented. The young person secured and maintained two very positive work placements and is now enrolled in college back in her home area. Self-esteem improved greatly and she has become a confident individual.’ Transition planning on to next placement is a significant strength of this home. Weaknesses in the company admission procedures that, at times, exclude the registered manager from being involved in admissions to the home, are being addressed. This followed the termination of an inappropriate placement by the registered manager after only two days. The registered manager was greatly concerned that the central office’s assessment for suitability of placement had been made on insufficient information, resulting in a rejection for the young person involved. Young people benefit from the good attention to and understanding of their healthcare needs. Staff advocate on their behalf with healthcare professionals to

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Good

ensure that young people receive the support that they require. For example, one young person had a fear of the dentist and has avoided appointments for some time. With staff support and liaison with the dental surgery this fear has been alleviated and the treatment required has been accepted. Staff work closely with educational providers to ensure that young people receive appropriate education to reach their full potential. For example, young people who have disengaged with education have all re-engaged with very individually planned education programmes. These have successfully progressed to ensure that young people return to mainstream education or college when they move on from the home. This progress is achieved through staff commitment to positively engage with education providers, advocating on young people’s behalf to resolve any issues so that they successfully integrate into their placement.

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Good

Consultation with young people is a strength of the provision. Staff are keen to secure the views of young people and see this as intrinsic to the care and support provided. This means that young people have a voice, are listened to and their wishes and feelings are acted upon where possible. Minutes of key worker sessions clearly evidence the very valued discussions that young people engage in with staff. Staff members told inspectors that one of the developing strengths of the home is that staff now adequately record the good work and positive outcomes for young people achieved through the key worker relationship. Young people enjoy a wide variety of activities and new experiences in the home and out in the community that otherwise may not be available to them, including horse riding, involvement in outdoor activities with trained instructors, gym membership and a variety of personal interests such as fishing. Success in these

p.6

Good

activities improves self-esteem and self-confidence.

p.7

Good

Staff understand their responsibility to protect young people and are well trained in child protection. They are able to take effective action when they have concerns about young people’s welfare. Young people’s individual plans identify any risks that they may face and outline effective strategies to ensure their welfare is promoted and protected. The plans for young people’s safety are consistently put into practice and fully address their needs and circumstances. Clear and consistently applied behaviour management strategies ensure that young people understand about acceptable behaviour. Staff rarely use restraint, although all staff are trained to do so. Staff use their skills in de-escalation to help young people manage their anger and distress. The use of sanctions to challenge unacceptable behaviour have decreased significantly over recent months as the manager has promptly reviewed what he saw as ‘punitive responses’ by some staff

p.7

Good

that have been judged ineffective. An incentive scheme enabling young people to be praised and rewarded for positive behaviours is currently being promoted. Young people feel this is much more effective in promoting socially acceptable behaviour. The young person resident at the time of the inspection said, ‘There were some staff who just seemed to dole out sanctions at the drop of a hat. The new system is much better, I can earn extra rewards if I meet my targets and I get that. Previously, I just got very angry towards some staff.’ Appropriate links are in place between the registered person and the local authority designated officer and advice is sought from the local authority designated officer when necessary. This ensures the safety and well-being of young people. Recruitment practices and records remain robust. They ensure that young people are only cared for by staff that are deemed suitable to work with children and

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Good

The home is managed by a qualified and experienced registered manager. The manager was registered with Ofsted in 2014. He has the relevant qualifications and has extensive experience to lead a staff group and manage the home. All professionals spoken with as part of this inspection said that the manager is an effective role model and undertakes his duties seriously. One professional said, ‘The registered manager’s practice is exemplary. He undertakes individual work with young people and their families to improve relationships and enable a positive transition back home. Even when young people are discharged, he continues to offer telephone support to all parties.’ Professionals confirm that they have received the home’s statement of purpose and that it provided very good information about the service. Young people said that they are welcomed into this home and part of this is receiving a welcome booklet. They say that it gives them good information about the home. Young

p.8

Good

people say that staff take time to go through this with them. This helps young people to settle and know the boundaries of the home. It also provides them with details of independent people who they can contact, if necessary. Professional relationships are good and there is very good communication between the home, social workers, independent reviewing officers and parents. This enhances young people’s care and support. The registered manager acts as an advocate for young people, ensuring that their rights are protected. The manager works a number of childcare shifts each week. Together with staff he demonstrates a commitment to delivering good childcare practice tailored to the diverse, personal needs of the young people. This is reflected in the positive comments from parents and social workers. While giving him opportunities to directly work with young people and to observe staff practice, he believes it limits

p.8

Good

his ability to fulfil the responsibilities of his role. He also acts as duty manager for the whole service for two days per month, a role which he anticipates being released from in the near future. The registered manager is skilled at monitoring. He has a very good oversight of the home and closely audits practice and significant events. He has a clear awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of the service. He has recognised potential problems that come with setting up a new children’s home and addresses any shortfalls as they arise. He regularly communicates with the staff team to ensure that the home meets its aims and objectives and that outcomes for young people remain good. However, to date, full staff meetings have not been possible as staff would have to attend at their own expense. The development plan confirms that the registered manager has plans to address this issue to further ensure continuity of care and a regular review of practice by the full team.

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Good

Currently, he plays an important link in communicating with all staff on an individual basis to ensure that they are aware of any changes in care plans, behaviour management plans or risk assessments. Care staff receive regular formal supervision, which links into an annual appraisal of their performance. However, although the registered manager receives frequent informal support and supervision he has not received formal supervision. This is contrary to company guidelines and means that there is no evidence that he has had full access to the formal feedback and support that his responsibilities merit. The importance of maintaining a consistent staff team is recognised and the manager has made it clear that it is vital that young people are supported by a small core group of staff. This has resulted in him insisting that the duty manager, who currently does the rotas for the whole company, allocates a small group of

p.8

Good

named staff specifically to the home. The young person currently placed was quite vocal about this issue and is very appreciative of the manager’s intervention as the young person found having too large a pool of staff disconcerting. The home’s development plan indicates that assessment of prospective admissions, implementation of regular staff meetings and rotas should become the responsibility of the registered manager and discussions are underway with the new responsible individual about resolving the issues. There is a strong emphasis on delivering high-quality, child-focused care. The team are committed to providing the best outcomes for young people. All staff hold appropriate qualifications and have a range of qualifications that enhance the work that they undertake with young people. The various skills that the team possess enable young people to participate in a wide range of activities while in placement.

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Good

These enhance self-confidence as young people have a chance to experience and achieve in new activities, for example outdoor activities with staff who are also trained instructors. An independent person appointed by the company, undertakes regular monitoring of the home. These reports are detailed but tend to be descriptive rather than evaluative about the quality of care that young people receive. This does not enable the regulatory body to have a strong independent oversight of the home.

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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 looked after children 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 that 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 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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