Children's home SC489547

Requires improvement

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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The children's home provision requires improvement because:

 There are some shortfalls in the leadership and management of the home and in knowledge of the regulatory framework.  The manager has failed to notify Ofsted of significant incidents in the home, as required by regulation.  The staff team is newly established and some members lack training and experience.  Recruitment procedures are not consistently robust or in accordance with the home’s policy.  Key work records are poor and do not capture enough detail to be useful to young people.  The above shortfalls have not had a direct impact on the experiences for young people. The benefit of living at the home is clearly demonstrated in the progress made.  The care provided for young people is good. Staff consistently provide warm, genuine care that promotes stability and security.  Young people benefit from individualised care that meets their needs and helps them to make positive change.  Young people progress in education, reducing risk-taking behaviours and

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The children's home provision requires improvement because:

developing positive self-views.  The views of parents, young people and professionals are extremely positive. They cite the staff and manager as key in helping young people to change and improve their lives.  There is a strong commitment to address shortfalls without delay. Systems to monitor and improve the home are good and realistically identify all areas for improvement.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered persons meet 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 persons must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious, or a child protection enquiry involving a child is instigated or concludes, or there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious (Regulation 40(4)(b)(d)(e)). 17 June 2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children's safety. In particular, the requirements are that full and satisfactory information in respect of the individual has been obtained in relation to the matters in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 2 (Regulation 32(1)(3)(d)). 17 June 2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only employ an individual to work at the children's home if the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification, and skills for the work that the individual is to perform. For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 3 Diploma") or a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma. The relevant date is, in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or, in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (Regulation 32 (2)(a)(3)(b)(4)(a)(b)(5)(a)(b)

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Requirement Due date

17 June 2016 13. The leadership and management standard In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person must lead a culture in relation to the children’s home that requires the registered person to: (2)(c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. 17 June 2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Ensure that the home’s records on each child represent a significant contribution to their life history, and that staff understand their important role in encouraging the child to reflect on and understand their history, according to their age and understanding (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.5).

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Information about this children's home

The children’s home is privately owned. It is registered for three children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Requires improvement

There are several shortfalls identified that have the potential to impact on young people’s welfare and safety. These include a lack of experienced qualified staff, poor oversight of the recruitment system, failure to notify Ofsted of significant incidents and not enough knowledge of the regulations that underpin the care provided. While this does not directly impact on young people’s safety, it has the potential to do so. This results in a home that has a number of strengths but is not yet good. Staff provide good-quality individualised care. They value young people as unique individuals and take into account family backgrounds and life experiences. Care is holistic and supports young people unconditionally. Young people have invested in the home, building fundamental attachments to staff. One social worker said: ‘I am very happy. The home is everything I could have hoped for. Good outcomes are being achieved and past relationships are understood.’

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Requires improvement

Young people confidently share their views. They are aware of the complaints procedure, and records show that they are offered support to reflect or complain, following an incident. Young people spoken to said that they like the home and the staff. Staff advocate strongly for young people, ensuring that they receive specific support to enable them to progress. A parent said: ‘He has come a long way and is happy and well looked after. The staff are lovely and the home’s manager has gone above and beyond in her provision of care.’ Young people benefit from a high standard of décor in a well-appointed family- style home. There is ample space for communal living and personal space. Bedrooms have been decorated according to young people’s styles and preferences, giving them an opportunity to express their own choices. Young people’s engagement with education is good. One young person is preparing and taking exams in order to access further education in September. A

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Requires improvement

conditional offer is based on exam results. Predicted grades are good, and staff have supported the young person through the exam timetable. Another young person with a previously poor attendance record attended education every day until the place was withdrawn a month ago. This was a safeguarding measure. Since then, the manager has worked tirelessly with the virtual school head and the social worker to get the current provider to release the funding to provide a vocational work-based placement. This is taking time to organise. The manager has done everything in her power to facilitate a new provision. In the interim, worksheets and online work are being completed with staff. The young person attends cadets and has a structured timetable of activity at the home. Young people’s health needs and psychological health are supported well by the home. Staff push for the right support for each young person. They work closely

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Requires improvement

with other professionals to enable young people to access child mental health services. This has resulted in young people being assessed appropriately. Young people are working towards their goals. These include further education and vocational learning. They are learning to undertake domestic chores such as laundry, cooking, shopping and cleaning the home. Staff support them to achieve their goals using key-worker sessions. Specific targets are identified, and activities are planned to help young people to build new skills that will assist them in their future lives.

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Requires improvement

There are shortfalls in the safe recruitment of staff. Staff files sampled revealed one file with no written references. A disclosure and barring check had been obtained, however this does not evidence robust recruitment checks or robust oversight of files. Reducing risk to young people is planned and coordinated well by staff. This has resulted in a reduction in risk-taking behaviours. This is confirmed by young people and their supporting professionals. A social worker reported: ‘My young person is significantly safer, saying that it feels like the only time they have ever had a home.’ Staff understand triggers to negative behaviours and guide their responses accordingly. Young people’s views and reflections are used well to assist staff in positive behaviour management. There have been three physical restraints in six months. These were all carried out to prevent injury to another person. Justification for the intervention is clear. Records are comprehensive and include

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Requires improvement

details of discussion and reflection with the young person. Staff learn from these incidents and change tactics, following discussions about updating positive support plans. This gives young people responsibility and control over their responses. Young people benefit from a controlled and stable environment. One social worker spoken to said: ‘The stability is amazing. Staff have helped with boundaries that have enabled the young person to feel safe and secure.’ There are no incidents of young people going missing from the home, despite this being a previous pattern of their behaviour. This signifies progress for young people and increased safety awareness. Safeguarding procedures are clear. Staff are all trained in safeguarding and the home’s policies support and underpin their practice. Staff are trained in how to manage disclosures and how to report allegations. This protects young people from potential harm.

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Requires improvement

The manager carries out health and safety checks, highlighting no concerns. Regular fire evacuation drills ensure that young people know what to do in the event of fire. The environment is maintained to a good standard, and any damage to the home is repaired without delay. This results in a pleasant and well-kept environment that helps young people to feel proud of their home.

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Requires improvement

This new home is owned and managed by a registered manager. She is experienced in working with young people with various difficulties in a range of settings and holds a relevant level 5 qualification.

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Requires improvement

The home had a sole occupant for the first three months. A new admission was taken, changing the dynamics, and a period of adjustment followed. This challenged the new staff team, and several staff left suddenly. The manager responded quickly and recruited successfully. This has resulted in a relatively new team and members have yet to complete their level 3 training and gain experience. There are enough staff to provide the high levels of support agreed with commissioners. Despite this, scrutiny of the rota shows that there are several shifts where for short periods there are no qualified or experienced staff on duty. This is not good practice and has the potential to put young people at risk.

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Requires improvement

Case records are under review. The system that staff use has evolved as the home has established. These records are shared with young people, who are asked to contribute to care planning. Key-work records, however, are poor and do not capture enough information or detail and recording is not fluent. This does not make coherent or useful reading for young people wishing to access their files. The manager has failed to notify Ofsted of three significant incidents in the home, as required by regulation. This does not provide a transparent picture of events in the home. It makes assessment, by Ofsted, of the management of these events difficult and reduces this intended extra safeguard for young people. The manager has a drive to provide a good service. This is based on a genuine commitment to helping young people. Monitoring is reflective. It picks up triggers and patterns and uses these to minimise future incidents. There is a clear focus on

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Requires improvement

helping young people to change patterns of behaviour and on ensuring that staff responses are helpful. External monitoring reports are good. Detailed reports give a clear picture of events in the home and identify areas for improvement. The visitor spends time obtaining views of professionals, parents and young people . This feedback is used to improve the service. The home has enabled young people to access education and to improve their life chances. This is a direct result of being at the home. Social workers and other professionals reiterate this. Fundamental attachments to key staff and a stable environment have helped young people to progress. The statement of purpose reflects staff changes to the home and sets out the aims and objectives. Maintenance and upkeep of the home is excellent. Viability and realistic business planning mean that the focus is on how the home can or cannot meet young people’s needs. The manager assesses new admissions critically and

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Requires improvement

with due consideration. Priority is given to the stability and safety of young people in the home. This has resulted in good-quality care and a high standard of accommodation.

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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 that 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 whom 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

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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