Three Gables

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’s confidence and self-esteem improve as a result of living in this home. They make good progress in all areas.  Education of young people is a key priority for the registered manager and staff. Consequently, young people make good progress in school relative to their starting points.  Relationships between young people and their families are valued and promoted through good and safe arrangements for contact. All contact arrangements are closely monitored and in the young people’s best interest.  Excellent recreational and social activities support young people to develop improved confidence and skills, and help them to flourish.  Young people describe feeling safe at the home. The staff members are diligent and meet the young people’s safeguarding needs.  A committed and ambitious registered manager, well supported by a consistent and stable staff team, works in and manages this home effectively.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 There are some shortfalls identified in this inspection. Further improvements to the fabric of the building are required for the benefit of young people; behaviour management strategies are sometimes ineffective, resulting in some significant incidents taking place; the registered manager and staff do not adequately monitor visitors to the home; and there is no procedure in place to ensure that young people who smoke do not have matchers and cigarette lighters about their person in the home.

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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 ‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, the registered person must ensure— (2)(c) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to— (i) meet the needs of each child with regards the physical environment being improved to meet the needs of young people. 24 June 2016

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Requirement Due date

11: The positive relationships standard In order to meet the positive relationship standard, the registered person must ensure— (2)(c) that staff— (i) meet each child's emotional and behavioural needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans; (ii) help each child to develop socially aware behaviour; 24 June 2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain a register of visitors to the home (Regulation 37(1) Schedule 4(5). 24 June 2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children's home (Regulation 25(1)(a)). 24 June 2016

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Information about this children's home

This home is operated by the local authority and can accommodate up to four children and/or young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

Recent inspection history

10 February 2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.5

Recent inspection history

27 January 2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

p.5

Good

Young people make consistently good progress across all areas of their development, particularly in their education. They enjoy a wide range of social and recreational activities. This improves their confidence and self-esteem. The registered manager and staff provide nurturing and effective high-quality care. The young people are valued. Their strengths understood and harnessed into sustained progress. A young person spoken to stated, ‘I really like it here, best place I have ever been. It’s just like a big family.’

p.6

Good

The registered manager and staff acted quickly and decisively in meeting the requirements and recommendations set at the last interim inspection. The relationships between young people have been improved. There are now mutually respectful relationships marked by tolerance and understanding. The registered manager and senior staff members ensure that they provide regular supervision to staff and ensure oversight of their work. The registered manager has a continued programme of development for the physical environment of the home, with young people being provided with new furniture for their bedrooms.

p.6

Good

Relationships between young people, their families and those important to them are valued and promoted. Young people’s relationships are promoted through ongoing and safe contact arrangements that are in their best interests. Arrangements for contact take place within a clearly defined plan, which is subject to ongoing evaluation and review. As a result, young people maintain relationships with those who are important to them and understand their family backgrounds. For some young people, contact with family members is not possible. The registered manager and staff are sensitive to young people’s feelings and, in these circumstances, provide reassurance and support.

p.6

Good

The registered manager and staff value young people’s education. All the young people are in education, and most are achieving good attendance. They are on track to achieve success. For example, one young person is studying for forthcoming GCSEs. Staff support her with homework and completing coursework. Additionally, they have agreed with school an imaginative approach to support her to manage the understandable anxieties of taking the exams. For some young people who struggle to maintain regular attendance at school, staff are proactive in encouraging improved attendance. The staff try to improve attendance through incentives, supported by regular individual work with young people. This means that regular school attendance and good achievement remain a key priority in this home. Young people enjoy many recreational activities. This increases their confidence, self-esteem and skills. For example, one young person enjoys sea cadets, weekly

p.6

Good

sailing lessons, and has taken part in many community activities. He has excelled in many areas. He stated, ‘I get on really well with the staff here, they are all good, and they spend time with us.’ He has formed excellent relationships that have been fundamental to the progress he has made. A psychologist stated that his success, ‘is down in large part to the consistent care he has been provided with by the staff team.’

p.7

Good

The registered manager and staff prioritise the health needs of young people. Young people have primary healthcare provision in place and receive annual health care assessments. Young people are promptly taken to appointments, such as with dentists and opticians, and advice is acted upon in a timely manner.

p.7

Good

Some young people continue to smoke despite being provided with health advice and support to decrease or stop. Additionally, some young people have used alcohol and cannabis in the recent past. The manager and staff responded quickly to this concern and sought support from specialist services. Young people have undertaken individual work to support them to desist from such behaviour, and understand the negative impact on both their physical and mental health. Young people and staff benefit from services provided by a team of psychologists that works individually with young people, as well as providing consultations for staff. The registered manager and staff report that this is a valuable and important service, enabling them reflect on their practice and provide a good level of support to young people.

p.7

Good

The registered manager and staff value the views of young people. Young people contribute their views through regular young people’s meetings. These meetings have just undergone review and change. This was to provide a greater focus on developing relationships, for example sharing experiences and feelings, discussing what respect means and talking about important issues such as bullying. These meetings not only cover day-to-day issues but also try to raise awareness and empathy.

p.7

Good

Young people benefit from a comfortable environment that is personalised to meet their needs. Young people’s bedrooms are tailored to them as individuals, and contain games, posters and photographs that are important to them. The home has undergone some improvement work. However, aspects of the building continue to present as worn. There is damage to some walls, doorframes require painting, access to the airing cupboard is not secure and the window restraints give an institutional impression. While it is clear that young people benefit from the improvements already made to the fabric of the home, there remain areas of shortfall in this regard.

p.7

Good

Staff members provide a good level of supervision to the young people. The young people’s whereabouts is known, as are their friendship groups, helping staff members to keep young people safe. The young people go missing infrequently and, on the occasions that this has happened, staff have responded well. They follow the young person and try to persuade them to return. They continue to search local areas, and notify police and the local authority immediately. When young people are located and return home, they receive a warm welcome. Consequently, they and are offered the care and support that they need. An independent person will interview the young person and try to ascertain the reasons for them going missing. The registered manager and staff analyse information derived from these interviews to prevent future incidents.

p.8

Good

The safety of young people is of paramount importance to the registered manager and staff. Accordingly, staff have received a good level of training in safeguarding young people. They understand what actions to take, should they have any concerns about the safety and well-being of young people, and the correct reporting procedures to follow. Staff members are knowledgeable regarding the policy and procedures designed to keep young people safe, and they understand how to implement these in day-to-day care practice. Consequently, young people receive good safe care from a well-trained and developed staff team.

p.8

Good

Robust recruitment processes help to keep young people safe. Prospective new staff members undergo a rigorous process. This includes references being taken, checked and verified. Criminal records bureau checks are undertaken, and the prospective employee’s identity is checked and verified. These processes help to ensure that those in positions of trust do not harm young people.

p.8

Good

Young people report that they feel safe. Their safeguarding needs are met by good and diligent practice by staff members. A young person said the following: ‘I love the staff here, I have moved about lots in my life. I am as safe as I can be.’ The stable and consistent staff group has worked hard and managed to help the young people to invest their trust and faith in those caring for them. This has led to stable relationships in the home. As a result, there have been no incidents of staff having to resort to the use of physical intervention or sanctions.

p.8

Good

Since the last interim inspection, there have been a number of significant incidents involving young people’s behaviour. Some of these incidents centred on the young people using alcohol and cannabis, and there have been assaults upon staff that necessitated police intervention. The registered manager and staff failed to analyse information regarding some young people’s behaviour and patterns of behaviour, and the ability of some young people to influence others was not sufficiently evaluated. The registered manager and staff did not take proactive action to prevent further recurrence of incidents. This hampers young people’s progress. Judgement grade

p.8

Good

Young people benefit from a dedicated and aspirational registered manager. A committed and experienced deputy manager supports him, together with a stable staff team. The registered manager is a qualified social worker. He holds qualifications that are equivalent to the level 5 diploma in leadership and management. He has recently returned to the home following six months managing another service. The registered manager was away from the home during this period, and this caused some instability in the service.

p.9

Good

Partnership working with other agencies is good. There is regular contact with social workers and other agencies. A social worker commented, ‘I have no issues. This is probably one of the best working relationships, and they [the staff] try hard with young people.’ The registered manager and staff ensure that there are regular meetings with school and health professionals. Staff attend the young people’s looked after reviews. They write good quality reports that aid the decision-making process.

p.9

Good

The registered manager and deputy have a sound understanding of the care plans for each young person. They are central to the decision-making process and actively advocate on behalf of young people when they need to. Managers, together with staff members, set realistic developmental targets for young people, and closely monitor their progress in achieving these targets. This means that the managers and staff are ambitious for each young person.

p.9

Good

The staff team remains stable and provides consistent care to young people. Although there are some staff vacancies, this has no impact upon the consistency of staffing and the care provided to young people. Staff members are supported through regular supervision, and they have their developmental needs regularly appraised. Staff members value the support provided by the managers. They report that they feel listened to and that managers are always available to them. Staff members meet regularly for team meetings. Additionally, they have regular meetings with the psychologist supporting the service. This provides them with the opportunity to reflect upon their practice. As a result, young people benefit from a well-supervised, trained and reflective staff group that receives good guidance and support in their work.

p.9

Good

The registered manager has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the service. He takes a systematic approach to monitoring the quality of care provided. Monitoring also occurs through monthly visits to the home by an independent visitor who reports on any shortfalls and the strengths of the service. The registered manager makes good use of feedback from other professionals, and any complaints or compliments that are received. Areas of concern are quickly identified and addressed.

p.9

Good

The registered manager and staff have failed to maintain the record of visitors to the home. The registered manager has not ensured the robust recording of visitors attending and leaving the home for meetings or other purposes. This means that the manager and staff cannot be confident who is in the home.

p.10

Good

The registered manager and staff have not effectively addressed the issue of young people having smoking paraphernalia on their person or in their rooms. This can include cigarette lighters or matches, and it presents a fire risk. There is no clear procedure or process in place to manage this problem, nor any advice obtained from the fire service. This is a shortfall and presents a potential risk to young people living at the home and the staff working there.

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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.

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What the inspection judgements mean

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.

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What the inspection judgements mean

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.

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What the inspection judgements mean

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 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 ‘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 .

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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, 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,

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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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