Children's home SC472275

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:

 This children’s home provides a stable, safe environment for children and young people with a range of needs and abilities. Children and young people are building positive, trusting relationships with carers and their peers.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff receive a range of training opportunities and effective supervision. They understand and adhere to safeguarding policies and procedures.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Children and young people are attending education, and have improved attendance and achievements. They are making significant progress from their starting points.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Children and young people enjoy a range of activities and after-school clubs, and they are developing good life and social skills.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff collaborate with professionals to ensure that there are detailed placement plans that identify individual needs.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Children and young people have improving physical and emotional health because of positive relationships and a healthier lifestyle.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Following an investigation into a complaint, a recommendation was made. This has not been fully actioned. There is a need for further development work to improve communication and to ensure consistent practice within the team.

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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

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

(1) The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— (2) In particular, the registered manager ensures that— (b) staff work as a team where appropriate; 29 July 2016

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is privately owned. It is registered to care for five young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

12 January 2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

20 January 2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Good

This home provides a stable, child-centred environment. Children and young people have developed trusting, positive relationships with carers. As a result, they are making good progress. One social worker said: ‘The staff in this home have pitched it just right. This young person is safer as a result of clear boundaries and monitoring, and is encouraged to make decisions and be listened to.’

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Good

The care that is provided is sensitive to each child’s and young person’s needs, including their identity needs, vulnerabilities and abilities. There are detailed placement plans, informed by assessments. Children’s and young people’s views are listened to and form an integral part of the plan.

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Good

All the children and young people are in education placements that are appropriate to their needs and abilities. They all have improved attendance records. This is significant progress from their starting points. There are excellent communication arrangements in place between education staff and care staff. This means that any problems are quickly addressed, and progress and achievements are celebrated.

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Good

The home’s education tutor said: ‘The staff in this home really value education, and proactively develop good relationships and communication with schools.’ Staff consult with children and young people, and ensure that they have opportunities to experience activities, after-school clubs and holidays of their choice. One young person competes in athletics, another plays rugby and two young people enjoy horse riding. They are encouraged to contribute to community activities, such as raising funds for charities.

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Good

Staff support children and young people to learn and develop life skills. Part of their daily routine is the responsibility for tidying their rooms and helping with household tasks. During the inspection, one young person helped to cook dinner for everyone. All are encouraged to budget and to save pocket money. They have opportunities to earn extra pocket money. One young person is preparing to move to independent accommodation. He is undertaking an independence skills package that the provider has designed. This includes responsibility for budgeting and learning basic, essential DIY skills. This will be positive evidence for accommodation providers and for any training or employment applications.

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Good

Staff ensure that children and young people have detailed health plans in place. They are helped to attend health appointments and are encouraged to have a healthy lifestyle. One young person was very positive about losing weight as a result of a healthy eating plan. There is a recently developed smoking minimisation policy. Managers are in the process of ensuring that it is implemented consistently with young people, and information about it will be included in the admissions welcome pack for children and young people. Children and young people who have additional health needs are referred to specialist services. For example, some young people have received bereavement counselling. All of the children and young people have enhanced self-esteem and emotional health as a result of the stable environment and positive relationships that they are building.

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Good

Staff are proactive in ensuring that positive and regular contact arrangements are in place. Staff have supported case-responsible social workers to develop good arrangements for children with a range of family members. As a result, safe and positive contact has increased, and relationships have improved.

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Good

There are weekly residents meetings when children and young people are consulted about a range of things, from menus to the decoration of the home. They can raise any issues. They are also aware of the complaints procedure. Managers and staff are discussing the development of the residents meetings and young people’s contributions to the team development plan. There have been two complaints by children, which were thoroughly investigated and resolved by the manager.

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Good

Managers plan carefully for new admissions. This starts with careful consideration, and proceeds to matching with the current residents’ needs. Children and young people are encouraged to visit before moving into the home. A range of professionals are consulted, in addition to the case- responsible social worker, to ensure that all known information is assessed. There is a detailed admissions process that is informed by children’s and young people’s preferences. This means that children and young people are supported to settle and feel comfortable.

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Good

The home is a comfortable, safe and secure environment. All the children and young people have recently completed a ‘safe zone’ survey and report that they feel safe in the home.

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Good

Staff build positive relationships with young people and undertake one-to-one sessions with them, addressing areas of risk that have been identified in their individual placement plans. They promote and reinforce positive behaviours. As a result, there has been reduced substance misuse, reduced vulnerability to exploitation and fewer incidents of aggressive behaviour. All the children and young people have reduced risk from their starting points, as a result of living in this home. There are significantly fewer incidents of going missing and unplanned absences. Staff have been trained and are experienced in de- escalating conflicts and challenging behaviours. As a result, a very low number of physical interventions have taken place.

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Good

Staff are trained in safeguarding children and young people, and adhere to child protection procedures and policies. When there has been an incident of going missing or a physical intervention, procedures have been followed. Records are detailed and reviewed by a manager. Managers ensure that, when a young person has returned from a ‘missing’ episode, they are welcomed and an independent interview is completed. This informs the ongoing assessment of risk. When there has been a concern about an emerging risk or increased risk, managers have appropriately requested multi-agency meetings. As a result, information is shared and plans are agreed to manage any risks.

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Good

There are detailed risk and behaviour management plans. Each child and young person agrees targets that are addressed in one-to-one sessions with staff. Incentives are also agreed, in order to encourage and reinforce positive changes. One young person said: ‘I am getting on a lot better since living here. I have stopped taking drugs and don’t go missing or get into trouble with the police any more. I am going to school. Staff are helping me to turn things around.’

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Good

There has been some conflict, at times, between some of the young people. This is understandable, as there are different ages, needs and abilities. There is a mediation process that children and young people know about. With staff support, resolutions are agreed. Relationships are carefully monitored. As a result, there is a generally comfortable, positive atmosphere in the home.

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Good

The home staff and young people have a good relationship with local police and specialist police services. As a result, when there are any reported concerns there is good communication to help to resolve them.

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Good

Managers have undertaken training in safe caring and safe recruitment. Staff are thoroughly vetted, receive safeguarding training and are subject to a probationary period. Any concerns are referred to the local safeguarding designated officers, and placing social workers are always informed. Judgement grade

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Good

The registered manager is experienced. She is currently undertaking management qualifications. The staff team is experienced and qualified. Some of the recently recruited staff are completing the relevant care qualifications. The managers prioritise staff training and development. Staff report that they receive regular supervision that is supportive. They say that training and supervision add value to their skills and knowledge.

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Good

The managers know the children’s and young people’s needs well. Team meetings and supervision always include a review of up-to-date information about each child’s and young person’s needs. A range of quality assurance mechanisms is in place to inform managers about the performance of staff and progress of children. They take note of the monthly reports from an independent visitor and respond promptly to recommendations. The management team evaluates information from a range of audits of case records and reports on performance indicators to provider meetings. As a result, managers know the progress that each child and young person is making, and ensure that there are comprehensive plans in place to meet their needs. They also learn from the other homes in their provider meetings, sharing knowledge, experience and training resources.

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Good

Professionals report that there is good partnership working. During the inspection, the inspector met with a professional who said: ‘The staff understand the children’s needs well and manage them well. They keep us up to date and respond quickly to any contact.’

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Good

Managers are proactive advocates for the children. They have been successful in ensuring that children and young people have good school and education placements. They have requested multi-agency meetings when there has been new information about risks and behaviours. As a result, there have been fewer concerns. Staff ensured that one young person was allocated an independent advocate when he felt that his views were not being listened to about his care plan.

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Good

Where complaints are received, these are promptly investigated. An investigation into a complaint led to a number of recommendations. Although there are no concerns about the safety and welfare of children or young people, there is a need for further work regarding the development of the team. Specifically, managers need to ensure that the whole team is involved in a development day. In addition, the manager is developing a senior carers’ meeting to improve communication and consistency. An independent reviewing officer reported: ’Staff and managers are focused and clear in their understanding of the needs of the children placed with them – evidenced through good discussion, feedback and communication with all involved agencies.’

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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.

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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 .

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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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