Children's home run by YCPG Services Ltd in Walsall

Good

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

p.2

The children's home provision is good because:

 The home is led by an experienced and dedicated manager, who is supported by a passionate and dedicated staff team.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people have good experiences and make progress in all areas of their lives.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people make good progress in managing their emotions and behaviour. The use of physical intervention is being reduced, and is used only as a last resort.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people make good progress from their starting points in regard to their education.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people enjoy a variety of activities that keep them fit and well.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 The home communicates well with external professionals to share information.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Key working addresses a variety of subjects that are significant to the lives of young people.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people make good progress towards independence. This helps them to prepare for leaving care.

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

12. The protection of children standard:

p.4

Requirement Due date

(2)(a) In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person is to ensure that staff:

p.4

Requirement Due date

(i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

p.4

Requirement Due date

(iv) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare 30 June 2016

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child's age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance (Regulation 24(1)(c)). 30 June 2016

p.4

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure that any home using CCTV or other monitoring equipment should have a written policy describing how this will support the safeguarding and well-being of those living and working in the home in accordance with regulation 24 (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 16 paragraph 3.16).

p.4

Information about this children's home

The home is registered to provide care for up to four young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is owned by an organisation.

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

Recent inspection history

11 February 2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

p.5

Recent inspection history

19 March 2014 Interim Satisfactory progress

p.5

Good

Young people have good experiences while living in the home. They access a range of activities that are specific to their age and ability. Staff encourage them to make informed choices about where they want to spend their free time. A young person said, ‘They fund our activities and we go to places like Water World, gym, football and golf: they plan things with us.’

p.6

Good

Young people make good progress from their starting points in regard to their education. For those young people who do not have an education provision, staff provide outings to enhance their educational experiences. A young person said, ‘We are going to Stratford today for Shakespeare’s birthday.’ This means that young people continue learning, regardless of the obstacles that they face.

p.6

Good

Staff provide young people with support and address key topics during key- working sessions. They cover a variety of subjects that are significant to the lives of young people. For example, when young people have been involved in criminalised behaviour, the staff provide opportunities to explore the impact, and support young people to manage their behaviour better.

p.6

Good

Young people enjoy a variety of activities that keep them fit and well. They benefit from a healthy, balanced diet and have access to activities that improve their fitness, health and well-being. Young people are enthusiastic about keeping fit. A young person said, ‘I had a gym ban and then negotiated how to earn it back, so I did more house chores. Staff gave me access to the gym.’

p.6

Good

Young people benefit from contact with those who are important to them. The manager and staff welcome visitors to the home. When young people have free time, they often choose to spend it by visiting their friends or family. This helps to maintain family ties, bonds and friendships.

p.6

Good

Young people’s views and opinions are regularly sought. A staff member said, ‘This is a family environment, for young people to have freedom to live as they would at home, give some control to allow choices, listen to them, let them make choices about activities, have a weekly voice and involve them. We are very child focused. It’s about giving power to have their say and opinion.’ This means that the voice of young people is heard.

p.6

Good

Relationships are mainly good. Young people and staff develop trust and respect for each other over time. When young people are new to the home, relationships are built quickly. For example, a young person already living in the home discouraged a new resident from going missing from care, and this gentle persuasion built a trusting friendship.

p.7

Good

Young people make good progress towards independence that helps them to prepare for leaving care. Young people work hard to develop life skills at a pace that is tailored to their needs. Life skills such as cooking, shopping and budgeting are part of independence plans. Pathway plans are completed in partnership with young people. This helps them to plan for their future and prepares them for leaving care. The manager said, ‘He came refusing to engage in anything. We came to a compromise, and asked what he wanted from life and how we can help. He was given a semi-independence plan on condition that he would go to education and be in the home at certain times during the week. He complied. He is now on stage two of the plan, and is doing his GCSE’s a year earlier than expected.’

p.7

Requires improvement

Young people feel safe and say that they are safe. Young people manage their emotions and behaviour well. The use of physical intervention is used only as a last resort by trained staff. Sanctions are fair, and the opportunity to earn back privileges is an option. This helps young people to become accountable and responsible for their actions. A young person said, ‘I have learned how to manage my behaviour. I am able to cope and deal with confrontation. Staff help me to manage my emotions. If staff don’t think I look after myself, they try to help me.’

p.7

Requires improvement

The home uses CCTV for the purposes of monitoring and surveillance, to protect the safety and welfare of young people in the home. However, not all young people’s risk assessments identify the use of the measure. Furthermore, not all young people are informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance.

p.7

Requires improvement

Where young people are vulnerable and risk is identified in their care plan, risk assessments do not always demonstrate how to safeguard against potential harm or abuse. This does not keep young people safe.

p.8

Requires improvement

When allegations are raised about external people who support young people in the home, yet who are not directly employed by it, safeguarding concerns are not always directly referred to the local area designated officer. This has the potential to delay sharing information that is required to safeguard young people.

p.8

Requires improvement

Staff are safely recruited. The manager ensures that all staff are suitably vetted prior to starting work. This protects young people from unsuitable candidates having access to them.

p.8

Requires improvement

Young people know how to complain, and do so. Complaints are dealt with and responded to in a timely manner. Where there is conflict between staff and young people, mediation helps to repair relationships, where necessary. This maintains good relationships.

p.8

Requires improvement

Young people do not go missing from care. They are comfortable in the home, and feel safe and settled. They have good support from staff to access the community, where restrictions may apply, for example bail conditions. This helps to keep young people safe without breaching conditions.

p.8

Requires improvement

The home provides a safe, welcoming and comfortable place to live. Staff undertake regular fire drills. This ensures that everyone living or working at, or visiting, the home knows how to evacuate the home safely in the event of a fire.

p.8

Requires improvement

Health and safety monitoring ensures that the home is free from hazards. Immediate action is taken when accidents occur. For example, following a recent accident while using the cooker, the manager reviewed the risk assessment. This helps to reduce any identified risk, and protects young people from harm or injury.

p.8

Requires improvement

Young people are protected from exploitation while using the Internet. There are suitable filters that protect the user. Staff supervise access. This keeps young people safe.

p.8

Requires improvement

Staff are trained and knowledgeable in safeguarding. A staff member talked about safeguarding referrals, and said, ‘Good communication and timing are vital because information shared in correct timescales ensures that young people are safeguarded immediately.’

p.8

Good

The home is led by an experienced and dedicated manager, who is supported by a passionate and dedicated staff team. The manager is currently working towards completing her level 5 diploma in leadership and management for residential childcare. A number of staff have gained or are working towards the level 3 diploma for residential childcare qualification. This means that the staff team is suitably qualified and experienced to meet the needs of the service.

p.9

Good

The home’s policy on the use of CCTV does not sufficiently refer to the required regulation in regard to surveillance and monitoring. This means that the use of the measure may not be appropriate.

p.9

Good

Young people are at the heart of staff’s care. The manager said, ‘We have a multiracial staff team. This helps young people to relate to diversity. We incorporate everything we do to address diversity, for example menu plans, education, monthly events, what’s happening around the world’. This opens discussion about culture, religion and helps young people to understand and stop prejudice.

p.9

Good

The home communicates well with external professionals to share information. An independent reviewing officer said, ‘I get bulletins now, and summary reports monthly. Significant changes.’ Joint partnership working is good. The staff team is transparent in communicating, and shares information well. This keeps everyone informed about the progress of young people. The progress that young people make is continually assessed and evaluated from their start point.

p.9

Good

Staff are provided with good-quality supervision, training and appraisal that support ongoing practice and enhance personal development. The manager provides an ‘open door’ policy that provides staff with the opportunity to seek guidance and support outside of planned supervision. As a result, staff gain confidence and skill in their practice. The home continues to operate within its conditions of registration and in line with its statement of purpose. External professionals understand the ethos and vision of the home, and confirm that the staff operate in accordance with these. The manager regularly reviews and updates them, when necessary.

p.9

Good

Monthly monitoring of the home is undertaken by an independent visitor. Additionally, the manager completes her review of care and provides a report to Ofsted, in line with regulations. This ensures that the service is under constant review and provides the manager with a plan to improve the quality of care.

p.10

Good

Significant events are reported appropriately.

p.10

Good

The manager has addressed the action from the last inspection. The kitchen is open at all times. This provides free access for young people.

p.10

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’.

p.11

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

p.11

What the inspection judgements mean

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

p.11

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

p.12

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 .

p.12

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,

p.13

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.13

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.13

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

p.13