Setting in Havant

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 benefit from clear structures and boundaries. This enables them to feel safe and secure, and to benefit from the stability that the home environment creates.  Young people are happy and enjoy living in their home.  Young people are kept as safe as possible and their lives stabilise. Risk- taking behaviour, such as gang involvement and missing episodes, reduce.  Young people feel listened to. They have opportunities to negotiate and to put their views across regularly.  Young people make good progress across all aspects of their lives and development.  The management and staff team have high aspirations for all young people, regardless of the challenges that they face.  A committed staff team delivers good-quality care.  Managers are aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the service and take action to ensure continuous improvement for young people.  A committed staff team delivers good-quality care.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Care plans and risk assessments do not focus on the current needs of young people and the strategies necessary to keep them safe.  Bank staff are not supervised in such a way as to ensure consistency in the care provided to young people.  The manager does not keep abreast of staff skills and their understanding of the role.

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Statutory requirements

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

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to ensuring that children are protected from harm, the registered person must ensure: (a) that staff (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. This is with particular reference to ensuring that care plans and risk assessments contain current and relevant information on risks and appropriate strategies to keep children safe. 5 August 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.

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Requirement Due date

(32)(3) the requirements are that (b) the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform (4) For the purpose 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 (a) the level 3 diploma for residential childcare (England) ( ‘the level 3 Diploma’); or (b) a qualification that the registered person considers to be equivalent to the level 3 diploma.

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Requirement Due date

(5) The relevant date is (a) in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1 April 2014, the date which falls two years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or 5 August 2016 (b) in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1 April 2014, 1 April 2016. (Regulation (32)(3) (b)(4) (a)(b) (5) (a) (b))

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Requirement Due date

(4) The registered person must ensure that all employees (b) receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience, with particular reference to ensuring that bank staff receive supervision at regular intervals (Regulation 33(4) (b)). 5 August 2016

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Requirement Due date

(4) The independent person must produce a report about a visit, which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether: (a) children are effectively safeguarded; and (b) the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being (Regulation 44 (4) (a)(b)). 5 August 2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff have the skills and knowledge to recognise and to be alert for any signs that might indicate that a child is in any way at risk of harm ( ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.12).

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a workforce plan that can fulfil the workforce-related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). The plan should:

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Recommendations

Detail the necessary management and staff structure, (including any staff commissioned to provide health and education), the experience and qualifications of staff currently working within the staffing structure and any further training required for those staff, to enable the delivery of the home’s statement of purpose. Detail the processes and agreed timescales for staff to achieve induction, probation and any core training (such as safeguarding and health and safety, and mandatory qualifications). Detail the process for managing and improving poor performance; Detail the process and timescales for supervision of practice (see regulation 33(4)(b)) and keep appropriate records for staff in the home.  The plan should be updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff while working at the home, and used to record the ongoing training and continuing professional development of staff, including the

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Recommendations

home’s manager(‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 10.8).

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Information about this children's home

This home is one of a number of children’s homes owned and managed by a private company. It provides care and accommodation for up to six 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

4 February 2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

18 February 2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Good

Young people live in an atmosphere in which they make positive progress from their starting points. Staff provide a nurturing and happy environment in which young people feel safe and cared for. A young person said, ‘One of the best things about living here is that l know the staff care about me.’ Young people make significant changes and progress across all aspects of their physical, social, behavioural and emotional development. For example, they develop trusting adult relationships and a sense of self-esteem and identity. An independent reviewing officer stated, ‘The staff and management offer a particularly nurturing and supportive service, which to date is one of the best l have seen in London.’ Young people have positive education involvement. They benefit from good partnership relationships between the home and education professionals. For some young people this has ensured the use of the pupil premium for extra tuition.

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Good

Others are supported to re-integrate positively into school life. A headteacher reported, ‘The staff are supportive of the young person’s education. They work positively and proactively with school and, as a result, he is becoming settled and is functioning well.’ Young people benefit from the services that they need to promote their physical and emotional well-being. They are registered with health professionals and have access to psychological services. In addition, young people benefit from healthy lifestyles; they regularly enjoy sports such as cycling. They have choice in meals and a growing respect for healthy eating. Young people engage in a variety of activities and hobbies. For example, one young person has developed an interest in fishing. Day to day, young people are involved in dance and cinema clubs. Over the school holidays, they had opportunities to go mountain climbing and to experience off-road motor sports.

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Good

Experiences like these help to enhance young people’s self-esteem, enable them to explore individual identity, and promote childhood fun and enjoyment. Memory photo books help them to remember and cherish these experiences. Positive contact is supported, enabling young people to maintain relationships with significant people in their lives. During the inspection, young people were observed interacting with friends in the home. As a result, young people’s experiences of care are normalised and afford them opportunities to integrate into society with their peers. Judgement grade

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Good

Young people are kept safe and understand the importance of personal safety. They become increasingly safe because staff have helped them to reduce their previously difficult and risk-taking behaviour. The incidents of risk-taking behaviour, such as going missing from care, risk-taking sexual behaviour and gang involvement, have reduced significantly and for some ceased entirely. A proactive staff team works well in recognising outside factors that have an impact on young people’s emotional well-being and their behaviour patterns. The team works closely with relevant agencies on agreed approaches to these behaviours. This joined-up working enables young people to reflect on and to take greater responsibility for their actions. Detailed individual risk assessments make clear the exact nature of the risks and the type of behaviour that could increase the risks of harm. However, the strategies and measures to reduce the risks are often ineffectual and do not always

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Good

give clear procedures to staff on how to manage these risks, for example, behaviour in which knives have featured or young people exhibiting risky emotional behaviour. Sanctions are not a common feature of this home, because staff strive to reduce negative behaviour through discussions, co-operation and reparation. Young people say that the house rules are fair. Reasons for sanctions are discussed with them and they are given the opportunity to share their views on these. Frequency of missing episodes is low. However, when these take place, effective protocols are in place and agreed with the police for prompt and efficient action. This ensures that when young people go missing they are quickly located and safely returned. Positive interaction and engagement with the police mean that information is shared, for example, in relation to risks that young people may put themselves at when out of the home. Young people engage in discussion sessions with the police

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Good

on topics such as positive behaviour awareness, gang culture and drug awareness. This helps young people to have a positive image of the police and lessens their fear of speaking out. Policies and procedures are in place to identify the risks of child sexual exploitation, e-safety and radicalisation, among others. A training matrix ensures that all staff have access to and attend mandatory training. However, training on differing cultural practices is not in place to ensure that staff understand the potential impact for young people living in care of, for example, female genital mutilation, forced marriages trafficking or honour-based violence. This means that staff may not be able to identify or respond appropriately to young people at risk. The home’s location risk assessment shows good knowledge of presenting risks in the surrounding areas. However, it would benefit from revision to include the wider

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Good

A strong and effective registered manager, who has been in post for in excess of 10 years, provides good leadership and management. She complements her national vocational qualification level 4 management qualification with continuing professional development for example, undertaking a qualification in therapeutic residential childcare and keeping up to date with current research and legislative practice. An experienced deputy manager supports the registered manager. Together, they create an ethos of good outcomes for young people and a developing, confident staff team. This results in young people receiving a good quality of care. They continually strive to seek ways to improve the functioning and practice of the home. However, this is not formalised or evidenced in a workforce development plan. Relationships with professionals such as social workers, youth offending teams and the police are strong. The home is particularly effective at challenging other

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Good

professionals when a shortfall in practice is identified, resulting in better outcomes for young people, for example, when young people need additional support to access education. Staff describe a supportive home. They are supported through good regular supervision. This ensures that they retain a focus on young people’s care plans. Staff have access to training opportunities to enhance their care practice. However, management fails to provide the same quality of good practice for bank members of staff. At present, there is a lack of clarity about the frequency for their supervision. A member of staff said that she had not received supervision for some time, despite working an average of two shifts weekly. This can lead to inconsistencies in care and a lack of clarity about the skills and expertise of bank staff. In the main, staff are qualified to a minimum of the level 3 diploma in residential care, or are undertaking this qualification. A new six-month induction package will

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Good

enable new unqualified staff to gain twenty credits toward this. However, the home retains a small number of unqualified staff. Young people have a voice in their care plans. Staff have good knowledge of their needs and the planning for their immediate and future needs. However, some records are inconsistent and fail to reflect current needs and the good progress of young people. A comprehensive statement of purpose reflects the services provided and the manner in which young people are looked after. Quality of care monitoring of the home is of a good standard. The registered manager uses feedback from young people, parents and professionals to inform the continuing development of the home. Independent monitoring takes place on a monthly basis. It is evaluative and provides the manager with clear areas for improvement. However, reports fail to give the visitor’s opinion of the safeguarding of young people and of how their well-being is promoted.

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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 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 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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