Children's home in Gloucester

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:

 The young person is cared for by a committed and stable staff team.  The young person has been encouraged and fully supported to increase her independence skills. She has also been actively involved in decision making about her future.  The young person said that she is safe, and all staff are fully aware of their roles and responsibilities in protecting the young person.  Education of the young person is a key priority for the registered manager and staff. Consequently, the young person makes good progress in school relative to her starting points.  Relationships between the young person and her family and friends are valued and promoted through good and safe arrangements for contact. All contact arrangements are closely monitored and in the young person’s best interests.  Excellent recreational and social activities have supported the young person to develop improved confidence and skills, and help her to flourish.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Interagency working is successful in ensuring that the young person is cared for exceedingly well. The registered manager actively challenges other agencies and professionals, and accepts challenge from them as a useful tool to improve practice.  A committed and ambitious registered manager, well supported by a consistent and stable staff team, works in and manages this home effectively.  There are some shortfalls identified at this inspection. There are errors in the recording of medication, and audits have failed to identify these. In some instances, the recruitment process for employing staff has not been followed, and references for staff have only been requested once they have started employment. Also, gaps have failed to be identified and considered.

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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

(1) The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children's home. (2) In particular the registered person must ensure that— (c) a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (3) Paragraph (2) does not apply to medicines which— (b) may be safely self-administered by that child (Regulation 23(1)(2)(c)(3)(b)). 8 July 2016

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Requirement Due date

(1) The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children's safety. (3) The requirements are that— (a) the individual is of integrity and good character; (b) the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform; (d) full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that all references have been received and verified prior to an employee starting work, and full employment histories checked with clarification are sought around any gaps in employment (Regulation 32(1)(3)(a)(b)(d)). 8 July 2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure that all children's case records are kept up to date and stored securely. Case records must be signed and dated by the author of each entry (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3).

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a workforce plan which 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 staffing 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 (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8).

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Information about this children's home

The home is a privately run children’s home. It is registered for two 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

2 March 2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

26 January 2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Good

The young person’s experience and progress while living in the home are good. She benefits from individualised and exceptionally well-planned care, provided by an enthusiastic, committed staff team and a knowledgeable manager. Through warm, nurturing relationships, the young person has continued to grow in confidence and has developed a positive self-image. All professionals involved were very complimentary about the current staff team and the quality of care provided. The placing social worker had reported, ‘’I am very satisfied with the care provided. There is a consistent staff team in place that is effectively managed. The care is thoughtful and responsive to (Name)’s needs and wishes, in addition to being in her best interests. Staff maintain a good working relationship with myself and the other professionals involved in (Name)’s care.’

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Good

The young person presents as very settled and happy. Open and transparent relationships between staff and the young person clearly demonstrate that she has built up an appropriate level of trust with those responsible for her care. The young person commented, ‘I have loved living here and I now feel able and ready to move on. I have been involved in decisions about my future and the staff have also had my best interests at heart, even in the hard times.’ Consequently, the young person has developed an appropriate sense of belonging and permanence.

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Good

The young person has made significant progress in her education. She has continued to travel to an out of area college placement on a daily basis, and has built up the confidence to travel independently, using public transport. Her attendance is 98%. She remains very focused on her chosen career path, planning on going to university and then joining the police force. This has continued to be her goal, and she is committed to achieving the grades required to continue onto higher education.

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Good

Both the registered manager and staff team have continued to offer support and guidance to the young person. They liaised directly with the college tutors when the young person requested additional support for her maths coursework. Following a meeting, a tutor was provided and the young person recently sat her GCSEs. She said, ‘It was hard work, but I want a C and hopefully I will get it.’ The college tutor said, ‘(Name) has always been clear about her goals. It has not always been plain sailing, and some days have been difficult. However, with the high levels of support from both the college and the staff from the home, we have got there. (Name) has completed her coursework and sat her GCSEs. We really are very proud of (Name) and all she has achieved.’

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Good

The young person has improved her access to healthcare. She has continued to engage with a range of professionals to address her basic healthcare and that of her unborn child. She has also started to engage in services, including regular therapy sessions, to support her emotional well-being and safety. This gives her access to age-appropriate guidance and reliable information that equip her to make informed choices. Additionally, the therapist works with staff to help them to understand the aims and techniques of the approaches used. This ensures that the staff have the knowledge and strategies to continue to support the young person on a day-to-day basis. The therapist said, ‘staff are very proactive in their approach and clearly care about the young person. They are willing to listen and have supported (Name) during sessions, when needed. They have also provided additional support at home afterwards.’ Consequently, the young person’s

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Good

emotional and therapeutic needs are central to the care practices of staff.

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Good

The relationships between the young person, her family and other important people in her life remain a key priority for staff. The registered manager and staff facilitate contact arrangements, provide transportation and monitor arrangements closely. All contact with family and those important to the young person takes place within a clearly defined plan. Staff are creative in their approaches and have included the young person’s friends in day trips out, weekend visits to the home’s caravan and overnight stays at the home. Regular reviews of contact take place within the young person’s looked after reviews. When agreed, levels of contact and other arrangements are adjusted. This ensures that the young person continues to have positive relationships with people who are important to her.

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Good

Pathway plans, independence plans and transition plans are all individualised to meet the needs of the young person. She has been fully involved in all the decisions about her next placement. She had the support of staff to visit the potential placements and make an informed choice about where she would like to live. The young person said, ‘Staff went with me and helped me to see the good points and the bad points about places I looked at. They just want me to get the best support with my new baby. Although I will miss some staff, I am ready to move on.’ Staff have spent time compiling memory boxes, photo albums and achievement files to celebrate the progress, experiences and achievements of the young person. They also organised a baby shower, when she received gifts and memories to take with her into adulthood. The young person said, ‘It was great, old staff who don’t work with me anymore were invited, and my boyfriend and his

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Good

family too. I really enjoyed my celebration.’ Judgement grade

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Good

The safety of the young person 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 the young person, and the correct reporting procedures to follow. Staff members are knowledgeable regarding the policy and procedures designed to keep the young person safe, and they understand how to implement these in day-to-day care practice. Consequently, the young person receives good, safe care from a well-trained and developed staff team.

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Good

Staff manage the young person’s behaviour well. It is an environment in which praise and warmth are central to good staff practice. Staff praise achievement, whatever this may be, and they constantly encourage good behaviour. This has resulted in staff not having to resort to the use of discipline, such as sanctions. Neither has physical intervention been required. Should the young person behave in a negative manner, the registered manager and staff use restorative practice. This provides the young person with an opportunity to discuss her behaviours and why they were not appropriate. Different ways of managing situations more effectively in the future are then discussed, including how the young person felt that staff re-acted and supported her. These are proving beneficial as they raise the young person’s awareness of the impact of her behaviour on others, and helps staff to consider how they are dealing with and supporting the young person.

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Good

The young person has been involved in the introduction of a newly developed placement, behaviour, health and care plan. This clearly identifies agreed targets and goals for the young person, which are discussed, and an opportunity is provided for the young person to add her comments. She had written on her care plan, ‘I am happy that the new care plan is short and sounds more positive about me.’ Furthermore, the young person is encouraged to negotiate changes and amendments to her plan. For example, the young person had recorded in the bullying section of her plan that she did not agree with its content, and that she was very unhappy. The manager met with the young person and discussed the content of this section, and amendments to the terminology were made. There were further discussions with the young person about taking responsibility for her actions and personal development. As a result, the young person’s views, wishes

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Good

and opinions are involved in decisions about her future.

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Good

The young person is fully aware of the complaints procedure and can identify whom she would talk to if she were unhappy or worried. She said, ‘if I’m not happy, I will talk to the manager and she has listened and helped me. I do know how to make a complaint. To be fair, they just help me sort out anything that I’m not happy about, even if it’s still to say we know you’re not happy but unfortunately we are not going to change the procedure. At least they still explained it to me.’ This helps young people to deal with their difficulties in a child- friendly way, with appropriate outcomes achieved.

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Good

There were errors in the recording and monitoring of medication. Staff were inconsistent when recording the reasons why medication had not been provided. Although the records indicate that staff should record SA for self-administered, R for refused and A for away, staff were recording different codes or leaving the sections blank. This made it difficult to see whether the young person had refused or not been given her medication. There were also discrepancies in the stock amounts. For example, it indicated that there were 16 tablets in stock. However, records then indicated that the young person had been given three tablets as she had gone away. However, the amount in stock remained at 16. This does not demonstrate how medication is safely administered and in accordance with the stated prescription.

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Good

Safer recruitment procedures are not consistently followed. For example, some references have not been sufficiently verified, or they lack information that enables the manager to make an informed choice. Gaps in employment have not been routinely considered. These significant shortfalls in recruitment practice do not ensure a safe and suitable staff team.

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Good

Since the last inspection, the deputy manager has attended a formal interview with Ofsted, and started in her role as the registered manager in 2016. She has enrolled on her diploma 5 and has taken effective action to address all the requirements and recommendations made at the previous inspection. The home environment has improved and the young person was involved in choosing the new furniture that was purchased. The areas of damp in the bedroom and dining room were addressed, and ongoing monitoring is in place. There is now a stable and committed team of staff who either have completed or are working towards their formal qualification. They have built up very positive working relationships with the young person, who said, ‘Before anyone new does a shift, I now have the chance to meet them and get to find out a bit about them. This has really helped.’

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Good

The registered manager has forged excellent multi-agency working with other professionals and the placing authority. She will actively challenge other agencies and professionals if it is in the best interests of the young person. She also accepts challenge from them as a useful tool to improve practice This is a significant strength of the service. The home produces detailed progress reports prior to statutory reviews. External professionals say that communication with the home is factual and informative.

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Good

Paperwork now clearly captures the details of the life of the young person, charts her progress, and reflects her individual aspirations and challenges. Regular reviews of records in the home ensure that the key worker generally provides staff with reliable and detailed information about the needs of the young person. For example, risk assessments are reviewed monthly and indicate improvements in the young person’s ability to stay safe. However, some key-worker documents do not include the exact date of entries. This prevents there being a complete record of the young person’s time at the home, although it has not affected her welfare. Results clearly demonstrate the positive impact and value that living at the home has had on the life of the young person, who has grown in confidence and maturity.

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Good

The staff team is now stable. Staff have provided consistent care to the young person. Although there is one staff vacancy, this has not had an impact on the consistency of staffing and the care provided to the young person. Staff members are supported through regular supervision, and they have their developmental needs regularly appraised. Staff members value the support provided by the manager. They all report that they feel listened to and supported, and that the manager is ‘always willing to listen and is readily available’. Staff members meet regularly for team meetings. This provides them with the opportunity to reflect upon their practice. The young person also has the opportunity to attend and voice any issues or compliments that she has for the staff team. As a result, the young person has benefited from a well-supervised, trained and reflective staff group that receives good guidance and support for their work.

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Good

The registered manager has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the service. She takes a systematic approach to monitoring the quality of care provided. Monitoring also occurs through the 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 they receive. Any areas of concern are also identified and are quickly addressed.

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Good

Although the manager has considered the workforce development plan for the home, this still needs to include details on staff induction, training, supervision and managing poor performance. When brought to the attention of the manager, she took effective action to begin the revision process.

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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

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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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