Children's home run by Medway Council in Medway

The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

children and young people since the most recent full inspection. This home was judged requires improvement at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness . Prior to the previous inspection in February 2016, senior leaders proactively closed the service for a three-month period in order to conduct a full review of the provision. This coincided with the introduction of an improvement manager and was quickly followed by the absence of the registered manager. The registered manager remains on long-term sickness absence. Consequently, the improvement manager is now running the service on a daily basis to good overall effect. Ofsted is addressing the need for the registered provider to ensure these arrangements are formalised with an application from the interim manager to apply for registration. A programme of much-needed improvement to provide an effective short-break

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

service for children with complex needs has been implemented. The home reopened with a limited day-only service in May 2016. This has now been extended to include overnight stays. At the last inspection, seven requirements were made. These encompassed the protection of children, the locality risk assessment, the quality and purpose of care, improving the competency and understanding of staff, notifications to Ofsted regarding serious incidents and the failure to submit Regulation 44 reports. In response to the requirement about the statement of purpose, this document now more accurately describes the ethos of the home, the service it offers and how outcomes will be achieved. Although improved, the statement of purpose is overly detailed and needs further revision and refinement. Children are safer because staff are more able to understand and effectively apply the new relevant, detailed and specific and individualised risk assessments. An

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

updated and more specific locality risk assessment has improved staff safeguarding awareness when working with children on outings away from the home. The two requirements made in relation to the protection of children have been met. A review of policies, procedures and practices has resulted in the interim manager having a clear understanding of how the quality of care provided affects the progress and experience of children and how this needs to develop further. She also has clear plans for how this will be achieved. The requirement in relation to the quality and purpose of care has been met. A comprehensive and targeted training intervention has increased staff’s understanding of the overall aims of the service. Together with an improved activity recording system, this has increased the effectiveness of staff in delivering care that meets the complex needs of children who attend the home. A staff

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

member said, ‘It feels much more organised now and we know what it is that we are doing.’ The requirement relating to leadership and management has been met. Despite a previous requirement, no independent visits to the home have taken place since the last inspection. This has made it difficult for the home to evaluate changes and progress and it limits Ofsted’s ability to monitor the home between inspections. However, plans are in place for this activity to resume with immediate effect. This requirement remains unmet. Given the very recent restarting of a full service, meaningful evaluation of the progress and experience of children is in the early stages. Extensive refurbishments have resulted in a more stimulating and affirming environment for children. Equipment for play and activities is more accessible, indoor space for activities has been significantly increased, facilities are more versatile in meeting a wide range of

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

needs and specialised equipment has been installed to promote independence and improve experience. One child expressed a liking for the changes including his newly-painted room. Staff are positive and enthusiastic about the changes and one member of staff said that ‘it feels more organised and all the clutter has gone’ and ‘we can change it all around easily for different groups with different needs’. Planning and preparation for children using the service is proactive, thoughtful and comprehensive and results in staff having a good understanding of children’s safety and well-being needs and contributes significantly to children’s positive experience of their stay. There have been no significant incidents requiring notification, nor has there been any use of physical restraint interventions since the last inspection. Given the importance of making notifications about serious incidents, the requirement in this

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

regard will be repeated. Staff are more confident and clearer about their care of the children and also more able to provide children with a safer and more positive experience of their stay. This is the result of an outreach programme that has led to effective links being established with schools and families, improved partnership working and an increased understanding of children’s needs. One staff member said, ‘It makes such a difference when you have been into their homes and seen all their things.’ Stakeholders are more involved in the service and this has been reinforced by the starting of a parents’ support group that meets regularly at the home. The manager understands the need for change and has realistic plans in place to continue to improve the quality of the service. New staff recording procedures and practices are not yet embedded. Staff recruitment and consolidation is underway and registration of the manager needs to be addressed.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Although still in the beginning stages, the manager has so far led a process of change that has brought about significant improvement in a much needed service. She displays a breadth of vision and understanding of this particular provision and is inspiring staff to continue the process of improving the standard of care on offer.

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Information about this children's home

The home provides short breaks for up to five children with severe learning disabilities and who may have an associated physical disability and/or present challenging behaviour. The local authority, primary care trust and Clinical Commissioning Group fund the home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

02/02/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

05/08/2014 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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 the ‘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

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s monthly report to HMCI (Regulation 44 (7)(a)). 14/07/16

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious (Regulation 40 (4)(e)). Ongoing

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the ‘Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection’.

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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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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 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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