Children's home run by The Governing Body of Woodlands School in Plymouth

Requires improvement

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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The children's home provision requires improvement because:

 This children’s home has recently had two full inspections that resulted in inadequate judgements. While some significant steps have been made to improve practice and keep children safe, the progress is still developing and in its infancy.  There has been no permanent manager in post since the first inadequate inspection in January 2016. The registered individual has worked hard to ensure positive change. A manager in day-to-day control has only recently been employed. This appointment has brought much needed stability and leadership to the home. The manager is yet to be registered with Ofsted.  The system in place to monitor and review the quality of care in the home is not currently robust. This has resulted in managers not having oversight of concerns for children that have developed over a period of time. Urgent attention is required to ensure that safeguarding concerns are not overlooked as a result of this issue.

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The children's home provision requires improvement because:

 Visual and audio monitoring systems are currently used within the home without the need for their use being rigorously assessed. This has resulted in intrusive practice that is not always required.

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The children's home strengths

 There have been remarkable improvements made to the home environment. It now presents as warm and nurturing. It is child focused. Children and their families really appreciate the changes.  A great deal of investment has been focused upon ensuring that the staff at this home have the skills required to look after children well and ensure their safety. This inspection was able to evidence an improvement in staff’s skills. They are now able to identify and respond to concerns that they have about children. They are clear about expectations on them and the legislation and guidance that govern them. Training and development continues and there is a commitment from the leadership team that they will provide all of the training that is required in moving this service forward.  The newly appointed manager has a clear action plan in place to keep moving this service forward. This manager initially became involved in the

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The children's home strengths

home to support them in addressing the weaknesses in practice. He has since been appointed on a permanent basis. He presents as committed to the children, and their needs and progress are central to his practice.  The newly appointed manager was fully aware of the shortfalls that inspectors identified during this inspection. He had already started to put plans and actions in place to address them.

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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

13: The leadership and management standard In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person must (13)(2)(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home 1 August 2016

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Requirement Due date

24: Monitoring and surveillance The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if— (a) the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children; (b) the child's placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance; (c) 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; and (d) the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child's need for privacy (Regulation 24 (1) (a)(b)(c)(d)). 1 August 2016

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Requirement Due date

46: Review of premises The registered person must— (1) review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children's home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in Regulation 12 (2)(c) (the protection of children standard) (2) when conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person (Regulation 46 (1) (2)). 1 August 2016

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Information about this children's home

The home has recently changed its registration from a short-breaks service to a children’s home. The home may provide care and accommodation for children with sensory impairment, learning disabilities and physical disabilities. The home is registered to care for up to eight children at any one time.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

2 February 2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Requires improvement

Significant progress has been made in transforming the home into one that offers children a more comfortable and homely environment. Staff offices have been moved out of the main home. This has made way for three additional spaces for children to enjoy. Parents spoken to by the inspector stated that the changes are ‘remarkable’. They believe that the changes have made a significant and improved difference to children’s experiences and have promoted more opportunities for them. The ‘snug’ and the ‘messy play room’ which has been decorated by the children are particular highlights. Children are happy and relaxed in the care of staff. Relationships are positive and are built on mutual trust and respect. Children are provided with various activities that they enjoy and learn from. Children really look forward to these activities. One child stated that spending time at the home is ‘amazing’. Children are included in

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Requires improvement

decisions and given choices about all aspects of their care. They particularly like spa evenings and trips out. Children who attend the home are making progress in their development. One child was able to demonstrate three new words that she had learned and was very proud of. Children acquire skills and have experiences that they would not otherwise have easy access to, for example swimming and going on the trampoline with their friends. They are provided with good opportunities to promote their development. Fun and laughter can always be found when the children are in the home. Children are encouraged to try out new things and socially engage with others. They all really enjoy this time. The arrangements for the storage and administration of medication are good. Parts of the system are still evolving, but these have recently been simplified to improve safety and accessibility. The medical room and storage of equipment has been

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Requires improvement

overhauled. All staff have received additional training and are now confident to carry out tasks that they would not have been confident in previously. The arrangement for handover of information has significantly improved since the previous inspection. These meetings are now informative and clear. Staff are provided with opportunity to clarify issues in respect of the children. Additional tasks are now expected before the shift starts and staff are visually more relaxed and confident. The monitoring and surveillance systems being used are not always based on children’s specific needs. Care plans do not underpin the use of intrusive devices. A blanket approach to sound monitoring has been used in the home and has become common place. There is an absence of consideration to whether children actually need the level of intrusion that they are currently subjected to.

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Requires improvement

A number of concerns have been identified since the previous full inspection. Some of these practices stem from the cultural issues highlighted at the previous inspections. The registered individual has ensured that all concerns have been, or are in the process of being, robustly investigated. Formal disciplinary processes have been used appropriately. This approach has provided staff with a clear message that the children’s needs come first. Concerns and worries about children are taken seriously and escalated as required. Staff are now identifying and highlighting concerns. For example, staff raised a concern in respect of a bruise to a child’s foot. This resulted in specialist socks being provided. The mark healed and discomfort was reduced for the child. There is room for improvement in terms of sharing information with the child’s placing authorises. The arrangements for children’s care and their safety have improved. Steps have

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Requires improvement

been taken to ensure that staff know what children need to keep them safe and comfortable. This results in children receiving continuity of care and support that improves their outcomes and experiences. There is good evidence of improved vigilance in terms of reporting safeguarding concerns. There are some deficits in the electronic recording system, which highlights some gaps in the documentation of information. The system is not yet fully embedded. Safer recruitment is robust. Agency and bank staff are treated as regular members of staff. They are provided with a good induction. They are clear about safeguarding responsibilities. They are provided with shadow shifts prior to working at the home to enable them to familiarise themselves with the children and understand how their needs are met. There is a better understanding and a creative approach to effective behaviour management. Staff were able to give good examples of how their practice has

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Requires improvement

changed since the previous inspection. Sanctions are no longer given to any children who stay at this home.

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Requires improvement

A permanent manager has now been appointed to take charge of the home. The manager is fully aware of the shortfalls identified within the last two inspections and is committed to moving this service forward. This appointment, while still in its infancy, has brought much needed stability and leadership to the home. Leaders and managers have ensured that the compliance issues and all of the requirements made at the last full inspection have been effectively addressed. It is a credit to the managers and staff that they have achieved so much positive change in such a short period of time. This has resulted in better and safer care arrangements for children and improved morale for the staff. Staff report feeling supported by the leadership team. Staff have received regular supervision since the last inspection. The quality of the supervision has been variable due to the number of managers that have been undertaking this task. The new manager has clear plans in place to improve

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Requires improvement

supervision and provide consistency for staff. Not all complaints have been dealt with effectively. At times the current policies in place have not been followed and this has resulted in additional and avoidable distress for one family. Complaints dealt with by the new manager reflect good practice. Parents have felt listened to and concerns have been taken seriously. The manager has taken the time to ensure that he understands key issues. He has set actions to address any shortfalls or points for practice improvement. Lessons have been learned from complaints and practice and outcomes for children noticeably improved. There are no effective systems in place to monitor concerns for young people over time. This prevents manager’s form having robust oversight of behaviours or incidents in order to track and monitor the welfare of young people. There is evidence that a number of concerns had been raised for one young person that

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Requires improvement

had not been identified by leaders. Some documentation is out of date and not fit for purpose. The child’s guide is not focused on the children and contains too much jargon. Children who attend this home would not understand the content. The current location risk assessment is poor quality and out of date. The new manager has recognised this and was able to discuss content for the new document. This included key safeguarding issues, including consideration to the ‘Prevent’ duty. Not all staff hold appropriate knowledge in respect of the ‘Prevent’ duty and training is required in this area.

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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 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

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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 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

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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

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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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