Children's Home run by Mulberry House Care Homes Limited in Staffordshire

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 members of the team work well together. Relationships are built on trust and respect.  Behaviour plans are effective. The use of reward and consequence works well.  Young people are safe. The use of physical intervention is minimal.  Risk management is good. Young people with high-risk behaviour are supported to take responsibility for their actions.  Episodes of missing from the home are reducing.  Partnership working is good. The home links well with external professionals, social workers, parents and the police.  Young people move from the home in a planned and sensitive manner and are supported by staff towards independence.  Educational outcomes differ. For some they are exceptional, and when others struggle the home works in partnership with the virtual school to secure educational placements.  Relationships are mainly good. Where conflict between staff and young people occurs, action is taken to resolve matters, sometimes via mediation.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 All staff are suitably vetted during recruitment, including agency and bank staff.

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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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. In particular in relation to agency staff. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 31 August

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (the authorised person) has signed the record to confirm it is accurate, and within five days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(ii)(c)) 31 August

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Ensure that children are provided with appropriate furniture. In particular this is in relation to bedroom items specified in the children’s guide. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.19)  Ensure that children have access to a computer and the internet to support their education and learning. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.19)

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to two young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is owned and operated by a private organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

18 February 2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

3 November 2015 Full Requires improvement

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Recent inspection history

12 March 2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Good

Young people have good relationships with staff. The members of the staff team work well together. When occasional conflict between staff and young people occurs, the manager is quick to resolve issues. Opportunities to settle differences are offered to young people and staff through mediation. This helps all parties to hear both sides of the argument, agree a resolution and improve communication. As a result, trust, respect and relationships improve.

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Good

The educational outcomes of young people differ. For some they are exceptional. One young person has successfully secured a placement at university. A social worker said, ‘She is going to university and everything is going smoothly. The personal adviser has worked closely with the home and university. She has done really well.’ When other young people struggle, staff work in partnership with young people and education professionals. The manager helps to secure placements where young people have been out of education for some time. This helps young people to access learning that is crucial to their futures.

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Good

Not all young people have access to a computer to access the internet. This hinders the opportunities for learning. The young people’s guide indicates that young people should have a desk and chair in their bedrooms. This is not the case for all young people. This means that not all young people have the same items needed to meet their needs.

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Good

Young people have access to services that support their physical, emotional and psychological well-being. Staff encourage young people to attend their routine primary care appointments. This helps young people to remain fit and well. Where young people self-medicate, they do so safely and in accordance with the home’s policies and procedures. This promotes young people’s independence.

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Good

Young people provide their views and opinions in daily discussions, reviews and key work meetings. Staff listen to and respond to the requests of young people. For example, one young person asked for halal meat and another requested a new bedroom window blind. Both requests were discussed and met. This means that young people’s views, opinions and wishes are valued and respected.

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Good

Young people are supported by staff to have access to their friends and family. A parent said, ‘We had our first contact. This went brilliant.’ This helps relationships to strengthen and bond. Young people choose how to spend their free time. They have access to activities and resources to ensure that they are not isolated from their peers. This helps them to feel part of the community they live in and promotes their social skills.

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Good

Young people are clear about their plans for their future. They take part in their reviews and care planning. This helps them to shape their futures. Staff provide opportunities to discuss their ambitions and career prospects. This helps young people to feel valued and improves self-esteem.

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Good

Young people are helped to move into and out of the home in a planned and sensitive manner. During their stay, and when appropriate, young people are encouraged to improve their life skills. Pathway plans are clear and detailed. They consider the views of young people. This prepares them for independence. As a result, they feel ready for adult life prior to leaving the home.

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Good

The home provides a welcoming environment where young people can feel relaxed and safe.

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Good

Young people are safe and protected in the home. The use of physical intervention is rare. Staff receive training in the use of the measure. Physical intervention is only used as a last resort. The records are not always checked and signed by the manager in line with regulation. This does not guarantee that the record is accurate.

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Good

When young people go missing from care, the staff respond well and work together with the police to ensure a safe return. Staff work hard to understand the triggers that cause young people to go missing. There have been no episodes of missing from care related to child sexual exploitation since the last full inspection. An independent person completes a return home interview with young people. This helps to keep young people safe and reduces missing incidents.

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Good

Staff monitor young people’s behaviour and provide support to them, in line with their risk assessments. Risk management is good. Young people are supported to take responsibility for their actions. Consequences and rewards help them to make the right choices. For example, when a young person is late to be picked up or doesn’t arrive home on time, the staff delay for the same amount of time when the young person next wish to be taken out. This helps young people to realise the importance of rules. As a result, young people begin to conform and more praise and rewards are given than sanctions. Young people know how to complain. They have access to an advocate should they require any additional independent support. Complaints are dealt with in a fair and sensitive manner. This ensures that young people are taken seriously and that their voice is heard.

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Good

All staff, including bank and agency workers, are carefully selected and vetted prior to working with young people. This protects young people from harm from unsuitable candidates having access to them.

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Good

The health and safety arrangements are monitored by the manager. This keeps the home environment safe. Routine fire drills and equipment checks are undertaken. Staff and young people partake in fire drills. This ensures that everyone knows what to do in the event of a fire evacuation.

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Good

There is a risk assessment for the location of the home. The assessment provides good clear information that can identify if there are any potential risks to young people being placed in the area. This keeps young people safe.

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Good

The registered manager has been in position since July 2013. She continues to work towards gaining her level 5 diploma in leadership and management for childcare qualification. She has a number of years’ experience of working in residential childcare settings. Most staff are qualified. Those who are unqualified are within the regulatory timescale at present to obtain their qualifications within two years of starting work.

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Good

The manager continually assesses the progress that young people make because she monitors the home’s records. Further monitoring is undertaken by an independent visitor. This provides the manager with an overview that supports her evaluation about the quality of care that the service provides.

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Good

Some staffing vacancies are filled with bank and agency staff. Not all agency staff receive practice-based supervision. As a result, staff’s practice and development are not regularly assessed. All staff receives a thorough induction to the home. If they do not hold a suitable qualification, they are enrolled on to the level 3 diploma for residential childcare as soon as they begin work. This ensures that staff are skilled and knowledgeable, in line with the required standard.

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Good

The home is working in line with its statement of purpose. Staff are aware of it and the manager updates it when necessary. There is a copy available upon request in the home. The young people’s guide is a shortened version and is provided to all young people new to the home.

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Good

There are good working relationships with other agencies such as the police, placing authorities and health professionals. These positive relationships mean that young people get access to additional support services that support their development. The manager challenges poor practice where standards fall short. A recent challenge was taken up in regards to a young person’s education placement.

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Good

The manager notifies all relevant parties of any serious event in a timely manner. This makes sure that any information required to be shared is done in accordance with policy and promotes good practice.

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Good

There were no requirements or recommendations made at the last inspection.

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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 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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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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