Children's home run by Mulberry House Care Homes Limited in Stafford

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 thrives living at the home.  Staff deliver good care and provide a warm and welcoming environment.  Relationships between the young person and staff are excellent.  The young person feels safe and happy living at the home.  Educational outcomes have improved, along with work experience opportunities.  Partnership working with external services is effective.  The young person’s behaviour has improved. Incidents of missing from care are reducing and physical intervention is not required.

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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:

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, with particular reference to staffing levels as stated in the statement of purpose, the registered person must ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(d) the home has sufficient staff to provide care to each child. 31 August

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (‘case records’) for each child which are kept up to date. In particular, in relation to medication. (Regulation 36(1)(b)) 31 August

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4 and ensure that they are kept up to date. In particular, in relation to the young people’s register and accounts. (Regulation 37(2)(a)(b) Schedule (4)(1)(c)(f)(7)) 31 August

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for one young person with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is one of four homes that are run by a private provider.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

5 February 2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

6 February 2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Good

The young person receives a good level of care from skilled and knowledgeable staff. The staff provide one-to-one support that enables strong bonds and trusting relationships to form. As a result, the relationships between staff and the young person are excellent. The young person said, ‘I have got to know the staff better and I get on with all of them. They have become good role models for me. Being in a solo placement has really helped me. I have settled down a lot.’

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Good

Since the last full inspection in July 2015, two young people have left the service and returned home, in line with their care plans. The transitions were planned in partnership with all relevant parties. This made the transitions to home successful.

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Good

The staff provide many opportunities for the young person to have his say. House meetings and daily discussions capture the voice of the young person and ensure that he contributes to the running of the home. The young person feels valued. This is because staff make time for him. They listen and advise him just like a parent would. This has enabled the young person to open up and be honest with the staff. It is clear to see the mutual respect that has developed between the staff and himself. Professionals speak highly of the care that young people receive. A social worker commented to the independent visitor, ‘Fantastic placement that is meeting his needs, and staff are extremely supportive and demonstrate they want the best for him. He has built brilliant relationships with staff. They include him in the plans and decisions being made about him.’

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Good

Good contact arrangements mean that the young person has access to the people who are important to him. This has helped to enhance family bonds and improve relationships. The staff welcome visitors to the home and make suitable arrangements for friends to stay over. The young person said, ‘I have free time to see my mates. Sometimes my mates come here.’ The manager said, ‘He has a good friend whom he spends lots of time with. His friend has stayed overnight.’

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Good

Staff are exceptional role models and constantly promote healthy living. This encourages the young person to take responsibility for his own health. For example, staff regularly take him to use the gym, encourage him to cook and eat a healthy diet, and support him to quit smoking. The young person attends routine health appointments and makes a conscious effort to maintain a healthy lifestyle. He said, ‘I am feeling fit and well. My diet is healthy and I often cook my own food. I am a member at the gym and go a couple of times a week.’ The staff work in partnership with a range of health professionals to ensure that the young person receives the right support in line with his care plan. This keeps him fit and well.

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Good

The medication records do not cross reference to the young person’s permanent record. For example, the record has not been updated with current information in regard to medication. Some medication that is no longer required has not been taken off the crucial information list and remains in the medication cupboard. This may lead to errors in administration.

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Good

The young person is provided with a range of activities of his choice. They enhance his social, emotional and physical needs. Most of the time he chooses to spend time with his friends and family. He said, ‘My social skills have improved. I have had no more police involvement.’ As a result, maturity and social skills improve.

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Good

The educational outcomes and experiences of the young person improve. This is due to staff’s consistent approach and positive encouragement in regard to education. The young person has high aspirations for his future and has a clear vision for his career. The commitment the young person put into his recent work placement was highlighted by the work placements coordinator. She said, ‘He has done brilliantly. On placement he was an absolute credit. I couldn’t be more proud. Remarkable. Done really well. The feedback has been excellent! The staff are brilliant. It is really important that staff are on board. They gave 110%. This has made a difference to his placement success.’

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Good

The physical environment of the home remains in good order. It offers a warm, relaxed and friendly atmosphere. It is continually improving. For example, the home has benefited from a new sofa. The gardens are well kept because a gardener attends to them regularly. The young person has had new bedroom furniture. This all helps to maintain the home to a good standard.

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Good

The young person is safe and feels safe in the home. He knows how much the staff care about him. He sometimes gets embarrassed by his behaviour because he feels he has let staff down. He can talk openly and honestly to all the staff. He trusts and respects them.

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Good

Staff monitor and evaluate risks well. There are robust personalised risk assessments in place. They inform staff how to decrease behaviour that may be a concern. This keeps young people safe. The young person said, ‘Staff have helped me to stop getting into trouble. I haven’t been getting into trouble. I seem more settled.’

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Good

Staff keep the young person safe because they are aware of child protection systems and who to report concerns to. Young people know how to complain and do so. The manager takes prompt action to investigate any allegations or complaints. This ensures that the young person is protected from harm or abuse.

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Good

The young person has made positive changes to manage certain behaviour. He has taken responsibility for his actions and changed his social circle. This has resulted in a reduction in behaviour that in the past has involved the police. The young person said, ‘Living here on my own I am not mixing with people that are bad for me.’

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Good

There has been no use of physical restraint since the last full inspection in July 2015. Behaviour is managed well. Staff apply fair sanctions for behaviour that is deemed unacceptable. The young person said, ‘Staff use consequences like loss of free time. They are fair.’

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Good

Episodes of missing from care are reducing. There have been three missing from home episodes since the last full inspection, none of which relate to child sexual exploitation. Staff work in close partnership with the police to provide details of young people that go missing from care. There are robust protocols in place that guide staff in the action they must take. Return home interviews are undertaken by an independent person instructed by the host authority. This keeps young people safe.

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Good

Staff help and advise the young person about the impact and effects of drug and alcohol misuse There have been some incidents of drug- and alcohol-related activity while living in the home. They are reducing. Staff continue to offer guidance and support by providing access to support services that specialise in this area.

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Good

New staff are carefully selected and vetted. Two new staff members have been employed since July 2015. Staff employed do not begin work until all satisfactory clearance checks are completed. This protects the young person from unsuitable candidates having access to them.

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Good

The home provides a safe place for young people to live, work or visit the home. Regular health and safety monitoring ensures that the home complies with regulation and guidance. Fire drills regularly provide the young person with opportunities to practise evacuation procedures. The servicing of gas, electrical appliances and firefighting equipment further supports the maintenance of a safe environment. Judgement grade

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Requires improvement

The home has been without a registered manager since 10 June 2015. A new manager was appointed on 1 June 2015, but resigned soon afterwards. The deputy managed the home until a new manager was appointed on 7 October 2015. The responsible individual made a concerted effort to recruit a suitable manager as quickly as possible. The current manager is in the process of applying to register. The manager has completed his level 5 diploma in management and leadership.

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Requires improvement

The staffing levels in regard to the statement of purpose have not been met. The home still holds a vacancy for a senior staff member that has not yet been filled. This has been ongoing since June 2015. Recruitment has not secured a suitable person to fill this position. A member of staff is due to retire at the end of July. This may increase the pressure on staffing. However, up to now, this has had no direct impact on the quality of care that young people receive.

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Requires improvement

The details required to be held in the children’s register are not provided in full. This means that the movements of young people are difficult to ascertain. Not all young people’s money received as a gift from external sources is recorded. This leaves the young person’s finances open to abuse.

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Requires improvement

The manager monitors the home and provides regular reports on the quality of care. Further independent monitoring is completed monthly. There is a home development plan that outlines the home’s aims and objectives. This ensures that the service reviews the quality of care that it provides. The manager has set out clear objectives for improvement. This helps the service to improve.

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Requires improvement

Staff work in partnership with all agencies that support or provides services to the young person. For example, the team has worked closely with the placement coordinator who organises the work placement. This close working has enabled the young person to complete his apprenticeship with flying colours.

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Requires improvement

The manager recognises the progress young people make. Placements are sustained because staff invest quality time with the young people in their care. Progress has been made in behaviour, educational outcomes, family relationships and social acceptance for most of the young people that have experienced living at the home since the last full inspection. Staff place young people at the heart of the care they provide and deliver the aims and objectives as outlined in the statement of purpose. They are passionate and deliver care in a sensitive and respectful manner.

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Requires improvement

The manager is proactive in his role and is supported by a skilled, knowledgeable and qualified deputy. He is not afraid to challenge partners where practice falls short. He works closely with the social worker and local authority to ensure the needs of the young person are met.

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Requires improvement

Staff receive appropriate training to enhance and develop their knowledge and skills. The manager provides regular supervision and appraisal to all staff. This identifies areas for development and ensures that staff are given opportunities to increase their responsibilities. All staff employed are qualified to the required level.

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Requires improvement

No requirements or recommendations were 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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