Children's Home run by Action for Children Services Ltd in Buckinghamshire

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:

 There have been delays in notifying the senior team and professionals of potential safeguarding information. Policies and procedures have not been followed or information shared appropriately.  A high degree of staff training in safeguarding has been online training; some subsequent practice indicates that staff have not been provided with sufficient guidance to identify and act upon concerns.  Placement plans are not of a good quality and do not give staff clear direction on how to support young people. They are not consistently informative and do not detail information in relation to individual vulnerabilities.  Risk assessments have not been updated following significant incidents outside and inside of the home. This does not enable staff to be aware of what these risks are and how to minimise them.  It was not evident that limitations on young people’s privacy are necessary and proportionate.

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The children's home provision requires improvement because:

 The manager’s monitoring and review systems have not identified the training needs in relation to safeguarding and the issues identified in this inspection. Review systems are not effective in identifying weaknesses.  The development plan within the home does not have a strategic approach. It does not explicitly focus on improving experiences for young people.

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The children's home strengths

 The staff team is extremely enthusiastic about its work and fully supports young people to have an enjoyable time with purposeful activities to enable them to reach their full potential.  Young people's views are gained on many areas of their care. Staff are able to actively seek the views of young people as part of their everyday practice. This is an area of improvement since the last inspection.  Young people show genuine affection for the staff and there is a nurturing and inclusive atmosphere in the home. It is evident that young people have fun and mature as a result.  The staff are now working more as a team and they ensure that young people are at the centre of their work. Staff morale in the home has improved.  There is evidence of change and improvement for young people because of the actions of the staff and the encouraging approach.

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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

12 The protection of children standard In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure— (2)(a)(i) that staff assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans and to make arrangements to reduce the risk. In particular, ensure that staff are working to up-to-date individual risk assessments and care planning, (iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm, (vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s procedure under Regulation 36 (1) (policies for the protection of children), (d) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. In particular, window restrictors are in operation. 4 August 2016

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that the privacy of children is appropriately protected and any limitation on a child’s privacy is necessary and proportionate and kept under review and if necessary revised. (Regulation 21 (a)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)) 4 August 2016

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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— (2)(g) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 4 August 2016 6 The quality and purpose of care standard In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, the registered person must ensure that staff: (2)(b)(iv) provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. In particular, care plans are detailed to enable staff to support children. 4 August 2016

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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 staff engage proactively to contribute fully to the relevant plans for the child's care on an ongoing basis. This specifically relates to demonstrating progress in targets in operation (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.3).  Ensure that staff recognise and celebrate the achievements of the children (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.7).  Ensure that development plans are strategic and focus on improving experiences for young people (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24).

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Information about this children's home

This is a short-breaks service run by a national charitable organisation. The home accommodates up to eight children and young people with learning disabilities. The children’s and young people’s needs range from moderate to severe learning disabilities with associated physical, health and sensory impairment and/or complex multiple needs.

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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

23 September 2015 Full Requires improvement

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Recent inspection history

25 March 2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Requires improvement

Weaknesses were found during the inspection within how well children are helped and protected and the effectiveness of the leadership in the home. These have an impact on this judgement. Although the judgement is requires improvement, there are a number of strengths that provide young people with a sound service. The staff team is extremely enthusiastic about its work and fully supports young people to have an enjoyable time with purposeful activities to enable them to reach their full potential. The young people benefit from good, supportive relationships from the committed members of staff. Observations were indicative of some trusting relationships established between the young people and staff. Young people described staff as ‘great’. Comments from parents and professionals include ‘I know they are happy, safe and well looked after’ and ‘everyone I have spoken to has shown nothing but empathy and understanding’.

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Requires improvement

Young people show genuine affection for the staff and there is a nurturing and inclusive atmosphere in the home. It is evident that young people have fun and mature as a result. Young people have made progress given their starting points upon arrival at this short-breaks service. Staff proudly report on achievements and how young people continue to acquire skills and grow in confidence. Some examples of progress include social interaction with peers and developing new skills such as cooking and independence in self-care skills. There is evidence of change and improvement for young people because of the actions of the staff and the encouraging approach. Parents state that their children are more confident and independent as a result of accessing the short-breaks service. Although targets for the young people are identified, there is inconsistent reporting of progress when young people visit. This variable recording inhibits regular review to ensure that

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Requires improvement

targets are still appropriate and achievable. In addition, young people’s achievements are still not fully celebrated and this is an area that is not fully embedded in staff practice. Individual short-breaks placement plans are in place for young people, which are in place from the time that they arrive to the time that they leave. In addition, the home has working documents, which include individual assessments of risks and health and emergency care. However, the placement plans are not of a good quality and do not give staff clear direction on how to support young people. They are not consistently informative and do not detail information in relation to individual vulnerabilities. Risk assessments have not been updated following significant incidents outside and inside of the home. This does not enable staff to be aware of what these risks are and how to minimise them. Care planning documentation does not provide sufficient information to enable staff to care for

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Requires improvement

the young people safely. However, staff are aware when young people may be struggling in certain areas and will promptly act on their behalf to identify and resolve any issues. There is liaison with the necessary professionals when it has been determined that this needs to take place. The home has undergone redecoration in some areas and the staff team has recognised that the home requires a more homely feel and there are now photos on display. Some bedroom doors have vision panels in place and there is the ability to use listening devices in all the bedrooms. In addition, young people’s daily care planning, containing young people’s personal information, is in a communal area, which does not enable confidentiality. It was not evident that these limitations on young people’s privacy are necessary and proportionate. Young people's views are gained on many areas of their care. Staff are able to actively seek the views of young people as part of their everyday practice. This is

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Requires improvement

an area of improvement since the last inspection. Young people are given opportunities to fully express their views and choices in activities and menus. Due to the relationships that they have formed with staff, staff are able to advocate on their behalf if the need arises. Staff work in partnership with parents and all the necessary professionals to ensure that a uniform approach is achieved. This includes very close working relationships with the schools. They all work together during periods of change and comments include ‘I feel the continuity we have at school and home is also followed there’ and ‘communication is great’. Parents and all professionals spoken to speak very positively about the service being offered here.

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Requires improvement

Young people appear very much as ease with the staff, indicating that they feel safe and are well cared for. They interact confidently both with staff and each other and move freely around the environment. Relatives and professionals have confidence that young people feel safe. The routines and organisation in place for young people support them in feeling secure and comfortable in their surroundings. Young people who access the service are not currently assessed as displaying high risk in the areas of self-harm or going missing. Managers and staff are aware of risks in relation to child sexual exploitation and have received information to enable them to act on concerns. During discussion with staff about this training, they stated that they were confident on acting upon any concerns in these areas. The home provides individual admission arrangements. They have an individually tailored transition, which includes the young person visiting the service to meet

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Requires improvement

staff and young people and joining in with activities and having tea before building up to an overnight stay. This helps to develop their confidence and trust in the staff and they are prepared emotionally to embark on their planned stay. The service strives to match young people to appropriate peer groups, to promote friendships and participate in shared activities. This also enables any particular vulnerabilities to be taken into account. Young people socialise together and have friends. They are encouraged to treat each other with respect through appropriate role modelling and re-enforcement of boundaries. There have been workshops taking place with staff to reflect on practice in this area. This has enabled a relaxed atmosphere to be created. During discussion, staff demonstrated some understanding that young people’s learning disabilities make them highly vulnerable. However, during the inspection,

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Requires improvement

information was found on a young person’s file in relation to an allegation and possible disclosure which had not been shared with the manager or formally referred on to children’s social care and/or the designated officer for advice. Staff recalled some detail of information being discussed during a review of the young person’s care package the following day after the disclosure. However, there was no record of this and a team manager in the social care team spoken to was not aware of this information. During the course of the inspection, this was shared with appropriate professionals. In this instance, the home’s safeguarding policy had not been followed. A high degree of staff training in safeguarding has been online training. This may have been insufficient to ensure all staff understand their roles and responsibilities fully. The staff training that has been received has not been fully embedded into their knowledge and practice.

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Requires improvement

Staff are consistent in their management of behaviours. Positive behaviour is therefore consistently promoted. There have been two physical interventions used since the last inspection and all incidents are thoroughly recorded and available for review. Information is comprehensive. Trends and patterns can therefore be fully evaluated. Staff have been using restorative ways of working with young people to increase their sense of personal responsibility. Some sanctions have been used and these have been appropriate. Staff have responded with appropriate boundaries about what is safe and acceptable. There are good systems in place to address matters of health and safety, ensuring a safe environment. Routine checks are carried out in relation to fire safety and staff have practised evacuating the building. The physical environment was generally observed to be safe. However, in one upstairs bedroom a large window

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Requires improvement

opened up wide and did not have restrictors fitted, which could pose a risk to unsupervised young people.

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Requires improvement

The registered manager obtained her registration with Ofsted in November 2012. She has also completed a level 5 qualification in leadership and management. She has the experience to provide effective leadership. However, the shortfalls identified within the safeguarding judgement did not have management oversight. The development plan in operation is based on the requirements made at the last inspection and does not look at other areas of development within the home and therefore does not have a strategic approach. This does not sufficiently focus on improving experiences for young people. Young people are the priority in the home and staff and the manager focus on ensuring that the aims in the home’s statement of purpose are achieved in practice. The ethos of the home is to develop positive outcomes by listening, giving choice, good communication and liaising with other professionals. Leaders are beginning to have a clear understanding of young people’s progress and continuing

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Requires improvement

to look at how this is achieved and evidenced. The manager recognised and took action to address some of the shortfalls identified during this inspection and is enthusiastic and child-centred in her approach. Staff are clear that the manager is both approachable and supportive. The home is adequately staffed and resourced to meet the needs of the young people accessing the service. Some staff are due to leave but the organisation has not begun to recruit to these vacant positions or adapt the shift planning. Staff will cover any shifts among themselves or use their bank staff to ensure consistency. The staff are now working more as a team and they ensure that young people are the centre of their work. There has been an increase in staff meetings to support staff and this appears to have also had a positive impact in developing staff morale in the home. There are regular quality assurance monitoring visits to review the conduct of the

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Requires improvement

home and the manager undertakes internal monitoring. However, the internal monitoring and review systems have not identified the training needs in relation to safeguarding and the issues identified in this inspection. There needs to be consideration if the manager’s review systems are effective in identifying weaknesses. Staff report that they receive regular supervision that provides the opportunity to reflect on their practice and supports them emotionally when the need arises. Staff undertake essential training and all new staff complete an initial induction programme. This contributes to staff being able to understand and meet the needs of young people. The management and staff team work with other agencies for the safety and welfare of the young people. The team works with professionals within health, education and social care departments. This inter-agency working ensures that there is a holistic approach in meeting the specific needs of young

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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

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

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