Children's home run by Milton Keynes City Council

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the manager has continued to develop the staff team. She has been creative in her use of staff resources. She is the registered manager for two homes and has been able to deploy permanent and bank staff effectively in the light of changes in the other service. The staff already know the young people and so they benefit from the consistency this brings. In addition, part-time staff have increased their hours. These changes have significantly reduced the use of agency staff. It is now very rare that more than half of the staff on duty are from external agencies, addressing a requirement from the last inspection. The manager is planning further recruitment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All staff in post for longer than two years have gained an appropriate qualification. There is a plan to enrol those staff who have just passed their probationary period on a relevant course, beginning in September 2016. Agency staff regularly used in the home now have formal supervision, a requirement from the last inspection report.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people appear comfortable, confident and happy in their home environment. Staff are attentive and are attuned to individual needs. Young people respond warmly and enthusiastically to staff, who are open and receptive to their varied communication methods. For example, one young person indicated through behaviour that school attendance should be reviewed. This happened through the formal review process, and resulted in age-appropriate changes, which the young person is engaging well with. The staff team is working on providing young people with additional communication skills. The aim is to enable young people to make increasingly informed choices.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have a good understanding of the importance of achieving positive transitions for young people. One young person who is moving to adult services has benefited from a programme tailored to meet individual needs at a sensitive and suitable pace. A young person who moved in had a similarly planned process. Review minutes note: ‘transition has gone well, good use of the social story in preparation.’ The young people’s case records do not evidence the transition work and planning. The information is held elsewhere, in email trails, for example. This does not ensure that young people’s case records represent a significant contribution to their life history.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have a good knowledge of the potential risks associated with each young person. The detail observed in practice and in discussion is not reflected in some of the written risk assessments relating to staff deployment. The use of terms such as ‘regularly’ and ‘correct staff ratio’ are imprecise and are open to interpretation. This does not provide secure safeguards for young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are familiar with the care plans for each young person and work towards these. However, not every young person has a copy of their most recent local authority review on file. This does not ensure that staff are working in line with the placing authority plan for each young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff engage in effective partnership working. A recent example is liaison with a medical professional to promote improved outcomes for a young person. A recent pharmacy report described the procedures, records and audits of medication as good, meeting a requirement from the last inspection report. The manager has set targets for staff to further promote relationships with education staff involved with the young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager applies comprehensive and effective monitoring systems. Staff use sanctions and physical intervention infrequently. They focus on positive behaviour management measures, through incentives and rewards. The manager’s review and evaluation of these records is used to inform discussions and reflections at team meetings. This continues the development of the staff team to ensure that behaviour management measures achieve the objective of improving behaviour. There are few complaints. The manager takes expressions of dissatisfaction seriously and implements any action required. The robust management oversight identifies areas for improvement and these are used to inform the development plan for the service.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

As identified in the report, the manager has addressed the requirements arising from the last inspection. There was one recommendation made relating to a need to update practice about the deprivation of liberty for older young people. In particular, to agree a policy and procedure to confirm when there is a need to consider applications to the court of protection. The manager has opened discussions within the local authority. This complex piece of work is underway, referencing the range of current guidance and seeking advice appropriately.

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is registered to accommodate eight children and young people who have a learning disability and/or physical disability, with associated sensory impairment. The service is delivered and managed by a local authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

8 September 2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

21 January 2015 Interim Declined in 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

Obtain the date and result of any review of the placing authority’s plan for the care of the child or the child’s placement plan. In particular ensure that a copy of the outcome of the review is in each child’s case records. (Regulation 36, Schedule 3, (20)) 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 case records are maintained so as to secure a significant contribution to their life history, in particular transition planning records. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.5)

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Recommendations

 Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and arrangements in place to protect them. In particular ensure that the language used in risk assessments is precise. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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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, 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

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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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