Children's home in Southwark

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:

 Children and young people with a range of complex needs and vulnerabilities receive good-quality, individualised care that includes therapy and education on-site. They report that they have trusted, positive relationships with staff.  There is a reduction in risk-taking behaviours such as going missing and self- harming behaviours.  Children and young people engage in a wide range of activities. Their talents and interests are promoted.  There is a very good independence skills programme, led by experienced staff. Young people are able to develop their confidence with the use of an independence unit on site. Young people move on in a carefully planned, supported way.  There are excellent information-sharing mechanisms in place that underpin the integrated multidisciplinary approach to the children’s and young people’s care. This is supported by good, established, partnership working arrangements.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 This inspection identified shortfalls in the assessment of sexually harmful and sexualised behaviours as part of the pre-admission process, and a need to strengthen training for staff to enhance skills and understanding in these areas of risk. Managers have action plans in place and have already implemented some changes in direct work with the children and young people.  Additional requirements and a recommendation have been made to address staff qualifications, reporting and addressing minor repairs, and improving recording in one area of practice. These have not had an impact on the safety and well-being of the children and young people.

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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

In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person must ensure that staff manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other. This is with specific reference to strengthening pre-admission processes to ensure that sufficient weight is given to known and potential risks of sexually harmful and sexualised behaviours. (Regulation 12(2)(a)(iv)) 03/10/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person must ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. This is with specific reference to enhancing staff skills and understanding of working with young people who are vulnerable to or present risks of sexually harmful behaviours and enhancing staff skills to support young people to develop healthy relationships. (Regulation 13(2)(c)) 03/10/2016

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that any individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification. (Regulation 32(4)) 18/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, the registered person must ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. This is with specific reference to ensuring that maintenance issues are promptly reported and addressed. (Regulation 6(2)(c)(i)) 03/10/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Children should be encouraged by staff to see the homes records as ‘living documents’ supporting them to view and contribute to the record in a way that reflects their voice on a regular basis. (Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards, page 58, paragraph 11.19 )

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private organisation. The home sets out to provide a residential school environment for 24 young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

23/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

19/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Good

This children’s home provides good care, with therapy and education, for children and young people with a range of complex needs and vulnerabilities.

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Good

The home is a listed building in 17 acres of gardens and woodland. Children and young people benefit from having access to the lovely grounds for sports, activities and leisure time. There are a range of comfortably furnished communal rooms and artwork by young people decorates the recently refurbished living rooms and quiet rooms. The environment can also present challenges in respect of staff monitoring of young people and maintaining the accommodation. The leadership team are developing a plan to reconfigure accommodation for young people, informed by research about group living.

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Good

Young people’s bedrooms are personalised. Expectations about keeping rooms tidy and contributing to some household tasks are clear from the point that children move in.

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Good

This inspection highlighted that minor maintenance incidents are not always promptly reported and repaired. This has an impact on providing a homely environment. A requirement is made to improve reporting of maintenance needs to ensure that timely repairs are made.

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Good

The staff group is made up of a combination of staff who have worked in the home for a number of years as well as recently recruited staff. Rotas ensure that there is sufficient capacity to meet the needs of all of the children, and a balance of male and female staff with different levels of experience on duty at any one time. When there have been staff vacancies and/or staff sickness, permanent staff cover or a small number of consistent agency workers are used. This means that children and young people receive stable, consistent care.

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Good

Team leaders and deputies lead planning for the shifts. There are two information handovers every day and a range of information-sharing meetings throughout the week. Inspectors observed meetings which demonstrated that staff and managers know young people’s needs well. A professional said: ’All staff are committed to professional practice and are non-judgmental in their care of children and young people.’

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Good

Staff provide weekly summaries to case-responsible social workers and produce good quality reports to inform multi-agency planning meetings. As part of the admissions process, professional network meetings are convened, to ensure that all relevant information about a child or young person is shared.

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Good

Young people have the opportunity to receive individual therapeutic input, and they can attend single-gender and mixed-gender therapeutic groups. Young people report that staff and managers consult with them. There are good, child-focused residents’ meetings. Young people agree the agenda and chair the meetings. The records of meetings evidence consultation about activities, routines, safety, development of resources and timetables. There is an independent advocate who visits regularly and is familiar to the children and young people. Young people have the opportunity to complete the ‘about me’ document when they arrive, and for planning meetings. These cover, in a child-friendly way, information about personal likes, dislikes and interests. They support personalised care. However, a review of records demonstrated that they were not consistently completed. Managers are addressing this; a recommendation is made to ensure that practice is consistent.

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Good

All children and young people have individualised packages and have made good, and in some cases exceptional, progress from their starting points. Their identity and heritage is accurately recorded and informs their placement plans. They have detailed health plans and attend routine, preventative appointments in addition to specialist health appointments, where necessary. A social worker explained the progress that a young person had made, from being ‘socially isolated and withdrawn to embracing social interaction and activities after moving to the home. His diet is much improved and he looks healthier.’

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Good

Children and young people engage in a wide range of activities and they have fun. Individual talents and interests are promoted and encouraged. Their horizons are broadened and this helps to develop confidence and self-esteem. Self-esteem is further enhanced because all young people have memory books which capture achievements and positive experiences.

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Good

Children and young people particularly make good educational progress. All attend the on-site school and the majority exceed their targets. As a result, their life chances improve. One young person said: ‘This is a good place to come to, to turn your life around. I can get my GCSEs here and go to college. I get to do lots of fun things. The staff are very supportive. When I am having a difficult time I know I can go to them for help.’ Another young person said: ‘This is my home, I have my bedroom how I want it, I feel safe here.’ The director of education said: ‘The key to our success with young people is partnership working; we share information on a daily basis, between the head of care, head of therapy and myself.’ Staff have opportunities to reflect on the impact of work with young people, the achievements of young people and to problem-solve any barriers to education. As a result, standards and impact of learning remain high.

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Good

There is a very good independence skills programme and resource. An independence unit is in the grounds, which is currently used to support the development of self-care skills. Young people can also move into the unit for longer periods of time as part of an independence development programme. This enables them to experience independent living in a supportive environment. A team leader reported on the work with one young person who is preparing for transition to independent accommodation: ‘He is doing very well in work experience, he has engaged successfully in a range of animal-based work placements and has spent time in the independence unit learning independence skills. We are confident about him moving on with the right support in place.’

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Requires improvement

Since the interim inspection, there have been a number of notifications regarding sexual activity between peers. One incident continues to be subject to child protection investigation. Staff and managers have followed child protection procedures in their response to these issues. Multi-agency strategy meetings and planning meetings have been convened, involving police and case-responsible social workers. Concerns about sexually harmful behaviours, and vulnerable young people engaging in sexual activity, have been taken seriously and responded to carefully. However, the inspection identified that pre-admission processes should be strengthened to ensure that sufficient weight is given to the known and potential risk of sexually harmful behaviours. In addition, impact assessments should include a consideration of any history of sexualised behaviours.

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Requires improvement

This inspection also identified that training for staff to enhance knowledge and understanding of sexualised and sexually harmful behaviours should be strengthened. Managers have identified these areas for improvement as part of their own quality assurance processes. The head of therapy is developing a package to work with young people to inform their understanding of healthy peer relationships. Managers have also developed an explicit contract to be used with all young people regarding personal relationships with peers that explain clear boundaries and the reasons for them.

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Requires improvement

Young people shared extremely positive feedback about valued experiences, progress they have made, relationships with staff, receiving help and support, and feeling safer as a result of living in the home. Social workers report, and records show, that children and young people have significantly reduced incidents of aggressive behaviour and going missing. Young people who have previously been at high risk of exploitation are safer and risks have significantly reduced. This is due to developing positive relationships with staff and peers, being involved in activities, and attending education. There is a good staff-to-child ratio, which means that there are appropriate levels of supervision and monitoring. Staff are available for individual and group activities with children and young people.

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Requires improvement

Some young people referred to the mix of needs of young people being problematic. They reported that some ‘mimic behaviours’ and that ‘some young people can set others off’. Staff and managers are aware of these concerns. They carefully monitor trends in behaviours and address any concerning information.

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Requires improvement

Staff have received training in de-escalating challenging behaviours and intervening in a safe way to ensure that children and young people are kept safe. As a result, there are reducing numbers of physical interventions. When restraint is used, there are detailed records. The records include information about events leading up to the incident, the detail of the incident, and the debriefing of young people and staff. They are reviewed by senior managers. The recording system enables managers to identify any patterns and respond to any changing needs. This information is evaluated carefully, and recommendations for action made where necessary. A young person said: ‘There are perfect days when everyone gets on and there are days when as teenagers we do not get on. On these days staff get in the middle and sort things out.’

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Requires improvement

Staff have received training to address bullying. There are a small number of incidents reported or identified by staff. Staff intervene and address these events immediately. There have been key working sessions and workshops with young people covering a range of bullying behaviours. Incidents are recorded on the database and managers are monitoring the impact of the comprehensive anti- bullying programme.

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Requires improvement

All young people have clear behaviour management plans. Staff record on the database, noting emerging vulnerabilities. The database can identify spikes and patterns in behaviours. Managers convene planning meetings in response to concerns and agree strategies to work with young people so that vulnerabilities are managed and reduced.

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Requires improvement

There is an incentive system in place that staff consistently administer to reinforce good behaviour. This is carefully explained when young people are admitted. One social worker said: ‘This young person has responded positively to routines, boundaries and structure and this placement has provided him with a stable base that he has not experienced for a long time.’

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Requires improvement

The local police regularly call into the home on an informal basis. They have recently organised and taken part in an adventure day with young people. Staff and young people were very positive about this. The local police report that there has been a reduction in the number of call-outs to the home, and the ones they have received have been appropriate. They also report observing positive interaction between young people and staff. Staff and young people respond positively to proactive partnership working with the police. Incidents of going missing are responded to well. There is good consultation with police. Staff follow procedures and, where possible, follow young people so that they remain in contact with them. Social workers and placing authorities are kept up to date. There are effective systems in place for return interviews to ensure that young people can share reasons for being absent or going missing with an

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Requires improvement

There is ongoing work to sensitively address self-harming behaviours. Staff are trained, records maintained, and the head of therapy provides consultation in daily community meetings. Self-harming incidents are generally minor but are subject to continued risk assessment.

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Requires improvement

Referrals to the designated officer demonstrate a good understanding of safe caring and the management of allegations against adults who work with children. There are good processes in place to ensure the safe recruitment of staff to the home.

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Good

The experienced and qualified registered manager has made good progress in embedding the therapeutic approach underpinning the work of the home. All of the leadership team are working together to identify areas for development and they are consolidating recent improvements. Staff reported that they are positive about the development of a therapeutic waking night service and a relaxation room to support young people with disrupted routines. The registered manager is also developing a plan to reconfigure the living accommodation to provide for smaller groups, to improve the management of relationships.

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Good

Staff receive a thorough induction, including training, observing, shadowing, working in pairs and being supported by a mentor. The head of therapy has delivered workshops for staff addressing attachment, conduct disorders, post- traumatic stress disorders and self-harming behaviours. As a result, staff have developed knowledge and skills. Staff vacancies have not had an impact on the quality of care or opportunities for young people as staff cover gaps or agency cover is commissioned, which is limited to a small number of consistent staff. However, some staff are not yet qualified in the level 3 diploma in residential childcare or an equivalent qualification. The head of care has plans in place to address this.

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Good

Staff report that they receive regular, timely supervision. The head of care has improved the supervision format. Supervision records now demonstrate reflective practice discussions and the setting of, and review of, targets to improve performance. Staff also take part in group dynamics meetings, a form of group supervision with therapeutic input. These provide a forum for staff to reflect on casework and their own emotional responses to their role. In addition, team leaders and deputy team leaders meet monthly to review practice and identify emerging needs.

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Good

Every weekday morning, a community handover meeting is held that includes all staff on duty and the heads of education, therapy and care. Information from the previous shift is reviewed and guidance is provided to ensure that staff are consistently meeting specific and emerging needs. This ensures that all staff are well informed, so that they are confident in their practice and interventions. The database for recording is now embedded and is proving useful, ensuring that staff have access to up-to-date information. This monitors children and young people’s progress and has further potential to support the evaluation of management information to inform improvements.

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Good

Managers and staff work well with specialist services, police, social workers and commissioning teams. However, there is evidence that, in a small number of cases, challenge to placing authorities about timely information sharing could be more robust.

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Good

There have been eight complaints by young people since the last full inspection. Records demonstrate that young people are encouraged to use the complaints process. All complaints have been resolved following mediation discussions.

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Good

The independent visitor provides detailed reports, including the outcome of consultation with young people and professionals. These reports inform the leadership team’s understanding of performance and progress.

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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 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 that 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 0300 123 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 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

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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