Children's home run by The Partnership of Care Today

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the management of the home has changed. There had been a period of instability prior to this that had impeded the home’s functioning and its effectiveness in sustaining continuous progress for young people. The staff struggled to help the young people living in the home to manage their emotions safely. However, the appointment of a new and experienced manager at the beginning of January 2016 has brought structure and consistency to the quality of care provided and improvements to the young people’s day-to-day experiences. The young people now live in a much more stable and nurturing environment, which is improving their welfare and development. Their assessed needs are now being consistently met, by a staff team which is more cohesive in its approach. The improved continuity of staff is enabling young people to develop relationships with the people looking after them every day. They are more settled and consequently

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

this is helping them to make progress in their respective educational settings, develop a healthier lifestyle, build their confidence and self-esteem, and manage their feelings more constructively. Young people are increasingly able to accept advice and guidance from teachers, therapists and the staff. This is helping to rebuild relationships with important people in their lives. The young people enjoy a range of suitable activities, both inside and outside the house. They go shopping, and like listening to music and going to the cinema. Young people like being active outside the home and have made friends within the local community. Young people live in a comfortable home. They have helped to redesign the decoration and layout of the house to reflect their wishes and personal tastes. Everyone now eats their meals in the dining room, the lounge furniture has been rearranged to make it feel more relaxing, and the young

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

people’s influences can be seen in artwork around the home. Young people have their own personal space in comfortable bedrooms that reflect their character and interests. Staff take concerns about young people’s safety seriously and respond appropriately to reduce any risk of harm. They work very effectively with social workers, the police, designated officer and multi-agency safeguarding colleagues to protect young people. They have a clear understanding of risks to individual young people’s safety. Sound written risk assessments guide them successfully to manage and reduce the risks. They work well with young people to help them understand risk and to make good choices that promote young people’s personal safety. The staff ensure that the young people have the right structure and daily routines that help them feel safe and emotionally secure. There are now fair and consistent boundaries in place to ensure that young people know what is safe and acceptable

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

behaviour and that they will be looked after by the staff. Young people are increasingly safer because there has been a significant reduction in the number of occasions when they go missing or show aggressive and destructive behaviour. The staff have responded well to the new management style and approach. They have formed an effective and supportive team committed to developing a better understanding of the young people and how best to help them manage their emotions and promote their development. The staff’s more confident, calm and consistent approach is helping young people to feel safer. A long-standing member of staff said, ‘There is a calmer feeling about the home now, with a nicer atmosphere.’ The staff are also enabling young people to build skills and emotional strength to resolve disagreements and sort out problems more constructively. For example, they have worked with young people on the ‘Bully Busters’ programme to

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

help young people understand the impact of their behaviour on others. This has helped young people to understand the importance of relationships. The new manager has brought clear leadership and management accountability to the home. She quickly identified the strengths of the home and the areas for its development, and has implemented improvements in the quality of care, and the stability and consistency of the staff team. As a result, the home is now effectively and efficiently run in the best interests of the young people. The manager is a strong and supportive leader who prioritises promoting young people’s welfare and improving their lives. Staff now feel very well supported through regular supervision and a rolling programme of training that includes building staff’s knowledge about child sexual exploitation, risk regarding social media, as well as other issues such as attachment and loss and responding to concerns about

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

radicalisation and the deprivation of liberty. Staff spoken to report that the training has been enjoyable and stretching, with one person saying, ‘It made a light go on in my head.’ This means that staff are suitably equipped to meet the needs of young people and they are well supported to develop and broaden their skills and knowledge. The areas for improvement identified at the last inspection have been positively addressed. The new manager has now secured the required care planning documentation and has established a positive relationship with placing social workers, one of whom, when spoken to, commented on the much-improved communication and approach of the manager. There is much closer review and monitoring of records. There is ongoing work with young people to continue to develop positive relationships with staff and each other. There has been a reduction in negative behaviours and young people comment that staff explain to

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

them the reasons behind any sanction. One commented that the new manager was ‘calmer in her approach than the previous manager’ and that she listened to her more. Since her appointment, the manager has made important improvements, which are making a positive difference to the young people’s lives.

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children with emotional and behavioural difficulties and learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

24/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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 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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