Children's home run by Medway Council in Medway

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good 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

Leaders and managers have responded positively and actively to the requirement and recommendations made at the previous inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A requirement to increase young people’s resilience and awareness of areas of risk was made. This is in addition to keeping young people safe in the short term. Risk management plans now include specific strategies to help young people to increase their capacity to keep themselves safe and reduce behaviours that may place them at risk. An example of this is a comprehensive and coordinated plan for one young person to understand and reduce her tendency to indiscriminately seek physical contact with others. Staff consistently remind her to use safe and appropriate methods to gain positive attention and this is reducing her vulnerability to exploitation. This intervention is, however, affecting the other young people in the home who are already able to self-regulate and give and receive appropriate physical contact.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recommendations were also made for systems to be in place to ensure that all staff receive regular supervision from competent persons, and for supervision to include the opportunity for staff to reflect on their practice and the needs of the young people in their care. This process is now strengthened, following the training of senior staff members. The implementation of a new supervision structure has spread the supervision load and provided opportunities for senior staff to develop their professional roles. All staff feel better supported as a result. Junior staff are positive about working together on shifts with those who provide their supervision. The opportunity for reflection is now built into the supervision record and is an integral part of each supervision session. Young people profit from these developments by having a more stable group of carers who are better sustained and equipped to meet their needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff needed to be better equipped to recognise and be alert for any indications that young people may be at risk of harm, particularly in relation to substance misuse and radicalisation. Since the last inspection, all staff have undergone training or further training related to child sexual exploitation, female genital mutilation, radicalisation, substance misuse and attachment theory. They completed this as a group and report significant benefits. These include receiving necessary updates and re-sensitisation, as well as gaining new knowledge.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A final recommendation was made about ensuring that staff are prepared and able to actively listen to children who want to speak about their past experiences. Particular reference was made to understanding attachment theory and practice and the effects of trauma, abuse and neglect. Of particular relevance was an increased understanding of challenging behaviours related to attachment difficulties. This positive response to recommended learning and development has resulted in an increased ability of staff to keep young people safe and to respond more effectively and less reactively to unwanted and challenging behaviours.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the home has completed the process of moving from a largely outsourced provision to an in-house local authority provision. This process included staff changing employment contracts. Leaders and managers have accomplished this challenging process successfully and there has been no noticeable disruption to the quality and continuity of young people’s care during this transition.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Three young people have moved on from the home, and two have moved in, since the last inspection. One transition, to foster care, was completed in a planned and careful manner; one was sudden when parental consent was withdrawn and the young person returned home; the third was unexpected when the young person received a custodial sentence. He was, however, fully supported by staff during this process. The home remains fully involved with planning for his release, and staff recently attended a multi-agency meeting in this regard. The admissions followed full and proper assessment and both young people have become integrated into the home and are making progress in education.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All five young people are in full-time education at different schools. Each is making steady progress from their starting points and some are excelling. Staff relate to young people with warmth and care; young people are keen to share highlights of their day when they return from school; and there is laughter in the home. Young people are enthusiastic about food and there is a strong culture of shared mealtimes as an opportunity for discussion and social development. Young people willingly complete planned chores at mealtimes. There have been no incidents requiring the use of physical restraint or complaints made since the last inspection. One young person said, ‘I feel safe and looked after; they can’t do anything better here.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers display a detailed understanding of each young person’s needs and progress and are focused on areas of improvement. One staff member said, ‘He [the registered manager] is making us drive key working at the moment.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are inspired with a sense of confidence and purpose and are able to make appropriate decisions and take independent action when necessary. A ‘looked after children’s nurse’ said, ‘Leadership trust staff here.’ Staff show strong interest in the progress and well-being of each young person; they are tenacious in securing relevant services for young people and display healthy professional curiosity. One keyworker, through persistence and determination, was able to uncover previously undisclosed information about a young person that is key to their safe and proper care. The ‘looked after children’s nurse’ said, ‘They are such good advocates for children here,’ and went on to say about one young person, ‘I had real misgivings about her being placed here; she has such complex health and emotional needs but they have really worked hard and she is doing so well – the keyworker keeps me constantly informed about what is happening.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are benefiting from a good level of care and the improvements that have been made. This demonstrates the provider’s proactive response to the inspection process.

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by the local authority. It provides residential care for up to eight young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/08/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/02/2015 Interim Sustained 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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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:

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Recommendations

The policies and practices in the home with regard to physical contact should be reviewed in order to ensure: that standards of behaviour are clear and unambiguous; that staff understand the factors that affect young people’s motivation to behave in a socially acceptable way; and that staff have the skills to respond to each young person’s individual behaviour. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paras 8.11, 8.13 and 8.14)

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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, 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

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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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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