Children's home SC443544

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:

 Young people report that they feel safe in this home and they have reduced their risk-taking behaviours.  Young people benefit from positive relationships with staff and peers. They engage in activities and have experiences that enhance their social skills and self-esteem.  The manager values and prioritises training and development for the staff team. Staff report that they benefit from training opportunities and regular supervision that enables the development of practice.  Staff are proactive in supporting and facilitating contact for young people with family and friends. Relationships have been maintained and have improved as a result of regular, safe contact arrangements.  There are some shortfalls identified that the management team has recognised and is addressing. There is a need to develop and improve quality assurance so that managers have an accurate understanding of the progress young people are making. Staff and managers need to be

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The children’s home provision is good because:

aspirational for the young people and to challenge partners effectively when they do not have essential information or up-to-date plans to inform their work with each young person from the start of their placement.

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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

13: In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person to: (2)(f) understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home and (2)(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 01/11/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  The registered person should support staff to be ambitious for every child in the home and to gain skills and experience that enable them to actively support each child to achieve their potential. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.5)

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Recommendations

 The registered person must challenge (under regulation 5(c)) any placing authority that asks them to accept a child in the absence of a complete and relevant plan, as the expectation that a placement of a child without the necessary information would go ahead (in circumstances other than an emergency) is inadequate in relation to their role. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.5 )

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home is registered for three children and 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

18/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

17/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Good

There is a stable, experienced staff group in this home. Staff have trusting, nurturing relationships with the young people. Young people have improved confidence and social skills as a result of positive relationships with staff and peers. The young people in this home are generally positive about the care they receive. One young person said: ‘I like living here. I like the staff because they’re friendly – I get along with them, I have a good friendship with them all. The staff make sure you are all right; they always ask you about your day. I like coming back to the house because we have a laugh and it’s friendly and I feel safe in the house.’ All of the young people have made good progress in their behaviours and their social skills from their starting points.

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Good

Staff have supported young people to attend education and other learning opportunities. Where there have been difficulties, staff have liaised with education staff and in most cases have identified solutions. Young people have had opportunities to learn in the home. They have completed online courses in a range of subjects, such as peer mentoring, anti-bullying and independence skills.

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Good

Some young people have struggled to sustain progress and engagement as they have made the transition to post-16 training provision. In these cases, work with the local authority to ensure that there are suitable arrangements for older young people has not been consistent or effective. There is mixed evidence about challenge to other agencies to ensure that multi-agency meetings are convened in a timely way and clear plans, with contingencies, are in place. One young person did not have an up-to-date education plan. As a result, recommendations are made to strengthen practice in challenging placing authorities to provide plans, and to ensure that staff have the skills and confidence to support young people to sustain engagement in post-16 training and education.

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Good

There has been good work by staff to support young people in developing independence skills. From the start, there are clear expectations about young people learning to take responsibility for their own room and developing skills such as being able to do laundry and ironing. At the age of 16 and over, young people are provided with an allowance and so learn how to budget in a supported, structured way. The home uses an accredited independence skills package that covers a wide range of subjects, from their rights as young adults and where to seek advice about accommodation, to living on a budget. Staff are creative in supporting young people to understand the importance of learning practical independence skills for when they move on from this home.

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Good

Young people enjoy a range of social opportunities; each has an album of photographs and memories of positive activities and achievements. They enjoy choosing and planning activities such as holidays, days out and regular trips to the cinema, and shopping or eating out.

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Good

There is a culture of consulting with young people from the start of their placement. The admission process informs young people of independent contacts. Advocates regularly visit, and young people are expected to contribute to weekly residents’ meetings. An advocate has supported young people to present their views at their planning meetings. In this way, they contribute to discussions and decisions about the home and their care plans.

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Good

The admission process is child centred; young people are encouraged to visit the home prior to the placement starting. Staff are supportive and sensitive when young people move in. One social worker said: ‘The young person I am working with was really positive about visits to the home during the admission process. The staff communicated well and it was a supported, planned move.’ Managers attend placement planning meetings and consider the compatibility of the needs of young people who have been referred with the needs of current residents. There have been three short-term placements in a relatively brief period of time. One was a planned short-term placement. However, in the case of two young people, identified risks increased and they moved out of this home, as part of a plan to keep them safe. This has inevitably impacted on the experiences and relationships of the longer term residents. The manager recognises this and is

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Good

reviewing decision making processes, including how information is shared at the point of referral, so that lessons are learned.

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Good

Staff are proactive in promoting contact and ensuring that young people maintain relationships with family and significant others. They liaise with the social workers to ensure that there are risk assessments in place about all contact arrangements and, where appropriate, overnight arrangements are agreed. Staff recognise the importance for young people to sustain positive relationships in the community, particularly when they are planning to move on from the home. In some cases, sensitive and skilled practice by staff has supported the development of contact for young people. When extended contact stays have been agreed as part of a planned move to independent accommodation, staff visit young people to check their welfare and safety and to provide support. A social worker said: ‘I have had several young people placed at this home and they have always been made to feel comfortable and have friends around for tea. Staff go above and beyond to

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Good

Young people have detailed healthcare plans and are supported to attend preventative healthcare appointments. Where there are particular healthcare needs, staff work in partnership with healthcare colleagues to ensure that these are identified and met.

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Good

There are clear routines and structures that support young people to settle in the home. They are advised about the expectations for behaviour and respecting each other, and positive behaviours are reinforced from the start. There has been one report regarding low-level bullying. This was addressed by staff immediately. Staff work with young people individually to enhance their understanding about healthy relationships. Young people have completed bullying awareness courses and have gone on to complete courses in peer mentoring.

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Good

Young people have reduced their risk-taking behaviours. They have comprehensive risk and behaviour management plans that identify concerning behaviours and triggers, and provide advice regarding effective responses. Levels of monitoring and supervision are agreed with young people in order to support them to keep themselves safe.

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Good

As a result of staff working with young people to meet their needs, there is reduced vulnerability to exploitation, reduced substance misuse and reduced absences from the home. When young people have been missing or absent without authorisation, staff proactively look for young people, maintain contact if at all possible and report promptly and accurately, following procedures. When young people return to the home, they are welcomed back and discussions take place to help keep them safe in the future.

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Good

Following an information-sharing meeting, it was agreed by police, social care workers and home staff that risks had increased in respect of one young person’s behaviours. The manager and staff worked closely with the police to ensure her safety until she moved to a more appropriate placement. A police link officer said: ‘Staff and managers are excellent. They keep me up to date with any changes. They always attend my meetings with providers; they are open and honest and they take up and contribute to any training opportunities.’

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Good

There have been limited physical interventions. They are used as a last resort and staff are trained and skilled in de-escalating difficult behaviours and distracting distressed young people. Managers and staff reflect on incidents and put strategies in place to prevent similar incidents in the future.

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Good

Young people benefit from stable, nurturing relationships with staff and improved relationships with family and peers. Consequently, they develop increased resilience and self-esteem. Self-harming behaviours are reduced. An independent reviewing officer said of a young person who has had some difficult experiences: ‘The staff are working with this young person in a very positive way – care is good and safeguarding protocols are followed to keep her safe.’

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Good

Young people complete surveys about where they feel safe, and they have reported that they feel safe within the home. These surveys help staff to support young people to keep safe.

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Good

Staff have developed good, creative, child-friendly, non-smoking information for young people. There is a smoking minimisation policy to ensure that staff are consistent in addressing smoking with young people.

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Good

The manager and staff know and understand policies and procedures regarding allegations against adults who work with children. Managers contact the designated officer appropriately. There has been one allegation made by a young person since the previous inspection. Procedures have been robustly followed and an investigation was concluded in a timely way.

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Requires improvement

The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced. There is a consistent, stable staff team and the manager values and prioritises training and development with staff. For example, the manager has developed and delivered a training package for staff about building resilience when working with young people who exhibit challenging behaviours.

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Requires improvement

Staff report that they receive regular, recorded supervisions. The manager has improved supervision for the management team by holding supervision away from the home and ensuring that there is time for reflection on the effectiveness of interventions with young people.

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Requires improvement

The manager is mindful of team-building and staff morale, and invests in team development days. A number of staff have undertaken training to be trainers. Staff take lead responsibility for specialist areas, such as health and safety, sexual exploitation and anti-bullying. This enhances their knowledge, skills and development.

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Requires improvement

The managers are able to identify the strengths of their service and the areas that require development. There are good and established joint working arrangements with a range of partners and with young people’s families. This means that professionals are working together to meet young people’s needs, and information is shared with families about young people’s progress.

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Requires improvement

The managers have reflected on a recent period when there had been three short- term placements and the impact this had on the relationships and experiences of the other two residents. The registered manager is undertaking a review of planning and the information shared regarding placements to learn lessons. This is a constructive response to address the challenges of information-sharing, managing risks, and meeting the different needs of young people.

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Requires improvement

A range of quality assurance mechanisms enable managers to monitor the progress of young people and the effectiveness of the service. These include the manager’s review of care, monthly performance management meetings and monthly reports by the independent visitor. This inspection and some of the quality assurance reporting have highlighted some areas for improvement. Evidence of up- to-date plans to inform placement care plans is inconsistent. One young person did not have an up-to-date education plan. The records of one young person who had recently moved in did not include essential information required to meet her needs. The organisation of information to ensure that the young person’s story is known and understood also requires strengthening. For example, information about names and identity was not consistent in one young person’s records. Requirements are made to address these shortfalls, which have not impacted on

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Requires improvement

the safety and welfare of the young people.

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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 the ‘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 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 whom 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, 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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