Children's home run by R Place Limited

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged to require improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there has been an increase in serious incidents involving young people in the community. This has resulted in police and hospital involvement. The home environment currently lacks a family atmosphere. Damage caused to items in the home, such as the communal television, means that staff are reluctant to display photographs of the young people throughout the home. Necessary furniture was found to be missing from one young person’s bedroom, such as a bed frame, window blinds and a wardrobe. Managers are keen to source robust equipment to ensure that young people have privacy, and a place to rest and relax. Damage to various items in the home has caused relationships between the young people to deteriorate and there have been a number of incidents of physical aggression between them. A young person said, ‘We can’t sit together in the living room and watch TV, because it’s been smashed. It wasn’t my fault and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have individual behaviour management plans. Staff make efforts to promote and support positive behaviour, yet they continue to use physical intervention to keep young people safe in the home. Low-level interventions are used as a strategy to manage behaviour between the young people. As a result of this, staff have been assaulted and young people are not obtaining the skills to regulate their behaviour. Although the records of these interventions have improved somewhat, they do not allow for discussion around the impact of the physical intervention on the member of staff involved. There is a lack of evidence to demonstrate that the manager routinely monitors and reviews each sanction. This lack of oversight means that patterns and trends are not able to be identified, and it is a missed opportunity to reflect on and evaluate whether these sanctions are effective. A social worker said, ‘X continues to assault members of staff,

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

damage property and fight with other young people in the home. Staff members lack creative strategies to manage his challenging behaviours. For example, the tools that they use to manage his behaviour are calm talking and reasoning, nothing more.’ There has been an increase in young people going missing from the home and participating in criminal activity. On these occasions, staff have routinely followed the missing from home procedures. They make attempts to locate and encourage young people to return home as soon as possible. Risk management plans have been updated, and identify individual risks and the strategies to follow when young people go missing. This ensures that young people are supported and returned home safely. The recommendation from the last inspection is repeated, because the manager has not has not ensured that placing authorities provide an independent person to speak to the young people on their return home. This

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

means that young people are not supported to share any anxieties or concerns with someone independent of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been some improvements since the last inspection in relation to young people’s health needs. Staff have assisted young people to understand the importance of maintaining good health, supporting them to overcome their fears and anxieties to attend general appointments. This proactive approach has resulted in young people receiving necessary dental checks and treatment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff provide a wide range of activities for young people to participate in new experiences within the local and wider community. On the day of the inspection, young people were looking forward to a day trip to Blackpool. All young people reported that they had thoroughly enjoyed a recent outing to Moss Side carnival. A young person said, ‘It was really good. It was the best day out, for definite.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people say that they have good relationships with their staff, who they trust. All young people are up to date with their looked after children’s reviews, with the minutes of these meetings recorded on individual files. Consultation and key-work sessions have improved, with some staff producing an evaluative record. Sessions include drug and alcohol misuse, sexual health and the dangers of risk- taking behaviour, such as going missing. These one-to-one sessions provide an opportunity for discussion and a better understanding of young people’s perception of their behaviours and future needs. A young person said, ‘We all have key workers and they talk to us about different stuff. It does help us, and we can talk about things that worry us.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff need to take more care around information that is recorded about the young people, ensuring that it is objective and clear so as not to label them. Records of team meetings, for example, should be recorded in a way which will be of benefit to young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Arrangements have been put in place to enable staff to access young people’s medication. Requirements made in relation to secondary administration of medication have been met, ensuring that one member of staff on shift administers medication. Staff now have access to original boxes, which means that, should an ambulance be required, medical staff will have access to the prescribed dosage. However, medication is not being administered as prescribed, which means that records are not being correctly maintained. There is clear evidence to demonstrate that the registered manager assertively challenges educational professionals and placing authorities to ensure that young people receive the correct level of educational provision for their learning needs. The manager and staff work collaboratively with education professionals and have a good understanding of individual barriers to learning. This proactive approach

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

has resulted in some young people sitting GCSE exams.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two new members of staff have recently been employed at the home. Managers have successfully strengthened recruitment procedures. Robust arrangements are now in place, which ensures that all safety checks are clearly recorded and verified by a manager. This improvement means that young people are looked after by people who have gone through meticulous checks, prior to commencing their employment at the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers have ensured that the monthly independent visitor reports are sent to Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector within the required timescales. The report now clearly evaluates whether young people are safeguarded and how the home promotes their well-being. These improvements enable the inspector to monitor and review regularly the quality of care provided to young people living at the home. A new complaints procedure has been put in place for each young person. A separate record is kept on individual files to ensure that any complaints are clearly recorded, with the action, response and outcome of the investigation. Consequently, young people will be involved in the process, kept up to date and reassured that these issues are being listened to and taken seriously.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Systems are being developed to assist managers to monitor and review the quality of care provided to young people. This improvement is in its early stages and there is no evidence to show the effect that it has made. Recording has improved. However, managers have missed opportunities to gain feedback from parents, placing social workers and other professionals after a young person moved on from the home. Systems have yet to be put in place to capture young people’s, families’ and other agencies’ views consistently. This lack of oversight means that the registered manager is unable to monitor, review and evaluate whether the home is consistently run in the best interests of the young people and that the systems used in the home enhance their quality of care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home’s statement of purpose has been recently updated and contains the required details of staff, including their experience, training and qualifications. This information will assist young people, family members and placing authorities to recognise the level of abilities and experience that the staff have in meeting young people’s particular needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Good systems are now in place to ensure that the registered manager has regular supervision from a suitably qualified external provider, affording consistent opportunities to reflect on practice. Staff have regular supervision sessions and say that they feel well supported by their managers. Training records ensure that staff are able to develop their practice and are well prepared to manage the specific needs of the young people.

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Information about this children's home

The children’s home is owned and operated by a private provider. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five young people who experience emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

29/02/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

12/01/2015 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 registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

Behaviour management policies and records The registered person must ensure that, within 24 hours of a use of a measure of control, a record is made which includes— the description of the measure; details of the methods used and/or steps taken to avoid the use of the measure; and the effectiveness and any consequence of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(iv)(v)(vii)) 18/11/2016

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Requirement Due date

Medicines The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. (Regulation 23 (1)) 18/11/2016

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person must ensure: 13 (2)(h) that they use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(2)(h)) 18/11/2016

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Requirement Due date

Review of quality of care In order to complete a quality of care review, the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating and must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(2)(5)) 18/11/2016

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard the registered must ensure: 6 (2)(c)(i)(ii) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child 18/11/2016 and enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6(c)(i)(ii))

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  When a child returns to the home after being missing from care, the responsible authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  Records of restraint must be kept and should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)  Staff supervision must enable staff to reflect and act upon their own feelings and behaviour which may be affected by the behaviour of the children they care for. This specifically relates to physical interventions. (‘Guide to the children's homes

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Recommendations

regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.15)  Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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 ‘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

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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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