Children's home run by Marlowe Child & Family Services Limited in Tewkesbury

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness . The home has sustained effectiveness based on the good work of the registered manager and staff team, and positive relationships continue between the young people and the staff. Since the previous inspection, a well-planned transition for a young person has resulted in their successful move to a foster home. The home has a skilled and qualified manager who is committed to improving experiences and outcomes for young people. She has worked hard to ensure that requirements made at the previous inspection are met. Consequently, young people’s views are being captured by the independent visitor and through regular house meetings and key-worker sessions. A working-together protocol between school and home is in place and all staff regularly receive supervision. Since the previous inspection, the staffing composition has changed, resulting in

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

the increased use of agency staff and periodic use of permanent staff from other children’s homes in the company. The registered manager has, where possible, attempted to maintain consistency of the staff team. However, rotas confirm that staffing levels have, on a number of occasions, been low, and this has had a detrimental impact on the young people. For example, young people have not always been able to access off-site activities, and some incidents of challenging behaviours have not been effectively responded to and managed. A requirement is made to ensure that there are sufficient staff at all times. There have been a number of incidents of challenging behaviour, resulting in some damage to the home and police involvement. However, the manager and staff team have been swift to respond and rectify the damage. In the main, the home is in a good state of repair. An action plan clearly outlines where further improvement

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

work is to take place, and this includes young people’s bedrooms. As a result, the young people live in a home that is welcoming and homely. The young people have plenty of personalised and safe space in which to play and meet friends, family and professionals. The ethos of the home is to use de-escalation techniques with young people, in order to reduce their anxieties and to lessen the use of physical intervention. However, during the course of the inspection, discussions with staff and the registered manager confirmed that not all staff are adequately trained or skilled to manage young people who have challenging behaviours. In particular, some staff are not appropriately trained to physically intervene when required to do so. A requirement is, therefore, made to ensure that all staff are appropriately trained and equipped to support young people safely. Despite a number of challenging incidents and some inconsistencies in staffing, the

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

young people have, overall, remained settled. This has resulted in their making continued progress and enjoying various activities and visits with their families over the summer holiday. Social workers reported that they are pleased with the home and the progress that young people make. In particular, they said that young people have improved behaviours, healthier lifestyles and positive and trusting relationships with staff, and that they are engaging with education.

p.3

Information about this children's home

This children's home is registered to provide accommodation for a maximum of five boys who have emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is run by a private organisation that also operates other children's homes and a registered school in the locality.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 28/04/2016 Full Good 12/10/2015 Full Requires improvement 02/07/2015 Full Inadequate 05/12/2014 Full Good 22/01/2014 Interim Good Progress 19/06/2013 Full Good

p.4

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that must be taken so that the registered persons meet 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 persons must comply within the given timescales.

p.5

Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

p.5

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children's home. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate, ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child and ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13(1)(2)(b)(c)(d)) 28/11/2016

p.5

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’.

p.6

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 whom 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.

p.6

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 .

p.6

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,

p.7

Information about this inspection

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

p.7

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

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

p.7