Children's home in Gloucester

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:

 The young person has experienced long-term stability and security through living here. The meaningful and trusting relationships that he has formed with staff have been central to the exceptional progress that he has made.  The young person has made very good progress in his life through living at the home. He has grown in self-awareness and, over time, learned to manage his emotions, and to develop positive and trusting relationships with others. This is particularly true of his re-engagement in education, which resulted in him achieving above his predicted grades in his GCSEs.  The young person benefits from being cared for by a consistent, well-trained team of staff who are very child-centred. The staff and the young person have built strong relationships based on trust and mutual respect. The staff team has a detailed understanding of the young person’s needs, and works in a consistent manner in line with his plans.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Leaders and managers have developed effective monitoring systems. These are used to develop practice and to ensure that the young person’s needs are met. They work openly with fellow professionals, who praised them for their work and commitment to the young person.  Consultation with the young person is a strength of the service. His input is sought in all aspects of the work undertaken. The young person said that he valued this and felt listened to.  The staff team is highly motivated and committed to the young person. Both staff and managers are fully focused upon providing care that is reflective of his needs and flexible in its approach.

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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

12: The protection of children standard In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person must ensure that— (2)(b) the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. This is with particular regard to young people bringing adult computer games into the home. (Regulation 12 (2)(b)) 03/10/2016

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Requirement Due date

37: Other records Maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4, in particular the staff rotas, and recording when the registered manager is on-site. (Regulation 37 (2)(a)) 03/10/2016

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of Regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). The plan should be updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff while working at the home, and used to record the on-going training and continuing professional development needs of staff, including the home's manager. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  Ensure that clear arrangements are in place to maintain effective management when the manager is absent, off duty or on leave. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 54, paragraph 10.20)  Staff should be familiar with the home's policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that

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Recommendations

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. In particular, staff should ensure that the records are duly signed and dated. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring (including under Regulations 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. In particular, if the information provided is inaccurate this will need to be challenged and amended. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards, page 55, paragraph 24)

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Information about this children's home

This private children’s home accommodates one young person with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 22/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 21/07/2015 Full Requires improvement 17/03/2015 Full Good 01/07/2014 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Good

The current young person has lived here for over three years. He very much sees this as his home and is comfortable and relaxed with staff, who have a deep knowledge of his needs and preferences. Over the period of his placement, the young person has made exceptional progress. He has full attendance at school, is in good health and has developed a degree of confidence and self-esteem which he never had previously. These improvements are as a direct result of the carefully planned and consistent approach of the staff towards his care. A social worker said, ‘He is engaging really well with staff and doing extremely well in all aspects of his life.’ The young person sees the small staff group as his extended family. He trusts them to act in his best interests and to give him support when necessary, saying, ‘I work with my staff and they are consistent, they are the best. I get on really well with staff. They are like a big family.’ Staff record individual sessions with him as

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Good

evidence of the work that they do to address particular issues. These demonstrate that staff are non-judgemental in confronting inappropriate behaviour while firmly reinforcing what is socially acceptable. The young person, despite having difficulties at school in the past, now has excellent school attendance. He is now making very good progress and has achieved above his predicted grades in his GCSEs. The young person’s health needs are well met. Staff arrange primary healthcare appointments, such as with dentists, opticians and GPs, to ensure that he remains in good health. Annual health reviews take place within agreed timescales and any actions identified are undertaken immediately. The young person is confident that staff respect his privacy and dignity. He has positive views about living in the home and he said, ‘Staff will bring down [the] world if it means fighting for me.’ Individualised care is a major strength. The

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Good

young person’s needs, wishes and positive outcomes are of paramount importance. Staff are consistently complimentary about him and focus on his strengths and potential. This consistent, positive approach inspires the young person to believe in himself. A staff member said, ‘His behaviour is brilliant. He is such a lovely young man. We celebrated his exam results with balloons and banners, so proud of him.’ Staff endeavour to meet the young person’s preferences for leisure activities. He is a keen angler and model maker. One member of staff has helped in his interest in fishing. Both have enjoyed night fishing over the school holidays .The young person is immensely talented at model making and enjoys spending time on his many inventions. He is proud of this and has clearly developed a sense of achievement in his work and creations. The quality of the work that the home has done to prepare the young person for

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Good

transition to adulthood is particularly good. In his daily routines, the young person is encouraged to do things for himself. Staff have patiently shown him how to cook meals, and the young person regularly cooks for the entire household. Staff support him in having as much control over his finances as possible, consistent with keeping him safe. The young person said, ‘(names staff) is like my nan. Nans are always the best at caring, they are also supposed to be the best cooks, but she can’t cook, but she has really helped me with my independence.’ The home presents as a lived-in family home. It is warm, welcoming and comfortable. The quality of furniture and decoration is very good.

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Good

Staff provide a high level of supervision and support which keeps the young person safe. Staff are always on hand, even when the young person is at school or visiting friends in the community. Staff act as good parents and go over and above to ensure that both known and potential risks are minimised. Examples include robust supervision and always knowing, and checking, that the young person is where he is supposed to be. Friends are very welcome in the home and staff have contact telephone numbers for young people’s friends and parents, regularly checking if the young person is visiting for extended periods. The young person said, ‘They worry about me and make sure that I am safe when I’m out and about.’ This re- enforces to the young person that staff care about him and will do what they can to keep him safe. Staff support the young person to manage his behaviour and feelings in a safe and supportive manner. Positive behaviour is promoted, and staff ensure that there is

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Good

continuity and consistency of boundaries. Staff set expectations of behaviour which are clear for the young person to follow. These include acting with consideration towards others and undertaking appropriate self-care tasks. He is encouraged to behave appropriately through the use of positive incentives and praise. The registered manager ensures that the young person’s known risks are identified and that staff are provided with comprehensive risk assessments that guide and support them in how to manage and reduce the risk. These plans are regularly reviewed to ensure that they are relevant and up to date. Since the previous inspection, there have not been any recorded incidents of restraint, sanctions being imposed, missing from home incidents, accidents, complaints or any investigations into allegations or suspicion of harm. The young person said, ‘I feel safe and I know how to make a complaint.’ The young person is protected by clear safeguarding procedures and care practice

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Good

that ensures that his safety and well-being are a high priority. All staff are clear about their safeguarding responsibilities. Staff manage the balance between protection and enabling him to take age-appropriate risks very well. This approach allows the young person to enjoy the same social experiences as his peers in the wider community. The young person is being effectively supported to maintain regular contact with his family. Expectations from the placing authority are clearly understood and very good arrangements are in place to ensure that he is supported. The young person commented, ‘I get to see my family when I want and I get phone calls off my mum.’ Staff understand how important this is to the young person and liaise well with social workers and families to ensure that he enjoys positive experiences. Rotas are mainly clear and they evidence that there are sufficient staff on shift that provide continuity of care. There are three shifts covered by staff with no further

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Good

details about who they are or if they are agency or full-time staff from another home within the company. This does not provide transparency and may be a potential safeguarding issue. The registered manager ensures that the current young person lives in a safe environment. However, the young person had brought adult computer games into the home, which were not age appropriate for him. There are regular checks on the home’s utility services. Fire safety is promoted and all staff and the young person take part in regular fire drills.

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Good

The registered manager is experienced and suitably qualified. She has an excellent relationship with the current young person, ensuring a consistency of approach throughout the staff team. There is effective monitoring and good evaluation of the service carried out by the manager. The registered manager has a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home, and regularly undertakes comprehensive reviews of the quality of care provided. However, the manager was on holiday during this inspection and the provider had failed to clearly identify the management arrangements in her absence. The quality and effectiveness of the independent monitoring reports contain conflicting and inaccurate information. This means that the lack of comprehensive independent scrutiny of the home does not aid the registered manager to ensure continuous improvement. The report has also not been sent to HMCI. The staff team shares the same child-focused and caring ethos as outlined within

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Good

the statement of purpose. This relates to keeping young people at the centre of their practice. The staff interviewed during this inspection feel extremely positive about their work and have a full understanding of the home’s ethos. They feel very well supported and report that they receive regular supervision. The registered manager ensures that staff meetings are held regularly. She ensures that staff are able to express their views and opinions, and to contribute to the development of the home. The registered manager and staff place the young person at the centre of their practice. The registered manager is committed to ensuring that the young person ‘has a voice’ and ensures that, through effective consultation, the young person’s views and opinions are sought. She ensures that staff are provided with a comprehensive placement plan that clearly identifies how the needs of the young person are to be met. The plan has been devised in consultation with the young

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Good

person. Care planning documents held within the home are generally of a good quality. However, some records are not dated. This does not mirror the good practice carried out by staff on a day-to-day basis. This does not impact on the day-to-day care received by the young person. The manager provides regular updates about the current young person’s progress to his social worker. The social worker said that this information is useful and informative. Overall, staff are well trained and experienced. All staff who work at the home have a formal qualification at level 3. They undertake all mandatory training, and specific training to meet the needs of the young person who lives at the home. This includes training on safeguarding, first aid, fire safety, missing from care, around child sexual exploitation, radicalisation, equality and diversity. However, records do not provide a clear overview of all the training courses that they have attended.

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Good

Records are confusing and need to include online training and any additional training completed in team meetings.

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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 ‘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 looked after children 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 that 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 who 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, 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

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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