Children's home run by Mulberry House Care Homes Limited

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:

 Relationships between young people and staff are strong. Young people are respectful and trust the staff who care for them.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 Staff invest time with young people and pay attention to their interests.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 Young people are protected from harm. They do not go missing from care, use drugs or consume alcohol.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 Physical intervention is not used. Behaviour is managed well. Young people take responsibility for their own actions.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 Young people enjoy education and make good progress. They have aspirations for their futures and their education attendance records are excellent.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 Independence skills improve. Young people are supported well in preparing for their transition into adulthood and independent living.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 The leadership and management are strong. The team are dedicated and passionate about the care they provide.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 Young people receive good-quality care from suitably skilled, trained and qualified staff.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 There are some areas that require improvement in relation to: food safety, maintenance of the home, the statement of purpose, equipment for the purpose of education and room searches.

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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:

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

(2)(d) the premises used for the purpose of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. 10/10/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the statement of purpose under review and where appropriate, revise it and notify HMCI of any revision and send a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16(3)(a)(b)) 10/10/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Ensure that children have access to a computer and the internet to support their education and learning. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.19)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies and procedures on record- keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording, in particular in relation to room searches. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is registered for three young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is one of several homes operated by an independent provider.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 02/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 21/01/2016 Full Good 19/03/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness 30/10/2014 Full Good

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Good

Relationships between young people and staff are strong. Young people are respectful and trust the staff who care for them. This is because the staff invest their time with young people and pay attention to their interests. The relaxed environment, combined with structure and house rules, also helps to maintain positive relationships. At times, there is some friction between young people. This is closely monitored by staff. They encourage young people to manage their differences appropriately. Young people look up to the staff and know they have their best interests at heart. A staff member said, ‘They all listen to me. They see me as a mother figure. I tell them I may not be your mother, but I am the next best thing while you are here.’ This gives young people a sense of belonging.

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Good

Young people enjoy education and make good progress. They have aspirations for their futures and have excellent education attendance, although they do not have access to a computer for the purpose of education. This hinders learning outside school/college hours. A young person commented about his education experience and said, ‘School is great. I had an amazing school. There is no other way to describe it.’ Young people are enthusiastic about their future careers and have clear plans and aspirations. A young person said, ‘I want to be a zookeeper’.

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Good

Young people sustain good health and fitness because they take responsibility for their well-being. A staff member said about one young person, ‘He is conscious of his diet and will make chicken and rice for tea. He will eat fruit and loves fresh vegetables on his Sunday dinner.’ Young people understand the importance of keeping fit and well. A young person said, ‘I don’t use drugs or alcohol. I feel physically fit and well. I eat well, brush my teeth and have a good healthy diet. I take medication regularly. It helps me loads.’ Staff play a big part in ensuring that young people stay on track with their health and attend their routine health appointments. This ensures that young people access the appropriate services to meet their emotional and physical needs.

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Good

The views and wishes of young people are constantly sought through regular discussions and meetings. Their requests are considered and acted on. For example, following discussions in meetings, young people have received new bedroom furniture. They have also chosen blinds instead of curtains for their bedrooms. Young people are confident in voicing their opinions. They take the opportunity to do so during their review. This ensures that they contribute to their future plan. As a result, young people feel valued. Young people have access to independent advocates. This additional support helps them when they encounter difficulties in communicating difficult issues. Young people have access to family and friends who are important to them. Since living at the home, young people’s confidence has improved. This has helped them develop important social skills. As a result, they have formed good friendships. A

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Good

young person said, ‘I have friends and see them a lot’. Family members feel that staff communicate well with them when young people are on contact. A parent said, ‘We have contact every week. He is always clean and tidy. Communication is good from the staff.’

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Good

Young people enjoy a wide range of activities of their choice. This gives them plenty of opportunities to socialise and contribute to their community. Young people recently attended a summer games event. A young person said, ‘I took part in the space hopper race and tug of war. We won the games and got a trophy.’

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Good

Young people are supported well in preparing for their transition into adulthood and independent living. Life skills improve. Young people know how to maintain a tidy house, and basic skills such as cooking, budgeting and shopping are, for some, completed independently. One young person has moved into the annex and receives minimal support from staff. He said, ‘The quality of care is good. I was consulted about the move to the annex. I now get four hours a week from staff to support and help me.’ Other young people also feel prepared for leaving care and said, ‘The plan is to move to a flat. I feel ready for this. I have a pathway plan and a personal advisor.’ This helps young people to transition into adulthood.

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Good

The staff work in partnership with young people to keep them safe from harm in and out of the home. The staffing levels ensure that young people are adequately supervised in relation to their own individual risks. Risk assessments are clear and regular reviewed. A staff member said, ‘We keep young people safe because we spend a lot of time with them. We always know where they are. When they go out they keep in touch with us to tell us when they will be returning.’ The risks identified for some young people have reduced from their starting points. For example, bedroom door alarms are no longer used because young people do not present behaviours that require them.

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Good

Young people feel safe. A young person said, ‘Staff give me advice when I tell them what I am going to do. I listened to them. They always knock on my door and ask if I am alright.’ Young people benefit from the home’s rules and staff’s expectations. They help young people to understand the boundaries. This helps young people to manage their behaviour and reduces the incidents that in the past have caused young people to damage property. Staff use praise and rewards to promote positive behaviour. Sanctions are imposed as a consequence of negative behaviour. A young person said, ‘Sanctions are fair. We have the loss of the internet for behaviour such as smoking in the house or being rude. There are lots of positive rewards. I took part in sack race and the tug of war. We get rewards for positive achievements.’

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Good

Young people are protected from harm. They do not go missing from care, use drugs or consume alcohol and are not at risk of child sexual exploitation. Physical intervention is not used. Behaviour is managed well. Young people take responsibility for their own actions. Young people are now able to self-regulate their emotions and find other ways to express their feelings when they are angry or upset. Staff support them and use verbal prompts and de-escalating techniques to diffuse tensions.

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Good

Staff do not always seek consent from young people before undertaking a bedroom search in line with the home’s policy and procedure. This does not promote the rights of the young person.

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Good

There are some areas of the home that require improvement. For example, carpets in the annex and laundry room are damaged and present a tripping hazard. The annex lounge walls are stained and need decorating. The fridge and freezer temperatures in the annex are not routinely monitored. This does not guarantee that food is stored safely. Everyone living, working or visiting the home is protected against the risk of fire. Routine drills and tests of equipment keep the home safe.

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Good

Young people know how to complain and do so. Allegations against staff are managed well. Young people are protected because staff whistle-blow when young people are at risk of harm or abuse. Staff are trained in safeguarding and child protection and have a clear understanding of the reporting procedures. They work exceptionally well with the local area designated officer and the local safeguarding children’s board when reporting and managing allegations. As a result, young people are protected from harm.

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Good

Notifications of significant events are shared in a timely manner with those who required to be informed. As a result, any action needing to be taken is taken without delay. This keeps young people safe.

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Good

Staff are safely recruited. All staff are subject to a robust vetting procedure prior to starting work. This ensures that they are safe to work with young people. As a result, young people are safeguarded against unsuitable candidates having access to them. Judgement grade

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Good

The registered manager has been in post since September 2015. She is currently undertaking the level 5 diploma in management of children’s services. Most staff have a suitable qualification in caring for children and young people. Those who are unqualified are within regulatory timescales, at present, to obtain their qualification within the two years of starting work.

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Good

The statement of purpose does not provide clear guidance with reference to the use and purpose of the annex in relation to semi-independence placements. The arrangements for surveillance and the use of monitoring devices in the home are not clearly identified. This makes it difficult to decide what services and support the home offers.

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Good

The manager leads a committed and dedicated workforce. The manager is a proactive leader who strives to provide young people with good-quality care. The home’s success is down to the manager’s and staff’s approach to young people. They all play an active part in young people’s daily lives. The manager knows what is happening on a daily basis because staff provide clear and concise feedback. Coupled with the manager’s hands-on approach, this helps young people to succeed in making improvements to their lives. An independent visitor’s report about the home confirmed that external partners value the manager’s support. A youth offending service officer told the visitor that she has nothing but praise for the home’s manager for the support she shows to young people. She said the partnership working is brilliant.

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Good

Staff receive regular supervision and appraisal. All staff complete mandatory training as part of their induction and receive refresher training thereafter. This ensures that staff are kept up to date with changes to legislation and are able to continue to meet the individual needs of young people.

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Good

The manager completes regularly reviews the quality of care that the service is providing. Reports are sent to Ofsted in line with regulatory guidance. The monthly monitoring by the independent visitor also provides the manager with a view of how the service is performing.

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Good

There is a home development plan. The plan sets out objectives and is updated when they are achieved. This helps to ensure that the home is maintained well and monitors the home’s success.

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Good

The relationships between social workers, parents and other professionals is good. Staff have formed positive relationships that have helped to keep the channels of communication transparent. When the manager feels that a service is not effective, she is not afraid to challenge. By communicating her view through the appropriate channels, decisions that have not been in the best interests of the young person have been changed. This ensures that the young person remains central to their plan of care.

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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 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 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 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 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

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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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