Children's Home run by The Caldecott Foundation Limited in Kent

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding at the last 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

Following the last inspection, the registered manager has partially met the one recommendation made regarding the external monitoring of the policies. A review meeting was held with the independent visitor. While the reports now track which policies have been viewed, the visitor does not include his professional evaluation of their effectiveness for individual children at the home. Therefore, this recommendation is repeated at this visit.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has moved on from this home successfully and in accordance with his placement plan. The home proactively maintains meaningful links with young people who have left, and with their families. Two children have come into the home and successfully settled. One social worker stated, „I am impressed with how settled she is – this home “get” her. She is the happiest that I have ever seen her.‟ The manager exercises excellent judgement in her assessment of children‟s needs, which leads her to make reliable admission decisions. This further promotes the safety of the home and the ability of the children to remain long term. The children all wish to continue living at the home for the foreseeable future. Another social worker commented, „This home is a huge part of my child‟s life. She has been settled here for years and is the most settled she‟s ever been, and she‟s made a great deal of progress.‟

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children feel safe and are safe in the home. Staff respond appropriately to safeguarding incidents and update risk assessments to ensure that responses are well thought through. There is now a single document where risks and the strategies to minimise them are recorded. This is easier for the children to keep abreast of and engage meaningfully with. Also, staff can now demonstrate and track how they help the children to manage their own risks. For example, the home has a comprehensive chronology monitoring any trends or patterns for self-harm. The children do not go missing. This includes some children for whom this behaviour had been prevalent before. The children know that staff will actively search for them and are aware of the dangers that they face if they were to go missing. Risk is well managed and children learn.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children enjoy making fairy gardens and having visits from the fairies. Children enjoy a range of activities, including ice-skating, swimming, meeting their friends and playing in local parks. One social worker stated, „This home is truly homely, and my child is now proud of her room and herself.‟ All children have excellent attendance at schools, which include the on-site school as well as nearby primary schools and colleges. Relationships with the schools are valuable, homework is guided by staff and children are proud of their work.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager ensures that partnership working is effective for the children and is in their best interests. A social worker stated that „this home‟s style of working is the definition of working in partnership‟. The manager has a remarkable understanding of the children‟s distinctive needs, has individual relationship with each child, and knows how the home may help and support their development. The children continue to progress.

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Information about this children’s home

This private children‟s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for nine children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is run by a charitable organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 21/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 30/11/2015 Full Outstanding 10/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 08/10/2014 Full Good

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure that the responsible person actively seeks independent scrutiny of the home. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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Recommendations

In particular, through monitoring of the homes policies and procedures, to ensure that they remain robust and effective.

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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 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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