Children's Home run by Suffolk County Council in Suffolk

Provision subtype Children's home

Registered person Suffolk County Council

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Provision subtype Children's home

Registered person address Suffolk County Council, Endeavour House, Russell Road, Ipswich IP1 2BX Responsible individual Clifford James

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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:

 Staff understand the importance of education and actively support children to attend.  Staff are consistent with boundaries and appropriately challenge unwanted behaviours.  There is a stable, dedicated staff team that knows and understands the children’s individual needs and wants them to progress well.  Children are supported to learn to manage risks according to their age, understanding and vulnerability and in consultation with the social worker.  Parents and professionals comment that communication between the staff and themselves is good and they are kept updated.  Staff understand that contact is important for both children and their families. Staff support and facilitate this to happen in line with the social worker’s care plan.  There are good placement plans and clear risk assessments in place.  Staff need to make improvements to record keeping regarding health appointments, signing and dating of records and risk assessment and

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The children's home provision is good because:

updating of daily records.  Staff need to be up to date with fire, bullying and child exploitation training in order to further safeguard the children.  The children’s guide and statement of purpose need updating.  The home is large and spacious but there is some decorating work which needs to be undertaken to make it feel homely.

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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

The registered person must— (a) keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and (b) notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b)) 21/11/16

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must after consultation with the fire and rescue authority— (c) make arrangements for persons working in the home to receive suitable training in fire prevention. (Regulation 25 (1)(c)) 01/12/16

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5.) In particular, evidence that staff are aware of the content of risk assessments, understand them and agree with them.  The registered person should actively undertake scrutiny of the home and make best use of internal monitoring to ensure continuous improvement. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24.) In particular, review the records of bullying to ensure that children are happy with the action taken and outcome.  The children’s guide should help children to understand what the day-to-day routines of the home are. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations

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Recommendations

including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.22)  Ensure that the decor of the building is continuously maintained to promote a homely, domestic environment. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  Ensure that staff are 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 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)  Regulations 35–39 detail the records that must be kept in children’s homes. Case records must be kept up to date and signed and dated by the author of

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Recommendations

each entry. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)  Ensure that children will be given opportunities to discuss the impact of the care. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 18, paragraph 3.31.) In particular, provide children with the opportunity to comment on and sign their placement plan.  The registered person should ensure that skills in safeguarding are gained, refreshed and recorded in the home’s workforce plan. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.12.) This is in relation to all staff having training around child sexual exploitation.

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Information about this children's home

This home provides medium- and long-term placements for up to seven children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. A local authority owns and operates the home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 22/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 06/10/2015 Full Good 26/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 20/11/2014 Full Good

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Good

The children have built good relationships with a stable, dedicated staff team that knows and understands their individual needs, and supports them to progress in all aspects of their lives. A social worker commented, ‘She has a really good relationship with staff, who have done some really good work with her.’ A parent commented, ‘She trusts the staff and has a good relationship with them, which is important to me.’ Staff offer the children a wide variety of activities outside the home but children do not participate saying that they are too old to go out with staff. A parent commented, ‘She has the opportunity to do lots of things but being a typical teenager she doesn’t. She loves baking and staff do this with her in the home instead.’ Staff encourage children to engage in activities in the home. During the inspection, children were in the process of planning a movie night. Staff did take the children on holiday to Devon in the summer, which children say that they

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Good

enjoyed. Children have made good progress since moving into the home. One child has decreased her absconding, while another child has stopped altogether. All the children sat GCSEs or foundation exams over the summer. A social worker commented, ‘He is progressing above all my expectations.’ Staff understand the importance of education and actively encourage and support children to attend. There are excellent links with education providers. One education provider commented, ‘He was in our mainstream school for a few years, he successfully sat his GCSEs and has moved on to another education provision.’ The manager is in frequent contact with the virtual schools manager, who commented, ‘Communication is very good. We have regular meetings with the manager and other professionals to discuss the children and their progress. The staff see education as being very important.’ Staff have a good understanding of why the children are in care and are proactive

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Good

in supporting them to understand why they cannot live at home. A social worker commented, ‘Staff have a really good relationship with him and have been able to explain why he cannot live at home and why contact sometimes changes. They have really supported him to understand.’ Staff understand the importance of transitions, although there have been no children leaving or being admitted into the home since the last full inspection. Six of the children have started in new education provisions in September. An education provider commented, ‘Staff worked with us so that we could prepare him to transition into a different education setting. He managed this really well.’ Another education provider commented, ‘Staff continued to talk about education over the holidays and supported him to return. The transition back to school has been very successful and he is no longer on a reduced timetable.’ Due to all children being over 16 years old, the home is working closely with the

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Good

passport to independence coordinator. The children are working towards this accredited award. They are piloting this and staff and children are working closely with professionals such as housing and education. One child has completed his award, and is the first in the county to do so. Staff understand the importance of contact for both children and their families. Staff support and facilitate this in line with the social worker’s care plan. A parent commented, ‘I have contact every week. Staff are really good at making sure that it happens. If I come to the home I am always made to feel welcome.’ A social worker commented, ‘His previous social worker reduced contact and this has had a detrimental effect on him. Staff have facilitated him getting an advocate so he can challenge this appropriately and with support.’ Children have individualised placement plans, which support the staff in working with them. However, there is no evidence that children have an input into these,

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Good

read or agree them or that social workers are in agreement with the home’s plans. This could lead to professionals not working consistently with the children. Children’s health needs are promoted. They are registered with local doctors, dentists and opticians. There is a signed individual consent form from the doctor giving permission for the staff to administer homely remedies along with consent from parents and social workers. Staff do not record the latest health check-ups or actions in the child’s health plan, making it difficult to keep track of routine health appointments. There are regular children’s meetings, which staff use to gain feedback regarding how the home is run and gives children the opportunity to choose things for the house or make requests. The manager responds to these in writing, which shows children that their views, wishes and feelings are listened to. There is a children’s guide to the home, which outlines how children can complain,

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Good

and explains rules and boundaries. However, it does not contain the day-to-day routine of the home and information and contact details of outside agencies that children can contact if they wish to make a complaint. The home is large and spacious. The entrance hall is welcoming and staff have painted caricatures of the children which they helped to design. Children say that they have been able to personalise their bedrooms. However, parts of the home look tired and some paintwork needs touching up or repainting. There are no pictures or photos of the children around the home and it does not feel like a warm, nurturing environment. The garden is spacious but is also in need of some attention. Judgement grade

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Good

The children know how to complain. There have been three complaints since the last full inspection. The children complete an ‘I want you to know’ form, which can be used for a complaint or a grumble. All complaints have been resolved within the relevant time scale and children comment and sign to say that they are happy with the outcome. Children spoken to were able to explain how they could complain. One child commented, ‘I would just talk to staff. It’s usually just a moan about something.’ Another child commented, ‘I would talk to staff or my social worker.’ Staff challenge unwanted behaviours and reinforce boundaries. A parent commented, ‘They tell her when she’s wrong and they have helped her understand that there are boundaries.’ A youth worker commented, ‘Staff know her really well and know when the best time to challenge her is. They are good at getting her to focus on the positives.’ There have been several incidents of bullying. Staff record the incident regarding

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Good

the bullying behaviour and the impact on children. However, it had not been recorded in the bullying log that staff speak to the victim to ensure that they were happy with the action taken and the outcome. Staff have not received any training around bullying behaviours to ensure that they recognise the signs and symptoms. There are clear behaviour management plans in place, which give staff good insight into potential triggers and behaviours. However, not all staff have signed to say that they have read these. During the inspection, there were observations of good interactions between staff and children. Staff used appropriate banter to engage with the children. There has been one physical intervention since the last full inspection. Staff have used guiding and blocking techniques to stop children hurting themselves or others. These have been successful meaning that physical interventions have not had to be used.

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Good

Staff have a good relationship with the local police community support officer who regularly visits the home. He will speak to children regarding behaviours and consequences in the home and community. Comprehensive risk assessments are in place, which outline both risks in the home and community and the strategies to manage these safely. A social worker commented, ‘The staff have started to look at how he can work towards some free time and are teaching him how he can manage this safely.’ Staff understand that it is important that the children learn to manage risks in line with their age, understanding and vulnerability. However, not all staff sign to say that they have read the risks involved or strategies for safeguarding children when they have free time. Health and safety checks are completed and up to date. However, not all staff have completed or updated their fire safety training. There is an area risk assessment in

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Good

place, which outlines risks in the area and actions for reduction. The manager has had input from the police and other local services. This makes staff aware of potential risks and how these can be reduced to keep children safe. Staff have a good understanding of safeguarding and have attended the appropriate training. They are in the process of completing training about radicalisation. Some staff have completed training around child sexual exploitation but the manager needs to ensure that all staff have been trained in order to further safeguard the children. The manager works closely with the police, social workers and other professionals regarding concerns of safeguarding. A social worker commented, ‘They take safeguarding the children seriously. She is safe there. Staff recognise her vulnerabilities and strategies are in place. The home works closely with other professionals.’ A youth worker commented, ‘If staff were worried about her safety

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Good

they would talk to her. They are teaching her to try and recognise and manage her safety due to her age.’ There has been a significant reduction in two children going missing. A child commented, ‘I have stopped absconding and I’m really proud of myself.’ A social worker commented, ‘She has reduced her absconding significantly due to staff working with her.’ However, one child has increased their absconding. The social worker commented, ‘It is a concern but staff are working really hard with him getting him to look at the risks and supporting him in managing these safely.’ All children have an individual going missing protocol which has been sent to the police to ensure working together.

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Good

The manager has been in post since May 2015, holds the level 5 diploma and has the relevant experience to manage the home. The children are central to the home and staff have a good insight into their individual needs and behaviours and support them in all aspects of their lives. There was one requirement from the last inspection which has been met and five recommendations, four of which have been met and one will be repeated. Monthly reports are sent to the social workers. One social worker commented, ‘She is not engaging with me at the moment so I rely on the home’s reports. They are informative and give me a good insight into how she is progressing. Another social worker commented, ‘The reports staff send are clear, informative and give me all the information I need. I am asked to comment and any recommendations I make are acted upon.’ Staff compete daily recordings for each child. Some of these are informative and

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Good

give a good insight into the child’s day, their mood and conversations with staff. However, some lack detail, for example, ‘X came in in a mood’. This makes it difficult for staff to follow what work has been undertaken or why the children may not be themselves. It will also not be meaningful for children who may wish to access their records in later life. Staff also need to ensure that they sign after every entry that they write. Recruitment is robust and all checks are verified before staff can begin to work in the home. New staff spoken to said that the induction was good and gave them a good insight into the job. Staff are qualified and receive good-quality monthly supervision, with new staff receiving supervision twice a month throughout their probation period. Staff meetings are regular and give staff the opportunity to discuss the children and strategies for working with them as well as care practice issues. Staff reported

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Good

that they found these supportive and they are also discussed as part of their supervision. The statement of purpose and function needs to be updated to contain the current staff team and should be sent to HMCI every time it is amended.

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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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