Children's home run by Plus One South West Ltd in Somerset

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness . There have been some positive outcomes for young people since the last inspection and overall their experiences remain good. However, this inspection has identified weaknesses in the effectiveness of the leadership and management of the home, which require improvement. One young person has moved into the attached annex of the home. This is seen as a stepping stone to moving into more independent living in the near future. The young person is very happy with this arrangement. He said, ‘My confidence has improved.’ He said that he feels safe and he can contact staff if he requires support or assistance. At the time of the inspection, the registered manager developed a protocol, in agreement with the young person, to strengthen support systems in the event of an emergency. Young people’s independence is encouraged well. One young person has been

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

supported in opening a bank account, shopping independently, cooking his own meals, booking health appointments, undertaking household chores and purchasing travel tickets. The registered manager and staff team are working alongside him, his social worker and his personal adviser to identify future living options. The individual educational needs of young people are promoted effectively. One young person has successfully gained qualifications in maths, English and information technology. He has undertaken training in writing a CV and in interview skills. The staff are supporting him to identify an appropriate course at college. Another young person’s attendance at school gives cause for concern. However, there has been a significant improvement in his attendance since his starting point. The headteacher said, ‘His behaviour and attendance at school [are] improving.’ The registered manager works in collaboration with the headteacher to agree

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

approaches for the young person to increase his time at school. Each young person has a weekly education plan. However, the plans do not clearly show the actual number of planned hours of education and, therefore, do not demonstrate that all young people are receiving a minimum of 25 hours’ education per week. Since the last inspection, there has been a small increase in the use of restraint. The records pertaining to the use of restraint do not contain all the required information: in particular, the actual time of the restraint and the specific location where the restraint took place. The number of incidents in the home has significantly reduced over recent weeks. However, this was preceded by an increase in the number of serious incidents. One incident necessitated the police being called to the home, as staff considered that the behaviour of the young person was putting himself and others at serious risk of

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

harm. All appropriate agencies and authorities were notified. However, the registered manager failed to notify Ofsted. There have not been any episodes of young people going missing from the home. The registered manager has developed a missing-from-home protocol for one young person but has not shared this with the local police. Given the concerns of the potential of one young person to go missing and the risks involved, this action is required. The independent visitor continues to regular scrutinise the quality of care. The registered manager and senior managers respond effectively to any recommendations that are made by the visitor. Since the last inspection, the registered manager has completed a review of the quality of care provided to young people. However, this review does not identify the areas in which improvements can be made, the priorities for improvement or the effectiveness and impact that the improvements would have on the quality of care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager ensures that there is a robust admissions process. She ensures that a thorough assessment is undertaken and that detailed information is gathered, to ensure that the home can meet the needs of the young person. However, one placing authority has not provided an up-to-date placement plan to the home. The registered manager has been proactive in challenging this deficiency by another agency. Staff have a clear understanding of the individual needs of the young people. The placement plan and risk assessments for one young person clearly evidence their needs and ways in which these are to be met. The registered manager ensures that the young people’s social workers receive regular updates of the care provided and outcomes for the young people Staff contribute to the reviews of children looked after. Staff continue to receive mandatory training and specific training to meet the needs

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

of the young people. The requirements made at the last inspection have been met.

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Information about this children's home

A private company operates this home and provides care and accommodation for up to three young people who may display emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

22/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that 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

In order to meet the protection of children standard (with respect to following missing-from-home protocols), the registered person must ensure that: (2)(v) staff understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children. In particular, young people who are at risk of missing must have an individualised missing-from-home protocol that has been agreed by the local police. 31/10/2016

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13. The leadership and management standard

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person must: (2)(f) understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 31/01/2017

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35. Behaviour management policies and records

(3) The registered person must ensure that − (a) within 24 hours the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint to a child in the home, a record is made which includes − (iii) the date, time and location of the use of the measure. 31/10/2016

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40. Notification of a serious event

(4) The registered person must notify HMCI and each other 31/10/2016 relevant person without delay if: (e) there is any incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. In particular, this relates to an incident requiring police involvement that has occurred in relation to a child.

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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 are supported to sustain or regain their confidence in education and to be engaged in suitable structured activities. In addition, demonstrate that young people are being provided with a minimum of 25 hours a week of education if they are not attending full-time education. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)  Ensure that staff are familiar with the home's policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 9.60)

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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 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.

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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 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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