Children's home run by ABC Care Solutions

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.2

The children's home provision is good because:

 A member of staff describes the service as ‘a home away from home’. They like providing a family-style meal with home-cooked food and encouraging children to sit round the table with staff.  Staff recognise that building trust is essential in helping children to settle, feel safe and begin to make progress.  Staff keep children safe. The impact that new admissions may have on the existing residents is considered. Therefore, the home has a calm, relaxed feel and behaviour is generally good.  Children experience new things. They enjoyed an active summer holiday together, trying activities such as bike riding, swimming and abseiling.  A teacher describes effective information sharing with staff and ‘a good partnership’. They feel that staff work in children’s best interests to help them make progress.  Some children are extremely mistrustful of professionals. Staff work very patiently to build up children’s trust and confidence so that they can begin to

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

access the services and support that children need.

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it and 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)) With particular reference to ensuring that the statement meets the new regulations, includes details of the experience and qualifications of staff and includes an accurate description for the person employed as a counselling psychologist not as a psychotherapist. 30/11/2016

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff have the appropriate level 3 qualification, by the relevant date. (Regulation 32 (4)) 31/12/2016

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. (3) The requirements are that— (d) full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters listed in Schedule 2. If a person has previously worked in a position involving work with children or vulnerable adults, obtain verification so far as reasonably practicable of the reason why the employment or position ended. (Regulation 32 (1)(3)(d) Schedule 2 (4)) 30/11/2016

p.4

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs, particularly in relation to autism. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)  Make sure children's homes comply with relevant health and safety legislation (alarms, food hygiene and so on).. However, in doing so should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than 'institutional' impression. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  Ensure that homes gain consent to any monitoring or surveillance by the placing authority in writing at the time of placement. The use of CCTV is regulated by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 and the Surveillance Camera Code of

p.4

Recommendations

Conduct (Home Office 2013). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.16)  Make sure each child has permission for staff to administer first aid and non- prescription medication from a person with parental responsibility for them recorded in their relevant plan. For children looked after, this permission should be sought and arranged by the child's social worker. Where appropriate, the child's family should be involved in supporting their child's health needs as well as providing permission for treatment. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.14)  Ensure that the registered person undertakes a review that focuses on the quality of the care provided in the home, the experiences of children living there and the impact that the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children. Reviews should be underpinned by the Quality Standards as described

p.5

Recommendations

in Regulations 5 to 14. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.2)

p.5

Information about this children's home

A limited company provides this children’s home. The home provides care for up to four boys who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.6

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 21/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 12/10/2015 Full Good 18/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 06/11/2014 Full Good

p.6

Good

Children are settled and experience stability in the home. They benefit from no changes to the staff team during the past year. Staff treat children with respect and patience and build trusting relationships with them over time. Social workers report that children are safe, do not experience bullying and ‘are happy in the home’. Children’s general health improves. Some children make considerable progress in accessing health services, for example, counselling provided in the home or dental treatment. For one child, this is a major achievement. For some children, there is considerable reluctance to attend medical appointments. However, staff provide considerable encouragement and rebook many failed appointments until the child is ready to engage. Most children take part in a physical activity such as boxing or football. They benefit from the advice of a personal trainer who visits the home and talks to them about the value of healthy eating and exercise.

p.7

Good

A teacher finds that children benefit from staff putting into place boundaries and teaching children the consequences of their behaviour. As a result, children feel more calm and secure. Staff describe reduced incidents of challenging behaviour in the home as children begin to respond to boundaries and reflect on their own behaviour. Some children improve in confidence to mix with others. They increase the amount of time spent with others and engage more in activities both inside and outside of the home. Staff share their interests and skills with children and they enjoy doing activities together such as preparing a meal or baking. Social workers find some children’s behaviour is considerably improved. There is a decrease in destructive episodes and children feel calmer as a result. Children make progress in managing their own behaviour, with some children reflecting on their behaviour, expressing remorse for their actions and apologising. A social

p.7

Good

worker said, ‘Issues are resolved amicably.’ Children receive support to value their ethnicity and cultural backgrounds and feel proud of themselves. For example, staff promote the individual identity of children of Caribbean heritage through hair care and styling and eating typical foods. Children have good role models in a staff team with members of varied backgrounds and gender. Most children go to school or college regularly with reasonable attendance. This optimises their chances of learning and gaining qualifications. One child’s educational needs are not met. However, staff encourage their engagement, for example, with visits by a tutor, encouraging reading and trips to the library. Due to their complex needs, any progress is understandably slow and social workers are happy with the staff’s efforts.

p.7

Good

It is impressive that there are no incidents of children going missing this year. Some children who have gone missing in previous placements no longer do so. This improves their safety. Further risks to children, for example, gang involvement or drug misuse, reduce as a consequence. A minority of children engage less with their placement as they prepare to move on and live elsewhere. However, they continue to return to the home and do not go missing and engage positively with staff when there. A social worker says ‘staff did all they could’ and ‘could not do more’. Staff promote positive behaviour. Respectful relationships are central to behaviour management. A social worker said, ‘Relationships built up with staff are amazing.’ They find that staff really understand their child’s needs and manage behaviour well, enforcing boundaries. Staff receive training in restraint but have not had cause to use it this year.

p.8

Good

Children are safe. A social worker comments that the child that they have placed ‘is kept safe’ in the home. Bullying is not an issue. Staff have not found any children to be at risk of extremism and none are at risk of child sexual exploitation. There is careful selection and vetting of staff to try to ensure their suitability to work with children. For example, checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service, references verified and gaps in employment checked before staff work with children. Verification of why the last employment ended would contribute an extra check. The building is safe and secure. There are regular tests and checks of equipment, for example, to promote fire safety. Management uses CCTV for surveillance in the home. However, local authorities do not agree to its use when they place children. Although no children are currently using medication, arrangements to administer medication are sound. Staff receive training to administer medication and to apply

p.8

Good

first aid to children to promote their health and safety. Consents for first aid and medical treatment are obtained except in the case of one child. Effective information sharing helps to keep children safe. A social worker said that staff keep them informed generally about their child but they would like more updates about the therapy that the child gets and what is working/not working. Judgement grade

p.8

Requires improvement

Management has not met the one requirement made at the last inspection. As a result, not all staff have achieved the minimum level 3 qualification. However, problems with the training provider have impacted on staff progress in achieving the qualification. Nonetheless, children do not yet benefit from a suitably qualified workforce. Management has not ensured that the home’s policies, documents and statement of purpose reflect the new regulations and Quality Standards. The manager advises that this is because the company may re-register as another company and they will review paperwork at that time. However, this was raised as an issue at the full inspection in October 2015. The manager’s monitoring reports do not reflect current guidance, particularly about taking into account the views of children and others when reviewing the service. This limits options to improve the service based on the views of those using it.

p.9

Requires improvement

The home’s statement of purpose does not reflect the new regulations nor include all required information. Therefore, people, including staff, do not receive all the information about the service required by regulation. The registered manager has an appropriate qualification and relevant experience. She has managed the home since 2013 and is also providing support to a sister home. Some professionals report that the manager is not always available but find that they can talk to other members of staff and a member of staff who is acting in a deputy role. Staff value the training opportunities that are available. Not all staff members have achieved the minimum level 3 qualification. Staff are provided with sufficient basic training, for example, in first aid, medication and safeguarding. Staff value their clinical supervision with the visiting counselling psychologist and the opportunity to learn counselling skills over a year. Some staff have trained in the ‘Prevent’ duty

p.9

Requires improvement

with more training planned for others. Two autistic children have received a service but staff have not yet received specific training on this, although they are resourceful in doing their own research. Staff describe feeling well supported. One member of staff said, ‘Management listens to our voices.’ There are team meetings, supervisions and handovers. Arranging regular supervision can be a struggle as bank staff often work elsewhere. A generally well-maintained building provides a homely environment for the children. It is newly decorated and bright. A few aspects detract from the homely atmosphere, for example, weeds in the garden and a damp area in the games room. Staff removed numbers from bedroom doors during the inspection to make the building more homely.

p.9

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’.

p.10

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

p.10

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.

p.10

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

p.11

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 .

p.11

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,

p.12

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.12

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.12

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

p.12