Children's Home run by Bramley Care Limited in West Sussex

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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:

 Young people develop trusting, warm relationships, which enable them to reflect on their life experiences, develop insight and learn new coping skills and behaviour management strategies.  Young people enjoy their educational opportunities and this leads to improved self-esteem and confidence.  The calm and settled atmosphere in the home enables young people to feel safe and secure.  Young people’s views are valued and promoted and this leads to feelings of mutual respect and tolerance.  Links with external professional agencies are very close and ensure good-quality cohesive planning and joint working.  Supervision of agency staff has not been provided, despite a reliance on these staff to ensure safe staffing levels.  Annual staff appraisals have not been carried out and so this has not provided members of staff with an assessment of their practice, their effectiveness in their roles or training needs.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Some records have not been completed to a good standard and this can make monitoring and auditing difficult to achieve.  Reports written after visits undertaken under Regulation 44 have not been provided to managers in a timely manner. This means that shortfalls cannot be addressed promptly. Additionally, Regulation 44 visits have not always occurred on a monthly basis.

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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

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, with regard to ensuring that the key records such as the training record and risk assessments are kept up to date, the registered person: (1)(b) enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that promotes their welfare (2)(h) uses monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13) 30/11/2016

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that all the information required in Schedule 2 is in place before a member of staff starts work. In particular, ensure that there is: 1. Proof of identity including a photograph; and 5. Documentary evidence of any qualifications which the person considers relevant for the position. (Regulation 32 (3)(d)) 30/11/2016

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that all members of staff receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience and have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. This is in relation to agency members of staff receiving supervision and all members of staff having annual appraisals. (Regulation 33 (4)(b) and (c)) 30/11/2016

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once a month and the independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to— a) HMCI; 30/11/2016 b) upon request, the local authority for the area in which the home is located; c) the placing authorities of children; d) the registered provider and, if applicable, the registered manager; and e) the responsible individual (if one is nominated). (Regulation 44 (1) and (7))

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  The registered person should establish whether the units completed in the candidate’s original qualification have content which corresponds with the units of the level 3 diploma for residential childcare and/or the level 5 diploma in leadership and management for residential childcare. They should consider the relevance of the units of any original qualifications to the care of children as described in the home’s statement of purpose. The registered person should keep a record of the information that they have to establish ‘equivalence’. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 68, paragraphs 1.2 and 1.3) This is with particular reference to ensuring that qualification gained by members of staff from abroad are equivalent in value to the diploma.

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Information about this children's home

The home is a privately owned therapeutic unit and provides care and accommodation for up to six boys with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 15/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 14/10/2015 Full Good

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people living in the home are

Young people benefit from living in this home and make significant progress, especially when bearing in mind their starting points. The young people enjoy the relationships with core members of staff and say that the home is calm and settled. Commitment shown by members of staff is high and this helps the young people to feel cared for and safe. ‘I feel privileged to live here. I don’t want to leave’, said one young person. Young people are fully aware of the different avenues that they can follow if they wish to make a complaint. Due to the ethos of shared community experiences and an embedded routine of group meetings, the young people have developed the confidence to express their views appropriately. This means that they are able to voice any concerns and subsequently complaints are dealt with informally. All young people attend full-time education. They enjoy their involvement in vocational college courses and this has increased their self-esteem as well as their

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people living in the home are

preparation for adult life. All the young people have named individuals at their colleges who they can approach for support and advice. This enables young people to reflect on their feelings and to ensure that their coping strategies while in the community are effective. The young people enjoy following their individual interests. For example, using games consoles, listening to music and playing drums. Additionally, they increase their unsupervised free time as well as independent travel in their local communities at a rate with which they can cope and in line with risk assessments and their care plans. Young people also develop their independence skills not only through vocational training but by being actively involved in the day-to-day running of the home. For example, completing their own laundry, doing household chores and cooking for the whole group at least once a week. This enables them to develop self-reliance as well as making them active participants in the small

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people living in the home are

community in which they live. Young people have their healthcare needs met to a good standard while living at this home. Members of staff will facilitate and support young people to attend medical appointments including appointments with specialists such as therapists and psychologists. The emotional and psychological support given to the young people is of a particularly high standard and this enables young people to reflect on their behaviours and experiences. The specialist help provided is clearly outlined in the statement of purpose and the close support given to the young people assists them in their personal development. This, in turn, helps them to develop more positive coping strategies, improving their longer-term life chances and opportunities. Managers ensure that the impact of any new young people coming to live in the home is carefully assessed so that all the young people’s progress can be

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people living in the home are

maintained. Subsequently, new admissions are very well prepared and the impact minimised. This means that the calm and positive atmosphere is maintained, which greatly benefits them all. Young people are treated with dignity and respect. Individual needs and identities, including idiosyncrasies, are known and this enables them to have a feeling of belonging and stability. Family and friends contact arrangements are made very clear to both young people and members of staff caring for them. This ensures that restrictions are known and understood by everyone and that the correct, sensitive support is readily available to the young people, especially if the contacts are challenging or distressing.

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people are helped and protected

Young people are helped to stay safe and are protected well. They say that they feel safe at the home, staff listen to their concerns and help them to manage issues when they arise. All young people commented how the calm atmosphere added to the sense of security that the home gave them. This is reinforced by premises checks and a high standard of maintenance, which ensure that the young people live in a physically safe environment. The impact is that young people feel secure in their home. Young people’s positive behaviour, and ability to change difficult behaviours, is recognised and rewarded. Clear boundaries and regular feedback support young people to know how they are doing. There are well-structured meetings, key work sessions and therapy sessions with clinicians. The impact of the support given to young people enables them to openly voice their feelings and concerns. They are confident that the staff will listen to them and provide good advice and support.

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people are helped and protected

Subsequently, there have been no restraints or complaints since the home opened in 2015. Staff understand and effectively manage the safeguarding issues relating to young people’s behaviours. Staff work closely with young people and help them to understand the actions which have put themselves and others at risk, how their past affects them and how to implement strategies to help them to manage future difficult behaviours and feelings. There are clear protocols in place should a young person go missing. There have been no incidents since the home opened. Each young person knows how their behaviour and well-being has improved since coming to live at the home and can identify what the staff have done to help them achieve these changes. Those young people who self-harm or find it difficult to manage their anger are supported to recognise the feelings and have developed alternative positive strategies to manage these. Staff recognise particular times

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people are helped and protected

when young people may need additional guidance and provide sensitive support. This assists them to make these changes effectively. For example, all young people were starting college courses and both individual and group conversations are held regularly to assist young people. This has successfully enabled their transitions from the organisation’s school to colleges in the wider community. Since the last inspection, one child protection incident has been reported to external agencies. This was followed up appropriately and in a timely manner. The home’s child protection and safeguarding procedures were followed and the necessary records kept. Records show that the home works well with professionals responsible for child protection in the area. Risk assessment is undertaken, monitored and reviewed in various forums throughout the organisation. The good understanding and recognition of risk which staff and young people have is not consistently visible in the home’s records and

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people are helped and protected

risk plans. For example, the location assessment had not been updated to include detail of the checks made on the local towns that young people now visit in their free time. However, the service manager confirmed that these areas were discussed at weekly management meetings and could say what risks these areas posed to individuals. Each young person has an up-to-date child sexual exploitation risk assessment which identifies areas of risk but there is no conclusive summary of what this means in relation to the young person’s risk of child sexual exploitation and how the identified risks are to be minimised. This lack of appropriate recording of risks detracts from the staff knowledge and understanding which is evident in practice. A requirement about reviewing recording and monitoring in general is made in leadership and management. Two recent recruitment records were sampled. These showed that generally the

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people are helped and protected

home follows good recruitment practice which will prevent unsuitable people from working with children at the home. One file showed minor shortfalls which do not impact on children’s safety but show that not all areas required to be verified by regulation have been checked. A requirement is made to ensure that all required checks are undertaken.

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leaders and managers

The previous registered manager left the home in August 2016 and has been succeeded by a manager who has applied to Ofsted to become the registered manager. The manager has worked with the organisation for a number of years and is known to the young people and staff in the home. This has ensured continuity and minimised disruption to the home. The home has relied on agency staff to ensure that staffing levels are safely maintained. The agency members of staff used are familiar to the young people as they have worked in the home on a number of occasions. Other members of staff from the depleted core team have also worked extra hours to maintain continuity for the young people. The level of commitment shown by these staff is excellent. At the last inspection in March 2016, a recommendation was made that managers provide supervision for agency members of staff. This has not been achieved. Subsequently, managers are not able to assess these members of staff’s

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leaders and managers

performance or training needs or to formally discuss any specific issues related to the young people or the general running of the home. There are no records of recent appraisals undertaken for any members of staff. This does not evidence whether their performance and development needs have been adequately reviewed or assessed. While the manager and deputy manager monitor care plans and other key documents, external monitoring by the independent visitor has not been consistent. Reports written by the visitor as required under Regulation 44 are not made available to the manager in a timely manner. Additionally, no visit to the home was made during September 2016. This means that monitoring systems are not robust and that the manager is not promptly made aware of any shortfalls identified during these visits. Records in young people’s files show that there is good contact with external professionals, such as police officers, social workers and teaching professionals.

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leaders and managers

This practice ensures fluid communication and ensures that all agencies are working together to support the young people. Any significant events are shared so that responses to any specific incidents can be prompt and well-coordinated. Some elements of recording are lacking in detail and this can sometimes make checking of events and accuracy of some aspects of care planning difficult to ascertain. For example, a young person’s healthcare plan stated that they had no specific healthcare needs. However, records of health appointments showed that staff had conscientiously arranged medical appointments for the young person for a specific health need. This shortfall has not impinged on the young person’s well- being but showed a lack of attention to detail in the recording and monitoring. Additionally, the training record for members of staff is unclear and does not include up-to-date details of training attended by members of staff. This makes it

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leaders and managers

difficult to ascertain who has what training needs. One member of staff has a qualification from abroad and it is difficult to ascertain whether the training includes all the competencies required by the diploma for residential childcare. Therefore, it is difficult to know whether that member of staff has all the qualifications required for her role. The emphasis on supporting the young people to make progress is strong and embedded in the routines and expectations of the home. Well thought out plans and interventions, involving professionals from a number of disciplines, have enabled the young people to make significant progress. The home’s statement of purpose gives clear information about the service that the home provides. This ensures that all placing social workers and commissioners are fully aware of the home’s purpose and what specific needs and behaviours it intends to provide for and meet.

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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

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Information about this inspection

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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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