–

Good

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

p.2

The children’s home provision is good because:

 Young people have made good progress from their initial starting points since arriving at the home.  Positive relationships between staff and young people are having a positive impact on the progress made.  Staff support young people to address their physical and emotional health needs, using referral to other agencies appropriately, if required to meet specific needs.  Young people attend full-time education or engage in meaningful activities, with each young person making good progress within their capabilities. Some have gained part-time employment and work experience opportunities that have positively affected their confidence and self-esteem.  Staff are supporting young people to develop their life, social and personal care skills, and this prepares young people well for adulthood.  Young people are learning to manage and self-regulate their behaviour through the positive behavioural approach used by staff.

p.3

The children’s home provision is good because:

 Staff are positive in their approach with young people, seeking to find solutions and work through the challenges that they face. Staff are caring and nurturing towards young people.  Young people report that they feel safe and have a key adult whom they can trust and confide in.  Staff receive regular, effective supervision, and access training which is varied and specific to their role.  The senior leadership team is dynamic and motivated, and inspires staff to provide a high standard of care while developing and improving the quality of their care and practice.  Managers have robust, effective systems for evaluating and monitoring the quality of care provided at the home.  Leaders have worked collaboratively with others outside of the home, ensuring that they can provide the care and support needed to keep young people safe and enable them to progress.

p.3

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30).  Records of restraint must be kept and should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly when any issues or trends of concern emerge. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)

p.4

Recommendations

Specifically, the records should detail on which date the young person gave their views about an incident to enable the manager to evaluate and explore thoroughly if this was within the home’s policy and procedure timescales.  As set out in regulations 31–33, the registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They must ensure that the recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguard children and minimise potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1) To do so, the registered person should keep evidence that they have explored a staff suitability prior to employing them.

p.4

Information about this children’s home

The home is registered for up to three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and mental disorders. It is privately owned by a small company that also owns one other home. The home is located in a rural location, but it is within easy reach of local services and facilities. The aim of the home is to offer a therapeutic environment which is safe, nurturing, encouraging and supportive.

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 01/03/2016 Full Good 04/11/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 10/02/2015 Full Good

p.5

Good

Young people have made good progress since their arrival at the home. They are exploring and learning positive ways to self-regulate and manage their feelings and emotions. They have built positive, trusting relationships with staff.

p.6

Good

The home is stable, with an established staff team and a settled group of young people. This has a positive impact on young people’s opportunities through the development of life, social and personal care skills.

p.6

Good

Staff are child centred in their approach and treat young people with respect and dignity. Young people are learning to engage effectively with this support. This also allows them to explore strategies and other, more positive, ways to express themselves. Young people have learned to cope with new situations and experiences, when previously they would have struggled. Staff always give them time to talk and work through difficulties and challenges.

p.6

Good

Detailed individual plans provide clarity of the aims and objectives of the care to be provided. Each young person has individual targets which staff regular review and monitor. Plans and assessments are shared with young people, involving and engaging them in areas to develop and improve. There is evidence of the progress that they make in most areas of this record.

p.6

Good

Young people have developed robust relationships with key workers through regular sessions and conversations. Young people have noticeably positive relationships with their workers, seeking them out for essential support and care. Sessions have provided the opportunity to review and reflect on achievements and explore challenges. They have also provided essential education and information about risk-taking behaviours, ensuring that young people are well informed. Young people are able to talk about key issues and challenges.

p.6

Good

Staff are knowledgeable, insightful and have a good understating of how to meet individuals’ needs. Their approach is calm, consistent and caring, and young people respond well to this approach.

p.6

Good

Thorough health plans and protocols provide information and guidance to staff. Staff support young people to address their basic health needs, and use referral for specialist assessment and intervention when required. Staff work closely with specialist medics to support young people to meet their emotional well-being needs. Young people access all of the local services in the community to address their basic needs. All young people are engaged in education or a daily programme of meaningful activities. Staff celebrate every individual achievement that a young person makes. Staff have supported young people to access and engage in college provision, enabling young people to manage and cope with changes to routine and expectations.

p.6

Good

Staff have supported young people to seek part-time employment and work experience opportunities. They also support them to develop and create strategies which enable them to cope and manage in these situations, which ensures that they gain the most from these opportunities. Young people have improved and developed their self-esteem, their experience and levels of confidence.

p.7

Good

Staff support and facilitate contact plans and arrangements with family and friends, and will request review when required. There is good communication between the home and families.

p.7

Good

All young people are encouraged to attend and engage in activities outside the home, developing networks and friendships within their local area. Young people attend and engage in community voluntary groups and services. Staff are supporting young people to make choices and take age-appropriate risks.

p.7

Good

Staff support and encourage young people to lead healthy lifestyles, with each encouraged to make healthy food choices and to engage in some form of physical activity. They also provide education and advice about relationships and safe sex. Young people are supported to make choices within the safety of the home. On occasions, young people make poor choices or mistakes. Staff support and assist them to learn from these and to try things again.

p.7

Good

Staff ensure that the voice and views of young people are heard. Young people are given choices about key aspects of the home. They contribute to the choice of decor, menus, activities and key decisions which affect the home.

p.7

Good

Young people and staff keep photobooks and journals of a young person’s journey and time while at the home. Records of achievement also provide a visual reminder of a young person’s achievements and rewards. Young people enjoy looking back over these.

p.7

Good

Staff support, educate and prepare young people for their transitions on from the home. Collaborative working with placement finding or future support agencies ensures that there is sufficient clarity to plans for their futures. Judgement grade

p.7

Good

Young people live in a safe and secure environment, stating that they each have a key adult in whom they can trust and confide. The home is well maintained, and any damage is swiftly addressed. Staff are knowledgeable, and are able to identify risks and respond to them sensitively.

p.8

Good

Staff act on safeguarding concerns and follow the home’s policy and procedure with detailed records, reporting and referring matters on when required. A clear evidence trail details the issues, actions taken and outcomes of each incident. Staff have good insight into what is required to keep young people safe. They respond to incidents in a calm, considered manner. Staff have notified HMCI following all concerns and issues. There are plans for senior staff to update their designated safeguarding officer training in future months.

p.8

Good

There have been no allegations made against staff or complaints against the home since the last inspection. Staff have a clear policy and procedure to follow, should they arise. Young people are fully aware of how to make a complaint. They are informed of this process in the young person’s guide and during key-work sessions.

p.8

Good

Detailed and thorough risk management plans provide clarity and practical guidance to staff about each young person’s individual risk factors. Plans are reviewed monthly or more frequently, if required. Staff actively advise and guide young people on the risks associated with any risk-taking behaviours that they might display. Staff involve other professionals, ensuring that there is a multidisciplinary approach to complex decision making when risk-taking behaviours merit this.

p.8

Good

Those with identified risks associated with child sexual exploitation have multidisciplinary risk management plans addressing and minimising these risks. Staff have also sought and referred young people to services to support, advise and educate on these risks.

p.8

Good

Staff apply a robust, coordinated approach to all episodes of being missing from care. They follow clear plans and actively seek and maintain contact with young people until they return to the home. On return, young people are welcomed back. Episodes are well recorded. Staff gain comments from young people and request an independent return to care interview. They do not evidence when this occurs or the content of information gained. Episodes of missing have reduced over time.

p.8

Good

Staff use a positive behaviour management approach. They use a wide variety of de-escalation strategies and techniques. They have not had to use physical intervention at all during this inspection period. Staff are trained in the home’s preferred method of behaviour management. They record and report all incidents as required. Young people are provided by staff with an opportunity to debrief after the incident. Staff have not detailed when these views have been sought. Staff use very few sanctions, but when they do they are usually linked to the trigger or cause and are reparative in nature. Staff have used a variety of sanctions, and they review their effectiveness and impact thoughtfully.

p.8

Good

Staff provide clear boundaries to young people and act as role models of expected behaviour within the home. Regular conversations and key-work sessions with young people provide reminders of how to keep safe and behave in the home and community. Staff have discussed key topics with young people, advising of the risks associated with social media and substance misuse.

p.9

Good

Managers complete detailed pre-admission impact risk assessments. They explore all known risk factors that a young person presents and the impact that any newly admitted young person may have on the young people currently residing in the home.

p.9

Good

The home’s location risk assessment is thorough, and has been updated and reviewed.

p.9

Good

Staff maintain positive working relationships with local police. Staff have not had to involve the police directly in the home.

p.9

Good

There is a robust and safe recruitment system in place, but some records that were viewed lack evidence that it has been explored if a person is mentally and physically fit for their role.

p.9

Outstanding

The home is well managed by an effective, level 4-qualified registered manager.

p.9

Outstanding

The statement of purpose accurately reflects the ethos within the home, and the aims and objectives identified are being achieved. Staff create a nurturing and caring environment in which young people feel safe, and begin to recover and move forward with their life experiences. The home has a homely feel to it and staff take pride in its appearance.

p.9

Outstanding

Managers complete robust review and monitoring of the quality of care provided in the home. They use a variety of systems and audits to identify key areas of weakness and strength in the home. Investigations and reviews have provided information which has influenced practice and from which lessons have been learned. Changes in procedure, policy and approach have been implemented following these. Managers have very good insight and understanding of the needs of those in their care.

p.9

Outstanding

The home’s development plan clearly identifies the key areas that the manager wishes to improve. The views of young people living here are drawn on, for this plan. It states the aims and objectives, and how these will be achieved and by when.

p.10

Outstanding

The independent visits to the home have provided an additional layer of scrutiny, which has also influenced the plan. There was a month’s gap in these visits due to a change in personnel, but managers robustly sourced a new visitor as a priority.

p.10

Outstanding

Leaders and managers have acted on the recommendations previously set.

p.10

Outstanding

Managers have very good knowledge and understanding of the needs of those in their care. They are fully aware of the individual areas of progress and challenge that each person has. Managers have detailed knowledge and understanding of all plans, with them attending and facilitating regular reviews and updates to plans.

p.10

Outstanding

There are effective relationships with external professionals. This ensures a joined- up approach to care. Staff attend all required reviews and meetings as key contributors to the care provided. They represent and advocate on behalf of young people. Staff are fully engaged in the multidisciplinary approach, ensuring that plans are collaborative. This has created an environment in which young people may take considered risks, and all key parties have agreed the boundaries to these.

p.10

Outstanding

Staff provide detailed reports as contributions to meetings and reviews. Staff work openly and honestly with families and carers, providing weekly information about the achievements of young people and the challenges that they face.

p.10

Outstanding

Links with voluntary organisations, businesses and agencies have created new opportunities and experiences for young people.

p.10

Outstanding

Staff receive regular effective supervision and each has their practice appraised annually. Monthly staff meetings take place, providing a regular opportunity to reflect and debrief on the previous month.

p.10

Outstanding

The ongoing training plan provides a full programme of varied training, which has included ‘Prevent’ training. There are plans for staff to access a more detailed training session against self-harm, and first aid training. Staff are enrolled or have achieved the required qualification. Staff report that the daily debriefing at the end of a shift is very supportive for them.

p.10

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’. 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

p.11

What the inspection judgements mean

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 harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

p.11

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.12

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 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.12

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,

p.13

Information about this inspection

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

p.13

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.13

Information about this inspection

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.13