Children's home run by Icare Children’s Services Limited

The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

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 . Since the last inspection, there have been changes in the young people living at the home. One young person has left to live with family, another young person was at the home temporarily while a foster placement was identified, and two other young people left to move to different placements. Four young people now live at the home. Managers have carefully matched the young people referred for placements with those living there to ensure stability for all. One young person said, ‘I am happy here. The staff are good and there is always someone to talk to.’ Another young person said, ‘I like everything. I wouldn’t change a thing.’ Young people are making progress in their lives, and staff prioritise young people’s

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

education. All young people attend either college or school and each young person is helped to complete their homework at the end of the day. In addition, tutors visit two young people twice weekly at the home to support and supplement their full- time education. Young people are supported to make progress with their education and learning. Staff continue to involve young people in a range of activities, both in the home and in the community. Young people enjoyed a holiday together in the summer, some go swimming, others are in a football club and they enjoy a range of other pursuits such as going to the cinema, pool and reading. Consequently, young people enjoy a good quality of day-to-day life with opportunities to try new activities. However, their views are not routinely obtained to inform the development of the home. Staff have warm and relaxed relationships with young people. Behavioural expectations are clear, and when behaviour falls below the expected standard, staff

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

support the young person, and each other, to reinforce boundaries. Incidents of physical intervention are rare as staff effectively use de-escalation techniques to calm situations. Recording of physical intervention does not include debriefs with staff and this means that staff may not have the opportunity to reflect on a situation and its impact on the young person. Managers have met the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection. Young people’s files contain all the information required by regulation, ensuring that staff have up-to-date and relevant information to understand young people’s needs. Staff training is ongoing, and staff have completed medication training, meaning that they are knowledgeable about the steps to follow when administering medication to young people. Staff have not received training in anti- bullying strategies and understanding radicalisation, and lack knowledge and

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

experience in recognising and responding to these issues. Most staff have completed the diploma level 3 in residential childcare. If they have not completed it, they are enrolled on the course. Consequently, staff are equipped with a range of necessary skills to care for young people. Managers are following a revised procedure in staff recruitment, and check applications at the interview stage to ensure that there are no gaps in experience. This attention to safer recruitment reinforces young people’s safety. Managers have devised an emergency response plan and all staff are familiar with the steps to follow if there is an unforeseen event. This reduces the potential distress for all if such an event occurs. Managers and staff continue to carefully risk assess all aspects of young people’s care. One young person needed support to understand risks posed by social media. Staff worked with him in one-to-one sessions, and involved him in a variety of

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

innovative activities to promote his understanding of the risks posed, including making posters and completing questionnaires. Consequently, his knowledge about these risks has increased and he has a growing understanding of the steps to take to minimise these. The location risk assessment for the home has been reviewed and outlines the potential risks in the locality in relation to young people living at the home. However, it does not stress that managers and staff will review this assessment each time a new young person joins the home, or if staff receive updated information from the police, for example, about new risks in the community. These actions would reinforce the assessment further. Strong partnership working is evident with police, school, social workers and families. For example, managers and staff liaise closely with other professionals when they have concerns about child sexual exploitation. This collaborative

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

approach helps to promote young people’s safety. Staff are knowledgeable about the process to follow if young people are missing from the home. Since the last inspection, incidents have reduced significantly. These steps reinforce young people’s safety and welfare. Police continue to visit staff and young people at the home. This helps to break down barriers with young people, and raise their awareness about community responsibility and citizenship.

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Information about this children's home

This privately owned children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to four young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 11/05/2016 Full Good

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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 ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development, in particular, training in anti-bullying and understanding radicalisation. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)) 23/12/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’) has spoken to the user about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)) 25/11/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the feedback and opinions of children about the children's home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it. (Regulation 45 (2)(b)) 23/12/2016

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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 young people live in an environment which meets their basic day-to- day needs. In particular, ensure that all young people's rooms are well decorated. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7)  Ensure that the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home are reviewed at least every year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location and strategies for managing these, in particular, when new young people arrive, and upon receipt of information from police or other agencies. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)

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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 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 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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