Children's Home run by Step-A-Side Company Limited in Gloucestershire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people living in the home enjoy living in this home and they stay for a significant length of time. No young people have left the home since the time of the previous inspection. Young people enjoy living in the home because they have good relationships with staff, and they benefit from a wealth of child-friendly resources within the home, which include an extensive garden and a therapy and sensory room. There are also a broad range of activities arranged by staff outside of the home, such as attending sporting clubs and societies. One young person told the inspector, ‘I’m really happy here, there’s always a lot to do and the staff are great. I’ve got everything I need…’ There has been one recent admission to the home. This was seen to follow a careful and well-organised plan which introduced the young person to the home in a gradual way. The young people who were already living in the home were

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

actively included in decisions about whether a new addition would work. The young person told the inspector, ‘I’ve only been here a month and I like it here. I do feel safe, thanks.’ Key workers demonstrate a good knowledge of young people’s placement plans and risk assessments. These are comprehensive, clearly written and up to date. Reviews are timely and risk assessments are updated when necessary. All young people attend full-time education or have an education programme in place. The manager or staff attend personal education plan or pathway plan meetings and know how pupil premiums are spent in supporting young people’s education. Although the home’s statement of purpose states that the home cares for children and young people with emotional difficulties who may present challenging behaviour, and all staff are effectively trained in behaviour management and methods of physical restraint, the numbers of restraints and sanctions applied are

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

low. Any such restraints are carefully analysed, staff are debriefed and risk assessments are updated. The home has an effective anti-bullying policy in place and young people say that they feel safe in the home. One young person told the inspector, ‘[X]... can be a bit of a pain and a bully but I told staff and they sorted it out.’ The home has a contractual arrangement with a therapeutic service and professionals from this service see each young person individually weekly, advising key workers and staff about ongoing work with the young person. The home ensures that each young person’s medication review is undertaken by the child and adolescent mental health services of their placing authorities. These measures help to ensure that young people make social and behavioural progress. One birth parent commented, ‘The home is absolutely brilliant, far above my expectations. They always keep in contact and there has been a great improvement in his

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

behaviour.’ Independent visitors conduct monthly visits to the home and report on service quality. The manager of the home conducts six-monthly reviews of the quality of care in consultation with young people, placing authorities and other professional stakeholders. Each of these internal monitoring systems presents recommendations for service development and improvement which have been seen to have been acted upon. This helps to ensure that children and young people receive good quality care. The manager of the home works in effective partnerships with placing authorities, safeguarding teams and the regulatory body. One placing authority social worker commented, ‘This is an excellent placement. We are really pleased with the standard of care provided by this home. The communication is excellent, and written reports for review are of a high standard. They have worked as a really good advocate for him, especially in the setting up of his college place. I couldn’t

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

praise the home highly enough.’ The designated officer commented, ‘They work very well with us. In the last few weeks the setting has itself raised concerns about a school attended by one of their young people. The manager phoned me to discuss this, and asked for advice on how to take this forward. I feel their understanding of safeguarding is good. They give an impression of really caring about young people at the setting and I don't have any safeguarding concerns.’ Internal monitoring reports and notifications of significant events occurring in the home are made known to the regulatory body in a timely way, and the recommendation of the previous inspection has been fully implemented.

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is one of two run by the same limited company. The home currently provides long-term and short-break care and accommodation for a maximum of five children and young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 02/08/2016 Full Outstanding 03/11/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness 19/05/2015 Full Good 03/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 23/09/2014 Full Good

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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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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

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

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