Children's home run by Essex County Council in Chelmsford

Outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the home contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 This service delivers consistently outstanding care to children with complex health needs and disabilities. Managerial oversight is rigorous and highly effective, with the result that the standard of care remains unfailingly high.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 The home is safe and secure. The management team and senior workers prioritise the welfare and safety of children extremely well. Admission decision- making and planning are excellent and take the views and needs of parents and families into account.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Children’s progress is systematically assessed and analysed. Individual goals are set and monitored intensively, to ensure that children achieve their objectives. For instance, they develop life and social skills that give them confidence and a sense of independence away from home.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Staff value their professional development and use research consistently to review and improve practice. This contributes to a culture of energy and challenge in which the needs of the children come first.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Staff are highly nurturing and work to a model of positive parenting by encouraging children to express themselves and gain confidence by taking on new tasks. Children love to come to the service. Respect for children’s views is exceptional and is routinely recorded.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Partnership working is exemplary. Parents comment that they feel part of a team in which they are supported and their wishes for their children are prioritised. They describe the home as a ‘home from home’, somewhere that their children are safe, gain confidence and enjoy themselves. Parents regularly comment that the service is critical in supporting the family to stay together.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Professionals also comment on a positive and robust relationship with the home, in which issues are resolved quickly and the management team places the needs of the child first.

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Information about this children's home

This home is run by the local authority and provides short breaks for children who have disabilities. It is registered to provide respite care for eight young people who have learning disabilities and who may also have additional physical and health needs.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 18/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 14/10/2015 Full Good 12/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 09/12/2014 Full Good

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Outstanding

Children benefit from their short stays because they are looked after by staff and managers who know them extremely well and develop appropriately warm and caring relationships with them. Staff and managers take exceptional care to find the right mix of children for each short break, considering their ages, health needs and individual characteristics. They encourage friendship groups and avoid any possible clashes of personality, with the result that children have the best chance to settle. Parents comment on how their children feel secure and look forward to coming. The mother of one child said: ‘He loves being there. When he is happy he has a high-pitched noise and you hear it when he sees his bags packed for his stay. He tries to get his bags in the car there and then.’

p.5

Outstanding

Children are enthusiastic and ebullient when they arrive, rushing up to staff and some greeting their friends. They are secure and relaxed in familiar surroundings and know what the routines are. For many, this is the first time that they will have spent time away from home. Their parents speak of what a critical step this is for the children to gain confidence in making that transition. Parents and staff work together in a highly organised way to identify goals for the children to work on, which are individually tailored to help them acquire a level of independence. For instance, children may be encouraged to wash and dress, use cutlery at mealtimes or stay in their bedrooms at night. Each target is reviewed at each shift. Progress that the children make is noted and commented on and reviewed every six months. Staff are creative and purposeful in supporting children to gain confidence. For example, for one child who was refusing to take her medication in liquid form, staff

p.5

Outstanding

turned it into a game, so she learnt to have fun while having her drink. Consequently, she is more independent. This has enhanced her self-confidence.

p.5

Outstanding

Staff and managers have adapted research on working with vulnerable adults to promote a culture of dignity and respect for working with the children in the home. This provides a clear framework in which staff and managers consider the service that they provide to children. The training is championed by a senior worker, who brings specific aspects of the training for discussion at weekly staff meetings. Staff are enthusiastic, saying that it has helped them to consider the wider picture as well as the detail, such as a child’s right to privacy over simple practicalities. Children benefit from being cared for by staff who have such a professional approach.

p.5

Outstanding

All children attend local schools and colleges. They work to personal and social targets which are recorded as part of their educational plans. The home provides resources and equipment, such as iPads, to support learning. This work is mirrored in the home where children have the benefit of a plethora of games and activities. They also gain experience of going out into the community, for drives, walks in the park, shopping, trips to the cinema and the local restaurants. Staff are careful to plan these outings, so that the children gain confidence, learn to remain calm and enjoy the trips.

p.5

Outstanding

Children learn to deal with their emotions, as staff encourage them to express their feelings, using different media, such as pen and paper, rather than feeling overwhelmed and distressed. At the same time, staff might ask children to help with some routine tasks, praising them for their efforts and enhancing their self- esteem. One social worker said: ‘Staff know them very well and work well in partnership. Children seem so content when I have seen them there. It really is like a second home.’

p.6

Outstanding

Children feel safe and are safe, as the result of excellent planning by staff working with parents and professionals. A senior member of the team has overall responsibility for new admissions, and reviews information provided by the allocated social worker. Staff visit families and the child’s school and take advice from health professionals, so that they have a comprehensive picture of a child’s needs and risks. These are balanced with thorough management strategies, which mean that children are safeguarded from the beginning.

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Outstanding

Staff and managers continue this purposeful approach as the child settles in. They contact families regularly and update any assessments following information from external professionals. This is shared among staff in shift handovers and care plans. Staff work as a team, and nothing is left to chance. This is critical when children may only attend once or twice a month. Such a coordinated and confident style has proved essential for parents and families who feel that they can leave their children with staff who they can trust. The mother of one child said: ‘It has been so important for me. I need to watch him constantly and was near burn out, but now I know that he is safe, I can rest and this means that I can pace myself better.’

p.6

Outstanding

Many of the children who use this service have little or no sense of personal safety. Staff and managers ensure that children are protected through high staff ratios, which ensure constant supervision. In addition, staff and managers are aware that they need to maintain a safe environment, so admission to the building by outsiders is always monitored. A new security system makes certain that only authorised adults can collect children from the home. Consequently, children are safe.

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Outstanding

At the same time, staff are not risk averse, and the emphasis is on enabling all children to have experiences, such as going out into the community safely. As a result, some children who have not been able to go out at all are able to make their first supervised ventures into the outside world. This is critical for their sense of independence and self-esteem.

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Outstanding

Many of the children have challenging behaviour. On occasion, staff have had to manage negative incidents, to ensure that children remain safe. However, such incidents are rare, and many children do not experience this at all. Staff and managers are clear that they only use sanctions when absolutely necessary, to protect a child or prevent serious harm. Managerial oversight of these measures is extremely rigorous, to ensure that the interests of the children are protected and that practice is continually challenged.

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Outstanding

Staff and managers use their knowledge about individual children skilfully. They promote positive behaviour, by maintaining routines, encouraging children to communicate their wishes and explaining any changes by using social stories. Consequently, children make real progress against their starting points. For instance, one child struggled to deal with the transitions from school to home without feeling overwhelmed. She was encouraged to express her views and wishes and was offered distraction by staff, who gave her jobs to do and rewarded her with praise. She learned to feel valued and important, settled in well and gained in confidence.

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Outstanding

Staff and managers use research to develop their practice. For instance, the social worker for several children who come to the home said: ‘They work especially well with autistic children, for instance they used research about sensory work. A child might need touch for reassurance but doesn’t know how to ask for it, so staff give them a hug or used a specially designed heavy blanket and the child calms down.’

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Outstanding

The home is managed effectively and efficiently by a registered manager who gained her NVQ level 5 in 2016 and has over 30 years’ experience in residential work. The deputy manager is completing her NVQ level 5 training and is due to finish in November 2017. In addition, managers have allocated particular responsibilities to senior members of the staff, such as maintaining accurate records of staff training and delivering specialist courses to the team. This ambitious approach not only adds depth and skills to the management team, it sustains a relentless drive for improvement which is reflected in the whole staff group.

p.7

Outstanding

The requirement and recommendation of the previous inspection are fully met.

p.8

Outstanding

The management team reviews the service provided in the home, purposefully relying on a balance of hard data and feedback from parents and professionals. Managers review the pattern and detail of any negative incidents and scrutinise care plans to ensure that children are making progress in relation to their starting points. Managerial oversight of any complaints or safeguarding concerns is extremely robust, with detailed investigation, full responses to families and any lessons about practice passed to staff. This dynamic approach means that children are safe and that practice is constantly reviewed and improved.

p.8

Outstanding

Managers are very positive about external monitoring, accepting challenges and new ideas. They are highly motivated to provide a child-centred service. This is reflected in the priority they give to recording children’s views and achievements in management reports. Moreover, managers and staff place a high value on the views of parents and the needs of families. Parents comment on how they feel treated as part of a team and how crucial the service is in helping to sustain the family. The mother of one child said: ‘I trust them. If they say they will come back to me, they do. I can honestly not say [just] how important they are in my life.’

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Outstanding

Staff respond well to the dynamic approach. They speak highly of each other and of the management team which expects them to deliver an excellent professional service, but which is also supportive and sensitive to the demands of the work. One member of staff said: ‘If I feel overwhelmed, I will talk to someone, but nothing is off the record. Everything is reported. Handovers are full and frank. This can be comforting, as I know what I am facing.’ Children benefit from this open and transparent culture in which staff themselves feel valued.

p.8

Outstanding

Staff and managers place a very high value on continuing professional development, with the goal of ensuring that they all have the skills necessary to care for children with complex needs. Staff and managers take a proactive view, preferring to deliver training directly rather than rely on e-learning. Senior workers deliver training in safeguarding, communication, the use of restraint and mental health. In addition, some very creative training has been developed by a senior worker, to explore self-harming behaviours. All staff are trained to meet any child’s complex health needs. Children gain from being looked after by staff who are confident and secure in their practice.

p.8

Outstanding

Educational professionals are positive about the home, commenting that staff in the home work alongside the school on common goals, such as improving life skills and managing behaviour. Staff also attend reviews and share information. On occasion there are differences of opinion, and discussions between school and the home can be intense. However, both the school and managers in the home focus on the needs of the child and are determined to resolve issues quickly. One teacher said: ‘We have had some frank and robust conversations but, to be fair, they took it really seriously and responded well to us. It took time to sort out, but they came here to talk to staff, and the mother was very involved.’

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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 children looked after 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 that 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

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

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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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