Children's home run by Fair Ways in Southampton

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The senior management team has appointed a permanent manager who has registered with Ofsted. She brings a wide range of experience and holds the relevant qualifications. The staff team is responding positively to the changes that she is introducing to sustain and improve the quality of care. She provides good support and guidance, as well as being a reliable role model. A staff member said that staff are ‘definitely supported and challenged through the supervision process’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has introduced a safeguarding log to ensure that there is a written audit trail, for example in the event of an allegation. She is extending this to include any issues raised about practice so that there is continuous internal challenge and reflection. The records do not currently outline how concerns come to light. The decision-making process is unclear regarding events that took place before the manager was in post.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has met the previous requirement made under the health and well-being quality standard. Staff meet young people’s health needs, for example by ensuring that an immunisation record is kept.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager shows a good awareness of e-safety, with clear plans for further staff training. However, she has not amended the policy to include guidance on social media. This means that staff are not guided on, for example, what applications are permitted on electronic devices, how staff monitor their use and what privacy settings are required. There is a risk that some staff are unaware of unsafe applications that are accessible outside the home’s secure wifi connection and that young people may be tempted to access. The recommendation to review the policy is repeated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager is unreservedly committed to meeting the young people’s needs, especially after a violent outburst. She deliberates carefully about police involvement. She does all that she can to provide a restorative justice approach so that young people are not criminalised. Recently, there has been escalating violent behaviour, at times resulting in staff injury. The registered manager is pursuing strategies to keep everyone as safe as possible. She has arranged for additional behaviour management training to contain such violent outbursts. She has provided additional staff. She makes appointments with other professionals to assess any underlying mental health problems. Such appointments are imminent. A relative said that she is grateful for the staff’s understanding of the young person’s needs and their support for her so that contact can continue. Other arrangements for contact are good, such as arranging for a parent to come to the home, at a

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

young person’s request, to celebrate a particular feast.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

On some occasions, the violent outbursts of some young people affect others. Staff reassure them of their ongoing safety. Young people are able to express how they feel in the community meetings. The young person who has had an outburst gains an insight into the impact of their behaviour on others.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to have good relationships with staff. They demonstrate an empathy for them when staff have been involved in an incident. They are able to question staff about the reward system without fear of reprisal. Staff listen to young people and accommodate their desires as far as they can, for example by purchasing a piece of electronic equipment as a reward.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager works with other professionals to keep young people at risk of child sexual exploitation as safe as possible. She agrees strategies when there are changes in behaviour, such as going missing. Some young people who continue to make poor choices are able to have a break away from the home in the organisation’s activity centre to end the cycle of behaviour. Strategies are successful. A professional said, ‘They have done all that they can to keep her safe. Lots of other agencies, even specialist agencies, would have given up on her.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All young people go to school. The registered manager ensures that there are education arrangements in place prior to admitting a young person into the home. There has been one admission since the last inspection. Transition assessment and planning were good. The registered manager considered the compatibility with others in the home, as well as providing a child-friendly transition plan for the young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager is developing a culture that celebrates equality and diversity. Young people are developing a cultural calendar and showed an interest in Black history month. Young people are able to express their views of other cultures. Staff use this as an opportunity to help them to reflect on why they have that view and to reconsider it.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

An independent visitor provides good monitoring of the home. The registered manager acts on her recommendations. For example, she has improved the medication records to lessen the chance of an error.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to accommodate up to three young people who have emotional or behavioural difficulties. A private company owns and operates the home. The company has its own educational facility nearby.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

15/06/2016 Full Good 21/12/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

04/03/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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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

Implement the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 34(1)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This applies especially to concerns about practice, keeping a clear, written chronology of the decision-making process and the outcomes as a result. 31/12/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 Review the policy on the protection of children for the arrangements in relation to e-safety, especially the use of social media. (Guide to the children's homes regulations, page 44, paragraph 9.19)

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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 0300 123 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 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

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

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