Children's Home run by S P Homes Limited in Lambeth

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 last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness . One requirement and two recommendations have been made as a result of this inspection. Two requirements and four recommendations resulted from the last inspection. The home has met both of the requirements. The independent person’s report is now routinely sent to Ofsted as required. This supports appropriate external scrutiny of the home. Young people now benefit from daily care that is more effectively planned. For example, young people who are not in education, now have access to a home-based tutor four days a week. The four recommendations have also been met. The home is now more homely, in that torn carpets have been replaced. Young people are now fully involved in practice fire evacuations, which helps them to manage their own safety. All young

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

people have been personally approached about having an advocate, and accessible contact details for them are available. Finally, staff will make appropriate checks, or report details to the police, when young people routinely stay out overnight at the same address. Successfully meeting these requirements and recommendations demonstrates that effective leadership and management is in place. The home has overall, continued to offer a good quality of care to young people. This is demonstrated by the home’s successful support in rebuilding relationships between young people and their families. For example, a young person is now living back with his birth family, with support from the home available as necessary. All young people are now successfully engaged in at least some education or work. This represents a significant improvement from their previous patterns. In addition, some young people make good progress in their emotional

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

health, in that they are less aggressive, and are more able to maintain positive relationships. However, staffing shortages have had a negative impact on the pace of young people’s progress. For example, although the management team has done what they can, detailed plans to progress one young person’s care have stalled since a particular staff member left. This has meant that some areas of concern, for example personal and room hygiene issues, have not been routinely and regularly addressed by staff. The home is covering staff shortages by using a small pool of temporary staff. These staff members are appropriately familiar to young people and generally knowledgeable about the home. However, this mix of permanent and temporary staff has led to some inconsistencies in behaviour management. In particular, the staff group lacks a coherent approach to incentivising good behaviour and effectively responding to challenge. The manager has appropriate plans to discuss

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

expectations of behaviour management with staff, but the staffing shortfalls mean that she is not in a position to fully develop a consistent staff team. There have been no incidents of going missing behaviour in the home and no complaints. Young people have appropriate risk assessments in place, and generally the home offers a comfortable and safe environment for young people. This promotes a positive safeguarding culture.

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Information about this children's home

This is a privately-run children's home which caters for up to six young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 02/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 20/10/2015 Full Good 04/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 03/12/2014 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

13: Ensure that there are sufficient experienced, qualified and skilled staff to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (2) (c)(d)) 30/12/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:

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Recommendations

 Ensure that routines are established that allow young people’s rooms to be regularly cleaned. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 16, paragraph 3.20)  Ensure that positive behaviour and relationships are reinforced, praised and encouraged, and that poor behaviour is challenged and discussed. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 39, paragraph 8.11)

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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

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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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