Children's home run by Chartwell Care Services Ltd in Islington

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.2

The children's home provision is good because:

 Children and young people in this home benefit from good, structured care, with a high level of support and monitoring. Consistent behaviour management is effective in reducing incidents of challenging behaviours.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff are building nurturing relationships with children and young people.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff are continuously assessing children and young people’s needs, recording daily observations and emerging behaviours. This valuable information is used well in children’s planning meetings.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Children and young people are supported to enjoy a range of activities and to access community resources, which is significant progress from their starting points.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Children and young people are making progress in education. There is good liaison between home staff and school staff, which results in consistent and effective behaviour-management strategies.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 This inspection identified that staff would benefit from training regarding safeguarding of disabled children and allegations against staff who work with children.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 This inspection found that there were shortfalls in care planning. A decision was made by the provider in respect of a young person’s placement without requesting a meeting with the placing local authority. There was no up-to- date care plan or education plan in respect of a young person. The impact to the young person is limited, and a meeting was subsequently arranged.

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

(2)(a) The registered person is to ensure that staff:

p.4

Requirement Due date

(iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm.

p.4

Requirement Due date

This is with specific reference to meeting the training needs of staff caring for disabled children. 31/03/2017

p.4

Requirement Due date

(2)(c) The registered person is to ensure that each child’s relevant plans are followed. 19/12/2016

p.4

Recommendations

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

p.4

Recommendations

 Significant changes to a looked-after child's care, such as a change of placement, should only take place following a statutory review of their care plan chaired by their Independent Reviewing Officer. (Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 57, paragraph 11.10)

p.4

Information about this children's home

The home is privately owned and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children with learning disabilities.

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 15/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 25/11/2015 Full Good 05/03/2015 Full Outstanding 14/08/2014 Interim Improved effectiveness

p.5

Good

Children and young people in this home benefit from good, structured care, with a high level of support and monitoring.

p.6

Good

The staff group is committed and enthusiastic about delivering good care. The group is a combination of experienced and recently recruited staff who are learning and developing in a supportive environment.

p.6

Good

Staff are building nurturing relationships with children and young people. One parent said: ‘I know that my son is getting everything he needs and that he is happy. The home staff call me every week to update me before I visit over the weekend. I think he has made lots of progress.’

p.6

Good

The home provides a comfortable and safe environment. There is a sensory room for quiet time and a play room with activities that children and young people enjoy. One young person enjoys building constructions with staff and was making a colourful display about fire prevention while the inspector was visiting.

p.6

Good

Staff decorate and maintain the home in response to the children’s and young people’s needs, views and wishes. At the time of the inspection there were limited decorations, to provide a low-arousal environment.

p.6

Good

One young person has made progress in using more rooms within the home, and is experiencing improved mealtime routines because he feels comfortable and relaxed.

p.6

Good

Staff ensure that there are clear daily and weekly routines for children and young people. Routines are displayed on a board in the kitchen and, depending on the children’s and young people’s needs, they are complemented with the use of pictures throughout the day. One young person responds well to pictures of what is happening now and what is planned next, and this reduces his anxieties so that he is able to enjoy the activity.

p.6

Good

Staff use children’s and young people’s preferred methods of communication, which can be a combination of verbal, signing and the use of pictures and social stories. They are encouraged to make choices and, as a result, have increased confidence in contributing to decisions about their care. There is information for children and young people about how to make complaints in the form of social stories. These are available and visible in the home, and staff regularly revisit this issue with children and young people.

p.6

Good

One young person has made significant progress in accessing and integrating into the local community. For example, with staff support, he has visited the dentist, the optician, has been shopping and has had his hair cut. These are activities that he has previously been highly anxious about. However, with careful planning and sufficient support he has been able to participate.

p.7

Good

Staff are continuously assessing children and young people’s needs, and recording daily observations and emerging behaviours. This information is shared with social workers and with involved professionals in planning meetings to inform decision- making.

p.7

Good

Children and young people’s individual health needs are identified in a detailed placement plan. Children and young people have improving health as a result of preventative health interventions and good monitoring.

p.7

Good

Staff were concerned about one young person’s weight and sought advice. They have worked closely with the nutritionist and have received advice regarding some parts of his diet. At a recent medical his weight had improved.

p.7

Good

Staff support children and young people with dental hygiene and personal hygiene as part of their daily routines, and there has been progress in their self-care skills.

p.7

Good

Staff ensure that when children and young people are being monitored by specialist health resources, this is maintained. For example, when children and young people have conditions requiring medication, staff maintain detailed medication records and are proactive in ensuring that there are regular reviews.

p.7

Good

Staff have regular consultation with the child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). They have used ‘behaviour circle understanding maps’ regarding specific behaviours, to inform the way that they respond and intervene with children and young people.

p.7

Good

All progress is positively reinforced by staff and shared with family and social worker.

p.7

Good

Staff demonstrated an understanding of children and young people’s developing needs, ensuring that they respond sensitively if children and young people require support with personal-care needs.

p.7

Good

Staff work closely with school staff to deliver consistent responses. This relies on good communication, given the complex needs of the children and young people concerned. School staff and home staff share information daily about what has gone well and what has been problematic. One young person has been able to take part in school trips as a result of progress made.

p.7

Good

School attendance is very good, and young people are making progress. Staff attend and contribute to relevant planning meetings with the school and the social worker. Unfortunately, the home did not have an up-to-date care plan or education plan for one young person. However there was an up-to-date looked-after review record that informed the young person’s placement plan.

p.8

Good

One young person has moved on since the last inspection, as part of his care plan. Staff shared information with his future placement and were part of the planning and support for his move, to make it a positive transition.

p.8

Good

All children and young people have detailed behaviour risk-management plans that capture information about specific risks. For example, one child has a plan which includes managing risks while using transport, being in the bathroom alone, and potential risks during sleeping, due to a medical condition. Staff implement and follow these plans well.

p.8

Good

Children and young people receive a high level of monitoring and supervision to respond to their individual needs and keep them safe. There have been no missing incidents. However, each child and young person has a detailed missing profile that is shared with the police, should this ever happen. This is due to the vulnerability of the children and young people. Staff are also familiar with the missing policy and procedures for the local authority and police. There has been some good working with the local safeguarding police contact, who has visited the home and met with the manager and staff and shared local safeguarding information.

p.8

Good

Staff model good behaviour and use clear messages and social stories to support children and young people to regulate and moderate behaviours.

p.8

Good

Staff are trained in behaviour management and interventions aimed at keeping children and young people safe. Distraction and de-escalation techniques are always used by staff to deal with challenging behaviour, and physical interventions are used as a last resort. For one young person there was an increase in challenging behaviour, and, as a result, an increase in the use of interventions to prevent him from harming himself and others. The reasons for this were appropriately assessed, and it was found that this increase was due to a number of changes within the home, which staff learned from. Each incident is recorded and reviewed appropriately by a manager. The records show that the use of physical interventions and the number of incidents have now reduced.

p.8

Good

Staff liaised with school and introduced behaviour strategies that were similar to those being used in school, to support this young person. This has been effective. A member of staff said: ‘Staff respond clearly and calmly. We know this young person’s needs well and we provide him with consistent boundaries and positive reinforcement for good choices.’ As a result, school and transport staff have reported reduced aggressive outbursts and increased polite behaviour.

p.9

Good

There have been two referrals to the designated officer that were appropriate for discussion and which have been resolved. Staff are aware of the procedures regarding allegations against adults who work with children.

p.9

Requires improvement

The registered manager has significant experience in residential care with children with learning disabilities and has six years’ management experience. She has relevant qualifications and is currently undertaking a qualification in leadership and management.

p.9

Requires improvement

This inspection has identified a number of shortfalls in practice. The manager is aware that some internal monitoring systems require improvement. For example, a young person did not have an up-to-date care plan or education plan available within the home. In addition, there was some out-of-date information in files.

p.9

Requires improvement

The staff have received a range of training, including safeguarding training. However, given the vulnerabilities and needs of the children and young people living in the home, staff would benefit from training in safeguarding of disabled children and allegations against staff who work with children. This inspection found that there is not a shared understanding between the provider and the placing authority about the needs of a young person and the risks that some of his behaviours present. The provider made decisions about the young person’s placement without requesting a meeting to discuss them with the responsible authority. This does not demonstrate good working together and child- centred practice. A meeting with the placing authority has now been arranged.

p.9

Requires improvement

Staff report that the manager is accessible and supportive. The manager says that her vision is ‘for children and young people to meet their potential and be empowered to contribute to their care planning’.

p.10

Requires improvement

Since she was appointed as manager earlier this year, there have been a number of changes of staff. However, the manager believes that there is a core staff group that has remained stable and has provided an experienced learning environment for new staff. Staff have had a phased introduction to the home and to the children and young people and have received supervision and training.

p.10

Requires improvement

The manager is aware of strengths and areas for development for the service. She identifies the varied experiences and skills of the staff group as a strength. She also believes that communication between the staff team is excellent. The inspector observed a shift handover which included a thorough sharing of information, focusing on children’s and young people’s needs. Staff record detailed observations daily in order to contribute to assessment of needs.

p.10

Requires improvement

There is good partnership working. Staff work closely and effectively with school staff, health professionals, particularly CAMHS and the police. Staff and managers are proactive in working with social workers and families.

p.10

Requires improvement

The manager met with staff who are involved in the transport arrangements for a young person, in order to share information to support transitions to and from school. This made a difference, and incidents on this journey have reduced. The inspector reviewed positive feedback about this meeting from those involved.

p.10

Requires improvement

There are good mechanisms in place for senior staff and managers to audit health and safety practice and maintenance issues, which result in a safe environment.

p.10

Requires improvement

Two quality assurance visits by a commissioner resulted in outcomes that were generally positive. The independent visitor reports monthly. The manager states that these visits challenge and stretch practice within the home.

p.10

Requires improvement

The manager has challenged partners where necessary. She has been proactive in following up an assessment by CAMHS for one young person and has requested up-to-date plans from the placing local authority.

p.10

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’.

p.12

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

p.12

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.

p.12

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

p.13

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 .

p.13

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,

p.14

Information about this inspection

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

p.14

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.14

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

p.14