Children's Home run by Lodge Group Care UK Limited in Redbridge

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 . Three recommendations resulted from the full inspection; the home has successfully addressed these. There are no requirements or recommendations resulting from this inspection. The admissions process is now much tighter. The registered manager states, ‘Harsh lessons have been learnt from the full inspection.’ Managers now challenge placing authorities for full and updated information and discuss the contents among themselves prior to considering a referral. This ensures good matching, a full risk assessment and minimal upheaval when new placements arrive in the home. The home is now more settled and staff morale has improved. The home is presently undergoing a programme of refurbishment. The garden fence has been replaced, resulting in young people being safeguarded in a secure,

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

outdoor space. Further improvements include a new kitchen, redecoration of the bedrooms and increased internet security. This promotes a more homely ‘family– style’ feel to the home. There have been no further incidents of absconding behaviour. However, staff are aware of the importance of providing independent return-to-care interviews. This promotes a good safeguarding culture suited to meeting the needs of young people. The home remains stable and well managed. The consistent scrutiny of the independent visitor has been integral to service improvements. Feedback from parents and professionals remains positive. One parent referred to the ‘excellent care and communication’ of staff in the home, and a placing professional referred to the ‘high levels of care’. Strong care practice is evidenced in positive outcomes for young people, including a recent successful rehabilitation home for parents. Staff morale is positive, and there have been no departures since the last

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

inspection. Agency use is limited. Staff feel valued and appreciated and report regular supervision and appraisal. Staff have engaged well with new service initiatives. They feel that the team enforces consistent behavioural boundaries and is persistent is supporting the development of important self-care tools, such as toileting, for young people. Young people make good progress. This progress is well recorded via excellent case recordings, with clear visual evidence of a number of enjoyable activities, such as a recent trip to the seaside. Care practice continues to be based on strong relationships and a varied professional support network. This includes a psychologist, music therapist, on-site education tutor and occupational therapist. Staff show a keen awareness of young people’s behavioural patterns and step in when risky, trigger behaviours are exhibited. The home has introduced a new revised rewards policy with goals regularly

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

reviewed by the professional network. The occupational therapist has introduced new equipment to help young people to develop their fine motor skills. Consequently, progress is achieved in key self-care tasks, such as pulling up a zip or tying a pair of shoelaces. When young people struggle, staff act quickly and promptly. An alternative behaviour management strategy, such as the use of sensory tools, is often successful. This offers a good alternative to risky behaviour. Staff communicate well and act promptly to avoid harm to young people. Staff are encouraged to be analytical and observant in assessing progress. These recordings help to ‘unpick’ behaviours and analyse factors contributing to risky behaviour, and possible alternative strategies to avoid a repetition. This works well and has reduced the frequency of restraint. Partnership work with parents is strong. One parent recently helped in the re-

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

decoration of her son’s bedroom and is a regular visitor to the home. She supports staff in preparing culturally appropriate meals for all of the young people. Contact with parents is consistently well managed and key to preparing young people for difficult procedures, such as attending the dentist or undergoing surgery. Young people respond well to this consistency and collaborative working. Managers continue to be ambitious and to seek service improvements. The behaviour management and reward system has been changed to allow for clear visual prompts. Young people respond well to a traffic light coded system and ‘lucky dip’ present reward when their goals are achieved.

p.3

Information about this children's home

This privately run home provides accommodation and care for up to six young people who have learning disabilities. The service provides both long-term and short-break placements. Current registration is for five long-term placements and one short-term placement.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.4

Recent inspection history

27/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.4

Recent inspection history

19/12/2014 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.4

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’.

p.5

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 whom 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.

p.5

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 .

p.5

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.6

Information about this inspection

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

p.6

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.6

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.6