Children's Home run by Shalamar Children Limited in Essex

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged as requires improvement at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness . Since the last inspection, the registered manager has left. A new manager has been appointed and is in the process of applying to become the registered manager. He has enrolled to complete the required level 5 leadership and management qualification. Staff and children say that they can see the impact that he is making in relation to the running of the home. For example, some new equipment, including table tennis and table football, help to create a more child- friendly environment. One child said, ‘I have been in many children’s homes and I can tell you that this manager is one of the best carers I have come across and that is because he listens to children and does what he says he is going to do.’ The regulations from the full inspection have been met. The living room has been

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

re-decorated, there is a new manager motivated to bring about change and the record of those working on shift is clearer. This inspection raises two further shortfalls. The children are pleased with their bedrooms and are encouraged to decorate them to reflect their personalities. However, this inspection identified that two drawers in one child’s room were damaged, and one child’s bed had two broken slats. There was a smell of fuel emanating from one of the children’s bedrooms that had not been attended to. This is despite clear advice from the heating engineer who had been commissioned by the provider to visit the property. These shortfalls do not reflect that every child’s personal space is maintained to a good enough standard, at all times. Children’s experiences of education vary. The majority of children come to the home without education placements. While the staff have done well to re-establish

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

one of the children into education, this achievement has not been replicated for others, resulting in some frustration and boredom. Although the staff work with the placing authorities to look to determine children’s education plans, their efforts do not go far enough to ensure that each child regains their confidence in education. This demonstrates that the interim arrangements to promote education in the home vary. This inconsistent approach does not set the scene to encourage each child to value learning. The new manager is responsive to complaints made by the children. Children rarely go missing from the home. However, incidents in the home continue. The children swear, are verbally abusive to the staff and, on occasion, assault the staff. The staff do their best to de-escalate difficult and challenging situations with some degree of success. However, on one occasion, a child’s placement ended because

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

he was arrested for causing significant injury to a member of staff. Incident records show that the child had, in the weeks leading up to the incident, been abusive and physical towards staff on more than one occasion. This child’s risk assessment had not been updated to reflect either the increased risk posed by this child or the strategies needed to avoid escalation. This failure to evidence that the staff team had recognised the signs that one child was at increased risk from his behaviour has resulted in the same child being moved as an emergency. New staff who have experience and are suitably qualified have been recruited to work at the home. The officer with delegated authority is in communication with the current manager and is satisfied that investigations into staff conduct are efficient and identify points for learning. Nonetheless, more activity is necessary from the new manager and the responsible individual working in partnership with

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

the staff, to fully demonstrate that practices in the home reflect the aspiration of the statement of purpose and are improved by taking into account and acting on research and developments in social care. The new manager is aware that there is much to do to raise standards and is working to bring staff on board to identify and prioritise action for change. The manager reports that he receives good support and supervision from a number of sources. However, the arrangements fall short because he does not receive a copy of the notes from meetings. In the context of much to do, this does not enable both parties to reference discussion and the agreed points for action.

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered for four young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is privately owned and managed. The home operates using a therapeutic approach.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

01/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) 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

6. The quality and purpose of care standard In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, with particular reference to bedroom furniture and smells in children’s bedrooms, the registered person must: 2(c)(i) ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. 09/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard In order to meet the protection of children standard, with specific reference to the dynamic use of risk assessments, the registered person must: 2(a)(i) ensure that staff assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of harm to the child. 09/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard In order to meet the leadership and management standard, in particular regard to the statement of purpose, the registered person must: (2)(g)(i) demonstrate that practice in the home is informed by taking into account and acting on research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met. 09/01/2017

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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, when a child is placed and not participating in education, because they have been excluded or are not on a school roll for some other reason, staff work closely with the placing authority so that the child is supported and enabled to resume full-time education as soon as possible. In the interim, every child should be supported consistently to regain their confidence in education and be engaged in suitable, structured activities. If no education place is identified by the placing authority, the registered person must challenge the authority to meet the child’s needs under regulation 5 (Engaging with the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)  Ensure that good practice is followed and that a note of the content and/or outcomes of supervision sessions are kept to ensure that both the person

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Recommendations

giving the supervision and staff member have a copy of the record. This is with specific reference to supervision of the home’s manager. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.4)

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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 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.

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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

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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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