Children's Home run by Leicester City Council in Leicester

Good

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

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people are happy and settled at the home. They have very good relationships with staff, which helps the young people to feel safe. Young people make good progress given their starting points. This is because they receive a good standard of care from a skilled staff team who only want the best for them.  This is a well-managed home. The management team provides clear leadership and direction, which results in a well-motivated and committed staff team.  Staff are skilled in managing young people‟s behaviour, and in providing nurturing guidance. As a result, young people‟s risk-taking behaviours reduce over time, which means they become safer and better prepared for the next stages of their lives.  Listening to young people is a key strength, and the young people‟s voices are at the centre of decision-making. This helps them to feel valued, and increases their sense of self-worth.  Partnership working is embedded in staff practice, which helps to ensure

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The children's home provision is good because:

that young people receive the right support in meeting their holistic needs.  Young people receive good practical and emotional support in preparation for adulthood and independence. Staff continue to provide very good practical and emotional support to young people when they move into independent living, where appropriate.  Five recommendations to improve practice have been made in relation to the premises, recruitment practices, the use of sanctions, the provision of return interviews for young people who go missing, and record-keeping.

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What does the children’s home need to do to improve?

This section sets out the actions that must be taken so that the registered persons meet 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 persons must comply within the given timescales.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  For children‟s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children‟s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.); however, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than „institutional‟ impression. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Recommendations

 When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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Recommendations

 Any sanctions used to address poor behaviour should be restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 46 paragraph 9.38)

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Recommendations

 The registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They must ensure that the recruitment of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 61, paragraph 13.1) This is with specific reference to ensuring that explanations for gaps in employment are recorded and that the verification of references is recorded.  Staff should be familiar with the home‟s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 62, paragraph 14.4) This is with specific reference to ensuring that all records are signed and dated by the author and that records of sanctions are fully completed.

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is owned and managed by a local authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 21/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 09/09/2015 Full Good 12/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 02/07/2014 Full Good

p.5

Good

Young people are happy, and receive a good standard of care from a very skilled and experienced staff team. They have very good relationships with staff. As a result, all young people make good progress given their starting points. One young person told the inspector that „this is home‟, and said that staff are „very good‟ and that „they listen to us‟. An independent reviewing officer made the following comments: „I was very pleased with how well the young person is progressing and impressed with the time and effort staff at the home have put into the young person. He is attending his college placement and his attendance is excellent. The fact that he is getting up in the morning and travelling by bus is amazing to say the least.‟

p.6

Good

Staff have an in-depth knowledge of young people‟s needs. They consult with young people regarding their care plans and risk assessments. These records are very detailed and are reviewed and updated when necessary, which helps to ensure that young people receive care based on their current needs and risks. Some records are not always signed and dated by the author.

p.6

Good

Transition practices are good. The management team completes a compatibility risk assessment to ensure that the admission of a new young person does not have a negative impact on the existing group. Young people moving out receive very good support from staff during the transition period, and this continues after the young person has moved out, where appropriate.

p.6

Good

Since the last inspection, there has been a relatively high number of admissions and transitions from the home. There is no evidence that the number of transitions has had a negative impact on the young people who have lived at the home for some time. However, high levels of admissions and transitions have the potential to impact on the stability in the home and on the quality of care.

p.6

Good

Staff work hard with young people to ensure that they engage with routine and specialist health services. This involves working closely with a range of health professionals. The looked after children‟s nurse told the inspector that staff „go the extra mile‟ for young people and that they communicate very well with her. As a result, all young people‟s physical and emotional health improves given their starting points. This includes those young people who have never attended routine health checks prior to moving into the home. Preparing young people for their next stages of life is a key priority for staff, and includes the promotion of education, training and employment, and independence training. Staff work closely with a range of education, training and employment agencies in supporting young people‟s potential to improve their life opportunities, and to prepare them for adult life. Education and training are based on

p.6

Good

individualised needs, previous experiences and interests. Young people‟s participation and attendance is variable. Some young people make significant progress in attending their education/training provision, which greatly improves their employment options. One young person had not received any formal education for many years prior to moving into the home. Within six months, this young person had completed their education and obtained some qualifications, and is now attending college and working towards going to university. For those young people who refuse to engage in any formal education and/or are not deemed fit for work by medical professionals, staff are tenacious at trying to provide alternative learning opportunities.

p.7

Good

Staff actively support young people in becoming as independent as possible, starting from the time they move in. Young people engage in the home‟s independence programmes. One young person was supported to attend a „Managing your own home‟ programme in the community, which also helped her to meet people in similar positions and to make friends.

p.7

Good

Young people are at the heart of decision-making. Staff are committed to ensuring that young people‟s voices are heard, and they act upon their suggestions where appropriate. There are a range of consultative systems to ensure that young people‟s views and suggestions are obtained. These include individual one-to-one sessions and young people‟s house meetings. Some young people have also attended the Children in Care Council. Young people feel listened to and valued, which helps to build their confidence and self-esteem.

p.7

Good

Staff provide very good emotional and practical support for young people and their families to maintain — and in some instances re-establish — relationships, where appropriate. Staff also give good support to young people in building and maintaining relationships with their friends. Young people are able to pursue their interests and hobbies, as well as having opportunities to try new activities. Staff ensure that young people who have missed out on ordinary life experiences are provided with as many opportunities as possible. A young person went to the seaside for the first time, and also went to see the city‟s Christmas lights being turned on. These memories have been recorded in their life story book, and the young person wrote, „It [seeing the Christmas lights] was an amazing experience.‟ Some young people have recently been for a weekend trip to Blackpool, which they really enjoyed.

p.7

Good

The plans for major improvement work to the premises have been delayed. The plans recognise the need to make the home more domestic in style and less institutional, and to provide more privacy for young people. Since the last inspection, staff have made some improvements to the environment to try to make it more homely. However, the home is still quite institutional in appearance, despite these efforts. For example, doors in communal areas have vision panels. A recommendation has been made regarding this issue. Young people‟s bedrooms are personalised.

p.7

Good

Young people become safer at the home given their starting points. Their risk- taking behaviours, including criminal and self-harming behaviours, reduce. This is because staff are experienced in managing behaviours, and are committed to improving young people‟s life chances. Young people learn to take controlled risks in a supportive environment. This means that they become more independent and better prepared for their next stages of life. One young person told the inspector that they feel safe living at the home, that there is no bullying and they get on with the other young people.

p.8

Good

Young people have very good relationships with staff, which helps them to talk about any worries they may have. This helps them to feel safe. Complaints are rare, and young people‟s concerns are dealt with informally and promptly.

p.8

Good

Staff receive a range of training, including safeguarding, managing young people‟s behaviour and managing self-harm. Staff fully understand their responsibilities in reporting any safeguarding concerns, and notify relevant agencies, including Ofsted, when necessary. Staff are good at managing young people‟s behaviours. Young people make good progress in changing their risk-taking behaviours given their starting points. Staff continue to work consistently with young people, even when their behaviours deteriorate. They do not give up on young people. A social work team manager commented, ‟The staff have been persistent and have gone “above and beyond” in their efforts to do everything to safeguard him and to find him when he was absent.‟

p.8

Good

There is an emphasis on recognising and rewarding positive behaviour, which also helps to improve young people‟s self-esteem. Sanctions are not overly used but they tend to be focused on financial reparations, which have the potential to be counter-productive. Although managers monitor sanctions, the central record that is kept does not include the effectiveness of sanctions. Staff have made improvements to the recording of restraints. Staff now ensure that young people are given the opportunity to discuss incidents of restraint, including their feelings. This addresses the recommendation made at the previous inspection.

p.8

Good

The incidents of young people going missing reduce over time, which means they become safer. Staff work very closely with the police and follow joint protocols. The police missing person‟s officer confirmed that staff work well with them and ask for support and advice where appropriate. There have been improvements in ensuring that young people are offered a return interview. However, despite the best efforts of staff, there are still a number of occasions where the return interviews do not take place in line with the local authority‟s procedures.

p.9

Good

Recruitment practices for staff are generally good. It is clear that finding the right person is more important than filling a vacant post. The registered manager does not always record when gaps in employment have been explored and that references have been verified.

p.9

Good

A new manager was appointed earlier this year and she was registered with Ofsted in June 2016. She has many years‟ experience of working with children and young people in residential care and is a qualified social worker.

p.9

Good

The registered manager provides dynamic leadership and direction, and is ably supported by the assistant manager. Staff spoke very highly of the management team, and have welcomed the changes introduced. Staff are very well supported by the management team, and feel valued and included in decision-making. Staff receive regular good-quality supervision, which helps them with their professional development. Staff told the inspector that they work well and consistently as a team to ensure that young people receive the care and support they need.

p.9

Good

There have been a number of staff changes since the last inspection, and the registered manager is in the process of recruiting more staff, including another assistant manager. Finding the right person to join the team is more important than filling a vacancy. Existing staff and relief staff have covered staff shortages. It is testament to the staff team that they have continued to provide good-quality care and to make further improvements.

p.9

Good

Young people receive a good standard of care from an experienced, well-trained and committed staff team. Staff are well motivated and work tenaciously to improve young people‟s life opportunities. A professional told the inspector that staff „go the extra mile‟. Staff do not give up on young people, even when their behaviours deteriorate. Partnership working is embedded in staff practice, which helps to ensure that young people‟s holistic needs can be met. Feedback received from professionals confirms that staff work closely with them.

p.9

Good

Fourteen members of staff have the Level 3 qualification in working with children and young people, and one member of staff is currently undertaking the qualification. They receive a range of training to ensure that they can meet young people‟s diverse needs.

p.10

Good

All staff take responsibility for monitoring different areas of practice. Staff discuss and monitor young people‟s individual care and support, and reflect on their practice in daily handovers and staff meetings. The management team monitors records and staff practice, and where shortfalls are identified these are dealt with promptly and are used to improve practice. The monthly reports from the visits by the independent visitor complement the internal monitoring systems and help to inform future developments. The statement of purpose gives clear details of the services provided, informing young people, parents, carers and stakeholders about what to expect. The registered manager reviews and updates it when necessary. Practice is in line with the statement.

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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‟.

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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

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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.

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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 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

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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 .

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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

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

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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