Children's Home run by Barnardo’s in Oxfordshire

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:

 Staff provide young people with individual and consistent care that effectively supports and nurtures their personal development, leading to improved experiences and outcomes.  Staff listen to young people and respond to their gestures. This has enabled young people to develop a sense of belonging.  The young people access a range of social opportunities outside of the home, which for some young people would not have been otherwise possible.  Staff work effectively with the schools to ensure that there is a consistent approach towards young people’s targets. These relationships help young people to be supported to reach their individual goals.  Maximising young people’s ability to be independent is central to everyday care planning arrangements. Young people have all made progress in this area.  Young people indicate that they feel safe and well cared for in the home. They move and interact confidently around the home and are comfortable in

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The children's home provision is good because:

the presence of staff.  Any challenging behaviour is managed in a careful and successful manner. Staff are consistent in their management of behaviours, and there are clear boundaries in place.

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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

12 The protection of children standard In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure that staff: (2)(a)(iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm. In particular, they must ensure that staff undertake safeguarding training in line with recommendations made following investigations. 09/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that full and satisfactory information is available in respect of the matters listed in schedule 2 (Regulation 32(3)(d)), and, in particular, a full employment history, with a satisfactorily written explanation of any gaps in employment history. 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:  Ensure that staff engage proactively to contribute fully to the relevant plans for the child’s care on an ongoing basis (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.3). This specifically relates to demonstrating progress in targets in operation.  Ensure that staff are trained in supervising and facilitating contact, to enable appropriate contact to be promoted (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.18).  Ensure that staff are 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). In particular, use body maps accurately when needed.

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is registered to accommodate six children and young people who have a learning and/or physical disability. The service is delivered and managed by a national charitable organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

13/04/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

17/11/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

02/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Good

The staff team demonstrates a good understanding of the individual needs of young people; this has enabled good relationships to form in which young people receive consistency and therefore feel secure. Staff listen to young people and respond to their gestures. This has enabled young people to develop a sense of belonging as they are fully involved in decisions and given responsibility in the home. There are limited relationships between young people, largely due to the impact of their disabilities. However, most young people recognise the residential group to which they belong. For some, this has meant developing a tolerance and understanding of others. Young people are making good progress as they benefit from the structure and routines in the care delivered. Examples of progress include the reduction of incidents of challenging behaviour, increased communication and the ability to sit at the table for a meal. One professional reported on one young person now being

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Good

able to prepare his breakfast, which is a huge achievement from his starting point. Young people’s self-esteem is developing well because of the child-focused care provided by a staff team that is skilled at understanding the different ways in which young people express their needs. Although targets for the young people are identified, there is inconsistent recording and reporting of progress. This inhibits regular review to ensure that targets are still appropriate and achievable. The information available is confusing, and it is not easy to identify current targets. Young people’s views are gained in all areas, and staff are able to communicate effectively with those young people who have communication difficulties and actively seek the views of all young people as part of the everyday practice. The home, along with other homes in the organisation, has been involved in providing evidence of participation and it has successfully gained an award for this. This

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Good

demonstrates that young people’s involvement is central to the way in which the home operates. The young people access a range of social opportunities outside of the home, which for some young people would not have been otherwise possible. They are involved and able to participate in the local community, including visiting local shops, cinemas and parks. Young people are kept active and encouraged to lead healthy lifestyles. For one young person, exercise was incorporated into his daily routine, and this has resulted in controlled weight loss. The managers have also been successful in making effective links with dieticians to source advice. Medication arrangements in the home are safe and effective. The medication procedure has changed to the use of pre-packaged medication, and there have been no errors in recent months. Staff feel more confident in this process. Staff are regularly assessed for competency, to ensure that they are able to undertake this

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Good

responsibility. Staff work in partnership with parents, carers and professionals to ensure that a consistent approach is achieved. Effective communication ensures that key messages about young people’s care and well-being are properly addressed. Staff work effectively with the schools to ensure that there is a joined-up approach towards young people’s targets. These relationships ensure that young people are supported consistently to reach their individual goals. Maximising young people’s ability to be independent is central to everyday care planning arrangements, and all the young people have made progress in this area. Encouragement is given at all levels of achievement, which enables young people to have the confidence to try new skills and to make progress in their personal, emotional and social development. Transitions are carefully considered, and the work involved when young people move on ensures positive endings for young

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Good

people who may find it a challenge to understand why change needs to happen. Staff are currently working with foster carers to support a transition for one young person. This has been extremely well planned, to enable the young person to be fully prepared and confident in this move.

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Good

Young people indicate that they feel safe and well cared for in the home. They move and interact confidently around the home and are comfortable in staff presence. This home provides a stable and protective environment where safeguarding of young people is given high regard. Individual vulnerabilities are understood well by staff, and this enables young people to feel safe. Staff are aware when young people have concerns and promptly act on their behalf to identify and resolve any issues. Young people who live in the home are not currently assessed as displaying risk in the areas of self-harm or child sexual exploitation. Some young people display self- injurious behaviours, however, and staff are very aware and monitor the occurrence of these and work with the necessary professionals to identify the triggers and reduce them. Following an internal investigation, it was recommended that staff undergo a refresher training course in safeguarding. Evidence was

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Good

supplied to indicate that managers have attempted to book this training. However, this has yet to be confirmed. In discussion with staff, they were confident about reporting concerns of a safeguarding nature, and new staff employed since the last inspection have completed an on-line training package. Safeguarding features as a standard agenda item in staff meetings, although this could be more comprehensive given the gap in training. Staff handovers now involve open discussions about any areas of concern, and this ensures that child protection awareness remains high among the staff team members. Body maps are completed, following any mark and/or bruise being identified, and shared with the necessary people. However, some body maps lack detail and would benefit from more information to ensure that all necessary information can be shared. The staffing levels and the vigilance of the staff team ensure that young people are

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Good

properly supervised, thereby successfully minimising opportunities for bullying or for young people to go missing. There are procedures and policies in place for staff to refer to, should the need arise. There have been no instances of either of these since the last inspection. Any challenging behaviour is managed in a planned way. Staff are consistent in their management of behaviours, and there are clear boundaries in place. Young people feel safe and well cared for. They have very good relationships with staff, who understand and recognise changes in behaviours. There have been a small number of physical interventions used since the last inspection, and all incidents are thoroughly recorded and available for review. Information is comprehensive. Trends and patterns can, therefore, be fully evaluated. Staff have been using restorative ways of working with young people to increase their sense of personal

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Good

responsibility. Recruitment information does not, in all cases, evidence whether satisfactory exploration of information has taken place prior to staff commencing work. On one file, the application form was difficult to read, which lead to possible gaps in employment history. Furthermore, a staff member had completed training prior to employment, but no clarification had been sought about the qualification gained or confirmation that this was completed. However, on other files seen, recruitment was to a good standard, and this problem is primarily a recording rather than practice issue. The premises provide a safe and secure physical environment in which young people feel safe and safely cared for. The servicing and routine checks of fire safety systems, equipment and gas and electric installations take place as required.

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Good

There is a strong management team effectively led by the registered manager. The manager is nurturing in her approach and ensures that all staff know that their involvement is essential in achieving the best outcomes and experiences possible for the young people in their care. Across the whole staff team, there is a sense of striving for improvement. The staff team has undergone a period of change in the last year, and this has brought about its own challenges, with some staff leaving and new staff joining the organisation. The management team has worked hard to build confidence within the staff team, and together they have made progress in reflecting on the practice in the home and on making further changes. The managers took action following the last inspection judgement. Their positive approach has enabled the home to move forward and enhance its level of care for the young people. The diversity of each young person’s needs requires the staff to have in-depth

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Good

knowledge and training. Recent training has occurred on first aid and understanding autism. Staff facilitate contact visits. However, not all staff have received training for this. Advice and guidance on recording these visits have been provided to the staff team, with improvement seen. The detail enables the reader to determine whether the visits are facilitated appropriately and safely. In addition to the training programme, all staff are working towards, or have completed, the necessary qualification. New staff are currently going through the registration process. Staff spoken with feel well supported and able to raise any concerns through supervision or by speaking to the manager. Effective communication about young people, through handovers and in team meetings, ensures that staff are kept up to date, so that they can provide a consistent level of care. The registered manager now has good monitoring systems in operation. These

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Good

contribute to a good understanding of the strengths of the service and any areas needing improvement. The manager is beginning to examine trends and patterns during these processes and to share these with the staff team. Monthly monitoring reports are undertaken by an independent visitor. There is a new visitor in post, who is starting to provide challenge to the management team. Young people benefit from highly effective working relationships between staff, parents and professionals from a range of other agencies. These include health professionals, independent reviewing officers, schools and social workers. The young people are clearly the priority in all decisions made, and staff and managers strongly advocate for them.

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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 whom 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

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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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