Children's Home run by Idem Living Limited in Devon

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged to require improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has ensured that the four requirements and two of the three recommendations made at the last inspection have been met. She has reviewed the system for recording of restraints, and the records of young people’s views about the measure used. She has shared the missing from home protocol with the local police and reviewed the processes to record that young people receive an independent return home interview. In addition, the documentation to record that a placement agreement contract has been received is now in place.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The responsible individual has regularly monitored the leadership of the home to ensure that it is managed effectively. The responsible person has identified that the leadership has improved, including improved communication with others and an improved leadership style. The registered manager has attended internal management courses, and received external mentoring and peer supervision. She is undertaking her level 5 diploma in leadership and management for residential childcare (England) and expects to complete this by 1 January 2017. As a result of these actions, leaders are demonstrating improved leadership of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have not been any new admissions to the home or young people leaving since the last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has completed a detailed review of the quality of care that is provided to young people. She has identified areas for improvement that include developing an interactive young person’s consultation document, improving external consultation, and reviewing staff training needs in respect of their understanding of child development and staff professional development. There continues to be regular external scrutiny of the performance of the home by the independent visitor, and recommendations made to improve are responded to effectively.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there has not been any recorded use of restraint or young people going missing. The manager has taken action to improve the recording systems relating to these incidents, and the effectiveness of these are yet to be demonstrated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager takes robust action and notifies all appropriate agencies if there are any allegations or suspicions of harm. She ensures that comprehensive records are maintained in order to demonstrate a robust audit trail. Significant events are reported to the appropriate authorities in a timely manner. Risk assessments relating to known concerns are regularly reviewed and updated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Behaviours are managed well by staff. Staff are provided with guidance and support to manage known behaviours. The registered manager closely monitors and evaluates both the use of sanctions and the behaviours leading to a sanction being imposed. She looks for trends and patterns, and reviews guidelines and staff practice in response to these.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

However, some of the terminology used to record sanctions is not clear and specific. The young person is familiar with the sanctions that may be imposed and considers them to be fair.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Accident records viewed demonstrate that the vast majority of accidents sustained are superficial injuries due to accidents in sports and independent living. However, a small number of the accident records do not contain the full details of the action taken at the time of the event. The registered manager acknowledged this and said that she will review the format for recording accidents.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The register manager has reviewed and updated the home’s locality risk assessment and has shared this assessment with the local police.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The current young person feels able to make complaints and feels that these are taken seriously by staff. There has been one complaint made by the current young person, who confirmed that she is happy with the outcome. In addition, the young person said, ‘If I am worried or upset, I can speak to anyone, and I feel safe’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager ensures that the young person’s placement plan and risk assessments are regularly updated. A recent review of the young person’s placement identified that the service is meeting her needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff ensure that the current young person accesses a wide range of activities and leisure interests. The young person gave 10 out of 10 for how much she enjoys the activities, and 10 out of 10 for how happy she feels. She said: ‘I now play rugby for a team. I am excited to be part of a team’. She said, ‘I feel listened to.’ The young person could not identify anything that could improve her experiences of living at the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have devised a ‘memories folder’ that the young person uses to record that she has tried something new, revisited something or shared something, and to evidence acts of kindness. A record is also kept of ‘what it was, how it made me feel and how this helped me’. The folder is for the young person to keep and to reflect on as she grows older.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is welcoming, and is decorated and maintained to a good standard. The young person has decorated the home in readiness for Christmas and said, ‘I am looking forward to Christmas. My family are visiting me.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff training records identify that since the last inspection they have received training in ‘Prevent’, equality and diversity, understanding child sexual exploitation, reducing the risk of self-harm, mental health awareness and preventing bullying. Staff demonstrate that they have a good knowledge of internet safety. They receive basic internet safety training at induction, and this helps them to keep young people safe.

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company, and provides care and accommodation for up to two young people who may display emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 20/05/2016 Full Requires improvement 12/02/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 13/05/2015 Full Requires improvement 20/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure that the behaviour management strategy is understood and applied at all times by staff, and kept under review and revised when appropriate. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.34) In particular, staff should clearly record the agreed sanctions that can be imposed on individual young people as and when necessary.  Ensure that all 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 914.4) In particular, consider reviewing the format of the recording of accidents to ensure that the records are detailed, clear and concise.

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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 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 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 0300 123 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, work- based 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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