Children's home SC033441

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 judge that it has Sustained effectiveness . Two recommendations resulted from the full inspection. The home has successfully addressed both of these. There are no requirements or recommendations resulting from this inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has removed the sign outside which indicates that it is a children’s home. Notice boards have been removed and information for young people is presented more discreetly. This followed full consultation with young people and provides them with a more homely environment. Young people are happy to bring their friends and family to the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Local police report positive levels of communication and declining numbers of missing episodes. The police comment: ‘Thanks for all of your hard work.’ When young people go missing, staff use good relationships with family and friends and established procedures to ascertain their whereabouts and ensure that they are safe. Independent return to care interviews are now offered more routinely. This provides young people with a unique opportunity to voice any concerns that may have resulted in them being absent from the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is presently undergoing a consultation regarding its future use. Despite this uncertainty, staff report good morale and high levels of management support. There has been only one staff departure since the last full inspection. This helps to limit disruption to young people and support good levels of care. Staff continue to explore new means of improving the service and engaging young people. A new herb garden is established and art sessions are facilitated on site. Young people engage well and are supported in developing specialist interests and independence skills.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home benefits from a talented and committed permanent staff team. Care plans, risk assessments and support plans remain of good quality. These continue to be consistently reviewed and evaluated by well-established procedures. Information is shared readily with key professionals and supports a strong safeguarding culture in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

On arrival in the home, education provision is quickly sourced by the host local authority. Young people continue to have prompt access to specialist services, such as child and adolescent mental health services. This ensures that staff are able to establish a positive daily routine and young people receive support promptly.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff continue to access a rich and varied training provision via an established learning culture in the home. They receive good support from the in-house psychologist, who continues to provide reflective supervision and promotes a reflective approach. Staff report that the training, ‘encourages us to develop empathy and understand young people.’ Recent training on organising family meetings supports complex and effective direct work with parents. Parents are able to understand the intervention, reflect on their own shortfalls and support the care plan more effectively.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Outcomes for young people remain positive. They make good progress and establish positive relationships with staff in the short timeframe of the placement. Staff work tirelessly to support a high number of young people in returning to the care of their parents, on to semi-independence, mother and baby provision or foster-care. Case files show one young person working well with staff to address anger issues, prior to successfully moving on to a specialist placement and the birth of her baby. Staff celebrate this success with young people, who on departure continue to return to the home to inform staff of their welfare.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff consistently ‘go over and above’ and recently acted as support during childbirth for one young person. Staff continue to be proactive and creative in using outreach work. This is well targeted during times of high risk, such as weekends or during busy times, such as the school run. It continues following discharge from the home, and supports good outcomes.

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority children’s home is registered to provide residential care to up to seven young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home provides short-term care, usually for up to 12 weeks, with one medium-term placement for up to 12 months.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 20/06/2015 Full Good 03/12/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 28/07/2015 Full Good 27/01/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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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 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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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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