Children's home run by Headstart Care LLP in Rother

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 develop strong and trusting relationships, which enable them to have the emotional security to reflect upon their past experiences.  Bespoke good-quality care plans provide clear guidance to members of staff.  Young people have excellent attendance levels at their education settings.  Young people’s welfare is promoted to a very good standard, and members of staff ensure that any safeguarding issues are promptly addressed.  The home is very well led by a registered manager who ensures that staff advocate and support the young people to a high standard.  Young people have access to a good range of enriching activities, which develop their confidence and social skills.  Communication with other agencies and key stakeholders, such as parents and social workers, is open and frequent and enables good levels of collaboration and a sense of working together.  Young people feel safe and are confident that members of staff listen to

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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

The leadership and management standard requires that the registered person uses monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home (Regulation 13(2)(h). Specifically, the registered person must review whether the use of door alarms is needed in all cases. 30/01/17

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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

 Improve the overall appearance of the home by taking steps to make it look and feel more welcoming and child friendly (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9). Specifically, ensure that smoking detritus is cleared from the rear garden.  Ensure that children are consulted regularly on their views about the home’s care, to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11). Specifically, evidence clearly the responses of staff and the registered manager and the steps taken by them to the suggestions, requests and choices made by young people at their house meetings. 

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Information about this children’s home

This service is a private children’s home providing care and accommodation for up to two children who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

07/06/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness.

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people living in the home are

Young people develop trusting and stable relationships with adults who care for them. This enables them to experience stability and reflect on their histories and behaviours. As a result of the levels of trust that they have developed, the young people have been able to share their past experiences, and this has enabled them to access therapy, reflect upon their past behaviours and implement more positive coping strategies. These are significant steps for the young people, especially when bearing in mind their starting points and unsettled histories. Consequently, the young people have developed their self-management skills and have made significant steps in areas such as improving their anger management and developing their social skills. The young people’s views are valued and promoted. They have regular key-work sessions and attend weekly house meetings. On occasion, they have not had their requests responded to or followed through after they have raised them during

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people living in the home are

these meetings. This means that the young people do not always feel that the meetings are of value or have an impact on the running of the home. However, they do generally feel that their views are taken seriously regarding the daily running of the home, especially with regards to decor, menus and activities. The young people know who to complain to if they wish. The quality of relationships has meant that there have been no formal complaints made by young people, and any issues are addressed at a low level. The young people attend full-time education placements. This is excellent progress, especially considering their histories. In one case, a young person has received an award from his school, acknowledging the excellent progress made to earn the ‘student of the year award’. Another young person was admitted to the home with a history of school refusal and is now in full-time education. These levels of success

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people living in the home are

are underpinned by close liaison with the young people’s school and college placements and an embedded culture promoting the value of education. This means that the young people receive the support that they need to enjoy their education and succeed in areas previously experienced as negative and challenging. Young people enjoy activities both in the home and the community. They receive the help that they need to develop their confidence so that they can attend clubs or have free time in a way which helps them to feel that these experiences are achievable without the risk of stress or failure. Each young person’s individual needs and vulnerabilities are recognised and understood by the staff caring for them. Consequently, they have bespoke programmes, which enable them to develop their self-care and independence skills at a rate with which they can cope. This means that they are making good progress in these areas, with the right amount of support and nurturing.

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people living in the home are

Young people’s health needs are known and met. They receive the support to attend health appointments, and any subsequent programmes are implemented by the staff team. Examples of these include encouraging healthy eating, exercise and improved awareness of personal hygiene and dental care. The relationships between the young people and members of staff ensure that each young person’s needs and idiosyncrasies are known and met to a very good standard. As a result of this, their identities are respected and valued, and difference is celebrated and enjoyed. Support provided to the young people during contact with families is very well thought through and implemented. Members of staff are acutely aware of how some young people’s relationships with their families can be a source of challenge and experienced as unsettling. Therefore, support to the young people during these contacts is carefully planned, and staff remain with the young people, if

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people living in the home are

necessary, to ensure that they have access to immediate support if it is needed. The home in which the young people live is generally maintained to a good standard. Young people are able to personalise their rooms. However, the rear garden has been used for a smoking area, and the smoking detritus had not been cleared away. This is unsightly and detracts from the homely feel.

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people are helped and protected

Young people say that they feel safe living in this home. They trust the members of staff and know that they can raise any issues of concern or worry with them. In turn, members of staff know the vulnerabilities of the young people and are able to plan support and give reassurance to the young people at times of anxiety and stress. This links with clear behaviour management plans, which outline the strategies that staff need to implement in order to give the young people a sense of security and stability. The use of sanctions is rare. In the last year, there have been eight occasions when a sanction has been imposed. These have always been relevant, and the young people report that they are fair. Additionally, any imposition of a sanction is followed up by a key-work session with a member of staff, to ensure that the young person understands the measure and has the opportunity to comment and reflect upon the issues surrounding it.

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people are helped and protected

While all members of staff are trained in the method of restraint used in the home, there has only been one incident since the home was opened in August 2015. There have been no incidents of restraint for over 11 months. This is a very positive reflection of the quality of relationships built and staff members’ understanding of the young people’s needs. There are clear individual protocols for staff to follow in the event that a young person is absent without permission or is missing. These outline the vulnerabilities of the young people and are fully understood by the members of staff. There has been one incident in which a young person was absent without permission for less than an hour. Staff followed the procedure diligently and were able to persuade the young person to return and discuss the reason for his behaviour. As a result, the young person calmed and had a positive evening. All members of staff have been trained in safeguarding matters. They know what

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people are helped and protected

to do and who to inform if they have concerns about a young person’s welfare or safety. The process has been followed effectively and information shared promptly with relevant agencies when a concern has been raised. The registered manager liaises effectively with external professionals, to ensure that the correct process is being followed and that the young people’s welfare is being protected. Risk assessments are in place, which outline the young people’s vulnerabilities and the steps that members of staff need to take to ensure that their safety is protected. These cover all anticipated eventualities, for example, what sort of support the young people may need when in the community if they become distressed, and what measures they need to have in place when the young people are travelling together in a car. Door alarms are fitted to the young people’s rooms, and these are switched on at night so that staff are alerted if they leave their rooms. While there is written

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people are helped and protected

permission in place from parents and placing social workers for this practice, it has not been reviewed routinely to justify its continued use. The home operates a sound recruitment procedure, which ensures that all necessary background checks are carried out before a member of staff commences work. This ensures that only adults with safe working histories work with the young people. Routine checks of the environment ensure that the young people’s and adult’s safety is protected. For example, fire safety systems are checked, fire drills are carried out regularly and electrical equipment is also checked to ensure that it is safe to use. Judgement grade

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leaders and managers

The home is strongly led, and practice is focused on improving the outcomes for the young people. The registered manager has over 10 years of experience of working with children and young people and has achieved a level 5 diploma in leadership for health and social care and children’s and young people’s services. She has embedded an expectation of high standards of care and performance from members of staff, and this ensures that the young people receive excellent support. The recent recruitment of experienced members of staff has ensured that the staffing complement is now up to strength. There was a reliance on bank workers and agency members of staff during the summer period when established members of staff left the home to work elsewhere. All members of staff who work in the home are qualified to national vocational qualification level 3 in caring for children and young people, and this means that they have a sound grounding to

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leaders and managers

their practice in childcare. Members of staff also receive regular training in areas such as safeguarding, first aid, administration of medication and equality and diversity. This ensures that their practice is up to date and that their knowledge base is constantly refreshed. Regular team meetings and regular supervision from senior members of staff ensure that practice is reviewed and reflected upon, young people’s progress is constantly considered and communication is open and effective. As a result, there is a strong sense of teamwork and common purpose and an excellent understanding of the young people’s needs. This ethos, in turn, cascades down to the young people who subsequently feel genuinely cared for. The home is monitored on a monthly basis by an independent visitor. Reports written as a result of these visits are thorough and outline any shortfalls. The registered manager then prepares and implements action plans, to ensure that

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leaders and managers

standards are met and issues are addressed. Additionally, there are effective systems implemented by the registered manager to ensure that paperwork and care plans are kept up to date and relevant. Members of staff and the registered manager liaise closely with placing authorities and parents, to ensure that everyone is aware of each young person’s progress and achievements or any significant issues. This has ensured a sense of collaboration and working together to promote the young people’s welfare. The home’s statement of purpose is kept under regular review. This means that the service that the home provides is clearly documented and that all stakeholders know the home’s aims and objectives.

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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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