Children's home run by Milton Keynes City Council

This inspection

The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection

p.2

This inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

p.2

This inspection

Staff have a good understanding about each young person’s very complex needs and work to meet them in line with their individual short break plans. Even though some young people have highly challenging behaviour, staff deal with these with skill. Staff spend good quality time with each young person and ensure that their time is divided equally between the young people.

p.2

This inspection

The manager and staff work in partnership with other agencies and professionals in meeting young people’s care plans. For example, where there are safeguarding concerns for a young person, staff work in line with the safety plan and take an active part in the core group and other meetings. This helps to keep the young person safe and provides the family concerned with opportunities to develop their parenting skills. A social worker said, ‘I like that they are part of the solution, staff help young people develop in areas that have not been brought out before.’ Young people are comfortable with the staff caring for them. During the inspection there were requests from some young people for their favoured staff member to spend time with them and these were met.

p.2

This inspection

Young people’s wishes and feelings are sought through a variety of means. For example, through the use of happy and sad cards and symbols that young people show staff to express how they are feeling. Staff then explore with the young person what they are sad about and address the things that are worrying them.

p.2

This inspection

Staff support the young people to develop and maintain relationships with each other. For example, two young people wanted to spend more time together, so staff arranged for one of them to have tea at the home during his friend’s short break stay. For other young people staff have alerted parents to the friendships and these young people have begun to spend time in each other’s homes.

p.2

This inspection

There are planned activities each evening that young people can be involved in should they wish. There is also some flexibility to allow young people to make choices about how they would prefer to spend their time. During the inspection some young people were being supported to make Christmas decorations while others were relaxing with staff after their day at school. There was a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, young people were happy chatting to staff and each other about their day.

p.2

This inspection

There has been some very positive work with young people who have been unkind to other young people. Staff keep a record of any concerning exchanges between young people and devise plans of work. The young person who has been unkind is taught about empathy and other people’s feelings. The young person who has been upset is taught that what has happened is not their fault and how to be more assertive in their responses to such incidents.

p.3

This inspection

The manager leads her team effectively and achieves the best possible outcomes for the young people and their families. There is a strong ethos that young people and their families are the main priority and a flexible approach is taken to planning each young person’s short break. A social worker said that the manager, ‘Bends over backwards to support requests and provides clear reasons when and why she cannot help; I like the clarity.’ Staff are competent and passionate about the young people and develop trust in them.

p.3

This inspection

The manager challenges other agencies and professionals when required. For example, she strongly challenged other agencies, professionals and services in relation to an emergency situation that required a young person to move into a long term service. Through the work of the manager, the young person settled well in her new surroundings with the equipment she needed and with staff trained to meet her health needs. A social worker said that the manager and staff have a, ‘Can do attitude to their work with the young people.’

p.3

This inspection

Internal monitoring carried out by the manager is insightful and where she identifies improvements could be made, she develops and fulfils plans to address these. Complaints are taken seriously and dealt with effectively. Action is taken to ensure that similar issues do not arise. An independent person visits the home on a monthly basis to evaluate the quality of safeguarding practice and the care provided to the young people. However, not all of the reports made of these visits have been forwarded to Ofsted. This means the regulator does not always have an up to date overview of events in the home between inspections.

p.3

This inspection

There was a requirement made at the last inspection in relation to the staff recruitment process. The organisation has taken action to address the shortfalls by including questions on the application form about work histories. However, there have been no new staff recruited since the last inspection so this requirement will be further assessed at the next inspection. Two recommendations made at the last inspection have been met and this means that the manager is far more challenging of other professionals when required and staff are aware of the role of the designated officer for safeguarding.

p.3

Information about this children's home

This children’s home provides short-break stays for up to 10 young people who have a learning disability and/or physical disability. The home is owned and managed by a local authority.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 21/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 09/12/2015 Full Good 23/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 12/12/2014 Full Good

p.4

Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets 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 with the given timescales.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. (2) The registered person may only— (a) employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or (b) if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). (3) The requirements are that— (d) full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Schedule 2.—(4)) If a person has previously worked in a position involving work with children or vulnerable adults, verification so far as reasonably practicable of the reason why the employment or position ended. (Schedule 2.—(6)) A full employment history, together with a

p.5

Requirement Due date

satisfactory explanation of any gaps in employment, in writing. (Regulation 32 (1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(d)) 03/02/2017

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. (7) The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to— (a) HMCI. (Regulation 44 (1)) 03/02/2017

p.5

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.

p.6

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.

p.6

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 .

p.6

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,

p.7

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

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

p.7