New Park Project (The)

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In response to the provider’s own improvement plans and the requirements and recommendations from the full inspection on 20 July 2016, the home is to be completely refurbished. The planned works are too extensive to be done while there are young people living there.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The provider has registered a service in another part of the same town, and the manager, staff and young people are due to move there on 21 December. It is testament to the high regard that the young people have for the registered manager that they have chosen to name the home after her. The manager, staff and young people have worked hard to help prepare for the move, and are excited about this opportunity.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and staff welcome new residents and help them to prepare for daily life in the home. There have been two new young people admitted to the home since the previous inspection. The manager went to visit one young person and gave her a copy of the children’s guide to introduce her to the home. This young person is now resident and is making good progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Another young person arrived in August, but has since moved out following a serious incident. This action was necessary for the protection of the young person and other parties. The manager went to meet this young person in his previous foster placement, and he came to visit the home before admission.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The two longer-term residents are both making progress. One young person was visiting his family during the inspection. Although he has had difficulties in making the transition from a small special educational resource to mainstream college to the point where he has been excluded, the staff are supporting him well and are helping him to understand how he can manage his behaviour effectively.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home continues to provide young people with a warm, nurturing and supportive environment in which their needs are always prioritised. The staff and young people enjoy positive relationships, which helps to give the young people the confidence to develop links with the local community. Some young people have had difficulties since the previous inspection, particularly with family contact. This has contributed to an increase in incidents, including a small number of restraints which were necessary to keep them or others safe from harm. The staff and manager have supported the young people very well through this period to help them to manage their behaviour and emotions. Other young people have experienced a reduction in incidents. They continue to make good progress and one young person is spending Christmas in France with their girlfriend’s family, which is very positive. One young person has substantially

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

reduced the number of times she goes missing. In the first two months following her arrival there were 16 episodes of going missing, but there have been none in the past four weeks. She now keeps in contact with the staff when she is away from the home, which is very good progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager monitors the home carefully and uses an electronic records system to check work, evaluate progress and drive improvement. This is a powerful system that supports the management task effectively. In preparation for the move, the manager explained that she has reorganised all the young people’s files so that they are more coherent and provide an accessible record of their progress. The electronic records system has enabled a reduction in the volume of paperwork. Consequently, the home’s very busy office is less cluttered and provides a more effective working environment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager works closely with other agencies to help improve the young people’s daily lives and circumstances. She regularly liaises with the police, child and adolescent mental health services, colleges and schools to ensure that there is good communication about the young people’s needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has now completed her level 5 award in leadership and management, and is awaiting external verification. This is a very good achievement, particularly given that it has been a challenging year for the home. The member of staff who, at the previous inspection, had not completed their qualification at level 3, has now almost done so. The leadership and management standard, which was the subject of a requirement at the previous inspection, is now met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home was also required to keep placements under review, for example, when young people cannot be managed safely. This requirement related to a previous placement and there are no concerns about the current mix of young people in the home. In addition, outdated computer systems were causing difficulty for the team. This equipment is due to be refurbished when the move takes place. The young people’s new home has up-to-date technology to support the staff’s work effectively.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has also met the second requirement made, under the quality and purpose of care standard. There have been improvements to recording systems and key worker sessions. Although the work to the home has not been started, there are clear plans in place to upgrade the quality of the environment and the provider has made a substantial investment in this project.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Four recommendations were made at the previous inspection. The home was asked to promote a healthy diet for the young people, including the consumption of at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. The registered manager explained that the three young people have very different tastes and dietary needs. The home has responded to this by increasing their involvement in menu planning, so that each young person chooses one meal every week. The remaining four main meals must be chosen to accommodate all the young people’s tastes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This strategy has been successful, although one young person continues to choose a diet that is low in essential nutrients. As this young person approaches independence, the home is working with him to increase his understanding of foods that will better support his continuing growth and development.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home was asked to provide a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the young people’s needs. This has been met through the plans to develop the premises, as described above. A former bedroom that has an opaque pane of glass in the window is going to become an office when the home is refurbished, so it will not be occupied by young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person requested black out curtains. This matter has been raised several times by the regulation 44 visitor and was repeated as part of this recommendation at the full inspection. The manager said that all the curtains purchased for the new premises are coloured plain fabrics which eliminate light if fully closed. This provides young people with a choice about the level of light in their rooms at night.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A recommendation was made concerning some young people’s lack of access to the internet. There is a new risk assessment in place which is designed to manage the potential risk to one particular young person. This enables her to have access to the internet under staff supervision.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Finally, the home was asked to ensure that the company takes up additional references in circumstances where an applicant’s written references provide insufficient information to support their appointment. The manager said that the home now has a new safer recruitment policy which has incorporated this recommendation. There has to date been no need to put this into practice, because there have been no new appointments since the previous inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One new recommendation has been made with regard to reviewing circumstances that the home views as ‘serious’ in terms of making notifications. This is because when one young person was going missing frequently, there was no evidence that she was at direct risk of any harm, but the staff did not know where she was. This is a matter of professional judgement, but it could be deemed sufficiently serious to notify to Ofsted.

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Information about this children's home

This privately-owned children’s home is one of a group of five operated by the same company, which is based in the south of England. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children and young people who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties. This home will be temporarily closed from 21 December 2016 to enable complete refurbishment to take place. The young people, staff and manager are moving permanently to a newly-registered home in the same town.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/07/2016 Full Good 26/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 16/09/2015 Full Good 13/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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.

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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

Ensure that the home reviews its criteria for considering whether an incident is sufficiently serious to warrant notification to Ofsted under Regulation 40. Examples of incidents that are likely to be considered serious affecting the welfare of a child include serious concerns over a child’s missing behaviour, particularly where the child is considered to be at grave risk due to age or vulnerability or where they have been missing for a considerable period of time and their whereabouts is unknown.

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Recommendations

This is not an exhaustive list and homes must assess each case individually taking into account any patterns of behaviour or unusual behaviour which may indicate an increased risk to the child. Homes should also consider the frequency of incidents and judge whether their cumulative effect makes notification appropriate even if in isolation each event would not warrant this. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, April 2015, paragraph 14.11).

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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, 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

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

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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