Children's Home run by Potton Homes Limited in Southend on Sea

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 .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The management team has addressed the requirement of the last inspection to improve the quality of records held in children’s files. Management oversight is now more consistent. Reports about negative incidents are better integrated so that it is possible to follow through how the matter is finally resolved. As a result of this purposeful approach, the children know what to expect. This improves their sense of security.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some children who lived in the home for years have now moved on as part of an agreed plan. The staff have worked creatively to ensure that the children have independence skills and firm plans in place for their education or a career. For instance, one child was not able to sustain a college place. The staff negotiated with their parent company to offer her work experience in the head office in London. In addition to positive feedback about her work, she has learnt to use public transport, take instructions and work as part of a team. In turn, this has given her the confidence to travel more widely, including contact with her family. Her social worker said, ‘Watching her develop her independence has been a joy.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

On occasion, the children have left the home, when the staff and managers have concluded that they are not able to contain their behaviour or keep them safe. This is rare as the staff are committed to helping the children settle. For instance, one child refused to return from contact with her family, but staff were persistent in visiting and building a relationship with her. Her social worker said, ‘She began to believe that they wouldn’t give up and actually cared enough to make the effort.’ The child eventually returned to the home and has since settled.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some children have recently joined the home. The manager visits the children in advance, talks to the social workers from placing authorities, as well as consulting with external professionals and staff in the home. However, these enquiries are not logged in a systematic way, so the decision-making process is not clear.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The number of negative incidents combined with the serious nature of some notifications, changes in both the managers, staff and children living in the home all indicate that this has been a difficult time. However, the management team have worked with the staff to maintain a clear sense of purpose and direction. They have responded to notifications robustly and have reviewed and strengthened the safeguarding procedures. The staff are ambitious for the children, and they work well together. The frequency of supervision sessions and quality of the discussions is not well recorded. This is a wasted opportunity to develop professional practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Behaviour management plans for individual children emphasise the need for clear boundaries and the importance of de-escalating volatile behaviour. Consequently, the children’s behaviour has gradually become more stable. For instance, the number of incidents of restraint has dropped, episodes of children going missing have reduced and are shorter in length.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children benefit from trusting relationships with the staff. The staff maintain firm boundaries. They use humour and encouragement to build a rapport with the children. After a negative incident, the staff hold key working sessions with the children to help them reflect on their behaviour and to give with positive advice. One staff member recorded, ‘I told him that he should not need to win anyone’s approval, he should become a better person gradually because he truly wants to improve his life.’ This reassuring approach helps the children view the future with hope. This is mirrored in better attendance and engagement with education. For many children, who have not attended school for several months, this is striking progress. One child with a history of school refusal spoke to the inspector positively of concentrating on his education and then looking at a career in the army.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Parents and professionals speak highly of the willingness of the staff and the managers to work in partnership, keeping them updated about progress and exchanging ideas. This has led to some imaginative practice which has enabled the children to access counselling or specific training from the police about drug abuse for staff and children. The parents confirm that the staff are very supportive of contact arrangements and keep them updated of their child’s progress.

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Information about this children's home

This home provides long-term and task-centred care to a maximum of six children with emotional and /or behavioural difficulties. This is one of three residential services operated by this privately run organisation, in addition to a school adjacent to this home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 25/05/2016 Full Good 23/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 30/06/2015 Full Good 09/10/2014 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 they only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child's assessed needs as recorded in the child's relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56 paragraph 11.4) With particular reference to systematically recording information about children so that the decision to accept or refuse a placement is clearly outlined.  Ensure that all staff, including the manager, receive good quality supervision, which allows them to reflect on their practice and discuss the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations

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Recommendations

including the quality standards’, page 61 paragraph 13.2)

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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

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

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