Children's Home run by United Children's Services Limited in Leicester

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the 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

Despite progress being made by young people in some respects, and despite most of the four requirements and four recommendations set at the last inspection being met, the home has experienced an unsettled period. As a consequence of shortfalls identified during this inspection, the home continues to require improvement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some young people’s care plans lack detail about their background and past experiences. In one instance, this was because relevant and important documents such as a chronology of a young person’s life, produced by his placing authority, had not been shared with the home. Not having such important information readily available hinders care planning, limits staff’s ability to provide individualised care. A requirement in relation to this is re-set.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two requirements in relation to the protection of children have been met. The home environment is now safe and free from hazards. Staff at all levels demonstrate an understanding of the home’s safeguarding procedures, which they implement in order to keep young people safe. A shortfall in respect of recording has however been identified. Specifically, in one instance, minutes of a strategy meeting held in response to a young person’s missing incidents were not available during the inspection and so were not used to update risk management plans. This would have a particular impact for new staff, or those from other homes covering shifts, who need quick reference to the major risk factors associated with each young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has experienced instability as a result of changes to the management of the home. Young people and a relatively new and inexperienced staff team have lacked consistent leadership and guidance until very recently. A number of staff members have not completed all of their mandatory training, such as health and safety and food hygiene. Additionally, they have not had the opportunity to participate in training specific to the needs of the current young people. Improved opportunities and engagement in a wider range of training will help develop the skills, knowledge and understanding of very committed staff members and ultimately help raise standards of care in the home. Although there have been a high number of missing incidents, the duration and frequency of these have reduced in recent months. As a result, young people are safer. As a consequence of the positive relationships young people have developed

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

with staff, they are sharing more information about their time away from the home and engaging in direct work in relation to their personal safety. A young person said: ‘My missing has gone down a lot and I now always keep in touch with staff. I am safer as staff have taught me about how to keep myself safe.’ Although independent return home interviews take place in the majority of cases, the outcomes of these are not always shared with the staff in the home. There is no evidence that this has had an impact on young people’s safety to date, but not having access to this information means that there are missed opportunities to reduce risk further.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

An experienced manager and deputy manager were very recently redeployed to the home. They have good insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the home and they are providing strong leadership. They are taking action to address the shortfalls identified during this inspection. With their support and guidance, the staff team are becoming more confident in dealing with challenging behaviours. Young people are benefiting from clearer and more consistent boundaries. A recent reduction in challenging and anti-social behaviour is an indicator that, because of improved consistency of care, young people are feeling more settled and secure. A young person commented: ‘The staff are alright. They are very fair, they spend time with me and they are caring.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite the shortfalls identified, young people are making progress in some aspects of their lives. One young person who has experienced multiple placement breakdowns explained: ‘This is the longest I have been somewhere. The staff have stuck by me.’ Another young person is now predicted to leave school with qualifications and improved life chances. An older young person, with the support of staff, is developing practical and emotional skills which will help him when he moves on to his adult life.

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Information about this children's home

This is a privately owned home that accommodates up to six young people. The home caters for children and young people who may display emotional and/or behavioural difficulties

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 27/07/2016 Full Inspection Requires Improvement

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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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Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, with particular reference to taking account of a child's background, the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

6(2)(b)(iv) ensure that staff provide personalised care that meets each child's needs, as recorded in the child's relevant plans, taking account of the child's background. 10/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person is required to:

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Requirement Due date

13 (2)(c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. 10/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain record for each child which are kept up to date, with particular reference to ensuring that strategy meeting minutes are kept and risk assessments are kept up to date after significant incidents or strategy meetings (Regulation 36 (1) (b) 10/02/2017

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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 every effort is made so that the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for a child to have a return interview after they have been missing from care or away from the home without permission. The home should take account of the information provided in such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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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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